|
|
Post by Holy Schist on Feb 13, 2012 19:58:22 GMT -5
I have not bought a guitar in a few years and sold 3 with a 4th listed now. I feel I'm set for life with acoustic but something about electrics makes me more of a tone chaser.
The sounds of a 50 year old ES-175 and about equally old Gretsch I tried have haunted me. I can't afford those and started my search. The local Gibson stock has been limited and disappointing. I'll head to Dave's if I get time for a day trip. There's a Heritage dealer near Milwaukee as well as a big Gretsch dealer.
Vintage Gibsons are out of the question but even new ones are not cheap and the finish quality of many are just terrible for the price.
The Gretschy tone is certainly different than warm Gibson so I'll have some fun sorting all that out.
With luck I'll get down to 2 acoustic and 2 electrics I love and cash to spare.
|
|
|
|
Post by sordello on Feb 13, 2012 23:31:06 GMT -5
Have you done any blind-tone tests with Washburns?
They sound amazingly good!!
|
|
|
|
Post by herbhunter on Feb 14, 2012 7:20:58 GMT -5
You might want to consider this solid-wood, carved-top, made-in-USA Carvin semi-hollowbody guitar: www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=sh445I tried it at the NAMM show last month. I couldn't evaluate the tone because of all the noise at the convention but liked it to the extent was possible in a bustling convention environment. While at the convention, I searched for the Heritage booth but became exhausted before finding it and had to go back to my hotel across the parking lot to rest. |
|
|
|
Post by Holy Schist on Feb 14, 2012 9:30:00 GMT -5
Have you done any blind-tone tests with Washburns? They sound amazingly good!! You might want to consider this solid-wood, carved-top, made-in-USA Carvin semi-hollowbody guitar: www.carvinguitars.com/catalog/guitars/index.php?model=sh445I tried it at the NAMM show last month. I couldn't evaluate the tone because of all the noise at the convention but liked it to the extent was possible in a bustling convention environment. While at the convention, I searched for the Heritage booth but became exhausted before finding it and had to go back to my hotel across the parking lot to rest. Thanks. I tried Washburns before a local store reduced what they stock, and people who've tried those Carvins give me the impression they're much like my PRS. Some say a nice budget response to the PRS. In my trials it seems like I need a large hollow body for the big tone. The Gretsch are of interest because I'd be there selling my HD-28 and Stratocaster with it also being able to do surf style tone. I've been taking my PRS Hollow Body I with when trying guitars and that's slowing this down. It's has amazing quality and is so easy to play but a bit bright or brash compared to a true jazzy guitar. The PRS also has a rare look. The top is a mix of curly and spalted, the mahogany back and neck are not stained - basically it many not be classic jazz type but it kicks butt in terms of intonation, easy to play and handle. The Heritage guitars I tried had nicer finish quality than most of the Gibsons. I see a 1998 Heritage in Milwaukee but the photos make the gold trim appear a bit trashed and I don't like gold trim. The Gibson prices seem to include a lot of overhead - all those youtube of Henry and politics LOL? I don't know how they get away with some of the terribly finished guitars with $3000+ price tags. I'm not sure if any of you ever look at the Dave's site but that's a trip I'm going to fit in regardless. What I don't want to give up and regret:  |
|
|
|
Post by blowtorch on Feb 14, 2012 14:08:04 GMT -5
Lots of vintage and newer Guilds that would fit that style.
Big jazz box like the X-500 to thinlines like the Starfires or X-170s.
|
|
|
|
Post by Holy Schist on Feb 14, 2012 14:28:44 GMT -5
Lots of vintage and newer Guilds that would fit that style. Big jazz box like the X-500 to thinlines like the Starfires or X-170s. Thanks. I've seen, heard and tried a few but didn't know what was a reasonable price or amount of repair or modification. One I liked within past year had a broken neck that was repaired and was still about $2000. |
|
|
|
Post by blowtorch on Feb 14, 2012 15:25:22 GMT -5
Lots of vintage and newer Guilds that would fit that style. Big jazz box like the X-500 to thinlines like the Starfires or X-170s. Thanks. I've seen, heard and tried a few but didn't know what was a reasonable price or amount of repair or modification. One I liked within past year had a broken neck that was repaired and was still about $2000. You can get an nice recent X-500 for around 2 grand, and the thinlines like an X-170 should run around 1200 or so. I sold a 96 X-170 like this one awhile ago for around 1200 bucks. Guild made some nice electrics, worth looking at. www.ebay.com/itm/98-Guild-X-170-Manhattan-95-MINT-condition-Plus-Original-Hard-Shell-Case-/320845161897?pt=Guitar&hash=item4ab3dca5a9 |
|
|
|
Post by Holy Schist on Feb 14, 2012 20:11:24 GMT -5
What was its replacement? I am surprised Fender ownership hasn't brought back any Guilds like those but it could be considerable work setting up such production if not done by the large Asian manufacturers. I confess I want American made whether new, used, or very old. It does seem happiness with one sort of tone is harder with electrics. Thanks again. |
|
|
|
Post by Holy Schist on Feb 19, 2012 10:19:41 GMT -5
I surprised myself. The trip to Dave's was well worth it. His personal collection is a museum or shrine for guitar players and few stores are stocked as well with quality and interesting stuff. It was neat to play my own against them and I was surprised to learn I don't want to give up my Stratocaster and PRS Hollow Body. I really loved one each of an ES-175 and 335 Fat Neck but didn't think they'd be my main guitar so could not rationalize the price. I almost got an ES-339 Fat Neck but it was not that unlike my lighter and easier playing PRS. The surprise was a 6 pound FSR "Thin Skin" and I got it. Yes, I'm shaking my head why another Telecaster but some guitars just sort of catch you. It's different than my 52 Reissue in some interesting ways. The 9.5 radius neck without giant frets is neat and it's quite woody or acoustic sounding by comparison. I guess it was like choosing an ale or red but a pleasingly different than another of same type. I keep wondering if an acoustic guitar playing background makes me like the Telecasters. I'll put my hand on Tele bridge the way I do with some acoustic playing. With a pair again I think I'll try different pickups. This has Nocasters and I'd like to try Bill Lawrence while he's still with us on earth. All very interesting how the feel in the hands influenced what I kept and bought considering tone started it all.   |
|
|
|
Post by donalgdon on Feb 19, 2012 14:57:18 GMT -5
Beautiful!
|
|
|
|
Post by Rhapsody on Feb 19, 2012 16:24:01 GMT -5
I like the stone around your fireplace, imwjl. (I know nothing about guitars....)
|
|
|
|
Post by Holy Schist on Feb 19, 2012 21:14:17 GMT -5
I like the stone around your fireplace, imwjl. (I know nothing about guitars....) Thank you. We really love this house. That stone chimney is inside and out. some of the outside of house is same stone. It's sort of a western style oiled cedar and stone theme. |
|
|
|
Post by Holy Schist on Feb 20, 2012 8:21:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by Holy Schist on Mar 3, 2012 14:03:13 GMT -5
I swapped the Nocasters for Keystones last week. I think I like Nocaster neck and Keystone bridge but don't feel like the tedium or any burnt fingers today. I'd like to try Lollar Charlie Christian pickup in the neck but do not think there is room without milling the body.   |
|
|
|
Post by Holy Schist on Mar 11, 2013 19:30:24 GMT -5
I swapped the Nocasters for Keystones last week. I think I like Nocaster neck and Keystone bridge but don't feel like the tedium or any burnt fingers today. I'd like to try Lollar Charlie Christian pickup in the neck but do not think there is room without milling the body. Almost a year to the date and I'm back to the original Custom Shop Nocasters. The Keystone neck pickup is taller and didn't fit in well. I didn't want to take a grinder to this guitar thinking it would hurt it's value as a limited edition. The Keystones were a bit Strat-like. I like Nocaster bridge more but the Keystone neck had more treble available and could make rather acoustic tone. |
|
