Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: broken cord on December 12, 2007, 11:59:38 PM
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What can you tell me about Blackmachine guitars, and does anyone have a B2 to swap or sell?
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They're superb.
Tonally brilliant, play like a dream. And incredibly light weight.
Considered to be the best necks in the business.
Personally - I love them. But I like my guitars with a bit of paint on them.
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Nice guitars and nice bloke but I wish he'd recess the bolts on the metal nameplate.
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I tried finding one being sold secondhand awhile back. No luck :(
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I have one. Pictures be found at www.myspace.com/zeusnagle and heard at www.myspace.com/thesafetyfire
Amazing guitars, I think you will be lucky to find a 2nd hand one. More affordable production models are being made.
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I have one. Pictures be found at www.myspace.com/zeusnagle and heard at www.myspace.com/thesafetyfire
Amazing guitars, I think you will be lucky to find a 2nd hand one. More affordable production models are being made.
Hey I found your songs on sevenstring.org not long ago - SICK band man. And your tone is sweeeeet :)
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I have one. Pictures be found at www.myspace.com/zeusnagle and heard at www.myspace.com/thesafetyfire
Amazing guitars, I think you will be lucky to find a 2nd hand one. More affordable production models are being made.
Oooh - Safety Fire, saw you guys a while back at islington bar! =)
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New BMs are being partly outsourced and hand-completed. They arent going to be production guitars. Just that blanks are going to be roughly shaped by a third party and they get finished off, assembled, fretted and pickuped and oiled at BM.
Thats pretty standard luthier practice, anyway. Dougs doing it because he wants to maintain quality standards and doesnt "trust anyone with the particulars of the rosewood necks". Man takes pride in his work, what can you do?
The flashier woods and customisations are still going to be available in the custom line, but they're gonna be quite a lot more expensive. 2100 for a standard B2 over the 1500 it used to be.
I dont know what the prices of the new ones will be, but depending how rich I'm feeling in march I'll be getting a B2, custom or outsourced. Probably custom.
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Yes - I got to play and photograph the first of the new B6 model on Tuesday.
Loaded with a pair of BKP warpigs, in an Idigbo body the guitar had a great sound that allows for classic rock tones as well as crushing metal.
Hopefully Doug and his web guy will have the pix and info up on the BM website over the next couple of days. (I'm not going to spoil the surprise)
The quality is as flawless as ever, and great care has been taken at every stage of the build process.
We then went for a beer and some Spanish Tapas............ :D
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These are the ones that Adam D from KSE uses? Soooooooo slim and schexy.
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Those are caparison.
Last I checked anyway. Has KSE's resisdent mental patient started using BMs?
Blackmachine >>>>>>>> Caparison, btw.
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The updated BM site is now up:
http://blackmachine.net/
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They look like top notch guitars!
Personally, I don't like any wood grain showing on my guitars, and prefer the overall look/feel of Feline, but that B6 does look very nice! (I would still get a Feline first, however) The advantage of LGS was being able to directly compare the Blackmachine guitars against the Felines.
Kudos to Jonathon for being supportive of other builders, too.
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Those are caparison.
Last I checked anyway. Has KSE's resisdent mental patient started using BMs?
Blackmachine >>>>>>>> Caparison, btw.
Aaahhhh that's the ones.
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The updated BM site is now up:
http://blackmachine.net/
Thanks for the heads up :)
I am disappointed with the changes he has made, particularily with the neck, but I am going to buy one anyway and then just hope it sounds as good as the B2.
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Not sure I like the new guitar. The truth is in the playing of it, of course, but I'm not a huge fan of volutes, have no clue what idigbo sounds like, not so keen on the new body thickness and the maple neck is just so non-blackmachine :?
Swamp ash body, indian rosewood neck B2 for me, I think. Maybe with a spalted top (subject to cost!)
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The updated BM site is now up:
http://blackmachine.net/
Thanks for the heads up :)
I am disappointed with the changes he has made, particularily with the neck, but I am going to buy one anyway and then just hope it sounds as good as the B2.
Why disappointed?
All he has done is add an extra model...... that is different to the higher spec model, but at a greatly reduced price.
You can still get a B2 with its different construction , but the higher price reflects the extremely labour intensive nature of the build of the B2 as well as the high price of the materals.
The sound of the B6 is not as glassy and piano like as the B2- it is a bit warmer with a bit more midrange - more familiar to players of traditional brands.
In some ways it is an easier and more forgiving guitar to play - with the B2 there was nowhere to hide less than perfect technique.
I really liked it!
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One of my customers got a Blackmachine custom built fanned fret 7- string.
And he bought the Diezel VH4 earlier, so that man is pretty much set for life ;).
The guitar he got was briefly the pic seen on Blackmachine's index page.
Fantastic looking guitar.
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I need £1050.
Now.
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I'm not into (super)strats but I'm digging this blackmachine Tele:
(http://blackmachine.net/assets/g2.jpg)
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The updated BM site is now up:
http://blackmachine.net/
Thanks for the heads up :)
I am disappointed with the changes he has made, particularily with the neck, but I am going to buy one anyway and then just hope it sounds as good as the B2.
Why disappointed?
All he has done is add an extra model...... that is different to the higher spec model, but at a greatly reduced price.
You can still get a B2 with its different construction , but the higher price reflects the extremely labour intensive nature of the build of the B2 as well as the high price of the materals.
The sound of the B6 is not as glassy and piano like as the B2- it is a bit warmer with a bit more midrange - more familiar to players of traditional brands.
In some ways it is an easier and more forgiving guitar to play - with the B2 there was nowhere to hide less than perfect technique.
I really liked it!
I really want the B2 for what people say it sounds like (the fat sound of a Les Paul with the note definition of a superstrat), and if the B6 sounds more familiar to players of traditional models, then why not just get a traditional model? Over here thanks to the exchange, I could get a USA Jackson SL2-MAH instead.
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have no clue what idigbo sounds like
often interchangably sold as korina or limba or afara. Personally i think the grain is slightly rougher than the black limba i have used but tonally they are pretty identical so think of it as warm, rich mahogany
The tree Idigbo comes from is Terminalia ivorensis and only has light coloured wood, wheras the tree that produces white and black limba is Terminalia superba. Sounds like it will be better because of the 'superba bit' but they really do sound the same and the price of the idigbo is much more reasonable for two almost identical woods
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Not sure I like the new guitar. The truth is in the playing of it, of course, but I'm not a huge fan of volutes, have no clue what idigbo sounds like, not so keen on the new body thickness and the maple neck is just so non-blackmachine :?
Swamp ash body, indian rosewood neck B2 for me, I think. Maybe with a spalted top (subject to cost!)
Idigbo - (Terminalia ivorensis - also called Black Afara)-is a similar wood to Limba-(Terminalia superba) and both are interchangably used under the name Korina by manufacturers.
My Korina V and Korina Lion (turquoise one ) are both Idigbo
Sound is quite acoustic played unplugged but nice and warm when plgged in.
Sound is not too dissimilar to Swamp ash
What is wrong with a volute - all it does is add strength to a neck at an otherwise weak point.
Is it the cosmetic appearance of it?
Or is it because Gibson started putting volutes on their necks (a good idea) in the early 70s at the same time that their quality control went to pieces (a bad idea) and for many years players avoided Gibsons with volutes just in case it was a bad one- it could just as easily have been a great one!
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have no clue what idigbo sounds like
often interchangably sold as korina or limba or afara. Personally i think the grain is slightly rougher than the black limba i have used but tonally they are pretty identical so think of it as warm, rich mahogany
The tree Idigbo comes from is Terminalia ivorensis and only has light coloured wood, wheras the tree that produces white and black limba is Terminalia superba. Sounds like it will be better because of the 'superba bit' but they really do sound the same and the price of the idigbo is much more reasonable for two almost identical woods
Ha ha - SNAP!
One other problem with Limba I have been told is that it can carry a parasite which can spoil the wood and some wood importers ont handle it as a result.
I have been really happy with Idigbo and i know that Fret King were using it too.
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two minds working as one!!
dont know about nasty parasites but the worm holes in black limba create bright orange streaks
the only reason i would go for the black stuff is for the visual impact... and that adds a lot to the price. I have beenusing a lot of idigbo recently but occasionally i need a black limba fix
worth it when it looks like this
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/w1.jpg)
(http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e31/WezV/w3.jpg)
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Cheers temps!
noodleplugerine, I guess you werent coming to see us, which night was it?
I can't see why people are complaining about the b6. As already mentioned, the B2 is still available.
Think about this way. Would you rather an Ibanez prestige (factory made) or hand made B6....simple for me. Pickups alone.
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Thanks Wez and Feline! I like the sound of the sound of idigbo. I do like korina and mahogany, so its a no-brainer really.
Feline, I dont like volutes because they feel weird to me! No real rational reason. No extreme hatred for them or anything, either: like I said, just not so keen. A volute on its own would never stop me buying an otherwise great playing, great sounding guitar.
The B2 being more "piano like" and the the B6 more conventional seals it for me though. B2 it is (probably!!)
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Cheers temps!
noodleplugerine, I guess you werent coming to see us, which night was it?
I can't see why people are complaining about the b6. As already mentioned, the B2 is still available.
Think about this way. Would you rather an Ibanez prestige (factory made) or hand made B6....simple for me. Pickups alone.
I was there to see Halide - Mates of mine.
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What is wrong with a volute - all it does is add strength to a neck at an otherwise weak point.
Is it the cosmetic appearance of it?
Or is it because Gibson started putting volutes on their necks (a good idea) in the early 70s at the same time that their quality control went to pieces (a bad idea) and for many years players avoided Gibsons with volutes just in case it was a bad one- it could just as easily have been a great one!
i admit i had that mindset, "volutes must be bad and should be avoided". not quite sure where i heard it, but it WAS in relation to 70's Gibsons. having since become the owner of several Patrick Eggles, which all have volutes, and indeed a 70's Gibson, i'm quite comfortable with them! in fact i quite like them, i've almost become paranoid about my non-volute Gibsons, feeling that they're more fragile.
not that i go around smacking the headstocks off walls or anything :roll:
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I'm not into (super)strats but I'm digging this blackmachine Tele:
I like this Tele so much, too!
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Well I just put in a deposit for a B6. What kind of pickups should I get ahaha
I figure, if I don't like it, I will have a very easy time selling it for a B7 anyway. So why not! I've wanted a blackmachine forever and ever.
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You won't regret it.
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lepersmeesa: you are GOOD! Nice sweeping in that vid on your myspace.
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temps: I'm very very tempted to place an order myself! How much input did you have into the spec? I'd really like it to have a reversed headstock, and no tone knob...
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I'm gonna buck the trend a bit here, I tried one at this years LGS and I was very disappointed with it, I didn’t like the neck profile, didn’t like the thin body (although I thought I would) and it just felt a bit, stiff I suppose. A totally underwhelming experience.
Earlier in the year I was set to order a B2 but I am so glad I waited to play one 1st.
I think I am probably the only person in the world who doesn’t like them though.
Nothing fundamentally wrong with them, just not for me.
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Ahhh I think I could not have one to... I would like a thicker body with a gibby ish neck and probably neck-thru-body and a little modified shap in the bottom of the body... Dunno if he does it :? Although I really like the look of it, generally
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temps: I'm very very tempted to place an order myself! How much input did you have into the spec? I'd really like it to have a reversed headstock, and no tone knob...
No input yet, he said he has not determined what options he is going to make available. January/February he said he will know and will post them on the website. I'm hoping for a reverse headstock and no tone knob as well, and possibly an ebony fingerboard for playability reasons
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Well, I relented to my GAS and put down a deposit myself! :D
When I spoke to him, he told me that changing woods and reversing the headstock was not possible, but that the control layout etc was.
He agreed to build mine without a tone knob, coil splitting on the volume knob (which will be placed where the tone knob is supposed to go), and Earvana nut, and, most importantly a BK camo C-Pig/CS set
:twisted: .
I assume you'll be speccing BKs for yours?
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I put a deposit down tonight as well. I asked about a reverse headstock and Ebony too, but didn't get a definative answer. However, I wasn't told no, so we shall see. I have Warpigs in an SG and Painkillers in a Dean ML, so I will have to think about this. Perhaps Phil King will share his wisdom.
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Let me know if he agrees to fitting a reversed headstock. This was the correspondance I recieved from him a week or so ago:
"Hi,
Thanks for your email,
Yes there are places left. Deposit is 500GBP. Price of 1050 includes bareknuckles. Distressed covers 40 extra. No reversed head but you can have controls without tone.
Regards,
Doug."
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Well, I relented to my GAS and put down a deposit myself! :D
When I spoke to him, he told me that changing woods and reversing the headstock was not possible, but that the control layout etc was.
He agreed to build mine without a tone knob, coil splitting on the volume knob (which will be placed where the tone knob is supposed to go), and Earvana nut, and, most importantly a BK camo C-Pig/CS set
:twisted: .
I assume you'll be speccing BKs for yours?
Definitely BKs, nailbombs bridge & neck I think. Maybe a Miracle Man in the neck... I still have a few months to figure it out. And definitely camo covers too :D
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Well, I relented to my GAS and put down a deposit myself! :D
When I spoke to him, he told me that changing woods and reversing the headstock was not possible, but that the control layout etc was.
He agreed to build mine without a tone knob, coil splitting on the volume knob (which will be placed where the tone knob is supposed to go), and Earvana nut, and, most importantly a BK camo C-Pig/CS set
:twisted: .
I assume you'll be speccing BKs for yours?
Definitely BKs, nailbombs bridge & neck I think. Maybe a Miracle Man in the neck... I still have a few months to figure it out. And definitely camo covers too :D
As the B6 build is getting closer I am revisiting this thread. I don't know what BK's I will be choosing, and I was wondering if anyone (cough, cough, Phil King) had any suggestions as to what to make this thin body sing.
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I've spent a lot of time on the phone with Doug and Tim recently, and I can tell you Doug pretty much swears by three BKs - the Nailbomb, Warpig and Miracle Man, in all variations and combinations. Basically, this equates to Nailbomb for clarity, Warpig for brutality, and Miracle Man for more smooth scooped sound.
Since Idigbo, the wood the B6 is made out of, is very midrangey, a Painkiller wouldn't be a great choice. Doug had just received a Holy Diver, and was singing its praises, though he stressed that he has barely had a chance to try it out.
If anyone is interested, in the time since I last posted in this thread, I changed my order to a B2, which will be with me in just under a month ( :D ). The guitar will have a chambered mahogany body with a 100yr old private reserve grade quilt maple top (a good 10mm thick!). Doug sent me pics of the body today, and it is simply stunning.
With Tim and Doug's guidance, I've gone for Painkillers, as they are extremely clear and tight, with an awesome midrange heft. Tim's description of the neck PK, which is the only BK neck pickup to use a ceramic magnet, sounded like exactly what I wanted - ridiculously clean and clear, very fluid and stupid amounts of sustain. I'm incredibly excited to hear it!
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I'm gonna buck the trend a bit here, I tried one at this years LGS and I was very disappointed with it, I didn’t like the neck profile, didn’t like the thin body (although I thought I would) and it just felt a bit, stiff I suppose. A totally underwhelming experience.
Earlier in the year I was set to order a B2 but I am so glad I waited to play one 1st.
I think I am probably the only person in the world who doesn’t like them though.
Nothing fundamentally wrong with them, just not for me.
I wasn't too keen on them either. I played one of the 8 strings through a Diezel and thought it sounded muddy if you played anything lower than the Low B string. The bodies felt like they had just out of the workshop (as in not sanded).
A producer I worked with some time ago thought they felt pretty cheap too (after trying out an 8 string blackmachine that one of his friends had) and not worth the asking price.
I'd rather spend that kind of money on a custom Feline. I'd get any options I'd want and I know for sure Feline has great customer service.
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I have one. Pictures be found at www.myspace.com/zeusnagle and heard at www.myspace.com/thesafetyfire
Christ! I've just checked this thread out for the first time, that is SOME technique!
Gonna have to introduce my 36 year old fingers to some serious workouts, I think...
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As the B6 build is getting closer I am revisiting this thread. I don't know what BK's I will be choosing, and I was wondering if anyone (cough, cough, Phil King) had any suggestions as to what to make this thin body sing.
I would look at a set of Nailbombs, they are very versatile pickups and I like them enough to have 2 guitars with them. I have them in an Ibanez and in a Warmoth Mockingbird. If you want more of the EMG style tone, then go for the Miracle Man set.
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As the B6 build is getting closer I am revisiting this thread. I don't know what BK's I will be choosing, and I was wondering if anyone (cough, cough, Phil King) had any suggestions as to what to make this thin body sing.
I would look at a set of Nailbombs, they are very versatile pickups and I like them enough to have 2 guitars with them. I have them in an Ibanez and in a Warmoth Mockingbird. If you want more of the EMG style tone, then go for the Miracle Man set.
Personally I am not a fan of EMG by any means. I had a set in a Dean ML and it didn't do it for me. I will have to listen to the Nailbombs and give them a strong consideration. Thanks Phil.
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Hey, i know a lot of it's down to pickups, but what are blackmachines like clean?
And i've only ever heard them playing metal, so what are they like with slightly less heavy stuff?
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They are excellent clean, they really are incredibly clear and pure sounding instruments, with ridiculous sustain. With a set of Nailbombs, you can cover pretty much any genre you wanted.
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Ok, thanks, although now i'm considering taking the plunge and getting one when possible
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They are stupidly amazing guitars, but make sure you try one first - it would appear they aren't to everyone's taste. Though the only people I have found that don't absolutely love them are the people in this thread...
Oh and Doug is planning to reopen for custom orders in mid-March.
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ok, thanks
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They are stupidly amazing guitars, but make sure you try one first - it would appear they aren't to everyone's taste. Though the only people I have found that don't absolutely love them are the people in this thread...
Oh and Doug is planning to reopen for custom orders in mid-March.
Are you going to get one?
I'm not sure if I should just wait for the 7 string version of the B6 or get a custom B7.. I'm Sakeido from sevenstring.org by the way :)
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Are you going to get one?
I'm not sure if I should just wait for the 7 string version of the B6 or get a custom B7.. I'm Sakeido from sevenstring.org by the way Smile
Ah hey there mate!
I've got a B2 arriving in a week or two, and I'll be putting down a deposit on a B7 when he reopens for orders.
Doug hasn't officially confirmed that he will be making cheaper versions of the 7 or 8 yet, but I think it's a fair bet that he will. Best thing to do is to ring him and talk it through - the B6 is quite a different beast to the B2, and I imagine it'd be the same case if he made a 7.
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Are you going to get one?
I'm not sure if I should just wait for the 7 string version of the B6 or get a custom B7.. I'm Sakeido from sevenstring.org by the way Smile
Ah hey there mate!
I've got a B2 arriving in a week or two, and I'll be putting down a deposit on a B7 when he reopens for orders.
Doug hasn't officially confirmed that he will be making cheaper versions of the 7 or 8 yet, but I think it's a fair bet that he will. Best thing to do is to ring him and talk it through - the B6 is quite a different beast to the B2, and I imagine it'd be the same case if he made a 7.
I've asked him a couple times now, lately, he said that he is making an 8 string version of the B6 and that it will be ready "sooner" than 8 months. I think I'm going to go for a custom B7.. just to get the "real" Blackmachine experience :) I can't really ring him since the call would probably cost me $30, being from Canada and all ahaha
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Nice one mate, I saw your Charvel go up for sale on sevenstring!
That's why I changed from a B6 to the B2 - I've wanted a Blackmachine for ages now, and I know I'd always look at the B6 and wish it was a "proper" Blackmachine, regardless of the fact that they are still top-notch guitars. Plus, when Doug showed me the top he was thinking to use for my B2, I pretty much creamed myself.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_pcXTRC5d4
Vid of me playing my blackmachine through an Engl Powerball. Will do some clean videos. Extremely versatile
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_pcXTRC5d4
Vid of me playing my blackmachine through an Engl Powerball. Will do some clean videos. Extremely versatile
Dez - I want your babies.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_pcXTRC5d4
Vid of me playing my blackmachine through an Engl Powerball. Will do some clean videos. Extremely versatile
Sweet Jesus
That is one of the snakewood ones is it not? I love the tops on those things, and the necks are just amazing. What are you tuned to? AACFAD?
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Nice one mate, I saw your Charvel go up for sale on sevenstring!
That's why I changed from a B6 to the B2 - I've wanted a Blackmachine for ages now, and I know I'd always look at the B6 and wish it was a "proper" Blackmachine, regardless of the fact that they are still top-notch guitars. Plus, when Doug showed me the top he was thinking to use for my B2, I pretty much creamed myself.
The Charvel is a pretty cool guitar, but I have some issues with it.. gets really muddy tuned below C because the body is HUGE, full sized solid Mahogany strat body.. and while it plays really nice, I just don't see a place for it with the B6 coming.
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Cool man, I'm sure the B6 will more than fill the gap.
Doug assures me that all conventional beliefs about Mahogany as a tonewood are completely wrong - it actually has a very pure, piano like sound, with exceptional clarity..
Oh, and Dez's B2 has a quilted mahogany top (!) with a snakewood neck. Gorgeous guitar.
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Cool man, I'm sure the B6 will more than fill the gap.
Doug assures me that all conventional beliefs about Mahogany as a tonewood are completely wrong - it actually has a very pure, piano like sound, with exceptional clarity..
Oh, and Dez's B2 has a quilted mahogany top (!) with a snakewood neck. Gorgeous guitar.
My SLSMG with a mahogany neckthrough/mahogany wings and slim body definitely supports that. Mahogany is my favorite tonewood in a slim body guitar.. so I really like my S7320 and SLS, but quite dislike Les Pauls.
You said you changed your B6 order to a B2? Did it take much argument? I'm tempted to do the same..
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You said you changed your B6 order to a B2? Did it take much argument? I'm tempted to do the same..
Not at all, though he will stress very heavily that the wait time could be much longer (unless you do what I did, and adopt one of the special guitars he's building up for showcase purposes)
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You said you changed your B6 order to a B2? Did it take much argument? I'm tempted to do the same..
Not at all, though he will stress very heavily that the wait time could be much longer (unless you do what I did, and adopt one of the special guitars he's building up for showcase purposes)
Honestly longer wait times = better for me, makes it easier to save up the money. Especially if I order a B7 as well, I would want them to come in very far apart
Special showcase models? hmmm.... any details?
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Well I just sent Doug an e-mail about a B2 with a red top, like the snakewood guitars.. hopefully we can hammer something out, and I can find the extra few thousand I'll need ahaha
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Nice one mate. Unless he's found a buyer for it, he has a rather tasty burl top body waiting for a home. PM me if you want a pic - I'd rather not post it without his approval.
Pretty sure this is the piece of wood it's made from (taken from the "Timber" section of his website):
(http://www.blackmachine.net/assets/wood9.jpg)
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I wanted the B2 before the B6 was introduced. I figure if I really like the B6 I can get Doug to build me a B2 as well. I am thinking the B6 will be my introduction to Blackmachine. The B2 will be on order if this guitar plays as good as it looks and as good as people who have played them say they are. I can hardly wait I have all the money socked away in British pounds.
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That's the smart move, especially for you being American ;)
I'm glad the CAD is doing relatively well against the pound right now. I'm still waiting to hear back from Doug and see what extra damage a B2 or B7 will cause compared to the B6... if I've heard right, its in the ballpark of over a thousand pounds more
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The base B2 is double the price of the B6, at £2100. You do get the little things such as covered BKs, locking tuners, coil-splitting etc included in that though.
I spoke to Doug last night, he explained that he's having major problems with both his internet and email account - he doesn't receive most emails and even then, any replies he writes are returned, having failed to deliver. If you want to get hold of him urgently, I'd highly recommend calling him, even at international rates. He is at Frankfurt for the MusikMesse until Sunday as of today as well, but I'm sure he'll still be reachable by phone.
On a side note, my B2 is 90% ready - just needs electronics and hardware put on, hopefully collect it next week!
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I can split the coils myself and I am thinking I may switch the tuners out for Steinberger straight pulls, I have them on my Gibby SG and I find them quite nice.
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If you chopped the headstock off of them, I would like them a hell of a lot more. I think the guitars look absolutely stunning (never played one so can't comment on that), but I just don't think I could live with the headstock.
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The headstock is the best part!
I would think that the design calls for it somewhat. Thin superlight body and a heavy neck = ultimate neck dive unless you lightened the headstock.
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The headstock is the best part!
I would think that the design calls for it somewhat. Thin superlight body and a heavy neck = ultimate neck dive unless you lightened the headstock.
Total agreement here. It's not a cookie cutter headstock it's somewhat unique. I guess it's a little like a Parker headstock but way nicer.
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If you chopped the headstock off of them, I would like them a hell of a lot more. I think the guitars look absolutely stunning (never played one so can't comment on that), but I just don't think I could live with the headstock.
:?
I like so much the headstock that I would buy one 80% because of it... (I prefer thick body & neck, specially neck-thru... no big problem with weight here)
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I finally got in touch with Doug, he says its no problem to change my order to a B7 but it could be more than a year wait. He says he's only going to make six! guitars in 2009!
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Nice man, you going to go with the B7?
My guitar is going to be ready by the end of the week, but I'm going off skiing for a week on Fri.. Looks like I'll have to wait a fortnight to pick it up :(
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Nice man, you going to go with the B7?
My guitar is going to be ready by the end of the week, but I'm going off skiing for a week on Fri.. Looks like I'll have to wait a fortnight to pick it up :(
Yup B7, unless he has a mostly finished guitar kicking around that I could "adopt" but I'm still waiting to hear back from him about that. He was asking me if there is some kind of big trend going for 7 strings again, that he barely got asked for them for the past three years, and now almost every new order is one :D
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Ah cool mate. I spoke with him on the phone today for ages, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't have any half-finished 7s lying around I'm afraid. It'll be worth the wait for sure though!
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Ah cool mate. I spoke with him on the phone today for ages, and I'm pretty sure he doesn't have any half-finished 7s lying around I'm afraid. It'll be worth the wait for sure though!
I've kinda forced myself to wait now :) It's going to take some serious saving to get the cash together for both the Blackmachine and the Jackson
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gaaah finally got a price from Doug, the guitar itself is very affordable for what it is. But with shipping and duties, I'm looking at another $1,100 over the cost of the guitar... which makes it quite unaffordable. I might have to stick with my B6. But every e-mail I've sent to Doug in the last few days has bounced. Gah!
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Has anyone heard from Doug in regards to when the production of the B6 is going to be done? I sent him an email about a week ago and have not heard back from him.
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I saw Doug on Monday. FWIW the e-mails that bounce should still get through to him...
From what he said his backlog of custom guitars should be completed around July - if that's the case I'd imagine that the B6 run will start then although as I'm not getting a B6 I didn't ask!
However, I did get to play the first B6, with a ceramic + alnico Warpig set. :good: My god... about half the weight of my B2, lots of bite but loose enough to be a lot of fun and monstrous through a VH4 or a Herbert. It's an absolute hooligan with the Warpigs and I loved it. I WANT ONE!!! But I can't have it. :cry: He's looking at staining options for the production run and will be experimenting shortly.
If you've got one ordered you'll love it. They're the most fun that you can have with your clothes on.
Anyway, July for my B7*. Got a chunk of Brazilian rosewood lined up for the fretboard and am waiting until his next shipment of wood to find the best match as a top. At that point we can discuss pickup choice. Oh yes.
* I ordered a B2 March 07. As I've known Doug for a while I was a 'whenever' build. Quite useful as my playing needs changed recently and the B7 would work better so I let him know a couple of months back. Bonus! He also asked me what all the 7 string business was about! :D
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Thanks for the update. I am still working on being proficient with six strings and think that 10 or 20 more years of playing should do the trick. Another string at this point would just screw the pooch for me. Cheers!
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Thanks for the update. I am still working on being proficient with six strings and think that 10 or 20 more years of playing should do the trick. Another string at this point would just screw the pooch for me. Cheers!
I'm still confused by it all myself (including 6 strings)! :oops:
Thing is, Doug's an awesome bloke but he does all of the construction himself which means that it's rather a slow process. It's the attention to detail, he's obsessed. I can see how these long waits could annoy folk... but just ask anyone who has one of his babies how damn hot they are. Well worth it IMO.
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2009 couldn't come soon enough.. I've got one ordered up. I kinda wish I could have found the cash to get both the B6 and a B7 though.
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However, I did get to play the first B6, with a ceramic + alnico Warpig set. :good: My god... about half the weight of my B2, lots of bite but loose enough to be a lot of fun and monstrous through a VH4 or a Herbert. It's an absolute hooligan with the Warpigs and I loved it. I WANT ONE!!! But I can't have it. :cry: He's looking at staining options for the production run and will be experimenting shortly.
If you've got one ordered you'll love it. They're the most fun that you can have with your clothes on.
Yup thats definitely right! It was awesome fun to play!
Got a chunk of Brazilian rosewood lined up for the fretboard and am waiting until his next shipment of wood to find the best match as a top. At that point we can discuss pickup choice. Oh yes.
You better not steal that billet of Lacewood Doug's been talking about! I want it! :twisted:
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He wanted the Lacewood for a personal project, I think, but not too sure on how final that is. I am interested in the Redwood if it arrives (and it then matches the BRW), and there's always the 2nd piece of figured Koa as an option.
He's trying to get a second piece of the reclaimed maple off the same guy that yours came from but no luck yet.
I'm a tad depressed that I didn't get a chance to look at your one before you picked it up. Doug was really pleased with the way that it came out and that's a great sign that it's an awesome instrument... I seem to remember him telling me on the phone that it tonally kicked the arse of his 'control' PRSes!
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Hairy chris, you arent chris the hairy from the nile boards, are you?
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Hairy chris, you arent chris the hairy from the nile boards, are you?
Yup. Old school there, noob here. :roll:
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Hairy chris, you arent chris the hairy from the nile boards, are you?
Yup. Old school there, noob here. :roll:
I'm D Man over there.
Other way round for me
Welcome to the boards!
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Thanks.
*wave*
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He wanted the Lacewood for a personal project, I think, but not too sure on how final that is. I am interested in the Redwood if it arrives (and it then matches the BRW), and there's always the 2nd piece of figured Koa as an option.
He's trying to get a second piece of the reclaimed maple off the same guy that yours came from but no luck yet.
I'm a tad depressed that I didn't get a chance to look at your one before you picked it up. Doug was really pleased with the way that it came out and that's a great sign that it's an awesome instrument... I seem to remember him telling me on the phone that it tonally kicked the arse of his 'control' PRSes!
Ah, I have a feeling I know what this "personal project" Doug speaks of is.. The figured Koa does sound pretty spectacular. I take it you've seen the billet he has at his house atm? Koa + BRW is supposed to be a match made in heaven.
I think Doug made an effort not to give away too much about my B2's sound before I heard it myself (he also refused to send me pics after it had been completed.. the barsteward :P). He certainly seemed pretty excited about it when I collected it though!
It's a bright guitar, but ballsy and fat at the same time, weird to describe in words, but it's fantastic when you hear it in person. Very very tight and punchy as well. I think Doug and I agree that it makes the perfect soulmate for the VH4 as well, with the Herbert there was almost too much high end, without the VH4s awesome fat mids to beef out the sound.
It's also the first Blackmachine to feature Painkillers, and I think Doug was somewhat enamoured with them, to the extent that he said his personal guitars are all going to feature them from now. If you want incredible punchy, clear, tight fatness, they're definitely worth considering.
Have you decided whether your guitar is going to be mahogany or swamp ash?
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If you want incredible punchy, clear, tight fatness, they're definitely worth considering.
Have you done a clip of it and I lost the topic? 8)
If don't, DO IT...
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If you want incredible punchy, clear, tight fatness, they're definitely worth considering.
Have you done a clip of it and I lost the topic? 8)
If don't, DO IT...
Nah no clips or vids yet I'm afraid! The only means I have for making clips is my POD, and I haven't found any tones I really like enough to record yet.
I tried to make a couple of videos the other day, but I managed to kill my camera's mic by turning the Diezel up just a tad too much.. :oops:
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Nah no clips or vids yet I'm afraid! The only means I have for making clips is my POD, and I haven't found any tones I really like enough to record yet.
I tried to make a couple of videos the other day, but I managed to kill my camera's mic by turning the Diezel up just a tad too much.. :oops:
Uh! :(
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Uh! :(
Yeah, exactly. :(
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Ah, I have a feeling I know what this "personal project" Doug speaks of is.. The figured Koa does sound pretty spectacular. I take it you've seen the billet he has at his house atm? Koa + BRW is supposed to be a match made in heaven.
I think Doug made an effort not to give away too much about my B2's sound before I heard it myself (he also refused to send me pics after it had been completed.. the barsteward :P). He certainly seemed pretty excited about it when I collected it though!
It's a bright guitar, but ballsy and fat at the same time, weird to describe in words, but it's fantastic when you hear it in person. Very very tight and punchy as well. I think Doug and I agree that it makes the perfect soulmate for the VH4 as well, with the Herbert there was almost too much high end, without the VH4s awesome fat mids to beef out the sound.
It's also the first Blackmachine to feature Painkillers, and I think Doug was somewhat enamoured with them, to the extent that he said his personal guitars are all going to feature them from now. If you want incredible punchy, clear, tight fatness, they're definitely worth considering.
Have you decided whether your guitar is going to be mahogany or swamp ash?
I had a look at the Koa/Mahogany body that he's almost completed. Spectacular. That's going to have the 1st piece of BRW as you mentioned. I've nicked the 2nd. As I've said I'm not sure what I'll go with for the top. I also don't know what the body will be - once we get the top sorted we can discuss this and a relevant pickup set.
I'd heard about the reclaimed maple a while back, and I happened to call him just after it had been finished & he was very impressed with the Painkiller + chambered mahogany combination. As his personal amp's the VH4 I think it worked out well and he really liked it. I'll imagine that the Painkiller set will go into the Koa/mahogany 6 string body.
I'm using an Einstein, fwiw. I managed to get hold of the production prototype from a guy on HC. Fun amp, definitely. Mode 3 is similar to the VH4's channel 3 and pretty tight so I'm after pickups to fatten this without losing too much definition. Massive clean mode. Apparently Jamie (Diezel) is a bit jealous as he's a fan of 1-offs. Haha!
My B2 Snakewood with the Miracle Man/Mule set is absolutely surgical - stupidly tight. I want a fatter sound with the B7. It's why I'm also pondering putting the MM/M set into my PRS because there's a lot more mahogany there and the IRW neck isn't quite as dense as the snakewood. These decisions are pending until I finalise the B7 specs, though.
It's all too complicated!
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Ahh you are one of those lucky guys with a Snakewood. I want one of those badly, badly, badly.. but it doesn't seem like anyone will ever be selling one :(
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Dez (lepersmeesa) has a snakewood aswell if I remember correctly.
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Hehe, there are 2 solids and an ebony laminate (Doug's old personal guitar that he recently sold) so there are only 3 of these in existence afaik. I'd be interested to see the other solid as apparently that was from the 1st log and had the best figuring. Mine came from the 2nd log which wasn't quite as insane. It's still pretty pr0nographic! :lol:
I somehow doubt that any of these will be up for sale any time soon. Mine certainly won't.... so sorry for that...
:twisted:
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I'd be interested to see the other solid as apparently that was from the 1st log and had the best figuring. Mine came from the 2nd log which wasn't quite as insane. It's still pretty pr0nographic! :lol:
:twisted:
Pics or it just DOESN'T EXIST! :D
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I'm such a tease.... Here's the back of the neck (polished, no treatement, staining or any other nonsense)
:D
(http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2100/2065067481_1280cdc616.jpg)
FWIW if you go to the MySpace Blackmachine page this guitar is the avatar. Still.;)