Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Ratrod on September 12, 2005, 12:28:59 PM

Title: Been shopping
Post by: Ratrod on September 12, 2005, 12:28:59 PM: I've been shopping this weekend. I've got me a brand new Dean Psychobilly.
(http://www.axemusic.com/Pictures/dean_psychocabbie.jpg)

I was planning on trying the THD Hotplate as well but I was running out of time.

I compared this guitar with some other hollow bodies; Epi Wildcat, Ibanez Artcore. The Epi was great but too bluesy, the Ibanez was too jazzy. I tried them on a tweed covered Fender '57 Twin (reissue). Good amp but it has nothing on my HRDLX wich is half the price.

Good things about the Dean: The looks are great! The material is all maple. The hardware is good; Grover tuners, proper tunomatic bridge (not the usual oriental cr@p), pots, electronics and switches are all good quality. The sound is instantly recognisable as a 6120.

Bad things about the Dean: The frets are small and a bit sloppy but no sharp edges. The truss rod needed half a turn. The pinstripe on the f-holes are a bit smudgy. The pickups are better than I expected but they still suck.

Planned improvements: I'm not sure about a refret, it depends wether I can live with it or not. Truss rod adjustment, no problem. Needs bigger and better strings. Maybe I'll do a little filing on the nut. I've ordered some dice knobs from guitarbones.com and some black GFS retrotron hot Nashville pickups.

I'm curious about these pickups, they will look killer on this guitar and they're cheap so it's worth the risk. Maybe I'll get some other pickups in the future. I need to experiment with the guitar, the pickups and my playing style. This way I can figure out what I exactly need from the pickups in a hollow body guitar. Who knows? Double screw coil, black covered Riff Raffs maybe?
Title: Been shopping
Post by: HJM on September 12, 2005, 01:58:58 PM: That's a close match to one of the Ibanez RGs I have.....

Nice looking guitar - all the Deans I've played have been pretty good. :P
Title: Been shopping
Post by: Ratrod on September 12, 2005, 03:38:33 PM: Thanks HJM. I have to say the Epi Wildcat played better but the Dean has THAT sound. On top of that, you'll have to get used to the fact that the neck is in a different time zone.
Title: Been shopping
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on September 12, 2005, 03:59:19 PM: That looks cool!
I thought you wanted that Reverend guitar, tho?
Title: Been shopping
Post by: Ratrod on September 12, 2005, 04:53:03 PM: I've done some checking up on the Reverend. It sounds too similar to my Reverend Wolfman. This hollow body is totally different animal. And yeah, the cool factor on this is out of this world. :P
Title: Been shopping
Post by: jt on September 13, 2005, 02:46:13 AM: :D i was going to say what Ben said. Have to say it looks killer Ratty !!

:D 8)
Title: Been shopping
Post by: Ratrod on September 13, 2005, 10:51:04 AM: As soon as I've pimped it up a bit I'll post some pics. The pickups I've ordered and the dice will make it look very cool.

(http://site.guitarfetish.com/Nashville_BLACK_SILO.jpg)

(http://www.guitar-bones.com/store/uploads/hardrock_green.jpg)

If those GFS pickups won't work out, I might swap them for BKP's. Maybe a set of Alnico III Riff Raffs with a double screw coil and black covers.

I'm sorry if I'm offending anybody for posting a pic of a non BKP pickup. I know it's blasphemy.
Title: Been shopping
Post by: HJM on September 13, 2005, 11:45:30 AM: I'm sure you'll see the light eventually!!!!
:wink:

That guitar will look cool once pimped :P
Title: Been shopping
Post by: tav on September 13, 2005, 04:22:39 PM: lol @ psychobilly - reminds me of my teenage love of bands like the Meteors and the Guanabatz. Is it coming back in then?????
Title: Been shopping
Post by: Ratrod on September 13, 2005, 04:28:04 PM: Rockabilly/psychobilly is growing here in Holland. It's still underground, though. The scene in Germany is huge! Ever listened to Reverend Horton Heat?
Title: Been shopping
Post by: indysmith on September 13, 2005, 04:49:56 PM: HAHA, you are odd. i certainly admire your differentness. i can't really see the attraction though myself!! I'm trying, i'm sure i'll get it eventually :wink: the dice- WHY?!?!
Title: Been shopping
Post by: Ratrod on September 13, 2005, 06:51:43 PM: Yeah, I have very wide taste in music. Rockabilly is very challenging to play and a lotta fun. Bring in some hard rock and metal influences (and some more overdrive) and you've got psychobilly. The dice? That's a rock n' roll and hot rod thing.
Title: Been shopping
Post by: indysmith on September 13, 2005, 07:04:43 PM: :P now i'm intrigued, would ya give me some psychobilly artists to listen to? thanks. i'll tell ya if i like
Title: Been shopping
Post by: Ratrod on September 13, 2005, 07:10:18 PM: Download some stuff from Reverend Horton Heat. Must hear songs: 'Baddest Of The Bad' and 'Wiggle Stick'. I'm sure it's on Kazaa or something.
Title: Been shopping
Post by: indysmith on September 13, 2005, 08:59:00 PM: Quote from: Ratrod
Download some stuff from Reverend Horton Heat. Must hear songs: 'Baddest Of The Bad' and 'Wiggle Stick'. I'm sure it's on Kazaa or something.

Dude i went to their website, and i love that song thats on there; "new york city girls". i can't download any more atm cuz i'm on my brother's pc (my room's being decorated) but i might go look for a CD of theirs. Gotta say, it hasn't inspired me to even consider getting a rockabilly guitar :P
Title: Been shopping
Post by: Ratrod on September 14, 2005, 06:28:27 PM: Right, I forgot. The songs are played on the website. Poor quality though. I still have to order Lucky 7 and Revival.

Holy Roller is sort of a 'best of' album. A nice introduction.
Title: Been shopping
Post by: indysmith on September 16, 2005, 02:45:18 PM: thanks a lot. i'm loving the album, LOL. its good in the car