Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Twinfan on August 01, 2008, 09:16:29 PM
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I played a lovely Fender CS relic Tele today which looked and sounded fantastic, but was £2200 :o
I know of Nash, Bravewood and McGuire relic Teles that are available here in the UK for less money than a Fender Custom Shop. Does anyone know of any other builders?
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I don't know any others offhand, apart from the Japanese ones like Bacchus and ESP/Edwards. And of course Vintage at the budget end of the market.
.... but I think I can hear that money starting to burn a hole in your pocket, Dave. :wink:
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Ha ha - I've got no cash for anything at the moment! Just a longer term plan for me at the minute. Or something to buy if the two reissues Ibanez's on order don't appear ;)
I've always fancied a beat up old Tele. I've no idea why as I'm more of a Gibson humbucker man. I must be getting old...
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Does this mean you've had a rethink on the Keef/Rich humbucker Tele project?
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Nope.
I'm going to get a Squier Classic Vibe Tele and put a 'bucker in the neck. I'll then play both for a while and decide which style I prefer, regular Tele or the 'buckered style.
Then I'll chop them both in and get the appropriate relic :)
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A man with a plan! :lol:
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Ha Ha, you're as mad as me!
Tele-itus, that's what you've got mate!
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i would build you one but in all honesty it would be shite compared to the bravewood you would get for the same money... i want one,.... see if you can get one!!!!
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McGuire are the only decent ones I know of, but you've already mentioned them. I played one in vintage & rare a while back & was gob smacked how lovely they were
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I'd never heard of McGuire before but I've just been checking out the ones on V & R's site and they look amazing! Maybe not quite Bravewood level, but minus the long waiting list and intimidation factor!
And the prices are (relatively speaking) very cheap.
Anyone got any more info about them? A website?
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Dearnaley's are meant to be very good:
http://www.shedpickups.co.uk/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=40&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID= (http://www.shedpickups.co.uk/asp/prodtype.asp?prodtype=40&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=)
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http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3826
Mcguire ain't that cheap
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Mcguire ain't that cheap
No, but several hundred quid less than a Fender relic - and the relic jobs look better, I think. Certainly better than Nash, which look very phoney.
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http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3826
Mcguire ain't that cheap
We had this on another thread recently, and I immediately chimed in with a +1... but this time I agree with Philly, "relatively" cheap. Luckily they've sold that death relic strat, it looks a lot more "authentic" than the Fender CS one, for almost down to half the price...
In fact, Philly, wot have you done? I think I might jump on the auld tube up to Denmark St right now - I've always been scared to go in V+R, it looks too expensive... but at least I've got an opening statement now, when they ask what I think I'm doing :lol: what are they called again... "Mcguire" ?
(It's daft, isn't it, I'm old enough to be some of these people's Dad nowadays, but I still feel like I'm some sort of teenager who probably shouldn't be their shop without proof of income... hmmm...)
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In fact, Philly, wot have you done? I think I might jump on the auld tube up to Denmark St right now
Sorry, Andy :oops: . But not my fault if you buy something.
I've always been scared to go in V+R, it looks too expensive... but at least I've got an opening statement now, when they ask what I think I'm doing what are they called again... "Mcguire" ?
(It's daft, isn't it, I'm old enough to be some of these people's Dad nowadays, but I still feel like I'm some sort of teenager who probably shouldn't be their shop without proof of income... hmmm...)
Oh, tell me about it :lol: ! I feel a bit less intimidated nowadays though - I seem to get less snotty attitude from shop staff.
I'm too scruffy to look rich, but I'm old enough that I might be rich. :)
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Well, I brushed me hair, that'll have to do...
I was already toying with the idea of trogging up there today anyway - my fingers are sore from playing the tele, the missus is away, and I can't go there for the next few weekends cos there's a whole load of cricket I'm going to...
Although.. last time I went up there without her... it proved more costly than I was expecting...
Still, she is kind of expecting a "new something or other" in the house when she gets back!
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Then I'll chop them both in and get the appropriate relic :)
X2 ????
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^ :lol: that's exactly what I thought as well!!
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:lol:
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Well folks, I've been in Vintage and Rare, they didn't chuck me out on me ear.
And I have seen and touched :o these Mcguire relics. The ones on the website are the very ones in the flesh (or should I say "the splinters") in the shop. The rory one is gone, but the white one, the sunburst, the candy apple red, the bashed up blackface tele, etc... they're all there...
And so is this very cute girl working there who seems to know lots about geetars. She tells me Mr Mcguire makes about four a month, they go up on the website, but they get divided between London and Bath, so phone first... I said it was quite refreshing there being nothing on the headstock. She said that if that were a problem... she, er, knows "where to get the transfers" (shhh... etc).
So what are these things like? Well, I did hear people (one somewhat older than me, one considerably younger) playing some. Both of them were playing through some very dodgy sounding effects they were trying out, so I can't say much about tones, but I have handled them extensively. The nice lady kept pressing them into my arms so that I could, er, experience them. Unlike the custom shop jobbies I've furtively touched in other shops before, these guys really are relic'd. Be very wary about ordering a "Ritchie Blackmore" strat site-unseen, is all I can say, it might well arrive, very authentically, in several different boxes....
The white one, for example has a severely warped scratch-plate, very authentic I understand, but... I feel uncomfortable at the asking price when looking down while playing I can see the pickups from under the scratchplate!
The sun-burst is actually missing the tip of the scratch-plate off the bottom horn, what you can see in the picture is the metal screening.
Plastic parts don't have cracks painted on, they are cracked, metal work is rusting, and where lacquer has worn off on necks and fingerboards, it does feel like you might get splinters until you've worn it in with your own bodily excretions... :?
I don't know, for me they might be a tad over-relic'd, they do feel authentic, but they feel like they've been, I dunno, a bit abused. I'd have to play one without ring-modulating-skunk-fuzz, or whatever it was, blasting away in the corner to find out what they'r like as instruments. But I just get the feeling these things are not for me!! I think I'd rather buy several Jap reissues and see whether my skin falls off before theirs does. But I do suspect that if I had the money in my pocket, that girl could probably talk me into anything, so remind me not to go there again on my own :lol:
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That gets the award for post of the week, Andy! :)
Knowledgeable attractive girls in guitar shops? Whatever next? Hmmmm, I'm a bit short of picks, might have to drop into V & R tomorrow...
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:lol:
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I've always found the folk in V&R to be great! Always ask how you're doing and if you need any help, and tell you that if you want to play something, just let em know.
And I'm a filthy teenager!
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^ Yep, that's exactly the vibe I got Indy. I was quite surprised by it. Looking in the window for the last x years, I'd always thought it looked like an "appointment only" sort of establishment.
Be very wary Philly, only take change or the odd note, there's something about the atmosphere in there that makes it seem perfectly natural to spend several grand on some old guitar once every month or so...
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Be very wary Philly, only take change or the odd note, there's something about the atmosphere in there that makes it seem perfectly natural to spend several grand on some old guitar once every month or so...
I did once spend £1,500 on a '64 SG Special at their old shop (in Fulham or wherever it was). That was a big mistake - lovely sounding guitar, but so difficult to play. No more vintage guitars for this boy! :)
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The V&R staff in Denmark Street don't, in my opinion, tend to have a snotty attitude. It could be that I always go in there in suit on my way back to work, but I find them very laid back and helpful.
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yeah, they were more than nice to me, and i was probably in old jeans/combats and most likely a transformers or thundercats t-shirt. i could probably have passed for someone in his late teens at the time too.
big difference from a lot of the other shops in denmark street (though wunjo is cool too).
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Bravewood for me are the best, but there is a wait to get one. They have the vintage feel as well as the look. I've played a few, and they all manage to have the mojo that an old guitar has.
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Bravewood for me are the best, but there is a wait to get one. They have the vintage feel as well as the look. I've played a few, and they all manage to have the mojo that an old guitar has.
Haven't tried one, but they certainly look amazing on the website! But I'd be nervous about ordering one, the guy comes across as a bit scary, as I've said before. :lol:
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Great review Andy - thanks!
The Bravewoods always look like they've had the edges bashed too much for me. Almost too uniform or something? Plus there's the big wait. However, I like the fact they're built from scratch and not Fender licensed parts.
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Bravewood for me are the best, but there is a wait to get one. They have the vintage feel as well as the look. I've played a few, and they all manage to have the mojo that an old guitar has.
Haven't tried one, but they certainly look amazing on the website! But I'd be nervous about ordering one, the guy comes across as a bit scary, as I've said before. :lol:
Actually John is a very nice guy, but he is a perfectionist, so he hates to be interupted, especially if it is someone asking how to duplicate his vintage finishes! If you deal with emails, or make an appointment to visit, then he will chat for hours (of course some of this could be because I can talk for hours too). When I got my first guitar I tried his various neck shapes and saw the different colours that he does (he doesn't offer all colours because he has to have seen the real thing in order to duplicate the aging). Currently he is making me a Jazz Bass and a replica of my 57 Strat, but in sunburst not white. What I do is drop him an email every 2 or 3 months, and then he will let me know if there are any questions. I always believe this is the best way to work with someone because if you leave them to it they can get on with the job. The thing to realise about a vintage finish is that if has to 'cure' before the aging process can start, this cannot be rushed, so there is no point in bothering him since he can't make it happen any faster.
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and i really, really liked phils bravewood. The attention to detail blew me away and it in no way did it feel rough.... it felt like a well loved old guitar!!
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His guitar looks like he is a great builder, but this bugs me:
I reserve the right to cancel any order, at any stage should I feel the need to do so, if this situation arises, any money paid will be returned.
In the interest of continual improvement, I also reserve the right to change specifications without notice.
:?
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That's quite rubbish. I don't like that. At all.
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it means that he isnt going to let a guitar out of the workshop that he isnt entirely satisfied with, i dont think thats so bad
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I'm two minds, first reaction was same as Fernanado and Twinfan, but when I jokingly thought "now there's an 'artisitic temperament'... " I realised that he is a kindred spirit.
I was well known for what others called my "artistic strops" when I was leading bands back in the 80s/90s, and of course, I was always right :lol:
So I kinda see where he's coming from. If I was interested in a Bravewood - and I'm reaching the conclusion I probably won't be interested in a relic - I would see how we got on in initial discussions/negotiations, and if we're talking the same language I'd regard that comment as re-assuring. If we didn't hit it off I'd regard the comment as a bit of a warning!
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it means that he isnt going to let a guitar out of the workshop that he isnt entirely satisfied with, i dont think thats so bad
That's not how I read it Wez, otherwise he wouldn't give the money back? He'd just start again?
I read that as "if I get pissed off with you, or this particular build, or I decide to jack it all in then I'll just give you your cash back".
That's not the way I would run a business!
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it sounds to me like he includes that disclaimer because of a bad experience and i would think it is very rare that he has to put it into action.
i bet most times things go wrong he does start again rather than jack it in completely - like andy says, it would be worth communicating with him first to get a feel for how he does business and maybe ask how often he has to jack it in
i'm a over excited convert because of the one bravewood i got to examine and play with for a bit, the disclaimer wouldnt put me off now - although i think i would go for a lighter relic rather than the heavier ones
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I guess the Dearnaley reference I posted earlier got submerged. Have a read of this:
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Dearnaley+Guitars/Relic+Strat/10/1 (http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Dearnaley+Guitars/Relic+Strat/10/1)
They reviewed a Strat and a Tele in Guitar Mag a year or two ago, and the reviewer bought one of them! :)
No artistic toy-throwing either. FWIW, I don't care who you are, it's no way to run a business.
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I'm going to jump in and defend John at Bravewood once more! I have met with him 3 times in person, and swapped emails and phone calls many times. He has always been a pleasure to work with, even though my first guitar is an HSS modified Strat (which I thought he might not want to do). The problem he has had (like many other custom builders I suspect), are time wasters and also mind changers. He is a one man company and he makes everything himself from scratch (including some metal parts), and does all the spraying and finishing. He doesn't list his phone number anymore because of the need to get on with things without interuption.
With anything that you are having built for you, it is important to decide exactly what you want before you start to get it made. Once the job starts there are many factors that will cause frustration to the maker and extra expense to change. Also, you have to be prepared to wait, and I think this is where the problem comes in. My first guitar took about 14 months to finish. My Jazz bass is now pushing 17 months (but to be fair on this I told him that I was not in a hurry and so he wanted to let the finish harden and age more before 'relicing' it). I am currently having 2 other guitars done (a replica of my 57 strat and a rebuild of my 61). I dropped off the parts for the 61 and the neck for the 57, in April and then came back 3 days later to collect the 57 neck (he was just measuring and profiling it). I haven't checked on the progress of these since. I worked out what I wanted for the 57, and went through a couple of options with him, and was lucky enough to spot a body that was perfect that he was already working on. I'll probably drop him an email in the next week or two, just to say hi and see how things are going. I will not be back in the UK until October and John knows this, so that is when I will collect the bass. If anything else is ready it will be a plus, but it is not a problem if they aren't. If I was younger or hadn't had a lot of things made for me that took a long time, I would get frustrated with the wait, however once you play the guitar, then you can see why he needs the time.
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Pardon me chipping in (as I havn't dealt with the guy) but I suspect that the seeming harsh terms may also be to do with people trying to change specs and not being entirely sure of what they want.
When (almost) everything is built from scratch many people don't realise the amount of work a seeming small change entails. Imagine somebody wanting a small change in the neck while he is waiting for the laquer to age properly.
Most other builders would just sling another neck on the guitar, but for him to do that would mean waiting for the replacement neck to get to the right condition to be reliced, with the customer no doubt complaining about the late delivery.
I see it as a means of protecting himself from hassle he could do without.
As for the possible spec changes thats in everybodys small print
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I believe you guys, but I still think he could had wrote it in a better way, even because if you don't know the guy (my case) the things looks weird to read, like don't give you trust enough to make an order...
More or less he should write what you guys have wrote here, instead of what he wrote...
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Seems like a nice enough deal, nice looking guitars etc.
But I don't really want to know how many emails I sent Jonathan regarding little bits of everything, screwing around with my Kahler'd LP etc, probably spent a fair bit of time on the phone, and he was happy all the way through it. IMO just a different business approach, I would prefer the happy one though :)
All the my price is at a premium etc, although true, gets tiring. Luthiers are always dishing out info and advice in the tech forum here.
I think it would probably be worth the business, as they are unique, but treat it as a very formal transaction.
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It looks like Bravewood no longer take custom orders,
http://www.bravewoodguitars.co.uk/FutureBuilds.html
... unless that page is out-of-date.
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There's a link to it from the FAQs page, but it's not clear on the rest of the site.
I've just had a good read of the stuff on his site and while I understand his time is at a premium, I don't personally care for his attitude
I'll be taking a closer look at Fenders, Nashs, McGuires and those Dearnaleys.......
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I've just had a good read of the stuff on his site and while I understand his time is at a premium, I don't personally care for his attitude
I think it may be just the way he comes across "in writing", after all Phil has met him and says he's a decent guy. I find the tone offputting (and a bit intimidating) too, but let's not indulge in too much Bravewood-bashing without personal experience.
Maybe he just needs to learn the use of emoticons. :oops: :wink: :roll: :lol: :P
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Just read that page on his site, and it made me laugh! :lol:
Welcome to running a small business mate! The second paragraph describes most customers of businesses that produce any type of "custom" item.
The trick is managing your customers properly.
Young salesman: "Stupid customer!"
His boss: "There are no stupid customers son, only stupid salesmen."
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I've just had a good read of the stuff on his site and while I understand his time is at a premium, I don't personally care for his attitude
I think it may be just the way he comes across "in writing", after all Phil has met him and says he's a decent guy. I find the tone offputting (and a bit intimidating) too, but let's not indulge in too much Bravewood-bashing without personal experience.
Maybe he just needs to learn the use of emoticons. :oops: :wink: :roll: :lol: :P
That may be the case Phil, and I'm not bashing him. I'm just saying that my impressions of him are made via his website. Based on that, I'm not impressed so he won't get my money. I'm sure he won't lose any sleep over it and neither will I! :lol:
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Actually, I quite like the fact that he's no longer taking custom orders.
If he someday has something I really like the look of, I might just spring for it - whereas I'd be terrified to ask him for a fat neck, big frets and a 9.5" radius. :lol:
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The trick is managing your customers properly
Wise word for anyone in business.
Don't hold your breath Philly Q, I've been keeping my eye on the Bravewood 'for sale' page for the past 3-4 months.
All I've seen up there, so far, is a p-bass and a links to someone spring-cleaning their guitar collection.
Unless it's all gone before I get there.
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Don't hold your breath Philly Q, I've been keeping my eye on the Bravewood 'for sale' page for the past 3-4 months.
All I've seen up there, so far, is a p-bass and a links to someone spring-cleaning their guitar collection.
Unless it's all gone before I get there.
All well and good, I don't really want to spend that much money! :lol:
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It might be timing, but I have seen a couple of Tele's there as well as a P-Bass. I know John has been building for the site, but I think everything gets snapped up. He was working on some LPB things when I was there last.
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Ah, that must be it.
If you're not fast, you're last :lol:
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LPB? Les Paul Bass?
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I guess the Dearnaley reference I posted earlier got submerged. Have a read of this:
http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Dearnaley+Guitars/Relic+Strat/10/1 (http://reviews.harmony-central.com/reviews/Guitar/product/Dearnaley+Guitars/Relic+Strat/10/1)
They reviewed a Strat and a Tele in Guitar Mag a year or two ago, and the reviewer bought one of them! :)
No artistic toy-throwing either. FWIW, I don't care who you are, it's no way to run a business.
With reference to Dearnaley, Dave did a fret polish on my Charvel because I was getting some buzz on the high frets. It was better but not quite 100%. His relics do look nice though. Sadly I didn't get chance to play one when I was in his shop.
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LPB? Les Paul Bass?
Lake Placid Blue - Fender custom colour
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Have I missed it in the thread or has no-one mentioned Bill Nash specifically?
http://www.nashguitars.com/
Not played one but heard good things
Mike
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Have I missed it in the thread or has no-one mentioned Bill Nash specifically?
I've mentioned them twice fella ;)
I find his relic'ing a bit hit and miss, but they're a good price.
The McGuires are appealing to me most at the moment.....
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Not only have I played a Nash, I had a 57 strat of his at home for 6 months or so. Form a few feet away they loo good, but when you have it in your hands they are not that impressive. There is no lacquer checking, the finish just looks like it was sanded over to dull it off, and then a few chips added. The neck had all the lacquer removed from the headstock to the heel, but uniformly, not in any way like it would wear if you played it. More like how it would be if you sanded it. The neck and body felt like generic 'Allparts' ones, and the metalwork was not vintage correct (for example, the bridge saddles were 'FENDER/FENDER' not 'FENDER/PAT PEND'. He had Voodoo pickups on it, but they don't sound like Apaches. The plastic aging was pretty good, but overall I thought that for the price in the US, a Fender relic would be better value.
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Phil
Is there any guitar that you do not own or have not played?
:lol:
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A bit of an update for you all.
I went to Vintage and Rare guitars today to try some Teles out, so I can add my comments to those of AndyR's earlier:
Fender NoCaster Relic - A complete non starter for me. The neck is HUGE. Half a baseball bat huge. I didn't like it at all so it went straight back on the stand. Far too uncomfortable.
Nash Sunburst 60s Tele relic - It played nice, with a comfy C-shaped strat-ish neck. Matt finish was good but it looked fake. Very fake. A nice 'bitsa' partscaster but I didn't think it was worth the £1300 asking price.
McGuire Black Guard 50s Tele - This is where it gets interesting. Very nice 'chunky C' shaped neck with rolled edges. Very comfortable to play. Relic'ing was pretty heavy and as Andy says it looks 'abused' rather than 'used'. Quite a fat sounding guitar, but a bit closed if that makes sense? More like a punch than an open hand slap in the tone department when you belt a chord out. Could well have been the pickups doing that (they were Lollars). It would have taken gain very well. I would swap the pickups for something lighter and see if that opened the guitar up a bit. But it might not. The finish was a bit too glossy for my liking, which was a bit of down side. Still my second favourite though, and superb value for money. It reminded me a lot of my Baja Tele, if it had been heavily abused for 50 years!
Fender '58 Custom Shop Heavy Relic - What can I say. Awesome. Light, resonant, every note was clear, relic'ing was heavy but appropriate, superb rounded V neck (like a worn in Baja), great pickups, lovely open sounding guitar that rang like a bell. Exactly what I imagined a great Tele should sound like. Not in the least bit harsh, but bright and zingy. Incredible. Goes to show Fender still know how to do it!
Oh, and the young lass in there is cute ;)
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thx for that twinfan, good to know how the fenders compare. and it reinforces that you should always try many guitars if you have the chance
i must say i have always looked at the fender relics with a 'can do better myself' attitude (although it might take a bit of practice).... i guess my point is that i could always see what they had done to get the effect even if if i might need more practice to do it myself
I looked at phils bravewood strat for a long time to try and figure out how it was all done... i couldnt quite see it. even the dirt didnt seem like some one had got a teabag or soil and rubbed it on.. it was the right kind of dirt in the right places... like i say... blown away!!!
the fact it played great and sounded great also help of course
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No problem Wez. I was expecting them to be a lot closer than they were, but straight away the McGuire and the Fender leapt out as the top two. I did play another Fender relic that was a lot closer to the McGuire overall so it's still worth trying a few out if you can to find that really special one. It was the last McGuire in the shop, so I'm assuming it was the 'worst' of the bunch they have had in.
If you could find a McGuire as nice as the #1 Fender you'd get an absolute steal. But that Fender was something else...
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Fender '58 Custom Shop Heavy Relic - What can I say. Awesome. Light, resonant, every note was clear, relic'ing was heavy but appropriate, superb rounded V neck (like a worn in Baja), great pickups, lovely open sounding guitar that rang like a bell. Exactly what I imagined a great Tele should sound like. Not in the least bit harsh, but bright and zingy. Incredible. Goes to show Fender still know how to do it!
This one?
http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3841
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Nope. I only briefly played on that one (acoustically) as I wasn't keen on the colour so I can't really say how good it was.
This is the one I loved: http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3938 (http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3938)
(http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/media/products/main_10388.jpg)
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Nope. I only briefly played on that one (acoustically) as I wasn't keen on the colour so I can't really say how good it was.
This is the one I loved: http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3938 (http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/web/our-catalogue/Fender/Electric-Guitars/item/3938)
(http://www.vintageandrareguitars.com/media/products/main_10388.jpg)
Looks fantastic. Were you not tempted to buy it? :wink:
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Yep, very very very tempted.
So I did.
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Haha, congratulations. I'm so jealous.
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Yep, very very very tempted.
So I did.
You're joking!? :o
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Nope. I'm still shocked myself.
There was some pre-planning involved to be completely honest. I took a couple of guitars down to London with me to possibly trade in for a nice Tele. I didn't want to spend that much, but it really was something special so I just had to have it. I actually got superb trade-in prices for my LP and Strat, so I was a happy bunny. Me and Mrs Twinfan had a great day out in London too, so all-in-all it worked out great.
Now I've got to sell my Gibson SG and my Baja Tele.......
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Nope. I'm still shocked myself.
Congrats!! I am exceedingly jealous. Take some pics and start a new thread!! :)
I would've bought the Baja if I hadn't just ordered a cab from Martin!
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Congrats!! I am exceedingly jealous. Take some pics and start a new thread!! :)
I would've bought the Baja if I hadn't just ordered a cab from Martin!
Cheers Sam :)
Nice work on the cab too - it'll look and sound fantastic.
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:lol:
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hahaha, nice work, at least you make the rest of us not look so bad...
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Yep, very very very tempted.
So I did.
Rofl - Did anyone NOT see this coming? :lol:
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Twinfan I am really pleased for you-that is a beatiful guitar.
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Thanks Mr 38th! If you're ever up in Manchester and want to try it out, give me a shout. :)
I think the Red Sparkle paint will divide some people's opinions, but to me it looks uber-cool and the relic'ing is just how I like it done. It's exactly what I'd expect a great Tele to sound like. The price was heart attack inducing, but I traded two guitars in and will be selling two more to pay for it. A four-for-one deal if you will as part of the collection consolidation I'm currently going through.
I the GAS is subsiding.....
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Nice! Not sure if I like or dislike the color... had to see it in person
This guitar should be awesome, you traded FOUR guitar for it :o
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When I got my 57 it had been sprayed Dakota Red and looked a lot like that (except the pickguard had a big decal on it to hide where it had been patched after a humbucker had been fitted between the pickups). It is a great look. I did end up changing mine around and putting the 59 blonde body on the 57 neck, but looking at yours I think I should change it back!!
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:lol: Cheers Phil! I'm probably biased, but I reckon I've got a looker of a Tele ;)
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it is definately a beaut!
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Telecasters are my favourite guitar type, so you can imagine how jealous I am right now. That looks like one of those for-the-rest-of-my-life purchases.
I've always been one of those "£500-£800 is the quality/value sweet spot" guitar buyers but I've never been 100% happy with my purchases. Maybe I need to change my thinking and have a smaller number of higher price guitars. Ones that are all 'keepers'. Buying something every other year, not every 6 months.
The Fender Custom Shop price structure puzzles me. It looks to me like there are 3 price bands, £1800, £2500 & £3500. I've always wondered (never played one) if the £3500 Masterbuilt are really better than the £2500 Teambuilt.
Congratulations on the tele, it looks great in red :D
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Telecasters are my favourite guitar type, so you can imagine how jealous I am right now. That looks like one of those for-the-rest-of-my-life purchases.
That's exactly what it is to me. I traded in a couple of "not great but very valuable sentimentally" guitars for it, so it's a complete keeper.
I've always been one of those "£500-£800 is the quality/value sweet spot" guitar buyers but I've never been 100% happy with my purchases. Maybe I need to change my thinking and have a smaller number of higher price guitars. Ones that are all 'keepers'. Buying something every other year, not every 6 months.
That's exactly what I've been through Ken. After I bought my first PRS it really made me go "whoa, so THAT'S what a great guitar sounds and plays like!" and since then I've been switching to the "less quantity, more quality" school of guitar collection. I've still got a bunch of Ibanez RGs that I collect for collecting's sake, but my number of 'players' is reducing quite rapidly. I think I'm pretty much done now, but I've said that before...
The Fender Custom Shop price structure puzzles me. It looks to me like there are 3 price bands, £1800, £2500 & £3500. I've always wondered (never played one) if the £3500 Masterbuilt are really better than the £2500 Teambuilt.
Yeah, the pricing is a little odd. The Nocaster Relics are around £1800 and they're great guitars if you like the neck. They hold their value really well and seem to be the entry level "regular production guitars" for the Custom Shop. Moving to the Teambuilts like mine I think you get a bit more attention to detail, more time on the relic'ing, special runs etc. Generally something a bit different re. pickups, frets, colours etc.
The Masterbuilts, to me, are a bit of a con. The number of Masterbuilts they can churn out from one guy doesn't add up, so I believe they're more of a "MasterSupervised". The Masterbuilder chooses the woods and inspects the guitar at all stages but that one guy doesn't build the complete guitar - they just wouldn't have time. I think it's a marketing thing and to pay an extra £1000 seems unrealistic and incredibly expensive. I seriously doubt they would play or sound much better than a Teambuilt, and £1000 is a LOT of extra cash.
I think the £1800-£2500 guitars are for the players, and the Masterbuilts are for the collectors.
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Yep, very very very tempted.
So I did.
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Just catching up after a few days away so I've only just seen this.
I'm not crazy about the colour (never liked red much, even though I've ended up with loads of cherry guitars) but other than that it looks awesome!
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Haar from Netherlands makes the most awesome relic teles for about 1200-1500 EUR (incl. Suhr/BK pickups). He is great to deal with as well.
www.haarguitars.nl
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Cheers Hunter - I'll check those out for curiosity. That's cheap!
I've just ordered a four-way switch for the relic. The Twisted Tele neck pickup already has the separate ground for the neck pickup cover so it's an easy swap. After that it'll be my perfect Tele :D
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That is a very nice looking guitar, top purchase - and would it also happen to be featured on the back of latest Guitarist magazine in V&R's add?
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I don't know - is it??? I'll have to dig out my copy later...
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Nah it's not - that one has a rosewood fretboard
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Cheers Indy - they had a used 60s Tele in Candy Apple Red advertised on their site. It must be that one.
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ANother builder is NASH in the US
http://www.nashguitars.com/
Klapmman in Germany
http://proguitar.de/
Most good Guitar builders can do you a Fender or Gibson Custom Shop relic
Look at Slash - he relaunched the Les Paul with one that wasn't even a Gibson but one was was built by Chris Deering (I thought there was also some Max guy who also did him another LP but can't remember)
http://www.slashsworld.com/equipment/59-les-paul-replica-built-by-chris-derrig/
Telecasters - Paisley Teles
Brad Paisley has his built by Crook
http://www.crookcustomguitars.com/
Also the first Fender relics were assembled by Fender but the relicing was done by Vince Cunetto
from 95 to 99 - if you have one of these hold on to it as the are only about 4,500 and they are going up in value unlike the large number of Custom Shop product from Gibson and Fender as seen by prices on Ebay and such.
http://www.stratcollector.com/newsdesk/archives/000068.html
Bruce Stringkiller
PS Thanks for the Haar link
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Slash had two '59 copies before the Gibson '87, one build by Max and the other by Deering
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Derrig wasn't it?
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I'd never heard of McGuire before but I've just been checking out the ones on V & R's site and they look amazing! Maybe not quite Bravewood level, but minus the long waiting list and intimidation factor!
And the prices are (relatively speaking) very cheap.
Anyone got any more info about them? A website?
Hello - I'm new here - seems a good place to be!
I found the forum when looking for info on a McGuire Tele I played in Vintage and Rare, Denmark Street London. Didn't find much at all, but had to buy the beauty! I was in the market for a Nash, and fortunately, V&G had not only a custom Tele, but a 52 blackguard tele too for direct comparison.
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l166/snakehips2006/McGuire%20Telecaster/IMG_9295.jpg)
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l166/snakehips2006/McGuire%20Telecaster/IMG_9302.jpg)
(http://i96.photobucket.com/albums/l166/snakehips2006/McGuire%20Telecaster/IMG_9299.jpg)
There was really no contest between the two in a head to head, the McGuire:
- played amazingly well - the best Tele I've ever had my hands on
- sounded alive and very resonant
- had a fantastic tonal range between (Lollar) pickups
- light at 7lb
- looked awesome - totally authentic/belivable.
Nothing 'wrong' with the Nash, still a great buy and £200 cheaper. Having played two Nash Strats and the Tele, I was a little disappointed with the feel/look of the fingerboard, a little flat and 'new' feeling. The finish wasn't totally believable either. I haven't seen a Nash '52, but it looks from photos that Bill manages a more authentic look on those.
However, with the McGuire, I feel like I now have a bona fide '52 - it's a little unsettling after all those years of lusting after one! I can only describe it as similar to when you look at a hologram - you know it's flat really! The fingerboard is rolled and feels played-in though the fretboard wear is a touch too much for my taste, but not a problem.
Lastly, I tried my ear to the body test! I don't know whether others do this, but it gives a great representation of resonance and tone transfer. I plucked a spring and the attack was immediate, transparent and very loud.
Yes, I like my new purchase!
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Congratulations on the McGuire :) Yours in the exact guitar I played - I remember the 'stand' marks on the bottom edge of the body either side of the end pin.
Sorry if my earlier comments re. your guitar's tone offend you in any way :oops: But if we all liked the same thing the world would be a boring place, and you wouldn't have that guitar ;)
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No, not at all! blimey, that's why I'm here, just giving another person's view that's all! Your comments seemed very complimentary...
I think I know you from the Tokai Forum? I spend most of my time there banging on about japanese vintage guitars - but I couldn't find a Tele in the McGuire's league - there's a pic on my (hobby!) website at www.plankspankers.co.uk (http://www.plankspankers.co.uk) I'll put the McGuire up there too when I get a chance.
Cheers
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Yep, I go on the Tokai forum from time to time :)
Your McGuire is a very nice guitar ;)
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Blimey, that looks good. Much better than a Nash, although I can only judge by pictures.
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I can't see the pics yet (at work) - but I think I might have handled it as well. Was a bit too relic'd for me but the lady tells me the McGuires have varying degrees of relic...
But I'm not buying.
No.
Honest.
Even though I've put in enough overtime for 1/3 of one in the last month and will each month for the foreseeable future...
No.
I'm not biting...
(someone shut me up)
Welcome to the forum anyway :D
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...I just had to buy it, I walked away and tortured myself with the thought over the weekend, but come Monday, that was it, up on the train to Tottenham Court Road.
After quite a few internet purchases, including several japanese vintage guitars, it was nice to get that 'magic' feeling when you just have to have it!
I read that someone here finds V&R intimidating - yes I agree, but my McGuire was in prime showroom position on show so I felt pretty good returning there and taking it off the stand. I reckon any relic has to be good at V&R to stand comparison with any number of real oldies.
On the degree of relic - well I'm with Bill Nash on that (ref his Tonequest interview), the less paint and lacquer there is, the better it'll sound. So it needs to look pretty beat up to sound at it's best!
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^ I think that was me snakehips - "V&R intimidating" - probably earlier in this thread... it's changed slightly since then :D
I finally went in to look at the McGuires - and yep, I can see the pics now, your tele is one of the ones I handled. I'd never actually been in there before, and found it wasn't at all like I'd imagined from the outside.
I went back a few weeks ago and "accidentally" bought a resonator. They're very relaxed in there - no pressure at all. I must have spent 2 hours playing 3 or 4, decided on the one for me if I was buying, but felt I needed to have a think, speak to the missus, etc. They probably knew I was going to buy it, but they said "no problem, go have a coffee, we'll put it aside..."
Lovely shop...
Nice tele by the way :D
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^ I think that was me snakehips - "V&R intimidating" - probably earlier in this thread... it's changed slightly since then :D
I still find it intimidating... I hardly dare even look in the window.
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^ I think that was me snakehips - "V&R intimidating" - probably earlier in this thread... it's changed slightly since then :D
I still find it intimidating... I hardly dare even look in the window.
It's only intimidating in the "damage it might do to your wallet" Philly :lol: - the place itself and the staff are very friendly. There are clear prices on everything, they'll let you touch anything, leave you to pick up and put down (and, er, knock over :roll:) anything, retune anything, etc... I've got a feeling they'd even start offering you tea and buns and somewhere to lie down for a bit if you started looking serious about a real 57 strat and a real 62 strat in one shopping bag!
Nothing like, say, Tiffany's in Bond Street - ever been in there? I had dough to spend (possibly even enough!), and a reason for spending, but I walked in, wandered around, and ran away again...
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I agree with Andy - V&R is one of the nicest guitar shops I've ever been in. It was almost a pleasure parting with two guitars and a bundle of cash when I was in there! :lol:
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Nothing like, say, Tiffany's in Bond Street - ever been in there? I had dough to spend (possibly even enough!), and a reason for spending, but I walked in, wandered around, and ran away again...
I once had to do some work at a jewellers in Bond Street (and fell for a lovely French girl who worked there, but that's another story :cry: ). It was ridiculous, you had to ring the bell just to get into the shop and there was some big security bloke who watched you the whole time.
Anyway, I'm sure V&R isn't that intimidating really, but I always feel a bit of a fraud in guitar shops because I'm not a proper guitar player. And because their stuff is so very nice and expensive, it brings out that feeling tenfold...
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I always feel a bit of a fraud in guitar shops because I'm not a proper guitar player.
Define 'proper' Phil? If you can play, you're a guitar player!
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I always feel a bit of a fraud in guitar shops because I'm not a proper guitar player.
Define 'proper' Phil? If you can play, you're a guitar player!
Well, I can play compared with someone who... can't.
But I'm never going to be "good enough" to play in public. Unless there are people around who want to watch several hours of clumsy and slightly aggressive 12-bar blues improvisation. :roll:
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You'd be surprised! Hasn't Clapton made a career out of that? ;)
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I would class myself in the same manner as Philly regarding my playing.
In my case though I would use the phrase "deeply unhappy with the quality of my playing" (especially for the amount of time spent ), though sometines it manages to get to "not completely cr@p" and then I do feel happy.
However I am constantly told by people that I am better than I think I am (which wouldn't be hard)
As for V&R I always found the Denmark St shop staff to be incredibly friendly & helpful and prone to having conversations with potential customers. Wunjo have a similar attitude (but much less interesting stock)
Rob...
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I would class myself in the same manner as Philly regarding my playing.
In my case though I would use the phrase "deeply unhappy with the quality of my playing" (especially for the amount of time spent ), though sometines it manages to get to "not completely cr@p" and then I do feel happy.
However I am constantly told by people that I am better than I think I am (which wouldn't be hard)
Yep, that's me too, exactly. Well put, Rob. :)
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You two need to get into bands - you'll realise you aren't as bad as you think you are!
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Twinfan's right - you only need to put yourself on the line once in front of people and you suddenly join the ranks of "oh yeah, I do that..." I haven't done it in years, and I still think I'm brilliant :D
Dare I say it, did anyone watch that Dawn Porter thing on BBC 2 last night? (Er, the guide said there was wimin taking their clothes off - and it turned out to be true! :lol:) It was very thought provoking and interesting - seriously. Anyway, my point, if you saw it, is that it's just like what she went through, exactly like that...
Actually, Twinfan might know for certain whether playing guitar in public and "baring all" really do present similar hurdles to overcome - do you do a "full" Angus impersonation TF? :lol:
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Dare I say it, did anyone watch that Dawn Porter thing on BBC 2 last night? (Er, the guide said there was wimin taking their clothes off - and it turned out to be true! :lol:) It was very thought provoking and interesting - seriously. Anyway, my point, if you saw it, is that it's just like what she went through, exactly like that...
I didn't see it, what was she doing, wandering around naked or something? That's not exactly building my confidence...
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:lol: I don't even wear the unform or shorts, let alone do the strip during The Jack!!! :o
I just play a lot like him instead ;)
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I thought it was going to be cr@p and just an excuse for nudity, but BBC 2 standards were upheld!!
It had issues about of lack of body esteem. About what the media does to women. About being comfortable with what you've got cos it's ace... She started by learning to be a topless stripper. Then she tried life modelling. Then she had pictures doctored same as your modern images in magazines - remove the moles, stretch marks, swap the left eye for a copy of the right because it looks better - that kinda thing.
She ended up starting a "Get Naked With Me" and... oh sod it... hang on
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b008ysrg/ (http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b008ysrg/)
I've not tried this iplayer thing before, but it seems to work!
Anyway, once she got going, she arranged an event where she was on the top of an open bus in London with a bunch of other women with no clothes on...
The emotional journey she went through is roughly the same as the "I'm not good enought to be in a band..." through to "...yeah I'm a musician, wot of it?" :D
And somehow Twinfan, I didn't think you'd have gone "all the way" - perhaps you need to watch it too :lol:
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The emotional journey she went through is roughly the same as the "I'm not good enought to be in a band..." through to "...yeah I'm a musician, wot of it?" :D
Neither of them is a journey I'm likely to be making. The nudie one even less so!
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:lol: somehow I knew you'd say that :D
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:lol: somehow I knew you'd say that :D
Ah, now we're getting into Matrix Reloaded territory!
"How did you...?"
"I knew that was going to happen."
"But if you knew that was going to happen, why didn't you do something to stop it happening?"
"Ah, if I knew that you knew that I knew that.... "
(etc)
God, what a load of old rubbish that was. :?
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^ :lol:
The first Matrix was great. All of us watching the 2nd lost interest in about 10 minutes, and I literally fell asleep after 20 minutes of the 3rd.
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I literally fell asleep after 20 minutes of the 3rd.
Then you woke up an hour later and it was still the same battle with those poxy robot squid things.
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:lol: Yep! :lol:
That's pretty much the ONLY thing I can remember. That and lots of people in an underground cave! (might have been the 2nd actually).
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But what I didn't know is that I'd come back and find I'd started a discussion about the Matrix!
I hated the 2nd film in the cinema. Felt reasonably satisfied by the the conclusions of the 3rd - though I knew people at work who felt utterly fobbed off...
But we got all three on DVD and occassionally watch them over 3 nights - I find the interminable battle with 100's of Agent Smiths a bit annoying, but I can always amuse myself by chucking bits of orange peel at the missus (works during the soppy bits in films as well, say, like while Trinity's dying, that sort of thing)
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:lol:
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We've gone way too off-topic already, but I have to say what really annoyed me about the two Matrix sequels was the realisation that the Wachowskis were saying "we didn't really have any idea where we were going with this, so we're making it up as we go along" (see the Pirates of the Caribbean movies for exactly the same syndrome).
That's what I hate about modern films - they'll pay tens of millions of dollars to the actors, hundreds of millions on special effects, but they couldn't give a monkeys about having a plot which makes sense, even though it's the cheapest part of the whole process. The same applies to TV series like Lost and Prison Break...
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Robot Squids? What has the world of cinema come to?
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I'd be more than happy if someone in the FX dept had actually built a robot squid!
But they're just CGI. So in effect you spend about 2 hours watching somebody else play a computer game.
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I bought my 61 slab rosewood neck strat from V&R when they were in a flat in Marylebone in the early 80's. It cost me about £500 at the time. I went there after work and there was only one guy there (the owner who's name I have now forgotten), but he let me try lots of guitars and I think he did give me a coffee! I've been in the shop a few times and never felt intimidated. Another great shop in London is New Kings Road Guitars in Fulham. It's just a little walk from Fulham Broadway tube.
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The same applies to TV series like Lost and Prison Break...
i liked the first two series of prison break - if it had ended then with them sailing off into the sunset it would be great, a nice conclusion to a pretty good plot, even if i did burst out laughing with the cheesiness of the "its almost as if he sometimes cares too much" line from the first series. I cant be arsed with it now. I still have a bit of time for lost, especially now they are doing shorter series - but conclusions and answers would be good.. gotta have a good pay-off
Nothing compares to the new Battlestar Galactica for me, quite rightly its being limited to 4 series (and a few Tv movies)with 1 big story arc.. and i love every second of it!! Ok, looks like there will be prequels/spin offs when its done but nothing annoys me more than a plot driven show that never has a conclusion
I'm also currently working my way through the wire which is another one where the writers have apparently been allowed to decide when it should end. damn good TV
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I'm also currently working my way through the wire which is another one where the writers have apparently been allowed to decide when it should end. damn good TV
Yeah I keep meaning to check that out. I believe it was created by David Simon? The man behind my favourite TV show of all time, Homicide: Life on the Street.
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so it is... i was trying to describe it to someone earlier but i couldnt remember the homicide program, but thats exactly what iwas trying to describe.. its a similar feel with similar characters but a much bigger story... just got through the first two series and am loving it so far
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For those of you who live in England, Joe Dobson has made some gorgeous Fenders, not just good-looking but magnificent-sounding. I build my own now, but I keep one of Joe's in the collection.
Meow if anyone wants his contact details.