Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Stu on January 26, 2010, 06:45:37 PM

Title: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Stu on January 26, 2010, 06:45:37 PM
New Left handed Peerless Monarch for any Jazz players out there.

Plays great, sounds great, and very reasonably priced.

Just had to share.
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: dheim on January 26, 2010, 06:53:34 PM
not my cup of tea but happy NGD nonetheless!
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Ted 'N' Leo on January 26, 2010, 07:10:05 PM
Very pretty! I like those AC15s too!
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Plexi Ken on January 26, 2010, 08:31:33 PM
Lovely  8)
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: FernandoDuarte on January 26, 2010, 08:33:15 PM
Looks good!!! :D
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: roland_rat on January 26, 2010, 09:05:06 PM
Magic words left handed.  Alway nice to see someones new guitar day, but a lefty all the nicer.  Looks a tasty one too.  Enjoy :D
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: 38thBeatle on January 26, 2010, 09:07:56 PM
That does look rather spiffing.
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Fourth Feline on January 26, 2010, 09:26:56 PM
Oh Yes !  :)

Nice to see another ( rare  )  sighting of a 'traditional' Archtop around here .  I prefer the aesthetics and feel of a 20 fret guitar - and always think of what a 'Jazz City' would have been like with The Monarch's more traditional finish ( and I gather warmer tonal presentation ? ).  The Eastmans also (especially the 805 ) look very nice too. 'Choucas09' on here has a lovely single pickup Eastman El-Ray .

 If you also have / ever get an Archtop with the ability to take 'standard'  (humbucker size) pickups, I can heartily recommend the B.K.P "Manhattans" . Available direct ( of course  ! ) or Foulds of Derby appear to be a dealer for them. Lovely stuff !

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/Fourth_Feline/GoldManhattans.jpg)

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/Fourth_Feline/manhattan_1_129.jpg)

Cheers !
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: choucas09 on January 27, 2010, 12:51:57 PM
Lovely guitar. Didn't know much about these so I've checked out the specs. Solid maple B&S and solid spruce front, nice one. Fantastic VFM. Post a clip if you can.
Title: Re: NGD
Post by: Stu on January 27, 2010, 05:22:10 PM
Thanks for all the kind comments.

I've uploaded a very rough video just to give you an idea of the sound

I'm not primarily a jazz player but hope to learn some standards now I have this.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kwpcYZvw6g8
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Ted 'N' Leo on January 27, 2010, 06:08:38 PM
Sounds very nice!
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Fourth Feline on January 27, 2010, 06:50:14 PM
Oh my goodness Stu ;  it sounds absolutely gorgeous !  It was great to hear the 'solo' voice of the guitar, though a sweet  'live' amp.  You really have impressed me with that beauty ! It is even nicer looking and sounding than I expected ;  and now it's easy for me to see what all the fuss is about.  Thanks for posting the video - and sharing. :D
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: sgmypod on January 27, 2010, 06:57:27 PM
that sounds and looks very nice
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: JDC on January 27, 2010, 07:55:50 PM
do archtops usually come with round wound or flat wound strings?
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: 38thBeatle on January 27, 2010, 08:09:02 PM
That does sound fantastic- great buy.
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Ratrod on January 27, 2010, 08:11:46 PM
Very classy.
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Stu on January 27, 2010, 08:48:26 PM
This came with flat wounds and I'd expect thats the norm but I'm no expert
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Fourth Feline on January 27, 2010, 10:24:46 PM
do archtops usually come with round wound or flat wound strings?

In my (modest) experience so far - pure Jazz boxes seem to come equipped Flatwound to 'Take a walk on the mild side' - and Blues / 30- 40's Jazz crossovers ( like the Fifth Avenue ) are rigged roundwound to exploit the greater acoustic projection  and brighter, more exuberant styles / Gypsy Jazz & the Martin Taylor type of sounds.

Cool  ( Tapewound )  8) or Hot ( Roundwound )    basically.

( *Edit * )

By the way Stu ; ( as choucas09 has already said ) - that is a great price for solid wood construction, and it's general specs . The proof we hear in your video !  :)

Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: FernandoDuarte on January 27, 2010, 10:38:03 PM
Sounds very nice! :D
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: choucas09 on January 27, 2010, 11:25:28 PM
Well you must be delighted. Sounds great. Plus being all solid it's going to keep on improving. Surely a keeper. Have you tried it through drives? Archies can sound effing huge with overdrive.
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: JDC on January 28, 2010, 11:15:19 AM
cheers Fourth Feline, I had a feeling flat wound would be the norm but then I got thinking are archtops always for jazz or do they just happen to have got popular with the jazzers
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Stu on January 28, 2010, 01:11:24 PM
The only negative of a full hollow body is that they can be prone to feedback. This one deals with it well by having a small post inside but I have noticed some slight feedback at louder volumes when I'm close to the amp. Not sure if I'll use it with overdrive but with the volume on the Vox up I can start to get more bite when I pick hard which I think sounds great for Jazz
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Fourth Feline on January 28, 2010, 03:49:43 PM
The only negative of a full hollow body is that they can be prone to feedback. This one deals with it well by having a small post inside but I have noticed some slight feedback at louder volumes when I'm close to the amp. Not sure if I'll use it with overdrive but with the volume on the Vox up I can start to get more bite when I pick hard which I think sounds great for Jazz

I found that the Phil Jones 'Cub 100' reduces the tendency to feed back - and although it does not eliminate it completely ,  at moderate volumes, I can sit facing the front of the amp at a distance of about 2 - 3 Metres -  and compared to my bigger amps, the reduction is very noticable. The 'trick' there being two specially designed 5" speakers, instead of one 10" .

Regarding the guitars, I still prefer the fully hollow though ; not through a sense of snobbery, but compared to even a semi-hollow ( i.e 335 ) the sound is much more vocal , open, woody and textured.  However, as choucas09 mentioned ; if we think of Steve Howe and Ted Nugent - the ES-175 and similar 'Workhorse' Jazz boxes are capable of swaggering with the best of them. A set of roundwounds, and they are 'Hot to trot ' .   :)
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Stu on January 28, 2010, 08:53:28 PM
Is the Phil Jones Cub 100 loud enough to gig with a band?

Might be a worthwhile purchase in the future as I have a piezo on my Gus G1 as well as a pickup on my Alhambra classical guitar. Seems like a really portable clean amp option.
Title: Re: NGD (updated with video)
Post by: Fourth Feline on January 28, 2010, 10:02:34 PM
Is the Phil Jones Cub 100 loud enough to gig with a band?

Might be a worthwhile purchase in the future as I have a piezo on my Gus G1 as well as a pickup on my Alhambra classical guitar. Seems like a really portable clean amp option.

I've not had cause to try it in that manner yet, as I am still a novice to arranging 'standards' - and learning the whole genre.  However; I gather from  users on various Jazz guitar forums, that on it's own it is great for a small band / trio , especially in  a more intimate setting , but for a larger 'Swing Band' the D.I. socket on the back ( complete with a ground lift switch ) may need to be fed into the collective P.A.

The character of the Cub ( being squarely aimed at the Acoustic Guitarist / Jazzer / Violinist ) is that of not seeming to make the guitar louder - but the guitar just keeps getting bigger .   It is rated at 100 watts RMS - but as you know, that specification is no indicator of an amp's actual volume, especially as an amp such as this has an E.Q that is relatively neutral  with no discernable mid range emphasis unless you dial it in as such.   If you think of it being used by violinists - you will get the idea.   No surprise that Phil Jones is known for high end Hi-Fi speakers e.t.c. - as it excels at creating the sensation of giving you growing presence in the room, as opposed to pushing at you.

(http://i167.photobucket.com/albums/u135/Fourth_Feline/Cub100rear-1.jpg)

That being understood, the whole " loud enough for ? " question , would have to be replaced  by  " Does it sound big enough for ". My own needs / intention is now to spend the next year or two compiling a repetoire of 'Standards' - so as  it fills a small - medium sided room at only 25 - 30 % of it's output - I'm a happy bunny.

For me, this is a little treasure ;  because it lends itself specifically to the sonic task in hand - and it can be fed into the P.A.  on that rare occasion it may be needed . The essential character of the little chap, is not at all sterile ,  with a very warm and valve like response -  and  to my ears, MUCH clearer ,  less 'blocky' and much more 3 dimensional than the 'Jazzkat ' I once tried, and Polytones I have heard.   The sound it gives me ( and my 'test' listeners ) being so intimate and fine grained, that you ( and they ) end up getting drawn into every note. The choice was of course sealed , when I could carry my entire 'Rig' around in one ( provided ) shoulder bag.

Horses for courses, and this ( Like the B.K.P Manhattans I use to feed it )  makes no compromises that might sell it
to a wider ' All things to all people' market.