Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Twinfan on October 28, 2011, 11:48:58 AM
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I've had my DGT for a couple of weeks now, and it'll be heading out for its first gig tomorrow night. I've had to spend a lot of time playing this guitar (leaving my new PS Sig Ltd neglected!) in order to get it dialled in. It seems to have taken WAY longer than any other guitar to get "right". I *think* I'm happy with it now, but the gig will be the proper test. Overall the guitar sounds great, split sounds are really tasty/useful and it's a little smoother sounding overall than the Modern Eagle. I think the trem and mahogany neck is the factor here, reducing the chime and brightness. Not a bad thing, just different.
I've found that there's a lot of contrast between the neck and bridge tones, which is good and makes the guitar very versatile, but trying to get the neck "not too boomy" and the bridge "not too spiky" has been a real challenge. I've ended up with the pickups a bit lower than in any of my other guitars, even though the DC resistances are pretty low. I'm running them just under 3mm from both E polepieces to the stings when fretted at the 22nd.
It's really highlighted to me the greatness of BKP calibrated sets, where they are well matched and compliment each other. The DGT pickups' big character difference in each position is something I'm not really used to. I'm starting to like it though, and it's nice to have it for variety in the arsenal.
What do you guys look for in pickup sets - a big contrast, or a similar theme/tone in each position?
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/Guitar%20stuff/2011-10-19222013.jpg)
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I like balance bec I use bridge and neck quite often in one song, but everything depends merely on taste. I can imagine a smooth, darker neckpickupsound is a nice counterpart for a biting bridgepu.
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Just to save you the trouble next week...
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=13.0
:lol: :lol: :lol:
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i struggled for years getting the neck pickup to sound good in a live situation.
this didn't bother me until i got into uli jon roth, then i just had to have that neck position usable. now to do this i use very bright neck pickups (where i can) - almost as bright as the bridge.
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Thanks Dave! :lol:
I'm not planning on swapping pups, I really like them now I've got them set up, and the guitar is great so it's going nowhere either. It's just "different", which I wasn't expecting!
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if i remember right, and it's a long time since i read it so that's debatable, he wanted it to be like a more flexible version of a fifties Les Paul Goldtop he had. might explain why it's different to the other prs'. it's a very nice looking guitar. i like how goldtops manage to look understated yet opulent. it's a more mature look, i think, than all the flamed maple.
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it's a more mature look, i think, than all the flamed maple.
I agree, take this guitar for example - sooo immature
(http://i146.photobucket.com/albums/r267/junkacct/Guitar%20stuff/PS_SigLtd_37.jpg)
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ha! :D
very pretty though. i did manage to do an afghan recently and go out with a 20 year old. maturity's great an all, but the odd bit of pretty immaturity's hard to beat ;)
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What do you guys look for in pickup sets - a big contrast, or a similar theme/tone in each position?
I've always liked a big contrast, the more the better really - pretty bright and crunchy at the bridge, really thick and fat at the neck (muddy even).
I guess it's another manifestation of my liking for simplicity. Amps with as few knobs as possible; on the rare occasions I muck about with pedals everything's on 0 or 10. Basically if all gear just came with an on/off switch, then so long as it sounded good in the "on" position I'd be happy. :wink:
Of course, unlike you guys, I don't play live. In that position I might very well find my soupy neck pickups simply didn't work.
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Just to save you the trouble next week...
http://bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/index.php?board=13.0
:lol: :lol: :lol:
:lol:
Regarding the pickup thing- I hate when that happens, too. Though I'll admit I'm not much of a tweaker, I'm more set and forget (and by "set" I mean I'll fiddle about for about 10 seconds and then settle on "close enough" :lol: ).
I haven't really come up with an answer, either- I definitely want my bridge and neck pickups to sound different or there's not much point in having both, but there's definitely a sweet spot where they're sufficiently different to give you a wide range of tones, but not so different that the same amp setting doesn't sound good on each pickup.
In my (limited) experience, I think the hardest ones to match are a bright bridge pickup with a warm neck pickup- that accentuates the differences too much, I think.
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To me the position itself makes enough difference in the final tone (e.g. a pickup in the neck spot will never sound like one in the bridge spot and vice versa) so that when I "calibrate" I look for a neck pickup that is not muddy and a bridge pickup that is not thin with the same amp settings. That allows me to switch between positions during a song without having to adjust the amp settings. So my neck pickups tend to be bright and relatively low output whereas my bridge pickups tend to be on the hotter side.
Cheers Stephan
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Exactly Dave, which is what the DGT has. I think it just takes some getting used to, and I can see it being very versatile.
It just surprised me...
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I like my neck pickups bell like and not creamy. Hate when the difference is too big.
Sometimes it helps to wire one in modern and one in 50s wiring (as you have two volume pots, you could wire the neck in 50s and the bridge in modern).
Did you leave the 11s on or went to 10s?
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Although I don't use neck pickups as much as I should I like them to have a woody sound, not too muddy/boomy. Hate it when they are turned up and the distortion sounds like a Kazoo e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC65ufGUvKM (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC65ufGUvKM) .
All my BKP sets have been very well calibrated. Notice the difference when I play my 63 SG where the neck & bridge are roughly the same DC resistance.
I have found with my PRS Studio that the volume changes tone as well as the tone control (low volume fenderish, full volume typical H/B) probably treble bleed caps which I don't normally like but PRS do it very well and the volume and tone control of the guitar is superb and produces an incredible variety of tones without touching the amp..
I would have thought on the DGT setting up the 2 volume controls as well as the tone pot should produce a good blend of the 2 pickups.
P.S. Contrary to some other members comments I like the 2nd volume control and trem PDT_003 - think the Goldtop DGT is a great guitar. I think if I had your PS Sig and Goldtop DGT I would want to play the f**k out of the DGT all day and probably want to polish and clean the PR Sig in case I scratched it. :lol:
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Hunter - I'm sticking with 11s :) I can't wire it for 50's or modern easily - it's 50s style only due to the global tone pot:
http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/schem08/dgt.pdf
Tellboy - it's a great feeling guitar, I can't wait to get it out for its first gig tomorrow night!
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Generally with guitars I like a enough difference in tone between bridge and neck to offer distinct voicings and a good middle tone when they're combined. I do tend to spend a good while fiddling with pickup heights on guitars to get everything where I need it balance wise.
On the subject of PRSs, today I finally played one I liked, a McCarty. I didn't buy it because the shop were a bit on the surly side and the top was very ugly but I think I might be in the hunt for one now. Really liked the neck and I think the tones would be good. I say think because the only amp they'd let me try it through was a Line 6 thing which I didn't really feel did it any favours other than at very high gain settings. Hmm, well I knew I had to eventually get PRSs, too many people rate them for them not to be great- I guess I just hadn't found the right one for me until today. Possible NGD in the future? Perhaps...
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I see. Maybe try taking the neck off the tone pot (you could wire the tone to the bridge volume pot rather than the switch)
That's what I would try.
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Exactly Dave, which is what the DGT has. I think it just takes some getting used to, and I can see it being very versatile.
It just surprised me...
yeah
i imagine it depends on the tones you want, too. i could get away with a creamier/warmer neck pickup on a classic rock guitar than on a shred guitar, say.
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I see. Maybe try taking the neck off the tone pot (you could wire the tone to the bridge volume pot rather than the switch)
That's what I would try.
I'd do the exact opposite - have the tone control for the neck only! :lol:
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bugger tone, wire it as a master volume! one for each pickup and an overall volume. do it!
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Very Gretschy, but I've never really seen the point of a master volume on a guitar - except as a way of muting it quickly?
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neither did i , until i started wanting to be able to clean up in the middle position. perhaps i should just get a vvolume pedal?
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ha! :D
very pretty though. i did manage to do an afghan recently and go out with a 20 year old. maturity's great an all, but the odd bit of pretty immaturity's hard to beat ;)
I listen to too much Steel Panther.... I think that's normal. :P
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neither did i , until i started wanting to be able to clean up in the middle position. perhaps i should just get a vvolume pedal?
Yeah, I can see that.... you get the two volumes balanced just right and you want to take the whole thing down without messing up the balance.
But then I'd rather go the other way and just have one volume, one tone. I know it limits your tonal options in the middle position, but never mind!
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I think once you get it out at a show, all concerns will be diminished.
I'd love a DGT or a regular McCarty. Actually I wouldn't mind any PRS to go with the one I already have.
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It turns out the guitar is starting to relic nicely already - the joys of nitro :)
Pickup covers are tarnishing, there are a couple of dings and scratches plus some nitro burn on the headstock where it's been on a hanger for some time. The finish has cracked around the top horn where I fitted straplocks too.
I reckon in a few months it'll look proper tasty...
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Pickup covers are tarnishing, there are a couple of dings and scratches plus some nitro burn on the headstock where it's been on a hanger for some time. The finish has cracked around the top horn where I fitted straplocks too.
Blimey, are you Rory Gallagher? :lol:
I do find PRS nickel parts seem to tarnish a lot quicker than Gibson/Gotoh ones. No idea why that is - a different type of plating, or something to do with the "atmosphere" in their cases? :?
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I reckon it's a thinner plating Phil...
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You know you're a real guitarist when you sweat sulphuric acid :lol:
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I reckon it's a thinner plating Phil...
What's the bridge on the Private Stock, is it the newer un-plated type?
They don't seem to tarnish as much, although I do wonder if, over time, they'll get all grey and pitted like an aluminium greenhouse....
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I think the PS bridge is polished aluminium?
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Yeah, that's the unplated one. That's what's on my Mira X and Mira Korina, but the McCarty Korina's bridge is the old nickel-plated type. So I guess they introduced it in 2009.
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Well it's had its first gig tonight and wow! What a great sounding guitar when the amp's cooking! The split coils are particularly impressive and it's just very, very flexible. Strat neck, Tele Bridge and the 'buckers are all in there. Very handy. Super comfortable to wear, and it's a PRS so it stays in tune and is a joy to play.
I can see why the PRS forum guys rave about them, they really are the Swiss Army Knife of the range with some vintage mojo...
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Well it's had its first gig tonight and wow! What a great sounding guitar when the amp's cooking! The split coils are particularly impressive and it's just very, very flexible. Strat neck, Tele Bridge and the 'buckers are all in there. Very handy. Super comfortable to wear, and it's a PRS so it stays in tune and is a joy to play.
I can see why the PRS forum guys rave about them, they really are the Swiss Army Knife of the range with some vintage mojo...
Sh*t .... I had warmed my wallet up and was waiting for it to appear in Seconds Out PDT_007 :D :D :D
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:lol:
Not a chance in the immediate future matey!
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:lol:
Not a chance in the immediate future matey!
So there is a chance then? :wink:
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I never say never any more... ;)
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:lol:
Apart from your new PRS and the ME perhaps?
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Good point - neither of those go anywhere. Ever.
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Great stuff, it makes sense to have that PRS familiarity without having to take the big guns out to regular pub gigs and the like. In saying that, it's not like you are slumming it either is it? Glad it all worked out. 8)
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Cheers Don - the DGT is a great guitar, I'm surprised there isn't move love for it.
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the DGT is a great guitar, I'm surprised there isn't move love for it.
Is that in PRS circles, or just the usual segment of the guitar-buying public's antipathy to PRS?
If it's the former, I'd guess it's just reluctance to use a "signature" model?
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In PRS circles they're well loved, I meaa in the more general buying public. Could be the signature thing I guess, but it's no Zakk Wylde Buzzsaw Les Paul! :lol:
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Well it's had its first gig tonight and wow! What a great sounding guitar when the amp's cooking! The split coils are particularly impressive and it's just very, very flexible. Strat neck, Tele Bridge and the 'buckers are all in there. Very handy. Super comfortable to wear, and it's a PRS so it stays in tune and is a joy to play.
I can see why the PRS forum guys rave about them, they really are the Swiss Army Knife of the range with some vintage mojo...
Sh*t .... I had warmed my wallet up and was waiting for it to appear in Seconds Out PDT_007 :D :D :D
To quote Victor Mildrew ...I don't believe it. I have been waiting for this to appear in Seconds out since you bought it. Yesterday I bought a cherry sunburst DGT - a couple of hours later I happened to be browsing Seconds Out and saw it listed ..... thought you would have kept it a little longer :lol: .
:shock: B*****KS would have prefered a gold top. Grrrrr..mustn't complain as I got the CSB DGT at a good price. :guitar4:
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Whoops! Sorry dude! Buy my goldtop and sell your CB for the same price ;)
Great guitars, really great, but I've been spoilt by my Private Stock. Which is as it should be I suppose!
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Repeat to self, "I do not need a very pretty gold top DGT, I do not need a very pretty gold top DGT..."
I thought it would last a little longer in the Twinfan arsenal I must admit.
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To quote Victor Mildrew ...I don't believe it. I have been waiting for this to appear in Seconds out since you bought it. Yesterday I bought a cherry sunburst DGT - a couple of hours later I happened to be browsing Seconds Out and saw it listed ..... thought you would have kept it a little longer :lol: .
:shock: B*****KS would have prefered a gold top. Grrrrr..mustn't complain as I got the CSB DGT at a good price. :guitar4:
Whoops! Sorry dude! Buy my goldtop and sell your CB for the same price ;)
Great guitars, really great, but I've been spoilt by my Private Stock. Which is as it should be I suppose!
The ever-revolving door! :lol:
I know exactly what it's like. If the timing was different and I hadn't bought/sold so much myself recently, I'd be tempted by the DGT myself (and the Esquire, for that matter!)
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(and the Esquire, for that matter!)
Please! DON'T REMIND ME OF THAT ESQUIRE!!! :( :cry:
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I can't do it - the Esquire is withdrawn from sale. It'll stay as my #2 gigging guitar :oops: :D
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I can't do it - the Esquire is withdrawn from sale. It'll stay as my #2 gigging guitar :oops: :D
Cool! No shame in that! :D
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I guess not! It's just too cool to part with I think, plus Ian'll be happy :lol:
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Probably the right decision. Get rid of that cr@ppy red sparkly thing instead. I'll give you 500 for it.
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Good that you decide to keep it Dave, I was having trouble mind because I had no money to buy it :lol: It is a awesome guitar! And for what have been told here, plays as good as she looks :)
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Yep, the red one's rubbish isn't she Matt. That'll be why you and Shobet keep pleading with me to sell it ;)
Thanks Fernando, it's a great Esquire. I don't know what I was thinking. It's only money, right? You can't take it with you?
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Yep, the red one's rubbish isn't she Matt. That'll be why you and Shobet keep pleading with me to sell it ;)
Thanks Fernando, it's a great Esquire. I don't know what I was thinking. It's only money, right? You can't take it with you?
Not sure if I understand? can't take with me?
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I would hang on to that esquire as well. Even if it don't get played much it's still a lovely (and maybe cheap) wall decoration :D it's certainly genuine!
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:lol:
Not a chance in the immediate future matey!
So there is a chance then? :wink:
I'm not even gonna say anything :roll:
Dave, you are beyond help mate :lol:
I'll give you fifty quid and a jar of nutella. Go on then, I'll chuck in the breadsticks too, you drive a hard bargain, ha ha.
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Not sure if I understand? can't take with me?
Sorry Fernando, it's an English phrase - "You can't take it with you" means you can't take it with you to the afterlife/heaven. Basically, money's no use there so spend it now :)
Ian - I am indeed beyond help. More beyond than you can possibly imagine.....
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Yeah, I think pretty much that way... that is why I never have money :lol:
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Isn't there a phrase about blue and green? ;)
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Indeed mate. Been speaking to Matt perchance? ;)
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Isn't there a phrase about blue and green? ;)
Thinking ahead.... blue, green and purple would look really nice together....?
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Don't you start - I have enough trouble with Mrs Twinfan!!!!
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you need to add this to your stable Dave... http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?pid=10865
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Very cool, but I don't get on with singlecuts. If I did, I'd struggle to resist it I think!
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you need to add this to your stable Dave... http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?pid=10865
I like that - I have GAS for an ebony board and block inlays!
Shame Customs are always so bloody heavy though! Even if it is weight-relieved.
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I'm starting to have GAS on blue guitars... stop that sh!t posting awesome guitars, please :lol:
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Very cool, but I don't get on with singlecuts.
Ah, so you won't be wanting that red Tele, then? :P
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You know what I mean Phil ;)
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you need to add this to your stable Dave... http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?pid=10865
I like that - I have GAS for an ebony board and block inlays!
Shame Customs are always so bloody heavy though! Even if it is weight-relieved.
this is just as awesome... http://www.guitarvillage.co.uk/productdetail.aspx?pid=11594
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I have to throw a comment on the clips in the DGT up for sale post i seconds out. Great playing and the guitar sounds really good. The Bogner actually delivers a quite convincing Zep "rock n roll" tone. Funny thing about the clips is that it looks like the two gentlemen in the front of the camera are the only ones present :D
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Agree
I liked the 2nd solo on rock and roll
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Yeah, it was filmed from right at the front so it looks like the pub is deserted doesn't it? It was a quit-ish night but not THAT quiet! :lol:
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groundhog_Day
:lol:
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Well following lots of umm-ing and ahh-ing on my end, and after considering my options, the DGT has been sold today. I'm meeting the buyer on Wednesday to hand it over and I'm sure he's going to be very happy with it.
It's a shame the DGT didn't work out for me, but since getting the Private Stock Signature my expectations of how a humbucker guitar should sound and respond to my playing have really increased. The PS is in a completely different league to anything else, even a 'stock' PRS which I really wasn't expecting.
Ah well, that's the goldtop itch scratched anyway! :lol:
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Ah well, that's the goldtop itch scratched anyway! :lol:
Itches do tend to recur, though!
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True! :lol:
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Ah well, that's the goldtop itch scratched anyway! :lol:
Itches do tend to recur, though!
Cough.. PDT_007
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So why not a PS in goldtop? :P ( :twisted: )
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That'd be a brave move, paying all that money for a non-fancy top! :o