Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: HTH AMPS on September 15, 2012, 07:54:46 PM
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Ok folks, this happens every now and again... I played one of those £600 Les Paul juniors (Pelham Blue) and thought it was a nice guitar. This of course led onto thinking, well... the historic juniors are rather tasty too. Which led to a chance discovery of the historic 330 with a Bigsby (a thing of immense beauty). Why stop there says I - enter a Pelham Blue Les Paul Custom.
So, I've mulled this over during the past few days (luckily) and decided that I'm leaning towards one of these three...
* cherry red historic junior
* sunburst red historic junior
* cherry red historic 330
Any thoughts? - my main concern with the 330 is how much it'd feedback. I mostly play the normal channel of my JCA100, but even with that amount of gain at a pub gig when you can be two feet away from the amp is likely asking for trouble.
Anyone?
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/premier/detail.asp?stock=12062111331427
http://www.guitarguitar.co.uk/premier/detail.asp?stock=12091017194627
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I LOVE the cherry red Jr.
I'd have to play it, but I struggle with the price for such a simple machine... I don't know, but I'm pretty sure that for that wonga you could have something waay better cooked up by one of our regulars. Maybe it wouldn't have the Gibson mojo.
Don't know. Beautiful looking guitar though.. I suspect PQ will appreciate it.
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had a dc p90 which i wish i'd kept. but wasnt one of the silly money ones, similar look
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My DC LP Special (with BKPs, of course) is pretty much my daily guitar as it sits in my office waiting of a noodle. However, personally, from the selection, I would go for the 330.
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Id be tempted to get in touch with Wez for something along those lines.
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Wez and Jon both make fabulous guitars, but this is being financed, err, by finance - monthly payments (I ain't got thousands sitting in the bank).
I am leaning towards the 330 - more versatile. Only thing that bothers me is access to the top end with the neck joint, I'm really gonna have to play one before I decide on signing on the dotted line for a couple of years.
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Don't know. Beautiful looking guitar though.. I suspect PQ will appreciate it.
I do. :wink:
Junior all the way. That said, the 330 is very, very cool, but not for me. Which doesn't mean it isn't for you, of course.
I think the Custom Shop/VOS Gibsons are way, way better than the general production models - you do get what you pay for. I would like to get a singlecut VOS Jr at some point.
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I like these ones, classic look and two pickups, plus they're very affordable.
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Id be tempted to get in touch with Wez for something along those lines.
+1, the prices on those are pretty ridiculous when you could get a fully custom guitar for the same or less! I do like the LP Jr though..
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Hopefully there will be somewhere in Manchester where I can try both when I see DOWN there next month :D
btw, the new DOWN EP is really, really good - back to their early sound again.
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Bigsby off, Kahler on, sorted.
Speaking of which, who else watched Doctor Who last night and thought of HTH?
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Reverend makes a lot of P90 guitars at reasonable prices. I think a Sensei with P90 would be pretty boss.
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Reverend makes a lot of P90 guitars at reasonable prices. I think a Sensei with P90 would be pretty boss.
This x1000
But, if you want something more expensive, that 330 stunning... The LP Jr. Too.
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Historic Junior for sure. The 330 is a great guitar, but has feedback-issues.
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just remembered, richtone has an MIJ tokai like that for £400. Not saying it'll be as good as the reissue (it's not nitro, for a start), but it should be pretty good, far better than epi and the like.
that plus one of the others might be the thing :lol:
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Thanks for the ideas and comments guys.
Definitely decided a road trip is in order, need to try these babies out before any NGD is decided.
Doesn't harm to mull over the options though 8)
btw, hows this for GAS... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120986133601?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619#ht_1060wt_1397
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btw, hows this for GAS... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/120986133601?_trksid=p5197.c0.m619#ht_1060wt_1397
That is beautiful (although the chrome knobs would have to go, immediately!)
I have serious long-term GAS for an LP Custom, but I'm pretty much resigned to never getting one - you never seem to see any lighter weight examples.
I'd be happy with an MIJ "copy", but crucially the Grecos, Orvilles, Burnys etc don't have ebony boards, which seems to almost defeat the object (as far as I'm concerned, anyway). Edwards do a couple of Customs with ebony boards, but the recent Edwards I've owned weren't as nice as the older ones.... and Tokai also do an ebony-board Custom, but it's almost as expensive as the "real thing". :|
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just remembered, richtone has an MIJ tokai like that for £400. Not saying it'll be as good as the reissue (it's not nitro, for a start), but it should be pretty good, far better than epi and the like.
I saw that earlier today - almost bought it on reflex, just because it's so rare to see Richtone offering anything half price! :lol:
Then I remembered I have an Epiphone Jr which is undoubtedly every bit as good, and even the same colour.... so it seemed a bit silly to buy the Tokai. It's a bargain for someone, though!
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^ :lol:
they had a v at half price too, and an explorer.
of course, the v was in cherry (i'd prefer white), the explorer was in white (prefer natural) and i'd prefer a doublecut junior to a single cut (and also ideally TV yellow, i think).
So i didn't buy any of them. :lol: But it's annoying how close they were to perfect. :lol:
EDIT: yeah to get ebony on the MIJs ups the price, unfortunately. I know why they do it (to persuade you to buy the dearer one), but I don't like it either. I mean the upcost of ebony over rosewood is very, very little. it's a marketing move to help shift their dearer models, I think. :(
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yeah to get ebony on the MIJs ups the price, unfortunately. I know why they do it (to persuade you to buy the dearer one), but I don't like it either. I mean the upcost of ebony over rosewood is very, very little. it's a marketing move to help shift their dearer models, I think. :(
We had a similar discussion a while ago when I was considering buying that Tokai '54-style goldtop LP with P-90s.
Even though I'm always paying over the odds for guitars (more fool me :roll: ), £1,500 for a Tokai which is no more than a "Les Paul copy" just seems excessive, regardless of the intrinsic quality of the guitar (if it was £1,000.... I'd probably go for it :lol: ).
The biggest problem is if you decide to move it on, because most people really don't know the difference between a £600 Tokai and a £1,500 one - at best, they might realise there are Korean ones and Japanese ones, but very few people realise there are so many different models at different price points.
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Ian - we do monthly instalments.....
See easy payment scheme on our website
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We had a similar discussion a while ago when I was considering buying that Tokai '54-style goldtop LP with P-90s.
I've just realised that by going off topic, I've inadvertently gone back on topic again - I'm talking about guitars with P-90s! :lol:
I did eventually buy that Tokai goldtop with P-90s, when the price dropped to £999.... and I didn't like it, so I sent it back and swapped it for an Edwards LP Special. I didn't like that either, but I was too embarrassed to sent it back, so I sold it (at a massive loss :| ). But.... I still wanted an LP Special, so I bought a Gibson VOS, which is excellent.
So, I guess the lesson might be.... it's worth buying something good in the first place. :?
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Ian - we do monthly instalments.....
See easy payment scheme on our website
But it'd be two years down the line by the time I had it in my hands the rate of my finances - thats no cure for GAS Jon ;0)
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We had a similar discussion a while ago when I was considering buying that Tokai '54-style goldtop LP with P-90s.
Even though I'm always paying over the odds for guitars (more fool me :roll: ), £1,500 for a Tokai which is no more than a "Les Paul copy" just seems excessive, regardless of the intrinsic quality of the guitar (if it was £1,000.... I'd probably go for it :lol: ).
The biggest problem is if you decide to move it on, because most people really don't know the difference between a £600 Tokai and a £1,500 one - at best, they might realise there are Korean ones and Japanese ones, but very few people realise there are so many different models at different price points.
yep, good points :)
that being said, if i were in the market for a custom shop-priced gibson, i'd be trying those high-end tokais as well. I agree that keeping resale value in mind is important, but at the same time i'm not sure buying a guitar you don't like as much is sensible, either. "Its resale value is better!" risks becoming a self-fulfilling prophecy, lol.
I've just realised that by going off topic, I've inadvertently gone back on topic again - I'm talking about guitars with P-90s! :lol:
I did eventually buy that Tokai goldtop with P-90s, when the price dropped to £999.... and I didn't like it, so I sent it back and swapped it for an Edwards LP Special. I didn't like that either, but I was too embarrassed to sent it back, so I sold it (at a massive loss :| ). But.... I still wanted an LP Special, so I bought a Gibson VOS, which is excellent.
So, I guess the lesson might be.... it's worth buying something good in the first place. :?
yep, definitely (and that sucks about having to sell the edwards at a loss :( ). I'm not saying the custom shop gibsons are worse than the tokais (i think i've only tried the gibson standards), i'm just saying if i were going to that price, i'd be trying everything I could and wouldn't be too worried about the name on the headstock. :)
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^
All very true - but I know when I buy a guitar, no matter how much I like it at the time, there's at least a 50:50 chance I'll end up selling it. Sometimes I even get into a selling frenzy and when I look back I can't understand why I sold some things.... :? (although that's no more irrational than spur-of-the-moment buying, I guess.)
So for me, even though it's "head ruling heart", it really is worth bearing resale value in mind.
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^ yep, that's a very important point- at the end of the day, it matters most what you're like. (And it's not sensible taking advice from people who are completely different types of people from you.) I'm the opposite, when I buy something I normally keep it (the only thing i can remember selling is my marshall avt, and i hated that :lol: ), so for me actually thinking the thing is the best guitar available is more important than the resale value. :) If you're the kind of person who's always buying and selling (not that there's anything wrong with that :lol: ) then definitely take the resale value into consideration.
I'm also not saying the way I do things is necessarily the right way either- sometimes (actually most of the time) the way I am annoys me :lol: I have a tendency to massively overthink things for ages (regarding a purchase)- and then just get pissed off at how indecisive I am and impulse buy like 3 guitars inside a week. :lol: I mean I guess all the original thinking didn't go to waste, but if I was going to just impulse buy something I could have saved myself a lot of bother :lol:
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I'm also not saying the way I do things is necessarily the right way either- sometimes (actually most of the time) the way I am annoys me :lol: I have a tendency to massively overthink things for ages (regarding a purchase)- and then just get pissed off at how indecisive I am and impulse buy like 3 guitars inside a week. :lol: I mean I guess all the original thinking didn't go to waste, but if I was going to just impulse buy something I could have saved myself a lot of bother :lol:
That's very interesting to me, you'll impulse buy 3 guitars in a week..... and KEEP them!
Whereas if I did that, you can virtually guarantee I wouldn't be happy with any of them and I'd sell them off very quickly - and quite possibly in a very irrational manner. I bought quite a few guitars last year and most are already sold, including a Les Paul Studio which was actually really cool - great neck, light weight. I only had it a matter of weeks and when I think back now I can't imagine why I didn't keep it. :( I was just locked into buy/sell/buy/sell mode....
I've always been like that if I spend too much at once - even when I was a kid, if I went out and bought 3 or 4 albums in one go I'd never get into any of them properly. I need to acquire things one at a time and appreciate them individually!
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I ended up buying 'that' Tokai goldtop in the Richtone xmas sale, £799. Bargain.It's a great guitar made greater knowing you couldn't even make it for the sale price(well nearly).
The moral for me is don't have fixed ideas regarding colours etc but look for value, 95% of a good guitar is its contstruction, components.
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^ nice score :) Yeah they've had deals on, on and off, for a while now. I think they're trying to get rid of their tokai and edwards stock as they're gibson dealers now.
That's very interesting to me, you'll impulse buy 3 guitars in a week..... and KEEP them!
Whereas if I did that, you can virtually guarantee I wouldn't be happy with any of them and I'd sell them off very quickly - and quite possibly in a very irrational manner. I bought quite a few guitars last year and most are already sold, including a Les Paul Studio which was actually really cool - great neck, light weight. I only had it a matter of weeks and when I think back now I can't imagine why I didn't keep it. :( I was just locked into buy/sell/buy/sell mode....
I've always been like that if I spend too much at once - even when I was a kid, if I went out and bought 3 or 4 albums in one go I'd never get into any of them properly. I need to acquire things one at a time and appreciate them individually!
3 might have been a slight exaggeration... but i've definitely bought two guitars very close together on occasion :lol: Granted that might have been because they were on offer, but still.
But yeah I prefer buying things singly too, as you said, you get to appreciate them better. i'm always annoyed when several good deals come along at once, I'd rather they'd be spread out.
When i used to subscribe to guitar magazines it always used to annoy me that there'd be nothing for a month, and then 3 would arrive on the same day. :lol:
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P90 GAS CURED!!! - incoming, watch this space :D
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Exciting :D
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Come on Ian, spill the beans!
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Oooh, have I missed some recent developments? :D
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It pretty much goes without saying that its a Gibson - nothing else ever feels right.
I'm gonna keep you guys guessing a little :lol:
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You negotiated on this after it failed to reach it's reserve? :wink:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-Custom-Les-Paul-Special-1960-RI-/230851268287?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&nma=true&si=zR11YdJbGYC4xMTN%2FWLdIRUQih4%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Gibson-Custom-Les-Paul-Special-1960-RI-/230851268287?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&nma=true&si=zR11YdJbGYC4xMTN%2FWLdIRUQih4%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc)
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close, but no cigar - wasn't on ebay, a guy I do amp work for had something he wanted to move on and he knew I was looking at Gibsons with P90s.
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Is it a non-reverse firebird?
(http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/35091823/aview/1965GibsonFirebirdISunburstElectricGuitar11232.jpg)
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I was GASing for a FB earlier in the year, but decided as much as they play great and sound top - they don't look right on me with my foot perched on the monitor :lol:
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I'm no good at this suspense game... the one thats coming to me has a RW fretboard and has the odd ding - the first of many if I end up gigging it...
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A classic - enjoy it mate!
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Cool! I'm assuming it's one of the recent reissues rather than a vintage one?
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Beaut. Well Jel.
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Cool! I'm assuming it's one of the recent reissues rather than a vintage one?
yep, a recent one - will know 'how' recent when the lad brings it over on Friday.
I'm not gonna make anyone sick with the price either. Well, kinda - lets just say I paid less than half the street price for a new one.
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btw, it'll be interesting to see how it compares with the old '67 SG junior I used to own.
I'm considering an actual vintage 50s P90 for it a wee bit down the line (i.e. after xmas) as they're not insanely expensive like 50s PAFs.
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ooo nice :)
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Cool plank, oozes raunchy rock!
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P90 SGs are just soooo cool. Well actually every P90 guitar is cool (or almost every).
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This NGD also means I can now switch my Les Paul standard back to humbuckers 8)
The next question is, LP versus the Vee. Similar beasts, do I really need two very similar guitars? :?
The LP has been with me about 17 years, the Vee for nearly one. The Vee is very light and plays great, perfect gigging guitar - not too keen on where the 3-way switch is mind you.
Maybe I should leave them in my collection, its not like I absolutely NEED to sell them. The Tele and mandolin otoh, they can go - as much as they're both cool, they're not really me.
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Maybe I should leave them in my collection, its not like I absolutely NEED to sell them. The Tele and mandolin otoh, they can go - as much as they're both cool, they're not really me.
I thought you loved that Tele! :o
But yes, keep the LP and the V. I don't regard them as similar guitars at all, apart from having a pair of humbuckers each.
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As far as Teles go, its the best I've ever played. But I can't gig it - I'm always looking for the fatness I get with my Gibsons. The reason P90s work so well for me is they have the best qualities of single coils (quack on the low strings) and humbuckers (fat treble strings), plus a midrange grind all of their own.
I'll see how this SG junior pans out, but if all is well, the MQ's will be in seconds out - pointless having two guitars covering the same ground (well, for my purposes anyway).
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I wonder what will be going in the LP if you sell the MQs...
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Back to the Abraxas set that used to be in there, if Ian still has them?
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I've got three different humbuckers to choose from for the Les Paul, sadly none are BKPs. If I had nothing lying around and was looking to buy, Abraxas would be top of my list. There is an OLD Dimarzio Super Distortion to try in there, a Gibson Dirty Fingers and a hot PAF type from another boutique company thats in the ballpark of the Abraxas.
As for neck humbuckers for the LP, I've not found my perfect one yet - I like PAF tonality but they're always too muddy. I tend to play clean passages on the neck pickup and roll the volume down to reduce the gain. The MQ neck is the best for this, but I would like something that has that humbucker bloom for solos.
A4 always sounds great for single notes, but goes mushy. A5 sounds tighter and more defined, but is harsh on the top strings. Hmmm.... :?
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What about putting the Super Distortion in the bridge and the Dirty Fingers in the neck?
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What about putting the Super Distortion in the bridge and the Dirty Fingers in the neck?
Thats likely to be my first try out. I've wanted to try an old Super Distortion for years as I always loved Adrian Smith's tone and he has one in his Gold Top. The Dirty Finger has a coil tap, so putting it in the neck seems like a good idea.
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in my experience, Dirty Fingers work well in the neck
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in my experience, Dirty Fingers work well in the neck
I've never been clear on this - are there neck and bridge models of the Dirty Fingers, or do they just use two identical pickups on those guitars?
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in my experience, Dirty Fingers work well in the neck
I've never been clear on this - are there neck and bridge models of the Dirty Fingers, or do they just use two identical pickups on those guitars?
Identical.
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^ +1 afaik
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in my experience, Dirty Fingers work well in the neck
I've never been clear on this - are there neck and bridge models of the Dirty Fingers, or do they just use two identical pickups on those guitars?
Identical.
Thats right. I've got quite a few of these pickups now and theres always a bit of variation in DC resistance though to be honest.. 1 or 2k even. The reissue ones may be more consistent. In one set I have, the neck is a bit hotter than the bridge bizarrely.
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Cool! I'm assuming it's one of the recent reissues rather than a vintage one?
yep, a recent one - will know 'how' recent when the lad brings it over on Friday.
I'm not gonna make anyone sick with the price either. Well, kinda - lets just say I paid less than half the street price for a new one.
Perhaps i should raise the price a little then ian? :P
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Cool! I'm assuming it's one of the recent reissues rather than a vintage one?
yep, a recent one - will know 'how' recent when the lad brings it over on Friday.
I'm not gonna make anyone sick with the price either. Well, kinda - lets just say I paid less than half the street price for a new one.
Perhaps i should raise the price a little then ian? :P
Ooops, rumbled. :? :lol:
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Cool! I'm assuming it's one of the recent reissues rather than a vintage one?
yep, a recent one - will know 'how' recent when the lad brings it over on Friday.
I'm not gonna make anyone sick with the price either. Well, kinda - lets just say I paid less than half the street price for a new one.
Perhaps i should raise the price a little then ian? :P
nah, that would be stupid mate :lol:
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He's getting some tasty work done on a Peavey Classic 50 in addition to the SG I'd point out like, so its not like I'm robbing anyone. Still a damn good deal - it better play like buttah as well Steve, ha ha :lol:
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He's getting some tasty work done on a Peavey Classic 50 in addition to the SG I'd point out like, so its not like I'm robbing anyone. Still a damn good deal - it better play like buttah as well Steve, ha ha :lol:
Well i currently have 11's on it, not sure if they are your sort of thing :P
It plays nice though, as nice as my 61ri at least.
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He's getting some tasty work done on a Peavey Classic 50 in addition to the SG I'd point out like, so its not like I'm robbing anyone. Still a damn good deal - it better play like buttah as well Steve, ha ha :lol:
Well i currently have 11's on it, not sure if they are your sort of thing :P
It plays nice though, as nice as my 61ri at least.
11s are my poison :D
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I have the SG junior here now, great guitar - love it to bits.
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nice :D
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I have the SG junior here now, great guitar - love it to bits.
Pics... and review or it didn't happen. :D
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I have the SG junior here now, great guitar - love it to bits.
Pics... and review or it didn't happen. :D
ha ha, are you standing in for Fernando? :lol:
my digital camera is foooked, so no pics I'm afraid - unless a cursory opening up of it reveals an obvious fault.
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I have the SG junior here now, great guitar - love it to bits.
Pics... and review or it didn't happen. :D
ha ha, are you standing in for Fernando? :lol:
my digital camera is foooked, so no pics I'm afraid - unless a cursory opening up of it reveals an obvious fault.
Yup :D
And... Since there are still no pics I, unfortunately, must conclude, by the power vested in me, that this "didn't happen".
Case Dismissed. 8)
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better late than never :lol:
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With this picture I can now re-evaluate the case! :D
I can now happily conclude, by the power vested in me, that this "did happen".
Case Re-Dismissed 8)
Anyway, thats stunning. I love the simplicity of SGs with P90s.
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Looks great Ian :)
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If that thing doesn't scream "I love rock n roll" I don't know what does! Super cool looking guitar.
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Its SO light and resonant too - when I pick my Les Paul up afterwards it feels like it's bolted to the ground :lol:
Will be gigging it next weekend, so I'll be able to report back on how it fares for gigging.
Already had it up LOUD at home, but everything changes at gigs.
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Its SO light and resonant too - when I pick my Les Paul up afterwards it feels like it's bolted to the ground :lol:
See? That's what I've been going on about all these years!
Looks good! :D
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very nice indeed :)
that's a pretty epic bedspread, too
EDIT: ^ yeah decent quality mahogany in those junior/special-style guitars is super light. I have a JJ that is really super-light (in a good way).
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That bedspread rules - I had to have it, just screams 70s retro :lol:
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:lol:
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That looks awesome! I love SG Jrs.
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That looks awesome! I love SG Jrs.
What about the bedspread? :lol:
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That looks awesome! I love SG Jrs.
What about the bedspread? :lol:
I'll take the bedspread and the SG Jrs!
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Mighty fine looking geetar there sir :D
Oh yeah, bedspread is good too, etc, etc :lol:
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While we're talking guitars, if anyone has a nickel Bigsby B7 they'd sell PM me - yes, I'm talking about you Philly, come on, you've gotta have one underneath that bed, ha ha :lol:
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While we're talking guitars, if anyone has a nickel Bigsby B7 they'd sell PM me - yes, I'm talking about you Philly, come on, you've gotta have one underneath that bed, ha ha :lol:
I've got a B5, Ian, but no B7! :lol:
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While we're talking guitars, if anyone has a nickel Bigsby B7 they'd sell PM me - yes, I'm talking about you Philly, come on, you've gotta have one underneath that bed, ha ha :lol:
I've got a B5, Ian, but no B7! :lol:
Which one is the B5 again? - is that the one used on SGs and Teles?
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While we're talking guitars, if anyone has a nickel Bigsby B7 they'd sell PM me - yes, I'm talking about you Philly, come on, you've gotta have one underneath that bed, ha ha :lol:
I've got a B5, Ian, but no B7! :lol:
Which one is the B5 again? - is that the one used on SGs and Teles?
Yup, it is. It's for flattops in general. I'd love to see one on a strat, that would be really cool. :D
But, anyway, were you by any chance think of installing it on the SG? :D
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I've got the B5 and a Vibramate (Afghan where are you?) with the idea of fitting it on either an SG or my Epi LP Special at some point.
If I was going to put a trem on an SG Junior, I'd go for a Maestro liked they used in the '60s. It would mean drilling three holes in the body, though, unfortunately.
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The Bigsby isn't for the SG, I'm not a fan of them on SGs (the old Maestro ones look nice though, but only on standards). The lyre tailpiece also looks cool too, but I like the grunt you get with a basic wrapbar on a SG junior. Its all about no-frills with this axe.
The B7 is for my Les Paul standard, it's been my main guitar for the past 18 years (with small spells off here and there, only the odd month mostly). Its crying out for a bit of Neil Young treatment - there a place in the US on ebay that do pre-aged Bigsbys too, so it'll match in with my WELL worn axe.