Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: PhilKing on August 30, 2007, 01:20:54 PM

Title: Phil's Look ALikes
Post by: PhilKing on August 30, 2007, 01:20:54 PM
These are not copies, they are guitars that owe their looks to different incarnations of the Les Paul.

From left:
Zemaitis Pearl Front clone - this and the metal front are amazing clones from Japan.  Both were made before Greco started (though they might have been made in the same factory!).  Rumour has it that the maker is Bacchus (a high end Japanese boutique maker). The detail is amazing, Neck Joint, headstock rear carve, horn carve are all spot on.  They play great and with BK's, sound amazing.  This one is waiting, TO wants Cold Sweats, I was thinking Crawlers,  at the moment they are the original A5 PAF clones
1961 Silvertone Stratotone Jupiter - a great rock and roll guitar.  DeArmond pickups.  Upgraded bridge and tuners.  
2001 Zemaitis Metal Front clone - see pearlfront for story.  Emerald/AIV Mule.  
1971 John Birch J1 - resprayed (the original finish reacted with the case lining).  Nails the old metal sounds.  I got it with full size humbuckers, but managed to find an original set on ebay.  Alan Exely had some leftover bobins for a rewind of one that wasn't working.  Will Scott restored it back to original appearance.
1979 Hamer Sunburst Abraxas pickups.  They really bring out some amazing sounds in this guitar.  It is heavy (uncarved maple top), but with the string through and massive bridge, can get the Carlos sustain!
Gordon Smith Gypsy 2 Hollowbody - these have great necks and weigh nothing. I would have more if I lived in England still.  I haven't played one that I didn't like

Still more to come (not many though!).
Title: Phil's Look ALikes
Post by: WezV on August 30, 2007, 01:26:18 PM
love the zemaitis clones - everytime i see one i end up pricing up pearl to do my version of one but it always seems to cost a little too much!!
Title: Phil's Look ALikes
Post by: noodleplugerine on August 30, 2007, 01:30:36 PM
The pearl front is GORGEOUS!
Title: Phil's Look ALikes
Post by: dave_mc on August 30, 2007, 03:06:01 PM
nice collection there, i'd be partial to the gordon smith...  :twisted:
Title: Phil's Look ALikes
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on August 30, 2007, 03:18:43 PM
Quote from: dave_mc
nice collection there, i'd be partial to the gordon smith...  :twisted:

The Gordon Smith looks nice, but I didn't like the way it played. I don't think I was partial to the tone, either.

Both Zemaitis guitars are great.

The John Birch rules the ruins, tho.
Title: Phil's Look ALikes
Post by: mecca777 on August 30, 2007, 06:13:06 PM
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
The John Birch rules the ruins, tho.

That's never a Warlock reference, is it? :D
Title: Phil's Look ALikes
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on August 30, 2007, 06:14:06 PM
Quote from: mecca777
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
The John Birch rules the ruins, tho.

That's never a Warlock reference, is it? :D

Good eye. :)
Title: Phil's Look ALikes
Post by: 38thBeatle on August 30, 2007, 06:20:39 PM
I love the zemaitis clones. I remember Ronnie Wood using them in the Faces-. They just look so cool and everyone I have heard up close, sounded great.
Title: Phil's Look ALikes
Post by: dave_mc on August 30, 2007, 09:24:16 PM
Quote from: TwilightOdyssey
Quote from: dave_mc
nice collection there, i'd be partial to the gordon smith...  :twisted:

The Gordon Smith looks nice, but I didn't like the way it played. I don't think I was partial to the tone, either.

Both Zemaitis guitars are great.

The John Birch rules the ruins, tho.


interesting. there was a second hand john birch (i thinK) in guitar guitar in edinburgh recently when i was there. I meant to try it, but there was so much nice stuff I ran out of time...  :lol: "kid in a candy store" comes to mind...  :oops:  :twisted: