I tried out a Vintage SG copy the other day and I have to say I really liked the way it played and I've been after a "cheap but fairly well made" guitar to replace my USA Tele' that I can upgrade. Upshot is I've bought an "as new" white Vintage VS6R (SG copy) for £130 on fleabay!
It's gonna get the Stormy Monday/Riff Raff treatment, CTS Pots and Russian PIO caps in 50's configuration.
I don't reckon I could get a much better guitar for £380..
I agree that's a great deal / find ! The whole plan, including your choice of pickups / wiring is a brilliant one. Please post the photographs of the finished product. :) As you say, the Vintage copies do seem to play very well - and that's a huge part of the equation. Enjoy ! :D
( It was getting to the stage where any reference to an actual Vintage guitar was considered 'Off Topic'). :lol:
What a merry - and somewhat random bunch we are ... :mrgreen:
What 335 copys would you recommend at the moment, in the Vintage price point?? :D (I still never got around to getting one!)
I would be going for Ibanez. Reasoning as follows.
My Tanglewood 335 looky-likey ( TH502) was solidly built, with Grover tuners and surprisingly good 'stock' pickups. Not B.K.P quality of course, but they had been well selected by the maker to make the best of the humble Basswood body / mahogany neck combination., so much that they actually balanced the output high 'E' to Low 'E' better than the more subtle types of BKP I own.
However, the fingerboard looked somehow 'cheap' ( hard to describe why , but it includes the fact that it is un-bound ) and the truss rod turns too easily , making adjustments to it seem somewhat
vague for my liking, even though it does seem to work o.k. The neck set up good, but in comparison the Vintage and Ibanez set up
miraculously . :D
The Vintage had a relatively thin finish ; by which I mean that an overtightened toggle switch, or moving the forward strap button, just cracked and flaked off underneath it. Funnily enough, it doesn't flinch at the occasional knock against a guitar stand e.t.c - But between that and the original cheapo hardware ( what
was Mr. Wilkinson thinking of ? ) - they lost the chance to impress me for future purchases.
Another BKP forumite bought a red Washburn copy back then too ; and ( if I remember rightly ) posted a photo tutorial on how to rewire through the '
F' holes. That fact may help you track the thread - and even the original poster down.
The Ibanez AF75 I bought , had un-badged Ibanez Grover like machine heads, with locking screws, and the same quality feel / ratio as 'real' Grovers. The truss rod is sure footed, and they even have a truss rod cover that can be released and hinge sideways without a screwdriver. That may not sound like much, but it was indicative of their scrupulous attention to detail. The neck has a great profile / width / depth / feel - and ( indicative of them going that "extra mile"
again ) plus they have used a thick enough piece of Mahogany for the neck, to carve a graceful but solid volute. The strap buttons , Lyre tailpiece, and aforementioned machine heads - are heavy, quality, and chrome plated in the way that it looks expensive, not likely to peel and flake - and matches ( at least visually ) the quality plate on my BKP. The finish on the body, does not threaten to 'yeild under pressure' and the guitar's ( hollow ) body is relatively heavy , solid ( without being at all dull or clumsy) . In fact it's tone is tastefully bright and well projected .In short it feels professional . The entry level model ( i.e mine ! ) seems to have been given many of the same appointments / components - as the higher priced ones.
I was not overly impressed by my last Epiphone ( Joe Pass ) ; but 'Lazy Ninja' on here seems to picked up an Epiphone 335(ish ) copy, with which he is delighted.
I , however would be sticking with Ibanez, if buying again on a budget - which comes as some surprise to me, as I had no previous knowledge or expectation of that brand prior to my current 'gamble'. The only minor drawback ( which actually looks fine ' in the flesh' ) - is the 'Jet Boy' :lol: type logo on the head stock . I does look quite 'Art Deco' when you see it .
So : who is the Washburn owner on here ?
Is Lazy Ninja still delighted with his Epiphone ?
Have I just been lucky with my AF75 ?
Tune in ( to the B.K.P Forum ) next week for the next
thrilling installment of -
"
Belter on a budget ! " :)
