Guitar players

[skunkape]

Hey, nice shirt!

And that's a lovely axe... though I've become something of a Gibson hater lately. Anyone want to buy a nice 1971 Les Paul Custom?

dB

I had a Les Paul 50th anniversary model. The guy assured me it was a deal at $2500. I absolutely hated that thing by the end of a month. It wouldn't stay in tune for shit, the intonation was off by a mile (easy enough to adjust, but c'mon Gibson!), and the switches and pots were scratchy. It looked beautiful, but was otherwise a dud. It was like a really hot chick that I fell in love with at first sight, but after a couple of dates I wanted to strangle her.
I sold it for what I gave for it and bought a second Charvel for about 1/3 the price.

 

[Tim777]

I have tuning issues with mine as well. Drives me up the damn wall. I'm red with anger every time I try to play the thing.

It weighs a hundred pounds too.

 

[David Biedny]

Yeah, Les Pauls are mighty heavy guitars, that's for sure. I've been spoiled by my Parker Fly, thing weighs less than 5 pounds, and I adore the shape of the neck, though I'm less thrilled with the pickups (I primarily use it as an "effects" guitar, heavily processing the output with lots of weird boxes). The weight and sound of my PRS CE24 is an almost-perfect recipe for me, and is what I play most of the time, though I've been going crazy with a Line 6 Variax 300 I picked up a couple of years ago for under $300 - 25 lovely guitars in one, quite a load of fun.

Oddly, I've never had tuning problems with the Les Paul, and it really does have an amazing neck (they call this thing the "fretless wonder", and for good reason), but I've really come to hate what Gibson stands for, things they've done in the industry and their general attitude. And the weight of that instrument, well, it really does make it less than optimum.

dB

 

[bsvalley]

hey David,
Do you play out. or do you do sound tracks for your self and freinds.
I'm just curious. I have a few friends that get together just to write and do stuff in studio but they don't play out. Just curious as to which bird you were.

 

[dusty]

I own and play on the most amazing guitar ever, a Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 1961. It makes volcanoes erupt.

Gibson ES-355 1961 Cherry Red

Hey Chuckleberryfinn,

What a lovely guitar, I'm jealous. I have a 64 Strat that's been known to whip up storm or two. Also it bounces off drum kit's pretty well

Personally, I think I'd have to go with King Crimson's "In the Court of the Crimson King" or Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon".

From another thread I know but I have a funny story for you methshin.

Some years ago I used to work in a well known guitar store over here,
and it just so happened that we got hold of a USA Jackson Soloist
with the picture from (In the court of the crimson king) all over the front.

One morning I took a call from Greg Lake (ELP) saying he wanted it as he was on the album. To be honest I didn't believe it was him at first but it was, and after some negotiation on price he bought it though he didn't want it sent via courier. So lucky old me got the job of delivering it to him in his studio in Putney.

Anyway when I got there he was in the pub with his manager. So while I waited I had time to wander around the studio and chat to his road manager and one of the engineers, which was great and I got to see some of his well known guitars and was blown away with the layout of the place and just how friendly everyone was.

Anyway Greg eventually returns, I introduce myself and show him the guitar. He loved it but asked if I could make some adjustments to suit his
action preferences. So off I go into a little room and get to work, all the while worried about screwing anything up.
Not that what he wanted was difficult to acheive, more like I was paranoid about slipping with a screwdriver or something and spoiling the finish.
My guvnor told him that this guitar was one of a kind, and he bought it on the strength of that (Little does he know, ha ha ha).

So I get the job done, Greg asks me to play it, liked my playing (Very flattered) checks it out for himself loves it and then promptly gets on the phone to my guv to try and talk turkey some more (Like he cant afford it, Yeah right!). Fucking Rock stars.

Whilst all this is going down I ask if I could use the toilet, I get shown where to go, do what I gotta do and return. By now there is Greg his manager, road manager an engineer a roadie his secretary and someone else all standing around admiring this guitar. I arrive and am handed a cheque and the deals done.
Like I said earlier everyone was very friendly to me and they were all grinning as I said my goodbyes, so I shook hands with everyone popped the cheque in my shirt pocket and left still very excited about my mornings adventure. So much so that it suddenly occured to me that in all the excitement I had forgotten to check that the cheque was filled out correctly. So as I look down while fumbling in my pocket and am mortified to see my fly's wide open, and what with the cut of my jeans everyone couldn't fail to have noticed. Very embarassing.

But hey, like Greg has said himself,

"C'est la vie".

Mark

 

[Stillborn]

I had a Les Paul 50th anniversary model. The guy assured me it was a deal at $2500. I absolutely hated that thing by the end of a month. It wouldn't stay in tune for shit, the intonation was off by a mile (easy enough to adjust, but c'mon Gibson!), and the switches and pots were scratchy. It looked beautiful, but was otherwise a dud. It was like a really hot chick that I fell in love with at first sight, but after a couple of dates I wanted to strangle her.
I sold it for what I gave for it and bought a second Charvel for about 1/3 the price.

My Les Paul won't stay in tune either. It's some sort of limited rare edition. Anyway, I recall my favorite guitarist Jake E. Lee stating he never could get them to stay in tune either. That's why you don't see him use them.

My Fender strat has a floating bridge which annoys me since I change tunings A LOT. Takes forever to do that with my bridge. So I haven't been playing at all in awhile. My Equipment is great for studio, since it sounds great and easy to play once tuned for short periods, but playing live it's a nightmare.

I had a Charvel years ago. It was ok.

 

[Chuckleberryfinn]

Take a lesson amateurs.

<object width="445" height="364">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mIFFRHBCPzA&hl=en&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></object>

Is that Dr. Greer on the drums?

And who is that bass player? She's impressive.

 

[Xylo]

I own and play on the most amazing guitar ever, a Cherry Red Gibson ES-355 1961. It makes volcanoes erupt.

Gibson ES-355 1961 Cherry Red

My first electric was an ES 355. I traded it for a flying V. Biggest mistake of my life, but I was a heavy metal kid.

 

[methshin]

I have tuning issues with mine as well. Drives me up the damn wall. I'm red with anger every time I try to play the thing.

It weighs a hundred pounds too.

Heavy guitars are where it is at. I've had some uber light guitars before and I'll never go back.

For all people that are having problems keeping their axes in tune, google "floyd rose" and see if it can be installed on your guitar. I've had 3 guitars with floyds and you honestly tune the thing once a month. Double locking tremolo with locking nuts at the headstock. Your headstock can break off and your guitar will still be in tune. See video below, it's about 45 seconds into it.




Or you can get a speedloader, which is even more badass.

 

[skunkape]

I've been drooling at the thought of owning this one lately.

Carvin.com - Guitars, Basses, Amplifiers & Pro Audio

 

[Xylo]

I've been drooling at the thought of owning this one lately.

Carvin.com - Guitars, Basses, Amplifiers & Pro Audio

IMO you cannot get a better guitar for the money than a Carvin. If you know what you like in a guitar, you can have one custom built for between $900 and $1500. (I've got 3 of 'em and love the way they feel and their versatility.)

WRT to the tuning issue: I prefer Sperzel locking tuners to lock nuts...I think locking nuts destroy sustain and take a bit of the "mellow" out of the tone.

 

[skunkape]

IMO you cannot get a better guitar for the money than a Carvin. If you know what you like in a guitar, you can have one custom built for between $900 and $1500. (I've got 3 of 'em and love the way they feel and their versatility.)

I'm torn between the Carvin and building my own with Warmoth parts.


(WRT to the tuning issue: I prefer Sperzel locking tuners to lock nuts...I think locking nuts destroy sustain and take a bit of the "mellow" out of the tone.)


I agree on the lock nuts. I've got the locking Sperzel's on both of my guitars. One has a Wilkinson tremolo and one has a Kahler. I like'em both. The Wilkenson feels smoother, but if you wanna get all Dimebag with it, the Kahler is better. Graphite nuts are worth the investment also.

 

[methshin]

IMO you cannot get a better guitar for the money than a Carvin. If you know what you like in a guitar, you can have one custom built for between $900 and $1500. (I've got 3 of 'em and love the way they feel and their versatility.)

I'm torn between the Carvin and building my own with Warmoth parts.


(WRT to the tuning issue: I prefer Sperzel locking tuners to lock nuts...I think locking nuts destroy sustain and take a bit of the "mellow" out of the tone.)


I agree on the lock nuts. I've got the locking Sperzel's on both of my guitars. One has a Wilkinson tremolo and one has a Kahler. I like'em both. The Wilkenson feels smoother, but if you wanna get all Dimebag with it, the Kahler is better. Graphite nuts are worth the investment also.

I'd take a floyd over a Wilkinson or a Kahler any day of the week.

 

[skunkape]

I'd take a floyd over a Wilkinson or a Kahler any day of the week.

I'd never talk smack about a floyd. I just don't happen to own one. The ones with the fulcrum design wear out over time if you lay on'em hard, but Ibanez has a liscensed model that pivots on an axle that seems like a much better design if you just have to be Steve Vai.

 

[methshin]

I'd never talk smack about a floyd. I just don't happen to own one. The ones with the fulcrum design wear out over time if you lay on'em hard, but Ibanez has a liscensed model that pivots on an axle that seems like a much better design if you just have to be Steve Vai.

They do wear down over time, but so do the EDGE bridges that ibanez uses. If you take your guitar in twice a year for a check up, they'll let you know if your bridge is on its way out and if you're lucky, they can sub out parts rather cheaply.

I find that the quality of a floyd is worth the maintenance.

 

[Xylo]

I'm torn between the Carvin and building my own with Warmoth parts.

If you're good with tools, I'd suggest building your own. I've a friend that built 2 guitars from scratch...well 1.5-he messed up the neck on the second one and bought a bolt on. The point it, he's got a guitar unlike anyone else's, it plays and sounds well. And it was a labor of love.

 

[subject x]

I've never been much of a tremelo kind of guy, but I do like the way the Floyd stays in tune. Were I to get a tremolo, however, I'd still be getting the Bigsby. To me, if you can't beat someone to death with something, it's not worth buying. I never buy any substantial music equipment that doesn't pass the weight test. If it ain't heavy, it ain't mine.

But I'm old, and never play metal-type rock. I'm sure that if I did, I would have a different opinion on things like this.

Also, I almost forgot that I still have my first electric kicking around, an Ovation Deacon in dark "tobacco sunburst". It definitely has a distinctive sound, but doesn't push half the signal that my Gibson does. It's still about the most stable guitar I've ever had any experiene with.

Somewhere around I have a picture of David Allen Coe playing my Deacon on stage. For some reason he didn't have a guitar for his show, so I let him use mine. He kept looking at it like he was afraid it was going to rip his liver out or something. Most amusing, but you probably had to be there...

 

[methshin]

I've never been much of a tremelo kind of guy, but I do like the way the Floyd stays in tune. Were I to get a tremolo, however, I'd still be getting the Bigsby. To me, if you can't beat someone to death with something, it's not worth buying. I never buy any substantial music equipment that doesn't pass the weight test. If it ain't heavy, it ain't mine.

But I'm old, and never play metal-type rock. I'm sure that if I did, I would have a different opinion on things like this.

Also, I almost forgot that I still have my first electric kicking around, an Ovation Deacon in dark "tobacco sunburst". It definitely has a distinctive sound, but doesn't push half the signal that my Gibson does. It's still about the most stable guitar I've ever had any experiene with.

Somewhere around I have a picture of David Allen Coe playing my Deacon on stage. For some reason he didn't have a guitar for his show, so I let him use mine. He kept looking at it like he was afraid it was going to rip his liver out or something. Most amusing, but you probably had to be there...

Despite what you may think, a lot of metal players love a heavy guitar. Despite the size of a guitar like mine, it easily outweighs gretchs and a lot of basses.

 

[skunkape]

Somewhere around I have a picture of David Allen Coe playing my Deacon on stage. For some reason he didn't have a guitar for his show, so I let him use mine. He kept looking at it like he was afraid it was going to rip his liver out or something. Most amusing, but you probably had to be there...

David Allen Coe with Dimebag and Hank 3.

<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tPeZpQkmgh0&hl=en&fs=1&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tPeZpQkmgh0&hl=en&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>

 

[subject x]

Despite what you may think, a lot of metal players love a heavy guitar. Despite the size of a guitar like mine, it easily outweighs gretchs and a lot of basses.

Actually, I was referring to the weight of the tremolo unit, not the guitar.
The Bigsby is a substantial chunk of metal. With one in hand, I would take on someone armed with a Floyd Rose any day of the week. In a fight, that is, not a guitar duel.

David Allen Coe with Dimebag and Hank 3.

<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tPeZpQkmgh0&hl=en&fs=1&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tPeZpQkmgh0&hl=en&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>

Yup, heard that before. Actually, I heard an original demo cd of his work with the Pantera guys. Very nice sound, and his voice worked with their style of music rather well.

I do have to say, though, that Coe is about the grouchiest old bastard I've ever met. Rarely has anything pleasant to say, if he even speaks to you. I only know him from playing at the Iron Horse for many years' of Bike Weeks, as he plays there, too.

Credit where it's due, though. He can write some excellent songs (he can write some truly offensive crap, too), has a great big boomy voice, and still plays close to 300 shows a year, even at his advanced age. He's also a reasonably talented magician.