Post by Mojo on Nov 2, 2010 8:57:13 GMT -5
We all have a tone or tones in our mind that we're looking to accomplish. I bought over 300 guitars in 2 1/2 years. Writing that statement makes me shake my head at myself. From cheap import guitars to Fenders, from Gibsons to Reverends, from Ibanez axes to luthier-built beauties, from tone woods to metal Trussarts... nitro & poly finishes... partscasters... I've been a fortunate, guitar-obsessed guy. So after this crazy search, I have come to the following (personal) conclusions:
1. Two of the best guitars I have ever owned in terms of tones and comfort were Fenders. Made-in-Mexico Fenders, no less. One was a Robert Cray hardtail strat, the other the guitar that made me a Tele player for life: a James Burton in sunburst. Both were 100% stock, both were perfect little guitars that I wish I still owned. Here's the JB Tele:
(More pics of this James Burton Tele are on www.GuitPics.com here. I bought three more JB Teles after I sold that one, and not a one of them had the magic that this one did.
2. For the tones I like, and for the feel I look for, nothing beats a big, fat neck. And I mean big. I have never once in my life thought "this guitar neck is too thick." I have sold plenty of incredible guitars, including the beautiful Bigsby-equipped Melancon Cajun Gentleman below, because the neck was too thin for me.
3. I don't necessarily believe that a $2500 guitar is $1500 better than a $1000 guitar. I don't believe that a $2500 guitar makes me play better than a $1000 guitar either, for that matter. When you play like me, it takes a heck a lot more than an extra $1500 to palliate my lack of talent
4. Trems: when will I learn that I can't stand them? It doesn't matter if it's a Fender trem, a Floyd, or even a Bigsby. Every guitar I ever owned that had one is gone. Except for my very first guitar ever, a Peavey Predator s-type that I still use to this day. But only for slide. You can see and hear her in action in this silly, and I mean silly video.
5. Gibsons: as much as I love the looks of a Firebird, Les Paul or 335, I cannot get used to the Gibson scale. No can do, gotta get me a Fender scaled guitar.
6. Tom Anderson guitars: I have been lucky to own a bunch of very sweet TAGs and I can say that they are 100% worth the cash spent on them. Every one I owned was "special". My Koa Crowdster is the guitar I gig the most these days, and is a veritable tone machine and a complete pleasure to play. Now if only that neck could be a tad thicker, she'd be perfection-made-guitar.
7. Don Grosh guitars: holy mother of pearl, Grosh guitars are stunning. Stunning, I tell you. And then some. I wish I could reacquire each and every one of the ones I was foolish enough to sell.
8. Collings guitars: I only owned two of them, an I35 and a 290. The 290 was a great little guitar, and surprisingly affordable. The I35 is one of those guitars I regret selling the most, but the truth of the matter is that it was so darn expensive that I never played the friggin' thing for fear of hurting it. I know it's a silly rationale, but it is what it is. What beautiful, alive instruments.
9. James Trussart guitars: there goes that whole debate about tone woods! Those metal beauties are not only just about the coolest guitars design-wise, but they have tone for days. And those Arcane pickups are fantastic. And while I loved the SteelCasters I was lucky enough to own, the one I *really* miss is the SteelPhonic. Why those are not a best seller for Trussart is something I will never understand.
10. Scott Lentz guitars: I don't even know where to start to describe the love affair between Lentz guitars and me. Of all the Teles I have owned or played, and that's a sizable amount, the best of all of them is the double-bound sunburst beauty I call my #1. And the HSLs I had were also mind opening. Fantastic pickups, and w/ the separate volumes, a myriad of tones, all usable, all inherently spellbinding could be dialed in. Once you try a Lentz, there is no going back. You've been warned.
11. Ron Thorn guitars: the genius that is Ron Thorn cannot be underestimated. And I don't use that word often or lightly. Heck, I taught at MIT. I know genius when I see it. My Koa Junior 90 is such a stunning piece of craftsmanship that, were I able to let her go, I'd recommend she be spent in space to show other civilizations out there what we're capable of down here. It's that perfect. And don't get me started on those staple top GT-90 pickups, which are hands down the best P90 pickups I have ever played. There are more Thorns in my future for sure.
12. Melancon guitars: if there's a more genuine, kind, respectful, courteous builder than Gerard Melancon, I don't know who that person is. And boy, can the man build guitars. My only gripe is that his standard necks are way too thin for my personal tastes, but he can hardly be faulted for that.
13. Bill Crook guitars: let's be honest, if you're dying for a Paisley-finished guitar, there is no one better out there, including the Fender Custom Shop. And man, are they stunningly great guitars to play, regardless of the finish option you choose. And it doesn't hurt that Bill's a gem of a man, too.
14. David Thomas McNaught guitars: are you kidding me? They're so damn pretty they belong in a museum. The Single Cut Jr. I owned was nothing sort of stunning and sounded fantastic, too, with the Manlius pickups with which it came equipped.
15. G&L guitars: buck-for-buck, they always came as a better quality instrument than the comparable Fenders. At least, in my personal experience. But sadly enough, I could never get used to the neck profiles.
16. Huber guitars: I only owned one Huber, but that guitar was special in every way. It took the afore-mentioned Thorn Jr 90 for me to consider selling the Huber. I hope to own another Huber one day.
17. Peter Malinoski guitars: equal part art and guitars. Innovative, too. And the guy's a hoot, to boot. Everybody should be lucky enough to try one of his designs. Which, coming to think of it, is not that far-fetched since he has a tour guitar going around
Do yourself a favor and sign up for it. You won't regret it.
18. Jim Soloway guitars: Jim's designs are amazing. The Gosling, for example, is one of the most ergonomically perfect guitars I have ever played. It just fits. Perfectly balanced, both in terms of tone and in terms of physically holding the guitar, be that while seated or standing up. Gorgeous, luscious tones, too, and beautiful woods. And those 1-piece tops are nothing short of stunning. My next guitar will be a Soloway as soon as I get back on my feet financially speaking. The quality, tones, overall feel, and smile-inducing magic Jim's guitars represent are on par w/ the Thorn and Lentz guitars I own - I personally cannot provide a higher praise.
19. Reverend Guitars: I might as well tell you right now, I am a huge Joe Naylor fan. The guy gets it. His designs are wacky but great. I understand that Reverend guitars are not for every one, and in a way, I am sure that he likes it like that. I have owned and played many a Reverend guitar, and I have never held one, be it USA-built or import, that I didn't think was a fantastic guitar. And at the price point they sell for, they are a complete, gig-ready, no-brainer. As an aside, I enjoyed interacting with Joe for this interview. I have also always been intrigued by the fact that Telecaster fans seem to love Reverend guitars. An interesting connection, that.
20. Vinetto guitars: I don't think Vince Cunetto is capable of building a bad guitar, even if he tried. On his worst day, he is still one of the best luthiers out there. Not that he has bad days, anyway
21. Terry C. McInturff: I have never held and played a TCM I didn't want to bring home. And several times, I did do just that
Another luthier who blurs the line between art and craftsmanship, is an innovator in his field and is a gem of a guy.
I haven't tried all the guitars I wish I could try. I am still dying to own guitars by such luthiers as Artinger, Koll, Schroeder or Myka. But with that caveat in mind, I can say that, to me, the holy grail of tone is accomplished with the following:
Thorn Jr 90 or Lentz T into Swart AST amp. Pure heaven to me.
Sorry for the lengthy trip down memory lane. I hope you enjoyed it. Next up, I'll be talking about pickups
1. Two of the best guitars I have ever owned in terms of tones and comfort were Fenders. Made-in-Mexico Fenders, no less. One was a Robert Cray hardtail strat, the other the guitar that made me a Tele player for life: a James Burton in sunburst. Both were 100% stock, both were perfect little guitars that I wish I still owned. Here's the JB Tele:
(More pics of this James Burton Tele are on www.GuitPics.com here. I bought three more JB Teles after I sold that one, and not a one of them had the magic that this one did.2. For the tones I like, and for the feel I look for, nothing beats a big, fat neck. And I mean big. I have never once in my life thought "this guitar neck is too thick." I have sold plenty of incredible guitars, including the beautiful Bigsby-equipped Melancon Cajun Gentleman below, because the neck was too thin for me.
3. I don't necessarily believe that a $2500 guitar is $1500 better than a $1000 guitar. I don't believe that a $2500 guitar makes me play better than a $1000 guitar either, for that matter. When you play like me, it takes a heck a lot more than an extra $1500 to palliate my lack of talent
4. Trems: when will I learn that I can't stand them? It doesn't matter if it's a Fender trem, a Floyd, or even a Bigsby. Every guitar I ever owned that had one is gone. Except for my very first guitar ever, a Peavey Predator s-type that I still use to this day. But only for slide. You can see and hear her in action in this silly, and I mean silly video.
5. Gibsons: as much as I love the looks of a Firebird, Les Paul or 335, I cannot get used to the Gibson scale. No can do, gotta get me a Fender scaled guitar.
6. Tom Anderson guitars: I have been lucky to own a bunch of very sweet TAGs and I can say that they are 100% worth the cash spent on them. Every one I owned was "special". My Koa Crowdster is the guitar I gig the most these days, and is a veritable tone machine and a complete pleasure to play. Now if only that neck could be a tad thicker, she'd be perfection-made-guitar.
7. Don Grosh guitars: holy mother of pearl, Grosh guitars are stunning. Stunning, I tell you. And then some. I wish I could reacquire each and every one of the ones I was foolish enough to sell.
8. Collings guitars: I only owned two of them, an I35 and a 290. The 290 was a great little guitar, and surprisingly affordable. The I35 is one of those guitars I regret selling the most, but the truth of the matter is that it was so darn expensive that I never played the friggin' thing for fear of hurting it. I know it's a silly rationale, but it is what it is. What beautiful, alive instruments.
9. James Trussart guitars: there goes that whole debate about tone woods! Those metal beauties are not only just about the coolest guitars design-wise, but they have tone for days. And those Arcane pickups are fantastic. And while I loved the SteelCasters I was lucky enough to own, the one I *really* miss is the SteelPhonic. Why those are not a best seller for Trussart is something I will never understand.
10. Scott Lentz guitars: I don't even know where to start to describe the love affair between Lentz guitars and me. Of all the Teles I have owned or played, and that's a sizable amount, the best of all of them is the double-bound sunburst beauty I call my #1. And the HSLs I had were also mind opening. Fantastic pickups, and w/ the separate volumes, a myriad of tones, all usable, all inherently spellbinding could be dialed in. Once you try a Lentz, there is no going back. You've been warned.
11. Ron Thorn guitars: the genius that is Ron Thorn cannot be underestimated. And I don't use that word often or lightly. Heck, I taught at MIT. I know genius when I see it. My Koa Junior 90 is such a stunning piece of craftsmanship that, were I able to let her go, I'd recommend she be spent in space to show other civilizations out there what we're capable of down here. It's that perfect. And don't get me started on those staple top GT-90 pickups, which are hands down the best P90 pickups I have ever played. There are more Thorns in my future for sure.
12. Melancon guitars: if there's a more genuine, kind, respectful, courteous builder than Gerard Melancon, I don't know who that person is. And boy, can the man build guitars. My only gripe is that his standard necks are way too thin for my personal tastes, but he can hardly be faulted for that.
13. Bill Crook guitars: let's be honest, if you're dying for a Paisley-finished guitar, there is no one better out there, including the Fender Custom Shop. And man, are they stunningly great guitars to play, regardless of the finish option you choose. And it doesn't hurt that Bill's a gem of a man, too.
14. David Thomas McNaught guitars: are you kidding me? They're so damn pretty they belong in a museum. The Single Cut Jr. I owned was nothing sort of stunning and sounded fantastic, too, with the Manlius pickups with which it came equipped.
15. G&L guitars: buck-for-buck, they always came as a better quality instrument than the comparable Fenders. At least, in my personal experience. But sadly enough, I could never get used to the neck profiles.
16. Huber guitars: I only owned one Huber, but that guitar was special in every way. It took the afore-mentioned Thorn Jr 90 for me to consider selling the Huber. I hope to own another Huber one day.
17. Peter Malinoski guitars: equal part art and guitars. Innovative, too. And the guy's a hoot, to boot. Everybody should be lucky enough to try one of his designs. Which, coming to think of it, is not that far-fetched since he has a tour guitar going around
Do yourself a favor and sign up for it. You won't regret it.18. Jim Soloway guitars: Jim's designs are amazing. The Gosling, for example, is one of the most ergonomically perfect guitars I have ever played. It just fits. Perfectly balanced, both in terms of tone and in terms of physically holding the guitar, be that while seated or standing up. Gorgeous, luscious tones, too, and beautiful woods. And those 1-piece tops are nothing short of stunning. My next guitar will be a Soloway as soon as I get back on my feet financially speaking. The quality, tones, overall feel, and smile-inducing magic Jim's guitars represent are on par w/ the Thorn and Lentz guitars I own - I personally cannot provide a higher praise.
19. Reverend Guitars: I might as well tell you right now, I am a huge Joe Naylor fan. The guy gets it. His designs are wacky but great. I understand that Reverend guitars are not for every one, and in a way, I am sure that he likes it like that. I have owned and played many a Reverend guitar, and I have never held one, be it USA-built or import, that I didn't think was a fantastic guitar. And at the price point they sell for, they are a complete, gig-ready, no-brainer. As an aside, I enjoyed interacting with Joe for this interview. I have also always been intrigued by the fact that Telecaster fans seem to love Reverend guitars. An interesting connection, that.
20. Vinetto guitars: I don't think Vince Cunetto is capable of building a bad guitar, even if he tried. On his worst day, he is still one of the best luthiers out there. Not that he has bad days, anyway
21. Terry C. McInturff: I have never held and played a TCM I didn't want to bring home. And several times, I did do just that
Another luthier who blurs the line between art and craftsmanship, is an innovator in his field and is a gem of a guy.I haven't tried all the guitars I wish I could try. I am still dying to own guitars by such luthiers as Artinger, Koll, Schroeder or Myka. But with that caveat in mind, I can say that, to me, the holy grail of tone is accomplished with the following:
Thorn Jr 90 or Lentz T into Swart AST amp. Pure heaven to me.
Sorry for the lengthy trip down memory lane. I hope you enjoyed it. Next up, I'll be talking about pickups
