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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
 Posted - 10/17/2006 : 15:52:26
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Hi Guys
I'm not sure if this topic has been covered, but I am sure we would all like to talk about:
The Guitars that we Love & Play.
Or maybe you just collect them, like Boss & other pedals.
I really love hearing about other peoples equipment, and
the why's, when & how we use them.
Don't forget to tell us, about any special setup you may have.
Tell us about the love of your life, that makes all those wonderful pedals sing. 
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stahlhart
Platinum Member
1318 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2006 : 16:55:42
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Many years ago (before I set aside playing to go to college) I had a Rickenbacker 4000 bass. It was curly maple with no binding on the body, a lot like Chris Squier's (or Lemmy's -- actually at the time I was quite into Motorhead, which was how it caught my attention at the store). It had a 5-piece headstock, 3 walnut-finished pieces separated by two blonde ones.
It was an absolutely beautiful sounding bass -- even without an amp hooked up to it; you could play it accoustically and the Rick tone was there (especially with Rotosound Swing Bass strings, which I really liked using, but unfortunately they did not retain their tone for very long, and they were quite expensive to replace).
Only problem with it was a horribly whacked out neck -- the string action was really bad. Not an issue for playing AC/DC type stuff up near the nut, but down past the 7th fret or so it was really problemmatic. If I had had more money back in those days, I'd have probably taken it to a reputable luthier to have it straightened out.
Since it was a 4000, it only had the bridge pickup originally when I got it. I had it converted to a 4001 arrangement, put in a 4001 pickguard with four knobs and a switch, and had a Bartolini neck pickup added. A little bit of routing was needed for the neck pickup. I probably should have put that money into fixing the neck, but when you're young you sometimes make goofy decisions in life.
I ran it through an Ampeg V-4B with a pair of 2-15 cabinets. The amp was loud enough to play clean in the basement band I was in at the time, but it would not have been enough to gig with sadly, had I ever gotten to that point.
I miss that thing. Have never seen another one like it since. It would probably be worth a ton of money today. Sold all of that gear as I didn't really have time to play any longer, and there wouldn't have been room for it in the dorm anyway. Oh, well. 
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Edited by - stahlhart on 10/17/2006 17:01:02 |
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diggum12
Silver Member
USA
282 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2006 : 17:01:08
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Great Topic Dr. Bob!
Well, my favorite guitar and one of the best purchases I ever made is my Yamaha RGX A2. That's the white one that looks like an iPOD. Contrary to rumour, it's a solibody. VERY light. The wood they sandwich between the top & bottom is as light as air, and there are "sound tubes" placed in it that resonate with the string-thru design. It feels so alive. The pickups are just so... perfect. I love the guitar through and through. The only modification I did was to place a .0047 cap across the volume pot to retain highs and make it roll off without getting muddy. I like dynamics and volume swells and this does them beautifully. SO comfortable to play too!
It looks gimmicky, but believe me this is one of the best guitars I have ever played.   |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
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jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2006 : 19:11:06
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Lets see, from ages 13-15 my favorite guitar was a Lotus Rhoads-V copy with some type of Kahler bridge. It probably didn't sound too great, but it was the first guitar that I fell in love with. I still have it at my parents house, so I should re-string it one day and see how it is now. Lets see, other gear was a Gorilla Tube Crunch Combo (Still got it, Serial #725 from 1986, so is it vintage?) and an Arion Stereo Chorus.
From age 16-19, my favorite guitar was a BC NJ Series (or maybe Platinum?) Warlock with a reverse head and Floyd Rose-copy. It is a rather odd Warlock with 24 3/4" scale and a coil tap for the bridge humbucker. That was the guitar where a lot of my playing developed into what it is today. Gear: Crate 80XL(?, 80 watt 1x12 combo), Boss DF-2 or DOD FX52 Classic Fuzz (depending on which band I was in), DOD FX17 (Wah/Volume), Digitech PDS 2700 Double-Play (Chorus & Delay in one box).
From age 20-22 and 29-currently (took a break for a few years for various reasons, like focusing on a career, and getting sick of being in bands, etc.), my favorite guitar has been a Hohner L-75 Les Paul-copy. I realized after a few years with various floating trems that I didn't actually use whammy bars enough, if at all. Still use the L75 guitar, cause to me it sounds great since its a heavy guitar, it has great acoustic elements. The only mods I have made on that are the usual action and bridge adjustments to taste. The only drastic mod I made was sanding the neck a bit to get rid of the sticky feeling of the clearcoat of the finish, as my necks need to be unfinished, if finished, not with that heavy ass clear coat (or whatever it is) that makes my hands feel like they are stuck to the neck.
I have also since added a Schecter Damien 6 to the guitar rotation. I have had the Schecter for about a year, pretty much all stock, just have 11-49s on it (like all my guitars and tuned 1-step down), but still getting used to it. It is a very light guitar, so the weight throws me off and the lightness doesn't make it sound as good unplugged, but plugged in, the EMG Hz's make up for much of what may be lost due to it being a lighter-weight guitar.
Other current gear:
Band set-up-->Boss MT-2 (Keeley modded) and a Boss NS-2 through a Rogue 2x12 120watt combo (I know its a crappy amp, long story why I got it...basically the most watts for the least cash).
Home set-up-->Epiphone Valve Jr. Combo, various Boss pedals and always experimenting with other pedals: Keeley (Ultra) modded DS-1, DOD FX52, and I'll even admit that I goofed around with a Behringer Vintage Phase and some Dano minis...but lately its mainly been BYOC pedals I have built. |
Edited by - jack on 10/17/2006 19:19:55 |
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bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2006 : 22:05:53
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My Ibanez Jem 77FP.
I first became a fan of Steve Vai when he was playing in Frank Zappa's band. As soon as Ibanez released the Jem 1986 I wanted one. I was a student at the time and had no chance of affording a new guitar. My old Washburn would have to suffice for the time being. Whenever I saw a Jem in a store I popped in to play it so over the year I kept the flame alive. It wasn't until 2001 that I could finally afford to buy my dream guitar. Since then I've acquired another handful of guitars but my Jem remains my favorite.
There's still a few other guitars I really fancy. The Ibanez copy of the Gibson Modern, the Lace Cybercaster and the Aria Pro II PE-1000 to mention a few. |
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stratman
Silver Member
Australia
283 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2006 : 22:34:43
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My current guitar is my first "real" guitar! Previously I've only had cheap copies e.g. Korean Ibanez which was "ok" but nothing to write home about!, "Session" brand - can't find any info on these anymore - from the early 80s plus a couple of others.
My current guitar is a 50th Anniversary American Deluxe Stratocaster (see how "proudly" I write the name!!!  )
But seriously, it's one absolutely beautiful guitar. Two-piece body too which is pretty rare. Plays like butter with a big chunky neck. I also love the new SCN pickups with the S1 switching. Very versatile indeed. I still prefer the S1 switch NOT engaged but it comes in handy sometimes for different sounds. My MT-2 with bridge pickup (S1 NOT engaged) sounds so HUGE. |
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Vim Fuego
Gold Member
Denmark
566 Posts |
Posted - 10/17/2006 : 23:25:14
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Although I have had a lot of guitars I still always end up playing my first guitar - a Fender Lead 2. The greatest neck I ever played. I drove halfway across Europe to pick up another one but it just dosn't feel the same - the first one just fits me like a glove.
And although I always has been a Fender guy I'm on the lookout for an old Yamaha SG 2000/1500... just like the looks of them.
Cheers  |
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StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 00:24:28
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this is a good thread. we spend so much time talking about pedals, for a while i forgot we were all guitarists (or bassists((or possible even keyboardists))
im a lefty, so besides playing Yankee Doodle upside down on a righty,ive only played the ones i own. they would be a Jackson Soloist SL-1 that i very stupidly spraypainted red stripes on. although it does look good. my second and main axeis an Agile Flying V. its pretty much a Dave Mustaine ESP DV8 rip off, but its a wonderful guitar.
ive been looking into getting something a nice hollow lately, but i cant stop buying pedals!!! |
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Big Boss Man
Gold Member
USA
564 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 02:27:07
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| I have ten guitars and I am still looking for my favorite. I have been playing my G&L ASAT Classic a lot lately. I like Tele style guitars and guitars with a maple fretboard. I would like to get a Fender Nocaster reissue. I would also like an EVH Wolfgang. Maybe one of those will end my senseless, non-stop gear acquisitions? |
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Dingus
Silver Member
USA
472 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 16:45:16
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I first took an interest in guitar when my grandfather died, and one of my uncles decided to give me a 3/4 size classical guitar of his. Originally they gave me some really beautiful all-black hollowbody that couldn't keep tune at all, but then they took that back, probably worried I wasn't old enough at the time to treat a guitar properly (are we ever?). My first electric guitar was a Samick (Made In Korea) SG. My parents overpaid for that thing, but neither I nor them knew better at the time. I still love that guitar to this day, although its about time I probably change out the pickups, but with some Marshall JCM800 crunch they sound so good. My next guitar was a cheap-ass (we're talking $90) Ibanez GAX-30 (GIO Series). That thing totally sucked so I dropped in a Seymour Duncan Invader in the Bridge and a Seymour Duncan Jazz in the neck. The pickups helped it out a lot. I later ended up adding a Roland GK-2a Midi Pickup to it, which works great for a Guit-Synth, because tone doesn't end up mattering for the synth pickup. Eventually I think that guitar will become my first re-fretting project, but for now I leave it tuned to DGCFAC with 13's on it, and it works great. Then I picked up an Ovation Acoustic-Electric (which model I forget, one from the 80's with a really deep bowl). That's still my only acoustic guitar, and I love it. After that I got a Fender American Standard Stratocaster because my youngest sister convinced my folks that she wanted to learn to play guitar, and they bought her that. I mean given there is more than 10 years between how old her and I are, but still I got an SG Copy, and she got an American Strat? Anyway of course she played that thing for like a month with lessons and gave up, so they called me up and asked if I wanted it. Of course I wanted it. It reinvigorated me to learn more Clapton and Hendrix. Anyway after I graduated college and got a job that pays pretty well, I started looking out for more guitars I might want. I knew I had always wanted a Telecaster, but the question was which one? An American one would of course be nice, but the price tag of a new one was still too much, and the price tag of a used one was just a little more than I wanted to pay for something that wasn't going to become my main axe. I ended up getting a MIM Telecaster with a Seymour Duncan Hot Stack in the bridge which was wired for coil splitting. I eventually ended up taking all that crap out and wiring up a pair of Fender SCN pickups into it, and it sounds great. I knew the next guitar I wanted had to be a hollowbody or semi-hollowbody, I wanted an ES-335 style guitar without the $1800 price tag. I was looking at the Epiphone Dot, and the Ibanez AS73. After reading reviews of both, and trying out both, I was pretty sure I wanted the AS-73. An ad came up on Craigslist for one, but the seller wanted $275, which still wasnt an awful price since the retail at MF is $330, and the list is $440. But I wanted to get this thing pretty cheap, so I offered $180, and they said that was reasonable and they'd take it. Unexpected car expenses came up and I was gonna be slightly short on the $180 so I told the guy I couldnt do it and offered him $150, and he declined. I forgot about it for a while, but didn't see the guitar get relisted on Craigslist, so I half-jokingly sent the seller an e-mail saying that my offer of $150 still stands, and he e-mailed me back and took it. I love that guitar, and I frequently switch to it when jamming or writing. The most recent guitar acquisition of mine was a Squier Jagmaster II. That has become one hell of a refinishing project so far, but after I sell off the pickups that came in it, I will only have technically paid $30 for it. I'm actually putting up a website to document my refinishing, mostly to discourage others from trying to refinish a polyeurethane painted guitar.
Anyway throughout all this mess I have at least learned a little something, and that is: A) I like Maple fretboards B) I like smooth, but covered in a good amount of clear coat necks. C) the neck is the most important part of the guitar when buying a guitar, because you can change just about everything else about the body, except it's shape.
Sorry for Making that So Long (and for any spelling errors I didnt catch) |
Edited by - Dingus on 10/18/2006 16:46:57 |
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Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 17:25:18
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Dingus
What a great story - hard to read - but a great story.
And, jack yours is also a great story.
In fact they are all great stories.
Have you guys noticed, that we seem to write heaps about our guitars & instruments, when compared to our pedals.
I'm really glad I posted this topic  |
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diggum12
Silver Member
USA
282 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 20:24:29
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Thanks for dreaming up this thread Dr. Bob! On the Yamaha, the LEDs only light up on the VOLUME pot, but are selected using the PICKUP pot (selector), so there is no TONE pot. Confused? Green is neck, Blue is bridge, and Green/Blue is both. Battery door is on the back side and is for LEDs ONLY. It does not have active pickups. That battery has never been changed yet in the 7 months I've had it, and I've left it plugged in overnight several times. I'm trying to get it to die. 
Big Boss Man, is that G&L using the Commanche pickups? I hate those. Changing those out might give you that guitar you've been looking for. 
Also, I forgot to mention my Larrivee is my favorite acoustic. I use that w/ my RC-20xl and DD-20, so I do count it as a favorite guitar, albeit a slightly different category.
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stratman
Silver Member
Australia
283 Posts |
Posted - 10/18/2006 : 23:13:39
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Ah yes! My acoustic... I'd forgotten that one also. It's a Seagull - spruce top, maple back and sides, real bone nut and saddle and mahogany neck and ebony fretboard and bridge. Quite a beautiful guitar IMO. Lovely slab of ebony on the neck.
It's the only one I have and I bought it over 20 years ago when I was first starting out. That crappy "plastic" Session guitar I mentioned in my earlier post... well, I traded it together with my even crappier Gorilla 10w practice amp and all the Rocktek pedals (except the flanger for some reason!) I had at the time for it. Basically had to sell everything to afford it (I was only about 14 or so) but it was the best "trade" I've ever made.
The guitar sounds better and better each year. It's really sweet and mellow now and I still love playing it. |
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diggum12
Silver Member
USA
282 Posts |
Posted - 10/20/2006 : 17:34:11
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Ah yes, Stratman. Acoustics MUST have a real bone nut & saddle. Actually, I use Reindeer Antler for my Larivee. No lie!
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stratman
Silver Member
Australia
283 Posts |
Posted - 10/21/2006 : 01:41:08
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A Larivee! I LOVE those guitars...
Very nice diggum12. |
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Topic |
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What Guitar/s Do You Play & Love
