7/4 Posted March 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Teles: I think i have to try more. G&L Zs: I spent an afternoon a few years ago and decided the Zs sounded the best. I think I tried one with three Zs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Teles: I think i have to try more. G&L Zs: I spent an afternoon a few years ago and decided the Zs sounded the best. I think I tried one with three Zs. I really like the Mexican made Classic series Telecasters. I think the 50's & 60's reissues are really nice. I have a '72 Custom reissue and I like it a lot. I had a U.S. 52 reissue which was nice, but I traded that for my Gretsch Firebird. I'm just going to get a 50's reissue someday. I kept my American made 62 Telecaster custom, though, it's black and double bound. One thing that is cool is that they've reissued the one pickup Esquire in the Classic series. I've heard the Esquires really are harmonically rich because of the lack of magnetic pull of the neck pickup. That's what I'd buy. You can get those for around $600 or less. Regarding the G&L Z's; some don't like them, but I find that if you adjust them, you can get some sweet sounds out of them. I also have a Comanche, which is a strat type guitar with 3 Z coil pickups. I like those pickups a lot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Oh yeah... Check out the Mexican made Muddy Water's Telecaster. You can get those for around $600 and they come with American pickups. They're basically a 50's body (ash) with a 60's neck (rosewood). They are a real bang for the buck. I've been wanting one of these for a long time. They only come in Candy Apple Red (which I like). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted March 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Guitar safari timmmmme.... I can show more restraint that I did 5 years ago. Really I can. Really. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Guitar safari timmmmme.... I can show more restraint that I did 5 years ago. Really I can. Really. Have fun! Seriously, the made in Mexico Classic series Telecasters are great guitars. I know I want more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Anybody try pickups from Stewart MacDonald? I put a set of their Golden Age pickups in my Epiphone Les Paul and I've been very pleased with that classic PAF sound. Only $40 apiece. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted March 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Have fun! Seriously, the made in Mexico Classic series Telecasters are great guitars. I know I want more. Hmmm...cheap and seductive like a.... Woaah! Epiphone calling.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Anybody try pickups from Stewart MacDonald? I put a set of their Golden Age pickups in my Epiphone Les Paul and I've been very pleased with that classic PAF sound. Only $40 apiece. I've heard good things about those pickups too. I have some Kent Armstrong pickups in my B-bender telecaster and they sound good (mini-humbucker and telecaster bridge pickup). Another option might be some GFS pickups. The guys on some of the guitar boards are raving about these imported pickups. They have a lot of interesting options that replace humbuckers. Here's a link to the ebay store that sells them: GFS pickups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Anybody try pickups from Stewart MacDonald? I put a set of their Golden Age pickups in my Epiphone Les Paul and I've been very pleased with that classic PAF sound. Only $40 apiece. Here's a link to Stewart McDonald's pickup page. Stew Mac pickups Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Today I went back to the store I saw those Cort guitars. I played them again and am really getting interesting in getting one. They also had a couple SE guitars - apparently Korean made PRS's. They are equipt with two soap bar pickups. One had a beautiful finish and played nicely as well. So i go to talk to the dude behind the counter. I ask him about the PRS model and he blountly tell me "It's $500." I ask about trade or consignment on my guitars. "Bring it in we'll look at them." Then I ask if the other store had any Corts or PRSs with different finishes. He just walked away... I kid you not. No answer, no interest in me or what I was saying at all! I couldn't believe it. This was not some punk teen after school worker, this was an older guy and I think he may be one of the owners. How do think you can treat customers that way? Especially a customer who just expressed an interest in a $500 guitar? I'm all for supporting your local bricks and mortar but if you think I'm buying anything from that guy and his store, you're nuts. Not a string, not a pick and sure as hell not a guitar!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted March 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Today I went back to the store I saw those Cort guitars. I played them again and am really getting interesting in getting one. They also had a couple SE guitars - apparently Korean made PRS's. They are equipt with two soap bar pickups. One had a beautiful finish and played nicely as well. So i go to talk to the dude behind the counter. I ask him about the PRS model and he blountly tell me "It's $500." I ask about trade or consignment on my guitars. "Bring it in we'll look at them." Then I ask if the other store had any Corts or PRSs with different finishes. He just walked away... I kid you not. No answer, no interest in me or what I was saying at all! I couldn't believe it. This was not some punk teen after school worker, this was an older guy and I think he may be one of the owners. How do think you can treat customers that way? Especially a customer who just expressed an interest in a $500 guitar? I'm all for supporting your local bricks and mortar but if you think I'm buying anything from that guy and his store, you're nuts. Not a string, not a pick and sure as hell not a guitar!! guitar sales is a whole 'nother thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Today I went back to the store I saw those Cort guitars. I played them again and am really getting interesting in getting one. They also had a couple SE guitars - apparently Korean made PRS's. They are equipt with two soap bar pickups. One had a beautiful finish and played nicely as well. So i go to talk to the dude behind the counter. I ask him about the PRS model and he blountly tell me "It's $500." I ask about trade or consignment on my guitars. "Bring it in we'll look at them." Then I ask if the other store had any Corts or PRSs with different finishes. He just walked away... I kid you not. No answer, no interest in me or what I was saying at all! I couldn't believe it. This was not some punk teen after school worker, this was an older guy and I think he may be one of the owners. How do think you can treat customers that way? Especially a customer who just expressed an interest in a $500 guitar? I'm all for supporting your local bricks and mortar but if you think I'm buying anything from that guy and his store, you're nuts. Not a string, not a pick and sure as hell not a guitar!! That's terrible, Scott. I wonder if your offer of trade or consignment made him think you weren't going to be buying anything. It's still inexcusible to me. There are some hungry internet merchants out there who might be more deserving of your business. I've read good reviews of the Korean PRS guitars. The PRS guys I've talked to say they're not the real thing, but I know other PRS users who have bought the SE models. If you like the Cort guitars, you might want to see what the other huge Korean manufacturer, Samick, is offering. I thought they had some jazz boxes. One thing I've done with success in the past is to watch for clearance deals or blems at Musicans Friend. I got my Casino (which listed for $2900) for $1100 as a refurb. There's nothing wrong with that guitar and I view it as the deal of a lifetime. I got my American '62 reissue Telecaster for $699 as a blem. The only thing wrong was one of the tuners was crooked. Five minutes after I opened the case, this was fixed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 You know that's not the first time he's acted that way. The other day I asked him about ordering some parts for my Broadway (couple knobs and a pot) and instead of taking the time to order them for me, he actually told me to go check at one of his competitors! I know it may be a pain to order parts, but that kind of service wins customers. Customers who need strings, polishing cloths, tuners, new guitars, amps, cases for a lifetime! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 You know that's not the first time he's acted that way. The other day I asked him about ordering some parts for my Broadway (couple knobs and a pot) and instead of taking the time to order them for me, he actually told me to go check at one of his competitors! I know it may be a pain to order parts, but that kind of service wins customers. Customers who need strings, polishing cloths, tuners, new guitars, amps, cases for a lifetime! It's funny... I read horror stories about the mom and pop guitar stores being put out of business by the megastores, but I don't feel bad for jerks like this guy. I wouldn't be surprised if every musician has dealt with merchants like this. I know I have and when they treat me that way, I'm gone. There are some great online merchants who really take care of their customers and I have no problem supporting them. One thing I liked about that Rondo music (the one with the cheap guitars) is that the boss, Kurt, answers all the questions that people email to him. That's why I wanted to help them with guitar designs. I appreciate people like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 (edited) Here's that Korean PRS I guess I'm not so sure about the pickups. I don't have alot of experience with Soapbars but think they might be too bright and punchy for my tastes. Edited March 5, 2005 by scottb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Here's that Korean PRS I guess I'm not so sure about the pickups. I don't have alot of experience with Soapbars but think they might be too bright and punchy for my tastes. That's a nice lookin' guitar. Except for the hum, I think soapbars are pretty nice. I have become a big fan of them. I hope you can try a guitar with them out. The way I figure it is; my favorite jazz guitar tone is that 40's Tiny Grimes, early T-Bone Walker sound and since humbuckers weren't released until '56 or '57, the P90 pickups are fine (for me) for jazz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 I remember seeing Grant Green playing a Les Paul fitted with P90s. (or did I dream that) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 I know Grant Green played a Gibson 330 with P90's. This guitar looks like a 335, but has P90's and is completely hollow inside (like my Epiphone Casino). Here's an old 330: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe G Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 I may have to take a road trip to Elderly Instruments in Lansing at some point. Look me up if you do! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sundog Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 I remember seeing Grant Green playing a Les Paul fitted with P90s. (or did I dream that) I found the picture I was thinking of. It's in the Patton Select. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shawn Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 This is a similar model to my current axe...although mine has the Floyd Rose locking system and the previous owner re-wired the guitar and installed active EMG pickups. It's got a real nice DEEP clean tone....and is pretty crunchy when cranked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/4 Posted March 5, 2005 Author Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 This is a similar model to my current axe...although mine has the Floyd Rose locking system and the previous owner re-wired the guitar and installed active EMG pickups. It's got a real nice DEEP clean tone....and is pretty crunchy when cranked. Party on Garth! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 I remember seeing Grant Green playing a Les Paul fitted with P90s. (or did I dream that) I found the picture I was thinking of. It's in the Patton Select. I haven't seen that picture. Was it an old Les Paul goldtop? I'd like to see it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AfricaBrass Posted March 5, 2005 Report Share Posted March 5, 2005 This is a similar model to my current axe...although mine has the Floyd Rose locking system and the previous owner re-wired the guitar and installed active EMG pickups. It's got a real nice DEEP clean tone....and is pretty crunchy when cranked. That's a cool guitar. I've never played an Explorer, but I used to have a Gibson Firebird. I'd also like to try out a guitar with EMG pickups sometime. It's really cool having this guitar thread. I love playing and talking guitars. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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