Jump to content

I've learned a lot from youse guys. Now who wants to help me find a guitar?


brentchtoast

Recommended Posts

  • Members

Hi. I'm in the market for a new guitar. I'm almost 100% a studio musician and have no intention of ever playing live.

 

MY CRITERIA

 

  • Humbuckers - I already own a Tele that I love so I want something to contrast those single coils.
  • Vibrato bridge - I won't be doin' any divebombs, but I really like to add a little extra flavor to my chords by shaking the vibrato a bit. Would prefer if it doesn't go wildly out of tune every time of course.
  • Doesn't annihilate my bank account. I want something nice, but maybe the sub-550 range.

 

LESS IMPORTANT BUT WOULD BE NICE

 

  • Full hollowbody
  • Comes in one or more of the following colors: black, natural, seafoam green

 

 

I'm a little picky about aesthetics (c'mon, it's the first thing that you connect with before you even pick it up!). Gretsch guitars have a wonderful aesthetic but for whatever reason, the Electromatic models just didn't resonate with me no matter how many times I tried.

 

Some of the Ibanez Artcore models sounded really great and chunky to me, but I don't like the way the bridge looks. Is the bridge a huge pain in the ass to replace on a hollowbody?

 

Thanks in advance!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

Samick JZ series can be found for the 500 range.

D'Angelico's can be found for the same price range, but you may need to do some repair on it.

Epiphone Casino. Hollow, with P90s.

Epiphone Sheraton II. semi hollow, humbuckers.

The Ibanez Artcore line. Changing the bridge is easy, though I haven't a clue as what you are talking about as to not liking them. The Ibanez version of a Bigsby is quite nice.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
Hi. I'm in the market for a new guitar. I'm almost 100% a studio musician and have no intention of ever playing live.

 

MY CRITERIA

  • Humbuckers - I already own a Tele that I love so I want something to contrast those single coils.
  • Vibrato bridge - I won't be doin' any divebombs, but I really like to add a little extra flavor to my chords by shaking the vibrato a bit. Would prefer if it doesn't go wildly out of tune every time of course.
  • Doesn't annihilate my bank account. I want something nice, but maybe the sub-550 range.

LESS IMPORTANT BUT WOULD BE NICE

  • Full hollowbody
  • Comes in one or more of the following colors: black, natural, seafoam green

 

I'm a little picky about aesthetics (c'mon, it's the first thing that you connect with before you even pick it up!). Gretsch guitars have a wonderful aesthetic but for whatever reason, the Electromatic models just didn't resonate with me no matter how many times I tried.

 

Some of the Ibanez Artcore models sounded really great and chunky to me, but I don't like the way the bridge looks. Is the bridge a huge pain in the ass to replace on a hollowbody?

 

Thanks in advance!

 

 

I tend not to buy stuff that is made in the Asian Belt, if I can help it.

 

Les Pauls are a bit over budget, but just a little over yuou budget would be something like this.

 

Fits your hollow-body gas and your hummbucker gas. Down the road you can ditch the Blacktop puts and drop in some TV Jones Classics.

 

 

I have a Gretsch TN Rose and a Power Jet. High cool factor. All Gretsch Pro stuff is made in Japan. There Electromatic stuff is made in Korea.

 

You could do something from there Custom Shop. Just hit to lottery or sumpton.

[ATTACH=JSON]{"data-align":"none","data-size":"full","title":"maxresdefault.jpg","data-attachmentid":32119939}[/ATTACH]

 

[video=youtube;3JZsE1Kae5o]

 

[video=youtube;8qu_Vs6PY-4]

 

 

Here's a guy that did a pup upgrade for ya. With case too

https://reverb.com/item/6458115-gretsch-g5420t-tv-jones

 

 

https://reverb.com/marketplace?query=Gretsch%20G5420T&condition=used

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

First, the bridge is the thing with the piece of foam under it, when you loosen all the strings it will fall off. That makes it pretty easy to replace. And you should replace it with a roller bridge when you put a Bigsby tailpiece on it.

 

The problem with installing a Bigsby style vibrato tailpiece is that (first) you'll need to make sure that it fits the top curve of the guitar (there are models for archtops) and second, that you choose one that will mount correctly to the top. Many Bigsby's have a couple of screws that go into the top (and usually into the center block of a semi- hollow body) but they do make models that mount solely from the end block. This guitar is a hollow body archtop so it will not have the center block. So, its not too difficult if you choose the right unit depending on the construction of the guitar.

 

Remember too that a Bigsby frequently lists for $150 - 200, add a roller floating bridge for maybe 50 and you're significantly cutting into your budget. There are of course PacRim copies for a lot less money.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
How hard would it be to change the bridge on this one: https://www.zzounds.com/item--IBAAFV10A

 

I absolutely love the finish and sound, but I want a Bigsby on there.

 

About 15 seconds to remove the foam. I assume that's what you're thinking. If you are talking a bout a new roller bridge... a bit longer, since you have to sand the bottom of the bridge to fit the shape of the guitar's top.

To add a Bigsby..... about 30 minutes if it's one for that style of guitar. Freeman hit it on the head. Certain Bigsby's are made for fully hollow guitars, and have the screws at the base of the guitar. Other models require you to sink screws into the top. (NOT advisable on a fully hollow!) Ibanez does have models with their own version of a Bigsby, and I can tell you from experience, you won't know the difference.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I'd change your requirements up a bit. The hollow vs semi-hollow vs chambered vs solid should be based purely on the kind of music, not the price. Getting this bit right by trying a few is crucial. I used to think hollow was better, but my sounds work better with chambered. It just has more sparkle and has some of the hollow sound characteristic.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I agree so totally with this, I've built solid, chambered, semi-solid (or semi-hollow), hollow with lam tops, and hollow with solid tops. They sound different.

 

They all have humbuckers - in several cases I've used the same pickup in different body configurations - they sound different. In one case I built two identical semi-solids with different pups, they sound different.

 

I've used both stud mounted and floating ToM bridges - they both work fine for the style of guitar they are made for, floating of course are a bit more of a hassle. I've built one with a Bigsby tailpiece and it is quite a lovely guitar

 

IMG_3427_zpsf7za8tea.jpg

 

I have also worked on several Gretsch semi's and think they are quite fine. Most of the colors I don't like but thats just me. They break like this if you leave them plugged in and kick the stand over

 

IMG_2870_zpsjubdlg6c.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

The Gretsch "Streamliner" series is in your budget. They have full hollow, full size semi hollow, & smaller semi hollow sizes available in the $550 range.

 

I'm strongly considering picking one up after the holidays.

 

The only one I see in one of your color choices is this one;

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
How hard would it be to change the bridge on this one: https://www.zzounds.com/item--IBAAFV10A

 

I absolutely love the finish and sound, but I want a Bigsby on there.

 

Pretty easy. I have an AF-75 Artcore with a B6. Took less than an hour to install.

 

BTW- While a roller bridge on a Bigsby equipped guitar is a help, it is not a necessity. I have 3 Bigsby'd guitars & only one has a roller bridge on it. In my experience, tuning stability has more to do with the break angle on the strings over the bridge than whether they have roller bridges or not. If you went the Artcore/B6 route, the break angle is not too dramatic (I still have the stock tune o matic on it while I can't dive bomb, it stays pretty stable otherwise...

070d9e6a313aedf238a378f21a874fa2.jpg.05fb620d4e4721a139fb6718e5495bd7.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Shouldn't be too difficult for a decent tech, but the installation plus Bigsby will set you back at least a couple hundred bucks for the pair, and that's on top of the price of the guitar. If you're handy, you might be able to handle the Bigsby installation yourself, but that will involve having to do some research to determine exactly which Bigsby will work on that guitar, plus careful methodical installation and setup work.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members
The Gretsch "Streamliner" series is in your budget. They have full hollow, full size semi hollow, & smaller semi hollow sizes available in the $550 range.

 

I'm strongly considering picking one up after the holidays.

 

The only one I see in one of your color choices is this one;

 

 

They have that guitar at MF right now ( same price 549). 17% off at check out, which knocks another 95 bucks off. Forget the online thing, call the main line, tell em you want 20% off and free shipping and it's a sale. You might need to speak to a manager.

 

$439.99 to your door if you play it right. After Christmas it will be more difficult to cut deal.

 

 

Sweetwater might cut you a deal too to match MF. Tis the season for making money.

 

I have purchased stuff from Sweetwater, but I'm more of a MF kinda a guy.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Gretsch "Streamliner" series is in your budget. They have full hollow, full size semi hollow, & smaller semi hollow sizes available in the $550 range.

 

I'm strongly considering picking one up after the holidays.

 

The only one I see in one of your color choices is this one;

 

That would probably be my recommendation, although I'd want to budget for some TV Jones replacement pups eventually...

 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Members

I keep hollerin about Cort Sunset 1: Are amazing TV Jones classic filtertrons good enough as humbuckers? Bigsby, semi hollow, tonepros, etc. One new on reverb for about $600. I love mine totally. Nothing to upgrade (well, put Gretsch knobs on, as based on discontinued spectrasonic).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...