Electric
2006 Fender Hot Rod Tele acquired used in 2010 from Guitar Center (Hollywood CA) for a great price. Fantastic guitar, lightweight and an inspiration to play.
Acoustic
2004 Martin OM-21 acquired new from Eric Shoenberg's shop in Tiburon CA in 2005. The OM-21 is a sleeper in Martin's standard line, and this one, handpicked by Eric at the Martin factory, is simply amazing. A tone monster. The spruce top was nearly pale white when I bought it.
My first and only electric guitar is a 1997 Mexican made strat that I bought new.
Upgraded gradually over the years with a Duncan Custom Custom Humbucker, Dimarzio HS-3, Fender Orignal 57/62,
USA Custom Guitars neck with 42mm nut width and 9.5-12" compound radius & 6150 SS frets,
Super Vee Bladerunner trem. The only original part is the body, which should probably be replaced because in '97 they were made of numerous pieces of poplar slathered over top of with some kind of guitar bondo!
I'm so spoiled by the USACG neck and the Blade Runner bridge that I don't like any new guitars that I try out (unless it is a strat, in which case it is overpriced and lacking a 22nd fret!).
Part of the reason for that is that I can't stand the 43mm nut width that seems to be standard on all non-strats.
larry50 wrote:
Acoustic
2004 Martin OM-21 acquired new from Eric Shoenberg's shop in Tiburon CA in 2005. The OM-21 is a sleeper in Martin's standard line, and this one, handpicked by Eric at the Martin factory, is simply amazing. A tone monster. The spruce top was nearly pale white when I bought it.
I met Eric schonberg in the ealy 80's (or late 70's, not sure) in Quebec city and we had a great conversation. He signed my vinyl album of his duet with David Laibman. This guy is the stuff of legend in the acoustic guitar world.
2003 Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus. I bought it from a guy in another band out in Ohio. it's the exact guitar in their video (released in 2007, but with footage shot earlier than that - i acquired it in late-2005).
when i bought it, it was surprisingly clean. it's not anymore. I gigged this from 2007 to 2010 and play it almost everyday. the burst top has faded nicely. my forearm is starting to break through the top of the lower bout. the back of the neck is getting nice and thin as well. it's a joy to play- and proof that Gibson can make a damn-good guitar that doesn't have to ship with a certificate or fancy custom shop decal.
as spec'd, there's nothing that should make this guitar as amazing to me as it is, but it is. i have several other guitars that should run circles around this one based on "expert" opinion, but they don't. they're also exceptional instruments that i bought because they knocked my socks off and curled my toes, but this one sits over all of them.
Still my number one. Haven't told the story for a while, so (the short version): I stopped at the pawn closest to my house on the way home from running a few errands. This was summer, '11. I was unemployed, and recovering from prostate surgery, and really had no business shopping for anything. Nevertheless, I stopped purely for the entertainment value. This PRS was not even hanging with the other guitars on display, but was laying on a shelf, behind an Epi LP. One missing string, two others coming unwound, and covered with spooge. Called the factory with the serial number, and it all checked out. Walked back in and bought it for...are you sitting down?... $275. No case (who cares?!). Clean up and set up (a pretty big job), rock out!
HCGJ Forumite of the Year 1st Loser 2008-2009
Originally Posted by GW348
My recently completed partscaster. A chunky Allparts TMO-Fat nitroed neck with a bone nut and rolled edges. Wylde rails. Shellaced GFS pawlonia body. The whole guitar weights about 5 1/2 lbs. Almost neck dives but not quite. This thing resonates till next week, the loudest unplugged solid body guitar I've ever played. I love the Bill & Becky Lawrence rails. Anything from clean tele goodness to all out metal, with no mud and dead quiet.
For acoustic, I'm mostly playing my little Recording King R07. Its what I use in my 50s-60s acoustic cover band. Here it is beside my D28. Pic is a couple of yrs old, the top is darker now.
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