=JL=

The Japanese ones have become legendary, but I'm afraid it IS a bit of a legend. They're quite nicely made, but nothing really special, pickups are pretty characterless, and pots are garbage. They were regarded as pretty good value at the time as there weren't many good guitars in the low/mid price bracket, but it's nostalgia rather than stunning quality which is fueling their current prices.

The one pictured is a later Korean model, so although it's riding a little on the (not particularly well-founded) reputation of the earlier Japanese models, it really is exactly what it looks like, i.e, a perfectly ok, slightly boring modern Asian guitar, a category they pretty well invented.

FWIW I have a 1980 Aria 335-type, with varitone, gold hardware, and a deep, bookmatched, flamed violin burst. It looks lovely, plays well, and overall is just, well, ok really.

I missed this, what happened? He seemed ok to me.

ALL Fender stuff was expensive and rare over here. Due to trade embargos enforced after the war to help rebuild our economy there wasn't an official Fender importer until the 60s. Even Hank Marvin had to order direct from Fender.

Convert your tone pots to Reverend-style bass contour controls. Far more useful than the standard treble roll-off with muddy H/Bs.

My circumstances are slightly different, I have to play to pay the bills. I have gone through long periods however, where I didn't need to, so I didn't.

I love playing, so it's not just a job, but if I didn't have any bands/studio projects I get no pleasure at all from playing on my own at home.

If you don't feel like playing, then don't. I realised decades ago that the world would not be a significantly poorer place without my music, it's part of being an adult.

The question isn't about modelling. If you use an analogue EQ or cab simulator it can sound fantastic, with normal guitar/speaker interaction, and none of the unnatural and unpleasant artifacts which are still present even in the best digital modelers at stage volume.

It's just a traditional 60s and 70s hotrod look. Fitting the rings means that you didn't have to be an expert at cutting the pickguard holes, because they covered up the mess.

There was a time when power tools used to cost a month's wages, now you can get a router from china for two hour's pay.

I worked with Jerry Donahue last year, small pedalboard > speaker simulator > PA.

Simple, all analogue, and great-sounding. I have no problem with digital, but have had no success getting the "feel" right for more rootsy, organic sounding styles.

Even for more my rock-oriented stuff, my twin half-stacks are set pretty clean and used as classy sounding monitors - they're little more than props really.

I'm amazed that people still believe all those amps at a big gig are actually doing something. You could not possibly stand in front of some of those rigs night after night if they were active.

I've seen Jimi's bio on the Biography channel several times, and Noel Redding recounts how Jimi went after a groupie who preferred Noel to Jimi. That pissed Jimi off, and he went after the groupie with a brick Who knows, maybe Jimi would have pulled an OJ on some woman, and in th process destroyed his legacy W/E Jimi might have done, @ least that didn't happen

I hate to speak ill of the dead, but Redding was one of the biggest barstool bull{censored}ters I've ever known
Not saying it didn't happen but well, y'know...

Happy birthday!

But get off the damn stage and put the band on

I think if he'd lived he may have had a similar career to Frank Zappa. Less popular than in the 60s, but plowing an inventive, prolific compositional furrow, rather than just as a has-been guitar player.

Also, disco-era Hendrix could have been awesome! Super heavy funk, with light, humourous vocals and modern jazz arrangements. Listen to Nile Rogers, and it's obvious that Hendrix helped to shape the best disco from BEYOND the grave anyway.

Edit *^^^ Haha, beat me to it!

oh and the Les Paul MF sent me was like this. I can't stand gold hardware

They sent a LP Custom for the price of an SG Classic and you SENT IT BACK?

Exactly this. I've removed Gibson HBs and replaced them with Asian-made Kent Armstrong P90s to get sounds the guitar just wasn't capable of before.
Similarly, if I turn up to a studio with a LP Custom, and it turns out to be a country session, then a borrowed Squier Tele can be an "upgrade".
Stop looking at the price tickets.

Do what you want, depending on your style, your mood, the song etc. If you ever meet anyone who tells you there is a right or wrong way to play the electric guitar just tell 'em to fuck off.

Hmmmm...
...wish I was underrated. Seems like a lot of the players in that category on this thread have been filling stadiums, selling millions of records and had BJs on demand for DECADES...