Show and Tell - Your guitar(s)
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6789 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
Mass produced guitars are all hit or miss when it comes to workmanship because they really don't have time. Even Gibson had a policy of destroy all guitars that aren't up to spec at the retailer.
I remember a time when if you bought a guitar of medium value the frets were always dressed and polished. With the big american brands it was always done at the factory. Ibanez and a few others started to skimp on this and leave it up to the retailer. Not all retailers were or are the same. I've seen quite a bit of bait and switch with guitars. You play one, they take it back to "find a case" Complete the sale, take it home and there's a different guitar with a different serial in the case.
While I state Ibanez started this with medium value guitars many manufacturers already did it with budget friendly ones. After I started to see this on Ibanez it didn't take long for Peavey and other brands to take suit. Dealers already know that less than 10 percent of new guitarists will keep it up for a year. They want a budget guitar and that's what they are sold. Those that stick to guitar playing will try to make the most of what they have before moving on to a better guitar.
I remember a time when if you bought a guitar of medium value the frets were always dressed and polished. With the big american brands it was always done at the factory. Ibanez and a few others started to skimp on this and leave it up to the retailer. Not all retailers were or are the same. I've seen quite a bit of bait and switch with guitars. You play one, they take it back to "find a case" Complete the sale, take it home and there's a different guitar with a different serial in the case.
While I state Ibanez started this with medium value guitars many manufacturers already did it with budget friendly ones. After I started to see this on Ibanez it didn't take long for Peavey and other brands to take suit. Dealers already know that less than 10 percent of new guitarists will keep it up for a year. They want a budget guitar and that's what they are sold. Those that stick to guitar playing will try to make the most of what they have before moving on to a better guitar.
Synapse Audio Dune 3 I'm in love
- KVRAF
- 10466 posts since 31 Aug, 2013 from Somewhere near the Morgul Vale.
Interesting perspective. I have my own story of an Ibby 12 string, but don't have the energy to write it out. As to your latter point, I was astonished here about how badly some of the guitars in the local shop were setup. Then came the pitch: "for about €60, we can have someone make it perfect!" Uh huh. Ironically, one of their competitors gave us the name of the luthier who does all the shop's work, so I deal with him directly without giving the shop its pound of flesh. I could hear their teeth grinding when I mentioned I was a private customer of their luthier.
“The American fascist would prefer not to use violence. His method is to poison the channels of public information.”
-Henry A. Wallace
-Henry A. Wallace
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- KVRian
- 685 posts since 17 Sep, 2007 from Planet Thanet
Just another setup story...
A few years ago I was in a shop where a mate worked. They received their Gibson and Tanglewood shipments while I was there. Guess what were the best? They really loved Tanglewood because they usually arrived ready to go on the wall (I've since heard the same from other dealers). The Gibsons were, erm, a mixed bunch but at least none were broken that time.
A few years ago I was in a shop where a mate worked. They received their Gibson and Tanglewood shipments while I was there. Guess what were the best? They really loved Tanglewood because they usually arrived ready to go on the wall (I've since heard the same from other dealers). The Gibsons were, erm, a mixed bunch but at least none were broken that time.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6789 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
The Epi - Joe Pass was the last guitar I bought in a store. It also was one of those rare occasions that I actually went to a store to buy a guitar over the last 15 years. While I knew a teacher at the store I only walked into the place twice since they opened 15 years ago. I looked at the body and fell in love. I'd seen all the video's. I pulled it up and the tech came out from his little work area and said... Wait, that guitar hasn't been set up yet. I played it anyway. I wasn't impressed with the action or the intonation. He told me to come back in two days and try it again after he had worked on it.
He set the action up adjusted the floating bridge and polished the frets. This was on a new guitar that went online for the same price they were selling it. That impressed me.
What didn't impress me was going into the store and wanting to swap out the neck pup as well as try some tapewounds. They didn't have tapewounds and every time I said tape wounds the guy behind the counter would push chromes on me. That and him suggesting after I raised the pole pieces to raise the pole pieces for a desired tone.
So I go down to an old friend of mine (who is no longer in business - retired) and see the pup I wanted installed as well as ordered a replacement tailpiece. When I asked him about tape wounds he said he didn't carry them and didn't know where I could get them. Honesty. In a week I had my guitar back with pups and tailpiece, no charge for labor and very reasonable charges for the pup and tailpiece.
I used to be highly critical about imports from China and Indonesia. Lots of bad reports. Nonetheless the workmanship on my Chinese Fender Telecaster, My Indonesian D'angelico EXL and more.
He set the action up adjusted the floating bridge and polished the frets. This was on a new guitar that went online for the same price they were selling it. That impressed me.
What didn't impress me was going into the store and wanting to swap out the neck pup as well as try some tapewounds. They didn't have tapewounds and every time I said tape wounds the guy behind the counter would push chromes on me. That and him suggesting after I raised the pole pieces to raise the pole pieces for a desired tone.
So I go down to an old friend of mine (who is no longer in business - retired) and see the pup I wanted installed as well as ordered a replacement tailpiece. When I asked him about tape wounds he said he didn't carry them and didn't know where I could get them. Honesty. In a week I had my guitar back with pups and tailpiece, no charge for labor and very reasonable charges for the pup and tailpiece.
I used to be highly critical about imports from China and Indonesia. Lots of bad reports. Nonetheless the workmanship on my Chinese Fender Telecaster, My Indonesian D'angelico EXL and more.
Synapse Audio Dune 3 I'm in love
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- addled muppet weed
- 105548 posts since 26 Jan, 2003 from through the looking glass
me?tapper mike wrote: ↑Sat Nov 21, 2020 12:13 am It wouldn't be a bad thing if... John or John (not to point fingers) would show their collections here.
hardly a collection. but ill grt some pics sorted (once ive dusted them)
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6789 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
I didn't want to single anyone out.
We also may have one or two Eric's around here as well. I haven't seen too much of the other Mike's
We also may have one or two Eric's around here as well. I haven't seen too much of the other Mike's
Synapse Audio Dune 3 I'm in love
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- KVRAF
- 5815 posts since 9 Jul, 2002 from Helsinki
Oh that is a beautylxdevaux wrote: ↑Mon Nov 23, 2020 12:10 am IMG_20200818_130040.png
Hi everybody. That's my lovely Ibanez AEG50-IBH. I got her about half a year ago and I'm still madly in love with her. Before I was playing on a Martin Backpacker, as I was traveling a lot. The Martin was a good guitar (despite what some people think about it), but it just can't compare to this beauty (I simply love blue guitars )
Of course all good guitars need a name and this one is no exception. Hers is Aisling. It's Irish for 'dream' and it fits her on so many levels. Ok I stop rambling about her now. Wish you all an amazing day
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Mister Natural Mister Natural https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=164174
- KVRAF
- 2829 posts since 28 Oct, 2007 from michigan
Best of luck Bombadil
expert only on what it feels like to be me
https://soundcloud.com/mrnatural-1/tracks
https://soundcloud.com/mrnatural-1/tracks
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 35098 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from the wilds of wanny
Fender Telecaster
Schecter Tempest Extreme
Paul Reed Smith SE Standard
LAG Tramontane
Ibanez V280
All of these were mostly picked up second hand at bargain prices. The most expensive was the PRS ... bought earlier this year for £150. Cheapest was the LAG @ £45. I seem to have the habit of being in the right place at the right time. The Telecaster was a gift
I also used to own an Ibanez LP Jr and a Tokai "Breezysound" Telecaster in pink paisley, both of which I regret selling, but needed cash at the time.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6789 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
Taint bad Dad not one bit.thecontrolcentre wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 5:00 pm
All of these were mostly picked up second hand at bargain prices. The most expensive was the PRS ... bought earlier this year for £150. Cheapest was the LAG @ £45. I seem to have the habit of being in the right place at the right time. The Telecaster was a gift
Thanks for sharing
Synapse Audio Dune 3 I'm in love
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thecontrolcentre thecontrolcentre https://www.kvraudio.com/forum/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=76240
- KVRAF
- 35098 posts since 27 Jul, 2005 from the wilds of wanny
i found some photos of them ...thecontrolcentre wrote: ↑Sun Dec 13, 2020 5:00 pm I used to own an Ibanez LP Jr and a Tokai "Breezysound" Telecaster in pink paisley, both of which I regret selling, but needed cash at the time.
it's actually a Melody Maker not a LP Junior ... long time ago.
I really miss this one. It had a stacked Di Marzio humbucker at the bridge
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- Rad Grandad
- 38044 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
Warmoth hardtail strat with 2 EMG Humbuckers and homemade stratoblaster replica, Daion Power Mark XX With Duncans, Artec QDD2 pre-amp and Artec BCU active tone control, Jackson Kelly with Duncan MT Black outs , ESP MG-350FR with EMGs, 18v and an EMG PA-2 pre-amp, ESP MH-750 with EMGs and PA-2 pre-amp (not pictured), Ibanez RG 1550 Prestige, Ovation CS257 acoustic, Warmoth Z-body custom built baritone with two Seymour Duncan P-rails, 1 Seymour Duncan mini JB wired series/split/parallel also equipped with an Artec QDD2 pre-amp.
Also not pictured is the ibby Asher bought me (cheapy) I put duncans in...I play it a lot
Also not pictured is the ibby Asher bought me (cheapy) I put duncans in...I play it a lot
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 6789 posts since 20 Jan, 2008
Yeah, baby.
Thanks for sharing those guys.
Hink I see you are still proudly displaying the Daion How long have you had that now?
Thanks for sharing those guys.
Hink I see you are still proudly displaying the Daion How long have you had that now?
Synapse Audio Dune 3 I'm in love
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- KVRist
- 32 posts since 12 Sep, 2020 from United States
I picked up a 1967 Epiphone Cortez FT45 over the fall and rebuilt it...it was in terrible shape when I got it, completely dried out and I had to teach myself how to mill a bridge plate and get the intonation correct.
Huge split at the edge of the pickguard that needed 2 weeks of humidification to correct...but after all was said and done it is now my favorite recording acoustic (I have Taylor/Martin/Guild and other solid tops)...
Its like a Gibson B25...smaller body so you don't get all that rumble in the recording...tone for days...
Online auction...so it was a crap shoot...$800 but well worth it.
(This is my new account after losing the login from 10 years ago so no pics yet)
Huge split at the edge of the pickguard that needed 2 weeks of humidification to correct...but after all was said and done it is now my favorite recording acoustic (I have Taylor/Martin/Guild and other solid tops)...
Its like a Gibson B25...smaller body so you don't get all that rumble in the recording...tone for days...
Online auction...so it was a crap shoot...$800 but well worth it.
(This is my new account after losing the login from 10 years ago so no pics yet)
- Rad Grandad
- 38044 posts since 6 Sep, 2003 from Downeast Maine
almost 14 years (I think i was 2/07)tapper mike wrote: ↑Wed Jan 06, 2021 3:09 pm Yeah, baby.
Thanks for sharing those guys.
Hink I see you are still proudly displaying the Daion How long have you had that now?
The highest form of knowledge is empathy, for it requires us to suspend our egos and live in another's world. It requires profound, purpose‐larger‐than‐the‐self kind of understanding.