J.R.M.30! Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 What are your "holy grail" guitars? I know it's tough to decide because there're so many guitars out there with their distictive sounds, shapes and feel. A Fender Stratocaster, before the 1970's headstock and CBS's ownership, maybe a middle 50's/60's relic that's in mint condition, with a maple fretboard, ash body vintage tail-piece you know the rest. A Gibson Les Paul middle 50's/early 60's relic, also in mint condition, (before the SG came out), non-chambered, rosewood fretboard, mahogany body, either a P-90's or humbucker pickups. Any Gibson Archtop in mint condition with either one P-90 or one humbucker in the neck. Most interestingly a Rickenbacker 330/6 from the late 50's/early 60's, relic in m.c. that's not a thin-line one, one that's thicker than most Rick's but still semi-hollowed. Any Martin dreadnaughts that are relics in m.c. B) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 Hmmm...I have (nearly) all MY "Holy Grail" guitars, already. They are not Vintage Collector's, (for the most part), and are from varied manufactures, and different era's...'50's, through 2013! There are 4 or so "Bucket List" guitars, I'd still LOVE to have, but if I don't ever get them, it's ok, really. Sometimes the "want," is as much fun, or more, than actually having. SOMETIMES! LOL CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The RandyMan Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 The one guitar that I would really like to have is the '60s Melody Maker that was stolen from me back in '81. I would really like to have that back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 I really want an CS 336.. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jdgm Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 A Gibson ES775. An original D'Aquisto. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RowdyMoon Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 For me probably the 60's SG special....heck I'd even settle for the Pete Townshend 2001 sig model.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riptide Posted June 13, 2013 Share Posted June 13, 2013 For me it would be a 76' Les Paul Deluxe Goldtop with P-90s and a maple neck! And then a 50's Junior! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 All kidding aside, for 95 percent of what I do, the 175 or equivalent shape and scale. Not sure about acoustic. I'd love to have a chance to get a CF100e Gibbie and get it setup with my strings and such. m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Malchik Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I'd love a Les Paul Custom, but I just can't justify the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heymisterk Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 The Holy Grail of guitars is basically whatever people can charge the most for. I don't think there is any guitar references in any sacred texts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I dunno... My "holy grail" is what fits my bod and technique. That's why you'll notice that I didn't suggest longer scale guitars or dreads or LPs or such. In fact, right now my most comfortable and playable guitars are the 175, an Eastman jazz box that's 175 sized and a very, very inexpensive but very good-sounding AE Epi PR5e. There's plenty of cash rolled up in other instruments, but... I think they mostly could go... Nice sound, very good quality, etc. Just not ... comfortable. The Gibson AE I mentioned ain't been made for nearly 60 years, but it's a bit "better" in feel in ways than that Epi AE, although there's an obvious family resemblance. The shorter scale with that "box" would pretty well do it for me - and in ways, it's an acoustic of 175 size and close in shape. Add a good setup on an all-wood box... That's pretty close to my "holy grail." m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 What are your "holy grail" guitars? I know it's tough to decide because there're so many guitars out there with their distictive sounds, shapes and feel. A Fender Stratocaster, before the 1970's headstock and CBS's ownership, maybe a middle 50's/60's relic that's in mint condition, with a maple fretboard, ash body vintage tail-piece you know the rest. A Gibson Les Paul middle 50's/early 60's relic, also in mint condition, (before the SG came out), non-chambered, rosewood fretboard, mahogany body, either a P-90's or humbucker pickups. Any Gibson Archtop in mint condition with either one P-90 or one humbucker in the neck. Most interestingly a Rickenbacker 330/6 from the late 50's/early 60's, relic in m.c. that's not a thin-line one, one that's thicker than most Rick's but still semi-hollowed. Any Martin dreadnaughts that are relics in m.c. B) holy grail ... as far as a guitar's provinance it would have to be hendrix's white strat from woodstock, eh? it was played at WOODSTOCK BY HENDRIX!!! I don't know how good a guitar it was but it was a righty strung upside down and the pickup poles would be opposite. Jimmy Page's # 1 would have to be the 59' Gibby LP Standard holy grail, but even that guitar that was gifted from Joe Walsh has a shaved neck and a pu cover removed, it's not factory. You could certainly mod and upgrade a guitar to your heart's desire, hmmmm, let's see, I am currenlty in the low end Gibson market and haven't really played any original lps other than reissues, so here's some finer points I would include in a solidbody electric guitar. Obviously the flame top is beautiful, and binding. go all the way real with inlay. bone nut. inside, vintage caps. what i don't like in my lp studio is tuning instabilty, the nut might not be cut as right as it should be for my guage of strings. details, details, workmanship and quality control. i'm sure gibson custom shop can build you the ... holy grail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RevDavidLee Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I really want an ES 336.. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm :) Do you mean the CS-336? I already own "all" of my Holy Grails that I ever wanted to own plus some more. I'm a horrible gear (edited because it was an offensive adjective apparently) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Izzy Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I think milod is right in the, "what I need at that moment" is the holy grail. I mean, is a hammer better than a screw driver? What is THE best hammer is another question, and sometimes its more a matter of how it feels to you. The cheaper standard may have the right wood and the right feel versus the upgraded special deluxe. If I had only one guitar to play for ever, it would be my '73 SG. HBs and a thin neck on a pretty light body. I found the one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretplay Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Well just managed to get mine. An Ibanez 2464 1975 Just like a Gibson Byrdland but better. I chased all over the world be one. Eventually finding one via a friend in Florida who put me on to the seller in Italy. It even has untarnished gold hard ware, Great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Fret... Some of the Ibanez "patent infringement" guitars of the '70s were equal to or better than Gibsons of the era of the same style and much less than the price. I never quite got the "patent infringement" since they were clearly marked Ibanez and the design specs were basically what was "infringed" on. Then again, at the time... <grin> m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pippy Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I'm actually happy with what I have now - but that's only after 37 years of playing, buying and selling so it' shouldn't come as too much of a surprise that I've pretty much found what I've been looking for. My own 'Holy Grail' is my '95 R0. Easily the best guitar I've ever played. I've never tried - let alone owned - an original '52 - '60 LP and I would be very interested to compare mine with an original. Strat-wise I've owned examples from the '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '00s and '10s and the premise that all the pre-CBS ones are superior to later examples is sheer nonsense. Sure, the best I ever owned was a '64 but the worst I owned was a '59. The second-best 'non-modern' example I owned was a '72. 'Older' does NOT always equal 'Better'. Recently I've had a hankering for a 'BlackGuard' Esquire. Simple tool. As far as acoustics go I suppose I'd like a Selmer Maccafferi 'Petit Bouche' with a serial in the low 500's (503 would be nice...LOL!) but I'm perfectly happy with my '40s A. DiMauro Special Chorus. I'm feeling pretty smug, really. P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveg Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Mine would have to be the Gibson L5 "Heart" guitar which Gibson restored and someone now is treasuring - I hope! DG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btoth76 Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 For me: a mint condition 1974 Les Paul Custom in antique white. Then, an L5-S with the "big" tailpiece. I can't see it ever happen, though... Cheers... Bence Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
saturn Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Well I'm going out on a limb and saying a 1959 Les Paul with a nice burst and original PAF humbuckers. 2nd for me would probably be an original Gretsch White Penguin. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badbluesplayer Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Les Paul, es335, strat, telecaster, SG. In that order. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zigzag Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I would think the holy grail would be an ES model. For me, it would be the 335. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 Do you mean the CS-336? I already own "all" of my Holy Grails that I ever wanted to own plus some more. I'm a horrible gear (edited because it was an offensive adjective apparently) Errmm... that's what I said.. CS-336 :P i'll get meeee coat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greybeard Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 I'd just like to have the first guitar I bought for myself....a 1963 Pelham Blue Gibson Firebird. Still have a lot of fond memories of traveling with that one. A lot of other Firebirds were just as good for playing but never had the memories of the first one. I guess there are other things like that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbreslauer Posted June 14, 2013 Share Posted June 14, 2013 i too admit to being way to fickle to call just one instrument the "one." for YEARS it was a Les Paul, and I love mine: its a beautiful R9 with a faded cherry top, and VOS treatment. I'd never sell my Telecaster either, i made the mistake of selling my first Tele and still miss that one. Nor would I part with the guitar I sold the old Tele to buy, too sentimental. my classical guitar, a Cordoba Solista, is the instrument i play the most now. and my newest, a gretsch setzer hot rod, is too much fun to play to ever imagine parting ways with. who knew how much fun a Bigsby was? :) Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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