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Non Gibson makes?


LarryUK

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Not sure if they count, but in my collection I have a Gretsch G5120 Electromatic which is very nice sounding and playing, a Cashimira Model 36 classical and an old BM classical. None of them were overly expensive - my only valuable instruments are Gibsons. The Cashimira classical is made very well generally, but suffers a few slight intonation problems. The BM is the oldest guitar I have. It used to be my sisters and was the guitar I first learnt on. They used to have them in schools when I was a kid and aren't worth very much, but it's great student guitar. My only other non Gibson (or Epiphone) guitar is a Yamaha FG acoustic which is actually fantastic! I got it 2nd hand years ago for £69 and it has a lovely tone surprisingly. It has nice low action too and a big sound and is certainly one of the better cheap acoustics out there.

 

I've always liked the look of BC Rich Mockingbirds and some Ibanez models. PRS are quite nice, but never seemed quite right in terms of looks to me. Godin and Peerless make some interesting looking archtops.

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I'll begin with these: Jackson Soloists.

 

I have a Japanese 1995 Jackson Soloist (XL Professional) made at the 'Charvelle Plant'. Its the finest guitar I've ever had. The build quality is in a class of its own. I had it for 17 years before I ever thought of buying another electric guitar. When I looked at others I couldn't help comparing them to the Soloist. That's why it took 17 years.

 

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Eventually I bought another one. A limited run of new Jackson Elite Soloists were made in 2013. These were also built at the Charvelle Plant before its closure.

 

The new Elite Soloist had a marginally thicker neck. It had one improvement over my old XL, an ebony fretboard. Unfortunately I could not get on with the pickups. They were active Seymour Duncans. It was fine for recording, as it had a noise free signal, but I hated the high output muddy sound (I do not play metal). It proved impossible to tame. I sold it this year.

 

This year however I stopped comparing everything to the XL, and have bought no less than 6 more guitars.

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Who has other make guitars? Not Fender, but different makes.

Who has an ESP Eclipse or a Knaggs? Perhaps a Carvin or an Ibanez Prestige or premium?

Prs?

I don't want arguing. Just thoughts on other guitars and how they play.

 

 

I'll leave my Gibson, Epiphone, and Fenders out of the discussion then.

 

 

My Ibanez Jet King JTK40 RD is a splendid guitar.

The Bigsby-style tremolo gives it something special that I would never want on my Les Paul.

It's got the classic Les Paul pickup set-up and three way switch arrangement, don't get me wrong.

But the tone is different, and the tremolo just offers some subtle options that I don't desire on my Gibson.

 

The 2001 Ibanez Artmore AF-75 hollow body that you see in my avatar;

It's an outstanding guitar.

When we play a live gig, it's the only guitar my brother wants to play.

And it is the ONLY guitar in our arsenal that allows us to recreate the exact sounds and tones of classic CCR songs, and (of particular note) the song "Shine" by Collective Soul.

 

 

I believe that your focus is on solid body electrics, so I'll not clutter the discussion with talk of my Kramer Ferrington acoustic electric, my Martin, JBP, and Takamine acoustic guitars and my ESP bass guitar.

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My preference has gravitated to semi-hollow guitars. My favorite is still my Carvin SH550. It has the best blend of sound, feel and playability, looks, and build quality, IMO. And it will cover lots of styles. I also like what flatwounds have done with its sound.

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I play a Rickenbacker 4003 bass that plays fine. I backed a lead player for some time that played a Rickenbacker 360. He had some of the best sounds with the 360. It looked great too. [thumbup]

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Besides Gibsons, Fenders and one Epiphone there are:

 

Applause AA14-1 3TS acoustic guitar - my campfire instrument

 

Ibanez BL 700 NT Blazer Bass, split-coil pickup - fat and with overtones cutting through in any mixdown

 

Ibanez RG 430 RR Roadstar II Series guitar, SSS pickups, Ibanez Edge FR vibrato system - for me the best "Strat-like" guitar of her time

 

Ibanez AR 720 AWB Artist guitar, HH pickups, TriSound switches - PRC made, sadly not on a par with the AR 2619 Prestige made in Japan for 3x the money

 

Suzuki EL-600 BK Les Paul copy with set neck, HH pickups (Seymour Duncan and DiMarzio modded) - my cheap beginner electric

 

Weimann Blues Bird AV ES guitar, P90 pickups - best ES guitar I ever played, would prefer noiseless P100s but never wanted to have the cavities routed deeper for these

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The only 6 string electric I own that is not Gibson or Fender (I have Alvarez and Seagull acoustic guitars

and a Carvin bass too) is this Gretsch Double Jet (Electromatic series). It's pretty cool. Sounds different than

my other guits and has the Bigsby wiggle stick. I don't really play it a whole lot.

 

 

DSC_0738.jpg

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My only non-Gibson/Epi is an Ibanez Destroyer II which I bought new in 1981. It was in the shop window at Hacketts music shop in Reading (long gone now - anyone here remember it?). I wanted it, but couldnt afford it so I bought it on tick. No paperwork, just a gentlemans agreement, and I took it away with me there and then. Those were the days!

 

I did gig and studio work with it right through the 80s. Its completely stock as I liked the pups, and still do. Nice neck too. The guitar is pretty battered now though, but still does the job. Cheers, H.

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I have a couple Hamers I bought new.

One a Korean made DC I bought in 88 which is still a pretty decent player.

For the money they were really good.

 

And a made in the US 1987 Hamer Chaparral Custom which I absolutely adore.

I will never part with it.

It's all stock with an awesome ebony board and the original OBL pups.

It plays great and it sounds great.

 

 

This is my Chaparral

 

Ya ya,, I'm no photographer.

 

DSC03607_zps13cf010e.jpg

 

 

The 2 at the far left of this small herd are my Hamers.

And I have a couple non Gib acoustics. The cutaway is gone now replaced by a Lys nylon string job.

 

DSC02340.jpg

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I love my AL2900 from Agile! It's a chambered guitar which was perfect out of the box and incredible value for money!

100_3765.jpg

 

 

I also have a couple of fender clones from J&D Luthiers which for inexpensive guitars have been amazing! The Strat version is almost my most used guitar.TwoJDLuthiersGuitars.jpg

 

These three guitars are the only ones I've bought that haven't had faults or needed work when first bought!

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I love my AL2900 from Agile! It's a chambered guitar which was perfect out of the box and incredible value for money!

 

 

I also have a couple of fender clones from J&D Luthiers which for inexpensive guitars have been amazing! The Strat version is almost my most used guitar.

 

These three guitars are the only ones I've bought that haven't had faults or needed work when first bought!

 

The Agile is tidy [thumbup] (I thought the AL900s were semis though?).

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My well-worn 1984 Matsumoku built Aria. Super reliable guitar which I've owned most of its life. It now has a Dimarzio X2N in the bridge slot so it sounds just like a classic Strat at neck+middle position and a total beast in the bridge position - a useful mix. [biggrin]

 

 

 

IMG_0523_zpsc6cf9dbf.jpg

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I have a $299.00 Yamaha Guitar center beater that I use as my couch guitar. It is like running with ankle weights on. After I play the yamaha and I pick up my J 200 or the Bird after the jap Yamaha, things are easier and sound better. Yamaha also helped me develop nice callouses.

 

I always toy with the idea of getting a Vintage Jap lawsuit guitar like an alvarez, but even some of those are bringing mad cash. Hard for me to justify $500-$600 on a jap lawsuit guitar when I can get a used bird for $1800.00.

 

Maybe Someday.

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I only have one Gibby (LP Standard) and one Fender (MIM Strat). I have lot of Epi's (both elec and acoustic) and a couple of Gretsch elec's (5122 and 5422 12 string), a Carvin CTS (great build quality) a PRS Mira, a mid 60's Guild Starfire IV, a couple of Ovations, and the list goes on...

 

My two most played elec's however, are my Elitist Casino and my Dot! Acoustically, I reach for my Masterbilt AJ500 (Epi) before anything else.

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