dreamingGibson Posted March 31, 2020 Share Posted March 31, 2020 (edited) I think I’m done. I dont need anymore guitars. This new one brings it up to three, and I certainly cannot handle any more than that. Ive had 5 and it became problematic. Lol. After falling in love with Florentine Cutaways, specifically the ES-125TDC, I searched high and low for an affordable, yet built solidly, and has quality feel to it. The new 2019 Epiphone George Thorogood ES125 was a surprise, I was really thinking of buying it, but I have my hesitations, especially after having a Casino made in the Epiphone Factory in China, that has some issues I cannot get over with, I’m afraid that I might receive another guitar I will not be happy with. So I kept looking.. This leaves me with plenty more choices, but some are even harder to find. The only things I want are 2 P90s, Florentine Cutaway, With/without Bigsby, must be made in Korea or Japan. I’ve found a few new production guitars from Japan made in Terada Factory, but it would require me to sell my telecasters to fund it, and I dont want to do that. I also found a vintage Es-125TDC in players grade condition, but it would also require selling of my guitars plus additional luthier fees for checking, maybe resetting of the neck, and other various issues that a vintage guitar has.. so I passed on it.. I also want it in the same exact shape of an ES-125TDC. Maybe a little variation of the cutaway but not too much. All the waiting and searching paid off. Finally I was able to track down one guitar in my list and in the color that I want. A Peerless Factory made 1996 Epiphone Sorrento The quality is very nice. If you’ve ever had the newer Gretsch Electromatic (5xxx) from Korea, it has the same quality feel to it. Solid and not flimsy. Good weight and The neck, even if it’s slim, feels stable. The nut width isnt as narrow as I was expecting it to be; making it a pleasant surprise as it is close to my vintage spec teles (42mm nut width), so very little adjustment when switching between guitars. But there are tons to do. Since my luthier’s shop is closed, this will be my first ever guitar that I will perform some minor fretwork. The frets are tarnished and I just need to remove that greeny stuff and polish it again without changing the fret level. I dont want to risk removing any fret material. I just want to enjoy playing it and do some bends without the scratchy feeling frets. Then setting this up with 11’s and tweaking the pickup, specifically the pole pieces to get that sweet spot! The nut looks good, and the fretboard feels nice! It doesnt feel like cheap rosewood. It actually feels like an old growth rosewood and it isnt even dry! Its dark chocolate looking and little streaks. Maybe put some wood conditioner after I’m done with the frets. Came in a good time before the really strict quarantine rules get implemented. I’ll have no problem staying at home with this one. Keep safe y’all. Edited March 31, 2020 by dreamingGibson Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamingGibson Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 My first ever minor fret work polish.. There are some fret wear on the first few frets, but nothing deep.. The tarnish is so hard, scotch brite didnt work.. its not removing anything so had to use steel wool Before and after! then a little bit of Australian Orange Oil Wood conditioner Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dreamingGibson Posted March 31, 2020 Author Share Posted March 31, 2020 Initial set up done.. Still waiting for the neck to react/move to the higher tension of 11s.. So I didnt touch the truss rod at the moment.. Feels pretty good under the fingers.. as expected, narrow string spacing.. I think I'll let my luthier tweak that to Fender-ish specs.. My telecasters' frets have been professionally levelled, and I was able to set it up in the same action as my Telecasters.. pretty amazing and no fret buzz! although I'm concerned about the height of the frets.. Frets 1,2,3 and 4 have varying degrees of fret wear/indentation.. Im sure it has not been touched at all, so hopefully there's enough height left when my luthier levels it. I also reversed that G string-saddle.. ALL 24.75 scale guitars I have encountered that has this stock bridge is problematic with 11 gauge strings.. and this is always my solution.. I'm planning to replace this bridge with a Gotoh that has an extended range.. OR probably take out the studs, fill it with a dowel and run with a floating bridge ala ES-125TDC like what [USER=21835]@charlie chitlin[/USER] did on his..not sure yet on what to decide on, but definitely gonna replace the hardware with better ones.. those tuners arent nice! Anyway, very happy how it all turned out.. This is definitely what I have been looking for in an affordable price, with decent quality and solidly built hollowbody with P90s and Florentine Cutaway! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sleeko Posted April 2, 2020 Share Posted April 2, 2020 I've always liked those. Great color too! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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