merciful-evans Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Short while back I was feeling pleased that I got sensible and passed up a bargain Gibson guitar. Sensible is now AWOL. I’ve just bought a guitar online. With any luck it’ll be arriving next Tuesday Its not a Gibson Its not a Epi Its not expensive It’s a 2004 model with P-90s. I will likely need to replace the bridge. I may replace the pickups. I’ll see how they sound. It weighs 6lb 3.4oz It comes with a decent fitted (non original) case. Here it is Abalone dots ash body Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Double cut Tele? Looks nice whatever it is.. Congrats Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted November 14, 2020 Author Share Posted November 14, 2020 2 minutes ago, Rabs said: Double cut Tele? Looks nice whatever it is.. Congrats Nice shot Rabs. Bullseye with the 1st shot. Fender TC-90 MIK. We think likely Samick. This is Trogly doing a review of one 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Ohh nice... That was kind of the idea (well not the hollow bit) behind one of my very early builds... So I am very familiar with the shape 🙂 This one.. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mihcmac Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Very Kool... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted November 14, 2020 Author Share Posted November 14, 2020 1 minute ago, Rabs said: Ohh nice... That was kind of the idea (well not the hollow bit) behind one of my very early builds... So I am very familiar with the shape 🙂 This one.. Well your bridge would suit me better! Well all the hardwear TBH. I remember seeing this build before. Did you sell it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Yes about 8 months ago... The guy loves it 🙂 The pickups are PAF type... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted November 14, 2020 Author Share Posted November 14, 2020 2 minutes ago, Rabs said: Yes about 8 months ago... The guy loves it 🙂 That must feel good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 1 minute ago, merciful-evans said: That must feel good. Yes... Its why I did it in the first place.. The idea of making an instrument that someone enjoys and hopefully inspires them to play more. It certainly wasn't because I thought I would get rich doing it or anything, not in this silly industry 🙂 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01GT eibach Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Wow, cool guitar. Pretty too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Congratulations! Looks like it's in really nice shape, too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparquelito Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 I like that a LOT. I really love the single Volume and Tone knobs. And the pickup selector switch location. And those P-90's. I wouldn't change a thing. 😃 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted November 15, 2020 Share Posted November 15, 2020 Very nice. I remember them well, I almost bought a couple of them. Enjoy! rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 11 hours ago, sparquelito said: I like that a LOT. I really love the single Volume and Tone knobs. And the pickup selector switch location. And those P-90's. I wouldn't change a thing. 😃 Well in all likelihood I wont be able to adjust that bridge (arthritis). Its thumbwheels only with no screw slots in the posts. We believe its the same hardwear as on the Squier Esprit (same period & OEM) and I changed the bridge on that for the same reason. Yes its possible to use pliers but eventually they're gonna slip & damage the top. I really hope I like the P-90s, but I know they're very hot. Yes the volume knob might tame them, but I'm an old dog and working the volume knob is a new trick. I'm also a bit wary of SDs. There must be a set somewhere that I'll like, but I haven't found them so far. Fingers crossed 🤞. Quote Looks like it's in really nice shape, too. I think so Steve. Looks cleaner than the one Trogly reviewed. It has upgraded string trees too. I try to do a sound demo when it reaches me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted November 19, 2020 Author Share Posted November 19, 2020 Well the guitar arrived on Tuesday (17-11-2020) and I would have posted further about it and uploaded a video demo. Pickups are much better than I thought. Sounds great. Furthermore, through my THR30 amp (gate) there is no 50 cycle hum (yes its 60 in USA I know) at all. I turned it full up & it was as quiet as a mouse. Its in fine condition too. However... its likely I will have to return it. Still exchanging messages with seller right now. Its not his fault. I could tell from the pictures that there is sufficient reveal (real estate) either side of the strings, but the heavy rolling of the edges has negated that. That's not something you can see in pictures and I should have asked/checked. So for me it can never be a working guitar. I did consider fitting a riser and making a slide guitar out of it. The story is not over yet... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IanHenry Posted November 19, 2020 Share Posted November 19, 2020 Sorry to hear that but I guess you win some & you lose some. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted November 20, 2020 Author Share Posted November 20, 2020 Yeah. I really like it too. The seller initially wanted me to just send it back for a refund. I had suggested that when restrictions are lifted at some point early next year I travel up to visit & PX it against something else. If I examine another guitar personally, there can be no mistake such as this one. He is now agreeable. So that's the plan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle fester Posted November 22, 2020 Share Posted November 22, 2020 On 11/19/2020 at 7:14 AM, merciful-evans said: I could tell from the pictures that there is sufficient reveal (real estate) either side of the strings, but the heavy rolling of the edges has negated that. Sorry for the newbie question, but what does this mean. It means that you like real estate either side of the strings, but this doesn't have it - or vice versa? And for my knowledge, for what purpose? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted November 22, 2020 Author Share Posted November 22, 2020 1 hour ago, uncle fester said: Sorry for the newbie question, but what does this mean. It means that you like real estate either side of the strings, but this doesn't have it - or vice versa? And for my knowledge, for what purpose? No problem unc. I certainly do like real estate either side of the strings. To me its vital playing surface. Too little and I have a tendency to push those E strings right off the fingerboard. That would ruin any solo of course. Many people dont have this problem, so I'm owning up to clumsy technique here, but I cant change after 50 years of playing. The only options to deal with this for the TC-90 are as follows: 1/ fit a brass riser (raising the strings up) over the nut and use the guitar for slide exclusively. https://thumbs.worthpoint.com/zoom/images2/360/0812/06/extension-nut-riser-slide-guitar_360_c1d874b1fc6d9032e318d81beef3f0da.jpg 2/ Fit heavier gauge strings such as 13-56 flatwounds and use the guitar as more of a jazz instrument. I wouldn't be able to push those strings off, nor do any string bends at all. 3/ Reduce the string spread overall by getting some blank saddles and cut string notches closer together. I have it in mind to modify an old bridge (of exactly the same design) by filing the saddle tops to remove the grooves and cut new ones. It might be that the strings would then be too close? But its an old redundant bridge, so I have nothing to lose and its a experiment worth doing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted November 24, 2020 Author Share Posted November 24, 2020 (edited) Alright, I've modified the old redundant Esprit bridge. I've changed the string spread from 52 to 48 (2.0" to 1.9"). This has been the first time I have used my nut files. I never thought I'd be using them for something like this though. That bridge is now on the TC 90 and yes its solved the problem but I'm now trying to see whether I can get used to the new reduced string spread. It does feel a bit weird, but so far ok. Edited November 24, 2020 by merciful-evans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 It's good to put work into one to make it yours. rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karloff Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 On 11/14/2020 at 2:48 PM, Rabs said: Yes about 8 months ago... The guy loves it 🙂 The pickups are PAF type... are they from the Creamery ? the pickups ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Bill Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 3 hours ago, rct said: It's good to put work into one to make it yours. rct Kinda like a woman... 😉 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted November 24, 2020 Share Posted November 24, 2020 19 minutes ago, Karloff said: are they from the Creamery ? the pickups ? No from a UK supplier called AxesRus 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Retired Posted November 25, 2020 Share Posted November 25, 2020 On 11/19/2020 at 6:14 AM, merciful-evans said: Well the guitar arrived on Tuesday (17-11-2020) and I would have posted further about it and uploaded a video demo. Pickups are much better than I thought. Sounds great. Furthermore, through my THR30 amp (gate) there is no 50 cycle hum (yes its 60 in USA I know) at all. I turned it full up & it was as quiet as a mouse. Its in fine condition too. However... its likely I will have to return it. Still exchanging messages with seller right now. Its not his fault. I could tell from the pictures that there is sufficient reveal (real estate) either side of the strings, but the heavy rolling of the edges has negated that. That's not something you can see in pictures and I should have asked/checked. So for me it can never be a working guitar. I did consider fitting a riser and making a slide guitar out of it. The story is not over yet... Very nice ME, I really like that one and in great condition. Congrats. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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