Notes_Norton Posted March 23, 2021 Share Posted March 23, 2021 My first guitar was a Gibson ES-330 that I bought used in a music store for $300. I thought it was a 335. I'd played sax in bands with guitar players for years, and they taught me barre chords, so I could play rhythm on songs that didn't need a saxophone. They never offered me their 'good' guitar (rightly so) but the 'spare'. In one band the guitarist had a Sheraton I, another had a 335 that he had a custom paint job on. I bought the 330, learned the difference, and found that I really love the sound of P90 pickups. It became a collector's item and I didn't want to ding it up, so I bought an Epiphone Casino (made in Korea in the Peerless factory). At that time I was teaching myself to play lead and taking it to the gig. At the time I bought the Gibson, I also knew how to play bass, learning that in those rock bands, and I even had a stint playing bass for Freddie "Boom Boom" Cannon for a short series of concerts. Back to the cheaper guitars. Although the Casino was a cheaper guitar, for my fledgling lead playing it was not that much different from the Gibson. Unplugged the Gibson sounded better, but plugged in the P90s in both guitars were really close. Then I got a weekly gig on a quay over a salt water lagoon. I didn't want the salt inside the hollow guitar, so I traded some of the software I write for Band-in-a-Box for a cheap LTD Les Paul style guitar. IMO the humbuckers were over-wound for the style of music I play, so I put some GFS Mean 90s in it. It sounded very good, but the neck was narrow (I could bend the first string off the neck without trying if my technique was sloppy) and it was way too heavy. The frets seemed too soft and experienced wear quicker than I thought they should. Leilani, my wife, said, "You need a better guitar." (Aren't I lucky?) That's when I bought my first Parker Dragonfly (later renamed Maxxfly). I haven't looked back since. The LTD was below my point of diminishing returns, a "Johnny A" model Gibson is above my point of diminishing returns, and the Parkers were in the sweet spot for me. The Parkers are such a joy to play, I no longer have GAS for anything else. Sure I can appreciate the beauty of other guitars, but the balance, fretboard, intonation, comfort and tone of the Parker (custom shop) leaves nothing for me to desire in performance in this stage of my career. If I had the choice of buying a couple of expensive guitars or taking a trip to Madagascar, I'd take the trip in a heartbeat. Some people get the most enjoyment from possessions, some get the most enjoyment from experiences. Neither is wrong. I prefer the experiences. Insights and incites by Notes ♫ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 (edited) 14 hours ago, ghost_of_fl said: This is kind of close to being on topic - I came across this video of Yngwie playing a Jimmy Page model Telecaster. Just goes to show how little the actual instrument has to do with the end result. Still sounds like typical Yngwie (love it or hate it). That is a high end Telecaster but if you think that's all you will need to sounds like JP you're going to be disappointed. I saw one in a store and it looked like garbage. Looked well like it was made in Mexico, which it is. Edited March 26, 2021 by Sgt. Pepper 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'Scales Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 The ones Pagey put a blob of paint on (dragon) or scrawled his name on (mirror) were $25k each. I think the regular production line jobs were about 2k. YJM probably sounds the same on either version. I’m not sure how the collector world works for repro guitars. I get it for stuff originally owned by (whoever) but not this stuff? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 I don't have any experience with the Custom Shop models and really only know Gibson electrics and Martin acoustics but I've had some time to think about this. You really do get what you pay for. I used to be on the fence and my LP Studio is really just a de-blinged Standard and my 2005 335 Satin is just a plain version of the 335 but that's not quite the case. They're doing something with the more expensive models that you can just feel as soon as you pick them up. I can't quite put my finger on it but it's either more time is spent on them, they're using higher quality materials or both. They must have a section for Recycled Plastics made out of old milk containers and ripped panty hose and then the moleculary correct Virgin Plastics at the factory. There's not a Gibson electric I don't like but the quality of the instrument does rise with the price tag. With the Martins you pick up a cheap one and then an expensive one and there's simply no comparison. One is El Kabong material and one isn't. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 I think the one I looked at was about $1500 or so and said Hecho En Mexico on the back of the headstock. They looked awful and cheap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted March 25, 2021 Share Posted March 25, 2021 If you ever make it to the factory they have a whole bunch of them to try out. Their Made In Mexico line is really pretty underwhelming. It's a shame as I wanted to like them but nope. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larsongs Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 It’s strange how some Manufacturers Guitars that are MIM are quite good. Almost as good as their USA models.. Some incorporating USA Pickups, Electronics, etc. While other Manufacturers MIM Guitars are pretty awful.. Even though Prices are similar... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StRanger7032 Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 I have a mix of moderately expensive and cheaper guitars. After upgrading the pickups and electronics, I don't notice any real difference in tone or playability between my Epiphone SG (technically G-400) and my Gibson SG. I did plop down a good chunk of change recently for a built-to-spec G&L bass. That expenditure was worth it in my opinion to get the exact color, neck, frets, pickguard, wood, and inlays that I wanted. My $600 MIM Fender Jazz Bass played and sounded just as good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twang Gang Posted March 26, 2021 Share Posted March 26, 2021 For me it started when I was about 12 and I bought guitars for the way they looked. I bought an acoustic archtop slim line no name brand that didn't have any pickups and it didn't project at all. But man it looked cool - bright red with white binding and reminded me of some electric guitars on the jackets of record albums. It made me happy. My first electric was an ES125 single P-90 slimline. Pretty sure I bought that for the way it looked too and it fit my budget. My folks never bought me stuff like that, I had to work and save up my own money for it and of course I had to buy an amp too and a chord and pay the sales tax so I was limited in what I could get. When I went to college a 3 piece band came to the school and did a concert and the guitar player was out of this world. This guy played a LP Custom Black Beauty and it sounded incredible. So I went on a quest for a Les Paul cause while I had no where near the skills my idol had I could at least play the same guitar and maybe have a chance to sound like him. I found one used for $300 (budget considerations again) a goldtop with soapbar P-90s. About 4 years later I had the top routed out and humbuckers put in it and I really liked they way it sounded after that. I gigged that guitar for about 25 years. It made me very happy. So I went from buying guitars because they looked cool to buying them to try to imitate someone else. But I was lucky that I found a high quality guitar early on that sounded good through a Twin Reverb. I played with quite a few guys that had less expensive gear and my sound always blew them away. Not that I was a better player than them, but my rig was way better and anyone could hear the difference. Fast foward 40 years and I had finally made some money (not playing in bands mind you but with day jobs) so now I could buy expensive gear and I have. I agree that it's about what makes you happy. My house isn't much to brag about and the furniture inside isn't much either. But my guitars are top notch, my cars are top notch, and my golf equipment is top notch cause those are the things I enjoy. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
01GT eibach Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 14 hours ago, Twang Gang said: ... my guitars are top notch, my cars are top notch, and my golf equipment is top notch cause those are the things I enjoy ... The way I look at it is that you gotta spend your money on something. Why not a guitar ? 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitefang Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 Depends on where they're located on your priorities list. You know... Wife, kids, house note, stuff like that. And how much you have to spare once those things are covered. Whitefang 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted March 27, 2021 Share Posted March 27, 2021 Everybody has their own set of priorities. I, for one, would never buy a "Famous Person" model guitar and pay extra just because someone else's name is on it. Others gladly do it. Either way is OK if that's what you want. Both my Parkers are made in the USA. My Casino was made in Korea and my ES-330 in Kalamazoo Mi, USA. I bought the Casino and my Parkers because I wanted those guitars. For the Parkers, made in the USA was a feel-good bonus. I take International vacations because I prefer experiences to possessions. Others would rather have 25 high-end guitars. Who's right? Both. For me that point of diminishing returns on a guitar is its worth as a tool to make music with. But that's just me. Notes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 2 hours ago, Notes_Norton said: I, for one, would never buy a "Famous Person" model guitar and pay extra just because someone else's name is on it. I adore my Eric Johnson RW. It is nothing at all like an Eric Johnson guitar, it is mine, my pickups, my machines, my switch and wiring, my strap locks. I challenge you to find a 12" bound rosewood Fender neck on a Strat. If it isn't Cliffs of Dover I wouldn't know an Eric Johnson song if it hit me in the head. He's a nice guy though, he's the one that told me this guitar was coming someday. A 12" rosewood Tele with a pair of full size humbuckers is pretty much only available as a Chris Shiflett Deluxe. I have one and I wouldn't know that guy if I fell over him. There are many reasons to buy things with "Famous Person" names on them. Seymour Duncan Billy Gibbons Red Devils are some seriously good strat pickups. Their Custom Shop BG Pearly Gates for Strat and Tele are some of the best pickups there are, period. I don't care who puts their name on something that is something I want, but can't get them to make for me. rct Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 10 minutes ago, rct said: I adore my Eric Johnson RW. It is nothing at all like an Eric Johnson guitar, it is mine, my pickups, my machines, my switch and wiring, my strap locks. I challenge you to find a 12" bound rosewood Fender neck on a Strat. If it isn't Cliffs of Dover I wouldn't know an Eric Johnson song if it hit me in the head. He's a nice guy though, he's the one that told me this guitar was coming someday. A 12" rosewood Tele with a pair of full size humbuckers is pretty much only available as a Chris Shiflett Deluxe. I have one and I wouldn't know that guy if I fell over him. There are many reasons to buy things with "Famous Person" names on them. Seymour Duncan Billy Gibbons Red Devils are some seriously good strat pickups. Their Custom Shop BG Pearly Gates for Strat and Tele are some of the best pickups there are, period. I don't care who puts their name on something that is something I want, but can't get them to make for me. rct I saw him live. He good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Wasn't there a Rhubard Red guy? Think he had a guitar named after him. Kind of like the Lucile, I bought Les Pauls because of the features and the sound, not for the person's name on them. What kid in the 70s ever heard a Les Paul album? I know I didn't. The one guitar I would like to get, but without the fake aging and stickers, is the Alvin Lee ES-335. Maybe a Zappa Roxy SG but, once again, without the fake road wear. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Notes_Norton Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Others obviously love famous player guitars, and don't misunderstand me, there is nothing wrong with that. I had Parker make one for me, the DF522NN (NN for Notes Norton) with Seymour Duncan P-Rail pickup with triple shot rings (P90, Rail, Series Humbucker & Parallel Humbucker sounds). 25.5" scale, 14" radius, ebony fretboard, hardened stainless steel frets, piezo under the bridge, Sperzel locking tuners, 5 pounds, perfectly balanced and contoured body, and a whammy so well-designed the guitar stays in tune. As far as I know, there is another one exactly like it. Everybody has their point of diminishing returns on the scale. There is no wrong answer when it comes to buying a guitar. Insights and incites by Notes ♫ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cody78 Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Same here. I bought a Kirk Douglas SG Custom back in 2013 mainly because I always loved those late 60's customs. I didn't even know who he was at the time! Also, the guitar was one of the cheapest 'signature' guitars Gibson have ever done. It was £1.149 brand new at the time. I see they just bought out some more recently that are £2k plus. Wish I'd have bought 2 now back when I got mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitefang Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 4 hours ago, SteveFord said: Wasn't there a Rhubard Red guy? Think he had a guitar named after him. Kind of like the Lucile, I bought Les Pauls because of the features and the sound, not for the person's name on them. What kid in the 70s ever heard a Les Paul album? I know I didn't. The one guitar I would like to get, but without the fake aging and stickers, is the Alvin Lee ES-335. Maybe a Zappa Roxy SG but, once again, without the fake road wear. Not a kid in the '70's, but among the many 78s my Mom had around the house was "How High The Moon" by Les Paul and Mary Ford. So at least one kid in the '60's heard of him And by the end of the '60's was well aware of the guitar. Yeah, I don't care for those "reliced" guitars, you know, with all that phony "aging" that makes fools think it makes it a better instrument. In fact, I cringe a bit when I see some well paid artist sporting a guitar, electric or acoustic, that's been covered with writing by ball point pens or sharpies, and all kind of goofy stickers. Like Mellencamp's. Needs to be whacked upside his head for disrespecting an instrument like that. Whitefang Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveFord Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Stop that video and 2:07 and take a look at that P90. i've never seen that before. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 Looks sorta like a P90 sized DeArmond or something Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 (edited) 17 hours ago, Notes_Norton said: Everybody has their own set of priorities. I, for one, would never buy a "Famous Person" model guitar and pay extra just because someone else's name is on it. Others gladly do it. Either way is OK if that's what you want. But that's just me. Notes When I played electrics the BB KIng Lucille sig model was without a doubt the best electric guitar I ever owned. And I heard at the time when they originally came out they were cheaper than an ES-335's. I bought one not because of BB King (who I have seen twice), but due to the fact it had no F-holes to try to help with feedback (it didn't I could make it feed back), it had a control cavity cover( it had to with no F-holes), so if I ever need to work on it was much easier that working on a 335 and the other ES's. I think the ES-333 might have had a control cover too. And I thought I wanted a Varitone till I got it. Barley used the knob. Position 2 was okay and it got more nasally the higher you went. 4 was kind of phasey and okay. It also had stereo out, I did that maybe twice. I will say one thing at least the BB King model is a guitar named after someone I've heard of. Anyone who owns a Les Paul has a signature model. Not sure if you have ever owned one of those. The Adrian Belew Parker Flys look killer. Edited March 28, 2021 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 I admit I do have someone else's name on one of my guitars; Les Paul. Some how that one slipped the net. I thought about a Schecter Banshee once, but they remind me too much of my ex. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 (edited) 2 minutes ago, merciful-evans said: I admit I do have someone else's name on one of my guitars; Les Paul. Some how that one slipped the net. I thought about a Schecter Banshee once, but they remind me too much of my ex. Everyone who owns a LP does, and a LP and lets just pick one, the Jimmy Page sig LP is a a double signature model. Edited March 28, 2021 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merciful-evans Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 2 minutes ago, Sgt. Pepper said: Everyone who owns a LP does, and a LP and lets just pick one, the Jimmy Page sig LP is a a double signature model. If Jimmy Page signed a LP, that's forgery right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sgt. Pepper Posted March 28, 2021 Share Posted March 28, 2021 (edited) 7 minutes ago, merciful-evans said: If Jimmy Page signed a LP, that's forgery right? Yes . . . he only does a dumb ink stamp with JP on it. Edited March 28, 2021 by Sgt. Pepper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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