Wildkat - Alleykat

[rpach10115]

I would love to hear your opinions on the Wildkat and Alleykat.

[charlie brown]

Great guitars, both. More "Twang" with the Wildkat and P-90's. It also has the

advantage of the Bigsby, when wanted. Alleykat is the more traditional "Humbucker"

sound, like a mini-335, but with added clarity on the neck pickup, due to it being a

"mini" humbucker, with a bit more "bite" or edge, to it. They only real thing I'd like

to see, is a Nitro finish, OR a much thinner "Poly" than is on them, now. I (personally)

think that would open up the tone, even more. But, even "as is," they're cool guitars.

Nice size, too...like a bigger "Les Paul," and semi-hollow, to boot.

 

CB

[RotcanX]

I got to **** around with an AlleyKat once and I was very impressed. Super nice guitars and best of all, they're Epiphone originals.

[Parabar]

I was jamming yesterday with a friend, playing my Wildkat, and it impressed the heck out of me all over again --- incredibly versatile guitar! With a little amp tweaking, I got very nice clean (like a beefier Fender), crunch, slapback rockabilly, warm jazz and heavy distorted sounds, all with even response across the fretboard and clarity string to string. My friend (who is mostly a Fender guy) loved how it looked, played and sounded too and couldn't believe it when I told him what it cost. (dontcha love that?)

[pohatu771]

I played a Wildkat one day in a store. I loved the guitar, but I wasn't going to allow myself to buy it. I have decided that my next electric guitar is going to have humbuckers.

[Red 333]

Alleykat is the more traditional "Humbucker"

sound' date=' like a mini-335, but with added clarity on the neck pickup, due to it being a

"mini" humbucker, with a bit more "bite" or edge, to it.

 

CB[/quote']

 

The added clarity comes, in part, from a minihumbucker having about 1,000 fewer winds of wire around the coils than a full-sized humbucker, due to its smaller size. There's less output, so the final signal as produced by the amp is less distorted (and potentially) less compressed, which is where that bite comes from. I think the small body plays a part in that, too. I have an ES335 and ES339, both with '57 Classics in it, and the smaller 339 does have more bite at certain volume and amp settings.

 

I've got a Wildkat, and it is an impressive guitar. Mine's metallic red. In general, the finish on mine is pretty good. There are a few file marks on the fretboard and some evenness in the neck binding down toward the neck pickup, but I'm sure you can find worse and better.

 

The P90's on it have a great tone. Spanky. Great for Rockabilly, 50's and early 60's sounds. They seem pretty quiet, too. The Wildkat's solid block also lets you thicken up the tone (more so, I think, than on the Casino) so you can get more contemporay sounds, too.

 

I also like that it has a Master Volume. That's a nice change of pace from the usual Gibson/Epiphone 4 knobbers. The neck profile has a little beef to it, which is nice, too. I don't use the Bigsby much, but it seems well made and it functions as it should.

 

Red 333

[RotcanX]

I don't use the Bigsby much' date=' but it seems made well and it functions as it should.[/quote']

well made?

[JefferySmith]

I love the size of the AlleyKat and don't like Bigsby's (the first few Ventures albums had Bob Bogle going nuts with the whammy bar).

[Red 333]

well made?

 

You are correct' date=' sir. Well [i']done[/i]. I will edit my post.

[iansmitchell]

I saw an alleykat in white with P-90s, bigsby, working well, in a pawnshop yesterday for 250 i think.

Problem is, every damn piece of gold was tarnished to hell on it.

Probably kept on a screen porch or something.

If I knew how to detarnish it and could get it looking nice again, I'd buy it in a heartbeat, but not sure now.

[charlie brown]

IF it's only "tarnish" and not "pitted" or worn, you can use a damp (not wet) 100%

Cotton "wash cloth" and bar soap, "Ivory," or whatever...and just rub it gently

all over the surface. Kind of like using the soap as a cream. Then, just wipe it dry, with

a gentle polishing motion, with a clean dry 100% Cotton cloth.

They were specific, about it being "bar soap," too. Not liquid soap. Maybe it needs the slight polishing

effect, that bar soap does? That's my guess, anyway.

I had to do this with my Gretsch, some time back, and it

worked...stayed clean, too. But it's important to use a 100% Cotton cloth, as

synthetics, with scratch the surface, no matter how "soft" they feel, to your

fingers. Just repeat it, as needed. May take some time, but it should work.

 

Hope that helps.

 

CB

[iansmitchell]

IF it's only "tarnish" and not "pitted" or worn' date=' you can use a damp (not wet) 100%

Cotton "wash cloth" and bar soap, "Ivory," or whatever...and just rub it gently

all over the surface. Kind of like using the soap as a cream. They were specific,

about it being "bar soap," too. Not liquid soap. Maybe it needs the slight polishing

effect, that bar soap does? That's my guess, anyway.

I had to do this with my Gretsch, some time back, and it

worked...stayed clean, too. But it's important to use a 100% Cotton cloth, as

synthetics, with scratch the surface, no matter how "soft" they feel, to your

fingers. Just repeat it, as needed. May take some time, but it should work.

 

Hope that helps.

 

CB[/quote']

Oh, it's pitted.

It had parts that turned green, like the statue of liberty.

The spring in the bigsby felt like it could snap.

The thing needs serious TLC.

[charlie brown]

Well, the "pitting," you can do nothing about...that's damage already done!

 

But, the "green" will polish out, eventually. All the parts on my Country Gent,

were like that...but they shined up, nicely...I was lucky, though, they were NOT

"Pitted!" I got to it, before that happened.

It's just a matter of being interested

enough to bother with it. However, with something that you don't already own...it may not be

worth the trouble???

 

And then, there's always the possibility of replacing those worn parts, too.

Bigsby's would be the more expensive part, but the rest would be reasonably

inexpensive, I should think...

 

Cheers,

CB

[iansmitchell]

Well' date=' the "pitting," you can do nothing about...that's damage already done!

 

But, the "green" will polish out, eventually. All the parts on my Country Gent,

were like that...but they shined up, nicely...I was lucky, though, they were NOT

"Pitted!" I got to it, before that happened.

It's just a matter of being interested

enough to bother with it. However, with something that you don't already own...it may not be

worth the trouble???

 

And then, there's always the possibility of replacing those worn parts, too.

Bigsby's would be the more expensive part, but the rest would be reasonably

inexpensive, I should think...

 

Cheers,

CB [/quote']

Does anyone even SELL gold P-90 covers?

 

The bigsby itself isn't too bad off, just the spring.

[charlie brown]

Well, I would think you could get "Gold" P-90 covers. I've always

thought "black" ones, with just gold mounting screws, and pole pieces,

would be really cool. But, that's just ME! I saw one, once, done up

that way, and he had even gone so far as to "scotch brite" the black covers

to a "matte" finish, and it looked great!! But, again, that's a personal

preference/interest. The "Spring" for the Bigsby, Stew Mac has, and any number of

other places...."Parts is Parts," in Vermont, to name one. So, if it's worth it, to you,

to make a "project" out of your Pawn Shop find, Go For It!!

 

CB

[71Dee-Luxe]

I love my Alleykat. I put a Bigsby on it recently so I could do that "wavering" thing, and it didn't affect the tone at all. The neck on mine is like a small C shape, which fits my hand perfectly.

 

I'd highly recommend it, though you'll probably need to swap out some of the pots (mine were scratchy and non-responsive).

[rpach10115]

Both played beautifully. Both sounded great in their own way.

I couldn't decide, so I bought one of each!. Yikes, there goes the budget for this month.

[Red 333]

Both played beautifully. Both sounded great in their own way.

I couldn't decide' date=' so I bought one of each!. Yikes, there goes the budget for this month.[/quote']

 

So cool! Be sure to post how each does sound and feel different from one another. It's not often we get a chance for someone to A-B and post about some of Epi's less common guitars. Congrats!

 

Red 333

[dbirchett]

Well' date=' I would think you could get "Gold" P-90 covers. I've always

thought "black" ones, with just gold mounting screws, and pole pieces,

would be really cool. But, that's just ME! [/quote']

 

Charlie, that is DEFINITELY not JUST you! If I had a White Wildkat (and I like them a lot) I would change out the P90 covers for black regardless of the condition of the gold.

[byrds1965]

 

So cool! Be sure to post how each does sound and feel different from one another. It's not often we get a chance for someone to A-B and post about some of Epi's less common guitars. Congrats!

 

Red 333

 

Same here Congtats!

 

Let us know what you think. I'm still trying to decide between the 2 if they still made the Wildkat in blue....but I also like HBs and 335s so would love a side by side. None of the stores here seem to stock either one.

[charlie brown]

 

Charlie' date=' that is DEFINITELY not JUST you! If I had a White Wildkat (and I like them a lot) I would change out the P90 covers for black regardless of the condition of the gold. [/quote']

 

Well, that's good to know...that I'm not the only one, that likes

that combo. Now, would you put a Pickguard (like a LP style)

on it, or not? Sometimes, I think I might, then again...they

look great, without any...so????

 

CB

[dbirchett]

If I did, it would be more of a 335 style rather than the straight side Les Paul. Might do the pickguard in gold but with the black P90s multi-ply black would probably look best. Gold would be a little over the top but it sure looks good on the White Falcon.

[charlie brown]

If I did' date=' it would be more of a 335 style rather than the straight side Les Paul. Might do the pickguard in gold but with the black P90s multi-ply black would probably look best. Gold would be a little over the top but it sure looks good on the White Falcon.[/quote']

 

Yeah, or even a "Gretsch" like Pickguard (back painted clear plexi), could be cool!

All kinds of "trouble" we could get into, huh? LOL! Wow..a black one, with "gold" metal,

black PU covers, and that kind of gold "back-painted" pickguard, would be almost like a small

Black Falcon, huh? Sorry...Epi, I know that's sacrelidge! ;>)

 

CB

[dbirchett]

 

Yeah' date=' or even a "Gretsch" like Pickguard (back painted clear plexi), could be cool!

All kinds of "trouble" we could get into, huh? LOL! Wow..a black one, with "gold" metal,

black PU covers, and that kind of gold "back-painted" pickguard, would be almost like a small

Black Falcon, huh? Sorry...Epi, I know that's sacrelidge! ;>)

 

CB[/quote']

 

Well, My Sheraton is going to have much of that look. Ebony gloss black Sheraton with 5 ply black pickguard. Gold Hardware, Gold Bigsby and Black/Gold reflector knobs. Just waiting on the Bigsby.

[charlie brown]

Cool! I just really like the size, and look of the "Kats!" They really do

resemble "little Gretsches," in a lot of ways, master volume and all. Wonder what would happen,

if you put TV Jones pickups in them? LOL! Could be really cool!! Gosh,

this is NOT doing my "G.A.S." any good!!

 

CB