Vack Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 The question is easy: What do you prefer for rockabilly the Wildcat or the Swingster? Depending on the answers perhaps I decide to buy one or the other. Thanx Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RSDx Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 The question is easy: What do you prefer for rockabilly the Wildcat or the Swingster? Wildkat....but.... that's only because I've never played a Swingster.....and that's only my preference - try 'em both and see what YOU like best Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sjael Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Definitely the Wildkat. It's just a lot more versatile than a full-size archtop. And it looks cooler. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smips65 Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 Not those 2. Rockabilly Get an ES-295 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Swoop Posted June 2, 2010 Share Posted June 2, 2010 I guess it partially depends on what sort of Rockabilly you want to play. The Swingster would seem to fit in better with the kind of Rockabilly that features lots of reverb, use of vibrato, etc. The kind of Rockabilly that you would associate with a Gretsch guitar I guess. I've not played the Swingster, so I'm not sure if it can do that kind of sound, but it certainly has that kind of style to it. I don't really care for the shape of it actually, but the ones I've seen in store looked very well made and finished, and I liked the orange finish on it better than the finish on the equivalent Gretsch. The Wildkat would suit the 'Johnny Burnette Trio' style of Rockabilly I think. That thicker kind of sound with lots of bassy distortion. Crank out the Low E polepiece on the bridge pickup until it's close to the string, but the string doesn't hit it when plucked, and run in through an overdriven amp, preferably 6V6 powered, and you've pretty much got that sound nailed! I often do that with my Casino and it's great. I'm personally more of a fan of the latter style, so I'd probably go Wildkat. But of course it's not up to me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pennyman Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one grappling with this decision. I've been debating between the two for a while now, but I haven't had a chance to play the Swingster yet. I gotta say that I'm not into the "rockabilly" style a whole lot, I just want something that's going to give me different tonal options from my Epi Tribute and have a similar feel while playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vack Posted June 3, 2010 Author Share Posted June 3, 2010 Thanx to every one. Now the question is if WildKat has p90's and it seems to be recomended for this reason, when you pull or push tone pots of swingster you get a sound pretty similar to p90's, do you? If so, it seems to be more versatile swingster than Wildkat; but for the moment I couldn't also play swingster. I like the sound of some gretsch a little bit overdriven for rockabilly. However, I wouldn't like a strong jazzy sound for this kind of guitar. Finally tell you that I've got a Hofner verythin (Es 335 type but much more thin), so I've got yet this range of humbucker semihollow sound for rock and roll, and I wouldn't like to buy another guitar that it's too much similar to the hofner. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smips65 Posted June 3, 2010 Share Posted June 3, 2010 The Swingster is a modded Emperor 2, with coil switching. The WildKat is a thinner guitar, close to an ES-335. I mentioned the ES-295 for some basic reasons. WildKat---Maple top, Maple back Swingster----Maple back, Spruce Top ES-295--- Maple top & back, but a thicker body, even thicker than the Swingster It also has the P-90's The body is more Gretschish than the other 2 Just my 2 cents worth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Markus Femling Posted July 8, 2010 Share Posted July 8, 2010 I guess it partially depends on what sort of Rockabilly you want to play. The Swingster would seem to fit in better with the kind of Rockabilly that features lots of reverb' date=' use of vibrato, etc. The kind of Rockabilly that you would associate with a Gretsch guitar I guess. The Wildkat would suit the 'Johnny Burnette Trio' style of Rockabilly I think. [/quote'] After playing the Swingster for some time i totally agree. It´s a great guitar with reverb/tremolo. For the "Johnny Burnette Trio" style, well... then i use a different guitar with a drier and more twangy sound and single coil pickups. It´s the same model as Paul Burlison (guitarplayer w Johnny Burnette) used. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfingPlowboy Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 I'm just a beginner at guitar, been playing about 6 months now, but I just bought a Swingster last week and love it. I got it just for that Rockabilly type of sound, early '60s style of Beatles, etc. I too looked hard at the WildKat but decided when combined with the VOX VT-15 amp I also bought that I could just get more varied sounds and tones from the Swingster. With that, said I would buy a WildKat in a heartbeat and may well do so in a year or so to compliment my Swingster and other guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twofeets Posted July 9, 2010 Share Posted July 9, 2010 The very existence of the Swingster is a mystery to me. It's basically an import copy of a Gretsch, obviously, complete with Bigsby talent lever and Fake-o-Tron pickups. Why anyone would buy a straight up Gretsch knockoff when for exactly the same price you can get an actual Gretsch-Branded Electromatic is a bit of a puzzle to me. I'm a huge fan of P90's but not a big fan of the small bodied Wildkat. Also, it is semi-hollow vs. Fully hollow, if I'm not mistaken. It does make a difference. As an Epi ES295 owner I'm inclined to agree with the aforementioned suggestion - with the 295 you kind of get the best attributes of both. Fully hollow with P90's and a Bigsby. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sledge57 Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Speaking of the Swingster, I've been working near Fort Wayne all week and decided to stop at Sweetwater Music on the way home. (If you're ever in Ft Wayne you should check em out) Anyway there was a Swingster hanging on the wall with an IBJL Casino and a "regular" Casino. I played around with all 3, un-plugged of course because like I've said before, my playing sucks and it's very intimidating to let anyone hear me. Anyway (again) I was very disappointed with the Swingster acoustically, it was dead and lifeless, my G&L ASAT sounds better unplugged and my Wildkat is way better acoustically. I loved the Casinos but I can't see me plopping down the $$ for a IBJL anytime soon and I'm not really a natural finish kind of guy (a reason I was willing to part with my Sherri) I just expected that big thick bodied guitar to sound awesome unplugged and it didn't....... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smips65 Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 I just expected that big thick bodied guitar to sound awesome unplugged and it didn't....... Could just be that it wasn't set up very well. On the other hand, with all that hardware hanging and bolted on the spruce top, could be limiting the acoustic abilities of that model. Your Wildkat has a maple top, which will stand up better with all that extra weight. The WildKat has a Mahogany back, while the Swingster has a Maple back, so top surface movement is key. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SheratonPlayer Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 I've never played any of that guitars but I think the Emperor swingstar looks better than the Wildcat. .:.:SheratonPlayer:.:. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spyke1 Posted July 10, 2010 Share Posted July 10, 2010 Well, over here the Swingster is basically the same price as the Gretsch Electromatic G5120 - the guitar that the Swingster is trying to be. I tried a couple of Wildkats but had issues with them, and really don't like the look of the Swingster. I couldn't find an ES-295, so I bought the couble cut G5122 Electromatic and absolutely love it. Ok, no P90s, but there are plenty of tonal options using he knobs and the amp and it's built and finished beautifully. I'm only saying, rather than get a copy of a copy of a classic (the Swingster), why not get get a modern budget version of the classic (G5120 copy of Gretsch G6120) itself, especially as it's the same price...? Good hunting, Ant Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LongMan Posted July 11, 2010 Share Posted July 11, 2010 Well' date=' over here the Swingster is basically the same price as the Gretsch Electromatic G5120[/quote'] Amazing how different the price tags are in different countries. For the price of a G5120 you get the Swingster and a Dot Studio (or a Les Paul Studio Gothic, or a SG G400 Vintage) on top in Germany, and still have money left. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sledge57 Posted July 14, 2010 Share Posted July 14, 2010 Could just be that it wasn't set up very well. On the other hand' date=' with all that hardware hanging and bolted on the spruce top, could be limiting the acoustic abilities of that model. Your Wildkat has a maple top, which will stand up better with all that extra weight. The WildKat has a Mahogany back, while the Swingster has a Maple back, so top surface movement is key. [/quote'] I played another Swingster today, same thing also played a Broadway, a Lucille and another Casino. I'm loving the Casinos and the Broadway was nice too. The Lucile was just to damn heavy, but it sounded good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GolfingPlowboy Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 They say ignorance is bliss and I guess I'm living proof of that! As I've said, I'm new playing guitar (started in January) but I'm older (51) and dedicated so I'm making progress. I bought a used Epiphone Les Paul Worn Studio as my 1st guitar and shortly thereafter bought 2 Epiphone acoustics, a Hummingbird and an EL-00 for my wife. It was plain to me that I was going to continue playing and learning as I was having way too much fun! I was wanting another style of electric like a Dot or Casino and I even started a thread on this forum asking the more experienced folks what the real difference was between those semi and full hollow body guitars. Anyway, I ended up buying an Emperor Swingster because I was after that early Beatles sound but wanted a fat jazzy capability as well. I looked at the Gretsch G5120 among others but I am sticking with Epiphone for the time being. Nothing against the other brands but you gotta start somewhere and then branch out later. But back to the ignorance being bliss thing, as I have no reference point in either playing experience or with other similar guitars, I absolutely LOVE my Swingster! To me, I can do so much with it what with the push-pull tone pots and Bigsby going through my VOX VT15 amp. But again, this is ALL new to me so I guess I am easily impressed. As far as the Swingster trying to be the Gretsch well, all I can say as a newbie to guitars is as I look through catalogs from Sweetwater or American Musical Supply or Musicians Friend or Guitar Center there are so many guitars that look alike it is crazy to single out this one guitar as mimicking another. It's really a chicken or the egg thing isn't it? The Swingster is built on the Emperors body so all they did was change the electronics. Surely that's not the 1st time that has been done. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jerrymac Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 The question is easy: What do you prefer for rockabilly the Wildcat or the Swingster? Depending on the answers perhaps I decide to buy one or the other. Thanx Either will get the job done, but... If by Rock-a-Billy you mean Eddie Cochran / Brian Setzer, the full body Swingster (or the Gretsch 5120) is the way to go. Some TV Jones and a little slap back echo... This guy knows a little about Rock-a-Billy: Notice the hollow body Epi... Never catch him playing a Les Paul!!! Oooops!!!! I still vote for the Swingster, unless you could a FlameKat, that reeks Rock-a-Billy... The inside of a 'Kat series Epi, like a hollowed out Les Paul... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Buffalo Posted August 29, 2010 Share Posted August 29, 2010 Bought a Wildkat - a black MIC model, because I didn't know I could still get a new ES 295. When I found out they were still available, I bought one. I prefer the 295, but that's just me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted August 31, 2010 Share Posted August 31, 2010 Okay, I've been playing and swapping guitars for something less than a thousand years, but something more than... Anyway, in the 60s and 70s I had GAS and worse: Swap-itis. I went through a whole batch of stuff. No Gibsons or Epis because there weren't any around. I went through a Gretch and ... well, whatever... Not counting two EA Ovations - some of their first... Bottom line is that I was looking for "the look" and "the tone" for bands I played with when realistically the guitars I found were about as standard as you can get and I've played everything from rock to jazz to country with 'em. What were they? A beautiful mid 1970s Ibanez patent infringement ES175 and a mid 1970s Guild "copy" of the SG, a S100c. It's how you play; how the guitar feels. I just picked up another a semi. A nice Epi Dot. Nice price and a good deal trading in a "brand W" version of the same guitar. Why? Because of the neck and it feels good. I'd say get a guitar that feels good to you; the neck, the balance, the way the body fits yours in various physical positions you'd play in. I think the Dot or the upgrade Dot are about as perfect all-around as you'll get. Yeah, a 335 would be in theory nicer, but... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dawgupp Posted September 2, 2010 Share Posted September 2, 2010 I had the same problem with deciding which way to go. I have been playing a Swingster down at my local great guitar store (Jim's Music in Tustin) and really like it. Alot. But I wanted to get my hands on a Wildkat just to comapre. Good luck right? Gibson says 90 days out before any are completed or shipped. No problem I understand it's not a "main" guitar for them but finding one locally was mission impossible. So here I am cruising Ebay last weekend and lo and behold I find a WildKat up in the LA area. So I drag my wife up to this little out of the way guitar store off the 101. The kid at the store (a friend of the owner) has this yellowburst & is selling this guitar. He doesn't play and just wants to get rid of it. I check the serial number, and it's legit. I plug it into an old Fender tweed. Wow! It's now here at my house resting comfortably... I went with the Kat first for one reason. The fit. It is smaller than the Swingster overall. I am not a tone slave by any means it just clicked for me. The big thing was the physical fit for me more than anything else. I liked its smaller body and it just rested better in my hands. With all that I will probably end up with a Swingster too. What can I say? Apparentley you can't own just one guitar. Anyway best of luck in your hunt. My recommendation is find one of both and go from there. Oh and the Kat? I got it for $450.00. That almost qualifies as grand theft...lol Brief update: went down to my music store again today (Labor day) and picked on that Swingster again. damn...it's calling my name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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