Riffster Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I have seen the pic from the Quingdao factory floating on the web but the description on the Gibson website and answer from Gibson states the guitar has a center block which conflicts with the referenced pic. Did the hollowing pattern of the Wildkat change over the years? if so when? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red 333 Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I have seen the pic from the Quingdao factory floating on the web but the description on the Gibson website and answer from Gibson states the guitar has a center block which conflicts with the referenced pic. Did the hollowing pattern of the Wildkat change over the years? if so when? Here is the description from the Gibson/Epiphone site. Same as it ever was: "The Wildkat’s innovative design starts with a solid piece of warm, sustain-rich mahogany that is computer-routed to create an acoustic guitar-like body except with a “center block” area like an ES-335." Red 333 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 Thanks but I mentioned in my post that I read the description on the Gibson.com website, I actually e-mailed customer service and they confirmed the existence of the center block. My question comes from this picture floating on the net about how a "Kat" is carved, see link, no center block. http://www.gretsch-talk.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=643&pictureid=6811 So the question remains, were there years when there was no center block on Wildkats? if so what years? I am looking to buy one of these guitars and because the current version comes only in one color I've been looking at used but I will not buy a guitar without a center block, I sold my Casino with bigsby because of that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 A "center block" runs all the way through from the neck to the back of the body to prevent feedback. So, I guess this is the answer, the Wildkat has a center block to support the bridge and bridge pickup but not a full length one so it will be very prone to feedback. I was aware of the Royale series, pass on that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 A "center block" runs all the way through from the neck to the back of the body to prevent feedback. Not necessarily, in a 335/345/355 guitar they do, and that's probably what you have in mind, but that's only one model, they don't run the full length on all guitars. I've never heard of anyone having feedback problems with a Wildkat, the back and top are still fairly thick on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted April 17, 2012 Author Share Posted April 17, 2012 Well the Gibson website says cnter block "like an ES335" that is why I had to ask this question. It is not like an ES 335 at all, the ES335 is not a carve to begin with and then the center block runs from the neck to behind the bridge. The website is using semantics losely. Big difference, I will just have to find a Wildkat to play and see how feedback resistant it is, I do play with overdrive and gain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I will just have to find a Wildkat to play and see how feedback resistant it is, I do play with overdrive and gain. As with all hollow/semi-hollows, just keep a bit of distance between you and the amp, and face away from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mud guy Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I've only played a wildkat in store. My experience is that they are total sweetness with a little breakup, but squeal like a pig with too much gain, centre block or not (function of the p90s I guess). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Krashpad Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Well the Gibson website says cnter block "like an ES335" that is why I had to ask this question. It is not like an ES 335 at all, the ES335 is not a carve to begin with and then the center block runs from the neck to behind the bridge. The website is using semantics losely. Big difference, I will just have to find a Wildkat to play and see how feedback resistant it is, I do play with overdrive and gain. The Qingdao pic is how they've always been. Poor word choice by Gibson promo. I have had no feedback problems at all w/my WildKat, and I play loud 70's style punk rock. I wouldn't play metal with them. That's about it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Krashpad Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 As with all hollow/semi-hollows, just keep a bit of distance between you and the amp, and face away from it. While this is true of the Casino I just got, it's really not a factor with the WildKat due to the differeence in construction. It's really more a chambered Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaSTuS Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 I've never heard of anyone having feedback problems with a Wildkat, the back and top are still fairly thick on them. While this is true of the Casino I just got, it's really not a factor with the WildKat due to the differeence in construction. It's really more a chambered Paul. I am fully cognoscente of that fact Brian, I was simply speaking of fighting feedback in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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