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Zakk Wylde Vertigo - how is "she"?


artstuff

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Hello!!! :-)

 

I haven't found a topic about the Gibson Les Paul Zakk Wylde Vertigo (where I am alllowed to post as a newbie...) - so that's why I start a new one here.

 

I am very interested in the Vertigo. But the problem is, here in Austria no dealer has it. That's why I would have to buy it without being able to play it before. I know that the EMGs pickups may be maybe not everyones taste. But I am very much into Hard Rock and Heavy Metal and that's why I think that I would like the sound. And I would be able to test the EMGs cause a store here has ESP guitars with EMGs...

 

The design is awesome and I really like it.

 

But I am not sure about the neck profile. Is it a fat one? Is it a fast one, a thin one? I am now having a Classic with a 60s style neck. How is the neck compared to this model?

Or which model do I have to play to know how the neck of the Vertigo is? A Traditional? A Custum? A ... ??

 

 

P.s. Of course I could buy the guitar online and send it back if I don't like it... but then I would have to pay for the sending back and sending back a guitar, I think, is not soo cheap....

 

 

Hopefully someone has the answer to my questions. ;-)

 

Bernhard

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Hello Bernhard and welcome to the Forums!

 

Just by looking at the pictures of the product site, it seems that the neck is on the fatter side. That's just purely an impression - please don't take my words as they are rock-solid facts.

 

The site says: Zakk's rounded profile - whatever it means.

 

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Les-Paul/Gibson-USA/Zakk-Wylde-Les-Paul-Custom-Vertigo/Specs.aspx

 

I would try something with a 50's style neck, but let's wait for the hardcore Zakk Wylde fans to comment here also.

 

Also consider that the maple fingerboard has a completely different feel and sound conpared to the usual ebony.

 

It would be better if You could play one. Germany has dealerships...is it too far for You to go there?

 

Cheers... Bence

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Bence is right -- the neck IS pretty fat. I would say somewhere around the '59 type where it's not a "baseball-bat" type neck, but it's not a 60's thin slim-tapered neck either. However, I believe the neck is UNFINISHED which makes it quite fast (no sticky lacquer or anything like that).

 

Thick necks are a huge part of Zakk's heavy sound. He's a big guy, mind you, but his action is always really low too so you might be best off doing the same.

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Hello Bence and crazytrain!

 

Thanks for your comments :-)

 

Bence, your idea is not the cheapest one but I like it: ;-) Searching for a dealer somewhere who has it in stock and maybe visit this city on a weekend.

 

I would be able to test an Ephiphone Zakk Wylde. But I dont think that this models have a "Zakk Wylde neck"...

 

But I will check out a Paula with a 50s and 59s neck first. Pretty sure, that my local dealer has a 59 Paula in the custom department.

 

 

Crazytrain, what you mean with "but his action is always really low too"? My English is not sooo good to understand this. :-) Do you mean the way he holds his guitars?

 

 

Bernhard

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Hello Bernhard!

 

The Epi ZW it's not a good one to test how the Vertigo would feel or sound. Not the same league.

 

These are the German dealers: http://www2.gibson.com/Support/Dealers/Europe/Germany.aspx

 

I think it's worth spending the money on a trip to one of these. You got to test drive the guitar You are about to buy - mail ordering is always a risk.

 

The low action - that my friend Crazytrain513 mentioned is: "Geringe saitenhöhe" - if my German is OK. Hope it makes sense.

 

As for the neck finish, Zakk's originals are raw and unfinished. I know that the Gibson's site photos can be misleading sometimes, but on those photos it seems to me a bit glossy, which makes me think it has - at least - a slight layer of laquer.

 

Cheers... Bence

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yeah. i think so too that the Epi is a totally different guitar.

 

i have found now a german dealer who ships it also to austria and where i can send it back within 30 days if i dont like it. i think i gonna try this maybe. 30 days at home with my own amp... thats a good way to test a guitar :-)

 

by the way "geringe saitenhöhe" is correct. I was now able to find it. thank you. :-)

 

 

bernhard

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The epiphone model has the same neck I just played it yesterday. I love the neck and it is fat but the no paint makes it super quick

ah thank you. i wouldnt have expected the epiphone to have the same neck shape as the gibson zakk wyldes. i thought that all the epiphones have the same standard neck profile...

anyway thanks for this information. :-)

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  • 1 month later...

...

(hm.. what a pity I cannot upload only 500 k in total? that is not much...)

 

Create a Photobucket(.com) account. Upload the photos there. Click on IMG code of the photo You want to post here. Paste (Ctrl-V) the IMG code into the post. That's how we all do it here.

 

Cheers... Bence

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Congratulations!

 

It's a very nice one! [thumbup]

 

Just be careful with the stand! Cover it with pure cotton rags. The rubber in the stand might eat away the finish of the guitar!

 

Cheers... Bence

thank you! :-)

i have to admit, if I wouldn't have been informed by chance that they have stopped making the Vertigo, I still woudn't have it. Anyway I am very happy with it. Though the neck is fater (compared to the Classic) I found out that the neck and my hands work very good together. And the sound... of course you have to like the sound of the EMG's but played unplugged I have to say, the sustain of the Vertigo is just amazing (compared to my Les Paul Classic).

 

I already know about this stand problems... Thats why I normally put my guitars back to their cases when I not play - although it's a shame to not have them outside. ;-)

 

cheers bernhard

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