Guitar players

[jigsaw]

Guitars are like joysticks

You need a tool kit to get them right 

Which is not a bad thing

Guy at work pick up acoustic from a second hand shop a old epiphone, looked like poo

Flippen thing was awesome

A lot of younger (playing time, not age) players don't realize the value of having a properly set up and intonated instrument.  Makes all the difference in the world.  Pretty much any thing right off the wall is going to need to be restrung, have the neck, action, and intonation set at the very least.  Depending on build quality it could also need fret work, new nut, wiring etc.  to get it really ready to go.

Another trap people fall into is buying based only on the brand name. More guitars than you would think are products of ghost building.  A good deal of "Brand name" guitars are built overseas and just quickly QC'd once they hit stateside.

Find something with a neck that feels comfortable to your hand.  Most of the rest of it can be fixed/tweaked by a good luthier, or at least someone who knows how to do a proper set up.

Guitars in my current lineup...
80s ESP Horizon Custom
80s ESP M1 Custom
91  ESP M1 Graffiti
90s American Strat (for studio work)
90s Ovation 1869 Custom Legend
90s Ovation Celebrity
90s Peavey Foundation S

Probably adding a 12 string acoustic and 5 string bass in 2014.

[skorpx1]

A lot of younger (playing time, not age) players don't realize the value of having a properly set up and intonated instrument.  Makes all the difference in the world.  Pretty much any thing right off the wall is going to need to be restrung, have the neck, action, and intonation set at the very least.  Depending on build quality it could also need fret work, new nut, wiring etc.  to get it really ready to go.

Another trap people fall into is buying based only on the brand name. More guitars than you would think are products of ghost building.  A good deal of "Brand name" guitars are built overseas and just quickly QC'd once they hit stateside.

Find something with a neck that feels comfortable to your hand.  Most of the rest of it can be fixed/tweaked by a good luthier, or at least someone who knows how to do a proper set up.


Probably adding a 12 string acoustic and 5 string bass in 2014.

I have never seen anything closer to the truth than this. I spent at least 3 days just looking at different basses to find out what one had good tone, felt right and fit my criteria. Looks or brand name won't matter, how it sounds and plays will.


Jigsaw,

As far as a recommendation goes, i'd definitely buy an ESP as your next bass, I have the B55 Ltd Edition and it sounds great. The strings are practically tuned right out of the box and its really nice on sliding. The strings hang low to the frets and are easy to push down on, barely any effort is required.

On top of that I ordered mine off Amazon and got a free 2 year warranty with it.

[jigsaw]

Skorpx1,  thanks for the intel.  The 55 and 105 were on my shortlist.  Just wish I could find someone who had them in stock so I could check them out first.  Some of the one's I've been able to find so far were like trying to play the fat end of a baseball bat.

[Rogue9Volt]

Good guitars are pretty hard to find...  The big names seem to be churning out crap now days.  I love gibsons and have owned several, but I won't play one made after 1980 due to the huge drop in quality when they stopped making them in michigan.

[mojo]

You can get Zemaitis here in the USA they have not been made in England for a number of years.
The Japanese make them now.

http://www.zemaitis-guitars.com/

I've been following them for some time now. The thing I noticed is that their website hasn't had any activity in some time. Plus, their dealers' stocks are running out and some have dropped the line altogether. I've heard rumors that they've either gone to a special order only deal here in the States, or they discontinued them completely.

[mojo]

A lot of younger (playing time, not age) players don't realize the value of having a properly set up and intonated instrument.  Makes all the difference in the world.  Pretty much any thing right off the wall is going to need to be restrung, have the neck, action, and intonation set at the very least.  Depending on build quality it could also need fret work, new nut, wiring etc.  to get it really ready to go.

Another trap people fall into is buying based only on the brand name. More guitars than you would think are products of ghost building.  A good deal of "Brand name" guitars are built overseas and just quickly QC'd once they hit stateside.

Find something with a neck that feels comfortable to your hand.  Most of the rest of it can be fixed/tweaked by a good luthier, or at least someone who knows how to do a proper set up.

Guitars in my current lineup...
80s ESP Horizon Custom
80s ESP M1 Custom
91  ESP M1 Graffiti
90s American Strat (for studio work)
90s Ovation 1869 Custom Legend
90s Ovation Celebrity
90s Peavey Foundation S

Probably adding a 12 string acoustic and 5 string bass in 2014.

Yup! The Samick factory builds guitars for most guitar companies that are made in Asia. Even American companies will hire luthiers to build guitars for celebrity clientele.

[skorpx1]

Skorpx1,  thanks for the intel.  The 55 and 105 were on my shortlist.  Just wish I could find someone who had them in stock so I could check them out first.  Some of the one's I've been able to find so far were like trying to play the fat end of a baseball bat.

The one I got off of Amazon is pretty thin on the neck, in the picture the neck seems somewhat large but it's only about an inch wide, if that. Also with that picture you can see that the strings hang off of the fretboard by just a sliver. If I were you i'd just get if from Amazon, it's a good deal and you might still be able to get that free 2 year warranty. Also, one quick question, what is the price on those B55/105's you were looking at?

[jigsaw]

Also, one quick question, what is the price on those B55/105's you were looking at?
(Image removed from quote.)

Been seeing them for 249/299 respectively.  I like the P/J config on the 55 more than the dual "block" thing on the 105.
I'd most likely pick it up from a local shop although I think they'd have to order it.  That would at least give me a chance to make sure the neck/frets weren't jacked before buying it, and it would help out the local small store. I'm a big fan of helping keep the mom and pop stores open.

Worse case scenario as long as the neck/frets aren't totally fubar... throw a new bridge on, toss in a set of EMGs...

[mojo]

I've gotten to like ESP's and LTD's more and more over the years. The QC seems to be the most consistent out of most of the makers out there, discounting higher- end makers. I'm looking at getting one of the first run Phoenix II models with the ebony fretboard. Doesn't matter if it's ESP (for the right price) or LTD. I have a thing for reverse Firebirds, but don't want just another Gibson... unless it's an original one pickup from the 60's. That would be cool!

[jigsaw]

Mojo,  ESP was supposed to be coming out with a line in between the LTD and ESP (LTD elite?), but I haven't heard anything since the initial announcement. They also announced last November that they will be opening a plant in North Hollywood. I'm curious to see what comes out of it.  I can't remember the last time I saw an ESP on the wall of a store.  Lucky around here if you can even spot a LTD or two.

If you really like the neck on the Firebird, Ed Roman (R.I.P.) used to have a really cool mod for Les Pauls that his shop might still be able to do. There are videos around of him taking a small battle axe to a LP and destroyed everything but the neck, then building a whole new LP around it. One of his techs tried to one up him by using a .357 to take a body apart.

[vafiii]

Started out drumming as a kid and switched to guitar about 15 years ago in my mid 30's. Goal was to learn 3 instruments before I croaked, drums, guitar and keyboards. Not a great guitar player but good enough to write and record my own stuff. Never played in a band but it's on my bucket list provided I can find some middle aged guys like myself who want to get together once a week and jam. I recently read Keith Richard's book and started to get into open tunings which opened up a whole new world on guitar for me. I remember back in the early 70's, sitting in the back seat of my old man's Oldsmobile and tapping my foot to the Stones Sticky Fingers album that was blasting over the eight-track. Still my favorite Stones album to this day. Last week on Christmas Eve me and my cousin jammed to some old Kiss songs on our acoustic guitars. Cold Gin, Strutter and Hard Luck Woman. Can't beat those nursery rhyme Kiss lyrics. "My heaters broke I'm so tired. I need some fuel to build a fire." Lol! Not exactly poetry but after a few run throughs of the songs I felt like donning a pair of seven inch heels and spitting blood. Keep on rockin'!

[icepac]

Ed was right about some stuff in his rants against people counterfeiting guitars but he would turn around and do the same thing.

He only had an issue with people other than himself doing shady stuff.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/forum/showthread.php?257088-Ed-Roman

[phatzo]

Mojo,  ESP was supposed to be coming out with a line in between the LTD and ESP (LTD elite?), but I haven't heard anything since the initial announcement. They also announced last November that they will be opening a plant in North Hollywood. I'm curious to see what comes out of it.  I can't remember the last time I saw an ESP on the wall of a store.  Lucky around here if you can even spot a LTD or two.

If you really like the neck on the Firebird, Ed Roman (R.I.P.) used to have a really cool mod for Les Pauls that his shop might still be able to do. There are videos around of him taking a small battle axe to a LP and destroyed everything but the neck, then building a whole new LP around it. One of his techs tried to one up him by using a .357 to take a body apart.

My local music store has a wall of ESP and LTD guitars including LTD Elite series.

http://www.guitarfactoryportmac.com.au/electric-guitars/esp-ltd.html

I used to play in bands but I haven't for about ten years now, I just mess around at home on the computer with it.

http://www.reverbnation.com/control_room/artist/3196659/songs

[mojo]

Mojo,  ESP was supposed to be coming out with a line in between the LTD and ESP (LTD elite?), but I haven't heard anything since the initial announcement. They also announced last November that they will be opening a plant in North Hollywood. I'm curious to see what comes out of it.  I can't remember the last time I saw an ESP on the wall of a store.  Lucky around here if you can even spot a LTD or two.

If you really like the neck on the Firebird, Ed Roman (R.I.P.) used to have a really cool mod for Les Pauls that his shop might still be able to do. There are videos around of him taking a small battle axe to a LP and destroyed everything but the neck, then building a whole new LP around it. One of his techs tried to one up him by using a .357 to take a body apart.

ESP really limited what they're making now. I have a catalog from 2010 or 2011 and was impressed with their range at the time. I'm not sure what to make of the Elite line. It reminds me of the Elitist Epiphone line a while back. To me, I'd rather pay a hundred bucks more and get an ESP rather than a very slightly cheaper LTD. I'm usually not brand- conscious, but it would be a deciding factor for me. Especially true considering they have really good quality across their line.
I know all about Ed Roman RIP. He said a lot of things about manufacturers that upset many people. I've contacted him and even sent him some material for one of his articles, and never got the infamous "Ed Roman treatment." His Pagan would probably be one I would have built when I have the money.