AfricaBrass

It's funny... I read horror stories about the mom and pop guitar stores being put out of business by the megastores, but I don't feel bad for jerks like this guy. I wouldn't be surprised if every musician has dealt with merchants like this. I know I have and when they treat me that way, I'm gone. There are some great online merchants who really take care of their customers and I have no problem supporting them. One thing I liked about that Rondo music (the one with the cheap guitars) is that the boss, Kurt, answers all the questions that people email to him. That's why I wanted to help them with guitar designs. I appreciate people like that.

His next project is a duet with Coltrane, over both versions of Ascension. Guy Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh! I also hear he's rerecorded Interstellar Space, with a drum machine replacing Rashied Ali. Guy (Still falling) Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

That's terrible, Scott. I wonder if your offer of trade or consignment made him think you weren't going to be buying anything. It's still inexcusible to me. There are some hungry internet merchants out there who might be more deserving of your business. I've read good reviews of the Korean PRS guitars. The PRS guys I've talked to say they're not the real thing, but I know other PRS users who have bought the SE models. If you like the Cort guitars, you might want to see what the other huge Korean manufacturer, Samick, is offering. I thought they had some jazz boxes. One thing I've done with success in the past is to watch for clearance deals or blems at Musicans Friend. I got my Casino (which listed for $2900) for $1100 as a refurb. There's nothing wrong with that guitar and I view it as the deal of a lifetime. I got my American '62 reissue Telecaster for $699 as a blem. The only thing wrong was one of the tuners was crooked. Five minutes after I opened the case, this was fixed.

His next project is a duet with Coltrane, over both versions of Ascension. Guy Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagh!

You got me!

Good! I can be a little gullible... The sad part is that I could really see him saying something stupid like that; especially after his holding a note for 45 minutes stunt. Didn't he know that Rahsaan Roland Kirk did the same thing every night while playing two instruments at the same time and playing things that Kenny G couldn't even imagine...

Here's a link to Stewart McDonald's pickup page. Stew Mac pickups

I've heard good things about those pickups too. I have some Kent Armstrong pickups in my B-bender telecaster and they sound good (mini-humbucker and telecaster bridge pickup). Another option might be some GFS pickups. The guys on some of the guitar boards are raving about these imported pickups. They have a lot of interesting options that replace humbuckers. Here's a link to the ebay store that sells them: GFS pickups

Have fun! Seriously, the made in Mexico Classic series Telecasters are great guitars. I know I want more.

Please tell me that's a joke.

Oh yeah... Check out the Mexican made Muddy Water's Telecaster. You can get those for around $600 and they come with American pickups. They're basically a 50's body (ash) with a 60's neck (rosewood). They are a real bang for the buck. I've been wanting one of these for a long time. They only come in Candy Apple Red (which I like).

I really like the Mexican made Classic series Telecasters. I think the 50's & 60's reissues are really nice. I have a '72 Custom reissue and I like it a lot. I had a U.S. 52 reissue which was nice, but I traded that for my Gretsch Firebird. I'm just going to get a 50's reissue someday. I kept my American made 62 Telecaster custom, though, it's black and double bound. One thing that is cool is that they've reissued the one pickup Esquire in the Classic series. I've heard the Esquires really are harmonically rich because of the lack of magnetic pull of the neck pickup. That's what I'd buy. You can get those for around $600 or less. Regarding the G&L Z's; some don't like them, but I find that if you adjust them, you can get some sweet sounds out of them. I also have a Comanche, which is a strat type guitar with 3 Z coil pickups. I like those pickups a lot.

That's great! I bet it will sound really nice. Now I feel even worse about getting rid of mine.

Okay... I feel I'm not so paranoid.

I'm sorry, I missed this post. I love them both. When it comes to Telecasters, I love the traditional, box bridge, 7 1/2 inch radius neck version. I don't get into American Standards and the like. I figure if I want a modern Tele, I'll go for a G&L. I think the G&L's are better quality. I feel so good when I'm playing one of my G&L's. I just think that a real Telecaster has a different sound. I think the MFD pickups in the G&L just sound different. If I could only keep one of my Telecasters and G&L's, my choice would be my ASAT Z2 model. They only made 10 of these and I LOVE mine. It's natural wood with tortoise binding, rosewood neck, 2 z coil pickups (unlike the usual ASAT Z3 which has three pickups). I call mine the Twangmonster. Here is a picture of this model from the G&L site:

Nice. The Epiphone didn't have a case. I bought a $40 gig bag. It looks like a techno sneaker. When I do play a gig, I use gig bags, I unload and I'll wear the guitar to the bathroom, to the diner. I don't like carrying guitars in guitar cases. That makes sense, especially in New York. I don't use soft cases because every show I've ever played, we loaded the guitars into the car. I'm terrified of anything happening. This brings up something. You have a Gibson; I'm terrified of snapping the headstock on my Gibsons. I keep them in their cases all the time and don't play them as much as I would if they were out. That's one reason (among many) I love Fenders and G&L's.

Poor Monk! The thrillseeker in me wants to hear it, but I don't know if I'll be able to deal with the nightmares that surely will come if I listen to it. That's the album with that Louis Armstrong duet.... CRINGE! If Mr. G ends up doing a duet with Coltrane, it just might push me over the edge...

Here's a picture of the DeArmond X-155 I used to have. I paid $350 for it on closeout and sold it at a profit. I wish I would have kept it. I installed flatwound strings on it and it was a sweet jazz guitar, but I couldn't find a case for it for less than $200. I traded it towards my Gretsch 6118 Double Anniversary, so that's some consolation.

I thought you were being artsy in Photoshop. Sometimes it's nice to play a jazz box instead of a solidbody. The only guitars that I have like that are my Gretsch's, but they're different. One of these days, I'll probably get one. I think this will do for a while. That's why I bought a cheap used guitar. The screws for the pole peices rattle a bit, so I might have to change the pickups. And it looks like someday this axe could use a fret crown refinish. A buddy has a Gretch. I dig those hollowbody Epiphones. I appreciate that Epiphone makes this type of guitar at affordable prices. I have two Epiphones myself; a John Lennon '65 Casino model and a Elite Les Paul. Changing pickups might make a big difference. There are some great aftermarket pickups out there. Now you've made me want to go guitar shopping... but I'm broke.

I thought you were being artsy in Photoshop. Sometimes it's nice to play a jazz box instead of a solidbody. The only guitars that I have like that are my Gretsch's, but they're different. One of these days, I'll probably get one.

Sweet!

Has anyone mentioned Attila? This was Billy Joel's band in 1970. The cover shows him dressed as a hun. Here's the Allmusic review:

Cool! Those are sweet guitars. The prices seem to have crept up, but they're still bargains.

Those Ibanez Artcores are a great deal. You probably could see them in person at the local guitar emporium, so that's a plus. Since they are a brand name, resale might be a little bit better. Rondo music (who sells the Agile) have a good return policy, so if you don't like the guitar, you probably won't have much problem returning it. The negatives to me are that they are made in China. Chinese guitars are getting better, but Korean guitars might be a little better. Epiphones are now made in China also. There were even some Guild acoustics recently made in China, so their skills have improved. I have played Ibanez Artcores and Agiles and I think the Agile is better than the Ibanez' that list around $400. The more expensive Artcores match and probably supercede the Agiles. An advantage for the Ibanez is that you would probably have an easier time finding a case for it. I had a terrible time finding a case for my DeArmond X-155 and when I did find one it was almost as expensive as the guitar itself, so I ended up selling the guitar (I wish I wouldn't have).

Sorry!