The guitar corner

[Joe G]

The impetus for this was seeing Fareed Haque on Halloween in Indy. He had a Cordoba classical guitar (thinline with a cutaway) that sounded excellent just going through his basic rig. Said he got it for $700-something. I haven't found one that cheap; they're usually just over a grand. Elderly had a couple, but one was older and kind of beat-up. Also didn't have the up-to-date electronics (this seems to be the key -the Fishman with a mic+bridge transducer which you can balance).

There were two guitars that really spoke to me. One was this Ramirez: http://elderly.com/vintage/items/28U-2219.htm

And the other was Godin for under $700, with no electronics. It had a very sweet tone and was a little easier for me to play than the Ramirez. I was thinking I might look into upgrading the electronics in my Wechter nylon-string (always have trouble amplifying that thing) for live shows and get the Godin for playing at home ( I like the wider string spacing for fingerstyle). That might be the cheaper route, anyway.

Will keep you posted if there's interest.

[jazzbo]

Yes keep us posted!

Classical guitars are part of a whole 'nother world I've not traveled.

Been playing my Fender American Deluxe Jazz fretless a lot these days. Like butter!

[7/4]

I was checking out a Godin ACS-SA (classical solid body) a few days before I broke my elbows (12 weeks today!). I want one, but I can't afford it now.

Bah!

I'm glad you enjoyed yourself!

[Joe G]

I found the webpage for the other guitar I liked (couldn't find it under Godin): http://elderly.com/new_instruments/items/COLL.htm

Not sure why it doesn't have electronics, as the La Patrie website indicates that it should. Also surprised that this is apparently their top-of-the-line... for under a grand?? Amazing. Like I said, it's a very beautiful guitar. Not a lot of projection, but lots of soul. Or something.

Edit: ah, I see now that electronics are an option.

Edited November 4, 2009 by Joe G

[7/4]

Sweet!

.

[7/4]

I want one of them too.

[7/4]

Sadowsky Guitars is pleased to announce our newest archtop model, the LS-17.

[7/4]

I tried a Godin ACS nylon string electric today, so now I'm having some serious jones to buy one. I think this week I'll sell a guitar to buy one.

[7/4]

Cool lookin' steel guitars alert!

tompettingill steel guitars.

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[AllenLowe]

just checking in here in guitar land; how goes it, boys?

I've started practicing again. Using my little Gibsonette head - re-built by the greatest amp guy on earth, Dan Lurie, up in Vermont. He is an artist.

[jazzbo]

'Em sure'r purdy!

There are many vintage lap steels for sale in this town. Never been tempted to get one though.

[7/4]

They're sweet, but pricey. There's vintage steels around here, I just have my cheap plank and I'm not really playing it anyway.

I was in Sam Ash a month ago and a guy was trying out amps with a '36 Rick steel made of Bakelite. We were talking and I never realized that Bakelite is plastic...he even had a plastic slide.

*

It's arpeggio day at my place with the Gibson L6-S.

[fasstrack]

I guess I haven't been into any NYC stores since they started making them. I see they're making a CW Kingpin with a single cutaway now.

I just now came from trying one at the store I bought my non-cutaway Kingpin. I liked it, but it's the exact guitar: same cherry wood, same tone. It has 2 pickups (the same p-90s), the exact pickguard and headstock. The kicker? $200 more (w/hard shell case, which mine didn't come with). For a couple of notes more it ain't worth it to me----but still a great little guitar for the money.

[7/4]

I see there's a used non-cut away Kingpin for $499 in Queens. A few years ago I would have impulsively taken the day off and checked it out. Probably would have bought it too at that price.

I just now came from trying one at the store I bought my non-cutaway Kingpin.

Where did you buy it?

Edited December 2, 2009 by 7/4

[Brad]

I guess PRS is dumping the SE Custom 22. Amazon now has some for $399 - other onlne retailers for $449, both with and without tremolo.

I'm REAL tempted.

According to their web site, it's been "discontinued." Sam Ash had a Custom 24 on sale for $389 on Black Friday, which Guitar Center matched so I purchased it. Well, actually my wife got it for me as a Xmas present so it's under wraps until then. My first real guitar.

[7/4]

Sounds like a good deal!

I tried out some PRS gtrs for the first time last Summer...felt nice. They have an "in between" scale length of 25". Fenders generally have 25.5" and Gibson are more like 24.75".

.

[jazzbo]

I guess PRS is dumping the SE Custom 22. Amazon now has some for $399 - other onlne retailers for $449, both with and without tremolo.

I'm REAL tempted.

According to their web site, it's been "discontinued." Sam Ash had a Custom 24 on sale for $389 on Black Friday, which Guitar Center matched so I purchased it. Well, actually my wife got it for me as a Xmas present so it's under wraps until then. My first real guitar.

Congrats Brad!

[Brad]

We were looking at a variety of guitars, with my son helping me and he liked PRS. He told me to shy away from Epiphone because he didn't think they were very good; thought the strings were too stiff. Another brand he doesn't like and has never seemed to is Fender. I pointed out that the likes of Clapton and Beck play them and his comment is that the real expensive ones are probably ok but that's about it. He plays a Schecter himself.

[jazzbo]

Welll, after the PRS for a while you can try out other guitars yourself. I didn't get "Fender" for a long time but one day they just clicked and now I'd get rid of every nonFender guitar I have before I let any Fenders go (and he's right in that the American made ones I find much nicer, but still like Mexican and "parts custom" ones.)

[Brad]

Welll, after the PRS for a while you can try out other guitars yourself. I didn't get "Fender" for a long time but one day they just clicked and now I'd get rid of every nonFender guitar I have before I let any Fenders go (and he's right in that the American made ones I find much nicer, but still like Mexican and "parts custom" ones.)

The kid is very opinionated so chalk it up to the experience of youth.

I've only been playing about nine months and obviously have a long, long, long way to go but I'm curious as to what you mean it clicked one day for you?

[jazzbo]

Just one day I found one that had a wonderful neck, which was what never worked well for me before. And then I learned to look for THAT neck, and every guitar that I played with a neck in those specs played very easily and well.

And when I finally spent a lot of time with Fender guitars, I figured out how to make the sounds I like from them. I don't know why, but Fenders now feel really "right" for me. They "strum" really easily and I get exciting sounds from them. That led me to explore Fender basses and I now play my Fender American Deluxe Jazz basses (one with a fretless rosewood fingerboard, one with a maple fretted fingerboard) almost exclusively, haven't been playing guitar much lately, mostly basses. All the guitars and basses sound wonderful to me through my '59 Fender Bassman reissue amp, and the '63 reissue reverb head. I'm "set."

[Brad]

Just one day I found one that had a wonderful neck, which was what never worked well for me before. And then I learned to look for THAT neck, and every guitar that I played with a neck in those specs played very easily and well.

And when I finally spent a lot of time with Fender guitars, I figured out how to make the sounds I like from them. I don't know why, but Fenders now feel really "right" for me. They "strum" really easily and I get exciting sounds from them. That led me to explore Fender basses and I now play my Fender American Deluxe Jazz basses (one with a fretless rosewood fingerboard, one with a maple fretted fingerboard) almost exclusively, haven't been playing guitar much lately, mostly basses. All the guitars and basses sound wonderful to me through my '59 Fender Bassman reissue amp, and the '63 reissue reverb head. I'm "set."

Cool Lon. That sounds great

[Joe G]

John Stowell just sent me an email out of the blue; got my name from a mutual friend. He said he wants to hook up in the spring when he swings through Michigan to do some teaching and a concert with me. I'm teaching at Michigan State, and would love to have him do a masterclass. Not so sure I'm ready to share the stage with him, though!

[7/4]

John Stowell just sent me an email out of the blue; got my name from a mutual friend. He said he wants to hook up in the spring when he swings through Michigan to do some teaching and a concert with me. I'm teaching at Michigan State, and would love to have him do a masterclass. Not so sure I'm ready to share the stage with him, though!

Check that out!

I'm just getting around to checking out his Jazz Guitar Mastery DVD (Mel Bay).

I was playing the Godin at the store this afternoon again, the solidbody with nylon strings. I don't have the cash, but I'll have to sell a Strat and get one soon.

I think Strats unclicked when I started playing Teles! There's something about Teles...maybe it because they don't have a hole in the body where the Strat has a whammy bar mounted on springs. Better tone for me.

Edited December 3, 2009 by 7/4

[Joe G]

I picked that book/DVD up just a couple of weeks ago on a whim. Some good stuff in there.