ProSoundWeb Community

Sound Reinforcement - Forums for Live Sound Professionals - Your Displayed Name Must Be Your Real Full Name To Post In The Live Sound Forums => The Basement => Topic started by: Bob Leonard on June 24, 2014, 12:45:59 AM

Title: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 24, 2014, 12:45:59 AM
I thought with the very large number of guitar players who are a BE or work sound also that it might be fun to play guitstar wars. Not about who plays best, but a chance to show off that noise maker you own.
 
The rules are simple. No group shots, one shot at a time.
 
Here's my first shot. Been sick and depressed so I bought it yesterday.
 
 
 
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Tim Tyler on June 24, 2014, 01:15:19 PM
So Bob, is the idea post display ads...? 
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Art Welter on June 24, 2014, 02:56:27 PM
Here's my first shot. Been sick and depressed so I bought it yesterday.
Bob,
Hope the guitar cheers you up, looks like a beauty.

Sweetwater has a better photographer than me, but I'll still follow your rule, one guitar at a time- I'll start with Gatu (Guitar Amp Test Unit). It started out as a double neck with an SG shape body, as you can see in the picture of the one in the case found online. My high school friend had one, but just wanted the 12 string on a Les Paul like body, so I turned one out for him in shop class 1974, no photos of that, dammit. The remainder of the guitar was my payment, I cut it down to minimum size, it's primary use being around the shop for the latter part of the 1980s, early 1990s. Somewhere along the line the Melody Maker pickup was put on, then I added the whammy bar and reversed it for left hand playing. The whammy bar required putting on the slide out tail extension to keep it stable.

The guitar in original shape would be collectable, the split-up versions not so much, but it has a lot of sentimental value.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Art Welter on June 24, 2014, 02:58:25 PM
This laminated walnut and maple guitar was perhaps my best high school shop project, it uses a Hofner neck purchased from Carvin for $99, a lot of money back in 1974. Originally it used Carvin pickups, but I replaced them with used Gibson P 90s shortly after building it. Sounds great, stays in tune, and is quite lightweight, but does not get played much since I converted to left hand playing.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Art Welter on June 24, 2014, 02:59:37 PM
A year after graduating from high school I amputated two fingers and half of the thumb on my left hand, sometime around 1977 I found a beautiful piece of Honduras Mahogany and and fashioned this lefty guitar, using a Les Paul Jr. (looks similar to the SG in the OP) neck that had been completely broken off a guitar in a stage accident, and the headstock was missing.

The guitar sat mostly unused for years, as learning to play left handed when I could hardly play right handed was more work than I wanted to take on while my sound career was taking off. After sufficient decades passed, I started playing it again. Unfortunately, I now have no cartilage left in my left wrist, so playing is painful after a few minutes, so the Theramin has become my instrument of choice.  Oh well, the guitars are still nice to look at, and I can still play slide on the right handed ones...

Art
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Steve M Smith on June 24, 2014, 03:12:03 PM
This is one I built in 1995 according to the label inside.  Almost twenty years ago - I have no idea where the time goes!

(http://stevesmithphoto.webs.com/selmer.jpg)

A copy of a Selmer Modele Jazz as used by Django Reinhardt.


A year after graduating from high school I amputated two fingers and half of the thumb on my left hand......    and I can still play slide on the right handed ones...


Ouch.  That's painful enough just to read it.  Have you heard of the Hawaiian Steel guitarist Billy Hew Len?  He lost his left hand to a planing machine but used a steel attached to his wrist with a sort of leather glove and could play very well. 


Steve.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Tim Tyler on June 24, 2014, 04:16:51 PM
Mid '60s Greco Srhrike, lovely green sunburst, "V" pickups, fake bigsby.  MIJ, bought by a soldier in Viet Nam, sold to me by his sister in the '90s.  Bridge cover has "Kim" engraved.  The oddest of my 60+ guitars.

-Tim T

Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Art Welter on June 24, 2014, 04:29:25 PM
This is one I built in 1995 according to the label inside.  Almost twenty years ago - I have no idea where the time goes!
A copy of a Selmer Modele Jazz as used by Django Reinhardt.

Ouch.  That's painful enough just to read it.  Have you heard of the Hawaiian Steel guitarist Billy Hew Len?  He lost his left hand to a planing machine but used a steel attached to his wrist with a sort of leather glove and could play very well. 
Steve,

Nice work!

The difference between Django,  Billy Hew Len and me was they could play well before they became digitally challenged :^).

I love those pickups on Tim's Srhrike, never saw ones like that before.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Spenser Hamilton on June 24, 2014, 06:00:42 PM
Mine doesn't have the vintage flair that some of the others have posted, but here is my baby: 20th Anniversary PRS Standard 24, loaded with Dimarzio pickups, set up for 12-60 strings and typically plugged into a '86 Mesa Mark III Head/Oversized 4x12 :)

Edit: Old picture, original owner had loaded it with EMGs for some reason...
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Jerome Casinger on June 24, 2014, 06:47:40 PM
That's the fender ultra, that thing plays like a beauty.  This was my dads baby that he worked my mom into letting him buy for selling a custom BC Rich back in the mid 80's.  I still have the original invoice, build sheet, and a personal letter from the builder on how much he "drooled" over the guitar after he built it.  Still trying to track it down to this day.  Someday I hope it comes home....
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Jerome Casinger on June 24, 2014, 06:54:38 PM
That's the Roland Ready, Must say I wasn't a huge fan, but as I tool around in my mini-studio, I love the sounds that they have for these, especially since I cant play keyboards.  Lets me get the oooohhsss and ahhhhhs that I need.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Jerome Casinger on June 24, 2014, 06:57:45 PM
This is the last one I will share (for the hour).  This is my Ibanez S-Series.  My sleeper guitar.  Few cool things, all vintage Dimarzio's and the innerds were all redone.  This thing sounds mean.

This was my first guitar, got it 15 years ago, and still remember my mom and dad arguing over buying this for me for X-Mas, my dad fought tooth and nail to work overtime to by me an "instrument" and not a toy.  He later helped me when I was hurting financially by buying my guitars from me, when he got rid of his BC Rich, he said he would never let me make the mistake he did.  This one will go to my son.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 24, 2014, 09:04:20 PM
Lot's of pretty wood on this page.


Art, My hand hurts just reading about your accident. Sorry that happened but it sounds like you don't let it stop you from doing what you want to do in life.


Tim, The Greco is the balls and that model was a shot at Rickenbacker. Gotta love the "V" shaped pickups.

I would only buy a guitar mail order from Sweetwater. They do a lot of things for you before the guitar is shipped and if you don't like it send it back. One of the things they do is post pictures on their site of the guitars they have for sale and match the serial number with the pictures so when you get the guitar you know it's the one you've chosen. Obviously I can't take pictures of a guitar that's still on it's way to me. The pictures you see are of my guitar sent to me by my sales rep before the guitar is packed for shipment. It's a nice touch and you know what it is that you're getting.

I admire any guitar made by people who don't do that type of work for a living. I even admire the acoustic on the other side of the pond.

Jerome, You're kinda spoiled.


Spenser, I like the color of your PRS. They do a nice job with fit and finish.

Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Jerome Casinger on June 24, 2014, 09:26:09 PM
Cowboy Burt - Circa 1980 - Actually plays, has red and white checkerboard on the sides.  Was built out of a pallet, used exclusively for one or two solos back then.

My cigar box Geetar
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Jerome Casinger on June 24, 2014, 09:37:13 PM
Last one for the night - Taylor 614CE - This is the only one that gets any serious use anymore.  Has a little blood stain in the sound hole from how I play.  Got ahold of Bob when I was having a problem with it, and he treated me top notch, got a picture with him and it somewhere.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Art Welter on June 24, 2014, 09:49:28 PM
Art, My hand hurts just reading about your accident. Sorry that happened but it sounds like you don't let it stop you from doing what you want to do in life.

I admire any guitar made by people who don't do that type of work for a living. I even admire the acoustic on the other side of the pond.
Hey, accidents just build character  ;).

A hand accident (and loss of his son, and wife) didn't stop Billy Joe Shaver from playing guitar, got to work with him again not too long ago. He has written some of the greatest country songs ever recorded.

It's funny, between my left and his right, we have one full hand, we had a good laugh after seeing this shot:
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Tim Tyler on June 24, 2014, 10:14:01 PM
"I would only buy a guitar mail order from Sweetwater. They do a lot of things for you before the guitar is shipped and if you don't like it send it back. One of the things they do is post pictures on their site of the guitars they have for sale and match the serial number with the pictures so when you get the guitar you know it's the one you've chosen. Obviously I can't take pictures of a guitar that's still on it's way to me. The pictures you see are of my guitar sent to me by my sales rep before the guitar is packed for shipment. It's a nice touch and you know what it is that you're getting."

Bob -

I had to rib you a little, because a couple of months ago, I bought, uh, something similar... the neck... aaaahhhhh!

-Tim T

Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 25, 2014, 01:07:41 AM
Great minds think alike. That's a really beautiful LP. I bought this SG because I've got the feeling Gibson is going to stop building this model soon and the price seems low for this piece. Ask yourself why the 61' reissues cost more than a Les Paul tribute? ??? I already own a couple of SG's, one standard and one w/ P-90s, a couple of ES including a 20 year old Lucille, and my favorite, my custom historic 1960 LP. I see the neck at the nut on these is just a bit wider so I'm hoping the neck is how you say "aaaahhhh".
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bill McIntosh on June 25, 2014, 04:03:36 PM

I admire any guitar made by people who don't do that type of work for a living.


I guess that means even a rank amateur like me can show off a little.

I am more proud of my son (holding the finished instrument) than the guitar.

He picked out the bits, we assembled it for his 21st birthday.

Warmoth body and neck, DiMarzio DP158 and DP159 humbucker pickups and a Graphtec piezo in the tailstock (if that's the right word).  Zebrawood and swamp ash with gold tone bits.

Wiring the 5 way switch was an exercise in more patience than I usually possess, and when it was assembled, it had a nasty buzz in the 1 and 5 positions.  Local luthier figured it out  -- the problem was that the opening did not let the switch move fully to either extreme.  Two minutes with a file in skilled hands and it sounded like it should.

First and likely last one I will ever make.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Ned Ward on June 25, 2014, 04:07:59 PM
here's a first one for me - the Gumby Guitar.


I built this in 1994 with a Stew Mac alder body, and a Warmoth tiger maple compound radius neck. Pickups are Duncan 59 in the neck, and a JB in the bridge; volume and tone knobs are push/pull to allow for more of a single coil sound where needed. It's been my go-to guitar for the past 20 years and sounds great. I sweat more than the Boss, so I'm now on my 3rd JB pickup (and this is with wiping down the guitar after shows and during sets).


The green paint is PPG Urethane car paint that I picked out, and was painted by a guy in Chicago named Mark Scime of Rocket Refinishers; he had done some custom work for Urge Overkill and his price was reasonable.


Sounds great, especially through an old Bandmaster or Showman...
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: sam saponaro on June 25, 2014, 07:11:26 PM
Well I aint smart enough to operate them new fangled digicameras but I got me a 2004 AMR STD Stratocaster black w/ rosewood board.All stock cept the tortoise pickguard.
Also got a E series mij Strat w/ Lace sensor pups and a USA tremolo off a 1974 strat I parted out.
Plug em through a Marshall JCM800 2210 and 1969 straight front Marshall cab with G12M-25 greenbacks.Also got an Orange Tiny Terror w/ a few of my own soldering iron tweaks.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Steve M Smith on June 26, 2014, 01:57:17 AM
Well I aint smart enough to operate them new fangled digicameras

Don't worry.  They're just a passing fad... same as those new fangled solid body guitars!


Steve.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Nils Erickson on June 26, 2014, 04:22:30 AM
Well, here is a pic of my '61 Jazzmaster a couple of years back; this is at the Bottom Of The Hill during the Noisepop festival, maybe in '08?  Ned Ward, I seem to remember you playing there a while back, no?

Cool guitars, everyone...

Nils
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Ned Ward on June 26, 2014, 11:34:41 AM
Well, here is a pic of my '61 Jazzmaster a couple of years back; this is at the Bottom Of The Hill during the Noisepop festival, maybe in '08?  Ned Ward, I seem to remember you playing there a while back, no?

Cool guitars, everyone...

Nils


Nice Jazzmaster Nils! And yes, you're correct, our band played at Bottom of the Hill in 2011 and 2012 for Fortune's Battle of the Corporate Bands. They moved the regionals back to LA, so this year we played at The Mint, and will be in the finals again in Cleveland September 6th. We loved Bottom of the Hill, and became friends with the bouncer, Guido, who is a great car guy and Hot Wheels fan - he built a full scale working Red Baron!


Here's a pick of my most recent acquisition - AVRI 62 Telecaster Custom. Pickguard is the Ilitch noise-canceling system (Lindy Fralin distributes it) and it really does cut down on single coil hum significantly without sacrificing tone. Everything else is still stock.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Steve M Smith on June 26, 2014, 12:31:18 PM
I do like a Tele with edge binding!


Steve.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Nils Erickson on June 26, 2014, 01:27:46 PM
I do like a Tele with edge binding!


Steve.
Agreed, that is a great looking guitar, Ned... a classic.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 26, 2014, 01:44:13 PM
Very nice Ned, actually outstanding if you pull the Dr. Z out of the picture.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Ned Ward on June 26, 2014, 02:30:01 PM
Now now Bob… actually, the EL84's really compliment the Bandmaster 6V6. One of the reasons I bought a Radial Bigshot ABY pedal - to leave it on BOTH…

We recorded our version of "Immigrant Song" with my playing through the Dr. Z head into my 2x12 closed Bandmaster cabinet, and it sounds very good. Different from Fender, but still good. It's making me think my next amp purchase will either be a Deluxe Reverb or a 18-38 watt Maz 38 from these guys. They're handbuilding/wiring them right outside of Cleveland, and their attention to build quality and reliability would make Leo Fender proud...
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Deryl Voutila on June 26, 2014, 03:14:39 PM
Nice toy, Bob.  I assume it has the same neck as my '61 RI, which is great.  A couple of the toys:

2011 '61 RI & 1998 Tele Deluxe Nashville
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Steve M Smith on June 26, 2014, 03:18:11 PM
actually, the EL84's really compliment the Bandmaster 6V6.

I know this is supposed to be a guitar thread but I can't let the mention of EL84s pass without showing a picture of my usual gigging amplifier. A WEM (Watkins Electric Music) Dominator Mk I Bass.  17 watts - designated Bass as it had a 15" speaker although I don't think many people actually played bass through them.
It was a gift from a friend.  The 15" speaker was ruined so I made an adaptor plate to fit it with a similar vintage 12" speaker without having to modify the amp.

(https://scontent-a-ams.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/t1.0-9/386360_10150397994222011_156294223_n.jpg)

Right... I'm just off to photograph my Gretsch now!


Steve.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Deryl Voutila on June 26, 2014, 03:25:17 PM
And because Bob is a Gibson ES fan...

'67 ES175
'52 ES125
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Ned Ward on June 26, 2014, 03:51:35 PM
stunning!
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Steve M Smith on June 26, 2014, 03:58:39 PM
As promised...

This is my Gretsch 6120 in Amber Maple finish.

I wanted a Gretsch for many years.  When I joined a rockabilly band about eight years ago, I realised that if I didn't buy one then, I would never buy one.

I didn't want the cliché orange finish as I wanted something which wouldn't look out of place when I used it for jazz and blues.  Whilst looking at black and two tone green finishes, this one caught my eye.  I loved the combination of the maple finish and the gold plated hardware... oh yes, it sounds nice too!

(http://stevesmithphoto.webs.com/DSCN0968.JPG)


Steve.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 26, 2014, 04:42:48 PM
Very nice Gretch, very, very nice. In my day they used to call that a neoclassical fingerboard and I've never played a Gretch that I didn't like. Send it to me. NOW.

I had a beautiful 94' Gibson ES-335 that I ordered from the custom shop. Flame maple, natural finish, Bigsby, custom made plaque covering stop tail piece holes, just stunning. It was stolen.

Look at Daryl up there showing off the SG and the Tele' but being sure to sneak in the pictures of a pair of Deluxe Reverbs. And then the pictures of the ES-175 and 125. You suck.

And Ned, you're about ready to burst. You need to buy a used Deluxe, send it to me and be done with all this Deluxe gas.
 
Nice Dominator Steve.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Jerome Casinger on June 26, 2014, 06:00:05 PM
Gretsch druel.....  Fred Gretsch was at sweetwater sound some years ago when I got back from Iraq.  My dad told him a DuoJet is all I have ever wanted....well he didn't give me a guitar but he gave me the pin off of his jacket.  Everytime I see a Gretsch I have to stare
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Tim Tyler on June 26, 2014, 07:31:26 PM
So Bob is an ES fan?  1950 ES-5.  If yo' blues is jumpin', this is the box yo' thumpin'...

We expect to see a pic of your new sideways whammy asap!

-Tim T
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 26, 2014, 11:29:48 PM
I have to take a shower now.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 26, 2014, 11:42:23 PM
Here's a trio for you. "Blondie", my natural colored ES was stolen 5 years ago. 'Big red" is missing from the picture, and the 355 Lucille is on the left in back.
 
 
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Tim Tyler on June 27, 2014, 12:27:52 AM
Wow, I've never seen a red 335 with such nice figure, and "Blondie" is simply killer.  What a loss.  It reminds me of a "Morris" (Japan - they make nice acoustics) 335 I picked up at a music store for $175 in the late '90s - really nice striped single piece top & back, no center block under the pickups, a zero fret,  bigsby.  Nice jazz sound, but a lot of howl & moan when it gets loud.  Kind of a pale comparison to what you had...

How 'bout a 335 with p90s... I'll post a pic...



Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bob Leonard on June 27, 2014, 01:41:27 AM
That's a nice looking guitar with even a few more endowments than a 335. Bound "F" holes, multiple layer binding, Bigsby, bound headstock, and parallelograms. Nice.

I holding off with a picture of "Beano" because I don't want to make everyone feel bad.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Ned Ward on June 27, 2014, 11:45:11 PM
This was my first Electric guitar - an Electra MPC Les Paul Copy. These were unique in that they had plug-in effect modules in the back of the guitar (hence the toggle switches). I had the Power Overdrive, Phase Shifter and the Flanger - what more could I need?


I hogged out the middle in a high school woodshop in an attempt to add a Gibson hum bucker and a switch; the guitar hasn't been the same since, but as my first guitar, I have pangs of selling it.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Steve M Smith on June 28, 2014, 04:19:38 AM
I even admire the acoustic on the other side of the pond.

I will take that as a compliment..... I think!!


Steve.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Al Keltz on July 01, 2014, 10:44:20 AM
Is this allowed?  :)
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Ned Ward on July 01, 2014, 12:30:11 PM
It's not a banjo, so yes.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Steve M Smith on July 01, 2014, 12:34:56 PM
It's not a banjo, so yes.

Careful... I might post a picture of my banjo!


Steve.
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Al Keltz on July 01, 2014, 02:24:36 PM
Careful... I might post a picture of my banjo!


Steve.

Me too. Wouldn't that be the ultimate thread hijack!
Title: Re: Guitstar wars
Post by: Bob Leonard on July 01, 2014, 02:47:10 PM
I like all instruments are welcome as long as you own it. You can't fire shots with someone else's gun.

That being said, I thought Belushi destroyed that thing in "Animal House"?