I'm building a new guitar. So three things influenced this one. A hybrid tele / Strat body I saw, an interesting neck and particularly an interesting electronics option. Here are the bits as arrived. The body is a telecaster shape, telecaster neck pocket, telecaster control cavity but routed for 3 Strat pickups and a Strat style vibrato bridge. The control cavity makes it different to many hybrid Telecasters a la the John Mayer model which have a more Strat like control cavity. The body was advertised as "mahogany" it's quite red in nature but nice looks to be two piece centre jointed. The neck is mahogany with a maple fingerboard and a maple skunk strip. So a bit reverse look from normal. Electronically I'm going with three Strat pickups from Tonerider, having used there nashville set in the nashville tele conversion I did I was impressed. Five way switch master volume and tone. But I'm putting in a shape shifter switch ...
Wow! That is a right in your face, rude Amber ain't she?
ReplyDeleteI'M LOVING IT!!!
ReplyDeleteThat second piece really reminded me of going to concerts when I was younger! I loved it. I was waiting for some vocals but I guess that's not what this is about, huh? Maybe next time?? *hint, hint*
ReplyDeleteNice!!
ReplyDeleteVery cool. Is there anything that you would like to be improved on it? How does it compare to other similar guitars you've played?
ReplyDeleteGood questions!
DeleteTwo little issues.
1. The bridge pickup is a bit "microphonic" - i.e. picking up handling noise on the guitar - not a major issue and actually not that uncommon on this style due to the mounting of the pickup in the bridge assembly. I might try some rubber pickup mountings to improve that - but I can live with it really.
2. at the upper reaches of the neck there are a few fret issues, a couple of proud ones making it buzz and "choke" a bit. I plan to "fret dress" (i.e. file/level) the frets above the 14th fret once it has settled in.
All in all it plays as well as other guitars like it I've played. Given it cost less than £200 to put together it is as good (fretting issue excluded) as some I've played at say £400 - £500. I mean it clearly isn't going to rival a £1000 - £1500 guitar but is still good.
I quite like the handling noise--there are some jazz guitarists who use that sound deliberately.
ReplyDeleteVery fasinating to hear you actually playing her!
As you say some people like that. To be honest it certainly makes her "lively" ;-)
Delete"lively" is a good way to describe the sound - although through the speakers in my laptop, i'm sure i'm not getting full fidelity! Love the distorted part. Suspect that's her sweet spot!
ReplyDelete