JeffB
Let it B
Not that you prolly care but here goes anyway :approve:
1st off, sorry no pic yets of my own. But my camera cannot do the guitar justice anyways so see this linky if you'd like pics http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/koizguitar/FernandesEX
Well, EMS and the USPS are of course trying to blame each other. Though I'm gonna keep trying, I can already see most likely I'm gonna get hosed on my claim.:banghead:
I took it by my local shop the other night and talked to the repair guy there. I've never seen any of his breakage/repair work, but he seems pretty competent otherwise and from some people I know who have had him do some work. I have another World Class luthier near me, and I suspect I'd take the guitar to him if need be, but he's extremely high $, so I passed on him for now.
Basically the fellow I took it to said what I had suspected. The crack is not really big enough right now to get in there w/ a syringe/glue to do much good. For him to do a really sturdy/proper job, the crack/break needs to be bigger or even do a complete break on purpose and "start from scratch". His advice after looking it over was play the guitar until it breaks or the crack gets big enough to really do something with. It sounds good, and is holding tune (though the tuners are a bit old and I get some slippage here and there). It could stay playable for quite some time. Fine by me. Fix it now half-@$$ed or do it later "right". I chose later.
So I took it home, strung it up with some Gibbo Brite Wire 10s (which scared me a bit as it came strung with 9s..so more tension). I figured it would hold well enough, or it would break/crack more and thats what I need anyway.
Been holding well now, and the string change made a DRASTIC difference in tone. That low mid chunk Explorers normally have that I felt it lacked is now out in full force....stupid 9s :chairshot . Total EVH destroyer type tone. Or 70's Schenker. Lifeson's Working Man. Even can cop a great Nugent Stranglehold.
Neck pup is how I imagine a A4 59 neck would sound. Full, with no frequency overemphasized. i.e. NO Boom and not too bright. With enough gain it'll do a decent Gary Moore or John Sykes tone with great sustain. Lower the gain, and it can hang on Crossroads or Sweet Leaf or cluck like mad in the middle for Albert King. REALLY NICE neck pup. Great cleans or distorted sounds.
Unfortunately I dont have any way to record clips right now, otherwise I would. The only downside is the bridge pup will squeal a bit on the Soldano or TSL models.Sustain is the best out of any pointy I can remember barring my USA HAMER Standard. Not as good as a good Les Paul, but better than many. Barney is good, and this guitar is a notch better.
The neck is a big 59 style just like you'd get on a Tokai Love Rock or Edwards Les Paul. Big, round, and pretty uniform in thickness from headstock to neck joint. Frets are the same as well..a lower height but wide type fret (not too low however). By far, bends on this guitar are the easiest I've experienced that i can recall. With 9s it was just insane and 10s aren't much more difficult (stop tail is floored too).
And I still have not weighed it, but Barney is a little over 8 pounds, and this Explorer is noticably lighter. AT LEAST a pound ligher. Again, it feels more like a SG (and yessiree, it's all mahogany).
I just cannot believe how insanely good these old MIJ axes are....yeesh.
1st off, sorry no pic yets of my own. But my camera cannot do the guitar justice anyways so see this linky if you'd like pics http://picasaweb.google.co.jp/koizguitar/FernandesEX
Well, EMS and the USPS are of course trying to blame each other. Though I'm gonna keep trying, I can already see most likely I'm gonna get hosed on my claim.:banghead:
I took it by my local shop the other night and talked to the repair guy there. I've never seen any of his breakage/repair work, but he seems pretty competent otherwise and from some people I know who have had him do some work. I have another World Class luthier near me, and I suspect I'd take the guitar to him if need be, but he's extremely high $, so I passed on him for now.
Basically the fellow I took it to said what I had suspected. The crack is not really big enough right now to get in there w/ a syringe/glue to do much good. For him to do a really sturdy/proper job, the crack/break needs to be bigger or even do a complete break on purpose and "start from scratch". His advice after looking it over was play the guitar until it breaks or the crack gets big enough to really do something with. It sounds good, and is holding tune (though the tuners are a bit old and I get some slippage here and there). It could stay playable for quite some time. Fine by me. Fix it now half-@$$ed or do it later "right". I chose later.
So I took it home, strung it up with some Gibbo Brite Wire 10s (which scared me a bit as it came strung with 9s..so more tension). I figured it would hold well enough, or it would break/crack more and thats what I need anyway.
Been holding well now, and the string change made a DRASTIC difference in tone. That low mid chunk Explorers normally have that I felt it lacked is now out in full force....stupid 9s :chairshot . Total EVH destroyer type tone. Or 70's Schenker. Lifeson's Working Man. Even can cop a great Nugent Stranglehold.
Neck pup is how I imagine a A4 59 neck would sound. Full, with no frequency overemphasized. i.e. NO Boom and not too bright. With enough gain it'll do a decent Gary Moore or John Sykes tone with great sustain. Lower the gain, and it can hang on Crossroads or Sweet Leaf or cluck like mad in the middle for Albert King. REALLY NICE neck pup. Great cleans or distorted sounds.
Unfortunately I dont have any way to record clips right now, otherwise I would. The only downside is the bridge pup will squeal a bit on the Soldano or TSL models.Sustain is the best out of any pointy I can remember barring my USA HAMER Standard. Not as good as a good Les Paul, but better than many. Barney is good, and this guitar is a notch better.
The neck is a big 59 style just like you'd get on a Tokai Love Rock or Edwards Les Paul. Big, round, and pretty uniform in thickness from headstock to neck joint. Frets are the same as well..a lower height but wide type fret (not too low however). By far, bends on this guitar are the easiest I've experienced that i can recall. With 9s it was just insane and 10s aren't much more difficult (stop tail is floored too).
And I still have not weighed it, but Barney is a little over 8 pounds, and this Explorer is noticably lighter. AT LEAST a pound ligher. Again, it feels more like a SG (and yessiree, it's all mahogany).
I just cannot believe how insanely good these old MIJ axes are....yeesh.
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Since I'm only a at home player these days, I don't have to worry much about it breaking "at the wrong time" 
