stevie_bees
Cat In The Hatministrator
It's getting close to my final day in the RAF, and I still trying out different guitars to find something to commemorate my almost 23 service. Previously I tried a PRS S2 Mira, and ESP Eclipse II and a Gibson SG Standard. I enjoyed the PRS out of those 3, it just had a sparkle and playability that the other 2 didn't have.
Today I went to Denmark Street in London to try whatever was out there. Denmark Street is usually expensive, so this was only going to be a fact-finding mission rather than a purchase trip.
I have some ideas as to what I want, but I want to try things in case there's something I'm missing.
First I tried a US Hamer Studio (I think). Double cut, 2 volumes, one tone, mahogany body/maple top, mahogany neck/rosewood board. A cool guitar, with the sorts of sounds you would expect. It played very well, but just didn't jump out for me.
I then tried a MIJ '83 Yamaha SG1300T that was in superb condition for the year (would've looked good in the Ultimate Axe Vintage section!). All mahogany neck through I think, 1 vol/1 tone, original pickups, trem and locknut. Excellent player, but I felt that the neck was a little too wide for me...I think I'd probably get used to it in time, but again it didn't jump out.
I then tried a US Peavey Wolfgang that was in need of a bit of TLC. The switch certainly needed a clean and the jack socket needed sorting. I was mainly interested in trying one out to see how the neck felt. I was surprised by just how narrow it was, and by the small frets, but it was extremely comfortable to handle...would've been even better had it been cleaned up a little! They didn't have the whammy bar, so couldn't give that a good workout, but it was enjoyable to play. Did it jump out? Sorta...cleaned and set up would have probably made a big difference, but a gorgeous guitar nonetheless.
I was then passed a Fender Tele-sonic. US Tele, with DeArmond pickups and I think a mahogany body. The feel was very familiar to me as I have spent most of my time playing Fender-type guitars, with an intriguing Tele snap and twang from the pickups couple with a bit of mahogany girth. Good fun to play, but not sure if it was 'me'...
Later on I tried a new PRS Custom 22. I have to say that PRS guitars are beginning to get under my skin. The playability if this Cu22 was fantastic, and the 5-way offered up some great tones, especially the 'single-coil' sounds. I played it through a limited edition Vox AC30 and didn't really want to hand it back, then the shop assistant played it for a little while and he looked like he didn't want to go and work for the remainder of the day!
Unfortunately, and brand new Cu22 is beyond my budget, but I may well find a deal somewhere.
I went around the corner to a shop just off Denmark Streeet and found an immaculate Fender US Buddy Guy Strat. 2-tone burst, Lace Sensors, TBX, mid-boost (very similar to the Clapton Strat). I played it through a new Marshall DSL15 and all the classic Strat tones were there, especially the 'quack' tones which surprised me as I owned a '97 Strat Plus and couldn't conjure those tones out of it. Throw in the mid-boost and you have a seriously versatile guitar...One I might just keep my eye out for...
Finally, I finished off by playing one of the new Brian May Red Specials. Great fun to play, and those classic Queen tones are everywhere! I will own one of these at some point, but I don't know if it'll be just yet. I want something that offers a little 'more' without being able to specify exactly what that is!
All in all, a fun way to spend the afternoon!
Today I went to Denmark Street in London to try whatever was out there. Denmark Street is usually expensive, so this was only going to be a fact-finding mission rather than a purchase trip.
I have some ideas as to what I want, but I want to try things in case there's something I'm missing.
First I tried a US Hamer Studio (I think). Double cut, 2 volumes, one tone, mahogany body/maple top, mahogany neck/rosewood board. A cool guitar, with the sorts of sounds you would expect. It played very well, but just didn't jump out for me.
I then tried a MIJ '83 Yamaha SG1300T that was in superb condition for the year (would've looked good in the Ultimate Axe Vintage section!). All mahogany neck through I think, 1 vol/1 tone, original pickups, trem and locknut. Excellent player, but I felt that the neck was a little too wide for me...I think I'd probably get used to it in time, but again it didn't jump out.
I then tried a US Peavey Wolfgang that was in need of a bit of TLC. The switch certainly needed a clean and the jack socket needed sorting. I was mainly interested in trying one out to see how the neck felt. I was surprised by just how narrow it was, and by the small frets, but it was extremely comfortable to handle...would've been even better had it been cleaned up a little! They didn't have the whammy bar, so couldn't give that a good workout, but it was enjoyable to play. Did it jump out? Sorta...cleaned and set up would have probably made a big difference, but a gorgeous guitar nonetheless.
I was then passed a Fender Tele-sonic. US Tele, with DeArmond pickups and I think a mahogany body. The feel was very familiar to me as I have spent most of my time playing Fender-type guitars, with an intriguing Tele snap and twang from the pickups couple with a bit of mahogany girth. Good fun to play, but not sure if it was 'me'...
Later on I tried a new PRS Custom 22. I have to say that PRS guitars are beginning to get under my skin. The playability if this Cu22 was fantastic, and the 5-way offered up some great tones, especially the 'single-coil' sounds. I played it through a limited edition Vox AC30 and didn't really want to hand it back, then the shop assistant played it for a little while and he looked like he didn't want to go and work for the remainder of the day!
Unfortunately, and brand new Cu22 is beyond my budget, but I may well find a deal somewhere.I went around the corner to a shop just off Denmark Streeet and found an immaculate Fender US Buddy Guy Strat. 2-tone burst, Lace Sensors, TBX, mid-boost (very similar to the Clapton Strat). I played it through a new Marshall DSL15 and all the classic Strat tones were there, especially the 'quack' tones which surprised me as I owned a '97 Strat Plus and couldn't conjure those tones out of it. Throw in the mid-boost and you have a seriously versatile guitar...One I might just keep my eye out for...
Finally, I finished off by playing one of the new Brian May Red Specials. Great fun to play, and those classic Queen tones are everywhere! I will own one of these at some point, but I don't know if it'll be just yet. I want something that offers a little 'more' without being able to specify exactly what that is!
All in all, a fun way to spend the afternoon!
