My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

Phantasmagoria

Phantasmagoria

watch where you point that sabre
AXL AL-820-MS Badwater 1216 (matte sunburst)


A while ago there was this thread with a link to an ebay listing that had an Epi for sale that looked like it survived the holocaust. Everyone hated it..but I kind of thought it had charm

Anyway, fast-forward a week or so and I came across this baby while surfing the bay for another beater to mess around with. It's nowhere near as over-the-top "distressed" as the Epi I mentioned...but it has a similar (apart from the 'flame-thrower annihilation' effect..) sparse, worn, steampunkish/antique look and a ton of charm...

Mahogany body/mahogany (set) neck, 24 3/4" scale & sounds awesome in youtube demo's..




I've never been a huge LP fan. I love their TONE, but I've never been crazy about their look & playability. Much prefer superstrats and pointies. However, this one's different enough for me to be interested... the wider & more sharply angled cutaway for actual decent upper fret access & thinner neck are right up my street. Plus I really like the aesthetics, matte finish & cool antique bronze hardware...

So.. a bid of about $140 later.. & it's mine :D



I got the 'matt sunburst' finish.



13588523.jpg


13588536.jpg
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

You need another acoustic ! or ten...




Neat score for $140. EMG's ?
 
Last edited:
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

GoldenVulture said:
You need another acoustic ! or ten...
Click to expand...

Probably the seller's room. Granted, I had a room that looked like that, but they were all electrics. :D


Neat score for $140. EMG's ?
Click to expand...

EMG Designed pickups, on par with the Selects in most cases. They *might* be okay, but very doubtful. Keep the covers for your next set of pickups. ;)
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

dominus said:
Probably the seller's room. Granted, I had a room that looked like that, but they were all electrics. :D
Click to expand...
And all single pickups.
biggrin.gif
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

Thanks guys :)

Rand-o-monium, I think that hardware is what had me sold on it..really looks awesome!

And dominus is right about it being the seller's room...I actually don't own a single accoustic :p

As for the pickups, yeah..they're 'EMG designed', but seem to be pretty highly regarded by a lot of owners/reviewers. I might end up keeping them. Apparently they're unpotted & sound great though they're prone to squealing at high volumes.
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

Congrats! Ive been lookin at the LP jr type they have with Fralin p90s. look forward to your review of this one! sick price!
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

Thanks man...

Yeah, I came across that LP Jr as well..great features for it's price.

As for the price I paid...I was lucky...either it's really unpopular.. lol, or it just slipped under the radar. I was the only bidder (last minute bid).

It's a lot of guitar for $140 :)
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

I am familiar with AXL guitars, my favorite shop carries them.

China through-and-through but the quality is very decent. Honest, honest instruments for the price.

I do believe you got yours for a pretty good price which will allow you, should you want to, to upgrade pickups and still be ahead financially.
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

Thanks TLD & Keeper :)

Yeah, It seems like a great guitar for it's price. Not even sure if I'll upgrade the pickups, though I'm sure I'll end up getting around to it sooner or later.. :lmao:
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

Thanks!... though I can't take credit for the playing lol. That was just a random youtube demo..


Bump for an update..

It finally came in yesterday...

AXL_ChairPic.jpg

Looks awesome and is finished extremely well too...

Frankly, for a $140 buy, I was expecting to have to do at least some work on it, swap out pups/electronics etc..the usual stuff ...but it plays like a dream right out of the box :eyecrazy:

Perfectly set-up ..nice low action, no string buzz at all, pickup height's spot-on, great fret job/binding, truss adjustment's perfect etc. Sounds really fat & sweet, really sings for solo's & it's meaty/chunky as hell with high gain (.. I've actually never come across better sounding stock pup's..these things are awesome!) ...sustains for hours, keeps in tune just fine, killer upper fret access...frankly I'm bowled over by it. I'll get some clips up in a while.. :14:
 
Last edited:
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

Yeah, me too. Even the pick-guard is solid metal (the same 'antique bronze' stuff ..but it's brushed). Pretty cool for a guitar at this price point...
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

is the matte finish as plasticy as it looks in pictures? I'm assuming in person its more like a nitro finish without gloss? Either way looks neat
 
Re: My first LP-style axe.. (sort of..)

No, nothing plasticy about the finish...that's probably just the flash or something making it look smoother/shinier. It's a nice worn/uncoated sort of look.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Z
What do you think of this trade of a 62 LP/SG with a 77 Les Paul pro?
Replies
15
Views
666
zionstrat
Z
waltschwarzkopf
Help with used Gibson Les Paul 2012 Satin Fireburst (my first Gibson purchase)
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
waltschwarzkopf
waltschwarzkopf
G
Trying to decide on my first set of Duncans
2
Replies
25
Views
2K
GOB
G
dani
i think i've found my first lp...
Replies
11
Views
2K
Empty Pockets
Empty Pockets
Jazz Rock
I made a twang machine out of my LP
Replies
3
Views
791
FretFire
FretFire
Back
Top