My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

mst

New member
Hello guys!

Thanks to the precious tips you always give me...my new baby is born!!
Specs are:

made by Manne guitars in italy ( www.manne.com/en in their tele like model the redwing!)
Guitar was in quite bad condition when i got it.... scars all over, a pair of mediocre pickups, dirty and a setup was in need! I eneded up re-doing it pretty much all!

Korina 1 PC body
Maple/ Yew neck ( laminate and extremely stable!)
Epoxy fingerboard ( amazing consistency and durability, great sound!
Set neck

gotoh GE 1996 tremolo and manne tuners

custom pickguard from battipenna.it in mirror finish!!

Electronics wired by me, with the great help of the forum:
- 500K LOG cts pot, treble bleed mod ( 0,002 cap + 100K resistor)-Neck: SD stag mag HB; Bridge : SD P Rails SHPR-2b Hot version
- superswitch with 5 combinations:Bridge / Bridge Single coil/ inside coils series/ Neck parallel/ neck series)
- Kill switch

Allen wrench holder

Dimarzio cliplock!


ALL BLACK! it looks great to me!

Here some pics! Not "guitar porn" level :feedback: but I am working on it!

DSC_1257.jpgDSC_1258.jpgDSC_1259.jpgDSC_1260.jpgDSC_1261.jpgDSC_1263.jpgDSC_1264.jpgDSC_1266.jpg
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

**** yeah that;s rare. I have had my eye on their TAOS shape for sometime now after spotting a guy playing one in a video clip.

Not so sure on the chrome guard but i bet i would grow to love it. Overall i think it looks good.
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

**** yeah that;s rare. I have had my eye on their TAOS shape for sometime now after spotting a guy playing one in a video clip.

Not so sure on the chrome guard but i bet i would grow to love it. Overall i think it looks good.

I have 2 nighthawk ( their superstrat thing) and one Redwing and I must say: incredible instruments! the feeling of solidity is for sure the best i have ever had in a musical instrument! they are built, can send you a couple of pictures if interested in manne gear! then if u want to purchase one, taos are ( like it happens in Italy and maybe not only there..) quite cheap on the second hand market! take a look at mesrcatinomusciale.it ( eng ver avaiable) and try to search!
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

I have 2 nighthawk ( their superstrat thing) and one Redwing and I must say: incredible instruments! the feeling of solidity is for sure the best i have ever had in a musical instrument! they are built, can send you a couple of pictures if interested in manne gear! then if u want to purchase one, taos are ( like it happens in Italy and maybe not only there..) quite cheap on the second hand market! take a look at mesrcatinomusciale.it ( eng ver avaiable) and try to search!

Yeah i will just make my own version of the shape if i ever decide to but thanks.
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

That is quite cool!! congrats!! Love the mirrors personally, the set neck and the details such as noise reducers on trem springs!
plus, having owned a Washburn WM526, Im sure the finger board is like glass when bending!!
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

That is quite cool!! congrats!! Love the mirrors personally, the set neck and the details such as noise reducers on trem springs!
plus, having owned a Washburn WM526, Im sure the finger board is like glass when bending!!

yeah! I actually never thought it would have!
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

Hi,
I have never seen an epoxy neck before. Pros? Cons? Better than ebony or other hard woods?
I would love to know why epoxy necks are favored sometimes.
Thank you in advance, really,
Steve Buffington
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

Hi,
I have never seen an epoxy neck before. Pros? Cons? Better than ebony or other hard woods?
I would love to know why epoxy necks are favored sometimes.
Thank you in advance, really,
Steve Buffington

Hey Steve!
No problem at all, let me start by saying that I am totally innovative guy and I really give zero ***** about the classic feelings that Ebony is great and bla bla bla and maple is brighter and bla bla ok? for me the best tone and possibiliets always win!

That said
Pros of an EPOXY Fingerboard / In this case combined with laminated Neck

- STABILITY: I mean is rock solid, unbelievably reliable. Forget about those stage lights changing the neck curve. It does not happen at all. Set and forget the truss rod once and for all! until u change gauge of course.
- FEELING: rock solid.. I know u would think that is because of the stability, but believe me is another thing. Another world. U really feel a solid , resonand and vibrant piece into your hand. Every note rings like a dream.
- MAINTENANCE: close to zero. To clean u can go pretty rough if u have crusted sweat on it, and every product works. It does not smell, It does not absorb. Is just great.
- TONE: u wouldnt believe but IMHO is a great balance of the Maple attack with the resonant stability of ebony. Plus, is possible to choose the materials for the la minate neck so u can go tone chasing there if is so important.

The Cons!
- FRET changing: it must be done with technique, u really need a good luthier ( u ALWAYS need one!!). But I am just saying it is possible to find the average guy that says: no i cant ! ( dont they say that with gibson binding too? ahaha)
- TRUE TEMPERAMENT INstallation diffuiculty. It can be done, but is harder and more expensive.
- NOT pretty like figured woods: of course. BUt i am still waiting for the guy that invents epoxies that can be multi colored mixed ;-)
- Weight: it is heavier overall compared to lets say a mahogany neck!


I believe the concept of wood hardness in fretboards was mainly connected to the erosion factor from extended playing, more than tone reasons. My luthier agrees with me BTW and i personally designed and had built my own acoustic guitar with quilted maple fretboard that plays with a dream voice. And no ebony! ahahah


Hope that helps!
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

Stag Mag / P-Rails Floyded Tele - THAT is unique.
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

I totally dig the unique vibe. You don't need no stinkin' rules, and I admire that.
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

mst -
That was a really refreshing and honest answer about the whole thing. I think you attitude towards cork sniffing wood snobs is also refreshing. I must admit, I am sometimes a cork sniffer also. I used to care about ebony necks and mahogany bodies with a hard maple cap as being one of only 2 set ups that could sound good and sustain. The other being a rosewood neck.
But know, having to go extremely light (health issues) I find I love a chambered Strat, basswood and now I like the look of a maple neck with a small Strat headstock I like to finish myself, on a Tele as well as the Strat.
I broke all my rules out of necessity and with a tweak here or there it sounds fantastic. My Tele is really light basswood and not even chambered, with all the gear on it comes to 5.8 pounds.
Thank you for answering my questions, I hope you don't need a re-fret on that guitar ever!
And that you do have a good luthier if needed.
Steve Buffington
 
Re: My new axe is finished , thanks to you!!

mst -
That was a really refreshing and honest answer about the whole thing. I think you attitude towards cork sniffing wood snobs is also refreshing. I must admit, I am sometimes a cork sniffer also. I used to care about ebony necks and mahogany bodies with a hard maple cap as being one of only 2 set ups that could sound good and sustain. The other being a rosewood neck.
But know, having to go extremely light (health issues) I find I love a chambered Strat, basswood and now I like the look of a maple neck with a small Strat headstock I like to finish myself, on a Tele as well as the Strat.
I broke all my rules out of necessity and with a tweak here or there it sounds fantastic. My Tele is really light basswood and not even chambered, with all the gear on it comes to 5.8 pounds.
Thank you for answering my questions, I hope you don't need a re-fret on that guitar ever!
And that you do have a good luthier if needed.
Steve Buffington


Thank you Steve!
ahah refrets are very rare on my carreer I have to say....
on the other hand , I am a fan of alittle bit more meat in instruments, even if I perfectly agree with the fact that tone and stustain dont go with the weight !
 
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