New Greg Howe model/shape by Kiesel

Damn, some of these look extra fine. Love the shape, it's a "Kiesel-refreshed" strat type, but it's not as extreme as some other Kiesels.
Starting at $1500, Greg Howe spec'd one $2600.

Of the ones presented here:
- the GH double-woody tortoise HSS with a WholeLottaBucker in the bridge and Vega-trem,
OR
- the flat pink double phat hardtail with white pearl. Oof.
For me, it would be tough to choose between those two.

It's interesting how differently I percieve the shape in flat white, or the ugly bound one behind Jeffs melon. As good as they are, they both just look tacky and cheper built to me. I'm positive that's not the case, but, perception.
Needless to say, they probably all play and sound awesome.

I'm currently reheading a headless cheapo, just wasn't for me, but I would not mind getting a go on those McRocklin sig MCR6X headless's.
Still it is a +$2k guitar.

BTW the Builder beta on Kiesels site is fun times. Like Warmoth but Kiesel options only. :)
 
Yeah, lost of fun.

Clicky-clacky, some walnut, some flame, a bit of burst and gold hardware and BAM! - $1500 becomes $3200. That's how they get ya! :D

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And the list of sins:
20220826_040758.jpg

One day, Jeff. One day...
 
I can't handle that stupid looking beveled edge with the figured top but otherwise looks like a cool guitar. Kiesel has a few killer Artist models but for the most part is loosing me with all these weird shapes and stuff. They have now dropped most of the guitar lines that I have played since the late 80's. I am almost exclusive Carvin Kiesel now for my stage guitars. Mine are mostly solid color basic Superstrats and not the exotic wood case queen showpieces. They are still a great bang for the $ if you build a basic guitar and don't go nuts on the options though. These 2 DC's are my most played guitars. Top is a 25 scale 16 DC 600 bottom a Rounded body 17 DC 135. Both models have now been discontinued as these are. The bottom guitar here is sheer perfection in fit finish workmanship and materials. It may not be a fancy exotic wood showpiece but its the most perfect guitar in build quality I have ever seen and sounds /plays as good as it looks. Has a pair of the Marks Singles and a Beryllium in the bridge and sounds absolutely amazing! Was just under $1800 in 17 the way it's optioned and worth every cent!
 

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Ascension said:
I can't handle that stupid looking beveled edge with the figured top but otherwise looks like a cool guitar
Click to expand...

:D
Yeah, I spent 45 mins in the Builder to try to make a finish combo that I have zero objections with. I've tried all the body and top wood and finish options, and yeah. Really a hit or miss, or miss. I like fancy woods in good measure, but it's hard to find one here.

Ascension said:
The bottom guitar here is sheer perfection in fit finish workmanship and materials. It may not be a fancy exotic wood showpiece but its the most perfect guitar in build quality I have ever seen and sounds /plays as good as it looks
Click to expand...

That bottom thing looks sick. Reminds me of an Ibanez JS with the fully rounded edges and that screamin' red finish. "Plain finish" but still looks top notch. Not cheap though, so I trust every option was a useful one, not eye-candy.
 
Ascension said:
PS Kiesel has the scariest player endorsers of any company out there. Hanging around on the Kiesel forums is intimidating as hell!
Just a sample
Click to expand...

They're pure monster players, all of em, nuff said. But there should be a limit to the amount of sweeps and tap runs.
They all got a 30 second slot, and everyone of them played around 3700 notes sweeped/tapped.
Half of them would respond with a look of bewilderment at the sight of a guitar pick lol :)

It would personally be a chore to listen through the whole 11+ mins, but then again so would practicing as needed to be as good as any of them technically. So jokes on me, ha! :D
 
Ascension said:
PS Kiesel has the scariest player endorsers of any company out there. Hanging around on the Kiesel forums is intimidating as hell!
Just a sample
Click to expand...

Holy smokes. That Borja blew my mind - love the dissonant notes together. Wow. I should really practice sometime
 
Ascension said:
PS Kiesel has the scariest player endorsers of any company out there. Hanging around on the Kiesel forums is intimidating as hell!
Just a sample
Click to expand...

That was shredderific. What is the deal with that cloth-looking capo many of them were using? Is that something that comes with Keisel guitars as some recommended way to capo up? Or what is that? Or is it a mute for open strings while soloing?
 
I don't get it. They tend to just mix up a few basic ideas and release slight variations of them as different models. And some of the color combinations of their models look gaudy to me. And yes, when you start adding options, $1200 goes to $3500 quickly. Lots of competition at that price.
 
beaubrummels said:
What is the deal with that cloth-looking capo many of them were using? ...
Or is it a mute for open strings while soloing?
Click to expand...

Fret-wraps.
...
Yes. And even when you're not soloing it can be used as a kinda of a pre-nut string-buzz mute thingy. You could even use as a sort of fluffy string retainer cuz it has some serious power on that velcro.
But yes, primarily to mute open strings while soloing/tapping your gnads off with gain at 11.
 
Mincer said:
I don't get it. They tend to just mix up a few basic ideas and release slight variations of them as different models. And some of the color combinations of their models look gaudy to me. And yes, when you start adding options, $1200 goes to $3500 quickly. Lots of competition at that price.
Click to expand...

This would be an interesting discussion to intertwine with the PRS one,
Lots of similarities, however different the product. It boils down to:

Hurgh, huh, I give curly wood and burst, you give $3k, ooga booga, ghurgh.
 
I got used to the bevel. You can put it to good use with the "clear sides and rear" option.

But the new model just doesn't click with me. It is another way of first paying $400 for a nice top and then cover half of it up with a pickguard.
 
uOpt said:
I got used to the bevel. You can put it to good use with the "clear sides and rear" option.

But the new model just doesn't click with me. It is another way of first paying $400 for a nice top and then cover half of it up with a pickguard.
Click to expand...

That pissed me off the most. I get it. That's the model. But, the pickguard (which you have to select) options are pathetic compared to other options. I mean, 4?
Atleast 40 possible combinations of body and top wood, then a ton of finish/3 piece, double binding, somewhere around 11 options for the Kiesel logo and about 14 inlay shapes combined with 11 inlay materials.

I have to get a pickguard, but I can't have a transparent pickguard? A single ply black? A matching or constrasting exotic wood option pickguard? But hey, ebony truss rod cover and neon green bobbins...

Also hardware options don't seem to offer nickel. I'm sure if you sent an e-mail or requested in nickel, you get it and whatever imaginable pickguard but you'd pay for it extra plus a surcharge fee, plus a fee fee, and the fee fee processing fee, ofcourse...
 
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Mincer said:
I don't get it. They tend to just mix up a few basic ideas and release slight variations of them as different models. And some of the color combinations of their models look gaudy to me. And yes, when you start adding options, $1200 goes to $3500 quickly. Lots of competition at that price.
Click to expand...

I'm so cheap in taste. My dream guitar at the moment totals $2289, and that is with all the up-charges of neck-thru, an OFR, black hardware/logo, thinner neck, pointed-inline headstock, walnut neck, walnut body, and see-thru paint. DC600 with no bevels (they still have the general forearm bevels and back bevels, but none of the edge bevels like seen on the typical stock Aries)

Not having them topped saves so much money.
 
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