Re: NGD (G&L)
so i went back and spent some more time with the guitar. I do like this guitar quite a bit but I am just not in love with the seth lover I guess I just prefer the fender widerange bucker. The seth sounds much more thick with a little bit of a honky tone. I wouldn't say I don't like this pickup I just prefer fender vintage to gibson vintage. The seth was modeled after the original 59 hums which i bet most of you already know, but he did also create the wide range buckers for fender in the 70's and if anyone has ever played the wrhb they are worlds apart.
Right now my option is to either mod the guitar with a wrhb or possibly trade it for a legacy and just get a 72 deluxe. I would possibly just keep the guitar but I don't see myself using it live with out modding it. Unfortunately I dont have the money to just keep guitars around for fun all of my current gear serves a purpose.
Personally, I love the Seth--I have them in a couple of my Les Pauls; and I know the G&L MFDs and the Seth in the Bluesboy is a really popular combo for most of the G&L fans. I might suggest lowering the pickup, quite a bit actually, and then raising the polepieces. This should get you a cleaner tone. I think this is a guitar that you are going to want to get into the habit of using the tone control.
Like I said, drop on it over at the G&L forum, and I'm sure you can get some tips from the other guys.
As to Comanches, check out my post "Comanche For Dummies" over there in the Tech area of the G&LDP. The Z-coils are a great pickup, but they really don't sound like anything else. They are humbucking, but they have the clarity of a single coil. They have high output, like all MFD pickups, and they demand that you have very high-quality tubes in your amps, especially in the V1 preamp socket. I like the PTB tone controls in the Comanche, opposed to the single tone control of the ASAT Z-3, but YMMV. The Comanche won't sound like a vintage strat, or a Les Paul--but you will have a very versatile guitar that can handle any kind of music. It's a great guitar for creating YOUR signature tone. I set my Mesa amps up really dark, and the Comanche still has enough to cut through the mix--and it sounds FAT and HEAVY in the process. With the distorted LEAD CHANNEL of my Mark IV, it sings like Santana's PRS--but without all the flubbiness.
And the DF Vibrato is the best. I don't have the patience for FR and Kahler systems. My guitars stay in tune, even when I using the bar a lot. The DFV is Leo's improved version of the old Fender Synchronized Tremelo, and it's no contest.
The Comanche has a lot to offer, and the quality is top-notch.
Bill
