Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

Butch Snyder

ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Howdy all,

I would consider it a great honor and favor if you would help me in figuring out just exactly what guitar should be my next purchase. I have always been a one-guitar-does-all type of player. The most guitars I have ever owned simultaneously are three. I owned a Les Paul Deluxe, a Music Man Albert Lee Model, and a Fender Nashville B-Bender Telecaster. All are gone now…. I have made a very bad habit of impulsively trading guitars. Now, I am paying the consequences of those horrid decisions. I won’t go into that because it’s too sad and maddening.

Right now, I own a Samick Avion 3. It’s one of the Greg Bennett-designed guitars in their line. It’s not a bad guitar however. It’s basically a Les Paul with an upper bout like a Telecaster. Its pickguard is like an ES-335’s but smaller. The pickups are crap. They can be changed though.

I guess I have always liked to have that one special guitar that folks identified me with. When playing Country, of course, I used a Tele; (MIM) Nashville Tele, Nashville B-Bender Tele, (MIM) 50’s Tele, 52 Reissue. But the Albert Lee was absolutely killer. Since I’m not playing Country anymore, I feel that maybe I need a new identity. The music I’m playing more has a very eclectic flavor to it. It’s Pop, Rock, Fusion, Blues, and Funk. A lot of it are original compositions by my lead vocalist. I want to have a “go to” guitar that can fit the bill in virtually any musical situation. My Teles, even when not playing Country, really were workhorses and I felt good taking them into any situation.

Here are some choices I have been thinking about and a little “why or why not” about them:

1.Keep my Samick –
a.Pro - Decent guitar with individuality.
b.Con - Bad pickups.
2.Les Paul –
a.Pro – Great look and feel.
b.Con – Not as versatile as I may need.
3.Strat –
a.Pro – Very versatile especially if H/S/S config
b.Con – I really don’t like Strats…
4.Tele –
a.Pro – Just a cool guitar and can be hot rodded to suit.
b.Con – I can’t think of any… (I’m biased though)
5.Schecter C-1 E/A –
a.Pro – Very cool design
b.Con – Maybe limiting like Les Paul
6.Albert Lee Model –
a.Pro – Very cool design. Feels great.
b.Con – Might have to install a humbucker to be truly versatile.
7.PRS Swamp Ash Special –
a.Pro – Seems to be able to do what every guitar does; even a Tele (Johnny Hiland uses one now instead of his own Tele.
b.Con – Pricey…..

Okay, there you have it. I might be spot on and I might be missing the boat here. Please give me some feedback as I go from wanting one guitar one day and another the next. Please feel free to add other guitars to the mix too. I don’t have a budget that will allow me to do that. Also, please feel free to ask questions and draw more info out of me. I really appreciate any and all help.

Cheers,
 
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Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

before i read your pro/con list, i thought "H-S-H Strat w/ splitable N/B is the answer" ... 59n - VR - CC/C5 ... but then i read that you do not like strats :(

so next i thought "any other HSH guitar that is not a strat" :D ... which led me to the PRS SAS .. but then i read that it is too pricey ... ::(

what about new pups in the samick (AIIP / JB) with a P-type 5-way megaswitch?
or try one of the new PRS SE Custom ? after an upgrade to add McCarty wiring and new pups, could cover a lot of ground ?

good luck
t4d
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

tone4days said:
before i read your pro/con list, i thought "H-S-H Strat w/ splitable N/B is the answer" ... 59n - VR - CC/C5 ... but then i read that you do not like strats :(

I could be persuaded... :rolleyes:

tone4days said:
so next i thought "any other HSH guitar that is not a strat" :D ... which led me to the PRS SAS .. but then i read that it is too pricey ... ::(

Maybe pricey, but, if I decided on it, I could save my pennies... :wink:

tone4days said:
what about new pups in the samick (AIIP / JB) with a P-type 5-way megaswitch?
or try one of the new PRS SE Custom with McCarty wiring and new pups as needed?

good luck
t4d

That would be the easiest thing and a viable thought too... I had thought about a 4-conductor 59 and a C5 with the Jimmy Page wiring....
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

Butch, do you prefer vintage looking guitars, or are you happy with modern too?
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

Butch, you know I'm a LP nut. If it's comfortable to you, and it "fits" you, you should be able to get a lot of versatility out of the guitar. One thing that I've been doing for a long time is a treble bleed cap on the neck pickup. When you roll off the volume it gets really clean and sparkley-like. I still haven't found the perfect value cap, but just knowing I have that sound available to me, the quick tone adjustment is nothing.

My Tele has been done with HD pickups in it. Very few things are as advertised- they claim it's like putting a P-90 in a Tele. It is.
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

stevie_bees said:
Butch, do you prefer vintage looking guitars, or are you happy with modern too?
Either...I just want something I can call mine...


stevie_bees said:
What sort of bridge do you prefer?
Doesn't matter...


The Golden Boy said:
Butch, you know I'm a LP nut. If it's comfortable to you, and it "fits" you, you should be able to get a lot of versatility out of the guitar. One thing that I've been doing for a long time is a treble bleed cap on the neck pickup. When you roll off the volume it gets really clean and sparkley-like. I still haven't found the perfect value cap, but just knowing I have that sound available to me, the quick tone adjustment is nothing.

My Tele has been done with HD pickups in it. Very few things are as advertised- they claim it's like putting a P-90 in a Tele. It is.
Nice advice. I have thought about P-90s in my guitar. I have thought about a lot of things lately... That's why I started this thread.
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

I see two things, Butch.

First, why not go for a Tele with a couple hot, yet tappable, pickups? There's a lot of possible pickup combinations there, and it could be a very versatile axe. You could even go with a Nashville Tele and have even more combos on tap.

Second, with the right pickup selection, I think a good LP can do anything you ever need it to do. My LP makes up 10% of my collection, yet gets 80% of the workload. It's a true workhorse that will do nearly anything.

Well, I didn't decide for you, but I atleast narrowed you down to two ;)
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

MikeS said:
I see two things, Butch.

First, why not go for a Tele with a couple hot, yet tappable, pickups? There's a lot of possible pickup combinations there, and it could be a very versatile axe. You could even go with a Nashville Tele and have even more combos on tap.

Second, with the right pickup selection, I think a good LP can do anything you ever need it to do. My LP makes up 10% of my collection, yet gets 80% of the workload. It's a true workhorse that will do nearly anything.

Well, I didn't decide for you, but I atleast narrowed you down to two ;)

Mike, while I would really like to keep my current guitar (mainly because of finances), I am feeling a lot of doubt about it. It would be easy just to replace pickups. That's why I really listen when someone mentions Les Pauls and versatility in one phrase. What do you have in your LP? How is it wired?
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

I am going to end your search. It sounds to me like you need a truly versatile guitar..a guitar that can truly do it all....well I'm going to point you in the right direction..

Ernie Ball Music Man Steve Morse Signature Model guitar
steve-morse.jpg


This guitar can do it all!
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

Musicians Friend has a Fender "Custom Tele Special Limited Edition"
which looks like something you might be interested in.

It's an interesting configuration, two open coil humbuckers in a tele body, the kicker is that is has a coil tap, and it comes with dimarzio buckers. Good price too, 399.99

They are featuring a cool looking "aztec gold" with cream buckers, it's a killer looking guiter.
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

It sure has a lot of pickups in it...

They're cool guitars too. Thanks, that's more food for thought.
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

jayK said:
Musicians Friend has a Fender "Custom Tele Special Limited Edition"
which looks like something you might be interested in.

It's an interesting configuration, two open coil humbuckers in a tele body, the kicker is that is has a coil tap, and it comes with dimarzio buckers. Good price too, 399.99

They are featuring a cool looking "aztec gold" with cream buckers, it's a killer looking guiter.

I have seen those and they are cool. I was also thinking about a Squier Esprit; which is a remake of the old Robben Ford guitar. But, if I get down to it, it's still an H/H setup which is really no different than what I have...
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

Here are the specs on it!


Size 12-1/2" wide, 1-3/4" thick, 36-7/8" long
Weight 7 pounds, 7 ounces - varies slightly
7 ounces more with tremolo


Wood Poplar
Finish High gloss polyester
Colors See color chart
Bridge Standard - Thumbwheel height adjustment, individual saddles, and MusicMan® chrome plated, solid brass tail block
Optional - MusicMan® Floyd Rose licensed locking tremolo with fine tuners; lowers pitch only
Pickguards Black or White
Optional - Shell, Black Pearloid, White Pearloid and Abalone available at an additional charge.


Scale 25-1/2"
Radius 12"
Headstock Only 5-7/8" long
Frets 22 - high profile, wide
Width 1-5/8" at nut, 2-1/4" at last fret
Wood Selected maple with rosewood fingerboard
Finish Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
Tuners Schaller M6-IND locking (non-tremolo bridge)
Schaller M6LA (MusicMan® Floyd Rose tremolo)
Truss rod Adjustable - no component or string removal
Attachment 5 bolts - perfect alignment with no shifting
Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher frets


Sheilding Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum lined pickguard
Controls 250kohm volume and tone - .047µF tone capacitor
Switches 3-way lever and 2 toggles provide eleven pickup selections
Pickups DiMarzio (neck to bridge)
Humbucking - DP-205 Morse Signature
Single coil - DP-108 Vintage Single Coil
Single coil - Proprietary Custom Wound
Humbucking - DP-200 Morse Signature
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

Butch I know you didn't mention it but whenever someone wants a do-all guitar, I think semi-hollow. When someone names the styles the styles you are looking to cover I think semi-hollow.

A Heritage 535 would be a great investment and very versatile in my oh so humble opinion, and you'd get away with paying less than you would for a SAS.

Luke
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

You may laugh, but I would recommend that you go out and try a Squier '51.

It is a very versatile guitar, the neck single sounds essentially like a strat neck, and the bridge bucker has a unique tone all its own, when it's "tapped" it sounds very much like a tele bridge single, maybe not quite as nasty but it gets close.

For the price $149 you could keep your avion.
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

No strat, Butch? When I hear "versatile", the first thing that I think of is a Tom Anderson H/S/S with the Switcheroo wiring. A Proam is a little bit more reasonable in price than a Droptop or others. If a strat is totally out of the question, hmmm.....
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

You know what I'll say........ Tele. Put Filter'Trons or Soaps in it. You can do some pretty neat stuff with those. You would probably have to have it customized.
 
Re: Please Help Me Pick a Guitar...

CapoFirstFret said:
I am going to end your search. It sounds to me like you need a truly versatile guitar..a guitar that can truly do it all....well I'm going to point you in the right direction..

Ernie Ball Music Man Steve Morse Signature Model guitar
steve-morse.jpg


This guitar can do it all!

EB's are seriously great guitars.... I'd pick one of their models for a great quality and all in one guitar....
 
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