Robert Delahunt
Showmasterologist
I tried the Fender Showmaster HH today. All I can say is wow! I'm impressed! 
First off, this is the first time I've ever liked the way a '59 sounds. Wow! The neck cleans were amazing, like the Jazz but less of a scooped sound, and plenty warm enough.
Second, the PG bridge can do metal! I was playing it through a Marshall amp (one of those little gold-faced DFX models with the distortion on) and I got some very nice tight bass and just the right amount of highs! This was the first time I had heard a PG, and I'm sold!
As for the guitar, the neck was glued in / set in, with a good body blend for reaching the high notes. The fretboard was ok (rosewood has always, to me, just been "ok"), but the jumbo frets were a very nice touch. The feel was excellent.
I was in the store looking for a mahogany body set/glued neck guitar as a good candidate to replace my ESP, and instead I found a basswood/maple/rosewood guitar that has splits (5-way splitting) and everything I need already. The ONLY thing I don't like is the tremolo (I'd prefer to have one with and one without in my inventory), but it's a nice trem that comes floating. The setup and action that the guitar already had was superb!
As for trem issues, I can deal with it having a trem, unless I go for a hard-tail. However, it comes with locking tuners. All I would have to do with this guitar is Earvana nut and Graphtech saddles and I'd be done
I think I've found my next GAS
First off, this is the first time I've ever liked the way a '59 sounds. Wow! The neck cleans were amazing, like the Jazz but less of a scooped sound, and plenty warm enough.
Second, the PG bridge can do metal! I was playing it through a Marshall amp (one of those little gold-faced DFX models with the distortion on) and I got some very nice tight bass and just the right amount of highs! This was the first time I had heard a PG, and I'm sold!
As for the guitar, the neck was glued in / set in, with a good body blend for reaching the high notes. The fretboard was ok (rosewood has always, to me, just been "ok"), but the jumbo frets were a very nice touch. The feel was excellent.
I was in the store looking for a mahogany body set/glued neck guitar as a good candidate to replace my ESP, and instead I found a basswood/maple/rosewood guitar that has splits (5-way splitting) and everything I need already. The ONLY thing I don't like is the tremolo (I'd prefer to have one with and one without in my inventory), but it's a nice trem that comes floating. The setup and action that the guitar already had was superb!
As for trem issues, I can deal with it having a trem, unless I go for a hard-tail. However, it comes with locking tuners. All I would have to do with this guitar is Earvana nut and Graphtech saddles and I'd be done
I think I've found my next GAS