Stripping down the features

[matt_transition]

I've got 3 guitars all packed with the usual features, HB's, SC's, Floyd rose, 3 & 5 way switches etc, but at the moment i've got real G.A.S for probably one of the cheapest guitars ever built, the Epiphone SG Junior ( 1 P90, Vol, Tone) Has any one else just had that feeling where they really want to leave there 3 mini switch, push-pull knob, super switch guitars and play something so basic it shows your true colurs as a player?

P.S I've seen the term G.A.S used hundreds of times on here, but what does it actually stand for?

 

[aleclee]

Re: Stripping down the features

Floyds I can definitely live without. Though I dig trems, I quickly sold the only Floyded guitar I ever owned.

As for complex electronics packages, I think it comes down to having a variety of tones versus a variety of tones than are appealing to the individual. I have a guitar with a three-way selector and three mini-toggles (2xseries/parallel, 1 phase) and I rarely touched the mini-toggles (though I do always run the neck pickup out of phase) because most of the combinations weren't my cup o' tea.

Finally GAS = Gear Acquisition Syndrome

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Stripping down the features

I'm glad I'm not the only one with a jones for those little SG Jrs - there's something very attractive about single-pickup simplicity. Agile has some nice LP Junior-ish guitars that are nice, too, but are made out of real mahogany, unlike the Epi's.

My rig sort of splits the difference on simplicity vs. do-it-all complexity. I recently removed a tapped QP from my Nashville Tele, to return to stock controls - Vol/Tone/5-way switch, although it a SD 54 Vintage Tele Lead in the bridge and a Vintage Mini-humbucker at the neck.

My other guitar is a Schecter PT with 2 humbuckers. I think when I'm done with it, it just going to be 2 volumes, a 3-way switch, and a coil tap on the bridge pup. I toyed with the idea of a phase-reverse switch, but I think I'l just wire it out-of-phase and leave it that way.

After years of trying to build monster-garage-style, do-it-all guitars I've reached the conclusion that you end up with too many compromises in addition to the added complexity. Since we're all going to end up with multiple guitars anyway, why not make them different from each other, rather than flexible-but-overlapping. Thus, two Teles one with single coils and one with HB's. Fortunately, I've no interest in whammy bars.

But a single P-90 guitar would be nice....

K.I.S.S. Less is more.

 

[big_black]

Re: Stripping down the features

I always have at least one guitar that has a single bridge pickup. It use to be my Strat, now it's my SG-X. I will soon (fingers crossed) have my aluminum bodied Esquire-style (1 P-90 in the bridge) here. I like my guitars simple.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: Stripping down the features

I've been thinking of making a Tele Esquire with no pickguard and only the bridge/ring assembly and 1 humbucker. 1 volume knob that pulls up to split the humbucker.

I'll probably buy an American tele neck off Ebay, as well as the bridge assembly cutout for a humbucker. The body would have to be special ordered.

 

[Quencho092]

Re: Stripping down the features

I've got 3 guitars all packed with the usual features, HB's, SC's, Floyd rose, 3 & 5 way switches etc, but at the moment i've got real G.A.S for probably one of the cheapest guitars ever built, the Epiphone SG Junior ( 1 P90, Vol, Tone) Has any one else just had that feeling where they really want to leave there 3 mini switch, push-pull knob, super switch guitars and play something so basic it shows your true colurs as a player?

P.S I've seen the term G.A.S used hundreds of times on here, but what does it actually stand for?

Typically when i play my strat I only use the neck pickup-it's just great for everything. But ever since i set it up with tele switching, I use the neck and the neck/bridge settings the most.

It's fun to play on simple guitars, but by switching between these two settings I can control the amount of breakup on my amp (when in parallel, you get less output) and how much my playing stands out (strat neck pickups can CUT)

 

[Hot _Grits]

Re: Stripping down the features

Hell yes. my latest addition:

-I have a history of one pickup guitars. My first electric was a crappy doublecut lp jnr copy, and my second a korean Kramer baretta.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Stripping down the features

i recently did the very thing you are talking about.

i usually play guitars with multiple pups, push/pulls, mini switches ect...

maybe two weeks ago i took a plank of swamp ash that ive had for years, routed it for a left handed tele bridge and splapped a '62 jazzmaster neck i had layin around on it. i put the pup i wound at ugd in and it was done.

so its a reverse slant bridge pup esquire. one pup, volume, tone and a three way switch which is wired 1-off/2-tapped/3-full pretty bare bones and pretty brave for a guy who 75% of the time uses the neck pup.

to make things even more interesting since i made the pup, i messed it up. instead of 11k full output and 6.5k tapped i had to reverse the hot and ground wires (grounding issue with the baseplate) so i have 11k and 4.5k which is kinda weak but works well for 70's funk rhythm. the end result is that i basically only use the full output setting. im forcing myself to use this guitar for almost everything until i get used to working the volume and tone controls. i used it last night for the whole gig and there was only a few times that i really wished i had a neck pup. the lead tone of this thing is AMAZING!!! the sound guy came up to me in the middle of the first set and asked "what the hell are you using to get that tone?" i smiled and pointed at the floor which had the cord coming from the guitar going into a tuner and then another cord going into my bassman. 11k is one snotty broadcaster pup, i used 42 gauge wire so i had to widen the pup hole in the bridge cause it would go in past the top of the bobbin.

so i say go for it, be brave!!

 

[marvar]

Re: Stripping down the features

I reached this point a few years ago, and became a minimalist- some of the greatest guitar licks in history have been with an LPjr or SG jr, just a piece of wood, some strings, a pickup- pure rock and roll- Think- Mississippi Queen, early Doobie Bros, early Blue Oyster Cult, etc

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Stripping down the features

Sometimes it takes a simple guitar for us to get past all the options and to see what we can actually do with our hands. (That being said, I've been jamming with my Paul I just finished doing the Jimmy Page witing on and a Road King... Talk about tonal options... lol)

That Squier Esquire Xssive just sold would be a great starting point for a guitar like that. I think if I got a P90 axe I'd want the neck too, but a single Custom loaded guitar with a tap sounds good. Either that or a JB.