Hot Octopus
Member
I'm not exactly sure where to start...
I've never gone the custom route before, but I'm thinking about having a guitar custom built for me. I'm not sure of what guitar company to use (Heritage, Suhr, Jackson, ect) and wanted to get some suggestions. Maybe you can help me figure a few things out.
The specs so far for my guitar are-
Big Neck
SS Jumbo Frets
Mahogany Body/ Mahogany Neck/ Maple top
Piezo acoustic saddles in the bridge
Master Volume/ 2 Tone knobs
Maybe a Tremolo (though I'm not sure yet)
1) First off is the neck.
I want a neck that is absolutely massive(big and chunky) and at the same time, I want it to be fast. For comparison, I've played some of the 50's Gibson necks and I seem to like the way they feel, but each one varies a bit. I played a Gibson Slash AFD VOS Les Paul and while the specs list the neck size as 60's slim, it felt fatter than most of the 50's profiles I've played on Various LP's. Then there's the shape of the neck, while they're slim necks, my favorite neck shapes are the Peavey Wolfgang and Charvel San Dimas. I had a Jackson PC1 once and while it's supposed to have a big neck, it didn't feel right in my hand. I also tend to play with my thumb over the top of the neck. Could someone recommend me a neck that is uber-fat while retaining the fast profile of something like a San Dimas? I think Id rather have a C Shape rather than a D shaped neck.
2) Body types and pickups
I'm not sure if I should get a Semi-Hollow or a Solid body or something that is chambered. I love how the neck pickup in a ES-335 sounds. It's big and fat and sounds enormous with high gain. At the same time, I really like the Dimarzio Injectors/ Area 67 that I have in one of my Charvel's. Somehow, I'd like to get both sounds out of the same guitar and I'm not sure how? Then comes the Bridge pickup, and I tend to prefer a solid body design.
Would there be a way to have a guitar where the top half sounds like a semi-hollow and the lower half sounds like a solid body? Would a chambered body help? How about ES-335 type guitar like what BB King uses where there are no F-Holes. IS there something I havent thought of?
3) Which company should I go with?
I've already gotten a quote on a Heritage H535. I'm familiar with Charvel/ Jackson, but their prices are getting up there and their waiting list is long. I've heard good things about Suhr's, but don't have much experience with them. How long is their waiting time? Should I go with a company like Hamer? Who else should I look at for a custom build?
This guitar will be used for classic hard rock and early metal- Thin Lizzy, Rush, The Darkness, Stoner rock, and maybe a little Dokken. Most likely, I'm going to be using lower output pickups too.
If someone could lend me a helping hand with some advice, I'de be grateful.
I've never gone the custom route before, but I'm thinking about having a guitar custom built for me. I'm not sure of what guitar company to use (Heritage, Suhr, Jackson, ect) and wanted to get some suggestions. Maybe you can help me figure a few things out.
The specs so far for my guitar are-
Big Neck
SS Jumbo Frets
Mahogany Body/ Mahogany Neck/ Maple top
Piezo acoustic saddles in the bridge
Master Volume/ 2 Tone knobs
Maybe a Tremolo (though I'm not sure yet)
1) First off is the neck.
I want a neck that is absolutely massive(big and chunky) and at the same time, I want it to be fast. For comparison, I've played some of the 50's Gibson necks and I seem to like the way they feel, but each one varies a bit. I played a Gibson Slash AFD VOS Les Paul and while the specs list the neck size as 60's slim, it felt fatter than most of the 50's profiles I've played on Various LP's. Then there's the shape of the neck, while they're slim necks, my favorite neck shapes are the Peavey Wolfgang and Charvel San Dimas. I had a Jackson PC1 once and while it's supposed to have a big neck, it didn't feel right in my hand. I also tend to play with my thumb over the top of the neck. Could someone recommend me a neck that is uber-fat while retaining the fast profile of something like a San Dimas? I think Id rather have a C Shape rather than a D shaped neck.
2) Body types and pickups
I'm not sure if I should get a Semi-Hollow or a Solid body or something that is chambered. I love how the neck pickup in a ES-335 sounds. It's big and fat and sounds enormous with high gain. At the same time, I really like the Dimarzio Injectors/ Area 67 that I have in one of my Charvel's. Somehow, I'd like to get both sounds out of the same guitar and I'm not sure how? Then comes the Bridge pickup, and I tend to prefer a solid body design.
Would there be a way to have a guitar where the top half sounds like a semi-hollow and the lower half sounds like a solid body? Would a chambered body help? How about ES-335 type guitar like what BB King uses where there are no F-Holes. IS there something I havent thought of?
3) Which company should I go with?
I've already gotten a quote on a Heritage H535. I'm familiar with Charvel/ Jackson, but their prices are getting up there and their waiting list is long. I've heard good things about Suhr's, but don't have much experience with them. How long is their waiting time? Should I go with a company like Hamer? Who else should I look at for a custom build?
This guitar will be used for classic hard rock and early metal- Thin Lizzy, Rush, The Darkness, Stoner rock, and maybe a little Dokken. Most likely, I'm going to be using lower output pickups too.
If someone could lend me a helping hand with some advice, I'de be grateful.
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