Re: What gear do you like but others hate?
Squier Venus - At one point in approx. 2000 I picked up a Sunburst Venus, Black Venus and 2 Fiesta Red Jag-Stangs. The Black Venus was the only one I kept.
I recently pulled it out of the case since my Daughter is away at college and I always enjoyed playing the damn thing so much. I really like it for an inexpensive unusual guitar along the same lines as any Fender Offset Guitar; Jaguar, Jazz-Master, Jag-Stang, etcetera.
I wasn't happy with the SD APS-1/Pearly Gates Trembucker so I swapped them out for a SD Antiquity Strat/'59 Trembucker, installed a new CTS 500k Volume and added a Fender TBX Tone, and, swapped the White Vol/Tone Knobs and Selector Switch Tip to Black as I think it looks so much better with the "Tuxedo Black" Treatment. Set up with .10-.46 Strings. Sounds MUCH better with the changes.
1998 Squier Vista Series Venus
Since it`s introduction in July 1997, the Venus (co-designed by Courtney Love - wife of the late Kurt Cobain, as well as vocalist, guitarist and songwriter with Hole - and the Fender Custom Shop) has become one of Fender`s most under- rated guitars. Now defunct (since 1998), and the last Squier guitar to be built in Japan, it has become rare and sought-after worldwide.
In 1997 Fender decided that they could uplevel the image of the Squire brand by (a) bringing out a series of celebrity designed models and (b) making them of the highest quality in Japan - which was by this time on a par with anything from the USA ( cheap Squire's were being made in Indonesia by that time).
Thus was born the "Vista Series" consisting of a six and twelve string Venus model, the Jagstang and the Super-Sonic. In 1998 Fender added the inexpensive Indonesian- made Musicmaster to the line, but the quality of this model was so poor it killed the Vista Series for good, after less than two years of production.
The Squier Vista Series Venus offered:
- Quality Craftsmanship "Crafted In Japan"
- Bound Fingerboard with Fully Bound 12" Radius Fretboard and Jumbo Frets
- Discontinued ('98 only) "seafoam green"
- Tune-O-Matic Bridge with String-Through Body Design
- Versatile Sonically - with only Volume/3 Way Selector Toggle Switch
First Act SFA CE140 Lola
Red Lola with Rio Grande Genuine Texas/BBQ Set to Gibson 500k Vol/Gibson 3 Way LP Toggle/Fender TBX/Switchcraft Jack
You can snag the SFA CE140 Lola fairly cheap because of the Brand Name and build a KILLER 24.75" Scale Monster Player out of each one.
- Beveled, single cutaway body shape designed in First Act’s Studio For Artists, featuring solid balance and great high fret access
- Beautiful, solid mahagany body for rich and warm sound
- Originally had Two Alnico 5 magnet vintage-style chrome bikini-clad humbucking pickups with crisp clean sound and warm distortion...(NO PICKUPS AT CURRENT...HENCE THE PROJECT DESIGNATION)
- Mahogany set neck, rosewood fingerboard with pearloid I-line inlays
- Tilted 3+3 headstock to maximize sustain
- Strings through the body with patent pending First Act String Retainer system with low profile bridge, for maximum sustain and tonal reproduction
- Chrome diecast tuning machines for accurate tuning
- Chrome-dome volume and tone knobs with 3-way toggle, for quick and easy access to sound tweaks
If I find a guitar with a GREAT Feeling/Playing Neck, Good Fretwork, Solid Mahogany, Ash, Maple or Poplar Body, quality components and a build/fit & finish with some attention to detail...then I don't care so much about the Brand Name, Country Of Manufacture or how "cheap" it is.
