Guitars for Real Musicians

Craig · Posted: Sat May 08, 2010 12:12 am Post subject: EDIT: Black Beauty update

Well, Robert shipped the guitar on April 30 (last Friday) via Parcel Post. They are notoriously slow, but it's been 6 full Post Office business days now and they are supposed to have it to you in 5-7 days. I hope it comes today, but if not then it better dang well be here Monday Mad

I'll keep you all posted. Have a great weekend!
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Craig · Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 11:35 am Post subject:

Sweetness itself! That describes the events of the past 24 hours. First of all, 2 of our best friends, Troy and Nallely, got married yesterday. They make a great couple and they deserve all the happiness in the world. After a really nice reception, we went home to find my guitar had arrived (parents dropped it off for me at our new house). To give you some idea of how I like it, I fell asleep on the couch playing it last night Laughing

I'm in the middle of moving so I gotta do a quickie review and then disassemble my computer and truck it over. Here's the lowdown on the Black Beauty.

Fit and finish: The quality of the assembly is great. I am really pleased with it! The overall finish is excellent and it definitely has the heft of a "real" Les Paul. Very solidly built. The fret job is great; I don't know how much Robert had to work on it when it arrived but whoever did the frets did them perfectly. No buzz, no dead spots, nothing. There are a couple minor finish flaws here and there in the binding and on the neck joint by the treble side, but nothing to complain about. The inlay work is nice and clean, and the fretboard is nicely polished. A small ding in the wood after the 22nd fret, no biggie. I'll oil the board when I change the strings, otherwise nothing else needed! And the tone and playability is excellent. I love the pickups; they have exactly the tone I wanted! Not "hot" by any means, but I don't go for the mega-black-metal distortion anyhow. Just a nice, bell-like vintage PAF tone with great sustain. Overdrives well for a greasy Chicago blues tone when you want it to. Considering tone, playability, quality, and value, I give it overall a 9 out of 10. Thanks to Robert for providing such a great instrument at a price I can handle.

Pics forthcoming...
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Reaperc89 · Posted: Sun May 09, 2010 1:47 pm Post subject:

Cool stuff. New guitar days are always great Smile

guitarmaster79 · Garage Jammer Joined: 04 Apr 2010 Posts: 27

post the pics already Very Happy

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Fender USA Strat HH Hardtail
Fender Strat Partscaster
G&L Legacy USA
Carvin Bolt HH
Agile AL-3100

Peavey Classic 30(Black)
Peavey Classic 30(Yellow Tweed)
Carvin Belair
Bugera V55
Line 6 Spider ll

pratteman · Posted: Mon May 10, 2010 4:36 am Post subject:

Craig · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 12:19 am Post subject:

OK guys, I have my computer reassembled in the new house and some guitar pics uploaded to www.imageshack.us I forgot to shrink them before uploading so they are supersized. Sorry... but here's what you've been waiting for...

The only camera I have right now is my phone cam so the picture quality could be better, I know. But a couple things to note are the genuine Grover tuners, the vintage cream binding, and the mirror finish nitro lacquer. It is by far the best finish on any guitar I've ever owned, so deep you could drown in it.

I am planning a bunch of mods on the wiring/switching. Right now, it's wired bridge and middle, all 3, and neck only. This is different from how Gibson does it - bridge, bridge/mid, neck. I have a setup which will allow all possible combinations and enable full individual pickup selection too, plus a coil tap on the bridge. Also going to put either Orange Drops or bumblebee PIO caps in. Just gotta save up some cash for the parts. Also going to outfit it with brass parts - toggle ring, pickguard, engraved rear covers and truss rod cover. Then I'll be done... for the time being... Laughing

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jimidom · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 6:14 am Post subject:

pratteman · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 6:41 am Post subject:

winner, winner....
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Guitars- Agile AL3100 CSB, 3100 Root Beer Wide, Schecter PT Fastback 3TS, Schecter C1-XXX
Schecter C1-Classic, Fender Satin Strat, Fender MIM Tele, Fender '72 Tele Deluxe Reissue, Fender Tele Blackout HH, Samick TR-2.

switchone · Garage Jammer Joined: 10 May 2010 Posts: 2

how does she play?

Craig · Posted: Tue May 11, 2010 8:42 am Post subject:

Phantomotaku · Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 8:52 pm Post subject:

That is a beauty...love the new logo! It looks like the logo is in Gold MOP or do my eyes deceive me?

Finish looks amazing - was the fret board thirsty?

do you have any plans for a sound clip would love to hear that thing cranked up!
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When someone asks you if ya paid your dues, you just stare that big sucker right back in the eye, and you remember what ol' Jack Burton always says at a time like that: "Have ya paid your dues, Jack?" "Yessir, the check is in the mail."~ Jack Burton

Craig · Posted: Wed May 12, 2010 9:09 pm Post subject:

@Phantomotaku: In the pics (taken with a phone cam, mind you) it's hard to see, but they sprayed a yellow tinted clearcoat over everything which gives the binding that aged look. I thought they did the same over the logo, but now that you mention it, I think it may actually be gold MOP. Robert would probably know best.

The finish is even better in person. The board doesn't look thirsty but when I have a few free minutes to mess around with the intonation and string change, I'll give it a once over with the Weiman's lemon oil and see how it soaks in.

I would like to do a sound clip but I have to find my PC cable to hook my camcorder up and upload one...
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dearlpitts · Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 2:29 pm Post subject:

HendrixFan85239 · Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 4:23 pm Post subject:

I know I asked this for the last one, but did it come with a pickguard? Les Pauls just don't look right without one IMO, have fun with your new toy though.
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Gear:
MIM Fender HSS Strat
Squier Affinity Strat
Hondo II LP Jr. Copy
80's Fender Acoustic
Kramer Bass
Line 6 Spider III Amp
Peavey Bandit 65 Amp
Gallien-Krueger Bass Amp
DigiTech Grunge Pedal
85' Harmony LP Copy
Derring Banjo

Craig · Posted: Sat May 15, 2010 7:26 pm Post subject: