Ancient Mariner

[quote name='lettsguitars' timestamp='1344440038' post='1764549'] “Rob Williams is one of the few electric guitar makers in this country who can create a product that genuinely competes with the top US makers.” That made me laugh. British craftsmanship is second to none! [/quote] Very likely at the top end they are all indistinguishable for build quality, so it then comes down to a question of taste and preference. If you prefer a design from Backlund or a Soloway Swan then he won't be in the picture, but if you want whatever he does best then he'll be the man to go to.

CNC machines? Finishes that are thin and only took 1 pass in the booth? Single PU & volume control? I owned a 'worn' series V for a while, and TBH it felt like a Chinese copy that you'd pay about £50 for.

It doesn't seem all that long ago that £650 was the new price, though it might be further back than it feels. I'd have thought between £350 and £500 depending on age, condition, case, pickups (EMGs or SDs) etc.

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1343378518' post='1749686'] No, we have all forgotten the PRS. [/quote] No-one ever talked about honesty from a PRS. There's recently been a thread on Harmony Central debunking the '6 strings and the truth' myth about Telecasters.

BTW I've pledged for a guitar & bass.

It's a '97 H150CM 'Classic' in vintage sunburst (almost an unburst) with the standard Schaller roller bridge, the neck is quite slim for a Les Paul too. Decent condition, though obviously used and with OHSC. I've replaced the pickups with a Gibson T top in the neck and a patent number in the bridge position, and they are enormously better than the original Seymour Duncan '59s. There's also one other curious feature - it's really quite bright, and not what one expects from a Les Paul. Sure it's got some meat to the tone too, but every set of PUs I've had through it have sounded brighter than I would expect. Unfortunately at the moment it looks like the Retronix thing may not come off.

Here's mine, owned since the early 80s - suzuki with one of the early piezo bridges. I may not like acoustics, but it's been played enough to need refretting 10 years ago. And here's the melody - £25 on ebay. It sounds upsettingly similar to a typical older ovation. [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v717/AncientMariner/Melodyside.jpg[/IMG]

BTW on the materials side, lamination seems to produce characteristic sounds that, when combined in a particular design like a Maccaferri or some of the other small bodied 'blues' guitars help produce that very characteristic tone. Where would gypsy jazz be without that slightly dead, thuddy and mid-biased sound? A laminated bodied guitar will certainly be usable, but it will never produce a *great* modern acoustic guitar sound. I did try some of those laminated Martins last year. It may be ecological, but it was not a good experience, and for a lot of money too. I'd still like to own an acoustic I actually wanted to play.

It's fine that we don't all like the same things. I have played a couple of acoustics that I'd have liked to take home, but even more-so than a *great* Les Paul, they are a rarity rather than the norm *for me*. I've come to realise that the sound of an acoustic does nothing for me, and I hate it when good guitar players do unplugged concerts, because they seem to be wasting all that talent to create a few twangs and chings. Yes there are a few who can make them do something genuinely musical *to my ears*, but to me, the main use for acoustic guitar is backing singers as a chordally based percussion instrument. Or as a wall decoration. So I do have acoustic guitars, but it would be unusual for me to pick one up unless it was required. Your brothers guitar looks lovely BTW - musical taste doesn't stop me appreciating fine craftsmanship.

A cut away craps on the tone a little and the volume a bit more, but it's usually an accepted trade off, even if only 1 out of 10 get played above the 7th fret. The early observation about more electrics than acoustics is understandable, since few acoustics are desirable or impressive, most being a limited tool to accomplish the task of backing a vocal. I've only ever played a couple of acoustics that made me want to own them, but they are an useful item, like a cross head screwdriver, in the toolbag of a master carpenter.

Sounds good - glad you like it and it all worked out in the end.

The little VHT does have a relatively good reputation for tone compared to many of the tiny 1 output valve amps (including the Orange version that came out a few years back) but is a very different beast from this.

Bought a pedal from me last week - really friendly to deal with. Thanks Tom.

Bought my Sue Ryder precision pickup last week. Great to deal with and c=good communication. Cheers feller.

It might be worth trying different barrels - are these the offset jobs for decent intonation? Wilkinson make some nice brass saddles (brass is almost compulsory for tele tone). Does the string break over the barrel or where it goes through the back of the bridge - there might be a sharp edge on one of the holes? On string gauges, I had a tele for a little while, and 11s seemed just right for it - I run 10s on almost everything else, whether 25 1/2" or 24 3/4", with just 1 exception (9.5s, yes, it does make a difference).

I think you made the right choice. 12 string electrics should not have tuning stability problems, though they will take a while to settle to pitch when first strung. I've seen some interesting conversions to 12 string, with a second set of machine heads added at 90 degrees to the first and inserted into the edge of the headstock.

I suspect the design chosen is more moderate than many to constrain production costs. I do not disagree about them being less exciting that a full blown US Backlund either, but those start at 7 times the price.

Seems they're trying to kickstart a Korean manufacturing venture: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2926272-J.Backlund-design-announces-new-Korean-made-models! I'm going to sleep on this, but will likely go for a guitar and bass combined package tomorrow. It will mean selling my Heritage Les Paul, but that's fine.

Dano picture thread: http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?2893137-On-a-Danelectro-kick-post-some-pics-of-your-Danos-here.

[quote name='Lozz196' timestamp='1341568071' post='1720993'] I have these on my cab, £17.67: [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HEAVY-DUTY-Multi-Use-Castors-4-Blue-Wheels-Caster-/120426485789?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Rack_Cases_MJ&hash=item1c09fa581d"]http://www.ebay.co.u...=item1c09fa581d[/url] Really good quality, no trouble over gravel/uneven car-parks, and two are locking, so once your cab is in the right position on stage, it can be locked in place. Definitely the best castors I`ve ever had, on any cab. [/quote] Those are the 100mm versions of the ones I linked. Very good if you're likely to have to wheel the thing across gravel/car parks with ruts etc., but they'll add yet another inch to the height of your cab, which is either good or bad.

Aldi will have castor sets in next Thursday, £9.99 for 4 (good value). I have a set that looks just like this on my 4X10 combo, and it is a pleasure to move around. http://www.aldi.co.uk/uk/html/offers/special_buys3_25522.htm

The wooden bridge is OK (mine has one) but it will be enormously easier to intonate a more conventional design. Given the various choices I'd pick either this one (as a money saving option with wild looks (and I LIKE the looks): [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/danelectro_wild_thing_bk.htm"]http://www.thomann.d...ld_thing_bk.htm[/url] Or this one if you had an urge to emulate Pagey: [url="http://www.thomann.de/gb/danelectro_59_reissue_double_cutaway_bk.htm"]http://www.thomann.d..._cutaway_bk.htm[/url] At these prices I almost wish I hadn't just arranged for a project guitar that will cost me more when it's finished than the wild thing. I'd love a Dano that I could play out with (the one in that picture has been played to death - my main guitar from 78-90 and really worked hard).