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Guitar buying advice - expand my mind

bobbass4k

By bobbass4k,
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bobbass4k Experienced

bobbass4k

Posted
Posted (edited)

Joining an ambient/weird project that will probably require me to cross to the dark side a lot, so it's time for an upgrade from the crappy vintage PRS copy. I could just go for a 2'nd hand mexican tele and be done with it but I've always loved slightly fringe, under appreciated guitars, unfortunatley my knowledge in this area is not as extensive as I had assumed, so I open the floor to you, the BC public, for suggestions on decent, interesting guitars that can be had for £300 or less 2'nd hand.

I'd love an Adam Black Apollo, but they seem to be annoyingly rare on evilBay, but that's the kind of thing I'm aiming for. I've kind of gotten used to twin humbuckers so I'm probably looking for that, I'm gonna be playing clean most of the time so it needs a really nice round clean tone with lots of sustain.

The intro of this is my eternal aim in clean guitar tone:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWfBUMipul8[/media]

My ideal would be a '72 deluxe tele but I can't really stretch that far even 2'nd hand. I had considered an FMT Tele but they don't really seem value for money to me.

Edited by bobbass4k
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KK Jale Proficient

KK Jale

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Hmm. Slightly fringe you say? Well after listening to that track I would jump on something like this, plus a fab delay pedal... no personal connection with this auction...

[url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HOHNER-JT-60-ATN-PROFESSIONAL-Jazzmaster-Jaguar-Mint-Condition-Fender-Pick-/271025489729"]http://www.ebay.co.u...k-/271025489729[/url]

It's 20 years old, suitably oddball and cool, very well made (Czechoslovakia AFAIK), with good pickups and an adaptable ATN tone circuit w/thicker sounds on tap designed by Alan Entwistle. Weight can be the only drawback.

Edit: oooh I missed your (totally ill-advised :) ) twin humbucker preference.

Consider 70s/80s Ibanez or Matsumoku (Aria, Vantage, Washburn etc).

Or a DeArmond.

Edited by KK Jale
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Ancient Mariner Collaborator

Ancient Mariner

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There seem to be a lot of effects on the clean guitar tone of that track.

Bearing in mind your original comments, have a look at Danelectros - they come in single coil and humbucking varieties (2 of their singles side by side). They are especially good at doing clean, sparkly ambient sounds, and are light & easy to play.

What else?

Godin Radiator - controls like a Jazz bass, 2 single coil jangly pickups, again great for clean work. I had one, really liked it, but sold it to pay for something else.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Godin-Radiator-Guitar-/130746881211
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Godin-Radiator-Guitar-for-sale-/190713517242

Godin SD - narrow fingerboard on the one I had although they vary, kind of strat meets Les Paul, sought after by some.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GODIN-SD-LEAF-TOP-NATURAL-FLAME-GUITAR-FREE-P-P-/200805880152
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Godin-SD-24-Red-6-String-Guitar-/190712031317

Peavy make some great value guitars - how about a Tele with an acoustic bridge pickup too (sounds like an acoustic too):
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peavey-Generation-EXP-Custom-Telecaster-with-acoustic-pick-up-/230836312731

A piece of real vintage Peavy - T30 - 3 singles but with a rail in the middle and in the correct vintage case too.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Peavey-T-30-Guitar-/271035136780

Washburn KC series were great guitars, though a little shredder-ish. The KC70 is almost certain active, and would have been an upper-mid range instrument
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WASHBURN-Chicago-Series-KC-40V-/180946333583
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Washburn-KC-70v-Chicago-Series-Electric-Guitar-/150876605510

This HB35 looks beautiful, but may be a bit too 'classic' for your liking:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Washburn-HB35-Guitar-c-w-upgrades-and-Gig-bag-/320962437419

Washburn Falcon - I've recently bought a Hawk from Noel27 on here, and in the process of re-installing hardware. Just a plain lovely guitar.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rare-Vintage-Washburn-Falcon-Electric-Guitar-Original-Hard-Case-/190713740913

Washburn X50 - Duncan pickups, decent build quality, unusual top.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Washburn-X-50-Pro-Zebra-wood-Finish-/180949820382

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winterfire666 Enthusiast

winterfire666

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I recently got a parker p38 here on basschat for £300 in near mint condition with a case too. The cleans are fantastic and after upgrading the humbucker to a suhr it is now extremely versatile. it plays like a dream with super low action and the piezo bridge has made it my main recording tool.

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LukeFRC Grand Master

LukeFRC

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try find a yamaha SG? I recently got one, I know little about guitars but know it's good. (also not much clue on prices)
this is an awful photo of mine BEFORE I cleaned her up. I added coil taps too. ... :)[IMG]http://i1230.photobucket.com/albums/ee497/LukeFRC/Yamaha/IMAG0093.jpg[/IMG]

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bobbass4k Experienced

bobbass4k

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  • Author
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[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1344862312' post='1770217']
snipped for neatness
[/quote]

Some awesome suggestions there thanks, exaclty what I was after, I'd have probably completely overlooked godins, but that leaf top looks very sexy.

I know there's delay on that guitar part (I do actually have the delay pedal he uses) but the actual tone is just his guitar (no doubt with a touch of reverb, but still), trouble is he plays a home made SG with hand wound pickups, so kind of hard to emulate.

I'm not wedded to twin humbuckers it's just what I know, is there another pickuip setup that's likely to get me a better tone? I've always found stock strats to be very twangy personally. A tele is probably closer to the tone I'm after but they just don't like value for money to me.

Keep em coming

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Ancient Mariner Collaborator

Ancient Mariner

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Posted (edited)

Interesting comment about twang and strats - I've *personally* always found teles with singles to be twangier than strats, but - and this is an anecdotal but - a lot depends on saddle material. Strats with pressed steel saddles tend to be sharper-edged than strats with cast steel or pot metal saddles. But hey ho.

Glad that was useful/interesting. There's a shedload of great Yamahas on Ebay right now - I really like the look of the RGX A2s, and they seem well priced and a bit different (they're chambered for one thing). Some nice Pacificas too.

If those sounds on that video are pickups and delay only then you'd be looking for chime more than anything. I'd look for something with mini-humbuckers or possibly with P90 types that you could swap out for a Gretsch filtertron type pickup. Do check out Danelectros, because they can have a lot of chime, and likewise that Godin Radiator.

How adventurous are you willing to be with purchasing? Buy from the US?

Have a listen to the Jazzmaster type clean tones here about half way though the video - I was quite surprised at how much sustain it seems to have.
[url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/Xaviere-Electric-Guitars_c_116.html"]http://www.guitarfet...tars_c_116.html[/url]


[url="http://www.guitarfetish.com/XV-JT-Series-Offset-Electric-Guitars_c_208.html"]http://www.guitarfet...tars_c_208.html[/url]


Also have a look at some of the original designs from Rondo music, like the Harm1 (named after they collaborated with a guy on Harmony central who designed this shape). Kind of Rick-ish but without being a copy - $350.

[url="http://www.rondomusic.com/harm1toastbk.html"]http://www.rondomusi...rm1toastbk.html[/url]


*edit*
Both GFS and Rondo have a good reputation with the guys of Harmony Central, and I've bought parts from GFS over several years and they've been good - even sent stuff back on one occasion and they were OK about it.

Rondo used to be cheap, but as their quality & rep went up so did their prices - SX is their budget line. GFS tend to keep their prices a bit lower, but are still pretty good though probably not quite as well made as Rondo's higher spec Agiles.

Edited by Ancient Mariner
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mike257 Experienced

mike257

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Posted

[quote name='GarethFlatlands' timestamp='1344946525' post='1771433']
I'd 2nd this. I picked up a GS Gypsy on here a couple of months ago and I'm sold on them.
[/quote]

And a 3rd - guitarist I've worked with has a pre-production prototype GS Galaxy and it's a jaw-droppingly great guitar.

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Ancient Mariner Collaborator

Ancient Mariner

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[quote name='mike257' timestamp='1344998534' post='1772191']
And a 3rd - guitarist I've worked with has a pre-production prototype GS Galaxy and it's a jaw-droppingly great guitar.
[/quote]

I'd just like to understand where 'jaw-droppingly great' sits. Does it have the kind of playability and tone that PRS and the Gibson custom shop can only envy, or is it more (as I suspect) a decent working guitar that plays well and sounds good for that type of instrument? I've a feeling I've played a GS once or twice, and they seemed OK, but somewhere between a Shergold I once owned (uh-ho) and a JJ (nice) I still have. For the price I'd say they are good, but I'd like to hear how you're making that assessment. Not tying to be contentious or argumentative, just to understand.

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MrFingers Enthusiast

MrFingers

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Posted (edited)

Look no further!

[url="http://www.fender.com/products/vintage-modified-jaguar"]http://www.fender.co...modified-jaguar[/url]
(and they also have a jazzmaster in that series). AMAZING guitars for the value, and perfect for postrock/ambient!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G59sHpVA2f8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uoPFDe53iM

Edited by MrFingers
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GarethFlatlands Rising Star

GarethFlatlands

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Posted

[quote name='MrFingers' timestamp='1345028999' post='1772466']
Look no further!

[url="http://www.fender.com/products/vintage-modified-jaguar"]http://www.fender.co...modified-jaguar[/url]
(and they also have a jazzmaster in that series). AMAZING guitars for the value, and perfect for postrock/ambient!

[/quote]

I have an MIJ Jazzmaster from the late 90's and would recommend them if you want something a bit different, but they are a bit 'out there' in terms of design and functionality. The bridge is ridiculous (the Squiers seem to use a fixed adjustomatic which is miles better) and the pickups are very niche meaning the choice for replacements is limited and expensive. As always with budget guitars, try a lot and get the best one as the quality control will be variable.

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mike257 Experienced

mike257

Posted
Posted (edited)

[quote name='Ancient Mariner' timestamp='1345016243' post='1772257']
I'd just like to understand where 'jaw-droppingly great' sits. Does it have the kind of playability and tone that PRS and the Gibson custom shop can only envy, or is it more (as I suspect) a decent working guitar that plays well and sounds good for that type of instrument? I've a feeling I've played a GS once or twice, and they seemed OK, but somewhere between a Shergold I once owned (uh-ho) and a JJ (nice) I still have. For the price I'd say they are good, but I'd like to hear how you're making that assessment. Not tying to be contentious or argumentative, just to understand.
[/quote]

Sorry AM, only just spotted this, hectic work schedule has meant infrequent BC visits lately.

I would put it at least on an even standing with the Gibson Custom Shop 335 that the guitarist in my next band owned, for both tone and playability. You could tell it was built with real attention to detail, the fit, finish and setup were superb, and the tone was fantastic. It certainly didn't feel like there were any compromises made in its construction or choice of parts.

It was a pretty early build though, and apparently a prototype from before the Galaxy model went into regular production, so I don't know how much difference there would be in a brand new one. A beautifully made guitar though, that I wouldn't hesitate to put alongside the better offerings from the 'big' names.

The same guy also owned a second Gordon Smith (a Les Paul DC-style) which he kept as a backup. Whilst not as mind-bendingly lovely as his Galaxy, it was certainly a well made instrument and from the little time I spent playing it and hearing it in action it seemed to be a quality piece of kit that probably fell under your second category.

Edited by mike257
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MoonBassAlpha Mentor

MoonBassAlpha

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Posted

This was a new one on me, I thought it was a typo when I first saw it: Fender Marauder. Gibson surely?
NO!
[url="http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=fender+marauder&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=403&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=9722696675855997418&sa=X&ei=9r9LUPm9H8am0QWF74HwDQ&ved=0CEUQ8wIwAQ"]http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?q=fender+marauder&hl=en&biw=1024&bih=403&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=9722696675855997418&sa=X&ei=9r9LUPm9H8am0QWF74HwDQ&ved=0CEUQ8wIwAQ[/url]

looks pretty cool though. If you can find a s/h one (there's a guy wanting to trade one on Oxford's Nightshift pages)

+1 to the Godin Solidac that someone on here was selling for £300 Mine was about £770 new and I don't think I'd let mine go for that. Covers a lot of bases and a bit off piste too

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simonc61 Apprentice

simonc61

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My Framus Custom Diablo is on the bay at the moment - [url="http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Framus-Diablo-Custom-guitar-/140845416629?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20cb0a80b5&_uhb=1#ht_926wt_885"]http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Framus-Diablo-Custom-guitar-/140845416629?pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item20cb0a80b5&_uhb=1#ht_926wt_885[/url] Lovely and very versatile guitar.

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bagsieblue Veteran

bagsieblue

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As you are looking to be playing clean most of the time so it needs a really nice round clean tone with lots of sustain.........

May I shamefully self promote this:

http://basschat.co.uk/topic/182175-fsft-fender-squier-japanese-strat-black-199394-maple-board/page__p__1740507#entry1740507

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