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Post by Yew on Jun 21, 2011 14:43:21 GMT -5
Hey all. As you may have noticed, ive been gas-ing for a new intrument for the past few months. And hence there are rather a large amounts of Treads about all sorts, from me  Thankfully I now have permission from the 'Household Government' however a larger amount of funds where approved for arts spending. Around 300-500 pounds sterling. Ideally I would go for a filtertronned hollowbody gretsch. However these are out of this pricerange. Currently Im looking at this beautiful Epiphone casino  However although P90's are good pickups (I DONT want standard humbuckers, lots of those already) I think I would much prefer filtertrons, but without the hastle of installation. Other ideas include Danelectros, or installing TV Jones 'Trons (in humbucker, p90, or other forms) And your reccomendations. Thanks for bearing with me over my multitude of threads. What do you think? Any alternatives you can think of? |
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Post by roadtonever on Jun 21, 2011 16:21:29 GMT -5
Try turning down the pickups and turning up the poles-pieces
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Post by cynical1 on Jun 21, 2011 16:38:39 GMT -5
For what it's worth, I think the Ibanez Artcore series is one of the more under-rated hollow body guitars out there. Everyone I've seen has had a good neck, clean fretwork and decent hardware.  Granted, it has humbuckers...but it sounds like you're going to have to perform an organ transplant no matter what guitar you score. The one in the picture has a "licensed' Bigsby style whammy, but you can also get them with a fixed bridge. I don't know about the UK, but these things always pop up on eBay for $250.00-$300.00 USD (150.00-185.00 GBP) with a case. This leaves more then enough in your current Arts Grant to acquire the pickups of your desire. Happy Trails Cynical One |
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Post by lpf3 on Jun 21, 2011 18:11:58 GMT -5
Although both of mine have 'buckers, I can vouch for both of those guitars, I have an Epi Dot; it's one of the older ones (that I think came from the Cort Factory) and love it. Fit & finish, playability, all of it- you can't go wrong IMO. I also have an Ibanez Art star.  I haven't found out much about it but I think it's just an older incarnation of the Artcore. Again I have nothing but good things to say about this guitar. Which do I prefer?  Both of 'em.  -lpf3 |
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Post by Yew on Jun 22, 2011 2:13:16 GMT -5
@cynical, I was looking at one of those a few weeks ago, It looked pretty smart, and one was going second hand at Notts DnG (nottinghamshire Drum and Guitar Centre) However the staff seemed a bit grumpy that day, so I decided against trying it lpf3 I view the dot with a little less regard than the casino, around the time I bought my firebird (07 I beleive) there where a few dots coming out the factory with production issues. Most likely Ill try and test one when I do a casino. I know it wouldnt be too hard to modify a humbucker cavity for filtertrons, and Ive found a cheapish source for 'Trons and Pickup rings. |
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Post by Yew on Jun 23, 2011 15:40:24 GMT -5
I think im going for the casino, my cheap source of tiltertrons is in the us, and they ship to the uk via gibraltar to avoid tax. Dont think i could get that past the credit card holder.
Of course if i see an articore cheap, im sure i could splash some extra on the pickups
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Post by ijustwannastrat on Jun 23, 2011 17:22:28 GMT -5
That artcore is beautiful sans Bigsby.
But I'm with Yew, that Casino just looks good. Personally, I do prefer the dot, but meh...
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Post by newey on Jun 23, 2011 19:27:56 GMT -5
Sounds like Yew has settled on the casino- a nice choice to be sure. SO this may be a bit late Not too long ago I played one of these and was favorably impressed for the price:  A Hagstrom Viking IIP. This has Hagstrom's "H90" pickups, their take on a P90, and runs a bit under $500 US, so I imagine it would be in your price range in the UK as Hagstrom is an EU company, although the manufacture of these is of course all Asian now. It has the Hagstrom thin neck with the resin fingerboard, which I always liked on Hags back in the day. I guess the thin neck is the love-it-or-hate-it aspect of these, if you're not a fan of a thin neck you won't like the guitar. But if you are, you might want to take a gander at one of these. The one I played sounded nice and the action was very low. If I was in the market for a semi-hollow, this would be on the short list. |
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Post by Yew on Jun 24, 2011 2:06:47 GMT -5
That looks to me like what happened when Ibanez put an RG series neck onto a articore body by accident.
How thin are we talking? RG series? 60's SG neck? Two playing cards stacked together?
Ill probably edit this to put some more stuff in, but i have to get off to work
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Post by asmith on Jun 24, 2011 2:57:25 GMT -5
Not too long ago I played one of these and was favorably impressed for the price: A Hagstrom Viking IIP. I have been lusting after that Hagstrom for years without even knowing it existed. Admittedly, only because I can't get my hands on this or this. |
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Post by newey on Jun 24, 2011 6:06:00 GMT -5
How thin is it?
It is certainly thinner than an SG. Probably not as thin as my Ibanez S470 (which is probably like an RG but I've never picked up an RG)
Back in the '60s, Hags were reknowned for having the thinnest necks. They used (and still do) a patented H-shaped truss rod which they claim keeps a thin neck more stable and allows lower action than a regular truss rod. The fingerboards are a composite resin which they claim is better than wood because it doesn't hold moisture or dirt and is more stable than wood.
Some folks don't like the resin 'boards, claim they're too slick, but again I've always liked them.
Hagstroms were sort of a mid-level guitar back in the '60s, cheaper than a Fender or Gibson, but better quality than the really cheap Japanese brands like Teisco. I had several friends who owned them back in the late '60s to early '70s. The lead guitarist in my 8th-grade garage band had one, a Hagstrom I (which was a pretty weird axe even by the standards of the '60s- a 2-piece clamshell body with a fiberglass top and a tolex-covered wooden back).
They had their share of artists playing them back in the day as well- Zappa played a Viking for a while; I think Dweezil has that one now.
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Post by Yew on Jun 24, 2011 11:56:14 GMT -5
I have played a casino today
Ther neck seemed good, with a reassuring chuckyness but still played fast
The action was a little high, although that can easily be fixed by me, alongside the 9/10 guage strings
The tone was wonderful, airy and open, unlike some of the buzzsaw p90 clips. It kind of had a sound somwhere between a p90, a filtertron, and a single coil.
For the first time ever there was a very nice sound from a neck pickup, like one i would use everyday. Much better than the common muddy humbuckers epiphone usually make.
The finish seemed pretty good, maybe some slight buildups around the neck , however it was all shiny, and the f holes seemed neatly finished.
Overall, it seems all good, depending on where i get it from i might try a dot too, just to see how those humbuckers reack to a hollwed body
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Post by Yew on Jul 6, 2011 16:44:48 GMT -5
arghhhhhh, 2 weeks to go, but im struggling between a Dano and a Casino :/
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Post by cynical1 on Jul 6, 2011 17:49:15 GMT -5
I've always relied on two critical things whenever there was a serious life decision to be made. ...Flipping a coin...or paper, scissors, rock...
HTC1
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Post by Yew on Jul 7, 2011 12:54:43 GMT -5
Its kind of a grass is greener situation, If i ger the casino I will wish i had the dano, If i have the dano I wish I had thent the extra wonga for the casino.
Doesnt help they are totally different guitars :/
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Post by Yew on Jul 7, 2011 13:00:18 GMT -5
Added a poll, choose your axe
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Post by JohnH on Jul 7, 2011 18:45:04 GMT -5
I'd also like a hollow body. My bandmate Dave has a Gretsch 6120 with Filtertrons - and thats the real thing IMO.
I wouldnt be able to choose without picking each one up and playing it, but for a hollow, I reckon it has to have a Bigsby or similar- too much of its target repertoir would depend on it.
The Ibanez suggested by c1 looks interesting, and they don't put their name to bad guitars.
John
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Post by Yew on Jul 10, 2011 15:47:24 GMT -5
Okay, Ive just realised a massive problem.
Gretsch Electromatic Jet. + Neck P90 + P90 mount filtertron.
Should be in my price range if im clever, has the look and feel i want, and should sound right.
Too many guitars, too few pounds
EDIT Never mind, The UK dealers have screwed uop the TV jones/Gretsch pricing again. . TVJ pikcups cost almost the same in pounds as they do in dollars. and gretsch electromatic jets have jumped up 145 quid in price (50% increase) over the last few years...
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Post by Yew on Aug 16, 2011 13:36:12 GMT -5
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Post by roadtonever on Aug 16, 2011 17:41:54 GMT -5
It's a real looker, very stylish. Congrats!
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Post by cynical1 on Aug 16, 2011 17:59:53 GMT -5
I checked out a few reviews and it's interesting the way they've configured the controls with the master volume, individual volumes and no tone control.
Is that how yours is setup?
If so, does it help to eliminate some of the P-90 buzz when both pickups are selected?
HTC1
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Post by Yew on Aug 17, 2011 13:12:49 GMT -5
Unfortunately that one isnt mine  . There are none, anywhere in europe for sale. looks like im going to need to find something else. EDIT; Lets make that, 'there are none advertised as in stock, some places have no stock levels shown, however I cba to make the order, to find out they're unavailable |
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Post by cynical1 on Aug 17, 2011 13:54:36 GMT -5
Unfortunately that one isnt mine . There are none, anywhere in europe for sale. looks like im going to need to find something else. Disregard last question. HTC1 |
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Post by Yew on Aug 17, 2011 15:19:09 GMT -5
Unfortunately that one isnt mine . There are none, anywhere in europe for sale. looks like im going to need to find something else. Disregard last question. HTC1 If it helps, I played a casino with the same epi pickups, and didnt notice much buzz, the grounded metal case would have helped it, obviously I didnt go stupid on the gain because a) its a casino and b) the guys where closing up shop, and i didnt want to annoy them too much. I have ordered another one from another store, that doesnt say anything of the stock levels. I wonder what will happen... |
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Post by Yew on Aug 18, 2011 12:50:32 GMT -5
I think that im off to the local shop, to try and get them to do a deal on a casino (its Music Room,any UK guys had luck with getting money off from them?)
If I cant get a good deal, it will be a trip to nottingham on saturday.
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Post by cynical1 on Aug 18, 2011 17:06:28 GMT -5
Generally you get the best deals on guitars they've taken in on trade.
If you're lucky...and smart...you can get a better guitar for less money then the new on would have cost you.
All the money from the deal stays in the shop, so they have more latitude the adjust the selling price.
Just sayin'...
HTC1
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Post by Yew on Aug 19, 2011 12:01:59 GMT -5
Thanks cynical, I have tried an Epiphone swingster today, Very plesantly suprised, I was expecting it to be a bit of a pile.
Now to try and get 20% discount from shop prices, to internet prices (its not imposible methinks)
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popsaka
Meter Reader 1st Class
I'm tired a'playin' so low...
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Post by popsaka on Aug 20, 2011 6:34:53 GMT -5
...best of luck. -and that includes: Don't be shy about shlepping around and trying folks' privately owned stuff... Who knows, for the amount of quid you're prepared to drop you could wind up with both of the types you've lusted after... Recommend a picture and a post prior to purchase, tho'
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Post by Yew on Aug 20, 2011 10:50:30 GMT -5
Couldnt get the guy to go for it. Looks like Im saving myself about 75 quid, and getting a free bag and cable to boot |
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Post by cynical1 on Aug 20, 2011 18:02:51 GMT -5
So, what did you finally get? The Swingster? Was it the one with the Filtron style pickups?
HTC1
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Both of 'em. 
. There are none, anywhere in europe for sale. looks like im going to need to find something else.
