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Edwardo
Joined: 09 Apr 2007
Posts: 3
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 Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:31 am Post subject: New guitars |
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Hi
I am new to the forum. I am a recycled guitar player who played pro for 17 years than got a real job, family etc and now picking it up again after a 25 year leave.
I am recording now for fun and a little cash.
I find the guitars now to be very poor workmanship.( At least the last few I have bought.)
I have owned Fender , Gibson mostly while in the bands. Since my comeback I have had nothing but trouble with at least half the guitars I bought. eg: a 2000 Les Paul standard - 11 fret lifted at both ends, plus neck problems. A brand new Fender Highway 1- the nut wore down to the fret ( B string ) on the first job we did. What the heck are these made of?
I have 4 other guitars and the gretsch Jet job is standing up great as well as my other older fenders.
I really think there is a reson to have warrenty now a days.
How long would a guitar last like these in Joe Satriana hands?
Ed |
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woland99
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
Posts: 155
Location: Austin, TX
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 4:45 am Post subject: Re: New guitars |
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| Edwardo wrote: | | I find the guitars now to be very poor workmanship.( At least the last few I have bought.) |
Some are - that is true. Fender and Gibson are pushed very hard to
compete with cheap Asian imports. PRS seems to keep decent quality
but at a high-price. G&L ASATs are good. Higher end Ibanez guitars.
I think that one way to get good instrument these days is to set aside
some money and have it custom made. I ordered a Klein-like headless
guitar from a local luthier here in Austin. Friend of mine and local musician
that worked for many years in a "boutique" guitar store here in Austin
and has deep knowledge of guitars ordered same guitar and thought it
was the best solid body guitar he ever played.
I think that guitar players are generally spoiled - we expect to buy high
quality instruments and rarely pay more than 1000. Any other musician
- sax players, violinists or cellist pay many times more to get decent
instruments.
JT |
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Gorecki
Site Admin
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 238
Location: Glenwood, MD
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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Hey man, welcome!
It's not just you. Basically what I've been finding is the imports 'for the money' are better guitars. Keeping price into consideration provide much more value on average.
I have to be totally honest, Gibson broke my heart! I use to be a hardcore Gibson guy. Gibson was the only thing I would play. My first *good* guitar was a '70s Les Paul Standard, Wine Red. MAN I loved that guitar! Now, I only have one Gibson in the house and realistically it's not even a Gibson, it was designed by and built by Wayne Charvel with Gibson's name on it. And they only made 200 of those. I have #93.
Somewhere in the '80s, it all went to hell. They moved to Tenn and went largely to automation. And started producing garbage across the board!
Since then they've redeemed themselves ever so slightly. So now you *might* get a good guitar for $3,500 - $5,500 if you're lucky! And if that was the cost when I got that first Les Paul eons ago, it would have never happened, too far out of reach!
Again, they broke my heart. 
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BarbNY
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
Posts: 29
Location: NY
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 6:45 pm Post subject: New Guitars |
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| Gorecki wrote: | Hey man, welcome!
It's not just you. Basically what I've been finding is the imports 'for the money' are better guitars. Keeping price into consideration provide much more value on average.
I have to be totally honest, Gibson broke my heart! I use to be a hardcore Gibson guy. Gibson was the only thing I would play. My first *good* guitar was a '70s Les Paul Standard, Wine Red. MAN I loved that guitar! Now, I only have one Gibson in the house and realistically it's not even a Gibson, it was designed by and built by Wayne Charvel with Gibson's name on it. And they only made 200 of those. I have #93.
Somewhere in the '80s, it all went to hell. They moved to Tenn and went largely to automation. And started producing garbage across the board!
Since then they've redeemed themselves ever so slightly. So now you *might* get a good guitar for $3,500 - $5,500 if you're lucky! And if that was the cost when I got that first Les Paul eons ago, it would have never happened, too far out of reach!
Again, they broke my heart. |
Brian,
I'm right with you regarding Gibson. For years, I revered their guitars and refused to buy any guitar not made in the U.S. Not any more. About 8 years ago I bought a Gibson 125 at a local guitar show for about $1,400, and it seemed great...for a while. Then, the luthier who maintains my guitars told me he had adjusted the truss rod as far as he could, and suggested I send the guitar back to Gibson to have them replace the neck. The dealer I purchased the guitar from did just that, and after a 3-month wait, I got the guitar back...along with scratches that were never there before and excess glue all over the joint! Talk about heart-broken! Shortly after that I sold the guitar, vowing never to buy Gibson again. |
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Gorecki
Site Admin
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 238
Location: Glenwood, MD
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:08 pm Post subject: Re: New Guitars |
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| BarbNY wrote: | | I got the guitar back...along with scratches that were never there before and excess glue all over the joint! Talk about heart-broken! Shortly after that I sold the guitar, vowing never to buy Gibson again. |
That's just sad! Now if Gibson offered me an endorsement, why certainly I would take it.  But otherwise, I don't expect to give them any money either.
It's fortunate we've reached an era of so many custom builders that options are plentiful if a person's going to spend middle four figures on a guitar.
Granted I probably would have trouble finding someone willing to build me a purple quilt top arch. (yeah I like the idea..  ) And I'm certainly not ready to take it on myself. Arch's are beyond my building skill set and probably will be for a while.
By the way, your JB model looks pretty slick there Barb! 
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BarbNY
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
Posts: 29
Location: NY
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 7:33 pm Post subject: Re: New Guitars |
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"By the way, your JB model looks pretty slick there Barb! "
Thanks, Brian. I met Roger Sadowsky through Jimmy Bruno a few years ago, and he is the most amazing guy in the business. Not only a great builder with a fantastic rep for doing repairs, but he is totally accessible via phone or e-mail. His staff is the same. What a huge difference dealing with a small shop vs. the big guys like Gibson. There is nothing that compares with the personalized service that Sadowsky offers....both before and after a sale. The JB model has become my "go to" guitar. Apparently, others think the same. The incredibly talented Wolf Marshall is now an endorser and raves about the guitar on his site. If you have an opportunity, check out Sadowsky's site to see the many fine instruments (solid bodies & basses, too) he offers. |
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Gorecki
Site Admin
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 238
Location: Glenwood, MD
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| Posted: Tue Apr 10, 2007 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, I've nosed through their guitars a few times. I love how they most often use ebony boards. That's my favorite, I've worn out rosewood boards.
I'm sure they/he's a class act. Saw the bass player my little brother works with most often these days as well. Small world.
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haowens2
Joined: 30 Apr 2007
Posts: 5
Location: Athens Georgia
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| Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 11:41 pm Post subject: Custom guitars |
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Take a look at Eastman Guitars. Great buy for the money. I was a Gibson biggot for many years. I owned a 335 a 175 and a Johnny Smith model that I bought from Johnny. I had Tom Ribbecke build me a custom guitar and I have not even opened that cases on the Gibsons since delivery of my Ribbecke four years ago.
Life is good!  |
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woland99
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
Posts: 155
Location: Austin, TX
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Gorecki
Site Admin
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 238
Location: Glenwood, MD
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 2:02 am Post subject: Re: Custom guitars |
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| haowens2 wrote: | Take a look at Eastman Guitars. Great buy for the money. I was a Gibson biggot for many years. I owned a 335 a 175 and a Johnny Smith model that I bought from Johnny. I had Tom Ribbecke build me a custom guitar and I have not even opened that cases on the Gibsons since delivery of my Ribbecke four years ago.
Life is good! |
Actually, they're (Eastman) just up the road from me. I haven't played one though. No one around here I know has one. I wanted a 175 for many years and never did get one, now, for what they want for it...pfft, they can keep it. 
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Gorecki
Site Admin
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 238
Location: Glenwood, MD
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 2:05 am Post subject: |
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I've heard good things, again never played one. But a couple guys elsewhere really like theres. I think rkelley40 and I are all most half of the guys around here who would have interest.
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John G
Joined: 21 Apr 2007
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 3:18 am Post subject: Re: Custom guitars |
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| Gorecki wrote: | | haowens2 wrote: | Take a look at Eastman Guitars. Great buy for the money. I was a Gibson biggot for many years. I owned a 335 a 175 and a Johnny Smith model that I bought from Johnny. I had Tom Ribbecke build me a custom guitar and I have not even opened that cases on the Gibsons since delivery of my Ribbecke four years ago.
Life is good! |
Actually, they're (Eastman) just up the road from me. I haven't played one though. No one around here I know has one. I wanted a 175 for many years and never did get one, now, for what they want for it...pfft, they can keep it. |
I've got an Eastman 810CE Anniversary Edition and it is a real beauty. It plays so well, sounds great plugged in or acoustic, and looks real smooth with the volume and tone controls hidden on the underside of the pickguard. If you have never played one I highly recommend you give them a try, especially considering your location.
I've had more than one Gibson owner admit their jealousy |
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Larry_DC
Joined: 31 Mar 2007
Posts: 207
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 11:55 am Post subject: |
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| I bought an Eastman 905CE three months ago. It has great tone and a beautiful finish. Brian, you're probably less than 20 minutes from their facility in Clarksburg. Just think, you could try out every guitar in their inventory! |
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marksound
Joined: 27 Apr 2007
Posts: 26
Location: OKUSA
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 12:52 pm Post subject: |
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I'm a big fan of Myka Guitars. I've never played one, but I will. He's currently moving his shop from NY to WA, but he'll be back up and running soon.
Hey Gorecki, I bet David would build that purple quilt archtop for ya. |
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Gorecki
Site Admin
Joined: 24 Feb 2007
Posts: 238
Location: Glenwood, MD
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| Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 2:37 pm Post subject: |
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| marksound wrote: | I'm a big fan of Myka Guitars. I've never played one, but I will. He's currently moving his shop from NY to WA, but he'll be back up and running soon.
Hey Gorecki, I bet David would build that purple quilt archtop for ya. |
Wow, David's moving coast to coast?  He must have a good reason.
Oh believe me, I've drooled over his work too many times and had the same thought. But I haven't seen him do a 3" arch and don't really know if that would be his cup of tea? His chambered are gorgeous and I still love the Dragon Fly! 
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