Leaderboard

Hi I started playing cheap copy guitars in my teens and finally treated myself to a USA fender strat sunburst maple neck , playing through a Marloboro? amp - a rebranded Gibson solid state amp - it was a great combination for the covers band I was playing in , amp was stolen and guitar gathered dust under a bed whilst i got on with life , kids etc . 15 years later I picked up the strat again and bought a marshall JTM30 2X10 combo amp , played it for a few years , but could not get the sound I was after so traded the strat for a Gibson Nighthawk standard 2 pick up , played for a few more years then bought an Acoustic a Guild dreadnought DV-52 - tried martin Gibson and other top acoustics but this was the one i fell in love with - and is still my favourite. A few years later I auditioned for a band and was pleased to be taken on , i played with my Nighthawk and the Marshall , and whilst the combination worked well for rehearsals , when I pushed the volume for gigs I could not get a good clean sound , after a lot of searching and trying I bought a second hand Mesa Boogie mark IV - a truly flexible amp all the sound you need at almost any volume . I was called upon to play amplified acoustic so put a Baggs pick up on the Guild and bought an AER 60 to cover the amplification duties , I got a bit precious about the Guild so bought a Crafter electro acoustic for band duties and a Fishman Aura pedal to deal with any feedback issues and to model the acoustic sound. I had always wanted a Les Paul and bought a Classic 1960, I used it at rehearsals occasionally but never for gigs. I used this set up in the band for a number of years , but found the weight of the Mesa too much , so bough a Mesa express 5:25 1X10 and only used the Mark IV for outdoor or large gigs. On a whim I bought a Gibson Les Paul acoustic (yes really) , thinking I would use it for gigs , but the Crafter produced a more authentic acoustic guitar sound so i continued to use that. Over 15 years or so we did many gigs and moved through a number genres but the band folded a few years ago and I have yet to find a new band to join. I have always enjoyed Jazz and wanted to learn how to play so looked out for a Jazz Guitar , I bought a Japanese Vestax D'angelico NYL-2 - it had the Jazz guitar sound I had in my head , played this for a couple of years but found the body size a bit large , and was recommended a fender D'aquisto Elite and eventually these two guitars through the Mesa and AER ( both have great clean Jazz sounds) are my main go to guitars. So here I am at the autumn of my playing life - but still loving it and I thought I could give some advice and words of wisdom It is emotionally easier to buy gear than it is to sell - GAS is real - although i do realise that I am going to have to thin the herd Don't buy on a whim, research and try to find the guitar set up that gives you the sound and feel you want - read advice on forums You do not have to spend a lot to get a good sound In the hands of a good guitarist a poor guitar can still sound great , but a great guitar will only sound great if you get your skills to the right level - its all about practice If you are not happy with a guitar or amp for example , there are always a number of cheap tweaks you can do , valves, pickups, strings etc again read advice on forums The best way to improve your playing and enjoyment is to play with others - try different genres - it all about learning. A great way to improve your skill is to play along to the radio - try to accompany whatever track they play its great practice for improving your ear If you are not enjoying it , stop and think how you could do it differently and more enjoyably. Best wishes Alby

The resin isn't perfect , there is a blemish where some of the tape touched the surface but that's right where the bridge pickup will go. Another thin layer in the fork of the V ,some sanding back and it should be done. I couldn't resist seeing how the gold hardware will look. Headstock prior to coating.

Interestingly, I've changed, like Hendrix, over the years. Started out preferring rosewood on a Strat, the 62 vibe, but I've come now to much prefer maple. Every so often I'm tempted to buy a Fender 50s soft v maple boarded neck for my old (1994) MIA Strat, but even if a 42 nut would suit me much better than it's 43mm, I'm a bit superstitious about changing the neck on a stock guitar like that let it's never the same again... The Big Plan over the next few years is to buy a Tidepool Player with maple, and *maybe* (if I can try one and like it before they get popular and shoot up in price!!) a Shijie in Daphne Blue with their baked maple neck... covers all options. I was impressed when the Player series was launched and they seem to have what I particularly have always wanted on a neck - glossy fingerboard, satin back. I've been tempted to have the rosewood on my 94 glossed, like a French polish or something, but I've always felt the need to keep that guitar all-original. I even still have the ugly-as-sin square saddles on it!

Only ones i have at the moment, probably dont do it justice.

To my mind, the only shame was they went from the dot inlays to the crowns. I preferred the dots. The unbound fingerboard is a lovely thing, though - probably because I'm much more of a Fender man, but I much prefer the feel of a well-shaped, unbound neck.