Guitar History, you knew it was coming (Page 4 of 4)

Ya know, Roy, When get there,  that you want to try your own build or have another builder throw one together for ya, I'll send ya some chestnut to start with.  I think what's best is to start with some boards, then look over the grain patterns, the swirls and rings, then cut them down yourself so the swirls are where ya want them on guitar body.  Then plane, edge & glue main board together relative to the size of a strat or tele body.   Ya know, ain't no other luthier going to have in his mind what you want in yours; at least that's what I'm finally figuring out, you know how that goes.   

You ought to try to build one.  I go into guitar stores, play 25 different stock fenders, find maybe one or two that have some sort of  sound and feel that's acceptable.   When I get with guitar buddies in Anchorage who have 20-30 geetars themselves; mostly all their guitars sound/feel/play out of this world; no joke, they are highly selective at what they buy used, usually from other friends or cheap on Craigs List.  I really think one can get what they are looking for building their own (get the best hardware, custom pickups, one of a kind pickguard, ect) or from friends who will only trade such things as guitars & guns, ect.

Zendrive came in the mail and I sure like her, one to get for sure.    Milder than any others I have tried, been using a Keeley TS9 upgrade and the zen is sweeter even with surfers & the bruno.  Have you ever heard a Butler tube driver? Chandler use to market them.  Heard a few clips but they can be kinda  misleading.  Thats another one I'd like to get my hands on.  No satisfyin some people I guess, never seem to get there. 

Anyway, Don't mean to go on; hey, still snow everywhere but at least it's staying above zero now.

Zhurh, a good friend of mine imports exotic woods for luthiers, I'll have to ask him about this stuff, sounds good. Also, another friend has just got a Zendrive.....says it's great....haven't heard it yet. If it's as good as he says then I'm having one as well

Geoff

PS: TB...you got a '57? ....or a reissue?

Ah, the old MIJ or CIJ chestnut. If it's good then it's good.....that's all that matters. I have an old Japanese 57 reissue....it's just about the only guitar I've never sold.

Yeah, the manager of my local guitar shop is fantastic too

Im guessing your the manager well I hope you are its rare nowa days to get good honest people in shops. Theres a hell of alot of Guitar shops or anyshops really who fleece ppl who havent a clue or are turning "supermarket" come buy no haggle, no deal, no friendly after service etc Ive been in quite a few round manc and preston area and felt uncomfortable testing stuff cuz staff just arnt friendly and encouraging :x or even worse they try forcing sales down your throat lol ok got me ranting now im going to bed

gsj,  Ya know, I see equivalent stk fenders on Craigs List for 350-400 & in guitar shops for 600-up.  NOw most don't have that sound but my friends seem to find better guitars on CL than anywhere else.  We live out in the sticks, so I'll call my one buddy in Anch when I see something nice and he'll check it out.  You wouldn't believe all the accessories, drives ect they get for 20 bucks.  I see cheaper gibsons for 600-800 alot too; Amer strats for 400 all the time.  I just see better deals for guitars & amps outside of stores.

       I buy from stores in Fairbanks & Anchorage over Mus friend & online places but some guitar, pup, strings, and drive builders are so small; ya gotta kiss their butts to get anything; which I graciously do, ha; I've had to send builders extra chestnut just so they could have a few outta that wood for themselves too, ha.    Got to support the mum & pop places or they won't be around too long.  Most only charge maybe 10% over online places anyway.

        I'm sure you've been to local luthier's shops to look over their personal "not for sale" builds; the ones they can't seem to duplicate; It's the piece of wood they started with; Super light single piece swamp ash usually from the ones I've had my hands on.  Best tele I have ever played didn't have a truss rod, now imagine that; take the strings off every couple weeks to get her back in place, no joke.

       I'm not real big into pedals, actually I really like the compressor though, the Bruno Cowtipper sounds good to me even at 4 but that Zen sure is money well spent; figured that out first 10 minutes.   Get on Hermidias wait list, now about 4-5 months, no money down; but you'll get an email once your name makes it up to the top, send him the 188, super deal for you Euro guys now too.

Back to that chestnut thing. 150 years back, it made up 70% of the forest  in Pennsylvania, then it went extinct.  You're wood guy might know about it but kinda hard to find, usually only comes from old buildings & barns.  I tore down a barn that was built in 1832, no nails, just wooden pegs. Beam was 26 foot long and hand hewn with axe marks all the way the length.  I had her sawn up, dry old wood; looks like dark red oak but real light in weight.   I know of one guy who builds guitars outta it in Virginia, has a stockpile he got himself from old barns.  LIke I said, when I tell builders I got some, they wanna bargain with me some, no joke.  To me, I like the feel of wood; reason I live in a log cabin with spruce ceilings, and as much oak furniture as I can get.  Chestnut probably doesn't sound any better than swamp ash; but it sure begs me to pick her up and play over football & hockey on the dish in the evenings.    Hey, the local Indians make fiddles outta birch, pegs & chin piece outta carved moose bone.  They don't sound any better than European fiddles but the Indians sure think so; that's all that matters; they got one of a kind.

Zhurh...what is Craigs List? I've never heard of it.

Your log cabin sounds great.....there's something about wood furniture that works for me too. Better than so much of the stuff that's readily available nowadays.

Geoff