Pointy guitars
Discussion
I have a penchant for pointy guitars, ESP Explorers, Jackson Kellys, that sort of thing.
Just spotted this,
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/ibanez-xtp-700/1...
Then I spotted it on Ebay for £100 less,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ibanez-xpt700-/121199307...
Then I saw this,
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/rare-peavey-roto...
Confused isn't the word.
What would you go for? I have a set of new EMG 81/85s just sitting waiting for a suitable guitar and money to buy one.
Just spotted this,
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/ibanez-xtp-700/1...
Then I spotted it on Ebay for £100 less,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/ibanez-xpt700-/121199307...
Then I saw this,
http://www.gumtree.com/p/for-sale/rare-peavey-roto...
Confused isn't the word.
What would you go for? I have a set of new EMG 81/85s just sitting waiting for a suitable guitar and money to buy one.
The Xiphos is the one to go for from that selection, but I wouldn't even put the EMGs in it as the Dimarzio D-Activators are much nicer pickups. I had an XPT700 years ago and it was a brilliant guitar, top notch hardware, brilliant fret work and excellent finish quality, and Dimarzios. I'd probably have another, tune it to C standard like my last one and keep it about. I think I sold it at the time as I wasn't playing it as much as my K-7, which was a bigger and better sounding guitar as well as being more versatile, and I prefer 7 strings.
Mastodon2 said:
The Xiphos is the one to go for from that selection, but I wouldn't even put the EMGs in it as the Dimarzio D-Activators are much nicer pickups. I had an XPT700 years ago and it was a brilliant guitar, top notch hardware, brilliant fret work and excellent finish quality, and Dimarzios. I'd probably have another, tune it to C standard like my last one and keep it about. I think I sold it at the time as I wasn't playing it as much as my K-7, which was a bigger and better sounding guitar as well as being more versatile, and I prefer 7 strings.
So you reckon the DiMarzios sound better than the EMGs?. Interesting to hear another opinion. I'm a big Hetfield fan, that's where the EMG/Explorer obsession comes from. Never had any real interest in 7 strings though. Truth be told, I barely use the B and E string, I should be a bassist but can't bring myself to it lol.militantmandy said:
Dean razorback is all the pointyness you'll ever need
It is very pointy, but the clubby neck, suspect fretwork, poorly applied finishes and cheapo parts stand against it. That, and the shocking ergonomics - I understand that it's a guitar to be seen playing, rather than be comfortable playing, but all the points are in the wrong places and it pokes and jabs you constantly, sitting or standing, and it could give a Gibson SG a hard time in a neck dive contest, the balance is appalling. The Dean ML is better from an ergonomics perspective, as it doesn't have the jagged edges, but it still has a large neck, dodgy frets, crap finished and crap parts that are sadly typical of Deans. Still, Dime fanboys love them.As for EMGs vs Dimarzios, EMGs are nice, and are good for the Hetfield style tight thrash sound. However, the 81/85s are an old design and despite advances in active pickup technology over recent years, they still don't have the dynamic range or harmonic richness of a good passive. The Dimarzio D Activators are designed to give the punch and output of active pickups, without the drawbacks like lack of headroom, sterile cleans and dull harmonics. I've had a guitar with an EMG81, it was a single pickup guitar and in that guitar it felt like that was all it needed, but it was not versatile. You say that at the moment you only use the EADG strings, so the tight, chuggy sound of EMGs might be all you need. It's personal preference really, if I bought a guitar with EMGs I wouldn't be in a massive rush to change them, but Dimarzios are just better in every respect imo. This only applies to 6 strings though, as EMGs 6 string pickups are quite nice, their 7 string pickups, at least the EMG707 that used to be the only one they made, is terrible, unless you only bought a 7 string to bang on the low B string, in which case you could have a 1 string guitar, and even then it's not an amazing low B sound.
Art0ir said:
Love me a pointy guitar.
Had one of these for 9 years.
P.S. from the gumtree location you must be local
I'm an Antrim boy. Your IP suggests you're from Newry. In England now but lived there for a year. Twincams, D-Turbos, bags of Meph lol. Rock out with your cock out Anthony \m/Had one of these for 9 years.
P.S. from the gumtree location you must be local
Mastodon2 said:
militantmandy said:
Dean razorback is all the pointyness you'll ever need
It is very pointy, but the clubby neck, suspect fretwork, poorly applied finishes and cheapo parts stand against it. That, and the shocking ergonomics - I understand that it's a guitar to be seen playing, rather than be comfortable playing, but all the points are in the wrong places and it pokes and jabs you constantly, sitting or standing, and it could give a Gibson SG a hard time in a neck dive contest, the balance is appalling. The Dean ML is better from an ergonomics perspective, as it doesn't have the jagged edges, but it still has a large neck, dodgy frets, crap finished and crap parts that are sadly typical of Deans. Still, Dime fanboys love them.As for EMGs vs Dimarzios, EMGs are nice, and are good for the Hetfield style tight thrash sound. However, the 81/85s are an old design and despite advances in active pickup technology over recent years, they still don't have the dynamic range or harmonic richness of a good passive. The Dimarzio D Activators are designed to give the punch and output of active pickups, without the drawbacks like lack of headroom, sterile cleans and dull harmonics. I've had a guitar with an EMG81, it was a single pickup guitar and in that guitar it felt like that was all it needed, but it was not versatile. You say that at the moment you only use the EADG strings, so the tight, chuggy sound of EMGs might be all you need. It's personal preference really, if I bought a guitar with EMGs I wouldn't be in a massive rush to change them, but Dimarzios are just better in every respect imo. This only applies to 6 strings though, as EMGs 6 string pickups are quite nice, their 7 string pickups, at least the EMG707 that used to be the only one they made, is terrible, unless you only bought a 7 string to bang on the low B string, in which case you could have a 1 string guitar, and even then it's not an amazing low B sound.
With the EMG thing, if your a massive rhythm player then go with your ears, but I'm more swayed towards passive Pickups like Mastodon myself.
I've always played sitting down at home, so Vs, and mad shapes have never been very suitable,I always feel like Im going to loose an eye!
But the Rhoads Jackson just look so good,
Plus Jackson give you a free leather waistcoat with every purchase.
Fantuzzi said:
Im glad someone else noticed the razorback thing, I thought they looked really cool when I was 14, not a dime fanboy, but when I played one it was crap. Funny when I played a midrange Vendetta I remember it been good, perhaps the best dean is the 120quid strat copy 'avalanche' that was pretty playable as I recall! But my standards have changed since I got the Jackson Dinky so I might not be so impressed.
With the EMG thing, if your a massive rhythm player then go with your ears, but I'm more swayed towards passive Pickups like Mastodon myself.
I've always played sitting down at home, so Vs, and mad shapes have never been very suitable,I always feel like Im going to loose an eye!
But the Rhoads Jackson just look so good,
Plus Jackson give you a free leather waistcoat with every purchase.
Pal of mine has one of these:With the EMG thing, if your a massive rhythm player then go with your ears, but I'm more swayed towards passive Pickups like Mastodon myself.
I've always played sitting down at home, so Vs, and mad shapes have never been very suitable,I always feel like Im going to loose an eye!
But the Rhoads Jackson just look so good,
Plus Jackson give you a free leather waistcoat with every purchase.
http://www.gak.co.uk/en/dean-usa-razorback-ml-slim...
Waxes lyrical about it constantly and it sounds great. I'm a drummer so my technical knowledge extends to "it's awesome and pointy".
Art0ir said:
The lower point actually fits perfectly between your thighs for sit down playing.
Yeah but then you've got to sit with the neck pointing up rather than horizontally, which I find really weird. I'm sure I'd get used to it, but it always felt properly alien when Ive played Vs in stores.
Fantuzzi said:
Yeah but then you've got to sit with the neck pointing up rather than horizontally, which I find really weird. I'm sure I'd get used to it, but it always felt properly alien when Ive played Vs in stores.
Guitars with a V at the bottom like a typical flying V, RRV, X shape guitar like an Ibanez Xiphos, Jackson Warrior etc are great for technique, as the placing the upper bout over your thigh and the lower bout under it puts the neck at about 45 degrees to the ground, so you end up like this
... which is perfect for technique in terms of helping your hand fall naturally into place (not angling the wrist unnaturally, or "crabbing" your hand over the neck. The downside is that when you want to sit the guitar flat, slump back on the sofa and noodle in a relaxed fashion you can't, you have to sit perfectly upright, playing in classical position. With a superstrat type guitar, you can do either.
Some mentioned the Jackson Kelly earlier in this thread, a guitar I've always liked the look of it. I love it's curves, and it's miniaturised Explorer styling, however, in my experience these guitars suffer neck dive too. Not as bad as a Gibson SG, but stil not amazing. However, allegedly it can be fixed with a strap button relocation and wide leather strap, but I've never liked the idea of buying a guitar and then having to drill another strap button on. Still, Marty Friedman never seemed to suffer too badly!
Mastodon2 said:
Fantuzzi said:
Yeah but then you've got to sit with the neck pointing up rather than horizontally, which I find really weird. I'm sure I'd get used to it, but it always felt properly alien when Ive played Vs in stores.
Guitars with a V at the bottom like a typical flying V, RRV, X shape guitar like an Ibanez Xiphos, Jackson Warrior etc are great for technique, as the placing the upper bout over your thigh and the lower bout under it puts the neck at about 45 degrees to the ground, so you end up like this... which is perfect for technique in terms of helping your hand fall naturally into place (not angling the wrist unnaturally, or "crabbing" your hand over the neck. The downside is that when you want to sit the guitar flat, slump back on the sofa and noodle in a relaxed fashion you can't, you have to sit perfectly upright, playing in classical position. With a superstrat type guitar, you can do either.
Mastodon2 said:
It is very pointy, but the clubby neck, suspect fretwork, poorly applied finishes and cheapo parts stand against it. That, and the shocking ergonomics - I understand that it's a guitar to be seen playing, rather than be comfortable playing, but all the points are in the wrong places and it pokes and jabs you constantly, sitting or standing, and it could give a Gibson SG a hard time in a neck dive contest, the balance is appalling. The Dean ML is better from an ergonomics perspective, as it doesn't have the jagged edges, but it still has a large neck, dodgy frets, crap finished and crap parts that are sadly typical of Deans. Still, Dime fanboys love them.
As long as you are reserving this opinion for the Chinese & Korean made Deans and not the USA as well, then I'll agree. The USA models are fantastic. I've had a USA ML for 6 years now and it is still one of the best guitars I've ever played (working in a guitar shop for 9 years, I've played a lot of guitars
) No issues with neck-dive either.The Razorbacks that I have played - numerous Korean models and 1x USA model - all had neck-dive issues. They are much lighter than the ML but have an even larger headstock, and could really do with a re-location of the strap button.
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