Lets look at our guitars thread

Lets look at our guitars thread

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Discussion

FreeLitres

6,050 posts

178 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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I recently bought a Harley Benton st-62 strat and it is absolutely fantastic. It's one of these;



I actually had a full fat Fender USA Strat Plus a few years back but I never really got on with it so I sold it. I've had (and still got) a Ibanez RG Prestige which is good for the metal/shred stuff but never felt or sounded right for my blues playing.

I have spent a couple of days touring guitar shops trying to find something that feels "right" to me. I tried all sorts, but nothing felt right. i think I posted those experiences on here a few months back.

I saw some good reviews on the ST-62 so took a punt. This thing feels and sounds amazing. So easy to play somehow. Feels much more expensive than a £100 guitar!!! Nicely finished frets, convincing strat tones, great sustain! Blown away.


cherryowen

11,715 posts

205 months

Friday 30th August 2019
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FreeLitres said:
I recently bought a Harley Benton st-62 strat and it is absolutely fantastic. It's one of these;

That's very smart looking

Any issues with the hardware or pickups?



FreeLitres

6,050 posts

178 months

Friday 30th August 2019
quotequote all
Everything seems good so far.

They ship the guitars with the trem flat to the body (claw screwed in to keep the springs tight). I was going the block the trem off anyway so I'll keep it like this. Switches and pots actually feel good with no crackles or dead spots. Tuning pegs feel nice and smooth. Some owners replace the string trees with roller ones, but I haven't seen a need to yet. I've only had it a couple of day. but I really am impressed!


cherryowen

11,715 posts

205 months

Saturday 7th September 2019
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I'd not previously thought of posting this, as I don't play it often. However, after about 6 months laying idle I picked it up earlier, dusted it off and remarkably was still in perfect tune!



A Hohner "Countryman"

Last year, paying a visit to an antiques / collectables place in Church Stretton, this was sitting a corner looking particularly forlorn. Picking it up, I did a basic tune-up, and played some basic chords. The action was OK, not too high. Intonation was spot on. No damage on any of the bodywork, and it was LOUD!

25 quid

Got home, and treated it to a new set of Dean Markley's, a bloody good clean, and some GHS Fast Fret fretboard oil.

For the occasional bit of folk tunes I play, it's bang on. And still LOUD!

rsbmw

3,464 posts

106 months

Sunday 8th September 2019
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This '92 Eggle came up and I couldnt resist. What a fabulous guitar and practically mint at 27 years old




Evangelion

7,734 posts

179 months

Sunday 8th September 2019
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Nice find rsbmw! What a fabulous finish.

cherryowen

11,715 posts

205 months

Sunday 8th September 2019
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+1

Very lovely indeed


Don Roque

17,998 posts

160 months

Wednesday 11th September 2019
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rsbmw said:
This '92 Eggle came up and I couldnt resist. What a fabulous guitar and practically mint at 27 years old



How much was it? The Bass Gallery in Camden recently had two Patrick Eggle basses in that looked nice.

Sporky

6,308 posts

65 months

Wednesday 11th September 2019
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I made this myself. Sporkbasster 1.


Don1

15,951 posts

209 months

Wednesday 11th September 2019
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Not bad at all. Great effort. Was it hard to do?

Sporky

6,308 posts

65 months

Wednesday 11th September 2019
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About my seventh build, I think. As I recall I exploded three necks and went through two fretboards - this was the most CNC'd instrument I'd made. Contrary to popular opinion, it's a lot easier with hand tools!

I've got the photos to do a build thread if it'd be of interest.

rsbmw

3,464 posts

106 months

Wednesday 11th September 2019
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Don Roque said:
How much was it? The Bass Gallery in Camden recently had two Patrick Eggle basses in that looked nice.
Got it for £750

FreeLitres

6,050 posts

178 months

Sunday 15th September 2019
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Which guitar strings do you guys use on your electric guitars?

I've always bought Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9-42 which have done the job OK.

I'm noticing a lot of new varieties such as;
Rotosound Ultramag
Slinky M-Steels (High output)
Slinky Cobolt
etc.

Are these non-standard strings any good?

smn159

12,712 posts

218 months

Monday 16th September 2019
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FreeLitres said:
Which guitar strings do you guys use on your electric guitars?

I've always bought Ernie Ball Super Slinky 9-42 which have done the job OK.

I'm noticing a lot of new varieties such as;
Rotosound Ultramag
Slinky M-Steels (High output)
Slinky Cobolt
etc.

Are these non-standard strings any good?
10-46's on all of mine

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000EEJ91I/ref...

rsbmw

3,464 posts

106 months

Monday 16th September 2019
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I've never tried any of the coated strings, snake oil in my opinion.

Will also use various brands, EB, D'Addario, Roto. In 9's, 10's or 11's depending on the guitar.

Sporky

6,308 posts

65 months

Monday 16th September 2019
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I use Elixirs on all of mine (apart from the 12-string). I like them; they don't have quite the zing of a packet-fresh EB but they stay nicely bright for much, much longer, and I like the slippery feel.

Different gauges on different guitars to suit the scale length and tuning, but I'd go 10-46 on most 25.5" guitars.

Evangelion

7,734 posts

179 months

Monday 16th September 2019
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10's on Fenders and 11's on Gibsons for me, except for one Strat which has 12's on.. Still using a plain third, as a wound one seemed to make that string quieter than the others.

Never tried flatwounds except on basses (but coming back to roundwounds afterwards makes your fingers hurt like hell!).

bga

8,134 posts

252 months

Monday 16th September 2019
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rsbmw said:
I've never tried any of the coated strings, snake oil in my opinion.

Will also use various brands, EB, D'Addario, Roto. In 9's, 10's or 11's depending on the guitar.
I’ve had elixirs on an acoustic since Christmas. I’ve only just got to the point where they need replacing. I’ve gigged a couple of times and play that guitar a few times a week. I’ve never played a string with such longevity.

That said, I don’t have an issue with changing strings and I’ll probably not replace like for like.

cherryowen

11,715 posts

205 months

Monday 16th September 2019
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Until a couple of years ago, it was Dean Markley every time (and still use for my cheapo acoustic) until a little independent music shop opened in Newport (Shropshire) ten minutes up the road.

She didn't stock DM strings, so I tried a set of EB Custom Slinky 009 - 046. They sounded easily as good as DM, but the "playability" was off the scale when it came to executing bends; especially wide interval Gilmour-ish stuff.


davidd

6,452 posts

285 months

Wednesday 18th September 2019
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10-46 on most things, I've been using nyxls on the ones that get played a lot. Stay brighter for longer.