Lets look at our guitars thread

[Stan the Bat]

benny.c said:

Just picked up this LP Junior, signed by Slash.

Mojooo said:

Anyone have a view on what to look at? I am into classic rock and a bit of metal.

I’m selling my HSS Big Block Strat if it’s of any interest. Ideal for a bit of metal with the Humbucker whilst maintaining the Strat sound.

Nice LP Junior. (apart from the Slash sig of course.)

[benny.c]

How very dare you, that’s the best bit

(It does play and sound fantastic though)

[Don1]

benny.c said:

I’m selling my HSS Big Block Strat if it’s of any interest. Ideal for a bit of metal with the Humbucker whilst maintaining the Strat sound.

Tell me more about the HSS....

[benny.c]

It was a limited run in 05/06. MIM Deluxe series with big block inlays (hence the name) and an “Enforcer” bridge Humbucker. Similar to the 2001 MIJ Iron Maiden signature model. There are some specs here:

https://www.fuzzfaced.net/big-block-stratocaster.h...

It was recently set up and had the trem blocked by KGB on The Wirral (who are superb BTW for any one in the North West).

http://www.kgb-music.co.uk/

[chemistry]

Swapped out the (famously horrid; cheap, crude, sloppy) trapezoid tuners on my Tele for some Kluson Revolutions. So far I’m really happy with them. They fit perfectly (no new holes to drill) and seem to perform really well. Very smooth.

I did consider the locking versions, but decided against them as they are heavier (and my Tele is already on the cusp of neck dive) and don’t have the same vintage vibe.

Before...


...during...





...after





Old ones...



...new ones

[OldSkoolRS]

chemistry said:

Swapped out the (famously horrid; cheap, crude, sloppy) trapezoid tuners on my Tele for some Kluson Revolutions. So far I’m really happy with them. They fit perfectly (no new holes to drill) and seem to perform really well. Very smooth.

I did consider the locking versions, but decided against them as they are heavier (and my Tele is already on the cusp of neck dive) and don’t have the same vintage vibe.

It might be the photos, but it looks like you aren't stringing these vintage tuners up how they are meant to be used. I hope I don't come across as an arse, but the end of the string is meant to be put down the hole in the middle of the tuner. Typically cut the string about 2" past the tuner and then put a 90 degree bend about 1/4" from the end of the string. (Some people put more wraps on certain strings so that the string break angle is increased, perhaps on the G string if you don't have a string tree on that string). Stringing them this way may well help your tuning stability too.

This is how I do mine by way of comparison (not my guitar but just to show what I mean):

Edited by OldSkoolRS on Sunday 20th October 23:18

[chemistry]

You are quite right and don’t come across as an arse!

They are indeed the ‘safety posts’ with the hole in the base of the shaft like you say...in my defence, I was rushing and couldn’t be bothered to estimate the correct amount of string length I’d need, so just bodged it and strung it up ‘normally’

Thanks for pointing out my error; now the excitement of new tuners has worn off I’ll take the time to do them properly next time I restring it

(Also, I confess that in my ignorance, until researching these Klusons I wasn’t aware of the correct stringing technique and had been doing the old ones ‘wrong’ since I’d had the guitar )

Edited by chemistry on Monday 21st October 02:08

[OldSkoolRS]

Nice straightforward swap there though.

[OldSkoolRS]

I borrowed a friend's SG this summer and have been searching for a decent used one since it went back. His was a satin black Tribute, with a very thin neck and I fancied (or at least thought I did ) a Gloss black Standard with a thicker neck.

I found a shop with a 2011 Ebony Standard in and played it along with some other SGs (and a Les Paul they had in just for comparison ) last week. Made arrangements to take a MIM Telecaster to trade in against this 2011 SG, but I kept looking on their website over the weekend...

Today went back with the Telecaster and had a play of the 2011 and another 'secondhand' (but still with the film on the 'guard) 2018 Cherry Red SG Standard. Quite few differences between them spec wise; different pickups, locking tuners on the newer one and it was in much better condition being essentially new. Slim taper 2018 verses 50s profile 2011, black verses cherry. No right or wrong of course, but in the end I went with the Cherry: It's slim, but not as slim as my friend's Tribute and feels slightly fatter than my Les Paul 60's Tribute.

These are the shop photos, but it just looks like anyother new 2018 SG Standard I guess.




Since I only tried this through a Fender Blues Junior (set clean) in the shop I had a good blast through my Marshall Mini Jubilee and 2x12 cab at home...fantastic.

So glad I tried so many guitars and took the extra time today to double check what I thought was my final decision.

[Hrimfaxi]

Pistonheads - Speed Picking Matters

[Evangelion]

I must say I prefer the look of the SG with the small scratchplate to the larger one that goes round the pickups and out through the top.

Same with the Flying V.

[OldSkoolRS]

Evangelion said:

I must say I prefer the look of the SG with the small scratchplate to the larger one that goes round the pickups and out through the top.

Same with the Flying V.

Cheers Evengelion.

To be fair I hadn't noticed the variations between versions until I started looking at them for sale recently. I only noticed looking at photos that the black 2011 had a bigger pickguard and no pickup surrounds, then the one I ended up with has the smaller guard and pickup rings, which I think I now prefer. I'm in danger of becoming some sort of SG anorak now.

I thought it looked a bit bare without the 'Rhythm/Treble' washer that goes round the switch, but then I looked in the bag that came with the guitar and there was one inside. Just need to take the nut off the switch without marking the body and fit it. I might get some '61 style knobs too (the ones with the silver insert and 'tone' or 'volume' on them).

[Evangelion]

OldSkoolRS said:

... I might get some '61 style knobs too (the ones with the silver insert and 'tone' or 'volume' on them).

Me too. I put a set on my Les Paul Studio, and now I can't get them off! Doesn't matter, they're definitely staying.

[chemistry]

Hrimfaxi said:

Pistonheads - Speed Picking Matters

[RATATTAK]

Help please. My 13 year old grand daughter would like a guitar for Christmas. I'd give her one of mine but she would prefer an acoustic. We'll probably be going to Gear4Music York to try a couple out but I'd like any advice the PH massive can come up with before we go. Budget is £200. Oh, and she's left handed.

Edited by RATATTAK on Sunday 27th October 16:46

[paulguitar]

RATATTAK said:

Help please. My 13 year old grand daughter would like a guitar for Christmas. I'd give her one of mine but she would prefer an acoustic. We'll probably be going to Gear4Music York to try a couple out but I'd like any advice the PH massive can come up with before we go. Budget is £200. Oh, and she's left handed.

Edited by RATATTAK on Sunday 27th October 16:46

How about a Yamaha FG800?

[Evangelion]

Can't go wrong with Yamaha acoustics!

[Rod200SX]

Bit of a random one. Been eyeing up a cheap peavey rotor on ebay. Nothing amazing but I've been fancying another guitar but with a trem. Currently have a hard tail Dean Razorback.

This seems to be the only explorer type with a trem that isn't stupidly expensive. I won't be gigging, I don't play all that often and it's just for some fun/practice in the house.

Any other suggestions, too? Been looking at things like the Js32 (though apparently quite cheap and nasty hardware) and some oddball things on reverb. Prefer different bodystyles, not a huge fan of strats/teles. Not too fussed with Les Paul style but I do like some modern styled/metal looking ones, see the Gothic range etc.

[gmaz]

RATATTAK said:

Help please. My 13 year old grand daughter would like a guitar for Christmas. I'd give her one of mine but she would prefer an acoustic. We'll probably be going to Gear4Music York to try a couple out but I'd like any advice the PH massive can come up with before we go. Budget is £200. Oh, and she's left handed.

Edited by RATATTAK on Sunday 27th October 16:46

I recently bought my son one of these. The quality is very good for the price, decent sound and the smaller size would suit a teen.

LH version - https://www.thomann.de/gb/harley_benton_gs_travel_...

[rsbmw]

RATATTAK said:

Help please. My 13 year old grand daughter would like a guitar for Christmas. I'd give her one of mine but she would prefer an acoustic. We'll probably be going to Gear4Music York to try a couple out but I'd like any advice the PH massive can come up with before we go. Budget is £200. Oh, and she's left handed.

Edited by RATATTAK on Sunday 27th October 16:46

My 6 year old is left handed, when we went to buy her a guitar a few months back the guy in the shop was left handed and said he learned to play right handed, recommended she did the same (plenty of internet people agree). She also seemed more comfortable holding it the correct way Makes sense really, when you start it's not comfortable holding it either way so may aswell do it properly and make things easy for yourself later.