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Post by RealNoob on May 7, 2021 13:28:10 GMT -6
I am a fairly monogamous (lol) guitar player. I have a cheap strat I practice with but all performances have been with a Black Falcon for 15 years. the problem is lead playing. It's just tough on that bird.
So I am shopping for something 2K. I have been looking at the Duesenberg Paloma which is a HSS strat killer. Just this week though, I was reminded about the Taylor T5Z which would open up the sound options to acoustic-ish, jazz box, strat-ish, tele-ish. Anyone play one for versatility and if so, how is the feel?
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Post by RealNoob on May 8, 2021 8:25:30 GMT -6
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Post by srb on May 9, 2021 14:19:35 GMT -6
For what it's woth, lots of factors go in to the prospect of 'playability': neck radius, neck set, neck relief, fret size/height, string guage, string height, and scale length. Brand is never much a consideration for me, though I do prefer Fender and Gibson. I do want whatever it is to play well to the extent that I don't have to think about it...just play.
My guitar set-up guy (who often works wonders) and I have also discussed frequently the prospect of string tension, i.e. how some guitars just feel 'tight'; and how there seems to be no readily evident explanation for it...it just happens...there's something inherent to the instrument that causes it. No quantifiable reason for it. For the other factors listed, there is a measure of control available to enhance or mitigate.
A good setup person is an indispensable asset in my guitar-filled world.
Now, pickups and their myriad incarnations and subsequent effect on tone and their impact on playability is a whole other discussion.
Amp speaker choice, circuit bias, tube complemen/type/brand is another area ripe for unending discussion. Sometimes it seems like what the internet was made for. 🙂
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Post by svart on May 10, 2021 6:55:10 GMT -6
A few years ago we set out to find a studio telecaster. My budget wasn't set in stone but I was willing to pay for the right guitar if you know what I mean. We played every tele we came across including some really nice and expensive custom jobs.
We came across one specific Squire Classic Vibe tele that was just "right". Perfect combination of frets, neck radius, etc. It played better than any other guitar at 4x the cost. I put some fender custom pickups in it and it's one of my favorite guitars in the studio for just about anything.
The moral here is that price means almost nothing. Playability means everything. You can change a pickup on a cheaper guitar and make it sound better/different if you want but you can't change the playability without changing the guitar itself.
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Post by ragan on May 10, 2021 8:51:18 GMT -6
A few years ago we set out to find a studio telecaster. My budget wasn't set in stone but I was willing to pay for the right guitar if you know what I mean. We played every tele we came across including some really nice and expensive custom jobs. We came across one specific Squire Classic Vibe tele that was just "right". Perfect combination of frets, neck radius, etc. It played better than any other guitar at 4x the cost. I put some fender custom pickups in it and it's one of my favorite guitars in the studio for just about anything. The moral here is that price means almost nothing. Playability means everything. You can change a pickup on a cheaper guitar and make it sound better/different if you want but you can't change the playability without changing the guitar itself. One of my most played guitars is a Classic Vibe Tele. Pickups were pretty meager but it just plays great. I put Cavaliers in it and have reached for it a lot ever since. |
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Post by svart on May 10, 2021 9:00:24 GMT -6
A few years ago we set out to find a studio telecaster. My budget wasn't set in stone but I was willing to pay for the right guitar if you know what I mean. We played every tele we came across including some really nice and expensive custom jobs. We came across one specific Squire Classic Vibe tele that was just "right". Perfect combination of frets, neck radius, etc. It played better than any other guitar at 4x the cost. I put some fender custom pickups in it and it's one of my favorite guitars in the studio for just about anything. The moral here is that price means almost nothing. Playability means everything. You can change a pickup on a cheaper guitar and make it sound better/different if you want but you can't change the playability without changing the guitar itself. One of my most played guitars is a Classic Vibe Tele. Pickups were pretty meager but it just plays great. I put Cavaliers in it and have reached for it a lot ever since. One thing that really struck me at the time was the variability between guitars of the same make/model. Of course we tried the real Fender teles first and of the dozen or so, only a couple felt "right". Besides that I don't like the thicker necks and frets, the neck quality was all over the place. Almost all of them would need a hardcore setup from the getgo. I personally liked the slightly thinner neck and smaller frets on the Squires. I was surprised to find that the American teles were just as all-over-the-place as the mexican teles so I'm not sure where the cost difference comes from. I think the classic vibe series is just about the perfect cost/playability compromise. Anyway, I've had a bunch of folks come through the studio since. I've had a few bands bring Fender teles or other guitars and end up using my tele instead. Lots of folks have offered to buy it once they've played it too. (it's amazing that a band who claims they need a discount for the studio due to low cash somehow has a guitar player that offers cash money for my guitar..) |
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Post by notneeson on May 10, 2021 9:23:33 GMT -6
I’m doing it backwards: a beater 70s tele fell into my lap at a great price. Loved the sound but the action was way too high and it was a pig to play. But, it just fit right in the mix sound wise, Every time, beating my 90s USA tele and 90s ASAT for everything but playability.
So I had them put it on the plek and guess who gets to pay for a refret? I could have them plane the neck too, but I don’t want it refinished.
It’ll be worth it though. These guys worked magic on my custom shop p bass.
But, to Svarts point: my fancy bass needed a ton of work on the neck. Hand built doesn’t always mean awesome. Plays like a dream now.
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Post by svart on May 11, 2021 7:35:38 GMT -6
I’m doing it backwards: a beater 70s tele fell into my lap at a great price. Loved the sound but the action was way too high and it was a pig to play. But, it just fit right in the mix sound wise, Every time, beating my 90s USA tele and 90s ASAT for everything but playability. So I had them put it on the plek and guess who gets to pay for a refret? I could have them plane the neck too, but I don’t want it refinished. It’ll be worth it though. These guys worked magic on my custom shop p bass. But, to Svarts point: my fancy bass needed a ton of work on the neck. Hand built doesn’t always mean awesome. Plays like a dream now. Instruments are personal ya know? If you have something you want to keep using, it's ok to pay for it. But if you're just looking for something new, sometimes you find a gem if you just keep looking. I needed a studio guitar with solid playability, not an heirloom piece, so it was worth the time to find the one rather than build the one for me. |
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Post by notneeson on May 11, 2021 9:34:09 GMT -6
I’m doing it backwards: a beater 70s tele fell into my lap at a great price. Loved the sound but the action was way too high and it was a pig to play. But, it just fit right in the mix sound wise, Every time, beating my 90s USA tele and 90s ASAT for everything but playability. So I had them put it on the plek and guess who gets to pay for a refret? I could have them plane the neck too, but I don’t want it refinished. It’ll be worth it though. These guys worked magic on my custom shop p bass. But, to Svarts point: my fancy bass needed a ton of work on the neck. Hand built doesn’t always mean awesome. Plays like a dream now. Instruments are personal ya know? If you have something you want to keep using, it's ok to pay for it. But if you're just looking for something new, sometimes you find a gem if you just keep looking. I needed a studio guitar with solid playability, not an heirloom piece, so it was worth the time to find the one rather than build the one for me. Oh yeah, very personal. The bass belonged to my dad, the tele to a family friend. Both have already paid for themselves in tone and inspiration, neither is going anywhere. |
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Post by Ward on May 11, 2021 19:13:10 GMT -6
There is nothing more versatile than a mid-90s Gibson Nighthawk ST3
It does all the Les Paul, Tele and Strat tones in one axe. Until i had for a while (and still do) I had no idea just how great it really was
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Post by srb on May 11, 2021 22:24:29 GMT -6
There is nothing more versatile than a mid-90s Gibson Nighthawk ST3 It does all the Les Paul, Tele and Strat tones in one axe. Until i had for a while (and still do) I had no idea just how great it really was Good call for versatility in one deployment. |
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Post by RealNoob on May 13, 2021 13:09:36 GMT -6
There is nothing more versatile than a mid-90s Gibson Nighthawk ST3 It does all the Les Paul, Tele and Strat tones in one axe. Until i had for a while (and still do) I had no idea just how great it really was wow, I was unaware. Just watched some vids and yikes - pretty cool. Thanks! |
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Post by Ward on May 13, 2021 13:47:56 GMT -6
There is nothing more versatile than a mid-90s Gibson Nighthawk ST3 It does all the Les Paul, Tele and Strat tones in one axe. Until i had for a while (and still do) I had no idea just how great it really was wow, I was unaware. Just watched some vids and yikes - pretty cool. Thanks! Always a pleasure, Rob! One of the great things about this forum is the free exchange of helpful information and less static! |
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