El Toro's Official Guitarded Thread...

[ElToro]

nice

[ElToro]

My first installment of SoCal Guitar Works guitars has arrived and will be picked up tomorrow at the Port of Los Angeles!!!!

[Captain Morgan]

Got a CMATMODS Deeelay and CMATMODS Butah for sale...PM me if you're interested.

[leftstrat]

Agile AL-3010se Tribal Blue Review

I wanted a lefty blue LP like body, so here goes. I finally bit the bullet.


http://www.rondomusic.com/AL3010SETblueleft.html

Guys, before you read on, please keep this in mind. I’m self taught. I’ve been playing since before I could see, literally. I don’t know all of the technical terms, so if I come up a bit short on this thing, please excuse me for it. It’s actually the first guitar review I’ve ever done. I don’t know how this compares to any but one Epiphone I’ve ever played, and it was like playing a plank. I do have a lefty Stratocaster that I love, and will probably be buried with, and I’m familiar with Fenders, and Washburns, and that’s about it, so this is new to me. ? It’s the first new guitar I’ve purchased in about 20+ years, so please allow for over-enthusiasm. I’ll try to be as honest as possible, but if you are a guitar player, you know you tend to be biased with YOUR guitars. ?

Cost: $329.00

If you purchase a case when you purchase the guitar, it is packed and shipped in the case. Total cost was 409.99.


Guitar Specs, from website:
Special Edition AL-3010 Model with Single Bound Body, Neck and Headstock Available at a Special Price!
• Solid mahogany (not a multi-ply!) arch top body
• High quality Canadian Flame Maple Top (100% real wood top-not a photo top!)
• Bound body, neck and headstock.
• Chrome die-cast Grover tuners with 18-1 turning ratio for ultra fine tuning (Model 102-18N)
• Two Type V Alnico humbucker pickups for warm, tradional sound
• High voltage with brass shaft pots for reduced noise and an improved pickup selector switch
• Two volume and two tone controls, plus a three way pickup selector switch
• Cepheus T-003 wide throw tune-O-matic bridge with graphite saddles..
• Ebony fretboard with 22 Jumbo Frets and real Abalone Trapezodial inlays
• This spectacular guitar features D'addario 10-46 strings installed at the factory along with a professionally cut Graph Tech Tusq Nut!
• Individually hand filed frets for professional feel and playability
Measurements
• Overall length: 40"
• Scale length: 24 3/4"
• Width of the neck at the nut: 1 11/16" (42.8mm);
• Width of the neck at the 21st fret: 2 3/16" (56mm)
• String Spacing at the nut: 1/4" (7.5mm) at the bridge 3/8" (10mm). Overall spacing 36mm at the nut and 52.5mm at the bridge.
• Neck taper/thickness at the 1st fret: 3/4" (19.5 mm)
• Neck taper/thickness at the 12th fret: 7/8" (21.5 mm)
• Width at the upper bout 9 1/4" Lower bount: 13 5/16"
• Body thickness: 1 15/16" at edge
• Weight: only 10 lbs!

I’ve had this guitar for only a week and a half, and played it for about 9 or 10 hours, so I’m going to do my best to review and critique her.
I ordered this guitar on Thursday, July 18, and had it in my hot little sweaty hands by Monday the 22nd. ?
Build: The build is very good and solid. Pegs, pickups, knobs, nut, bridge, and pick guard are all solidly placed. There are no signs of bad screws, metal burrs, or any indication of problems with the construction of the guitar. On a side note, once it’s in tune, it stays in tune. No having to twiddle after every song. ?
Finish and binding. The color on the guitar is a deep blue clear coat, showing the wood underneath. It is a gorgeous finish. The color was truly made for brighter lighting, because it almost looks black to me in lower lighting situations. The finish, front and back looks flawless. There are no blemishes on the clearcoat, and lacquer used. The one thing that might turn some people off, is that the neck is finished in the same fashion as the body. The binding is very professionally done, and there seems to be no breaks in it. It is a heavy guitar, (10 pounds.). I like that weight, but some may not care for that. If I have anything to say that is a con, is that the inlays do look brighter in the advertisement photo. They are a bit darker, but that could be due to lighting, and my bad eyes. ?

Set-up: It honestly looks like someone set it up at the factory. 1st and 12th fret harmonics were already set, and the only thing I had to do was lift the top E string just barely, because of a slight fret buzz that I was the only one who seemed to hear. ? I’m just picky. The bridge pickup is slightly higher than the neck pickup.

Playability: I have pretty good sized hands, and I wanted a bit wider neck. Small necks make me feel like my fingers are being cramped up. This guitar plays very well. The setup was good enough that all you have to do is put your fingers over the strings, on the frets, and you are good to go. There are no bumps or indentations on the neck, so playing is very smooth. There are no problems with the pickup selector or the volume/tone knobs. Switching pickups does not give any static or clicks. Knobs turn smoothly, so you can do some cool stuff with volume shifting, without any kind of resistance.

Sound through tube amp: When played through a Marshall DSL-40c, with no pedals. The neck pickup has a nice warm sound to it. The natural sustain doesn’t last forever, but it is pretty impressive. When the gain is pushed up a bit, you have very nice sustain. You kind of have to set your own taste there, because to me, after about a 4 on it, the pickup started giving a bit of a muddy/lower frequency. For the most part, this can be cleaned up with a bit of tone tweaking. The bridge pickup will do it’s thing, and scream when you need it to. I ran through pretty much every genre of music I’ve played in my life, from old Hank Williams/Kitty Wells/Patsy Cline stuff, up to 80’s hair band stuff. I also went through the family band set of southern gospel songs. I’m very satisfied with the sound, but I may put some slightly clearer pickups in eventually.

Sound through Solid-state: Line 6 Spider IV-75 and a Line 6 Spider III-30. Playing through the solid state amps, does sound a bit different. You really have to pay attention to your high and mid frequencies with the guitar and these two amps. Since I like to play around a bit, it’s not too big a deal with me. If you just like to plug it in and rock out, these modeling amps can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your tastes. As far as overall sound, the pickups reacted pretty much the same on the spiders as they did the Marshall. I just put a bit less mid into it, and a bit more high, and all was well. I went through a lot of the Spider IV presets, and set up a few, just for this guitar.

Conclusion: I like this guitar. I’m naturally graceful, so I’d be scared to death to take a very high dollar guitar anywhere. With this one, I don’t have that fear. It’s a looker, and has gotten some great compliments so far. It sounds good if you have no problem with setting tones on your amps, and it’s comfortable to play. I mic my amps to the PA when we play out, so I don’t know how it sounds plugged directly into the mixing board/PA system, but I”d play this thing anywhere, anytime. I honestly feel like I didn’t waste my money on it. Now it’s just a test of time, as to how it’ll hold up. I recommend strap locks for all guitars, and I may even change the pups on it, but it is a nice little music machine overall so far.

[Triumph]

Preach!

[ElToro]

Anyone want a hardtail strat?!?!?!?


Sludgers get a huge discount compared to our internet price....

[ElToro]

same with these!!!

[ElToro]

and these

[ElToro]

nothing new out there?

[Sleek]

SERIOUSLY considering one of these:



At $1600, I'd have to sell a few things...but that's not bad for an American Gibby semi-hollow.

They are the giant Les Paul I always wanted.

Necks are a bit fat...but I could adjust...



http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/ ... tar/h97821

[ElToro]

Those look awesome! What was the ES without f-holes?

[Sleek]

Those look awesome! What was the ES without f-holes?

What, like the Lucille one?

There was also the Epiphone Caiola, which you never see...love one of those. They came in mini-hum or p90 versions. Weird switching tho.

[ElToro]

No, it was a Gibson ES...

[Triumph]

I cannot make up my mind. HELP!

http://www.strymon.net/products/elcapistan/

http://www.tortugaeffects.com/SingleMalt.html

[ElToro]

tough call

[ElToro]

Have you tried the STiFF tape delay?

[Triumph]

Have you tried the STiFF tape delay?

I have not. Off to Youtube.

Got this yesterday. Always wanted one. Takes a bit to get the hang of but way fun once you get it. Any ideas or tips on how to be able to holster this thing and go back and forth quickly between it and your pick? It definitely doesn't sit comfortably in your hand while picking like a slide.

[ElToro]

http://orbitelectronix.com/stiff/products.php

[ElToro]

anything new?

[Sleek]

I'm looking at Blues Juniors and Hot Rod Deluxes...

I kinda want two blues Juniors.

I can't wrap my head around the pricing though. They both go for around $400...but one is a little 15 watter, and the other a pretty robust 40.

...you can also get Hot Rod Deville's around the same price...which is a 60 watter with twice the speakers.

I just started playing for a buddy's Tom Petty tribute, and I think a couple juniors would be the perfect rig.

[ElToro]

My buddy is selling a Reverend Hellhound...

[ElToro]

Sleek, try the George Benson amp.

[Sleek]

Hm...

That's about twice what I want to spend...and I am pretty sure that all of the "special" models are just the normal amp with different styling and speaker.

Like, I think this is just a Hot Rod Deluxe with grey tolex and a GB badge.

I'd really like two of the Blues Juniors in tweed....but you pay an extra $100 for tweed!

...or, like, the Humboldt Hot Rod, that is the same amp but with a cannabis rex speaker and green tolex for like, $150-$200 more.

I have a *great* weber speaker I'd like to try in one...put that in one and one of my evm 12Ls in another...

[ElToro]

The amp is a tad different and the cab is way different

[ElToro]

Sold one of the tcasters this morning

[ElToro]

anyone need a creme tele?

[Sleek]

anyone need a creme tele?

Kindasortamaybepossibly. What are we talking here?

[T.O.N. of green]

I'm looking at Blues Juniors and Hot Rod Deluxes...

I kinda want two blues Juniors.

I can't wrap my head around the pricing though. They both go for around $400...but one is a little 15 watter, and the other a pretty robust 40.

...you can also get Hot Rod Deville's around the same price...which is a 60 watter with twice the speakers.

I just started playing for a buddy's Tom Petty tribute, and I think a couple juniors would be the perfect rig.

It's not a Fender but for around the same price how about one of these?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vox-AC15C1-15w- ... 3797596%26

[Sleek]

The AC15s break up a bit early. I need something that stays cleanish and chimey. This setup will be for Tom Petty and sixties soul.

My old AC30 would have done it, but like a douche, I sold the fucking thing years ago.

[ElToro]

You could always do the 6w VHT thing