Well, this is Embarrassing

[Offshore Angler]

Last night in the first set I noticed the action was a tad high on my favorite Les Paul so during a break I checked the relief and it was too much. No biggie, we're in the frozen north right now and things move. So, I grabbed my trusty truss rod wrench and set about adjusting the neck. Dialed in perfectly and then putting the cover back on I dropped one of the truss rod cover screws which landed who knows were. I've got some contacts looking for a vintage screw. Hopefully I won't have to buy a late 50's archtop to harvest parts from.

Chuck

[blackonblack]

How old is the vintage you are looking for?

[Offshore Angler]

Expensive vintage, let's just leave it at that. I'll just put a new one in and see if I can horse trade some dudes for originals. Has no effect on playability so not a big deal othe than keeping it vintage.

[Telenator]

It?s crazy. I actually paid $300 for an authentic vintage selector switch tip. All old and yellowed. Probably cost more than that now.

[Offshore Angler]

Someone just hipped me that the old Gibson Century lap steels have the correct screws and jack plates to harvest. Considerable savings and nobody cares if you put repro parts on them. You also get a vintage P90 in the process. All for about a grand! Deal.

[Offshore Angler]

LOL, I've often said that if we all bought guitars based only upon how they actually sound and play we'd all be playing Yamahas. I've heard and played Pacificas that were not only real, they were spectacular.

[OldStrummer]

LOL, I've often said that if we all bought guitars based only upon how they actually sound and play we'd all be playing Yamahas. I've heard and played Pacificas that were not only real, they were spectacular.

Funny. I've lately come across some videos by Justin Johnson where he's reviewing Cort guitars. Now, I know he's an endorser and a player who can make a cigar box sound good, but the guitars he hawks are actually quite impressive. And their high end models (acoustic, I haven't checked their electrics) go for just over a grand. While I rarely read or hear people gushing over Cort guitars, a little digging reveals that the brand is in fact, the house brand of Cor-Tek, the South Korean firm that is one of the largest guitar makers in the world, making instruments for PRS, Ibanez, and others, producing over a million guitars a year. Huh.

Mind you, a "high end" Cort is a mid-level instrument compared to others, but Johnson suggests they actually compare to other guitars at twice the price. So, a $1,000 Cort is the equivalent of a $2,000 guitar, which still underprices your low-end Taylors and Martins.

It would be interesting to play one just to have the personal experience. But it does point out how often people play the headstock and not the instrument.

[Offshore Angler]

...

Mind you, a "high end" Cort is a mid-level instrument compared to others, but Johnson suggests they actually compare to other guitars at twice the price. So, a $1,000 Cort is the equivalent of a $2,000 guitar, which still underprices your low-end Taylors and Martins.

...

Not sure where you're going there OS, Cor Tek built a really state-of-the art factory in Indonesia. I would say they surpass the quality of the last Corona and current Ensenada built Fender Standards ,not that that bar was very high mind you.

I've found the Indonesia built Cor Teks to be built extremely well built. Great fretwork, flawless finishes and good quality control. Yes, the component quality on some such as the PRS SE series leaves much to be desired but they are building under contract on those so you can't blame Cort for that.

Many Taylors and Martins are built in Mexico, are inexpensive and not to the quality of most Cor Tek high-end stuff. In fact, some of the entry-level Martins and Taylors are pretty terrible. Even to the point of using "I can't Believe It's Not Wood".

Chuck

[OldStrummer]

Not sure where you're going there OS, Cor Tek built a really state-of-the art factory in Indonesia. I would say they surpass the quality of the last Corona and current Ensenada built Fender Standards ,not that that bar was very high mind you.

I've found the Indonesia built Cor Teks to be built extremely well built. Great fretwork, flawless finishes and good quality control. Yes, the component quality on some such as the PRS SE series leaves much to be desired but they are building under contract on those so you can't blame Cort for that.

Many Taylors and Martins are built in Mexico, are inexpensive and not to the quality of most Cor Tek high-end stuff. In fact, some of the entry-level Martins and Taylors are pretty terrible. Even to the point of using "I can't Believe It's Not Wood".

Chuck

I'm not sure where I'm going either, Chuck. I think I'm scratching my head over perception and reality. The Corts I've seen and heard Johnson play would be more than welcome in my home. To wit, my $299 Ibanez AAM50CE, which is sitting a couple of yards from me and that I find an extremely well made, great sounding guitar! The revitalized Harmony guitars are (mostly) American made, affordable, and appeal even to the likes of Tim Pierce. Still, when you surf the forums, it's overwhelmingly Fender, Gibson, Martin and Taylor. Cort makes 1,000,000 guitars a year, and nobody notices.

Yeah, this isn't the topic at hand, so I'll back out now and just continue to scratch my head.

[Offshore Angler]

OS, back to my Yamaha comment, it's pretty amazing when you look at the great artists that played Yamaha's and yet the brand never gets the love of some other manufacturers.

I'll start with one - Carlos Santana. Before PRS, he used Yamaha.

If you look into it, you'll be surprised how many famous guitarists use Yamaha. Yamaha doesn't seem to be into the "hero" marketing like other brands.

But I'll stand by my statement that they build great guitars and are probably the best value for a player in the marketplace. Every time I get to play an SG2000 I love it. They sell for around $1500!

A brand new Rev Star Professional can be had for UNDER $2000 USD and that my friends, is a deal.

The older american Pacificas are basically hand-built custom shop guitars and I'd say the best value in an S-Style you can find.

I am blessed to own a lot of really great guitars so I'm not in the market but if I was I would first go to Yamaha for a dual humbucker or P90 axe.

I tend to use vintage gear now because a) I have it and B) a lot of live music audiences these days are geezer guitar collectors/players and using vintage stuff "Puts asses in the seats" as they say. That, and I've been around long enough to know that most guitar guys listen with their eyes and not their ears. It is, after all, show business. And I do get the feeling of released endorphins every time I hit my RAT when playing my Heritage knowing that both of them came out of the same building in Kalamazoo. That's mojo!

As to why people only talk about their expensive guitars? Easy. It's bragging. OK, owning a burst or a Korina V IS special. I get that. But you have to remember that the vast majority of people on the internet bragging about their instruments are not accomplished players and have never been paid dime one to play guitar. Anyone can go buy gear and brag about it. Want proof? Look no further than this forum. Not so much these days, but back in old days it seemed like everyone would say every guitar they bought was perfection. Of course, if they hung around long enough you'd get the old "I didn't bond with it" post when they flipped it which would invariably be followed up shortly by "This new guitar is the best I've ever played!" and the cycle starts again.

Honestly, I have a few guitars that are "meh" (See PRS John Mayers) but good enough for live performance. For me a good amp is more important than the guitar.

If I want to sound better I've found that practice is usually a lot more effective than buying gear. And even better, practice makes you money where buying gear spends it. Win win.

Chuck

[Tele-Bob]

The older american Pacificas are basically hand-built custom shop guitars and I'd say the best value in an S-Style you can find.

Check out this super human video of Marc Bonilla playing a demonstration of how to play one of his songs.

He's playing one of his Pacificas live along with the rhythm track to one of his songs. It's so intense, he's actually winded at the end of it!

Such an amazing player.

https://youtu.be/qTHYKPhiJo8?si=fvLP-IffaoqQcyeF

[OldStrummer]

Chuck, I read a lot of love for Yamahas on the acoustic guitar forums. Both as beginner, entry-level as well as high end. And there are other brands too, that don't get the recognitions they possibly deserve. Alvarez Yairi, for example. There are other brands - many other brands - which I haven't had the pleasure to play, but the strong focus on the "Big Four" (Gibson, Fender, Martin, Taylor) could make one think there aren't any others.

When I travel, I like to get my hands on the "local" artistry. I've played Matons and Cole Clarks in Australia, Atkin and Tanglewood in Great Britain, Lowden and Emerald in Ireland. In a way, getting my hands on a local guitar is a bit of my travel "quest."

There is a (probably incomplete) list of worldwide luthiers here: https://4allmusic.com/ . Many of them are small shops, one-or-two man operations, but since they can't produce in quantities they aren't widely known. Still, there are a lot of professional musicians who don't stick strictly to the Big Four. I recently saw a video of David Crosby playing in concert with the band Venice, America and Richard Page of the band Mr. Mister. I was curious about the electric guitar Crosby was playing, and found it was a Tom Anderson.

[Offshore Angler]

Chuck, I read a lot of love for Yamahas on the acoustic guitar forums. Both as beginner, entry-level as well as high end. And there are other brands too, that don't get the recognitions they possibly deserve. Alvarez Yairi, for example. There are other brands - many other brands - which I haven't had the pleasure to play, but the strong focus on the "Big Four" (Gibson, Fender, Martin, Taylor) could make one think there aren't any others.

When I travel, I like to get my hands on the "local" artistry. I've played Matons and Cole Clarks in Australia, Atkin and Tanglewood in Great Britain, Lowden and Emerald in Ireland. In a way, getting my hands on a local guitar is a bit of my travel "quest."

There is a (probably incomplete) list of worldwide luthiers here: https://4allmusic.com/ . Many of them are small shops, one-or-two man operations, but since they can't produce in quantities they aren't widely known. Still, there are a lot of professional musicians who don't stick strictly to the Big Four. I recently saw a video of David Crosby playing in concert with the band Venice, America and Richard Page of the band Mr. Mister. I was curious about the electric guitar Crosby was playing, and found it was a Tom Anderson.

OS, that's an admirable viewpoint. The only caveat I would give you as a grizzled old geezer is BEWARE THE WARRANTY ISSUES and RESALE VALUE when buying from a boutique builder. I'll leave to you to Google that one. My advice is if you're into pricey acoustic stuff is to buy vintage Gibsons.

Bob and I know a superb builder who builds top line perfection, but I won't buy from him because I know if I end up not happy with the guitar it's not worth much in resale because nobody has heard of him. On the other hand, PRS who mass produces soulless, mediocre guitars with no binding and unloved pickups but beautiful tops hold value well.

Chuck

[Offshore Angler]

Check out this super human video of Marc Bonilla playing a demonstration of how to play one of his songs.

He's playing one of his Pacificas live along with the rhythm track to one of his songs. It's so intense, he's actually winded at the end of it!

Such an amazing player.

https://youtu.be/qTHYKPhiJo8?si=fvLP-IffaoqQcyeF

Yeah, but I got better hair.

Wow. That is impressive. Thanks!

Did you notice how high his action is? And you can see the perfectly rounded fret ends too.

[OldStrummer]

OS, that's an admirable viewpoint. The only caveat I would give you as a grizzled old geezer is BEWARE THE WARRANTY ISSUES and RESALE VALUE when buying from a boutique builder. I'll leave to you to Google that one. My advice is if you're into pricey acoustic stuff is to buy vintage Gibsons.

Bob and I know a superb builder who builds top line perfection, but I won't buy from him because I know if I end up not happy with the guitar it's not worth much in resale because nobody has heard of him. On the other hand, PRS who mass produces soulless, mediocre guitars with no binding and unloved pickups but beautiful tops hold value well.

Chuck

No doubt. When I was younger I bought several guitars for their "collectibility." And I'm talking Gibson and Fender. Years later, I look at the resale value of them and not much has changed. I wouldn't lose money if I sold them, but I wouldn't make any money, either.

I've been following a number of custom builders online, and I note that they a) won't deliver a guitar until they're happy with it, and b) if the customer is dissatisfied, they'll do whatever it takes to make them satisfied. And while I'm 100% happy with the custom guitar I had made, I'm comfortable in knowing that the builder -- even now -- would take steps to remedy any problem I might have.

So, this is just me. I now no longer think about guitars as a financial investment (they aren't), but more as an artistic one. I think this is why my $299 Ibanez acoustic is as valuable to me as my Lowden, which cost much more than that.

[OldStrummer]

Talk about timing! I just received this ad/promotion from Sweetwater:

https://www.sweetwater.com/insync/wh...s-to-consider/

[Offshore Angler]

...
I've been following a number of custom builders online, and I note that they a) won't deliver a guitar until they're happy with it, and b) if the customer is dissatisfied, they'll do whatever it takes to make them satisfied. And while I'm 100% happy with the custom guitar I had made, I'm comfortable in knowing that the builder -- even now -- would take steps to remedy any problem I might have.
...

That's fine for a collector, but if I need to ship my guitar back to the builder, especially to Europe fix it, dealing with customs, duty and all the rest of the headaches - that's not practical for a working musician. For instance, I love Fender Japan stuff, but even just buying one is such a completely complicated headache that I'd pay someone like Trogly to be an importer. Lately it seems like it's easier to ship RPG's and ITARS fighter jet parts overseas than guitars, lol.

Chuck

[OldStrummer]

Lately it seems like it's easier to ship RPG's and ITARS fighter jet parts overseas than guitars, lol.

Well, this thread could take an awful turn for the worse now, couldn't it? LOL!