| Author | Message | ||
| blazer
Junior Username: blazer Post Number: 34 Registered: 12-2003 |
It's kind of strange how us guitarists are fairly close minded about our instruments, we tend to stick to proven factors that make up our general view of what a guitar should do, resulting in the fact that when picking up a catalogue of a guitarcompany (regardless which one) You'll find the same types of guitars: Superstrats, Retro Fender-ish models, Gibson-esque models and Semie accoustic hollowbody electrics almost always copies of the Gibson ES 335 and ES 175. Working with a professional luthier for six years and counting, I learned about bassplayers being more flexible, they order bodies made of Peerwood or ask us to put in seven band EQ's in order to maximize the number of sound options they can squeeze from the resulting bass. So given that factor, builders like Ken Parker took a big risk for releasing a new concept, knowing very well that there was a big chance that the the people they wanted to reach would turn up their noses at what would well have been a very innovative concept, simply because it doesn't fit the tried and tested concepts that electric guitars had when the Stratocaster and the Les Paul were released. The Parker Fly was hyped when it first came out, havin people such as Dave Navarro and Reeves Gabrels (the David Bowie band) as endorsers but Navarro eventually returned to his old faithfull PRS guitars after using the Fly for only one song in concerts, Reeves Gabrels still uses the Fly but his one is a custom built version without pickups and only with a MIDI converter put in it, the sounds he's getting from it are based on his late fifties Gibson Les Paul Junior through a fifty watt Marshall. So here is a list of guitars which all stray off the beaten path, I ask you would you start using one of those as one of your stage guitars, reply to which one and why. 1. The Alembic Spectrum. http://www3.alembic.com/img/13220_bodyfront.jpg This guitar has parametric EQ, low Ohm pickups and is made from very elaborate woods. Would I play it? Yes, I've always been a tinkerer and the many knobs intrigue me about what I can do sound wise, plus the fact that I dig the woods. 2. The Bond Electra glide http://www.chrisguitars.com/bond-electra.jpg This eighties curiosity hasn't got conventional frets, the fingerboard instead had a sawtoothed shaped scallop going on over the entire length of the carbonfibre neck, the guitar also had LED screens telling the player at what level the volume was at and which pickup was selected, slecting pickups and the turning the volume up or down happend with pushbuttons, like those on a Casio keyboard. Would I play it? I already have once and I didn't like it, the sawtooth scallop fingerboard is a disaster and it sounds really crappy too. 3. The Modulus Genesis. http://www.chrisguitars.com/modulus98g2t.jpg Like the Alembic, this Modulus comes from a comapny known for it's basses and it shares many trademarks from those too, that long horned body and the carbon fibre neck. For some companies those combinations work, what do you think? Would I play it? No, I don't like carbonfibre used in conjuction with single coil pickups it just makes the guitar sound so clinical. 4. The Travis Bean TB 500 http://edenhaus.com/gifs/a_tbeansnbst500dlx.jpg Travis Bean guitars have returned, being the favored guitar for the likes of Stanley Jordan, Joe Perr and Lee Ronaldo (Sonic Youth), the Travis Bean series have had a cult folowing since the early days and now they are back but not in the way you'd think. The current TB models are made almost ENTIRELY of metal with only a wood front. Would I play it? Tough one, TB guitars have a very appealing tone and sustain for days... But the Metal necks feel so wierd and they are prone to the weather conditions. 5. The Status Graphite guitar http://www.status-graphite.com/oldsite/guitar/gitsun.jpg Again a guitar coming from a company known for their basses, the Status, like the Travis Bean differs from conventional guitars in the material used, being constructed entirely of Graphite with a Maple veneer top to give it a PRS vibe. Would I play it? Yes, this one has a much better tone than the modulus and in overall it looks very pleasingly and it has a phenominal sustain. 6. The Fender Jaguar http://www.crunchysandwich.com/images/front1.jpg To top it all off I thought I'd bring out a classic, but a classic inspite of itself. The Jaguar has a seperate circuit in which you can select a lead sound and just flip the switch and hoppa: you're there. Unfortunately, that clever circuit was only usable on the NECK pickup. Then we have the Vibrato which when it comes to staying in tune makes a Stratocaster Vibrato look like Floyd Rose. And what the heck were they thinking when putting on that foam rubber mute on the bridge, nobody'll use it. But still it looks so damn good. So would I play it? Yes, I am a sucker for guitars with a lot of knobs and it's thin wirey sound has a kind of charm that you won't get from any other kind of guitar. | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 235 Registered: 11-2003 |
Hi Wouter, Well first off, all of the guitars you mentioned are in categories unique unto themselves. Would I play them? Hell yeah! I'd love to. I do play a Travis Bean, and it's a fantastic instrument. I've played one since 1978...Im not sure what you mean about them being "prone to the weather". The neck sometimes takes a few minutes to warm up, but it is the most stable (weather wise) of any guitar I've ever played. I mean, the neck is aluminum.... what weather is it supposed to be prone to? Lightning maybe... Then again, I don't usually plug anything in during electrical storms... Old Fender Jags..... Ah yes...So fine. Although, if memory serves, a friend's Jaguar had a tendancy to fitz and bzzz a lot whenever he'd use the switches.... Probably just his ax... It did sound good whenever it stopped making noise. The Alembic Spectrum you mentioned...... If only.... In my dreams..... I can't even imagine what a wonderful instrument that is! And I have a pretty fertile imagination! It's as beautiful a guitar as I've ever seen... It must sound and play like a dream. I know my Alembic guitar is the nicest instrument I own, so.... multiply that by...what.... you pick the number... This series II Spectrum has to be somewhere in the stratosphere! Take care Enjoy | ||
| hydrargyrum
New Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 7 Registered: 3-2004 |
Wow, quite a variety of guitars there. I unfortunately have only had the oppurtunity to play two of them (more than once). I once owned a Jaguar, and man, that thing was the most tempermental guitar I think I have ever seen. It was nearly impossible to get it to quit screeching like a stuck pig. However, it was truly some "unique" circuitry. I never exactly figured out what all the switches and knobs did, or at least, why anyone would bother to have them in that configuration. All in all though I was probably too young to appreciate its finer points. I have on occasion played a couple of Parkers, and found them to be really interesting guitars. The weird features like the truss rod adjustment knob and piezo/pickup combinations were pretty cool to play with. The guitars always had a sound which I found to be not particularly earthy though. Not a bad sound (and I can easily see how they would be suited to Reeves Gabriels), but for my tastes, just one more color on the palette (and maybe not my favourite). I also owned one of those Gibson semi hollow body replicas, however mine was a little more upscale (Guild Starfire IV). It was a pretty sweet guitar, lots of jangle when you wanted it, mellow when you didn't. And pretty fine cosmetics in the traditional old style. However, I have never been as happy as the day I sold it, because it payed for the best guitar I have ever played/owned. My Baritone Orion must have been stroked by the divine, because it is truly inspirational. I've stopped using my Zvex Super Hard On (read treble booster), cause the guitar just doesn't need it. I can coax so many elegant tones from its comparatively simple electronics that I can't even conceive what a guitar like the Full Spectrum is capable of. But, I too would love to find out. However, there is also the part of me that enjoys the clean lines of minimal electronics. I am sure that a guitar like that spectrum is the sort that one must grow into to fully understand and appreciate. I will remain content to grow with my Orion for now. But I still plot and save, awaiting the day when I am able to obtain my own ultimate Alembic custom. | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 236 Registered: 11-2003 |
Kevin, Can you tell me more about your baritone Orion? I almost bought one on ebay at the start of this year, but settled on my Skylark instead. I put a Hipshot Extender on it and man, the lows are awesome.. I'm considering having these fine folks build a baritone Further for me, but have never talked to anyone who's even played one..... What up with it? Is it like playing with a capo in reverse? As you can see.....I'm having a little trouble wrapping my brain around this one.... Do you use it more for rhythm? It sounds like you're sold on it. Any more information you're willing to share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks | ||
| hydrargyrum
New Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 8 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hello, I would be glad to tell you anything you would like to know about my baby. It is the first Baritone I have ever played or owned, but I don't think I'll ever go back to a regular scale. I don't know if it is the same one you saw on ebay, but that is where I purchased mine. The things that really took some getting used to at first were the increased string tension, and the slightly increased fret width. Now when I play a regular scale I feel like I'm holding a mandolin or something, and I have to back off on bending quite a bit. I think that the real beauty of the instrument lies in the way that you can get down and do some low pseudo-bass work, and then head on up the neck for some lead as well. I generally play with other guitar players, and try to take up some of the low end slack. But by myself I have had all sorts of fun playing my favorites songs in different keys and lower registers. Rarely have I really felt the lack of a high E has been a hindrance, and only when trying to play other peoples songs. This guitar has encouraged me to grow and understand theory much more, requiring more use of my ear than relying on memory when looking for the next note. All in all the sound is just more gutsy. I guess that might be why people like Hendrix and SRV would use heavy strings and tune low. I really like doing some surf sounding stuff with it, and then breaking off into some electric bluegrassy sorts of stuff. Well anyway, if you ever get the oppurtunity to play one give it a shot. By the way, I got a good laugh hearing that you settled for the Skylark!  | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 239 Registered: 11-2003 |
Thanks for the information. It sounds like it might be right up my ally. Unfortunately, or luckily maybe, I won’t need to make a decision any time in the near future…. One thing though, are you playing an E at the 5th fret (6th string)? It sounds like it would take some getting used to. But then again, any Alembic is worth the learning curve it presents… It’s bound to make us all better musicians… BTW; Settled on...settled for...Split the difference! | ||
| zappahead
Member Username: zappahead Post Number: 75 Registered: 10-2002 |
1. The Spectrum. Yes I would play it. Im a huge fan of the Spectrum shape and I like Alembics electronics. Ive never played a Series Alembic guitar, they are impossible to find for sale so Ive never played one, but if they play anything like a Tribute or Orion or Further then I would say so without question. Id probably start out with a regular Spectrum or Tribute and see where that took me. 2. The Bond guitar is hideous, but Ive never played one. It holds no interest for me to play, but it is an interesting guitar. 3. Modulus. Never played one. I like Bob Weirs model both in appearance and sound, but theres really no telling what a guy like him has had done to it or how its made so I cant say. I do like his model, the semi hollow one, a lot though. Cool guitar. 4. Travis Bean. Sure I would play it. Always wanted one of these but its not high on my list of guitars to own. 5. The Status graphite. Sure, looks nice and I actually really like guitars made in different manners like Steinbergers and Parkers. I like them a lot actually. Id have to play one to cast ultimate judgement on it but it sure looks nice to me. 6. Fender Jaquar. I stay away from fenders, I just dont like them. You have to give them their due, but I find them ugly, cheap and very boring. I doubt Id ever buy one. Id love to play an Alembic baritone as well, I am very interested in them. Im sure they sound great and Ive heard a lot of good things about the baritone scale. I like Parkers a lot, I think its probably the most versatile guitars being made and they play really well to me. A guitar I saw that I found to be interesting is the Catalyst. If you look them up and browse their site they make a pretty interesting looking guitar, kind of a mix between a Parker and a Steinberger (love Steinberger tremelos). They make their guitars out of some kind of composite material that sounds interesting on paper. I like unusual guitars and I like active electronics too, those are 2 sticking points to a lot of guitar players. Active electronics will scare away almost every "purist" and using graphite and composite materials will definetly scare off many guitar players. The active electroncs in Alembics scare off a lot of my friends who I try to turn to Alembic when I hear they are spending mindboggling amounts of money on instruments I feel are inferior and definetly not worth the money. Probably my favorite electronics package that Ive heard and played is in the Rick Turner Model 1. Like I said, Ive yet to play a lot of the high end Alembics so I cant judge them, but I do love the building method and the craftsmenship of them and since I like the active electronics and having a lot of sounds to play with, Id wager that Id like them a lot. | ||
| hydrargyrum
New Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 9 Registered: 3-2004 |
Hollis, Yes, the fifth fret on the sixth would be an E, but I don't think you will find it to be all that hard to get accustomed to. I was definitely worried when I was thinking about buying mine (having never even played a baritone). I qucikly lost my fears though. I found that despite what I had heard, it was easy to chord even in the lowest registers, and jamming with friends was only awkward for a short time. | ||
| hollis
Advanced Member Username: hollis Post Number: 241 Registered: 11-2003 |
Thanks Kevin, Man! I think I'm leaning in the baritone's direction... Also, it'd be more easily accepted by senior management.... I mean, she can't use "why do you need another baritone, you've aready got seven of em?" Hmmmmmm, this is looking better and better all the time! LOL | ||
| hydrargyrum
New Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 10 Registered: 3-2004 |
Excellent! I would love to hear a further baritone, or even see one in person for that matter. I'm going to try to post some pics of my baby over the weekend. Good luck convincing the "senior management." |
