| Author | Message | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 209 Registered: 12-2003 |
I never cared much for Strats...though I own two of them...was never wild about the way they looked or the way they sounded. I've always been more of a humbucker kind of guy. And that wanna-be 22nd fret...Oy! But then I was watching David Gilmour playing Comfortably Numb on the Live 8 video and I fell in love with them for the very first time. I haven't played any other guitar for the past week or so...not even my Alembics. I guess the classics never go out of style. (Message edited by jalevinemd on August 05, 2005) | ||
| matthew90046
Junior Username: matthew90046 Post Number: 18 Registered: 1-2005 |
It was great to see Roger Waters back in the fold.  | ||
| jacko
Advanced Member Username: jacko Post Number: 270 Registered: 10-2002 |
Sadly, they've quashed rumours that they are reforming. Gilmour has said that Live 8 was a one off. Graeme | ||
| trekster
Junior Username: trekster Post Number: 43 Registered: 7-2004 |
Yeah, that is a shame -- espeically since it's Gilmour putting the kabosh on anything like that instead of Roger, who always seemed to be the bitter one. He looked like he was having the time of his life out there. --T | ||
| hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 133 Registered: 3-2004 |
I heard they were offered something like 115 million dollars to do a US tour, but that Gilmour turned it down because he did not want to profiteer from Live 8's charitable ambitions. I say they should have just done it for free for the fans : ) | ||
| the_mule
Senior Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 535 Registered: 1-2004 |
It's too bad, because I'd have loved the chance to see them live, but it's the best way to prevent the legend from deteriorating... Wilfred | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 922 Registered: 9-2003 |
I was originally a Les Paul man and didn't have much use for Strats. Then, in the eighties, I couldn't afford a new Paul, but I could afford a new Strat (and I cowtowed to the then-current Strat trend), so I bought one. I still love 'em. Some of my fave players play (or have played)'em. One of those fave players is David Gilmour. He's not the most accomplished or technical of players, but his tone and phrasing are incredible, and instantly recognizable as his own. Hell, I even bought that horrendous "Give My Regards To Broadstreet" soundtrack (to an equally horrendous movie, LOL!) because I instantly recognized Gilmour's playing on Sir Paul's "No More Lonely Nights". I, for one, would love to see the "old" Floyd reunited, if for nothing other than just for the fans's sake. As an aside, try gilmourish.com for all things DG...it's a private site by a Swede obsessed with DG's playing, equipment, trivia, minutiae, etc. (Message edited by kmh364 on August 05, 2005) | ||
| the_mule
Senior Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 536 Registered: 1-2004 |
Other interesting Gilmour trivia: he owns Fender Stratocaster #001 and on Paul McCartney's 'Run Devil Run' album (highly recommended for its incredible garage band rawness) he played fabulous rock & roll guitar like there is no tomorrow! Wilfred | ||
| lidon2001
Junior Username: lidon2001 Post Number: 17 Registered: 4-2005 |
Hey Jonathan, Strats to Pink Floyd reunion in how many posts? Talk about a hijack. Besides, Mr. Waters looked very out of place IMHO. And the look on his face said to me that being on stage again was causing him to regret the minute he walked away. Anyway, I love Strats. I have a '90 Strat Plus and it has only one dead note on the neck. lol I see the problem being with most Fenders, you have to find a good one, and that can be a task. I bought mine used from a guitarist who worked at a music store. He was able to search their stock and wait for the right one. Then you have to have it setup properly, which takes a very good setup guy/gal with the standard trem device. Once accomplished, I am always amazed that I can go to albums of artists that use these instruments and get their sound for the most part. Blackmore, Gilmour, Vaughn, Knopfler; all of the sounds are right there for you. I just think it's a very wide sound palette. I too have a LP, and I am placing my Skylark order today (long or medium scale, I still can't decide....). If I had to keep one, hands down Strat. It's too versatile, not to mention mine plays like butter and I love the looks. Of course, it isn't a Little Bear, the Queen...  Yes, I'm a bass player, and I only have one bass, a Fender... Until my current order arrives in the next few weeks... (Message edited by lidon2001 on August 05, 2005) | ||
| alembic76407
Advanced Member Username: alembic76407 Post Number: 384 Registered: 5-2002 |
you guys may want to kill me for saying this , "BUT" I think Guy Pratt is a far better bass player than Roger Waters, And I would love to see Pink Floyd tour with Guy Playing bass again !!! David T (TLO) PS: I got to see Pink Floyd in 94, they were great | ||
| hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 134 Registered: 3-2004 |
Guy is exceptionally better bass player than Roger, without question IMHO. I got to see Roger on tour a few years ago doing mostly Floyd stuff. It was an excellent show, but even three guitarists could not capture that sense of space and character that gilmour's tone has. Closest to PF I will ever get (I would still be happy just to see new floyd). (Message edited by hydrargyrum on August 05, 2005) | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 925 Registered: 9-2003 |
No doubt Guy is a stellar player, much more so than Roger Waters, but no one can capture that "psycho" voice on those "Bellvue" tunes like Roger, LOL! Roger's Floyd tunes only sound right when Roger sings 'em, IMHO. True also about the Waters solo band...Messrs. White, Bramhall II, and Fairweather-Low...all good guitarists, but I'd trade 'em all for one David Gilmour. Conversely, the David Gilmour tunes they do just don't sound right without DG (no disrespect intended to Jon Carin, who does a fine job on steel, guitar and vocals...amongst his keyboard duties). | ||
| the_mule
Senior Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 537 Registered: 1-2004 |
Important difference (all IMHO of course!): Waters without Floyd lives, breathes, suffers and celebrates the songs while Floyd without Waters perform the songs. There's thousands of better bass players on the planet, but Waters is still one of my favourites because of the sheer passion he puts into those songs. You can see for yourself: the 'In The Flesh' DVD is in one word AMAZING... Wilfred | ||
| keith_h
Intermediate Member Username: keith_h Post Number: 142 Registered: 2-2005 |
Ah Floyd. The only concert I ever saw that was actually close to Hi-Fi. Managed to get close to the center point of the sound system and it was amazing. They started off with some of the old standards (from my perspective) such as Set The Controls For The Heart Of The Sun, Watch Out With That Axe Eugene,etc. This was followed buy all of Dark Side of The Moon and Wish You Were Here with Echos as the encore. And to bring this back on topic DG was playing a Strat. Keith | ||
| hydrargyrum
Intermediate Member Username: hydrargyrum Post Number: 135 Registered: 3-2004 |
Actually Wilfred I think Sid Barrett lived and breathed most of the music of Pink Floyd (at least he inspired or wrote almost all of the lyrics). Not to say that Roger wasn't a damn fine front man for the group, but I think most people are unaware exactly how much of Roger's stuff was left on the cutting room floor after producers and gilmour picked out the gems. I think Roger truly is passionate for his lyrics, but frankly I can only think of one or two passable solo Waters songs, where as I can name several decent new floyd songs (none as good as old floyd of course). The simple fact is the they were more than the sum of their parts (most of the time). And to bring this around, never really liked strats, only had cheap ones. | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 297 Registered: 3-2004 |
I really enjoyed Radio kaos. I have 2 strats, a us deluxe w/emgs and a mij /floyd w s/s/bl-L500, also have 2 korean esquires a red GT and a Celtic. Love em' all. I don't like the basses at all but I would buy more Fender guitars. (just put a deposit down on a Rouge 5! booyah!) Oh, I put sperzels on all of em". Danno | ||
| the_mule
Senior Member Username: the_mule Post Number: 538 Registered: 1-2004 |
Syd obviously played a big role in the early days, but he was only involved with Piper at the Gates of Dawn and part of Saucerful of Secrets. After that Roger became Floyd's #1 songwriter, with classic albums like Dark Side of the Moon, Animals and The Wall that for the most part originated from his mind and vision. And I think Waters' solo recordings are great actually, IMHO Hitchhiker, Radio KAOS and Amused to Death are intense and truly original albums. But I'd have loved to hear Gilmour, Wright and Mason play on them! Wilfred (Message edited by the_mule on August 05, 2005) | ||
| lbpesq
Senior Member Username: lbpesq Post Number: 562 Registered: 7-2004 |
Strats are great (if you get the right one). I picked up my '61 30 years ago for $125!!!! (Best investment I EVER made, by far). rosewood slabboard. I read somewhere that Leo said the best Strats were '57-'61 with rosewood fingerboard. Who am I to argue with Leo! Stay away from mid-70's 3-bolt necks. My buddy has one - dig in a little too hard and the neck shifts = out of tune. These are starting to fetch some big bucks, why, I don't know? And you can't convince me that the Further doesn't have some Strat DNA somewhere in it's genetic make-up. Bill, tgo | ||
| rami
Senior Member Username: rami Post Number: 499 Registered: 6-2002 |
There's alot to be said for the classics. They have all the sounds of our favorite musical heros. One of my all time favorite Strat players is Robin Trower (among a HUGE list). And for Bassists, there's no one bigger or more influential than Jaco playing his Jazz Bass. The Jazz Bass is still my measuring stick among Basses. It first has to sound good on a Jazz Bass before I'll play a piece on anything else. Sure, Alembics are better in every possible sense of the word, but a Jazz Bass hits me first on a nostalgic and emotional level. And THAT's where the music is. | ||
| bigredbass
Senior Member Username: bigredbass Post Number: 443 Registered: 9-2002 |
As ubiquitous as Strats are, I wonder why we so few California Specials? (INSERT HERE: 'Of course, Bassists are MUCH more open to new ideas, shapes, etc., than guitar players)('What's a filter?') I literally wore out several 'Delicate Sound of Thunder's as Gilmour is mighteee-fiiine. Plus I always laugh out loud at the little Reggae bridge in that set's 'Money'. J o e y | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 928 Registered: 9-2003 |
No disrespect to Alembic intended or inferred, but my guitar repairman tells me that guitars with locking vibratos ("tremolos") are passe' these days, as borne-out by the Blue Book value of same. "Super" strats with the "dinky" or modded Strat-style bodies, two single-coils in the bridge and middle spot, with a humbucker at the bridge position w/locking Floyd Rose-style whammy bars, upgraded woods, hardware, etc., were the sh*t in the late '80's/early '90's (nee the "Hair Band" era), but can't be given away these days. While I'm sure the Alembic Cali Special is awesome in every way, and the electronics are "activators" with active electronics/filters instead of passive p/u's, that particular style of guitar ("Strat"-shape not withstanding) is just not in vogue at the moment. Pity, because I have two late-'80's Charvel/Jackson "super" Strats, with the SC/SC/HB Jackson p/u config (the SC's are actually stacked humbuckers), active electronics, Jackson/Floyd locking whammy, conical radius rosewood f/b, shark-tooth MOP inlays, satin finish maple neck (one of the best I've ever played) with the pointed "Randy Rhoads" headstock, etc. They cost more (MSRP) than both of my '80's Fender Strats (both american-made...the last of the CBS models), and play a lot better too! With the P/U combo and the active electronics, they are by far the most versatile instruments I own. But the look and spec is purely "Hair Band", so they are worth scratch, and my Fender's are worth much more than I paid for 'em. Go figure trends! | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 211 Registered: 12-2003 |
You just have to do what's right for you. I haven't had a locking trem guitar since my '84 Charvel. Recently, though, I was checking out Wild West Guitars and saw a white NOS '69 Strat (large headstock) with tortoise-shell pickguard, S/S/HB configuration, Floyd Rose and fell in love. I wasn't willing to come up with the $3400 asking price. So I'm taking one of my Strats and having my own made. The work will cost more than the guitar (though still about two grand shy of WWG) and I'll never recoup the difference should I ever decide to sell it...but what the hell! | ||
| tom_z
Intermediate Member Username: tom_z Post Number: 164 Registered: 7-2004 |
Kevin - I'll make an offer of "scratch" for one of your Charvels. What do you say????  | ||
| jalevinemd
Advanced Member Username: jalevinemd Post Number: 212 Registered: 12-2003 |
"Scratch" probably was accurate. A few years back, I went to Guitar Center to see about trading in my '84 San Dimas Charvel - 2 HB, and a Kahler locking trem. They offered me less than $200!!! I imagine they're fetching a bit more now that Charvel has introduced it's 20th anniversary San Dimas models...but who knows? | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 929 Registered: 9-2003 |
Sorry Tom, They're not for sale. I actually like my Charvels. When I bought 'em, I thought they were head and shoulders above my regular Fender Strats. They play and sound great...although my pearl white job has turned yellow due to some crazy chemical reaction over time that is common to these finishes of that vintage). They were the cat's *ss when I bought 'em, but they look dated now. When I saw the book value of these guitars (Charvel), especially compared to that of inferior guitars that I'd consider to be junk, I was shocked to see how little they're worth. I've read lots of stories on Harmony-Central.com about guys who bought 'em for a song and love 'em...some even buying wrecked ones for extra parts! No matter, I'm keeping 'em. Maybe they'll come back in style again, LOL! I haven't sold any decent guitar I've owned over the last 28yrs. Strats, however, never seem to look dated and are almost always in style. I love mine as well, less-than-perfect playability and all. There's nothing quite like a Strat. I have a Custom color (pewter...like Clapton..standard color now, but an extra cost option in '82) rosewood neck w/whammy, and an ('83-'84) '62 vintage reissue tri-color S/B with rosewood F/B (think SRV). Both are nice: the '82 is heavy and has an awesome fingerboard, but the '62 VRI is lightweight ash and has that vintage blues sound in spades. Jon, If you're keeping the Charvel (and I would), you might wanna try to stock-up on used Kahler parts...they're getting harder and harder to come by every day. My guitar guy had trouble getting parts for my buddy's early-80's Les Paul (Kalamazoo-made, model unknown) with the Gibson/Kahler whammy on it. Personally, I thought the Kahler was superior to the Floyd, but the market didn't see it that way (Beta vs. VHS all over again, LOL!). Charvel switched to the Jackson/Floyd the year I bought my two '88's, so I didn't have a choice. I hardly use a whammy anyway, and I actually don't lock 'em because the thing never stays in tune anyway. Cheers, Kevin | ||
| dannobasso
Advanced Member Username: dannobasso Post Number: 301 Registered: 3-2004 |
Remember when Les Pauls were cheap until G&R brought them back into fashion? I have an early 80's hand made Mockingbird that I had a Kahler put on. I love it hands down over the Floyd and it's still great. But to each his own. Just picked up another Esquire, this time a Black Scorpion. Just bid on the Sperzels for it too. Charvels and Jacksons have had a resurgance and it will continue. The heavier bands are still using them and its touring season! | ||
| kmh364
Senior Member Username: kmh364 Post Number: 932 Registered: 9-2003 |
Tell me about it Danno...my LP Elegant was $6k MSRP/$2.5k Street and it is a POS! I bought my Strat in '82 ($1K MSRP/$500 street) because it was a great deal and LP Customs were around $900-$1100 Street at the time. I wanted the Paul and it took until '03 to be able to afford it, LOL! It wasn't worth the wait or the expense, LOL! |
