What are you GASing for?

[jtn191]

Gasing for: es330/casino, jtm45, Princeton

Instead I'll buy a new computer and upgrade studio monitors

[pickdropper]

Wellll ... I REALLY want a semi-hollow body guitar.  I don't know why, I just do.  Maybe it's the extra resonance that I'm SURE I hear.

I've played EVERYTHING over and over again in the stores within driving distance (1-2 hrs anyway), but I'm not keen on the Gretsch and feel like there's gotta be something fit, finish and cost-wise between the Epiphone/Ibanez options and the Gibson's.  So ... that's got me looking at these:

http://www.prestigeguitars.com/musician-pro.php

http://www.eastmanguitars.com/t486/

I'm a little leery of ordering something that expensive without playing it first (and even more wary of the used market), but the 2-hrs away store isn't keen on bringing one in for me to try without a commitment to buy (and said they wouldn't accept returns unless there was a manufacturing defect (because it's not the kind of stock that moves fast)).  Hrrmmm ...

Anyone familiar with either guitar?  Other options?

I'm familiar with Eastman guitars by name only; I haven't played one.  They have a good rep.  They are made in China, if that sort of thing matters to you.  High quality guitars can come from anywhere and word is that they are nice.

I wasn't familiar with Prestige guitars before your post.  Looking at the specs, the most noticeable thing is that they have a 25.5" scale length, not the 24.75" scale length that ES-335s use.  Some folks prefer that, it's just something to be aware of going in.

I actually think some of the Ibanez semi-hollows are pretty nice.  I had an Artstar 120 years ago that played and sounded great.  My only complaint was that the neck was too thin.  I just didn't want a shredder neck on a semi-hollowbody.  I do kind of wish I kept it as the Super 80 pickups were fantastic.

I've never really warmed up to the Epiphones I've played.  I haven't played any of the higher end Elitist series (I hear they are quite good).  For standard Epiphone money, I prefer the Ibanez semis; the pickups are certainly nicer.

[pickdropper]

Gasing for: es330/casino, jtm45, Princeton

Instead I'll buy a new computer and upgrade studio monitors

Good call on all of those.  Both of those amps are on my list, too.

[Droogie]

I had an Eastman El Rey 2 a few years back. Very well built,  with a very light nitro finish. The neck was a bit wide for my taste at the time so I sold it. Haven't played the 335 style of theirs but if the quality is similar, you wouldn't be disappointed. It is scary to order a guitar you haven't played though.

[raulduke]

Agreed with Pickdropper on Epiphones. I've never played one I that I liked. Maybe I haven't tried the right ones.

The two brands I would like to try, but which are really hard to get hold of in the UK are G+L and Reverend. I like the look of a lot of their stuff.

G+L always get really good comments from everybody.

[pickdropper]

Agreed with Pickdropper on Epiphones. I've never played one I that I liked. Maybe I haven't tried the right ones.

The two brands I would like to try, but which are really hard to get hold of in the UK are G+L and Reverend. I like the look of a lot of their stuff.

G+L always get really good comments from everybody.

I own a few G&Ls.  They are nice guitars, but aren't identical to Fenders, despite their looks and lineage.  There are definitely high quality instruments and can sound really good.  I know that my G&L legacy and ASAT have very stable, which isn't something I can say about all of my Fenders.

I'm curious about Reverend as well.  I've never had a chance to play one.

Some day, I'd like to pickup a B3 (Gene Baker) guitar.  I own one of the older Baker guitars and it's really a fantastic instrument.

[brucer]

Thanks for the feedback on the semi-hollows.  I'm favouring the Eastman T486.  It's a very big purchase for me cost-wise - and then there's the whole ordering on faith thing - but they seem to get very good reviews.

[RobA]

I've tried out a couple of the Reverends at a local shop near me (http://www.wildwoodguitars.com). I liked them quite a bit for the money. I think if I were looking for strat or tele like guitar, I might well go for one of theirs. One of the guitars I tried was the three pickup P-90 model, Warhawk or something like that. I thought it was pretty cool.

The Eastman guitars guitars have always intrigued me but I've never been able to play on one. I was near buying one a few years ago and wish I had now as it seems the prices have gone up. There's a good video about their factory on YT I think. To me, they are set apart from most of the Chinese/Korean made guitars because they are building them in their own factory to their own specs. Sure that doesn't mean they are better than a guitar that's contracted by another company to be built in a Korean factory, but it is something.

[Cortexturizer]

I'd take a Reverend any day. I think they are excellent guitars although I've never played one. They just must be.

[GermanCdn]

Wellll ... I REALLY want a semi-hollow body guitar.  I don't know why, I just do.  Maybe it's the extra resonance that I'm SURE I hear.

I've played EVERYTHING over and over again in the stores within driving distance (1-2 hrs anyway), but I'm not keen on the Gretsch and feel like there's gotta be something fit, finish and cost-wise between the Epiphone/Ibanez options and the Gibson's.  So ... that's got me looking at these:

http://www.prestigeguitars.com/musician-pro.php

http://www.eastmanguitars.com/t486/

I'm a little leery of ordering something that expensive without playing it first (and even more wary of the used market), but the 2-hrs away store isn't keen on bringing one in for me to try without a commitment to buy (and said they wouldn't accept returns unless there was a manufacturing defect (because it's not the kind of stock that moves fast)).  Hrrmmm ...

Anyone familiar with either guitar?  Other options?

I haven't played any of the Prestige guitars, but they do spec out pretty nice.  I've bought a couple of other guitars off the store in Vancouver that fronts Prestige, and all the deals have been good.

For the money of a Prestige (you're getting near $1000), I'd go for a bit more money and try and get my hands on a used Heritage H535.  Great guitars, excellent hardware, play and sound far beyond the $1300 used price they sometimes go for.

[GermanCdn]

The two brands I would like to try, but which are really hard to get hold of in the UK are G+L and Reverend. I like the look of a lot of their stuff.

I own a few G&Ls.  They are nice guitars, but aren't identical to Fenders, despite their looks and lineage.  There are definitely high quality instruments and can sound really good.  I know that my G&L legacy and ASAT have very stable, which isn't something I can say about all of my Fenders.

I'm curious about Reverend as well.  I've never had a chance to play one.

Some day, I'd like to pickup a B3 (Gene Baker) guitar.  I own one of the older Baker guitars and it's really a fantastic instrument.

I've been really happy with my G&Ls.  Right now, I prefer Fender for my strats, but G&L for the ASATS in lieu of teles.  Kinda wish G&L went with 3 barrel bridges, but I can understand why they don't.  High quality instruments, that is for sure.  Seems like the 90s era stuff was more along the lines of the modern Fender construction (thinner profile necks, flashier paint jobs, etc), whereas the newer stuff is more vintage correct (beefier necks, 50/60s colours, etc).  I wish they'd include three spare set screws with every tremolo though, those things are easy to lose.  Their G&G cases are sweet, and the LOA with each guitar is a nice touch.  Musicstorelive blows out new ones every month at used (ish) pricing, you can get some pretty slick deals on them.

I picked up a Reverend Gil Parris a few months back.  Very nice guitar, really like the bass contour knob and the HSH pups (import neck and bridge Rev Humbuckers, purple Lace Sensor middle).  No dealer in my area, so anything I pick up is sight unseen with them.

Would like to find a Baker as well.

[jball85]

An early 60's Super Reverb.

[pickdropper]

The two brands I would like to try, but which are really hard to get hold of in the UK are G+L and Reverend. I like the look of a lot of their stuff.

I own a few G&Ls.  They are nice guitars, but aren't identical to Fenders, despite their looks and lineage.  There are definitely high quality instruments and can sound really good.  I know that my G&L legacy and ASAT have very stable, which isn't something I can say about all of my Fenders.

I'm curious about Reverend as well.  I've never had a chance to play one.

Some day, I'd like to pickup a B3 (Gene Baker) guitar.  I own one of the older Baker guitars and it's really a fantastic instrument.

I've been really happy with my G&Ls.  Right now, I prefer Fender for my strats, but G&L for the ASATS in lieu of teles.  Kinda wish G&L went with 3 barrel bridges, but I can understand why they don't.  High quality instruments, that is for sure.  Seems like the 90s era stuff was more along the lines of the modern Fender construction (thinner profile necks, flashier paint jobs, etc), whereas the newer stuff is more vintage correct (beefier necks, 50/60s colours, etc).  I wish they'd include three spare set screws with every tremolo though, those things are easy to lose.  Their G&G cases are sweet, and the LOA with each guitar is a nice touch.  Musicstorelive blows out new ones every month at used (ish) pricing, you can get some pretty slick deals on them.

I picked up a Reverend Gil Parris a few months back.  Very nice guitar, really like the bass contour knob and the HSH pups (import neck and bridge Rev Humbuckers, purple Lace Sensor middle).  No dealer in my area, so anything I pick up is sight unseen with them.

Would like to find a Baker as well.

My ASAT is a 90's 3-bolt and the Legacy is a post 2000 (I'd have to check the exact year).





Both of the necks are comfy; neither is particularly thin or thick, sort of middle of the road.  The Legacy might be a hair thicker, but I haven't taken a caliper to it.  I did Legacy to a H-S-S and it is a very versatile guitar that way.

This is my Baker.  The flame top is much deeper than this lousy photo.  All of these photos are about 10 years old and need to be updated.

[pickdropper]

An early 60's Super Reverb.

Those are really nice.  I have a '67 Super that I like quite a bit, although it currently has newer Jensons in it.  I need to recone the original CTS Alnico speakers (which I prefer).

If you don't need a ton of volume, also check out the early Vibrolux Reverbs.  I have one of those as well and play it much more than the Super Reverb.

[GermanCdn]

Your ASAT and my Z-3 look like they came from the same wood and paint batch, though I'm pretty sure mines a four bolt (honestly I'd have to check).  I wish they'd stayed with the control jack layout on the 3 bolt ASATs, instead of going to those stupid fully threaded jacks that go all the way through.  They fail pretty regularly, they're a bitch to replace, and not the easiest to find.

My older Legacy probably has a #3 neck (the modern C carve), whereas most of my ASATs and my Legacy hollow have a little more meat on them (I think it's the #2 neck, again have to check the spec).  My ASAT Classic S has a #1, it's a freaking club.

That Baker's a beaut, love the double cream pups.  That's a pre Ed Roman one, right?

I'm such a guitar nerd.