Commonly commented info: Emerald is in Ireland. I misspoke. Digital gear has not caught up in terms pitch changing chords. Very digital and artificial with clean tones. Yes, I’ve tried it, which is why I want to try the transtrem. The Transtrem clip I forgot to add: ua-cam.com/video/91KTfh0QBb8/v-deo.html There are a bunch of metal and rock guitars I forgot to add to this list. Devin Townsend stormbender by framus, the RC One by Ormsby, and a bunch of others. Anyway, I’m not known as a metal guy anyway so maybe next time we will do a rock/metal guitar list.
I have a Starfield Cabriolet, which is Richie Kotzen's signature guitar when the company existed (it was a Hoshino project with Mike Lipe who went on to build up LACS). It's if Ibanez j custom made a tele lol it has *that* heel. Mine has birdseye maple top, mahogany back, maple neck...pretty standard for a semi-hollow tele/thinline style. Unique F holes too... I am not complaining of missing guitar but since it's my latest addition to the pile and you came out the gate leading with a Kotzen model, compelled me to make a mention. I think it was built at the Sugi plant as opposed to Fujigen (wherever the j customs ended up getting built). The Klein body styles are reminiscent of some of the more collected Ovation solid bodies. I thought when you said "sahara" that you said "sahana" and they're a builder that's in Nepal that sent some instruments around to channels some time back (year or two or so) and they were all great looking and demo'd great. They also have headless ergo guitars, like the B3, Steinberger, and Strandberg, et al.
Something about a really simple design on a guitar is so satisfying. Completely minimalistic, nothing unnecessary added if it doesn’t NEED to be there. Just 100% attention focused on making it feel completely effortless to play
I’ve gotten to play a few Emerald Acoustic models and I would say that they’re the most comfortable acoustic I’ve ever played. I believe they’re using thin veneers for the wood tops
dude, i am shocked at how little most reviews spend time talking about the neck profile of a guitar. some manufacturers even exclude the info on a product page. not only do you give this important aspect of the guitar the attention it deserves its personally awesome to see someone review guitars with the same appreciation for a thicker neck and emphasis on ergonomic guitars. awesome work on this list - i didn't know about most of these guitars and am also excited to try them out. i'm also very curious to see your review on the aristides. i just received my h/07 after buying the strandberg boden nx6 about a year ago and find that the aristides is absolutely perfect for me whereas the strandberg was great but not quite as comfortable, for me personally. i seem to recall you mentioning somewhere you didn't vibe with an aristides? do you have a review in the works?
Thanks for supporting! Review for the aristides coming next week. Long story short, amazing guitar, I just wish I could have had straight frets and a thicker neck.
The thickness of the neck is never talked about or the shoulder of the neck which I didn’t realize how much bigger it feels. Sorry a yr late. I just came across this channel.
I have an Emerald X30. They are based in Ireland. This guitar is gorgeous, extremely stable, and it plays and sounds fantastic. There are a number of unusual ergonomic features on this guitar.
BTW Strandbergs are made by PT Cort in Indonesia. It's a really good and quite well known factory, with quite high level QC (that's a big chunk of what you pay actually). This is the same factory that builds certain Ibanez models, but also PRS SE, Parkwood, Squier, G&L Tribute... I own a Cort KX508 and it's an excellent entry-level 8-string, with a lovely poplar burl top. Feels 3x more expensive than it is!
I think it would make a lot of sense for you to try some of the 1000 series ltd models like the ec-1000 or the m-1000. stainless steel frets, superb neck joints, medium sized necks, often times versions with Floyds available all for around 1000 bucks. Sure they are more on the modern metal side of things but the specs sound like they would fit the bill for you :)
We have a very similar taste in guitars - GM4T was a dream of mine ever since I saw Vito Bratta with one in a video :) Got to buy one in great shape a couple years back. I own a bunch of great guitars - I am in IT and more of a collector / enthusiast than a musician. That was the choice I made that enabled me to collect expensive high end guitars I would probably not had access to otherwise. My high end is Rick Toone, Teuffel and Ritter ... A Ken Parker Archtop would also be a dream for me, but I couldn't bring myself yet to spend that kind of money on a single instrument ... I have a Forshage in my collection as well as a Shawn Lane model and a B3 Ringmaster. Edit: PS a Matsuda would be another one I would think is in the Kent Parker Catgory to me :)
Just want to say, I am quite enjoying your channel so far! I also checked out your Millennial Music Entrepreneurs podcast and your points are thought provoking for someone like me who is similarly obsessive. I am starting a Masters degree this year and hope to start a channel of my own during that process. What you have managed to do in the past year is inspiring 👍🏻 Keep it up
You are one of the few listeners of that podcast haha thanks for supporting. When I’m more successful one day, I think that archive Im keeping will be useful.
I have a 1993 Strat Plus which is very similar spec - wise to the Jeff Beck strat. Noiseless pickups (lace sensor), LSR nut, same/similar vibrato, locking tuners. Love it! Mine is in the midnight blue metallic.
I sat in a Guitar Center for 20 minutes one day, after playing that Richie Kotzen Fender. I was thinking about which guitars at home I could sell. It was perfect in almost every way, since like you, I also like the big 50's Les Paul style neck. The RK Fender was right in the middle, not too big and not too slim. I didn't buy it, but I should have. I ended up buying a regular Tele that day since I played in a Blues band, and needed a single coil sound for half of the sounds. It was the one that got away! I hope you get yours, Andre. That is such a cool guitar, man! AND the Jeff Beck. That is beautiful, and I got to play one years ago. The one I played was Seafoam Green and it played so smoothly. Today, I have the Schecter Nick Johnston to fill that "need" for me. You NEED to play the Paul Gilbert. It has a nearly perfect neck, and it feels like you are playing a Jazzmaster. I know you like that offset feel, and it is perfect when I play it standing up. No neck dive. I got to review one a while ago, and I was blown away. We are about the same size, body wise. So I think you would love it. I prefer SUHR over Vigier, when it comes to the model you were talking about. The SUHR trem system is just so much better to me. Great video as always, bud. Check your email.
Just to let you know that I have a Steinberger and they do require double ball end strings and there are just a couple of manufacturers making them to my knowledge. I'm happy to report that I have recently found out though, that D'Addario has added a set of 9s and they feel like butter! I could only find 10s for years and I loved them, but I love the 9s even more; super fun to play! They require a light touch, but that's not a problem for me; they are super responsive and do what they're told, I feel like I have a lot of control over the dynamics, you can still play loud, just using less force in the attack. Great for tapping and legato.
Emerald Guitars are made in Ireland.... so not as far to travel. Their Virtuo hybrid model looks amazing! Your choice in guitars and specs are so similar to the things I like. I guess it's one of the reasons I love your videos. It took me 10 years between trying and buying a Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion III. Black finish, gold hardware, lightweight with a fat neck ('59 LP profile). Another 10 years to finally buy a Forshage Orion. I almost bought a Klein... but the neck had no truss rod or any kind of reinforcement, which was the deciding factor in not getting it. Love the Klein archtop but cannot consider it. I'm thinking maybe a Kiesel Holdsworth Headless. I have a Carvin HF2S (it's hollow) w/ a nice chunky neck and SO much tone! Or... a Forshage Orion semi or fully hollow. Excuse the rambling... but your videos give me a charge!!! Thanks so much Andre.
always love your insight. Mainly because you tend to love guitars I hate, so i get exposed to thhings I wouldn't normally get exposed to. Appreciate ya
I have a Richie Kotzen Tele. It's beautiful but I bought it in parts and put a Warmoth neck on it that's nothing like Fender neck. I have small hands. So my neck is small and it has short frets on it. Sounds great and I love it.
RE the TransTrem, regular trems can be used for bending chords, just not for shifting chords. If you fret a D major cowboy chord on the top three strings and up-bend far enough, you’ll reach a point where the G string goes up a minor third, the B string goes up w whole tone and the high E goes up a semitone. And you’ll have a C triad.
@@andrefludd Of course not, but it’s still a cool thing to be able to do. With a regular trem you can not only chnage chords, but actually change the type of chord as well. The C you get when you yank up a D chord gets closer to a natural third. Sounds glorious and very expressive.
I’ve owned a Telecaster RK for 14 years now. Fell in love at 1st sight, I HAD to get it when I first saw it at the shop. Absolute banger of a guitar, very comfortable to play. Something you didn’t mention is the fretboard radius. It is incredibly flat for a tele, which allows for pretty low action. I’ve set up my Tele for pure comfort, I get a fair bit of string buzzing, but I don’t really mind for my daily practice, this makes it so fun for legato, and a great platform to learn how to be more light-touchy on the strings. The pick-ups are incredible, the Chopper-T at the bridge is soo cool. And surprisingly, I purchased my 2nd guitar (a 2006 Les Paul Supreme, my dream guitar) like 3 weeks ago, and oddly enough, it re-emphasized why I love the TRK so much, what makes it a shred monster, while still having the Telecaster spirit. It is a highly underrated guitar, and needs way more spotlight than it has had since its release. I hope you’ll get the opportunity to try/own one in the close future ❤
@@dfawrtevfevwetetvwgw Heritage cherry sunburst. I've always been a sucker for Les Pauls, the shape, the sound, the artists that used to play on one, and I just fell in love with the looks of the supreme. And I got the opportunity to play one when I was 18, a year after puprchasing the Tele (I had spent everything I had to get it). Obviously lightyears away from being able to afford one at the time. But man, that experience was out of this world. The sound, the sustain, just playing a Les Paul. My mind was set on this particular model ^^
Looks like it came with fairly low action,those inlays sure look good, hope it sounds as good as it looks,no real major damage,getting scary waiting for a guitar in mail,they always seem to get some scratches or dings nowadays,can't wait to hear it.
Long time listener, first time commenter. The Vigier Shawn Lane has always been on my guitar bucket list. I was lucky enough to discover Shawn during my formative years as a player when I bought his REH VHS in 1994 when I was 18. I have been a PRS guy since the early 90s and I enjoy the 25 inch scale length. Every now and then I would search for one but I kinda have a rule about on artist signature models, especially those of players I particularly admire. After watching this my GAS went into overdrive and I clicked on Reverb, but alas no luck. They don't turn up often but I was lucky to get my hands on an e-xdemo model from a dealer here in England. I have owned some very high end guitars over the years but with the Vigier Shawn lane I have found my perfect neck and scale length. Now every other guitar feels like a tractor in comparison to race car.
A Stetsbar seems an easier luthier target than a TransTrem if you're not set on a headless. They have the constant bending, come in multiple formats so you can test on something you already own, and are much more cheap/available.
@@andrefludd I'm guessing I was confused by demos that were impressed with how well chords stayed in tune when bent, but indeed there are no individual string adjustments that I know of to guarantee it.
Great video, Andre. We have similar tastes and out of these I would love: 1) early Jeff Beck signature (the first 5 years had the huge U-shpaed neck Beck loved, the late models have a thick neck by modern standards, but not the 1" thick neck), 2) the Parker jazz model, 3) the Forshage (especially the Orion, but remember, he also makes semi-hollow variations on the Klein style body), and 4), a Vigier (but I like wide/thick necks like the late 50s Gibson "roundnecks" and the early PRS necks), I humbly submit one guitar to your list so I don't have to pull the trigger on one - the early Carvin Holdsworth "fat boy" - as you know Allan wasn't very reverent about guitars, he believed they were only tools for the music, but he had very strong beliefs about construction, nech thickness, width, flat radius, materials, etc. He believed they should almost play themsleves. The "fat boy" is an acoustic instrument hollow on the inside, but feedback "resistant" with his low-strength/low-output pickups (to minimize magnetic string pull) and huge frets (I like vintage. low frets, but Allan liked them huge and used a very light touch.). The only thing it doesn't have is the whammy. I chuckle as I imagine him putting this on his wish list and Carvin luthiers telling him, sorry, this is one item we can't do. Anyway if some "fat boy" owner would be kind enough to let Andre use it for of his meticulous, thorough revieww I would happily pay freight charges, both ways.
Love to see you playing a Steinberger !!!! there is adapter so you can use any strings on a Stein Berger or headless guitar , and get an older Jeff Beck I believe that had a fatter neck at least the one I played did and I want a Paul Gilbert also
Emerald is out of Ireland. I ordered a new X 20 from them a little over a month ago and my feelings on the experience and instrument are definitely mixed. In the end, it’s not gonna sound like a wood guitar. They sound good but it’s not wood . The big plus is that you can leave it out during humidity & temp changes. Very durable , Nice looking,, ergonomics are great. It’s very comfortable. It’s a very nice guitar, It just doesn’t sound like wood and My fingers don’t slide on the board like they do on wood.
I have four Chinese made Klein clones. While I am sure that they are absolutely nowhere near the quality of an actual Klein, I can attest that they are the most comfortable body style I have ever played in my 50 years of playing any number of different types of guitars. I comissioned one with a 25 inch scale and a non-Steinberger hardtail bridge and it plays very well, has excellent sustain and intonates near perfectly. I did have to do a thorough setup, and had the pickups replaced and had some custom switching put in but it's my go to now.
Another enjoyable video. I have an Olympic White Stratocaster (an Albert Hammond Jnr. signature model), and I understand the appeal of the Jeff Beck one, but they're prohibitively expensive (on my budget). All these guitars looked as if they'd be comfortable to play.
Ken Parker has a series of videos about the making of these guitars , it’s incredible the thought process that goes into them , I also think a Ken Parker arch top is the pinnacle of guitar making, it sounds an incredible amount of money but when you see what goes into it I understand the value ,
Hi Andre! I enjoyed the podcast. The only guitar on here that I've actually played is the Jeff Beck strat. It's always super interesting to see the different guitars that you present. It's never the typical stuff that everyone else covers and I've often never heard of them. Thanks for that and I hope that you get your hands on some of these because I'm curious about them. Cheers man!✌️
I am a lifelong master of mediocre/know nothing skillset w a high passion for ergonomics/design that fuel my creativity.....that said its so cool to see a Dr. of your skillset/accomplishment be so focused on aspects/designs of guitar that most of your peers seem to have little interest in and the guitar world in general would consider trivial/ tedious.....very inspiring to me as a player...SALUT!
Hey Andre, just discovered your channel when searching for Aristides guitar reviews. Emerald guitars is out of Ireland. Wonderful people and communicative. LOVE my Emerald X20 - ALL carbon fiber, real wood veneers. The most comfortable acoustic I've ever played. The lower underside is angled and rounded for your leg, easy access to upper frets. It arrived from Ireland to east coast USA in tune. Incredible. Only have to tweak tune it a few times a year. Feel free to reach out.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing! I'm not sure if you are interested in letting me check it out for the channel, but if so feel free to shoot me an email andrefluddmusic gmail.
Fender made guitar very similar to Jeff Becks in the late 80’s-90’s, the Stratocaster plus is what they’re called and they can found reasonably priced on the used market.
Hi Andre! Was really curious if you have tried out an Aristides guitar. I think you might have mentioned it in one of your videos. I have been really interested in their 6 string headless model and their tele style model and wanted to see what you thought of them. Thanks for all the great videos.
They have a Klein used on reverb right now I'd love to have, headless non trem with a single Charlie Christian neck pick-up, I'd love that simple setup myself blending vintage into the modern. Now as far as custom,, I love my Warmoth guitars especially the pink one which has a super wide almost classical width neck and stereo out puts and piezo pickup, also I have Steinberger gearless tuners on the headstock
Fingers crossed for you getting one of Ken Parker's Masterpieces directly from him! Edit: b3 Guitars are done by Gene Baker, who founded it as "Baker Guitars" in 2003, I think. Saw a couple of people back in the day but never had the chance to try one. He has a japanese model that is made together with a great japanese builder (Koichi)!
Hey Andre, it gives me pleasure that you are interested in the Steinberger GM4T. I play this fine ( 32 year old ) instrument and can tell you, it's the most stable- and easiest playing thing you can imagine. I disagree completely with the TransTrem-setup/calibration : it is actually quite easy ( there are great tutorials here ) and if you stick to the same stringbrand/gauge ( La Bella or Daddario TT-calibrated ), you need not to adjust the Trem from scratch each time again. ✌🙂
@@andrefludd Congrats on your purchase, i hope you'll be satisfied with the instrument 🙂👍. The ZT3 features the TransTrem v3 which is constructional a bit different than the most popular v2. I never had the opportunity to play a TT v3.
I've got 3 Emerald guitars and 2 Jeff Beck Strats. For your information, Emerald are based in Ireland and incidentally have very flat fingerboards. The Jeff Beck stat has a huge neck, so another reason to check one out
Rick Toone makes a new trem system that bends all the strings in tune, like the Trans Trem. Not sure if it will be sold as a separate unit or just on his guitars
I know you're a fan of Vigier. I'd love to send you my modified Vigier GV Wood to try/review; or just try a stock one that's closer to you. Fantastic single cut guitars. PS: Those Ken Parker Archtops are INSANE!! Love your channel, dude. Cheers!
I currently own four Ibanez Iceman guitars, they're my current favorites. PS10, PS120. and two PS 60. The fireman is ok, in the same way a Gibson reverse-V is ok. 😁 IMO.
Going by your comments about black and gold, I think you should add the Aria Pro II CS400 Black and Gold limited edition guitar from 1985 to your list.
Ha, funny to hear about the Kotzen Tele from you too! My guitar teacher has one, and it was why I went with a .95-.99 neck on the first guitar I made. Also, the Aussie spiders aren't too bad, but NZ has far fewer venemous creatures. :) Still a long flight though.
I know there’s a lot of comments and I am no one so this opinion doesn’t have much weight. My friend and guitar instructor has forshage Orion and it is one of the most magnificent instruments I have ever played. Andre I really thing you would enjoy it. It is certainly a holy grail instrument for me.
You may have caught onto B3 from my previous comment on a video talking about my B3 Phoenix (my number 1). The builder is Gene Baker, formerly of Gibson and Fender custom shops, and has also made a Robben Ford signature model over the years in addition to running the production for Fano, B3, Koll, and Giffin guitars in the 2010s while the brands were under the PBG company.
Since you've already got the Vigier in what looks like black flame or quilt, you could trick it out with gold hardware and have the best of both worlds!
I'd be interested to hear what you think about Emeralds. That's the only high end guitar I kept, excellent setup (and if you chose the adjustable bridge excellent adjustability). The sound is a question of taste, but playability is like a well set up electric. Will be a bit of a pain to get it to the US though.
Check out the bootlegger spade guitar, neck through, floating trem, medium output passive pickups and is ergonomically designed for around $600. I haven’t had the chance to try one and would like to see a review from a content creator I trust
That Ken Parker archtop is basically a functional work of art. I'd be tempted to just display it like art if I ever got one. b3 guitars is built by a former master builder at Fender. I've had their Ultramodern superstrat style on my radar for a while. Maybe you can also have them build you a tele with the neck humbucker you want? Great videos as always.
I talk about it in the final episode of the Strandberg experiment on this channel. I know it’s a long video, but I timestamped it pretty well so you can skill all of the stuff you don’t care about.
I’ve only seen a few of them ever. But have you ever had a chance to try a Spector guitar. They’re known for basses but over the years some guitars have been made.
The Jeff Beck signature model is... not what the man played. The roller nut and the smooth saddles are his doing, but Fender has/is/will take enormous liberties with this line. The original Jeff Beck signature had an HSS layout with Lace sensors. I've never seen the man hold one. It's likely a credulous public that took Fender at their word. Nor did Jeff ever play noiseless pickups. That said, I would recommend a Jeff Beck husk if you can find one. Outfitting a Strat isn't that hard, but the Signature model was HEAVY. They were also quiet. Start there, find a full set of Lace Holy Grails, get the bridge and nut, and you have everything you could want out of this guitar. And you're going to be about as faithful to the signature model as Fender is.
Definitely some interesting guitars, but I'm definitely with you on custom built guitars that you have no idea if they're the right fit. I've always wanted to try a Manson or even a Bilt guitar. The funds aren't there for me. Have you ever tried the new Yamaha Revstars?
@@andrefludd To me the new Revstars are amazing and they have chunkier necks than what I'm used to. Not overly chunky, but still a great playing instrument.
Parker has a UA-cam channel called Archtoppery I believe, think he just enjoys showing his process of making rather than being a UA-camr, more like he is a guy that has put out a bunch of videos on topics related to what he does. Some good ones.
I'm not sure how flat is completely flat, but the Jackson Juggernauts and the PRS Mark Holcomb Signature both have super flat 20" radius fretboards, then again, the juggernaut has a pretty thin neck, I don't remember how the Mark Holcomb Signature felt though.
Also, Jackson released the Misha So-Cal Strat, with a 20" Radius fretboard, his signature Bare Knuckles, and it just looks great, however, they're friggin expensive.
To me, Ritchie Kotzen is John Mayer if Mayer was truly a guitar phenom and had a powerful voice. Anyone who has never gone through Ritchie's catalog will be blown away by his lyrics that ironically sound written from the perspective of a tormented soul just like Mayer, and they come from a similar geographical place. The only Poison album that received critical acclaim Ritchie wrote, played, and sang on. Of course, sleeping with the bassist fiance turned a lot of poison fans off😬🤭🫣.
Yeah man Kleins are the real deal. I've played 2 or 3 and each time was a religious experience. See if Tim Miller will let you play one of his. Also, I agree with you in the JB strat. I scooped one up for cheap during COVID and I love it. I expected to rip the pickups out, but nope, they're perfect. A really great guitar.
The Fireman is a reverse Iceman, but the lower cutaway on the Fireman was added for that guitar The Iceman is a singlecut, the Fireman is a doublecut Just to clarify
@@lordmatthewlukeobrien yeah, those are different in some ways from the regular, original Iceman models, but the same in other ways-nor sure about the neck profile. Later versions often have a wizard or similar neck, which is slimmer
I need a towel to clean up the drool on Guitar #3. Actually not a bad price either. I played with a TransTrem ages ago (when they first came out) and being able to bend chords is just kinda awesome. Honestly of all of Gibson's crimes against guitar, not continuing to make carbon Steinbergers with TransTrems is among their blackest (they own Steinberger and all they make is a cheap Chinese version of the Spirit).
Digital technology hasn’t perfected it yet. When you play with a very clean tone the digital artifacts are very clear. Not bad, but not the sound I like.
you have to get your hands on a Gibson Custom LP 1959 reissue. I got one a while ago, and it's is by FAR the best guitar I've ever played. I think I might get the FRM300PR. I always like the Iceman shape, but they have always sounded awful.
@Andre Fludd I'm trying to decide on a headless, I tried talking with FM but due to high orders they seem hard to communicate details sadly, ordering custom stuff like that without some help is hard for me :( tho I looooove their design(esphera) you should def take a look, I think they have the potential to be up there with Kinsel and strandb(look wise and popularity at least)
Hey Andre come on out to Portland sometime. We’ll play some guitar, do some jitz, eat some food and you can try my X20 and my Virtuo. Just say when. Cheers, Mark
I'm 50 yo, I don't even dare to think about the money I wasted buying and selling instruments that never reached my expectations. I'm currently saving money, i just kept an old classical from 1931, i sold all my other guitars...I want me a nylon string flat fretboard, slim neck, single cut, carbon body , solid spruce top, plus a bridge on which there is one adjustable saddle-piezzo per string...I'm currently prospecting a few luthiers in France...
Even if he was an advisor with say a company like artisides or someone similar who builds with carbon fiber composite components the Parker Fly and Nightflys were 10-20 years ahead of the rest of the industry. Just think IF Parkers were being built correctly again in 2023??? I think they’d find themselves into the hands a whole new younger generation of players. At least my 2 cents….
An Acoustic with Fishman Fluence's? I wouldn't call the Emerald Virtuo an Acoustic. As far as pushing the technology of composite materials goes they are cooking. But we shouldn't forget the likes of Ovation and Travis Bean who were making composite Guitars decades ago. There is also Lava who make composite Guitars and Manson.
Oh wow, those Emeralds look kinda interesting, especially with the upper bout sound port, or I guess it's an ultra-forward-shifted sound HOLE, since it's not a secondary port. Huh... Edit: Haha, of course 2 seconds later you NAILED the entire reason this design piques my interest: I play alone, and I'd like to hear my guitar, dammit!
Commonly commented info:
Emerald is in Ireland. I misspoke.
Digital gear has not caught up in terms pitch changing chords. Very digital and artificial with clean tones. Yes, I’ve tried it, which is why I want to try the transtrem.
The Transtrem clip I forgot to add: ua-cam.com/video/91KTfh0QBb8/v-deo.html
There are a bunch of metal and rock guitars I forgot to add to this list. Devin Townsend stormbender by framus, the RC One by Ormsby, and a bunch of others. Anyway, I’m not known as a metal guy anyway so maybe next time we will do a rock/metal guitar list.
I have a Starfield Cabriolet, which is Richie Kotzen's signature guitar when the company existed (it was a Hoshino project with Mike Lipe who went on to build up LACS). It's if Ibanez j custom made a tele lol it has *that* heel. Mine has birdseye maple top, mahogany back, maple neck...pretty standard for a semi-hollow tele/thinline style. Unique F holes too...
I am not complaining of missing guitar but since it's my latest addition to the pile and you came out the gate leading with a Kotzen model, compelled me to make a mention. I think it was built at the Sugi plant as opposed to Fujigen (wherever the j customs ended up getting built).
The Klein body styles are reminiscent of some of the more collected Ovation solid bodies.
I thought when you said "sahara" that you said "sahana" and they're a builder that's in Nepal that sent some instruments around to channels some time back (year or two or so) and they were all great looking and demo'd great. They also have headless ergo guitars, like the B3, Steinberger, and Strandberg, et al.
Where are you going to get the strings for that trans trem!? Eddie Van Halen’s Summer Nights!
Something about a really simple design on a guitar is so satisfying. Completely minimalistic, nothing unnecessary added if it doesn’t NEED to be there. Just 100% attention focused on making it feel completely effortless to play
I’ve gotten to play a few Emerald Acoustic models and I would say that they’re the most comfortable acoustic I’ve ever played. I believe they’re using thin veneers for the wood tops
dude, i am shocked at how little most reviews spend time talking about the neck profile of a guitar. some manufacturers even exclude the info on a product page. not only do you give this important aspect of the guitar the attention it deserves its personally awesome to see someone review guitars with the same appreciation for a thicker neck and emphasis on ergonomic guitars. awesome work on this list - i didn't know about most of these guitars and am also excited to try them out. i'm also very curious to see your review on the aristides. i just received my h/07 after buying the strandberg boden nx6 about a year ago and find that the aristides is absolutely perfect for me whereas the strandberg was great but not quite as comfortable, for me personally. i seem to recall you mentioning somewhere you didn't vibe with an aristides? do you have a review in the works?
Thanks for supporting! Review for the aristides coming next week. Long story short, amazing guitar, I just wish I could have had straight frets and a thicker neck.
The thickness of the neck is never talked about or the shoulder of the neck which I didn’t realize how much bigger it feels. Sorry a yr late. I just came across this channel.
I have an Emerald X30. They are based in Ireland. This guitar is gorgeous, extremely stable, and it plays and sounds fantastic. There are a number of unusual ergonomic features on this guitar.
BTW Strandbergs are made by PT Cort in Indonesia. It's a really good and quite well known factory, with quite high level QC (that's a big chunk of what you pay actually). This is the same factory that builds certain Ibanez models, but also PRS SE, Parkwood, Squier, G&L Tribute...
I own a Cort KX508 and it's an excellent entry-level 8-string, with a lovely poplar burl top. Feels 3x more expensive than it is!
I think it would make a lot of sense for you to try some of the 1000 series ltd models like the ec-1000 or the m-1000. stainless steel frets, superb neck joints, medium sized necks, often times versions with Floyds available all for around 1000 bucks. Sure they are more on the modern metal side of things but the specs sound like they would fit the bill for you :)
Absolutely, perhaps for the metal series
You should try a steinberger zt3 if you find one! I loved that guitar and it has the "newer" transtrem (D'Addario makes strings made for it actually)
I wish they made the FRM in japan as well, he did say his custom shop firemen are even thicker then the production models
We have a very similar taste in guitars - GM4T was a dream of mine ever since I saw Vito Bratta with one in a video :) Got to buy one in great shape a couple years back. I own a bunch of great guitars - I am in IT and more of a collector / enthusiast than a musician. That was the choice I made that enabled me to collect expensive high end guitars I would probably not had access to otherwise. My high end is Rick Toone, Teuffel and Ritter ... A Ken Parker Archtop would also be a dream for me, but I couldn't bring myself yet to spend that kind of money on a single instrument ... I have a Forshage in my collection as well as a Shawn Lane model and a B3 Ringmaster. Edit: PS a Matsuda would be another one I would think is in the Kent Parker Catgory to me :)
You have some beautiful instruments and great taste :). What a collection! Maybe I need to transition to an it career lol
Just want to say, I am quite enjoying your channel so far! I also checked out your Millennial Music Entrepreneurs podcast and your points are thought provoking for someone like me who is similarly obsessive.
I am starting a Masters degree this year and hope to start a channel of my own during that process. What you have managed to do in the past year is inspiring 👍🏻 Keep it up
You are one of the few listeners of that podcast haha thanks for supporting. When I’m more successful one day, I think that archive Im keeping will be useful.
I have a 1993 Strat Plus which is very similar spec - wise to the Jeff Beck strat. Noiseless pickups (lace sensor), LSR nut, same/similar vibrato, locking tuners. Love it! Mine is in the midnight blue metallic.
Sounds awesome.
I sat in a Guitar Center for 20 minutes one day, after playing that Richie Kotzen Fender. I was thinking about which guitars at home I could sell. It was perfect in almost every way, since like you, I also like the big 50's Les Paul style neck. The RK Fender was right in the middle, not too big and not too slim.
I didn't buy it, but I should have. I ended up buying a regular Tele that day since I played in a Blues band, and needed a single coil sound for half of the sounds.
It was the one that got away! I hope you get yours, Andre. That is such a cool guitar, man!
AND the Jeff Beck. That is beautiful, and I got to play one years ago. The one I played was Seafoam Green and it played so smoothly. Today, I have the Schecter Nick Johnston to fill that "need" for me.
You NEED to play the Paul Gilbert. It has a nearly perfect neck, and it feels like you are playing a Jazzmaster. I know you like that offset feel, and it is perfect when I play it standing up. No neck dive. I got to review one a while ago, and I was blown away. We are about the same size, body wise. So I think you would love it.
I prefer SUHR over Vigier, when it comes to the model you were talking about. The SUHR trem system is just so much better to me.
Great video as always, bud. Check your email.
Nice choice on the Vigier. I have a Vigier Excess bass, also in a natural finish, that is the best bass I’ve ever owned.
Just to let you know that I have a Steinberger and they do require double ball end strings and there are just a couple of manufacturers making them to my knowledge.
I'm happy to report that I have recently found out though, that D'Addario has added a set of 9s and they feel like butter! I could only find 10s for years and I loved them, but I love the 9s even more; super fun to play! They require a light touch, but that's not a problem for me; they are super responsive and do what they're told, I feel like I have a lot of control over the dynamics, you can still play loud, just using less force in the attack. Great for tapping and legato.
I love those LSR roller nuts. Have them on a strat and a tele clone and they just work.
Emerald Guitars are made in Ireland.... so not as far to travel. Their Virtuo hybrid model looks amazing! Your choice in guitars and specs are so similar to the things I like. I guess it's one of the reasons I love your videos. It took me 10 years between trying and buying a Gibson Howard Roberts Fusion III. Black finish, gold hardware, lightweight with a fat neck ('59 LP profile). Another 10 years to finally buy a Forshage Orion. I almost bought a Klein... but the neck had no truss rod or any kind of reinforcement, which was the deciding factor in not getting it. Love the Klein archtop but cannot consider it. I'm thinking maybe a Kiesel Holdsworth Headless. I have a Carvin HF2S (it's hollow) w/ a nice chunky neck and SO much tone! Or... a Forshage Orion semi or fully hollow. Excuse the rambling... but your videos give me a charge!!! Thanks so much Andre.
Hey Andre. One thing I've noticed that you pronounce Suhr guitarist like "Shure"
The correct pronunciation is "Sir" 🙏
Interesting bucket list! I learned a few new brands as well.
always love your insight. Mainly because you tend to love guitars I hate, so i get exposed to thhings I wouldn't normally get exposed to. Appreciate ya
I have a Richie Kotzen Tele. It's beautiful but I bought it in parts and put a Warmoth neck on it that's nothing like Fender neck. I have small hands. So my neck is small and it has short frets on it. Sounds great and I love it.
RE the TransTrem, regular trems can be used for bending chords, just not for shifting chords. If you fret a D major cowboy chord on the top three strings and up-bend far enough, you’ll reach a point where the G string goes up a minor third, the B string goes up w whole tone and the high E goes up a semitone. And you’ll have a C triad.
True, but it’s not really the same thing as being able to move stepwise
@@andrefludd Of course not, but it’s still a cool thing to be able to do. With a regular trem you can not only chnage chords, but actually change the type of chord as well. The C you get when you yank up a D chord gets closer to a natural third. Sounds glorious and very expressive.
I have a 2008 AM Deluxe Strat with the contoured heel and LSR roller nut like the Jeff Beck signature, the LSR roller nut is pretty amazing...
Have you heard of Aristides guitars? Their Tele looks like a really good blend of classic and modern
I had an Aristides h6. Video coming on that next Friday.
I’ve owned a Telecaster RK for 14 years now. Fell in love at 1st sight, I HAD to get it when I first saw it at the shop. Absolute banger of a guitar, very comfortable to play. Something you didn’t mention is the fretboard radius. It is incredibly flat for a tele, which allows for pretty low action. I’ve set up my Tele for pure comfort, I get a fair bit of string buzzing, but I don’t really mind for my daily practice, this makes it so fun for legato, and a great platform to learn how to be more light-touchy on the strings. The pick-ups are incredible, the Chopper-T at the bridge is soo cool.
And surprisingly, I purchased my 2nd guitar (a 2006 Les Paul Supreme, my dream guitar) like 3 weeks ago, and oddly enough, it re-emphasized why I love the TRK so much, what makes it a shred monster, while still having the Telecaster spirit.
It is a highly underrated guitar, and needs way more spotlight than it has had since its release. I hope you’ll get the opportunity to try/own one in the close future ❤
Thanks for sharing! I hope I can’t one eventually. For now, I got the pickups and put them in my Klein stele
Whay colour supreme? Out of interest why is that one your dream
@@dfawrtevfevwetetvwgw Heritage cherry sunburst. I've always been a sucker for Les Pauls, the shape, the sound, the artists that used to play on one, and I just fell in love with the looks of the supreme. And I got the opportunity to play one when I was 18, a year after puprchasing the Tele (I had spent everything I had to get it). Obviously lightyears away from being able to afford one at the time. But man, that experience was out of this world. The sound, the sustain, just playing a Les Paul. My mind was set on this particular model ^^
Looks like it came with fairly low action,those inlays sure look good, hope it sounds as good as it looks,no real major damage,getting scary waiting for a guitar in mail,they always seem to get some scratches or dings nowadays,can't wait to hear it.
Long time listener, first time commenter.
The Vigier Shawn Lane has always been on my guitar bucket list. I was lucky enough to discover Shawn during my formative years as a player when I bought his REH VHS in 1994 when I was 18.
I have been a PRS guy since the early 90s and I enjoy the 25 inch scale length. Every now and then I would search for one but I kinda have a rule about on artist signature models, especially those of players I particularly admire. After watching this my GAS went into overdrive and I clicked on Reverb, but alas no luck. They don't turn up often but I was lucky to get my hands on an e-xdemo model from a dealer here in England.
I have owned some very high end guitars over the years but with the Vigier Shawn lane I have found my perfect neck and scale length. Now every other guitar feels like a tractor in comparison to race car.
I’ve been playing it for a few weeks now and the Shawn lane really is a special instrument. I’m never selling it
A Stetsbar seems an easier luthier target than a TransTrem if you're not set on a headless. They have the constant bending, come in multiple formats so you can test on something you already own, and are much more cheap/available.
I haven’t found any research to suggest it has the same features of a transtrem. Please correct me if I’m wrong!
@@andrefludd I'm guessing I was confused by demos that were impressed with how well chords stayed in tune when bent, but indeed there are no individual string adjustments that I know of to guarantee it.
Great video, Andre. We have similar tastes and out of these I would love: 1) early Jeff Beck signature (the first 5 years had the huge U-shpaed neck Beck loved, the late models have a thick neck by modern standards, but not the 1" thick neck), 2) the Parker jazz model, 3) the Forshage (especially the Orion, but remember, he also makes semi-hollow variations on the Klein style body), and 4), a Vigier (but I like wide/thick necks like the late 50s Gibson "roundnecks" and the early PRS necks), I humbly submit one guitar to your list so I don't have to pull the trigger on one - the early Carvin Holdsworth "fat boy" - as you know Allan wasn't very reverent about guitars, he believed they were only tools for the music, but he had very strong beliefs about construction, nech thickness, width, flat radius, materials, etc. He believed they should almost play themsleves. The "fat boy" is an acoustic instrument hollow on the inside, but feedback "resistant" with his low-strength/low-output pickups (to minimize magnetic string pull) and huge frets (I like vintage. low frets, but Allan liked them huge and used a very light touch.). The only thing it doesn't have is the whammy. I chuckle as I imagine him putting this on his wish list and Carvin luthiers telling him, sorry, this is one item we can't do. Anyway if some "fat boy" owner would be kind enough to let Andre use it for of his meticulous, thorough revieww I would happily pay freight charges, both ways.
Ohhh I wasn’t aware of the fatboy’s neck. It’s going on the list :) thank you
What an exquisite taste 👌👌👍👍
Love to see you playing a Steinberger !!!! there is adapter so you can use any strings on a Stein Berger or headless guitar , and get an older Jeff Beck I believe that had a fatter neck at least the one I played did and I want a Paul Gilbert also
Emerald is out of Ireland. I ordered a new X 20 from them a little over a month ago and my feelings on the experience and instrument are definitely mixed.
In the end, it’s not gonna sound like a wood guitar. They sound good but it’s not wood .
The big plus is that you can leave it out during humidity & temp changes.
Very durable ,
Nice looking,,
ergonomics are great.
It’s very comfortable.
It’s a very nice guitar,
It just doesn’t sound like wood and My fingers don’t slide on the board like they do on wood.
i have a firebird mini humbuckerr are so underrated such a cool pu
I have four Chinese made Klein clones. While I am sure that they are absolutely nowhere near the quality of an actual Klein, I can attest that they are the most comfortable body style I have ever played in my 50 years of playing any number of different types of guitars. I comissioned one with a 25 inch scale and a non-Steinberger hardtail bridge and it plays very well, has excellent sustain and intonates near perfectly. I did have to do a thorough setup, and had the pickups replaced and had some custom switching put in but it's my go to now.
Another enjoyable video. I have an Olympic White Stratocaster (an Albert Hammond Jnr. signature model), and I understand the appeal of the Jeff Beck one, but they're prohibitively expensive (on my budget). All these guitars looked as if they'd be comfortable to play.
Ken Parker has a series of videos about the making of these guitars , it’s incredible the thought process that goes into them , I also think a Ken Parker arch top is the pinnacle of guitar making, it sounds an incredible amount of money but when you see what goes into it I understand the value ,
Hi Andre! I enjoyed the podcast. The only guitar on here that I've actually played is the Jeff Beck strat. It's always super interesting to see the different guitars that you present. It's never the typical stuff that everyone else covers and I've often never heard of them. Thanks for that and I hope that you get your hands on some of these because I'm curious about them.
Cheers man!✌️
Hey man! Was just thinking to myself earlier that I haven’t seen you comment lately. Glad you enjoyed the video. I hope all is well.
@@andrefludd Thanks man. This past month has been hectic and busy for me so I haven't commented on much. I'm still watching though.
I want to try the Vigier you reviewed lately.
I am a lifelong master of mediocre/know nothing skillset w a high passion for ergonomics/design that fuel my creativity.....that said its so cool to see a Dr. of your skillset/accomplishment be so focused on aspects/designs of guitar that most of your peers seem to have little interest in and the guitar world in general would consider trivial/ tedious.....very inspiring to me as a player...SALUT!
I appreciate that thank you! I do believe this should be a bigger topic :). Thanks for supporting
Hey Andre, just discovered your channel when searching for Aristides guitar reviews. Emerald guitars is out of Ireland. Wonderful people and communicative. LOVE my Emerald X20 - ALL carbon fiber, real wood veneers. The most comfortable acoustic I've ever played. The lower underside is angled and rounded for your leg, easy access to upper frets. It arrived from Ireland to east coast USA in tune. Incredible. Only have to tweak tune it a few times a year. Feel free to reach out.
Very cool! Thanks for sharing! I'm not sure if you are interested in letting me check it out for the channel, but if so feel free to shoot me an email andrefluddmusic gmail.
Fender made guitar very similar to Jeff Becks in the late 80’s-90’s, the Stratocaster plus is what they’re called and they can found reasonably priced on the used market.
Hi Andre!
Was really curious if you have tried out an Aristides guitar. I think you might have mentioned it in one of your videos. I have been really interested in their 6 string headless model and their tele style model and wanted to see what you thought of them.
Thanks for all the great videos.
I had one when the h06 first came out. I have a review on it coming next week
They have a Klein used on reverb right now I'd love to have, headless non trem with a single Charlie Christian neck pick-up, I'd love that simple setup myself blending vintage into the modern. Now as far as custom,, I love my Warmoth guitars especially the pink one which has a super wide almost classical width neck and stereo out puts and piezo pickup, also I have Steinberger gearless tuners on the headstock
Fingers crossed for you getting one of Ken Parker's Masterpieces directly from him!
Edit: b3 Guitars are done by Gene Baker, who founded it as "Baker Guitars" in 2003, I think. Saw a couple of people back in the day but never had the chance to try one. He has a japanese model that is made together with a great japanese builder (Koichi)!
I’ll get it one day if I work hard enough :)
Hey Andre, it gives me pleasure that you are interested in the Steinberger GM4T. I play this fine ( 32 year old ) instrument and can tell you, it's the most stable- and easiest playing thing you can imagine. I disagree completely with the TransTrem-setup/calibration : it is actually quite easy ( there are great tutorials here ) and if you stick to the same stringbrand/gauge ( La Bella or Daddario TT-calibrated ), you need not to adjust the Trem from scratch each time again. ✌🙂
I just ordered a zt3 :). If I love it maybe I’ll go gm4t one day
@@andrefludd Congrats on your purchase, i hope you'll be satisfied with the instrument 🙂👍. The ZT3 features the TransTrem v3 which is constructional a bit different than the most popular v2. I never had the opportunity to play a TT v3.
I've got 3 Emerald guitars and 2 Jeff Beck Strats. For your information, Emerald are based in Ireland and incidentally have very flat fingerboards. The Jeff Beck stat has a huge neck, so another reason to check one out
All good news for me thanks!
Rick Toone makes a new trem system that bends all the strings in tune, like the Trans Trem. Not sure if it will be sold as a separate unit or just on his guitars
I'd love to try one of his guitars but they are crazy expensive haha. Rightfully so. The guy has some genius ideas.
I know you're a fan of Vigier. I'd love to send you my modified Vigier GV Wood to try/review; or just try a stock one that's closer to you. Fantastic single cut guitars. PS: Those Ken Parker Archtops are INSANE!! Love your channel, dude. Cheers!
I used to have a GV wood. I regret selling it! Thanks for the offer
I really like the look of the Victor Baker ergonomic archtop
I'm very curious about the pgm and the slm review!
Great stuff as usual Andre. Have you checked out Schorr guitars? Very interesting design, think you'd dig 'em
I have! I need to make an entire podcast for luthiers in Europe. So many amazing small builders I’d love to try.
I currently own four Ibanez Iceman guitars, they're my current favorites. PS10, PS120. and two PS 60.
The fireman is ok, in the same way a Gibson reverse-V is ok. 😁 IMO.
Emerald Guitars are in Donegal, Ireland.
Thanks for that correction.
Cool 💯🤘
I like gold hardware with a dark green. I heard gold hardware doesn’t age well but with the right guitar I’d pop on it.
Going by your comments about black and gold, I think you should add the Aria Pro II CS400 Black and Gold limited edition guitar from 1985 to your list.
Ha, funny to hear about the Kotzen Tele from you too! My guitar teacher has one, and it was why I went with a .95-.99 neck on the first guitar I made. Also, the Aussie spiders aren't too bad, but NZ has far fewer venemous creatures. :) Still a long flight though.
I know there’s a lot of comments and I am no one so this opinion doesn’t have much weight. My friend and guitar instructor has forshage Orion and it is one of the most magnificent instruments I have ever played. Andre I really thing you would enjoy it. It is certainly a holy grail instrument for me.
Thanks for sharing! All opinions are useful.
You may have caught onto B3 from my previous comment on a video talking about my B3 Phoenix (my number 1). The builder is Gene Baker, formerly of Gibson and Fender custom shops, and has also made a Robben Ford signature model over the years in addition to running the production for Fano, B3, Koll, and Giffin guitars in the 2010s while the brands were under the PBG company.
Thanks for that info! Sounds like it should be very high quality!
@@andrefludd both of mine are great quality. Just really well made and super resonant compared to my other guitars.
B3 did Baker guitars, amazing stuff!
Since you've already got the Vigier in what looks like black flame or quilt, you could trick it out with gold hardware and have the best of both worlds!
I like the understated look about it. But you are right it would look cooler with gold lol
I'd be interested to hear what you think about Emeralds. That's the only high end guitar I kept, excellent setup (and if you chose the adjustable bridge excellent adjustability). The sound is a question of taste, but playability is like a well set up electric. Will be a bit of a pain to get it to the US though.
Yea…it has to travel a long way to NJ, but one day!
If you get a chance Andre try a washburn USA Nele...
Check out the bootlegger spade guitar, neck through, floating trem, medium output passive pickups and is ergonomically designed for around $600. I haven’t had the chance to try one and would like to see a review from a content creator I trust
That Ken Parker archtop is basically a functional work of art. I'd be tempted to just display it like art if I ever got one. b3 guitars is built by a former master builder at Fender. I've had their Ultramodern superstrat style on my radar for a while. Maybe you can also have them build you a tele with the neck humbucker you want? Great videos as always.
Thanks for supporting! If I went B3 it would have to be the headless.
Vita Bratta made me want that Steinberger too
Interested in hearing your annoyances with the Strandberg.
I talk about it in the final episode of the Strandberg experiment on this channel. I know it’s a long video, but I timestamped it pretty well so you can skill all of the stuff you don’t care about.
I’ve only seen a few of them ever. But have you ever had a chance to try a Spector guitar. They’re known for basses but over the years some guitars have been made.
I haven’t yet
The Jeff Beck signature model is... not what the man played. The roller nut and the smooth saddles are his doing, but Fender has/is/will take enormous liberties with this line. The original Jeff Beck signature had an HSS layout with Lace sensors. I've never seen the man hold one. It's likely a credulous public that took Fender at their word. Nor did Jeff ever play noiseless pickups.
That said, I would recommend a Jeff Beck husk if you can find one. Outfitting a Strat isn't that hard, but the Signature model was HEAVY. They were also quiet. Start there, find a full set of Lace Holy Grails, get the bridge and nut, and you have everything you could want out of this guitar. And you're going to be about as faithful to the signature model as Fender is.
13:22 "...Clippet...Snippet..."
I love gold hardware!!
Me too
I did not know that about the TransTrem, you have me interested now.
ua-cam.com/video/91KTfh0QBb8/v-deo.html
Emerald guitars are made in Ireland. My mate plays one. Nice
Definitely some interesting guitars, but I'm definitely with you on custom built guitars that you have no idea if they're the right fit. I've always wanted to try a Manson or even a Bilt guitar. The funds aren't there for me. Have you ever tried the new Yamaha Revstars?
I have briefly but not for a full review. Hopefully ill review one this year.
@@andrefludd To me the new Revstars are amazing and they have chunkier necks than what I'm used to. Not overly chunky, but still a great playing instrument.
Parker has a UA-cam channel called Archtoppery I believe, think he just enjoys showing his process of making rather than being a UA-camr, more like he is a guy that has put out a bunch of videos on topics related to what he does. Some good ones.
I'm not sure how flat is completely flat, but the Jackson Juggernauts and the PRS Mark Holcomb Signature both have super flat 20" radius fretboards, then again, the juggernaut has a pretty thin neck, I don't remember how the Mark Holcomb Signature felt though.
Also, Jackson released the Misha So-Cal Strat, with a 20" Radius fretboard, his signature Bare Knuckles, and it just looks great, however, they're friggin expensive.
To me, Ritchie Kotzen is John Mayer if Mayer was truly a guitar phenom and had a powerful voice. Anyone who has never gone through Ritchie's catalog will be blown away by his lyrics that ironically sound written from the perspective of a tormented soul just like Mayer, and they come from a similar geographical place. The only Poison album that received critical acclaim Ritchie wrote, played, and sang on. Of course, sleeping with the bassist fiance turned a lot of poison fans off😬🤭🫣.
Yeah man Kleins are the real deal. I've played 2 or 3 and each time was a religious experience. See if Tim Miller will let you play one of his. Also, I agree with you in the JB strat. I scooped one up for cheap during COVID and I love it. I expected to rip the pickups out, but nope, they're perfect. A really great guitar.
I don’t know Tim Miller personally, but I did purchase a Klein stele since this podcast and I agree. It’s a great guitar
🤘🏼 from Sydney, Australia!
Come visit!
Andre, you ever got your hands on a headless Aristides?
Yes I have. Video coming next Friday.
the Richie Kotzen Tele is such a beast
The Fireman is a reverse Iceman, but the lower cutaway on the Fireman was added for that guitar
The Iceman is a singlecut, the Fireman is a doublecut
Just to clarify
@@lordmatthewlukeobrien the older Iceman models had chunky necks, although the Paul Stanley models had thinner necks than the Iceman
@@lordmatthewlukeobrien yeah, those are different in some ways from the regular, original Iceman models, but the same in other ways-nor sure about the neck profile.
Later versions often have a wizard or similar neck, which is slimmer
I need a towel to clean up the drool on Guitar #3. Actually not a bad price either. I played with a TransTrem ages ago (when they first came out) and being able to bend chords is just kinda awesome. Honestly of all of Gibson's crimes against guitar, not continuing to make carbon Steinbergers with TransTrems is among their blackest (they own Steinberger and all they make is a cheap Chinese version of the Spirit).
What a shame. It would be great if they could at least do a custom shop model for all the fancy steinberger stuff.
You could try the virtual Jeff virtual whammy bar instead of the trans trem
Digital technology hasn’t perfected it yet. When you play with a very clean tone the digital artifacts are very clear. Not bad, but not the sound I like.
I hope you get your arch top, buddy
Why did you stop playing your Strandberg?
I didn’t! Right now it’s in the shop but I will be playing it plenty when I get it back.
you have to get your hands on a Gibson Custom LP 1959 reissue. I got one a while ago, and it's is by FAR the best guitar I've ever played. I think I might get the FRM300PR. I always like the Iceman shape, but they have always sounded awful.
Have u seen the fm guitars Esphera ?
I haven’t yet
@Andre Fludd I'm trying to decide on a headless, I tried talking with FM but due to high orders they seem hard to communicate details sadly, ordering custom stuff like that without some help is hard for me :( tho I looooove their design(esphera) you should def take a look, I think they have the potential to be up there with Kinsel and strandb(look wise and popularity at least)
It's my understanding that the Jeff Beck signature model bears little resemblance Jeff's actual main Strat in terms of specs
Closest I can get lol
Hey Andre come on out to Portland sometime. We’ll play some guitar, do some jitz, eat some food and you can try my X20 and my Virtuo. Just say when.
Cheers, Mark
When I start hitting the road I’ll def let everyone know :). I’d love to see Portland.
Emerald guitars are made in Ireland.The Emerald Isle.
I want a 1967 sg special. But I’m saving up for a 1961 sg reissue
I hope you get one!
Gold hardware is beautiful. Today.😉
I'm 50 yo, I don't even dare to think about the money I wasted buying and selling instruments that never reached my expectations. I'm currently saving money, i just kept an old classical from 1931, i sold all my other guitars...I want me a nylon string flat fretboard, slim neck, single cut, carbon body , solid spruce top, plus a bridge on which there is one adjustable saddle-piezzo per string...I'm currently prospecting a few luthiers in France...
The Richie Kotzen has noiseless pickups too, you know..?
(Which = stacked dual coils in a single coil size)
Edit: oh, you just said it.
Sure wish Ken owned Parker again! The industry still hasn’t caught up to his advancements all these years later!
Even if he was an advisor with say a company like artisides or someone similar who builds with carbon fiber composite components the Parker Fly and Nightflys were 10-20 years ahead of the rest of the industry. Just think IF Parkers were being built correctly again in 2023??? I think they’d find themselves into the hands a whole new younger generation of players. At least my 2 cents….
@@MrTelecasterkid I couldn’t agree more!
The fact that "Kotzen" means "vomitting/to vomit" in german just makes me ew everytime I see that Tele
Brian Moore MC/1
An Acoustic with Fishman Fluence's? I wouldn't call the Emerald Virtuo an Acoustic. As far as pushing the technology of composite materials goes they are cooking. But we shouldn't forget the likes of Ovation and Travis Bean who were making composite Guitars decades ago. There is also Lava who make composite Guitars and Manson.
Oh wow, those Emeralds look kinda interesting, especially with the upper bout sound port, or I guess it's an ultra-forward-shifted sound HOLE, since it's not a secondary port. Huh...
Edit: Haha, of course 2 seconds later you NAILED the entire reason this design piques my interest: I play alone, and I'd like to hear my guitar, dammit!
Yep! It seems like we are very much on the same wavelength :)