I own a few biggish solid state amps: a Roland Cube 80XL (80 Watts), and my bass amp, an Ashdown 5-15 mini rig (100 Watts).
I also own a Fender Excelsior valve amp, rated at 13 Watts.
Guess which one is loudest.
The one with the valves.
…although, to be fair, my bass amp isn’t loud in the makes-your-ears-hurt way a guitar amp is loud, but it fills the room with a rich and thick slab of bottom end that is a very beautiful thing.
Here’s a chap on Youtube demo-ing a Park Vintage LE (my everyday amp). I tend to drive it quite a bit harder than this guy* How come his Park looks like new? Mine looks like it’s been though a third world war?
It’s official, there is nothing you can’t find on the internet.
- who definitely isn’t me BTW (for one thing, I’d be show-boating more)
Welp, the louder you drive my FourForce, the better it sounds. But that’s how it goes. Got an iStomp on ebay, waiting for it to show. Busy practicing and soldering up my Canvas. Really screwed it up somewhere, but it looks good. Got to take it apart this weekend.
Somewhat long story, but a friend/colleague/collaborator who collects guitars shares a similar belief with me that once you develop GAS, you are challenged with how to cycle your guitars in and out of “playing rotation”… He has many electric guitars that have taken a back-seat to acoustics, and also has more than one Les Paul…
In short, I am now the proud owner/keeper/player (length of relationship unstated/unknown) of this lovely 2005 Studio Faded Cherry Les Paul. I know it isn’t “top of the line, collectors level” Les Paul, but it is the first I have ever had… travelling with it right now, so haven’t been home and able to plug it in, but based on the audio clips of the Burstbucker Pick-ups, I cannot wait to hear this through an amp.
I haven’t had the time to read through all 55 pages of this thread but I have a question for E-Sabbath. I see that you’re a big fan of Justin Sandercoe (sp) as an Internet guitar teacher. Did you learn how to play from his lessons or did you already know how and you’re just fond of his work? If you did learn from his lessons, would you mind describing the journey?
As for me, I’m about to turn 50 and as a part of my mid-life crisis, I’ve decided that I’m finally going to learn how to play the guitar. I bought a MIM HSS Sunburst Strat and an amp loud enough to give my wife a headache. She wanted me to learn on an acoustic but Justin says that an electric is easier to learn to play and I just think they’re an order of magnitude cooler. Wish me luck.
I’d love to have real life private lessons but I live waaaaaaaaaay out in the sticks and the closest instructor is at least 60 miles away. I may look into Skype.
Time to practice.
D D D D D D D D D D D D D.
Wife says I can buy another guitar (everyone should have 10!). Budget is $2-3k. Looks like I married the perfect woman.
It also looks like the Gilroy Guitar Center still stocks crap. Off to the city. If Guitar Showcase in SJ didn’t have a stunningly ridiculous return policy, I’d be all over shopping for a Fender Custom Shop guitar there. Anybody have a place they like to shop for pricey electrics in the SF Bay area?
Why not Guitar Showcase, close to you in San Jose?
Their return policy is 3 days, after that it’s store credit. Not acceptable. Especially when you’re buying a multi-thousand dollar guitar off the rack. I live 30+ miles from the place, and I really have trouble evaluating an instrument in a music store, so it takes a few days. 3 isn’t enough. A week I could see, but three days? Maybe GC’s 30 day return policy has spoiled me, but I’ve bought five guitars and two amps from them, and when I’ve been unhappy they’ve made things right. I don’t get the impression that will be the case with Guitar Showcase, solely (and, maybe unfairly, you tell me) based on that return policy.
Squeege, does your wife have any sisters? 
Just kidding, but man! I thought I had “G.A.S.”, but 5 guitars? Got any pics you want to share? 
My latest (and my wife says okay as long as it’s under $500.00) is this one.
I have the sunburst one, and yes, I know they’re knock-offs, but I’ve been looking for a blue one that style and can’t find it, so this will be the next best thing.
Anyway, best of luck finding a reputable dealer to take care of you. Zzounds has always treated me very well, and being that I don’t get out much, I like talking music, guitars and drums with them, so to me, they go that “extra mile”. I can also charge my purchase and can get it “same as cash” if I pay it off within 90 days. So that’s fine with me.
You mentioned my bud E-Sabbath upthread earlier, and I haven’t seen him post lately, so E? If you’re out there, how ‘bout checking in with your pickin’ bro?
Thanks
Quasi
Hmm - hadn’t realized that; yes that return policy is an issue. Another place with a variety of cool gear is Bananas at Large, but they’re North Bay up in San Rafael. I am sure there are some one-off shops closer to you…have you searched on The Gear Page?
Hi, WordMan. Thanks for the San Raphael suggestion. I’m not sure I’d go up that far north, but maybe. I’d certainly go as far as San Francisco if I must, and SR isn’t much further. Good idea on the Gear Page search; I see some threads on San Francisco store recommendations, nothing further south yet, but I need to try more search terms.
Also GC in San Jose isn’t terrible, they have some higher end guitars. It’s the Gilroy store that’s gone bad; they used to be much better. I’d handled signature Fender models there before, but now they have none, no Strat better than Am Standard, of which they have four total. The Gear Page seems to think well of the San Francisco GC, I’ll probably check that out once I’ve scoured the peninsula.
ETA: Hi, Quasi! Sorry, my spouse has no sisters but five brothers if you lean that way. 
You mean I gotta get rid of some?
All good; at the local itty-bitty GC they had a limited Custom Shop Esquire with a great neck for ~$4,000 - so yeah, the small store get the occasional fun stuff.
What kinda guitar are you contemplating? You have a great Tele and I want to say you have an Epi Dot Neck 335 and maybe even a shredder?
I have those two; a Schecter that doesn’t inspire me but does have a shreddy neck; a 71 SG that’s beat to crap that has… issues; a GFS LP Special P90 that I like a lot; an 80’s Matsumoku super strat with a too chunky neck; my son’s old Squier which I should unload. So actually six, three that I play, three that I need to unload.
I’m a little unclear what I want next. For the longest time my bucket-list guitar was a Les Paul. Recently I played a few and didn’t feel like it was a great fit, I’m not sure why; perhaps I haven’t met the right one, although since $3k is almost a starter Les Paul, maybe I never will.
I’m leaning toward getting a higher-end Strat if it feels right. Single coils. An American Deluxe like my Tele, or artist strat or one of the custom shop models Fender sprinkles across guitar stores sometimes (no relics need apply). The Am Standards I’ve picked up don’t really grab me, but maybe I haven’t met the right one of those, either.
I’d also love my exact Tele but with Duncan PAF humbuckers. But that’s not an urgent wish. I just love the PAF bridge tone (Pearly Gates) in my Dot but the C neck is a bit much for me.
Resellability is also a consideration. Nothing too out there. Get a guitar that someone will want to buy from me one day. My Tele is that sort. Most of the rest are not.
TLDR: TBD.
Have you played an ES-339? A smaller-bodied 335 type?
When you say that an LP hasn’t moved you- is it because of the ergonomics? Are you saying you may prefer the feel of a Fender type? Or just that you haven’t played an LP that spoke to you?
Have you seen a Fender Strat Select? Stratty goodness with an LP-style flamed top - really good looking. I would also check out a La Cabronita, a Custom Shop Tele with Gretsch humbuckers. They bring some LP balls and the first run sold fast and is doing wel in resale. I would also check out higher-grade Gretsch Jets, like the Cadillac Green one - love 'em.
I have not, will do.
A little of both. Ergonomically, I haven’t felt a LP neck to my liking; I know there are several styles available, but Gibson makes it as obscure as they possibly can which guitar has what neck. I like my AD Tele neck a lot, not perfect, but quite nice. What LP would be like that? I also didn’t find one that spoke to me, but you need time to build that relationship, and I’ve just noodled unplugged in stores for the most part. So far.
I’ve seen the Tele version up close and didn’t care for it, too much of a departure. I’ve only seen the Strat one online, and it is pretty. But my minds eye has a 2 tone sunburst like this. Hell, even a solid color would be fine, I’ve hefted a couple of Custom Shop painted strats that were soooo fine.
Will do, thank you for the recommendations.
Sure;keep us posted. Play a few LP’s, sure, their necks can vary widely. Some rules of thumb, but nothing hard and fast. Tried a VOS/Historic? GC usually has a used one or two pretty regularly in stock. Some of those necks are awful and some are suh-weet…
Just to make sure I’m understanding you, do you mean this sort of thing? I’m not sure a used model would fall in my spectrum; am I misjudging the range, or the model you meant, or both? Thanks again for all the replies.
ETA: I tried a 59 VOS at Guitar Showcase. I couldn’t really get a bead on it, the strings were almost rusty. And that was after I heard about the return policy and didn’t really give a rip, I was just pulling down guitars and noodling, but would never buy any of them there, sigh. A shame when they have such an inventory.
Yes, something like that. I don’t try to stay current with models, but that’s an “R9” - a replica they say is based on their '59. It is, in many ways, based on a '59, but the '59 (or R9 in online lingo) is a model designation referring to materials and design features used. In the past, they also made R8’s - still do, based on my quick check. R8’s have a non-flamey “plaintop” and can have a bigger neck profile - and list for $2 grand less and you can find them on sale or used for ~$2,000 or less (yeah, R9’s cost that much more for flame-bling and the '59 designation. Sigh.) A buddy got an R8 at the SJ GC for $1,800 a few years ago. Great guitar.