I have a Saxon much like the one in this video. I would say you have absolutely no reason whatsoever to change those pickups. They sound awesome! Any of those 70s Les Paul copies is an absolute steel in regards of the quality you get for the money.
Picked one up yesterday. No name on headstock, tiny diamond only. 40$ with the original hard case. It does not play like a greco but its totally OK if you know how to play guitar you can make them sound good. I put a seymour duncan pickup in. Noticed that the "humbuckers" were actually single coils with the humbucker covers on top. :)
I got one very similar to the Saxon guitar. Mine was made in Japan. I got it 40 years ago. The brand is "Strings". It has the best action & great tone (on the neck pickup). I'm just about to have it re-fretted and bridge pickup replaced.
I have a made in Japan Aria Black Beauty. It seems kind of unique...the pickguard goes over the top edge of the humbucker rings. It has an indent for the pickup height screw. There is a fairly elaborate bracket to hold the pickguard that is nothing like what I have seen on other LPs. The other side of each humbucker has two screws to level it front and back as well as set the height. The neck has the normal binding but then there is another segmented binding accent between each fret just inside the binding. And the bridge has hex sockets for height adjustment...not slotted screws or nurled knobs. I have looked at other similar Arias and have not seen these things. Also I have a Korean Hondo LP that has a lovely red wood finish and is extremely well made. Certainly as good as the Aria. (Apparently Hondos vary in quality from what I have read.)
I had one just like the Saxon that I bought from a place called "The Music Factory" from the back of Guitar Player magazine in 1976 or 1977. It had no logo at all just the small split diamond inlay on the headstock. I think this was how it was supplied to various distributors who then added the logo etc. $99 bought the guitar and a decent hard shell case that didn't have a lot of padding though. The bridge pickup started cutting out on me so I opened it up and it was actually a single coil contained inside of a humbucker cover and base plate. It sounded great so who would know? Had no hum to speak of so the cover shielded it quite well. 🙂
I wanted to watch this. But the cameras all over the place. Really hard to watch. I've a set neck Deville triple binding. Know nothing about it and can't find anything.
@@EssexRecordingStudios mine is model 3403 serial 0777, and did not have the original nut when I got hold of it back in 93ish. Still doesn't, but I upgraded to an arch-top-style tremolo, which is nice. Also my new pickup fittings are cream to match the bindings. I'd love to know what brand it originally was. Has screw-holes where a headstock badge would have been.
Hah! Mine has not been stored particularly well... And I've cycled to gigs, etc. I've had to replace the pots, switch and pickups because it was getting crackly. But I can put ANY strings on it and it sounds amazing... Such a heavy body. Neck pickup + open wah sounds awesome, but it's also great unplugged. Yes, and I repainted mine.
@@EssexRecordingStudios I just redid the black... I was quite chipped. I did a terrible job and may redo it better at some point if I have time, but if you don't look too close it does look better than it did..
Those old bolt neck Les Paul copies are the most garage rock guitars ever sold in the UK the US had sears and roebuck and we had Rose Morris - I still have mine I wouldn't be a guitarist now had it not been for that guitar. Bought it for £10 in 1991from a guy I went to school withs brother.
I actually came back to this video to check because I realised the les Paul standard is closer to the bridge than mine. Having seen in this vid what the original stops look like, replaced mine for an original. The holes had been plastered in, so had to drill them out. Scary! Now it looks even better. But yeah the stop is further from the bridge. Interesting.
Very cool seeing these two LP style guitars that I've never heard of. They look well played and look really cool too.
Pretty cool find. They look nice.
And they sound better!
I have a Saxon much like the one in this video. I would say you have absolutely no reason whatsoever to change those pickups. They sound awesome! Any of those 70s Les Paul copies is an absolute steel in regards of the quality you get for the money.
Picked one up yesterday. No name on headstock, tiny diamond only. 40$ with the original hard case. It does not play like a greco but its totally OK if you know how to play guitar you can make them sound good. I put a seymour duncan pickup in. Noticed that the "humbuckers" were actually single coils with the humbucker covers on top. :)
Ah so cool man!
I got one very similar to the Saxon guitar. Mine was made in Japan. I got it 40 years ago. The brand is "Strings". It has the best action & great tone (on the neck pickup). I'm just about to have it re-fretted and bridge pickup replaced.
OK awesome to know the brand!
I have a made in Japan Aria Black Beauty.
It seems kind of unique...the pickguard goes over the top edge of the humbucker rings. It has an indent for the pickup height screw. There is a fairly elaborate bracket to hold the pickguard that is nothing like what I have seen on other LPs.
The other side of each humbucker has two screws to level it front and back as well as set the height.
The neck has the normal binding but then there is another segmented binding accent between each fret just inside the binding.
And the bridge has hex sockets for height adjustment...not slotted screws or nurled knobs.
I have looked at other similar Arias and have not seen these things.
Also I have a Korean Hondo LP that has a lovely red wood finish and is extremely well made. Certainly as good as the Aria. (Apparently Hondos vary in quality from what I have read.)
Ahh this is all really good info. People should like getting to know about little variations like this. Super helpful
I had one just like the Saxon that I bought from a place called "The Music Factory" from the back of Guitar Player magazine in 1976 or 1977. It had no logo at all just the small split diamond inlay on the headstock. I think this was how it was supplied to various distributors who then added the logo etc. $99 bought the guitar and a decent hard shell case that didn't have a lot of padding though. The bridge pickup started cutting out on me so I opened it up and it was actually a single coil contained inside of a humbucker cover and base plate. It sounded great so who would know? Had no hum to speak of so the cover shielded it quite well. 🙂
Wow that is so cool! I just got another one like this at an auction a couple months ago
I wanted to watch this. But the cameras all over the place. Really hard to watch. I've a set neck Deville triple binding. Know nothing about it and can't find anything.
I have one of these. It's one of the nicest guitars I've ever played.
Very cool!
@@EssexRecordingStudios mine is model 3403 serial 0777, and did not have the original nut when I got hold of it back in 93ish. Still doesn't, but I upgraded to an arch-top-style tremolo, which is nice. Also my new pickup fittings are cream to match the bindings. I'd love to know what brand it originally was. Has screw-holes where a headstock badge would have been.
Hah! Mine has not been stored particularly well... And I've cycled to gigs, etc. I've had to replace the pots, switch and pickups because it was getting crackly. But I can put ANY strings on it and it sounds amazing... Such a heavy body. Neck pickup + open wah sounds awesome, but it's also great unplugged. Yes, and I repainted mine.
That's awesome. What color did you paint yours?
@@EssexRecordingStudios I just redid the black... I was quite chipped. I did a terrible job and may redo it better at some point if I have time, but if you don't look too close it does look better than it did..
I love my Fujigen Epiphone Les Paul. And I still own my 1986 Japanese made Charvel. 👍🏻
Nice man!
@@EssexRecordingStudios I have a Grass roots valley Gold top LP that is fantastic made in this era
Those old bolt neck Les Paul copies are the most garage rock guitars ever sold in the UK the US had sears and roebuck and we had Rose Morris - I still have mine I wouldn't be a guitarist now had it not been for that guitar.
Bought it for £10 in 1991from a guy I went to school withs brother.
Nice one dude 🤘
Thanks for this video! Hey could you mention some of the names of players of replicas; here in the comments ? Thanks!
You're welcome. If anybody knows named players, feel free to comment! I don't know any
I know Earl Hooker played a univox@@EssexRecordingStudios
Hold the camera still so we can get a decent view !
I've got a new gimbal now...check the latest vids!
As a commercial photographer I thnk in addition to video, shoot still frames and stay locked on them as you describe various features.
I just noticed the difference in stop position relative to the pots
Good eye!
I actually came back to this video to check because I realised the les Paul standard is closer to the bridge than mine. Having seen in this vid what the original stops look like, replaced mine for an original. The holes had been plastered in, so had to drill them out. Scary! Now it looks even better. But yeah the stop is further from the bridge. Interesting.
I have a black Cortez set neck. Find one if you can.
It’s a Gibson killer!
Will have to hunt down one of those!
I agree. I've played 3.5k Gibson and I prefer the Japanese
I had a Avon that was les Paul shaped but with front mounted control plate and thin body, saw picture of sonic youth with one
Way cool Marc 🤘
Has anyone ever heard of the Bradley brand of les paul ? And are they any good? Thanks.
Awful camera work and rambling commentary. I have a Saxon, bought second hand in 1979. My favourite neck.
You're welcome!