Yeah, Willie got himself one of the first true relics, slammed a pickup in there, tossed it through the world's nastiest Standell amp and somehow...it just works. lol I love that he plays exactly how he sings. Nothing is ever on the beat. Not any beat that has ever been thought of, not any beat that could be written down by the most sophisticated transcribing software, but it works. Gotta love it. Talk about a guy who "marches" to the beat of a different drum. Not HIS drummer for sure. lol
Many thanks my friend. It's cool that you have no problems with the middle pickups. I've never found TONS of pickups to be a problem either. I have one axe with 5 pickups (5 real pickups...not humbuckers and a single coil sandwiched)...lol and there is nothing but pickups underneath me...no problems. I'm glad to find someone else that simply plays GUITAR and doesn't give anything else a thought, you just immediately adapt and play! Thanks for the reply!
You all check out the videos this guy has been watching on his channel. He is watching anything that has the word NIGGER in the title and some other gems. He's a real genius.
I've answered this a lot, but I'm more than happy to do it again. Of course, I hate semi-hollow body or hollow body guitars. They are purposely fitted with slightly, or not so slightly, microphonic pickups so that they will pick up the sound of the inside of the guitar. That's what makes them feedback so badly. But, it does pickup the inside of the guitar. The guts from a Les Paul, toss them into ANY guitar, block of cement, bowl of jello...it will sound like the Les Paul it came from EXACTLY.
I'll break out the 305 again soon. I want to get a few more of them and a couple of 513's. Gotta get a white 305 for sure and with the 513's....gotta have the blue whale, something in green and also purple.
Yes, it rests on the bridge 100%. Yes to your other question too. You will rust out the bridge if you have acidic sweat like mine. So, you simply clean it with rubbing alcohol after each gig or anytime that you actually work up a sweat and you are good to go. Watch any REAL guitarist and this is how they play and where they rest their hand.
Ibanez made the amazing Roadstar II series and the Blazer series in the 80's. You can get those for $200.00 Made in Japan, superior quality etc. Don't give up on Ibanez because of what they build today. They have some superb guitars out there, just not that thing and not the majority of what is coming from them outsourcing to Indonesia.
I hear you my friend. It's so very easy to wire up a Strat pickguard and then just drop it in and go. The tight spaces can be difficult in the back of any axe. I usually pull the guts, solder, then put them back in. My eyes aren't hardly working at all and I don't want to burn the guitar while I'm in there.
watch?v=fri2V8Ycz4U First, you'll have to look and listen at the 2:00 mark on this video. The frets aren't even filed correctly, so the high E string gets caught under the edge of one of the frets. The guy being paid to demo it cracks a big smile as he has to pull it out from under the frets without telling everybody what just happened. lol It's not even made in Korea where they make them decent, it's made in Indonesia. It's pretty black light paint and that's about it.
That would be playing in the wrong position too. I've never hit a single knob or switch on any guitar ever made. Not even close. So, that would just require an adjustment on your end to keep that right hand anchored so that your hand isn't doing any of the work, only your wrist and fingers. It's a common thing.
Thanks my friend. Yes, very basic, but just answering a question by a couple of folks and I guess they couldn't find the answer elsewhere...so there it is. lol
Many thanks my friend. I went through the beat up guitar thing too. I think I change my mind about what I like every 5 years or so simply so I can sell everything and buy all new stuff. lol
Couldn't agree more on lowering your pickups. I learned that one over time. I never measure mine. I just move them up and down until they sound the way I want. And I've found that indeed, many times getting them way down is the answer. Especially with p90's.
Hey Scott!! I am a guy who loves the look of a beat up guitar, but your videos are never a waste of my time!! LOL Keep'em comin' brother, I love it!! Take care my friend.
Yes, the very same for bassists. No difference at all. To be playing with a pick isn't my personal favorite sound on a bass, but.....if that's the only way that whoever is playing can get it done, then yep. Same thing. To leave a mark anywhere on your bass with a pick is just uncalled for.
We all are. lol It takes a bit of vanity to want to do this, especially for a full time living. I'm proud to be a poser, and serious, and fucked up all at the same time. There's plenty of 80's left in my soul. Break out the spandex and guyliner. I'd jump back on that bandwagon!
I use the pinky anchor thing when playing with a Floyd. I'll be doing a review on the Model 1A's shortly. Pete is playing it wrong, that is why his hand keeps bleeding the way it does. lol
Another great lesson Scott--only had time for/to the 12min mark (hope I didn't miss to much :-) It's amazing what folks find to "worry" about, more than just playing well. -- Look at W. Nelson's "song writing" acoustic, OMG! :-) Too, it seems manufacturers use Pick-guards to hide creative routing, building (seems like half the guitar is gone, underneath, on some of the really cheap ones folks want to be "worked on"). All the best, Scott!
I just had to commend you on the last collection update video of yours. You had the comments disabled (understandbly). I absolutely had a fiddlegasm when I seen the super-strat U2. I was unaware Gibson even made a Super-Strat model. I knew there was an epiphone but not Gibson. Dang! The All-American right next to it was gorgeous also. Great video!
I hear you. It's like the old phrase "beating a dead horse". Why keep beating him? Other folks see it as a wonderful thing. The old "drive it 'til the wheels fall off" then they put so more USED wheels on it and keep on driving. That is what they somehow perceive as "Character" or "Mojo". We call it beat to shit and wouldn't be caught dead with something like that. I know I wouldn't ever own any guitar that is as beat as any of the ones you mentioned. I just don't get it. Life goes on.
Scott, you highlight a very important point with regards to the necessity of a scratch plate. I never understood the reason for them. In order to play efficiently, the movements need to be economical, therefore the pick shouldn't need to go anywhere near the finish. I'm glad this video confirmed what i already thought.
Thanks my friend. Yeah, if you like the U-1...You should do a Google image search for the Gibson US-1. Same axe with major neck inlays and amazing flamed top on it. They really are killer guitars. MUCH better than anything else Gibson has done in a long time. Pretty much because Charvel designed them for Gibson and his hands were 100% into the making of them. There are even the Charvel Model Gibsons that have Wayne Charvel's name on the truss rod cover. (Same type of guitar).
The standard varies from guide to guide, year to year, from the SAME COMPANY. lol They don't have a clue If you are using REGULAR pickups (not Lace Sensors or EMG's), then there is more than a matter of taste involved. The magnetized pole pieces STOP your strings from ringing, so the lower you go (to a point) will GREATLY increase your sustain. Your pickups will have to be fine tuned for volume consistany between each pickup and for the Treble and Bass sides to your taste. TOO low is possible.
His method is fine for METAL picking. That's all. Because he's palm muting the strings that he's actually PLAYING ON when he moves his hand forward. Which is the way to get that METAL sound. So, if METAL is your thing, then yes, he's correct, for ANYTHING ELSE, just keep it on the bridge so the strings you're playing can actually ring. Cheers! Scott
Sure, the 5 pickup axe is here: watch?v=5ZFEOhDe2PU Yeah, if an axe came with a pickguard, I never take it off. I keep them original. The Les Paul looks really odd to me when it doesn't have one on it. I like it to be there too.
Anytime Scott. I enjoy your videos so much. The pleasure is all mine. I'm a fledgling collector of sorts myself. I need to do some vids myself of my stuff. I Think you like my Terry C McInturf Zodiac. It's the top of my heap. It's one of the first ones he made in his shop after he left PRS back in the 90's. Beautiful Honey Blonde Flame top with soapbar pickups. I need to get a professionals opinion on it.
@groovydjs I worded that wrong, when i wire everuthing on a pickguard, it seems easier, on the control cavities on the back, they ARE easier for repairs.
Another great video..No pickguard on my CE24, I think Fender uses them because they have to have something to hold up the pickups...hahahahahaha. In general the only people who really get crazy with their picking are the ones you addressed in a video a few weeks ago, with their straps so long their guitars hang below their knees...hahahaha Oh and when you talking about anchoring a pinky, and said put your finger there, I kept waiting for you to say "that's what she said" hahaha anyway take care!
Wow, so W.N. got himself a "relic", OMG! I never knew that. The "implication" is something else I believe. Well, I guess everyone thinks to buy a bit of mojo at times :-)! You do know a lot of stuff Scott. Again, thanks.
You are welcome!! Now I'm curious what that 5-PU-thing looks and sounds like. :-D I have to say that I never took any lessons. The first guitar I played on was said Strat and I think, I just got used to that single coil in the middle and found somehow a way to avoid it with my fingers. Btw, usually, I don't play with a pick, but still I like to keep the pickguard on the guitars (esp. on a Les Paul) because I love the way it looks and I can rest my pinky and/or ringfinger there comfortably.
I hear you. Pickguards are nasty looking for sure. Some people just don't have the dicipline to play without peeling the paint off. lol I just don't understand how they can do a year's worth of damage to someone else's guitar in under 10 seconds. lol
No, I totally disagree with all guitar manufacturer's specs. I've never found one that was remotely close to what actually is best for the guitar's performance. Plain and simple, the REGULAR pickups that use magnets and pole pieces force your strings to stop vibrating. Put a needle on a piece of thread and dangle it above a magnet, it stops above the magnets. So do strings. Get the magnets away from the strings, they ring more = more sustain + much better tone. Just add a little volume on amp.
Hi. I can't say that I ever will. I don't like them, so I probably won't ever buy one. I'm just about my acoustic / electrics and then just the Solid Body electrics. I don't like anything in between for some reason. I've owned them, tried to like them, I just can't bond with them. Thanks for asking though!
Hey Scott, I'm with you with the whole "using the pick guard correctly" thing. I play bass so I could careless if there's a pick guard (fingers OR pick) but I've seen colleagues in my day where the bottom half of the instrument is completely shredded *in a bad way. It's even MORE noticeable when they have stickers on the bottom end and the stickers are all scratched up -.- by the way, love your vids man. It's like basic stuff, but more in depth
Thanks my good friend. Yeah, they actually put some great ones in these guitars. Another guitar that nobody wants that just kicks butt! The P-90's were used in 1952-1956 on all of the Les Pauls and everybody goes nuts over them, but put them in another Gibson guitar designed in 1958 and they dismiss it like a red headed step child. lol Gotta love that logic.
The problem with working on guitars with pickguards for me is that I have to take the strings off. Anything else....just take the back off and start soldering.
So if I were to do this on my own on my Strat, how far down should I set the pickups? Is it a matter of taste, or are there basic guidelines I should follow? Should the bridge pickup remain higher than the others, for example? Should the bass side of each pickup be higher than the treble side? When lowering the pickups, is there a point beyond which there is no advantage or benefit gained? Thank you for taking the time answer. I appreciate your comments and point of view.
Thanks. Yeah, this is the one. I was ripped off BIG TIME on the finish price though. I plan on taking that guy to court over it. Not a good situation with that whole mess. I paid more for the paint than I did for the guitar. The paint alone was $1,500.00 without Anderson's labor of stripping it and filling it all in. Gibson had a major hunk of shit (surprise) under the original black paint. What a total pile of garbage it was under there.
I almost used my PRS 305 instead of the Explorer on this one. I tried so very hard to be a "Good Boy" on this video since I was so very ME on the last one. lol
I am building my Tele Jr with a P-90. I am using my buddy Phil's signature P-90 which should be a screamer. It rates out at 12.13k. I will have to email you some photos. I have to get me one of those 3 P-90 Explorers!
I would like to add that how your picking forearm anchors on the guitar does affect your picking IMO. Seems like some beginners have trouble with minimise effort in picking and/or strumming because they don't feel comfortable with how their forearm rests on the guitar... :)
I do not know if this is correct or not, but pickups mounted to the pickguard seam to have less feedback problems. I guess the same goes for pickups with mounting rings.
You betcha! There's $500.00 worth on the invoice that simply says "extra stuff". How great is that? Nobody will answer as to what that extra stuff is. It's "LET'S RIP THIS GUY OFF BECAUSE WE CAN", that's what it is. lol Oh well, another expensive lesson learned and more confirmation that you can't trust ANYBODY.
Thanks so much! 99% of the other "musicians" that visit always just say "Shut up and play". I'd rather have 5 folks like you than a million hits from losers like them! Thanks so much again!
Very nice lick at 6:25 - I love it! Usually I play a Les Paul, but when I play my Dad's Strat, I'm kind of thankful for that middle-PU 'cause I find it really helpful when I try to play some sqealies... Strangely, I never had any problems with that PU being in my way. Anyway, great video! ;-)
LOL, I tried so hard to go into "Mr. Rogers" mode and keep it clean in case I wanted to put the clip on one of my "free pointers and lessons" sections on my web sites.
Hey, Scott, so just how low are you supposed to adjust your pickups? You mentioned that Gibson's spec for the height of their pickups is incorrect, at least on your Explorer. Why is that and why did they choose that spec? I asked my local repairman to lower the pickups while setting up my '83 2-knob Strat, and after inspecting them, he said they looked to be within Fender's spec, which is what he would recommend. I suspect you would disagree with that, yes?
Hey Scott, I want to know your opinion of semi-hollow bodies. You say that tone wood doesn't make a difference on an electric guitar but what about semi-hollow vs solid body guitars? If you take out all the electronic guts in a Les Paul and transfer them into an ES-335, will it sound the same?
Good stuff, Scott. If you're playing one of your guitars with a Floyd Rose, do you still rest your hand on the bridge? Also, I know you've done a video on the Charvel Avenger, but I'd like to see you do a review of any other Japanese Charvels from the 80's or early 90's that you own like that Model 1. Oh, and Pete Townshend called: he said you're holding it wrong! lol
my epi Lp is blue flake w/o pickguard. I've played it everyday since the day I got it, about 3 years ago. no scratches in finish. Personally i think no pickgaurd looks better anyway.
Nice Gibson, but you really got my hopes up. That looks ALOT like an an Ibanez Xyphos XPT. (I still miss mine.) I agree that neither of those guitars should have a pickguard.
hey scott i saw your video about the (well named) g-daddy, and in the description you said that Anderson had gone out of buissness. I just wanted to know what happened and if you could tell me any other good places to get custom guitars because i really wanted to look into one of those "32" guitars
i watch these videos just to sit back and have a laugh and i have pickguards on cause they look good and makes the guitar look empty without one and so what if i scratch my guitar i use pennies, nickels and quarters for picks because im cheap, it adds character
I love strats because I think they look cool, and the ergonomic design makes sense to me. The pickguard is the focal point of any strat, so, fortunately, I don't have to worry about playing without one. Funny thing is, pickguards on non-strat guitars tend to look ugly as hell. Solution? Buy a strat.
Yeah, Willie actually bought that guitar that way. It has gotten worse over the years due to his goofy way of playing. He's a great player, but.....damn Willie, control yourself. lol He's only a couple of years away from leaving us all, I'll leave him alone and just enjoy his music.
Like you, I don't get the "relic" and "road worn" thing. It actually hurts me to see damage done to a guitar, even a CBS Strat like the one Hendrix "sacrificed" at Monterrey. As powerful as that scene was, and still is, it rips my guts out to see that thing die such a gruesome death. It also hurts to look at Rory Gallagher's '61 Strat and even SRV's Number One. As much as any musician, I understand a player's attachment to his instrument, but there comes a time, ya know? Enough is enough.
![SAFEPLANET - ดาวเคราะห์ [ THE PLANET ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4X1XL3I_k3c/mqdefault.jpg)
Yeah, Willie got himself one of the first true relics, slammed a pickup in there, tossed it through the world's nastiest Standell amp and somehow...it just works. lol I love that he plays exactly how he sings. Nothing is ever on the beat. Not any beat that has ever been thought of, not any beat that could be written down by the most sophisticated transcribing software, but it works. Gotta love it. Talk about a guy who "marches" to the beat of a different drum. Not HIS drummer for sure. lol
Many thanks my friend. It's cool that you have no problems with the middle pickups. I've never found TONS of pickups to be a problem either. I have one axe with 5 pickups (5 real pickups...not humbuckers and a single coil sandwiched)...lol and there is nothing but pickups underneath me...no problems. I'm glad to find someone else that simply plays GUITAR and doesn't give anything else a thought, you just immediately adapt and play! Thanks for the reply!
You are correct my friend. This one was the black one with the tons of nitro checking on it that made it look 100 years old. lol
Exactly. I was shafted! They didn't think twice about doing it either. Plus, the guy who painted it is a car painter!
Good for them. Plus, I seriously doubt that ANY jazz or bluegrass player would disagree since so many of them play that way.
You all check out the videos this guy has been watching on his channel. He is watching anything that has the word NIGGER in the title and some other gems. He's a real genius.
Thanks my friend! Much appreciated.
I've answered this a lot, but I'm more than happy to do it again. Of course, I hate semi-hollow body or hollow body guitars. They are purposely fitted with slightly, or not so slightly, microphonic pickups so that they will pick up the sound of the inside of the guitar. That's what makes them feedback so badly. But, it does pickup the inside of the guitar. The guts from a Les Paul, toss them into ANY guitar, block of cement, bowl of jello...it will sound like the Les Paul it came from EXACTLY.
I'll break out the 305 again soon. I want to get a few more of them and a couple of 513's. Gotta get a white 305 for sure and with the 513's....gotta have the blue whale, something in green and also purple.
Many thanks my friend! My total pleasure.
Yes, it rests on the bridge 100%. Yes to your other question too. You will rust out the bridge if you have acidic sweat like mine. So, you simply clean it with rubbing alcohol after each gig or anytime that you actually work up a sweat and you are good to go. Watch any REAL guitarist and this is how they play and where they rest their hand.
Ibanez made the amazing Roadstar II series and the Blazer series in the 80's. You can get those for $200.00 Made in Japan, superior quality etc. Don't give up on Ibanez because of what they build today. They have some superb guitars out there, just not that thing and not the majority of what is coming from them outsourcing to Indonesia.
I hear you my friend. It's so very easy to wire up a Strat pickguard and then just drop it in and go. The tight spaces can be difficult in the back of any axe. I usually pull the guts, solder, then put them back in. My eyes aren't hardly working at all and I don't want to burn the guitar while I'm in there.
watch?v=fri2V8Ycz4U First, you'll have to look and listen at the 2:00 mark on this video. The frets aren't even filed correctly, so the high E string gets caught under the edge of one of the frets. The guy being paid to demo it cracks a big smile as he has to pull it out from under the frets without telling everybody what just happened. lol It's not even made in Korea where they make them decent, it's made in Indonesia. It's pretty black light paint and that's about it.
Yeah, that was the green I was looking at. Stunning color! If you do that video, please let me know!
That would be playing in the wrong position too. I've never hit a single knob or switch on any guitar ever made. Not even close. So, that would just require an adjustment on your end to keep that right hand anchored so that your hand isn't doing any of the work, only your wrist and fingers. It's a common thing.
Thanks my friend. Yes, very basic, but just answering a question by a couple of folks and I guess they couldn't find the answer elsewhere...so there it is. lol
Many thanks my friend. I went through the beat up guitar thing too. I think I change my mind about what I like every 5 years or so simply so I can sell everything and buy all new stuff. lol
Couldn't agree more on lowering your pickups. I learned that one over time. I never measure mine. I just move them up and down until they sound the way I want. And I've found that indeed, many times getting them way down is the answer. Especially with p90's.
Hey Scott!! I am a guy who loves the look of a beat up guitar, but your videos are never a waste of my time!! LOL Keep'em comin' brother, I love it!! Take care my friend.
Yes, the very same for bassists. No difference at all. To be playing with a pick isn't my personal favorite sound on a bass, but.....if that's the only way that whoever is playing can get it done, then yep. Same thing. To leave a mark anywhere on your bass with a pick is just uncalled for.
Love that iceman behind you
We all are. lol It takes a bit of vanity to want to do this, especially for a full time living. I'm proud to be a poser, and serious, and fucked up all at the same time. There's plenty of 80's left in my soul. Break out the spandex and guyliner. I'd jump back on that bandwagon!
I use the pinky anchor thing when playing with a Floyd. I'll be doing a review on the Model 1A's shortly. Pete is playing it wrong, that is why his hand keeps bleeding the way it does. lol
Another great lesson Scott--only had time for/to the 12min mark (hope I didn't miss to much :-)
It's amazing what folks find to "worry" about, more than just playing well.
-- Look at W. Nelson's "song writing" acoustic, OMG! :-)
Too, it seems manufacturers use Pick-guards to hide creative routing, building (seems like half the guitar is gone, underneath, on some of the really cheap ones folks want to be "worked on").
All the best, Scott!
I just had to commend you on the last collection update video of yours. You had the comments disabled (understandbly). I absolutely had a fiddlegasm when I seen the super-strat U2. I was unaware Gibson even made a Super-Strat model. I knew there was an epiphone but not Gibson. Dang! The All-American right next to it was gorgeous also. Great video!
I hear you. It's like the old phrase "beating a dead horse". Why keep beating him? Other folks see it as a wonderful thing. The old "drive it 'til the wheels fall off" then they put so more USED wheels on it and keep on driving. That is what they somehow perceive as "Character" or "Mojo". We call it beat to shit and wouldn't be caught dead with something like that. I know I wouldn't ever own any guitar that is as beat as any of the ones you mentioned. I just don't get it. Life goes on.
That sounds too cool my friend. I would love to check that one out for sure!
AH, the PS-10. That is the grand daddy of the Ibanez line if there ever was one. Many thanks.
Scott, you highlight a very important point with regards to the necessity of a scratch plate. I never understood the reason for them. In order to play efficiently, the movements need to be economical, therefore the pick shouldn't need to go anywhere near the finish. I'm glad this video confirmed what i already thought.
Thanks my friend. Yeah, if you like the U-1...You should do a Google image search for the Gibson US-1. Same axe with major neck inlays and amazing flamed top on it. They really are killer guitars. MUCH better than anything else Gibson has done in a long time. Pretty much because Charvel designed them for Gibson and his hands were 100% into the making of them. There are even the Charvel Model Gibsons that have Wayne Charvel's name on the truss rod cover. (Same type of guitar).
The standard varies from guide to guide, year to year, from the SAME COMPANY. lol They don't have a clue If you are using REGULAR pickups (not Lace Sensors or EMG's), then there is more than a matter of taste involved. The magnetized pole pieces STOP your strings from ringing, so the lower you go (to a point) will GREATLY increase your sustain. Your pickups will have to be fine tuned for volume consistany between each pickup and for the Treble and Bass sides to your taste. TOO low is possible.
His method is fine for METAL picking. That's all. Because he's palm muting the strings that he's actually PLAYING ON when he moves his hand forward. Which is the way to get that METAL sound. So, if METAL is your thing, then yes, he's correct, for ANYTHING ELSE, just keep it on the bridge so the strings you're playing can actually ring. Cheers!
Scott
Sure, the 5 pickup axe is here: watch?v=5ZFEOhDe2PU Yeah, if an axe came with a pickguard, I never take it off. I keep them original. The Les Paul looks really odd to me when it doesn't have one on it. I like it to be there too.
Anytime Scott. I enjoy your videos so much. The pleasure is all mine. I'm a fledgling collector of sorts myself. I need to do some vids myself of my stuff. I Think you like my Terry C McInturf Zodiac. It's the top of my heap. It's one of the first ones he made in his shop after he left PRS back in the 90's. Beautiful Honey Blonde Flame top with soapbar pickups. I need to get a professionals opinion on it.
@groovydjs I worded that wrong, when i wire everuthing on a pickguard, it seems easier, on the control cavities on the back, they ARE easier for repairs.
Another great video..No pickguard on my CE24, I think Fender uses them because they have to have something to hold up the pickups...hahahahahaha. In general the only people who really get crazy with their picking are the ones you addressed in a video a few weeks ago, with their straps so long their guitars hang below their knees...hahahaha
Oh and when you talking about anchoring a pinky, and said put your finger there, I kept waiting for you to say "that's what she said" hahaha anyway take care!
Wow, so W.N. got himself a "relic", OMG! I never knew that. The "implication" is something else I believe. Well, I guess everyone thinks to buy a bit of mojo at times :-)! You do know a lot of stuff Scott. Again, thanks.
I got a black version of that Explorer, pretty sweet guitar. Also after 4:26, I discovered how great Free Ride by the Edgar Winter Group is.
Eriza Verde (green) is an awesome color!! Maybe someday I will do a video of my Blue Matteo CE24
You are welcome!! Now I'm curious what that 5-PU-thing looks and sounds like. :-D
I have to say that I never took any lessons. The first guitar I played on was said Strat and I think, I just got used to that single coil in the middle and found somehow a way to avoid it with my fingers. Btw, usually, I don't play with a pick, but still I like to keep the pickguard on the guitars (esp. on a Les Paul) because I love the way it looks and I can rest my pinky and/or ringfinger there comfortably.
Love that color, thanks for sharing!
I hear you. Pickguards are nasty looking for sure. Some people just don't have the dicipline to play without peeling the paint off. lol I just don't understand how they can do a year's worth of damage to someone else's guitar in under 10 seconds. lol
No, I totally disagree with all guitar manufacturer's specs. I've never found one that was remotely close to what actually is best for the guitar's performance. Plain and simple, the REGULAR pickups that use magnets and pole pieces force your strings to stop vibrating. Put a needle on a piece of thread and dangle it above a magnet, it stops above the magnets. So do strings. Get the magnets away from the strings, they ring more = more sustain + much better tone. Just add a little volume on amp.
Hi. I can't say that I ever will. I don't like them, so I probably won't ever buy one. I'm just about my acoustic / electrics and then just the Solid Body electrics. I don't like anything in between for some reason. I've owned them, tried to like them, I just can't bond with them. Thanks for asking though!
Hey Scott, I'm with you with the whole "using the pick guard correctly" thing. I play bass so I could careless if there's a pick guard (fingers OR pick) but I've seen colleagues in my day where the bottom half of the instrument is completely shredded *in a bad way. It's even MORE noticeable when they have stickers on the bottom end and the stickers are all scratched up -.- by the way, love your vids man. It's like basic stuff, but more in depth
Thanks my good friend. Yeah, they actually put some great ones in these guitars. Another guitar that nobody wants that just kicks butt! The P-90's were used in 1952-1956 on all of the Les Pauls and everybody goes nuts over them, but put them in another Gibson guitar designed in 1958 and they dismiss it like a red headed step child. lol Gotta love that logic.
the explorer looks beautiful, every guuitar i owned has a pickguard, persinally fir me, it makes wiring problems easier to fix
That's fine.I still enjoy your reviews.
I am SOOO disappointed that my mate Nigel didn't teach us this! I am sure that he would have a colourful method of expounding his views - yah.
The problem with working on guitars with pickguards for me is that I have to take the strings off. Anything else....just take the back off and start soldering.
So if I were to do this on my own on my Strat, how far down should I set the pickups? Is it a matter of taste, or are there basic guidelines I should follow? Should the bridge pickup remain higher than the others, for example? Should the bass side of each pickup be higher than the treble side? When lowering the pickups, is there a point beyond which there is no advantage or benefit gained? Thank you for taking the time answer. I appreciate your comments and point of view.
Thanks. Yeah, this is the one. I was ripped off BIG TIME on the finish price though. I plan on taking that guy to court over it. Not a good situation with that whole mess. I paid more for the paint than I did for the guitar. The paint alone was $1,500.00 without Anderson's labor of stripping it and filling it all in. Gibson had a major hunk of shit (surprise) under the original black paint. What a total pile of garbage it was under there.
I guess twenty minutes wasn't wasted after all. A simple but imperative lesson.
LOL, he would've done a bloody fine job on this subject for sure!
I almost used my PRS 305 instead of the Explorer on this one. I tried so very hard to be a "Good Boy" on this video since I was so very ME on the last one. lol
I am building my Tele Jr with a P-90. I am using my buddy Phil's signature P-90 which should be a screamer. It rates out at 12.13k. I will have to email you some photos. I have to get me one of those 3 P-90 Explorers!
I would like to add that how your picking forearm anchors on the guitar does affect your picking IMO. Seems like some beginners have trouble with minimise effort in picking and/or strumming because they don't feel comfortable with how their forearm rests on the guitar... :)
I do not know if this is correct or not, but pickups mounted to the pickguard seam to have less feedback problems. I guess the same goes for pickups with mounting rings.
You betcha! There's $500.00 worth on the invoice that simply says "extra stuff". How great is that? Nobody will answer as to what that extra stuff is. It's "LET'S RIP THIS GUY OFF BECAUSE WE CAN", that's what it is. lol Oh well, another expensive lesson learned and more confirmation that you can't trust ANYBODY.
Thanks so much! 99% of the other "musicians" that visit always just say "Shut up and play". I'd rather have 5 folks like you than a million hits from losers like them! Thanks so much again!
In a music store they have the middle pickup way jacked up near the strings
Very nice lick at 6:25 - I love it! Usually I play a Les Paul, but when I play my Dad's Strat, I'm kind of thankful for that middle-PU 'cause I find it really helpful when I try to play some sqealies... Strangely, I never had any problems with that PU being in my way.
Anyway, great video! ;-)
I just like the vintagy (just made that word up) look of the two-tone white plus some color. Like the 55 Chevy Belair, preferably in aquamarine.
LOL, I tried so hard to go into "Mr. Rogers" mode and keep it clean in case I wanted to put the clip on one of my "free pointers and lessons" sections on my web sites.
You should've. I love seeing/hearing the 305.
LOL, thanks my friend! It's hard to be this pretty! lol
That is the Gibson Explorer you were planning on re-finishing, that have now been refinished, right?
Very cool my friend. Those should scream! I would pay big money to see you with an Explorer around your neck!!!!!
I hear ya. Then there are always the Strats with no pickguards to choose from! lol
Hey, Scott, so just how low are you supposed to adjust your pickups? You mentioned that Gibson's spec for the height of their pickups is incorrect, at least on your Explorer. Why is that and why did they choose that spec? I asked my local repairman to lower the pickups while setting up my '83 2-knob Strat, and after inspecting them, he said they looked to be within Fender's spec, which is what he would recommend. I suspect you would disagree with that, yes?
You got it my friend. Do you prefer humbuckers over single coils or the other way around for one of these?
What about factory specs on acoustics are those serviceable?
Just wondering,will you ever do a review on a nonelectric jazz-box guitar?I personally love them and am looking for an good affordable one.
I keep my pickups even with the mounting rings on the guitar. I learned that from you a long time ago. Lol.
Hey Scott, I want to know your opinion of semi-hollow bodies. You say that tone wood doesn't make a difference on an electric guitar but what about semi-hollow vs solid body guitars? If you take out all the electronic guts in a Les Paul and transfer them into an ES-335, will it sound the same?
I saw an Ibanez Iceman head stock pop up for a second! Would love to hear that thing!
Good stuff, Scott. If you're playing one of your guitars with a Floyd Rose, do you still rest your hand on the bridge? Also, I know you've done a video on the Charvel Avenger, but I'd like to see you do a review of any other Japanese Charvels from the 80's or early 90's that you own like that Model 1. Oh, and Pete Townshend called: he said you're holding it wrong! lol
Great sounding P-90's!
I have a HSS Strat but it looks like a HH due to the fact of the Middle Pickup Problem. I'm a heavy hitter and the middle PU is always in my way.
Is that an Eric Clapton gold leaf strat in the back there?
my epi Lp is blue flake w/o pickguard. I've played it everyday since the day I got it, about 3 years ago. no scratches in finish. Personally i think no pickgaurd looks better anyway.
What about Willie Nelson he wore a huge hole in his guitar!
Guitarded comment
Nice Gibson, but you really got my hopes up. That looks ALOT like an an Ibanez Xyphos XPT. (I still miss mine.) I agree that neither of those guitars should have a pickguard.
hey scott i saw your video about the (well named) g-daddy, and in the description you said that Anderson had gone out of buissness. I just wanted to know what happened and if you could tell me any other good places to get custom guitars because i really wanted to look into one of those "32" guitars
"...away from my ever so increasingly hairy but beautiful face." Haha, I think that made my day!
Dr. Groovy the shredder.
Any jazz, or bluegrass guitarist would disagree with the statement of resting your hand on the bridge.
i watch these videos just to sit back and have a laugh and i have pickguards on cause they look good and makes the guitar look empty without one and so what if i scratch my guitar i use pennies, nickels and quarters for picks because im cheap, it adds character
normaly i do rest my hand on the bridge, but when i play a strat i can't cause i gradually turn the volume knob down haha
I love strats because I think they look cool, and the ergonomic design makes sense to me. The pickguard is the focal point of any strat, so, fortunately, I don't have to worry about playing without one. Funny thing is, pickguards on non-strat guitars tend to look ugly as hell. Solution? Buy a strat.
Yeah, Willie actually bought that guitar that way. It has gotten worse over the years due to his goofy way of playing. He's a great player, but.....damn Willie, control yourself. lol He's only a couple of years away from leaving us all, I'll leave him alone and just enjoy his music.
Like you, I don't get the "relic" and "road worn" thing. It actually hurts me to see damage done to a guitar, even a CBS Strat like the one Hendrix "sacrificed" at Monterrey. As powerful as that scene was, and still is, it rips my guts out to see that thing die such a gruesome death. It also hurts to look at Rory Gallagher's '61 Strat and even SRV's Number One. As much as any musician, I understand a player's attachment to his instrument, but there comes a time, ya know? Enough is enough.
Godin Radiator ! all pickguard
C. Jesson For manufacturers who just don't want to spend the money on paint. lol
Keep up the excellent videos, man
yep bring out the spandex and the hairspray :D
Wow OMG Very sexy guitar! Thanks for posting :)
All I can say is.....um, OK. lol
Damn those tune-o matic bridges have to be the most uncomfortable thing to deal with while playing.
I have seen strats without pickguards, plenty actually. First thing that pops into my head...where's the pickguard? LOL
Yeah, music stores suck. They never set their guitars up properly, if at all. They would sell a lot more if they were actually playable. lol