Gibson Les Paul Junior Electric Guitar
July 31, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The Gibson Les Paul Junior is a classic electric guitar design that has been around since 1955. It was originally produced as an alternative to the more expensive Les Paul guitars. It has a set neck and a compensated wrap-around bridge and tailpiece that provides resonance and intonation. It has one P-90 single coil pickup. It has a retail price of $1168.00, and comes in vintage sunburst or black
The Gibson Les Paul Junior was a scaled down version of the Les Paul guitar that came out in 1954. Fender came out with the Telecaster in 1950, which was the first solid body electric guitar. Gibson had created an electric hollow body before that, but the Tele was the first solid body guitar. This created sort of a craze, and Gibson needed to get a solid body guitar designed that could compete with it.
Les Paul is a jazz guitarist who at the time was playing around with inventing and electronics. He had been developing a solid body guitar, but Gibson had not been interested in his ideas when he approached them in the mid forties. Now they were interested. Gibson desired a design that would be well crafted and expensive so it would be worthy of their name.
As a result, they used a “set” or glued in neck rather than a bolt-on neck as did Fender. Paul had some input into the design, but stories differ widely as to just how much he contributed. The main thing was that his name went on it. And that it was a very popular guitar right from the start and still is. One of the first Les Paul guitars was painted gold and nicknamed the “Gold-Top.” The Custom was black with better hardware and it was available right from the start, too.
The Gibson Les Paul Junior then came out in about 1955 and was marketed toward beginner guitarists. The fact is, though, the Les Paul Junior came to be used by professionals instead. One version of the Junior was called the Les Paul TV model. It was finished in a yellow natural color through which the woodgrain could show. It was called the TV model because the designers wanted a color that would look good on a black and white TV.
Professionals who have used Gibson Les Paul Juniors in the past include John Lennon of the Beatles and Keith Richards. There was also a double cut version of the Junior that was used by some.
Advantages: The Gibson Les Paul Junior electric guitar has great tone from the P-90 pickup, and it sounds good through any amp playing any kind of music. It is playable with good action. It is best for rock but does well with country too. The mahogany body is a big part of the reason for the great tone of this guitar.
The Gibson Les Paul Junior electric guitar is a simply made guitar, but there in lies some of its appeal. Even though it only has one pickup, one tone knob, and one volume knob, you can still get a wide range of sounds through it. The placement of the pickup was considered carefully. It was placed near the bridge so that it could brighten the tone, and as such, it has caused the guitar to have a more aggressive voice that works well in rock music. When played heavily distorted, it has a really unique sound.
Disadvantages: Not everyone has been thrilled with the Gibson Les Paul Junior, and there are a number of people out there that feel like it is overpriced and that you are just paying for the Gibson name. Also, like most versions of the Les Paul guitars, the Gibson Les Paul Junior electric guitar, because of its solid mahogany construction, is heavy.
Specs:
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Mahogany body
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Mahogany set neck
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Neck profile 1960 slim taper
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Rosewood fingerboard
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Dot inlays
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22 frets
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24.75 inch scale length
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1 11/16 inches wide at the nut
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Chrome hardware
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Single Dog Ear P-90 pickup
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One volume control knob
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One tone control knob
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Brite wires strings in .010 to .046
For information about vintage Gibson Les Paul Junior electric guitars, including pictures if you scroll down, go here.
This page from the Gibson website describes the different pickups used in Gibson guitars, a little history about them, and a graph to indicate the output of each.
Here’s an interesting blog post about the historic Gibson Les Paul Junior electric guitar which includes the names of some of the most famous guitarists who have used it professionally.
One more link - an article about the Les Paul Junior from Vintage Guitar.
Ibanez RG370DXGP Electric Guitar
July 31, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Now here’s a neat looking guitar at a reasonable price from a reputable source. Ibanez is one of the top names in rock electric guitars, and the RG series is one of their most popular. The Ibanez RG370DXGP comes in your choice of a black and red stripe design or solid black. It features three pickups - a single coil pickup in the middle position, flanked by humbuckers at the neck and bridge.
This selection gives you all sorts of sound options. The Infinity 3 pickup at the neck gives you the tone you need for chording and playing rhythm and has ceramic magnet construction. In the middle position is an Infinity Single3, which is of Alnico magnet construction. It is a high output pickup that works with the humbuckers in the split position. Finally, at the bridge, the Infinity 4 humbucker, with Alnico magnet construction, gives you brilliant, warm lead tones with good harmonics.
The company that makes Ibanez electric guitars began in Japan in 1900 and was called the Hoshino Gakki company. Originally they distributed musical instruments for sale in Japn, but by 1935, they began to manufacture their own instruments. They had been importing guitars from the Spaniard, Salvador Ibanez, a famous luthier who lived from 1854 to 1920. Hoshino bought out the name when the Ibanez workshop in Spain was destroyed during the Spanish Civil War in the thirties.
Enter Harry Rosenbloom, who was hand-crafting guitars in Ardmore, Pennsylvania. These were called “Elger” guitars. Rosenbloom began distributing Ibanez guitars in North America in 1965. Together Rosenbloom and Hoshino Gakki decided to move the headquarters of the business to the US so that they would not have to have “made in Japan” associated with them.
Ibanez guitars of the early 70’s were very much like popular Fender, Gibson and Rickenbacker guitars. They were well made, but made more cheaply so the prices were lower. When they cut into the sales of the larger companies, Gibson sued Ibanez over headstock design. After settling out of court, Ibanez began designing their own.
Some characteristics that began to show up in their guitars were radical body shapes, high output pickups, slim necks, and flat fingerboards. In other words, they began making guitars that would appeal to heavy metal rockers. Ibanez has also consulted with several well known musicians about guitar design. These musicians include Joe Satriani, Steve Vai, Paul Gilbert, George Benson, and others.
The RG designs of Ibanez guitars are what could be called “superstrats” because they have a body somewhat similar to the comfortably designed Fender Statocaster, but they include powerful humbucking pickups. The RG370DXGP electric guitar is made of basswood which is lighter than mahogany, but not so light as alder. It is light and comfortable for long gigs. You also have your choice of an interesting graphic design in red, black and white, or solid black. The striped version is definitely an eye-catcher.
Advantages: The price of the Ibanez RG370DXGP is definitely among the best of its advantages. The pickups are pretty good for stock pickups, and with both humbuckers and single coil options, you can produce a wide range of tone. Therefore, this is a versatile guitar for a lot of different styles of music. The Wizard II neck is extremely thin and flat, making it a wonderful guitar for tapping and shredding.
All in all, it is a very good value for a beginner or intermediate player. Even an advanced player who needs to watch his pennies would probably enjoy it, too.
Disadvantages: Some people have problems with the Edge III bridge. It can be tricky to keep it in tune, and if you palm mute with it, you can get the notes to bend up, which might not be what you want.
Specs:
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Basswood body
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3-piece maple neck
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Wizard II neck profile
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25.5 inch (648 mm.) scale length
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43 mm. wide at the nut
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56 mm. wide at the last fret
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19 mm. thick at first fret
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21 mm. thick at the twelfth fret
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Fingerboard radius of 400
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24 jumbo frets
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Bound rosewood fingerboard
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Shark tooth inlay
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Black hardware
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IBZ INF3 humbucking pickup at the neck
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IBZ INFS3 single coil pickup at the middle position
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IBZ INF4 humbucking pickup at the bridge
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Edge III bridge and tremolo
Want to watch a string change on an Ibanez electric guitar with a floating tremolo bridge? Check out this You Tube video.
Here is some general information about choosing an electric guitar. You will find out about different woods used in the body and neck, different pickups, and different neck styles, among other things.
And here is an article on how to set up your own guitar, how to adjust the truss rod and the action and all of that.
Jackson WRMG Warrior with EMG’s
July 31, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The Jackson WRMG Warrior electric guitar is an angular, X-shaped guitar that is all equipped to rock. It retails for $1114.27, and is available in three finishes, black, cobalt blue, and black forest (green). This Jackson axe features that popular pickup combination, an EMG 81 at the bridge and an EMG 85 at the neck. It also features a low profile Floyd Rose tremolo. What more could you want?
Jackson Guitars are a subsidiary of Fender, that well respected icon in the history of electric guitars, but it has not alway been so. Jackson is named for Grover Jackson, who was in business in the late 70’s with Wayne Charvel in a shop they called “Charvel Guitar Repair.” Around 1978, Charvel sold his interest in the business, including the rights to his name, to Jackson, who continued to make guitars under both names.
Charvel Guitars and Jackson Guitars came from his shop in San Dimas, California, until about 1986, when it became part of the IMC, or International Music Corporation, and moved production to Texas. Fender bought out both names in 2002. Jackson Guitars have always been considered to be hot, up-to-date, rock guitars suitable for the most aggressive styles of music. They are characterized by extreme, angular body shapes and loud crunching tone.
One feature that makes Jackson guitars unique is that they are crafted with a compound fingerboard radius. This means that the fingerboard is more curved up near the nut where you play chords, and becomes flatter as you progress toward the higher frets, where you tap out those screaming solos. This change in radius makes you a better player by allowing you to have a more relaxed hand.
One interesting thing about Jackson guitars is that they have a custom shop that will make just about anything for you. There is even an online form you can fill out, on which you indicate everything about the guitar you would like, from body shape and material, style of neck, choice of pickups and you name it.
The Jackson WRMG Warrior electric guitar was introduced in January of 2006. I am not sure what “MG” stands for, but it seems to indicate that these guitars have EMG pickups on them.
The EMG-81 is a high output, active humbucking pickup designed for lead guitar players. It does its best when played loud on overdrive, especially if the amp has a master volume switch. The pickup gives sharp attack and good sustain. It’s one of the best for rock, and it is included on the Jackson WRMG Warrior at the bridge.
At the neck position, this guitar features the EMG-85. This active humbucker has higher output than the 81, but is wired differently. It is designed to have a beefy low end and fatter top end. It is not muddy, which makes it good for rhythm and for blues players. Zakk Wilde is one of the performers who prefers the combination of an EMG 81 with an EMG 85.
Advantages: The Jackson WRMG Warrior with EMGs electric guitar has been described as a “monster” because of its incredible tone. The Floyd Rose is a great feature you will learn to love and it does not move around when you palm mute, like a floating trem can. The EMG pickups are some of the hottest out there. It is also a comfortable guitar and can be played either standing or seated.
Disadvantages: The neck is not as thin as some, such as those on Ibanez guitars. The fretboard is wide, which could make it good for rhythm, as well as for those with a little bigger hands. Also, the pointy corners might be easy to get banged up if you walk through the house wearing your guitar. (Hey, you need to think about those things!)
Specs:
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Alder body in radical off-set “X” shape
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Flame maple top veneer on transparent Black Forest finish
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Carved top
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Ivoroid binding on neck and headstock
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Bolt-on rock maple neck with Scarf joint head stock
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Compound (14 to 16 inches) fingerboard radius
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24 jumbo frets
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25.5 inch (648 mm.) scale length
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MOTO Piranha tooth position inlays
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1 11/16 inches (43 mm.) wide at the nut
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Rosewood fingerboard
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EMG-81 humbucking pickup at the bridge
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EMG -85 humbucking pickup at the neck
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Licensed Floyd Rose Low-Profile bridge
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Double locking two point tremolo system
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Black hardware
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One master volume control knob
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One master tone control knob
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NPS strings in .009 to .042 gauge
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Optional deluxe molded case
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No pickguard
Read a review of the Jackson WRMG Warrior electric guitar here. It is part of the Music Gear Review website.
Here is an article about the history of the Jackson name in guitars.
This page describes the MG series - it dates back to when they were introduced, which was 2001.
Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty Electric Guitar
July 31, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty electric guitar is just that - a real beauty! Gleaming black finish, gold hardware, and classy pearloid block inlays make this guitar a real head-turner. It features three humbucking pickups that will give you a wide range of tones. It also has that great Les Paul feel and sound that has contributed so much to the development of all types of rock music down through the years.
The Les Paul Black Beauty from Epiphone, which has a list price of $1165.00, features three humbucking pickups that have been double dipped in wax. This procedure helps reduce feedback from microphones. The humbuckers produce a creamy sound and have strong output. The guitar also has a set neck. This is different from both bolt-on necks and neck-through-body construction, and is designed to give excellent sustain.
The Les Paul model of guitar is usually associated with Gibson. The Gibson corporation bought out the brand name, Epiphone, in order to be able to provide the public with their fine quality and well designed guitars at a lower price. Epiphone was an old company that originated in Turkey over a century ago. The founder was named Anastasios Stathopoulos, and he named the business after his son, Epimanondas. (They called him “Epi” for short.)
Epiphone originally made various types of fretted stringed instruments that were popular in the Mediterranean regions of Europe and Asia, but they became more and more well known for guitars, especially after being purchased by Gibson in 1986.
Epiphone guitars have been used by many well known musicians. If you have ever wished you could own a real Les Paul but did not have the funds for a Gibson, an Epiphone is the next best thing. The Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty is not a cheap guitar, however, even as Epiphones go, but it is an improvement in price over the designer priced Gibson Black Beauties.
Advantages: The looks are not the only advantage to the Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty electric guitar. The sound is fat and creamy, and with the three humbuckers to choose from, you can make a wide range of tones with this guitar. The details are very nice. For instance, it has a raised pickguard, which is a detail you do not usually see on a mid-range priced guitar.
The gold tuners not only look great, but they also keep the guitar in tune well. The Black Beauty has a really great tone as a rhythm guitar. The guitar is playable and has great sustain. Definitely a guitar that is good enough for gigs, and is versatile enough to handle about any type of music you can throw at it.
Disadvantages: The Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty, like other LP’s, does not have a Floyd Rose or other tremolo system, and only has 22 frets. These will not be issues for many people, but if you can only afford one guitar and you require 24 frets and a Floyd Rose, you will probably want to pick a different model of guitar. This particularly is true if you are into metal lead guitar and need those extra frets for soloing, and like to dress it all up with whammy dives.
Like most guitars, it will probably need a setup to be done by a professional guitar tech. Some people have reported buzzing frets when they get the action down as low as they like it. The factory strings have been easy to break for some guitarists when they play hard.
Specs:
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Mahogany and alder body in LP styling with single cutaway
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Black catalyzed finish
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Three ply cream binding on body and fingerboard
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Carved top
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Mahogany set neck
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24.75 inch scale
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1.68 inches wide at the nut
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Rosewood fretboard
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22 frets
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Pearloid block inlays
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Epiphone logo and diamond emblem pearl inlay on headstock
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Gold Grover machine heads and tuners
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Gold hardware
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Three humbucking pickups
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Alnico Hot Humbucker pickup at the bridge
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Alnico Classic HB pickup at the middle position
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Alnico Classic HB pickup at the neck
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Pickups dipped in wax to reduce microphone feedback
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Two volume control knobs
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Two tone control knobs
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Three-way pickup selector switch
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Tune-o-matic bridge
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Stopbar tailpiece
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Comes with a gig bag
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Limited lifetime warranty
Kelly Industries has a nice review of the Epiphone Les Paul Black Beauty electric guitar posted, which you can read from this link.
There is another review at Guitar Bitz, too.
For a You Tube video clip showing this guitar in action go here. The pickups have been changed, however, so be aware of that.
Finally, there are tons of reviews of the Black Beauty on the Ultimate Guitar website.
Jackson JS30KV King V Electric Guitar
July 30, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Looking for an affordable axe that will scorch those metal songs? Look to Jackson to provide just what you need at a reasonable price. The Jackson JS30KV retails for only $442.84. It has a hot “V” shaped body, jumbo frets, and a fast maple neck to facilitate those shredded solos. The two Jackson CVR2 humbucker pickups blister with heat.
The Jackson JS30KV features the compound radius fretboard that makes these rock guitars so easy to play. In fact, Jackson advertises that you will play better on one of their guitars, because the compound neck will allow your hand to be more relaxed.
Jackson Guitars are named after Grover Jackson. He was partners with Wayne Charvel in a guitar repair business called Charvel Guitar Repair. Charvel sold his interest in the business to Jackson in 1979. From 1979 to 1986, Jackson crafted electric guitars at his location in San Dimas, California. Some of these guitars were Jackson brand, and others were Charvel brand. (Charvel went on to found the business, “Wayne” Guitars.)
In 1986, the business became part of the International Music Corporation, and the manufacturing of guitars was moved to Texas. Then, in 2002, the business was bought out by Fender. Jackson Guitars are often associated with aggressive metal rock music, because they are often chosen by those who play this style of music. They feature slender, fast necks, hot pickups, and extreme shapes, like the V shaped body of the Jackson JS30KV King V electric guitar, which was introduced in January of 2004.
Jackson has been commissioned by a number of rock stars to make guitars just for them, and as a result, some are named after these stars. The V-shaped RR models are named for Randy Rhodes, for instance. In the case of the King V, they are named after Robbin Crosby of the band RATT, who went by the nickname, “King.” It was actually first commissioned by David Linsk. Dave Mustaine of Megadeth also has been associated with the King V guitar style from Jackson.
Advantages: This is an affordable, well made electric guitar in an extreme style that is sure to turn heads. It has a good neck, considering that it has 24 frets, which make it good for tapping and solos, and it has the compound radius fingerboard. This means that the fingerboard is more dramatically curved near the nut and flattens out as you move up toward the higher frets.
The JS30KV is an entry level guitar that is suitable for beginners. Pinch harmonics are easy to perform on it and the sustain is excellent. And for a beginner’s axe it has a really radically sharp look. The bridge is low so there are no dead frets. It also sounds pretty good coming through a cheap little starter amp, although it will sound better if you have a good amp, of course.
Considering the looks and the reasonable price, this guitar looks like a pretty safe bet for someone who wants an extreme looking metal guitar that will make some noise.
Disadvantages: The Jackson JS30KV King V electric guitar is reported to be somewhat neck heavy, which makes long standing gigs challenging because you have to hold the neck up even between songs. It can also be difficult to sit and play a V-shaped guitar.
This guitar lacks a whammy bar, which many metal musicians really like to use. The sound is a little heavy on the bass, according to some. One more problem with it is that it is basically just useful for metal. If you like to play soft, ambient jazz or something like that, you will probably want a different guitar.
Specs:
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Alder V-shaped body
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Bolt on maple neck
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Neck dimension .775 inch at the first fret
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Neck dimension: .910 inch at the twelfth fret
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25.5 inches scale length
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1 11/16 inches wide at the nut
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Rosewood fingerboard with compound radius of 12 inches to 14 inches
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MOTO dot position inlays
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Die cast tuners
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24 jumbo frets
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25.5 inch scale length
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Jackson CVR2 humbucker pickup at the bridge
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Jackson CVR2 humbucker pickup at the neck
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One master volume control knob
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One master tone control knob
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Chrome hardware
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3-position blade pickup selector switch
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Position 1 - bridge pickup
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Position 2 - both pickups
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Position 3 - neck pickup
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JT390 adjustable bridge with strings through body construction
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NPS strings in .009 to .042
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Available in black, dark metallic blue, and deep metallic red
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Optional deluxe molded case
Wikipedia has a bio of Robbin “King” Crosby. He realized a lot of dreams in his short life, but he saw a lot of tragedy, too. It is a sobering read.
Here is a little more information about the Jackson company.
Fender has a part of their forums dedicated to those of you who play Jackson guitars. Access it here.
Dean Dimebag Dixie Rebel Electric Guitar
July 30, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Dimebag Darrell is remembered as one of the greatest all-time metal guitarists, and he preferred to play Dean guitars. In fact, he designed and endorsed many of them. Dean is known for extreme shapes that are radically appropriate for this genre of music, and the Dixie Rebel guitar, designed by Dimebag Darrell, which has a list price of $1,537.50, is certainly no exception.
Born Darrell Abbott, Dimebag Darrell played guitar for the bands Pantera and Damageplan. His dad was a country song writer named Jerry Abbott, who also owned a recording studio in Texas. Darrell grew up listening to blues guitarists who recorded there, and tried drumming, but switched to the guitar because his brother was a better drummer. He was soon entering (and winning) contests for guitar playing. He had even been banned from entering because he had won so often.
Dimebag Darrell and his brother, Vinnie Paul, formed the band Pantera in 1981. They became one of the most popular heavy metal bands and influenced the development of the music style. The band split up in 2003, so the Abbott brothers formed a new band called Damageplan. It included Patrick Lachman on vocals and Bob Zilla on the bass guitar. This band had become successful when their career was cut short by Dimebag’s murder on Dec. 8, 2004. Dean Guitars has kept Dimebag’s memory alive through their tribute guitars.
The Dixie Rebel guitar, designed by Dimebag himself, features a battle-worn Confederate flag. It has stars and the word REBEL” inlayed on the fingerboard, too. And of course it has the screaming sound Dean guitars are known for. After all, what good is good looks if the sound is no good?
Dean Zelinsky founded the Dean guitar company in 1976 when he was only 18. He felt like the world needed some new innovations in electric guitars. The available guitars at that time were not meeting the needs of rock musicians. As a result, the company is now known for their radically different looking rock electric guitars. They also produce acoustic guitars, banjos, mandolins, electric basses, electronic effects pedals and amps.
Zelinsky began creating guitars that featured a distinctive V-shaped head stock, and used wings for a logo. Dean guitars began showing up in rock concerts and music magazines as soon as they hit the market. The company has changed ownership several times, but has hired Zelinsky in an advisory role, so he is still involved in the business he began all those years ago.
The set neck and fully bound body of the Dean Dimebage Dixie Rebel electric guitar will give you the incredible sustain and tone you want. The bridge pickup is a Dimebucker, a humbucking pickup designed and endorsed by Dimebag Darrell. The bridge itself is a Floyd Bridge double locking tremolo system that lets you make lots of whammy dives while keeping the guitar in tune.
Advantages: The Dimebucker pickup at the bridge does a great job of cutting through distortion to bring out the notes clearly. The guitar has a shredding lead voice and a real bite to its tone. The controls are all accessibly located and the Floyd Rose will have you dive-bombing in style. It has a comfortable body (for some people) and the neck is very fast and comfortable.
The Dean Dimebag Dixie Rebel electric guitar is a neat looking guitar. The Confederate flag design is enhanced by the angular body shape of the guitar.
Disadvantages: Either you will like the paint job or you will not. It is a true American redneck design (but then, you might just be a redneck…) One thing you can say about the paint job is that it will work even if you happen to play a little country now and then. One complaint about this guitar is that it only has 22 frets. Also, you should probably try it out first, too, in case the body shape is uncomfortable for you.
Specs:
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Mahogany body in ML shape designed by Dimebag Darrell
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Custom paint job featuring Confederate flag
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Large V-shaped headstock that features Confederate flag paint job
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Grover tuners
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Set mahogany neck
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Fast, V-shaped neck
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Fully bound body and neck
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Rosewood fingerboard
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22 frets
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Star inlays with the word Rebel at the 12th fret
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Black hardware
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Seymour Duncan Dimebucker humbucking pickup at the bridge
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Di Marzio rhythm pickup at the neck
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Two volume control knobs
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One tone control knob
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Licensed double-locking Floyd Rose tremolo and bridge system
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Comes with a hardshell case
Want to read about a guitar made out of hemp? This is sort of off topic, but they have found a way to mold hemp into a good looking electric guitar.
For Dimebag fans out there, this website is devoted to his memory.
Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Electric Guitar
July 30, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
For an authentic 70’s rock sound, look no further than the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe electric guitar. This reissue model is faithfully designed after the original that was released in 1969. It features the same style of mini-humbucker pickups that were found on the original, so it is able to recreate the look, bite and crunch heard years ago.
Retailing for $2848, the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe has been reissued as part of Gibson’s 30th anniversary of the original Les Paul Deluxe. Like many other Gibson electric guitar models, there are only a limited number of these on the market. This exclusive aspect makes the Les Paul Deluxe a guitar that will be of interest to collectors in the future, so the value should not depreciate.
So who exactly is or was Les Paul, and why does Gibson put his name on so many of their electric guitars? Lester Polfus (alias Les Paul) was born in 1915, and is now 92 years old. Les Paul is one of the most important pioneers in the development of the modern electric guitar.
Paul is a jazz guitarist and a guitar designer who built his first electric guitar in the 1940’s. He was not happy with the design of the guitars that were available in the 1930’s. The guitar he created in 1952 ultimately evolved into all the Gibson Les Paul guitar models we see today, including the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe.
There are some details that set the LP’s apart from other guitars. One is a carved maple top that has an arched, curved appearance. They have a three way toggle pickup selectoy switch. But the most important innovation Les Paul came up with was the solid wood body. Earlier designs were hollow, with two problems. They had a lot of feedback and they didn’t have much sustain. Both of these problems were fixed by using a solid piece of wood for the body of the guitar.
The Les Paul Custom debuted in 1954 and was made only of mahogany. Several changes took place over the next decade, and different versions of Les Paul guitar were introduced, including the Studio, the Junior, and others. The maple top was added both for good looks and to add a brightness to the tone, lightening up the heavy tone created in the mahogany body.
Now you can have the same quality and sound as the 1969 Les Pauls by getting a Gibson Les Paul Deluxe electric guitar. It has the same carved maple top and nitrocellulose lacquer finish found on the originals. Nitrocellulose takes weeks to painstakingly apply and that is why guitars that have it are more high priced than those finished with polyurethane or some other finish. It is felt that the nitrocellulose finish improves the tone, as well.
Advantages: All Gibson Les Paul guitars are well crafted and known for excellent tone. This model features the mini-humbuckers, which makes it suitable for a wide range of music styles. Blues, rock metal, and jazz can all come alive on this guitar. The pickups are bright and articulate, and sound good whether played clean or with distortion. It has a lot of bite to its tone.
Disadvantages: Of course, there is the price. Gibson Les Paul guitars, especially vintage reissues, do not come cheap. They are good quality, professional level instruments, though, and they will retain their value. If you are into that warm, heavy sound that Les Pauls are known for, you will probably find the mini humbuckers to be a bit too bright and light for you. If you want to change the pickups to P90’s, they will fit without further modification.
Les Paul guitars are known to be very heavy. It is because of the solid mahogany body back. If you have a long gig and are not really big and strong, you might wear out fairly early and need to sit down.
The Gibson Les Paul Deluxe electric guitar is not a beginner guitar. If you are just beginning and want a Les Paul, get an Epiphone. When you’ve been playing several years, you will be ready to appreciate a guitar like this one.
Specs:
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Mahogany body in rounded shape with single cutaway
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Carved book-matched maple top on body
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1959 rounded Les Paul mahogany neck
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Body and fingerboard binding
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1 11/16 inches wide at the nut
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Rosewood fingerboard
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22 frets
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24.75 inch scale length
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Pearloid trapezoid inlays
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Dual mini-humbucking pickups
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Two tone control knobs
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Two volume control knobs
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One three-way pickup selector switch
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Les Paul Signature strings in .009 to .046
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Nitrocellulose lacquered finish
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Tune-o-matic bridge
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Stop bar tailpiece
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Chrome vintage tuners
Musician’s Friend features a hands-on review of the Gibson Les Paul Deluxe electric guitar. It is thorough and well-written.
For a bio of Les Paul, check out this article.
Rickenbacker 620 Electric Guitar
July 30, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The Rickenbacker 620 electric guitar is one hot rocker! Retailing for $1529, its features and unique good looks might just propel you into stardom. It has a sleek, fast maple neck and neck-through construction to provide you with ease in playing those fast solos and terrific sustain right when you need it. The two single coil pickups will give you a bright and clear tone. Rickenbacker was one of the first names in electric guitars, and is one of the most respected.
Rickenbacker electric guitars began with a man named Francis C. Hall, who was interested in electronics and began selling homemade batteries as a business while he was still in high school. This would have been about in the mid-1920’s. This modest beginning grew into the Radio and Television Equipment Company, which distributed and installed P.A. systems, among other things.
In the 40’s, Hall began a liaison with Fender guitars, distributing guitars and amplifiers and providing investment money. Later he was able to buy a company called Electro String from Adolph Rickenbacker, and began to distribute their guitars, which at the time were mainly steel guitars. As rock and roll became the music of choice, the electric guitar as we know it began to be developed. Rickenbacker’s contribution at this time was a guitar with a “multiple-unit” pickup that functioned like a humbucker when both were in use, or like separate single coils when only one was in use.
The “tulip” shaped body came out in 1956, along with another innovation known now as “neck through body construction,” in which the neck is extended all the way through the body, with the sides of the body glued into place (or bolted). Rickenbacker’s big break, however, came in the early 1960’s, when John Lennon of the Beatles used one. Soon many of the well-known rockers of the sixties were using Rickenbacker electric guitars.
The “Cresting Wave” design of Rickenbacker guitars is unusual, attractive and eyecatching. A creative and unique Rickenbacker feature is the “R” shaped tailpiece. The 620 has a two piece pickguard with adjustable height.
Advantages: If you are after that classic Byrds and Beatles sound, use the bridge pickup. It produces that classic jangle you remember. In fact, though, if you want a perfect guitar for almost any kind of music, from jazz to country, the Rickenbacker 620 electric guitar can do the job for you. It has an incredible tonal range. It handles loads of fuzz distortion well. About the only music it does not really excel on is metal, so you metal players might want to look elsewhere.
The guitar is has a great tough finish that holds up well. The quality has been said to be even better than a Fender custom shop guitar. It stays in tune really well, also. It does not weigh too much and it is fairly small, so it is comfortable to play for a long gig.
Disadvantage: Aside from the ample price tag, the “R” tailpiece of the Rickenbacker 620 is a little challenging to use when changing strings, and if you use a different gauge of strings than the original factory setup, you might have problems with intonation. Also, there is no whammy bar, and you might not like the hum from the single coil pickups. If that is an issue for you, you can buy Rickenbacker humbuckers to replace the single coil pickups.
Specs:
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Solid maple body
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Sleek, fast-playing maple neck
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21 frets
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24.75 inch (62.9 cm.) scale length
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1 5/8 inch (41.3 mm.) wide at the nut
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1 15/16 inches (49.2 mm.) wide at the twelfth fret
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10 inch (25.4 mm.) crown radius
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Neck-through-body construction for greater sustain
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Precision machined, German-made Schaller key winds
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Double truss rods
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Body and neck binding
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Triangular inlays
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Thick rosewood fretboar
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Dual single hi gain coil pickups
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Two volume control knobs
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Two tone control knobs
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Blend control for blending the sounds of the two pickups
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Three-way pickup selector switch
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Dual jacks (mono and stereo) for stereo output
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“R” string through tailpiece
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6 saddle bridge
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Total weight 8.0 pounds (3.6 kg.)
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Overall length 37 inches (94.0 cm.)
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Overall width: 13.25 inches (33.7 cm.)
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Overall depth: 1.25 inches (31.8 mm.)
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Availble colors are Jetglo, Mapleglo, Fireglo, and Midnight Blue
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Comes with a standard case
Here is a really neat guitar site - shanzuguitars.com. Lots of stuff to explore here - scroll down and you’ll see links to articles about Rickenbacker guitars, including an in depth review of the Rickenbacker 620 electric guitar here.
This nondescript looking webpage contains a list of the most frequently asked questions about Rickenbacker guitars.
A general history article about Rickenbacker guitars.
Steve Jobs Against DRM?
July 29, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
The Apple iPod sing-handedly changed the way we listen to music, and the iTunes store revolutionized the way that music is made available. Pay-per-song at an affordable rate, it smashed the idea of music albums and put record companies on the edge.
But all songs sold on iTunes were licensed from the record companies, which insisted on having DRM or Digital Rights Management on all downloads. DRM prevents the sharing and copying of music beyond the original purchaser of the song.
But now that several European governments are making threats to breaking the lock between the iPod and iTunes, Steve Jobs is taking the road less traveled and moving against DRM itself, with partner EMI.
According to Wired news:
Only Jobs could so boldly rip down the system he had previously built — the iTunes music store, which is the most-successful online store (perhaps the only one), which was built on copy-protected music, and force the music industry to follow suit. He’s tearing down the old system for something much more modern — high-fidelity tracks that can be played on any device. Oddly for a business leader with a reputation for tight control and lock in, Jobs is ceding control of a locked-down format in favor of a much bigger, open market.
The move is sure to remake the online music business. The old DRM system is going to be swept aside in favor of a much more open approach. Jobs is already confident his power plays will work. In a statement on Monday, Jobs said he expects half of the songs on iTunes will be sold DRM-free by the end of the year.
Prince To Give Away His Planet Earth Album?
July 29, 2007 by Jo Minor · Leave a Comment
Would you give away your new CD to everyone who reads the newspaper? Well,Price (or the artist formerly known as Price) did exactly that.
According to Wired:
Jack Horner, creative and joint managing director for Frukt, a music-marketing agency, said that while “people like (Prince) play a key part in helping figure out what the models may be in the music business of tomorrow, by giving away a whole album on the front of a newspaper, there is a very clear devaluing of music, which is not a positive message to send out right now.”
