Went Guitar Shopping Yesterday - Now I Have a Dilemma

ellengtrgrl

ellengtrgrl

Guitar Old Timer
I miss having something Gibson-like in my guitar arsenal (probably because I was mainly a Gibson player for 18 years [1983-1999]). I don't have a bundle to spend, but I wanted something either with P90s, semi-hollow, or in a hollowbody. So, I paid a visit to Cream City Music. I really can't afford one of the 2015 LP Jrs, but I was interested in the 1991 SG Jr they had. But the neck seemed a wee bit thin, and I didn't like the placement of the the stop tailpiece to the tune-o-matic bridge (yes, it was one of those Jrs. - the ones made in the 80s and early 90s, without a wraparound bridge).

Then I was told to try out one of the Epiphone B-Stock ES-175 Premiums they had just gotten in. It sounded killer, with it's Gibson '57 Classic Humbuckers. The neck was the infamous, narrow "speed" neck like the 1970s, Les Paul Signature I played when I was in college used to have, so I figured I'd have no problems adjusting to it. I was serious about buying it, until I found out that it has nickel hardware. You know how well me and nickel get along allergy-wise. Bummer!

epiphone-eclub-2014-es-175-premium-electric-guitar-vintage-sunburst_1.jpg



Just for the heck of it, I tried out an Epiphone, Joe Pass Emperor II. It had a very nice neck. I didn't like the rosewood bridge, and the pickups were only so-so IMO, but those can be replaced. The only problem - it has coil splitting, which I have no need for at all.

I've never considered playing an Epiphone Casino. This is probably due to the fact that when I've played its Gibson ES-330 cousin over the years, I've found them to be overly squealy in the feedback department, but I figured, nothing ventured, nothing gained, so I tried a few of them out. I plugged into a Hughes and Kettner Tubemeister 18, and got some nice clean sounds. With the gain cranked, there were some feedback issues, but not as bad as what the ES-330s I've tried had, and the crunch sounds were as killer IMO, as they are for a Les Paul Jr. The only issue was the necks. While they weren't as thin as the necks on some guitar I've played, they were still kind of thin. The Gary Clark Blak 'n Blu version had a little bit chunkier neck (and nice sounding Gibson P90 pickups to boot), but like the ES-175 Premium, it has nickel hardware. :(
GCJBlkBluCasino_Splash.jpg


My question is this - who makes a Casino-type guitar that guitar that has a (even slightly) chunker neck, than the Epiphone version?
 
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I really like the looks of that ES-175 :)

How much would it cost to replace the nickel hardware?
 
Jbird said:
I really like the looks of that ES-175 :)

How much would it cost to replace the nickel hardware?
Click to expand...

A fair chunk-0-change. I'd have to replace the bridge, tailpiece, and the pickups (they have nickel plated covers, and I occasionally wrap my pinky finger around around pickup rings and covers).
 
The answer to all guitar questions: Reverend.

I have a Manta Ray ( link here: http://www.reverendguitars.com/instrument/manta-ray-hb/ ) and it's a logical progression from your list above and meets your specs (though I don't know about the hardware). It's not Gibson-like, it's Reverend like, but IMHO it's a step up from any Epi or Ibby HB, and almost as nice as a good (e.g., older) 335. New they are $900; you can probably find one used for around $500 on the Bay.

If you are looking for a hollow body or semi hollow, I'd talk yourself into hardware change-outs. IMO S/HB's are finicky creatures, and when you find 'the right one' you pounce. As noted in other threads here, a good Reverend (and I haven't seen a bad one yet) is a lifetime instrument; you just don't part with them. I have a half dozen HB's (including Epi and Ibby's) and it's easily the best and most sonically flexible. In fact, my Manta Ray killed my GAS for all other SHB's.

You could also try giving them a call and letting them know about your allergy; they just might do you a favor and whip up a special no-nickel one for you. The couple of times I've needed to interface with them, they were unbelievably nice and responsive.
 
I've done some more thinking (and some more playing - I paid for my exposure to nickel, by having some skin breakouts). I'd love to have the Epi ES-175. I could change the bridge to a Tonerider chrome plated one, but I'd still have to deal with the nickel coverd bridge pickup cover. I tried out an Ibanez Artcore AS-73 (I had one for 3 years) since it has the same neck profile as the ASR-70. I could get into the ASR-70, but now I have another dilemma - P90s or humbuckers. I used to be a big humbucker nut, but got into single coils bigtime a few years ago. I will admit though, that there are times when I miss the thick tone of a good humbucker (it's kind of like pickles - I don't normally want them, but when I do, I REALLY do). With that in mind, I'm down to these three finalists (assuming that Cream City music didn't bring back some cool guitars that I want, from the Philly Guitar Show):

Ibanez ASR70
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Ibanez AS-93
AS93_BLS_12_05.png


Ibanez AG-95
AG95_DBS_12_05.png
 
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Man, I'd be all over the AG-95, unless you're looking for something that would be less feedback prone. I will say that I am a fan of the Super 58 pups - clear and balanced.
 
I've got the old Super 58's on my 80's Ibanez and the recent ones on my new AR 325. Different to be sure but I'm really impressed with the newer Alnico V version. Haven't played one but that AG-95 is a looker.
 
Is there a reason you show no interest in the Reverend? I have or used to have a # of the guitars you've posted, and that Reverend is easily superior to them all (I mean it's not a matter of opinion - it's about quality level). $500 on Reverb is a steal, in fact, I'd have purchased that if I didn't have other financial fish to fry.
 
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