My dad made Welsh country guitarist Mickey Gee a Tele using super light swamp ash, he was suffering with ilness and struggled to play his old Fender so he got my dad to make him one, the whole thing was something like 4.5Lb complete, sounded amazing. My dad makes hs necks and fingerboards, getting the fret slots cut accurately and making sure the neck pocket is tight is the trick, the carving of the back is pretty easy in comparison. You could buy all the parts from Allparts or WD products in the UK, they sell licenced Fender parts and Warmoth etc... I guess that would still be rewarding but the ultimate is to make the entire thing, I wish I had the time, trouble is I have a wife and 2 kids plus a full time job, the only day I get to myself is Saturdays and thats my bike day! One day though I'll make one from scratch.
Yeah the geared delux Strat tuners were nice. I prefer the vintage ones with a faster ratio for tuning up quicker, just personal preference. The trouble with the Green button Clusons used by Gibson is they have back lash and eventually become to free or loose, thats why most people over the years upgraded to Grovers, or locking Shaller Cluson look machine heads. Grovers are the way to go if you get tuning issues later down he road, or if you prefer the look of the tulip machine heads, worth looking at a locking type, that'll be the end of any slipping etc... then.
One of the worst things you can do with Cluson's fitted to any Gibson is to lubricate them throught the pin hole on the back, it knackers them!
Right I'm going to get some sleep Nice talking with you, we'll have to have a chat again sometime - I'll get some photo's of mine up for you ASAP.
I sold two of mine last year (Yam 6 string, and a 12 string acoustics) as I just wasn't playing them anywhere near enough. I regret that now.
I've got a 1983-4 red Fender USA Strat, a 1995 Fender blue USA Tele and a 2010 Martin DC 16 RGTE. Had Gibson Les Pauls (Deluxe, Standard & Custom) and that's why I walk lop-sided
I can recommend Makala,as I have two of them. Bought a Concert size Uke a year ago,(one size up from the smallest-if you are a larger person with big fingers I'd suggest you ignore a soprano as they are very small) Subsequently bought a Tenor Uke,slightly larger again and it suits me just fine. Both purchased mail order from Clifford Essex Music,mail order,for whom I have nothing but the highest praise...the ukes came properly set up and play really well.(My famous and incredibly talented bass-playing friend confirmed this). Don't worry about the neighbours,you can play them quite softly and despite my lack of talent my wife says they sound quite pleasant.... Ukulele - Instruments - Ukulele - Clifford Essex Music Company Limited
A mate of mine got a Gretch uke from his wifey 2 crimbo's ago. He's happy with it, I think it has a pick up in it. I'll be seeing him over the next couple of days, I'll get more details if you want.
And a few more for the hell of it,from a cast of thousands: Song Book Alligator Boogaloo presents UKULELE BOOGALOO! Rock & Roll Songs - Funstrummers Ukulele Band of Modesto
There's a bloke in the North East called Ray Cowell, who retired from the factory, and now makes ukes, from panelling used in the RMS Olympic - sister ship to the Titanic
i always read these guitar threads with great interest - people talking wisely and enthusiastically about a passion, no wars, bitchin, middle east angles, politics or crap. I can't play myself, but always been very interested observer- and I love watching people play their instruments. My era of music that i like listening too (albeit it does stretch across a board suite of tastes) has a degree of focus in which there always seemed to be a prevalence of Rickenbackers, but as a brand they never seem to feature much in peoples 'real world' playing collections. I'm curious as to why that is - any views.? As an aside, i have dug an old classic guitar have had for some years out of the loft - I've just re strung it and I'm going to give it to a young person i know to have a thrash with ( too young to know any better, its more have a bash and make some noise, sort of age)- are there any half decent free guitar tuning apps out there anyone can suggest to put it vaguely near tuneful Il have a google as well - I'm not a complete lazy arse - but thought id ask as well.
I'd recommend buying an electronic one off Ebay - costs under 4 quid and you can use it anytime Clip-on Guitar Tuner For Electronic Digital Chromatic Bass Violin Ukulele LCD | eBay if the guitar has been subject to the varied temperatures and humidities of a roof space, you'll probably find that the neck has warped (unless you're lucky). As to Rickenbackers, John Lennon and also the Byrds used them, but they were expensive and an acquired taste - most electric guitarists preferred Gibsons or Fenders (USA models).
Right Mr. TT - here are some truths: First thing first: you can get umpteen tuner apps for your iPhone and they are free. There is a Gibson one, and I use Guitar Toolkit, which might have cost me a couple of shillings. You can also get a real clip on guitar tuner for peanuts from any music shop (which will probably be better). If it's an electric, most people favour something like a Boss tuner pedal (which I have). Next question: Rickenbackers. As guitars they are known for a jangly sound which goes well with some forms of poppy music. Popular in the 60s, revived very much by the Jam a few decades later. The basses make a superb, quite trebly sound and look brilliant, but the word on the street is that they are poorly made. I suspect the guitars are seen as somewhat one-trick ponies. The most popular guitars are Fender Strats, Gibson Les Pauls, and Fender Teles. The former are the most versatile guitar you can buy. You can use one for Deep Purple, Rage Against the Machine and Hendrix in a heavy vibe, or for lots of funk à la Nile Rodgers. They sound great clean and dirty. You can use a Strat for almost anything. But more heavy rock requires perhaps (or is more in tune with) a humbucking guitar and the Gibson Les Paul is the daddy. That will do you all hard rock, but they will do clean as well should you require. Telecasters? Country music, the Stones, early Led Zep - too many people to mention. So maybe that is why Rickenbackers are less used. I was listening to Joy Division a couple of days ago, and they used Vox guitars which no one does (probably because they got them cheap, or didn't know any better). But now, try to play Joy Division numbers without one. You just won't get that distinctive tone. So in the final analysis, if you like the Rickenbacker sound and look, get one of those. Which brings me to the nub of the question: stop watching other people play guitars and start to play yourself. Buy a Fender Blues Junior amp, a Mexican Fender Strat (or Rickenbacker), a distortion pedal and a few picks and log on to the free Justinguitar website and start playing your first chords. You will be grinning from ear to ear and will not care that the winter is shit and you can't take your bike out. Totally addictive! Now get on with it!
thanks for those thoughts - blast, so leaving it in the loft over a tray of water, to warp the neck wont help me with 'bending' notes then? as for john lennon and the byrds, I'm not quite that old!!
thanks Glid- fair dos re the tuner. interesting re the types of guitar choice, and interesting to hear a knowledgeable perspective on the Rickenbackers, i was just interested why, they don't seem to feature in 'home collections'- its about the versatility. as for the nub of the question , well I've only dragged my 6 string unit out of the loft to give a littl'un something to bash and ping on, to see if there is any interest or latent musical talent. Myself? i went to audition for the local church choir when i was in the cubs, a few years back, to try and earn some pocket money, and after giving the requisite demo was told to perhaps come back in a year or two......ok, i got the message, I'm not too musical... Currently, in between keeping the previous generation of TTs on track, and the next, plus having to scratch a living on the high desert plains of Somerset means time to play for myself is few and far between - maybe one day ill have a go at learning. Tonight, its tax return night, or i might just sit out on the porch and play the blues, with some bourbon and watch the sun go down...now wheres my geeeee tar.....
