Ranger #007 said:

---

Is that a project in the works in the back in the left?

---

it's actually my first guitar I ever bought, from my buddy I grew up with and still know. 1993 or so. We lived together freshman year at fhk in '98 and I had it in our room and it fell forward off stand and the neck cracked. I kept it all these years and plan to get a neck one day. It's an old Ibanez EX series I think.

I have the broken head stock as well, I bought a beer tap thread and plan to make it a tap handle one day!

I never get rid of gear. Well, I got rid of some live gear over the years, but that's it. That's 25 years worth of stuff.

Nice collection. That strat is awesome.

Thanks, its a MIM Jimmie Vaughn model. Early 2000s model. All stock
Only upgrade is the pick guard.

I hate getting rid of any gear. I just love buying a new guitar so much, that I would keep my bank account fairly empty if I wasn't selling equipment I'm not playing, much.

I have 6 electrics and 2 acoustics, and it's already difficult to keep them all maintained how I like to. Granted, I do enjoy kicking back at my workstation on a Saturday, turning on some tunes, and doing a setup on one of my guitars. Take my time cleaning the neck, polishing the frets, and then oiling the fretboard.

ruddyduck said:

---

y'all keep the pics like these coming. they will be serving as evidence in my defense in my next "why do you need another guitar? you can only play one at a time." argument.

---

My wife stopped asking that long ago!

This year I wanted to get a new guitar, but we ended up adding on to the house and got a dog from a breeder, a new bed with adjustable bed frames, and a roomba.. so there wasn't really anything left! I told her next bonus, a new guitar is first in line.

I'm looking at either PRS or Les Paul.

Was going through my standard evening "pick up every guitar to see which one speaks to me" thing.

For some reason, my Les Paul just sounded extra amazing, tonight. It's my 2002 Standard with the antiquities. I was playing through the low input on my Maz18, which I have going out through my 2x12 Marshall slanted cab loaded with Greenbacks. That was just pure tonal bliss.

I'm too lazy to go snap all those pictures, and then have to go find some site to host them to share. =(

DallasTeleAg said:

---

I'm too lazy to go snap all those pictures, and then have to go find some site to host them to share. =(

---

Texags hosts pics now, you just upload them directly in your post with the browse button.

Love all my guitars but I agree - the Carvin is far and away the fastest neck. Someday I'll swap the pups - it's a fantastic guitar, just not a huge fan of the pups. A tad too hot.

Edit: I read a better description than too hot - the guitar is too bright - not sure new pups can fix that issue.

My PRS S2 Custom Semi-hollow came in, today! Gonna spend the weekend getting to know it. Thought I would post some of my initial thoughts on the new axe.

Pros

My first reaction to fit and finish is that it definitely feels and looks well made. The QA seems to be very high for this range of guitars; which makes sense, seeing as they are made in the same Maryland factory as the higher level ones. The Maple top is very nicely figured and I really like how they rounded out the f-hole cutout. The "Moss Green" finish is beautiful.

The body shape with the belly cut and contour on the cutouts make it extremely comfortable to play. May even be more comfortable than a strat.

The fretboard looks to be a VERY high quality piece of dark rosewood; I wonder if it's rated AAA. I also wonder if they use the same woods in the S2 models as their high dollar guitars, seeing as they are from the same factory. Maybe it's like Fender, where the Custom Shop gets first choice of the woods. The fretboard is also nicely rounded off, which makes it very comfortable to hold with my hand. Frets are well finished, with no fret spur issues.

Most of this is what I would expect in a guitar in that price range.

Cons

I'm surprised they went with the Korean replicas of the PRS pickups. They sound fine, but I definitely notice a slight muddiness when strumming a chord versus each string being beautifully clear, when compared to some of my boutique pickups in my other guitars.

I am probably going to keep my eyes open for some 85/15 pickups on Reverb to pop them in. Apparently, you can't buy those unless someone takes them out of a PRS core guitar.

I am going to pop the backplate off, tomorrow, to check out the pots and see if they went with cheap components. I may end up purchasing some CTS pots for the guitar. The current volume pot does not have a very smooth taper, which can easily be remedied. I do have some spare Alpha push/pull pots in stock, I can replace the tone pot with and I received a few PIO Emerson caps I ordered early in the week, today.

The tuning key ratio seems to be very low. I don't know if these are the standard ones they put on all PRS guitars or not. These things feel like 10:1 because of how fast they turn those posts. I have to work a couple times to get the string in tune. They say they are the PRS locking tuners, but I don't know if they're the same as the core models. I'm so used to something closer around 16:1 or 18:1.

The action is also very low, but I can adjust that tomorrow. I like to kind of grip the string a bit with my bending fingers, which requires a little higher action. I'm not a shredder, so I am not used to very low action guitars. On the bright side, there doesn't seem to be any fret buzz, even at such a low action.

EDIT: Literally just made an offer for a set of real PRS 85/15 pickups on Reverb and it was accepted. Gonna try those out, once they get in.

The S2 series definitely seems to end up as the lowest of the American made models right down to hardware selection. The CE model got the American made 85/15s and Phase III locking tuners but has a shallower top carve, bolt on neck, and the inlay material isn't super impressive.

I was surprised to see what the 85/15s go for. The only pair I saw on Reverb was $415. I had assumed the 57/08s and 59/09s would command a higher price, but I guess not. Then again I guess some of the price is them not being available anywhere else.

I may try to swap out at least the volume pot. I've noticed it's so loose that if it gets touched at all, it moves. I keep ending up turning it all the way down just during strumming parts.

I've already purchased a PRS core style tremolo and selector switch, this evening. I have several CTS and Alpha push/pull bots already. I will also use one of my PIO 17nf caps in the new circuit.

....and I bought a set of used 8515's for $320 on Reverb.

I'm leaving the tuning keys alone, for now. They seem to hold tune just fine, just very responsive, so I have to make micro adjustments when tuning it.

I did some more research, and it looks like I was right about the wood and such. All wood is the same as the core models. The neck is a 3 piece neck instead of 1 piece, but that shouldn't affect tone. The fretboard and fretwork is supposed to be exactly the same as the core models, which explains why that is so well done.

I think the only difference in the woods for the US models is the amount of figuring you get. Finish wise they're really almost second to none.

Ranger #007 said:

---

I think the only difference in the woods for the US models is the amount of figuring you get. Finish wise they're really almost second to none.

---

Yeah. From what I read, the new core models are finished slightly different than the S2 and CE models, which are finished the way they used to finish all core models.

I LOVE that LP!! She's a beauty!

TY.

My favorite color, so I had to purchase it a while back, and it was my first LP. I will say, the fretboard isn't even close to the same quality as the PRS S2 I just bought. Kind of sad that Gibson can't do that type of job on an $1,800-$1,900 guitar. The Classic '57's are fine on it, but I need to do something to it to differentiate between my main LP with SD Antiquities; which is why I am trying out the Lollars. To be honest, if it weren't for the color of the guitar, I would have traded it in. I just can't part with such a rare color on a LP.

I have a 2002 LP Standard that feels and plays SO much better. From what I read, that year is supposed to be a very good year for standards because it was a 50th anniversary thing, so Gibson took extra care on those guitars.

DallasTeleAg said:

---

TY.

My favorite color, so I had to purchase it a while back, and it was my first LP. I will say, the fretboard isn't even close to the same quality as the PRS S2 I just bought. Kind of sad that Gibson can't do that type of job on an $1,800-$1,900 guitar. The Classic '57's are fine on it, but I need to do something to it to differentiate between my main LP with SD Antiquities; which is why I am trying out the Lollars. To be honest, if it weren't for the color of the guitar, I would have traded it in. I just can't part with such a rare color on a LP.

I have a 2002 LP Standard that feels and plays SO much better. From what I read, that year is supposed to be a very good year for standards because it was a 50th anniversary thing, so Gibson took extra care on those guitars.

---

Just curious, what type of weight relief does it have and how does that compare to your others in playing, feel, and tone? I've only played the first style with the 9 or so holes drilled in them - still quite heavy.

One thing that just kills me about Les Pauls is that Gibson refuses the address the elephant in the room - the flawed headstock design. They break easily and don't hold tune. I know they put on some silly electronic auto tuning system a few years ago, but from what I've heard it's no bueno.

That's something I've never been able to confirm. From what I've read, the 2002 Standards were that "swiss cheese" weight relief, before they started chambering. My Standard has a AA flamed maple top with a '50's neck. It is definitely lighter than the Classic and has a very nice slight roll to the edges of the fretboard. It is slightly thicker than my Classic, but not too much so. My Standard has a '50s neck, but no super thick, and my Classic has a '60s neck.

The Classic has a lot more file marks on the fretboard than my Standard. It is very easy to tell the Standard is a higher quality instrument than the Classic when you pick it up and play it.

I'll post a pick of my Standard shortly. The + tops they were putting on those things in 2002 are simply beautiful.

Okay. So, put the Standard on the table to get a good shot of it. In my personal order of best to... not best? All great guitars:

1. Fender CS Tele
2. Gibson '61 Reissue ES-330 VOS
3. 2002 LP Standard+
4. Fender American Original 60's Strat
5. PRS S2 Custom 22 Semi-Hollow (My new guitar and may pass the strat, after I get the new electronics in it.
6. LP Classic posted earlier
Acoustic: Taylor 324ce with the new V-brace. I don't rank this because it is my only acoustic and plays like a dream.

DallasTeleAg said:

---

Though I'd share on this thread. Going to enjoy spending some time installing these Lollar Novel 90's into my LP Classic today, along with this emerson controls kit, and a fretboard cleaning and polish.

---

I've got that same Les Paul. Love that color.

Nice! Yeah; when I walked into Guitar Center and saw that guitar, I had to walk out with it. Such a great green.

Holy crap. Love the green and the only problem with that Standard is the pick guard covering up some of that flamey goodness. The green on the S2 looks pretty damned sweet as well.

I actually saw a seller on eBay last night that has a stripped out green 2020 Slash Les Paul. Just the body and neck for sale. They want a cool $1699 just for that, but it looks badass.

Yeah. I know there are some that remove the pickguard. I just love the look of a LP with a pickguard.

To each their own. All of this stuff is personal taste. It definitely has a more classic look with the pick guard.

Anxious to see your review. 500K or 250K pots? Some people go with 250K on P90-style pups, but I prefer to stay with the 500Ks.

That looks awesome! Im definitely interested in seeing work like this done. My guitars could probably all use some love in that department. I need to get my tele finally done. It ended up as a three HB tele. Just planning on doing a three way switch. I have all the parts but need to solder it.

For P-90's, I like 500k. I would imagine a 250k would be fairly dark and muddy for a P-90.

Actually, my ES-330 has stock 550k, and that is the best sounding P-90 guitar I have ever played. They may have gone with 550k because of natural warm tone with a hollowbody. That one also has an Alnico II P-90 in the bridge and an Alnico III P-90 in the neck. I generally am not a fan of Alnico V magnets in P-90s, or really anything. I am a big fan of Alnico II.

This is the first one I have put .015 caps instead of .022.

Ranger #007 said:

---

That looks awesome! Im definitely interested in seeing work like this done. My guitars could probably all use some love in that department. I need to get my tele finally done. It ended up as a three HB tele. Just planning on doing a three way switch. I have all the parts but need to solder it.

---

Is it a Tele Custom? 3 HB seems like a lot. How are you wiring it? If I had that many humbuckers on a guitar, I would definitely need to set up some coil tapping and reverse phase. I don't know if you've ever check out this site, but they basically have every wiring diagram you could ever want to do. You start by selecting your setup, then how many pots/switches/etc, and what you want them to do.

https://guitarelectronics.com/guitar-wiring-resources/

I would be tempted to try out a P-rails in a guitar with that many humbuckers. You can do some fun stuff with them: https://www.seymourduncan.com/single-product/p-rails

I'll have to check that out. It's a Warmoth Tele. It actually only ended up with three HBs by accident. It was a Christmas present and my mom accidentally selected HB routing for all three positions. Currently I have a Rio Grande TX/BBQ in the bridge and neck positions and a Rio Grande Fat ******* in the middle slot. I've got a three way selector switch to just do them individually right now. None are tappable so that's out.

3 humbucker tele - it kinda reminds me of those 3 humbucker les paul customs Frampton and Frehley used to play back in the 70's.

Nothing wrong w/a triple! If it's good enough for John 5 it's good enough for anyone.

edit: Not my guitar.

beautiful collection. i've still got several months to wait for the delivery of my green epi casino and you have to go and post a green lp! the standard is beautiful as well.