G&L Doheny

[rumfoord]

Also, here is a thread where you can drool over all the custom orders being shipped out:
http://guitarsbyleo.com/FORUM/viewtopic ... 36&t=14747

Oooh, thank you,

I really like this empress wood:

[sirspens]

Does anyone own one? Does it look more like the first picture or the second picture. I know it's just color balancing, but those look like two different looks, tonally, to me.

I can't tell you what the Doheny will look like, but my LPB Tribute Legacy looks like the second picture.

From what I understand, the problem with "Lake Placid Blue" is that all the cool vintage LPB Fenders you see weren't actually that color when they were painted in the '60s- the color has darkened over time. So, there are many different interpretations of the color. I personally dig the darker, more Ocean Turquoise version, but the brighter one is cool, too. Especially with a block inlay neck and matching headstock.

My favourite shade of LPB is the dark one Fender Japan called Old Lake Placid Blue. Sometimes I see guitars labelled with LPB so light it almost looks like Ice Blue Metallic.

I agree. I want a touch of green in there. Maybe it comes from the yellowing of the lacquer? But I do not want just a slivery blue.

[sirspens]

Today I ordered a custom Doheny. I'm going to wait until it comes in to reveal the details. But, I want to share what I learned about pricing. That's kosher, right? This may or may not be absolutely constant across all dealers, but this is what I learned, in USD:

Base Price (including all standard options): $1,399
From what I understand, this is standard:
Standard colors (most non-Flake, non-Translucent colors, see G&L website)
Fulcrum Trem
Single Color (not tort, not pearloid, not aluminum) pickguards
Hardrock maple neck
Maple fretboard with black dots
Bone nut
Satin neck finish
Non-locking tuners

Additional Costs:
Tort or Pearloid Pickguard: $50
Rosewood Fretboard: $50
Block Inlays: $150
Neck Binding: $250
Matching Headstock: $150
Locking Tuners: $50
Graphtech Nut: $30
Empress Wood body: $100
Stainless Steel frets: $300

There are other options, but I didn't get pricing on them. I figured these might be the options most people are curious about. Although, I did forget to ask about the Saddlelock bridge.

So, if you wanted something that fits all of those standard features, but wanted in a finish or combination that isn't readily available, it seems your price will be $1399.

[Beyer160]

Today I ordered a custom Doheny. I'm going to wait until it comes in to reveal the details. But, I want to share what I learned about pricing. That's kosher, right? This may or may not be absolutely constant across all dealers, but this is what I learned, in USD:

Thanks for this. I was curious what one would cost, but not enough to get a quote- didn't want to be a tire-kicker. It was about what I imagined, but $150 to paint a headstock? Damn.

It'd be really, really nice if you could play one of these things before plunking down $2K on one. I hope the box stores will carry the Doheny Tributes, at least. I doubt it, but it'd be nice.

Who'd you order it from?

[sirspens]

Who'd you order it from?

I bought it from Guitar Resurrection in Austin, Texas.

They have had a Doheny to play for a several months, now. I have enjoyed it.

I also played an ASAT Special made of Empress wood to see if I liked it. It is SURPRISINGLY light. I didn't notice any difference in sound, unplugged or through an amp. I'm not 100% sure I like it (I do worry about neck dive), but even if there is a 50% chance of me liking it, the guy that I ordered from told me there is about 50% chance of them having it available. So, I told him to order it with whatever they have available. Here's how those odds break down:

50% chance of getting Alder, which I will like.
25% chance of getting Empress and liking it.
25% chance of getting Empress and not liking it.
Total of 75% chance of liking what I end up with.

And even if I "don't like" the empress wood body, I already know it isn't changing the tone, so how much am I not going to like it? Probably just find it a bit annoying for some reason, at most.

I figure those are pretty good odds.

[BoringPostcards]

I hear mixed things about Empress wood. Paulownia is another term for empress. It is used by guys like Suhr to make his overelaborate strat copies that sell for big money, so it can't be that bad.
They're beautiful trees. I know that much. Haven't played anything made out of it. I imagine it's similar to basswood?

[Jaguar018]

Additional Costs:
Rosewood Fretboard: $50
Block Inlays: $150
Neck Binding: $250

Darn my champagne tastes and caviar dreams! I don't begrudge G&L at all for the additional costs-- I just wish I didn't like the things I like sometimes.

[tammyw]

This is the first time I took the whole pickguard off, it's actually got full Jazzmaster control cavities.



Interestingly, the base plates on these pickups are steel; I'm sure the other ones I looked at were copper.

The switch is one of those import box switches, if you're looking for a replacement tip it has the narrower M3.5 shaft.

As for the rest of the circuit, the volume is a CTS A250K with a 201K ceramic disc capacitor, tone 1 is a CTS A500K with a 2A223J cap, and tone 2 is a MIGHTYMITE C1M with a 2A222J cap.

For this weekend's project, I replaced the volume and tone-1 pots with push-pull pots for phase and series-parallel switching. I'm generally a fan of the out of phase sound, and this one turned out pretty good.

[sirspens]

This is the first time I took the whole pickguard off, it's actually got full Jazzmaster control cavities.

Full Jazzmaster control cavities?

Full Jazzmaster control cavities!

Why?

Yay!

[sirspens]

Haven't played anything made out of it. I imagine it's similar to basswood?

The ASAT Special I played sounded absolutely no different than an Alder body ASAT Special. The only difference was weight. And it is a LOT lighter. Lighter than Basswood.

I almost threw the guitar across the room when I picked it up.... not really, but it felt like I was going to. It was surprising.

[JagInTheBag]

This is the first time I took the whole pickguard off, it's actually got full Jazzmaster control cavities.

Full Jazzmaster control cavities?

Full Jazzmaster control cavities!

Why?

Yay!

Because when they programmed the CNC, they could, so why not? Cuts weight, maintains balance, and if you want to do full JM controls, all you need is a pickguard swap.

[BoringPostcards]

This is the first time I took the whole pickguard off, it's actually got full Jazzmaster control cavities.

Awesome!
Now I can easily do my planned mod of moving the 3 way toggle to where I'm used to it being. Upper route being full gives options to add other stuff.... Oh man...
Can't wait to get one of these.

[sirspens]

This is the first time I took the whole pickguard off, it's actually got full Jazzmaster control cavities.

Full Jazzmaster control cavities?

Full Jazzmaster control cavities!

Why?

Yay!

Because when they programmed the CNC, they could, so why not? Cuts weight, maintains balance, and if you want to do full JM controls, all you need is a pickguard swap.

Yet, when Fender decided to do the American Professional Jazzmaster, they did a special route....

[countertext]

Stopped by the Tacoma Guitar Show today (which was kinda sad, fewer exhibitors every year; even Lollar didn’t show up, and they’re literally across the street) and I finally tried a couple Doohickeys.

They felt and sounded great, but what stood out to me was how light they are. The alder one I played was lighter than I expected, but the empress one was ridiculous. It was “galaxy black”, I think, with very light metal flake, and I dug it.

I mean, most of the JM/Jag-sized guitars I’ve played over the years have been pretty heavy compared to my other guitars, so it was a pleasant surprise to pick the G&Ls up.

[46346]

easily one of the most comfortable AND great playing AND great sounding guitars i've had, out of 20 or so electrics.

here's my 33 minute demo of the Doheny... doing something probably nobody else does with it :

https://youtu.be/FY_VBkugV_o?t=1s