Bilt guitars??

Discussion of newer designs, copies and reissue offset-waist instruments.
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mediocreplayer
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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by mediocreplayer » Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:05 am

andy_tchp wrote:
Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:14 am
DesmondWafers wrote:
Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:05 am
Also, these guitars always looked sort of weird to me in pictures, but in real life it's completely different. I think it has to do with the forearm contour; if you look at the guitar sideways they look great, but in the promo pictures where they're standing straight up, the extreme angle plays some sort of optical illusion.
That's interesting to hear - I always find they look fairly awful in promotional shots with awkward proportions all round. They're probably much better when hung off an actual human being.
I find they look awful in pictures AND in real life. I played one at CME and it sounded incredible and played beautifully.

But no, they are not beautiful guitars, though that is in the eye of the beholder of course. Also, Zaftig is the worst name for anything.

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by bestevens » Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:22 am

I have been playing a Relevator as my main guitar for six years. I have also owned two vintage Fenders and a G&L. This is hands-down the best made and best playing guitar I own. The guys are also great to work with. I got exactly what I wanted.

Image

I also enjoyed the Zaftig when I played one, but really wanted the effects, which I use a decent amount. The look is not for everyone, but nothing is.

Bruce

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by Maggieo » Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:40 am

That is one wonderfully beautiful guitar, Bruce.
“Now I am quietly waiting for/ the catastrophe of my personality/ to seem beautiful again.”- Frank O'Hara
I am not an attorney and this post is for entertainment purposes only. Please consult a licensed attorney in your state for legal advice.

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by Gavanti » Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:54 pm

The El Hombre is perhaps the oddest of the bunch aesthetically when standing straight up, but when strapped on the geometry all makes sense. This is true with the hump on the Zaftig and the forearm carve and rounded tail of the Relevator as well. Their colors are nuts. I go to the store and find blue and green fenders on the wall that look pretty dull, but the ones in the BilT workshop always look lush.

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by andy_tchp » Sat Feb 24, 2018 5:51 pm

Gavanti wrote:
Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:54 pm
The El Hombre is perhaps the oddest of the bunch aesthetically when standing straight up, but when strapped on the geometry all makes sense. This is true with the hump on the Zaftig and the forearm carve and rounded tail of the Relevator as well. Their colors are nuts. I go to the store and find blue and green fenders on the wall that look pretty dull, but the ones in the BilT workshop always look lush.
The El Hombre is the only Bilt I've seen that I thought looked any good in pictures. You had/have that nice dark green one right?
mediocreplayer wrote:
Sat Feb 24, 2018 8:05 am
I find they look awful in pictures AND in real life. I played one at CME and it sounded incredible and played beautifully.

But no, they are not beautiful guitars, though that is in the eye of the beholder of course. Also, Zaftig is the worst name for anything.
I find 'Revelator' worse :D
"I don't know why we asked him to join the band 'cause the rest of us don't like country music all that much; we just like Graham Lee."
David McComb, 1987.

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by kamillebidan » Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:36 am

Image

I just want to say, that THIS is almost a perfect design IMO. Love the bound top... Just switch out the pickups for WRHB or some Gold Foils, make it solid body, and have traditional Jaguar switching. Bilt guitars always interested me, but I also think I'm chasing something that I could piece together for cheaper in the long run. Then again, there's nothing like buying something made just for you.

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by mediocreplayer » Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:30 am

kamillebidan wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 12:36 am
Image

I just want to say, that THIS is almost a perfect design IMO. Love the bound top... Just switch out the pickups for WRHB or some Gold Foils, make it solid body, and have traditional Jaguar switching. Bilt guitars always interested me, but I also think I'm chasing something that I could piece together for cheaper in the long run. Then again, there's nothing like buying something made just for you.
What is this beauty?

I have a very similar one but with a Telecaster switch.

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by DesmondWafers » Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:39 am

andy_tchp wrote:
Sat Feb 24, 2018 5:51 pm


I find 'Revelator' worse :D
It's actually relevator, which I didn't even realize until I got the guitar. Perhaps some sort of portmanteau between relevant and elevator?

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by andy_tchp » Mon Feb 26, 2018 1:56 pm

DesmondWafers wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:39 am
andy_tchp wrote:
Sat Feb 24, 2018 5:51 pm


I find 'Revelator' worse :D
It's actually relevator, which I didn't even realize until I got the guitar. Perhaps some sort of portmanteau between relevant and elevator?
That's a revelation for sure.
"I don't know why we asked him to join the band 'cause the rest of us don't like country music all that much; we just like Graham Lee."
David McComb, 1987.

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by kamillebidan » Mon Feb 26, 2018 4:31 pm

mediocreplayer wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:30 am
What is this beauty?

I have a very similar one but with a Telecaster switch.
Any pictures of yours? ;)

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by mediocreplayer » Mon Feb 26, 2018 7:14 pm

kamillebidan wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 4:31 pm
mediocreplayer wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 11:30 am
What is this beauty?

I have a very similar one but with a Telecaster switch.
Any pictures of yours? ;)
Yes. (but I would still like to know what that one is!) I try to not be obnoxious and post it all the time though. It now has Mastery all over.

Image

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by kamillebidan » Mon Feb 26, 2018 8:15 pm

mediocreplayer wrote:
Mon Feb 26, 2018 7:14 pm

Yes. (but I would still like to know what that one is!) I try to not be obnoxious and post it all the time though. It now has Mastery all over.

Image
Oh that's a beauty! :? I actually prefer your switch, but is it 3-way or 4?

My bad haha, I did not understand the question.

I believe it was a Bilt Zaftig (in Olive Drab w/ Bakelite Pickguard, Lollar Imperials, & Mastery Bridge/Vib).

Was for sale for a bit here, but was sold. Good thing too, I was tempted to get it... Now I'm just relieved.

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by mediocreplayer » Tue Feb 27, 2018 8:38 am

Oh that's a Zaftig! I thought it was a Jag from that angle. Once I clicked the link the guitar faced me with that traditional ugly Zaftig look.

The switch on mine is 4-way. Like the Marr but with the rhythm circuit on top instead of the filters.

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by kamillebidan » Tue Feb 27, 2018 12:16 pm

Where did you get yours made? is it a refinish of the MIJ semi-hollows they had a while back?

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Re: Bilt guitars??

Post by mediocreplayer » Tue Feb 27, 2018 12:45 pm

kamillebidan wrote:
Tue Feb 27, 2018 12:16 pm
Where did you get yours made? is it a refinish of the MIJ semi-hollows they had a while back?
I have owned the following Jags and wanted to have what I liked the most about them in a single guitar:

1) Marr: Switching
2) AV65: Pickups
3) MIJ Thinline: Neck

I also wanted the following which none of these had: 1) Lightweight, 2) satin wood look similar to what the Walnut Rickenbacker has.

As such, I took the neck from the MIJ and asked Marc Rutters to build me a light Walnut body and put together the rest of the guitar with '65 pickups and Marr switching. That guitar was the result. It is the lightest Jag I have ever held at 6.75 lb. I sold everything else.

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