OffsetGuitars.com

shoule79 wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 27, 2017 3:07 pm

I picked up a Peerless made Riviera a few months ago, for a cheaper guitar it can hang with the big boys. I really like the mini hums too. I thought all the wiring would be ripped out immediately, but so far I haven’t had the urge to change anything.

This is the route I’m most heavily considering. I like mini-hums, and I love the Riviera look.

But with so many variations on the same common theme, it can be a bit overwhelming.

I have considered the Gretsch route, but I’d need to find one with usable tone controls. I hate the mud switch.

Vanderfuzz wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 27, 2017 3:36 pm

I have considered the Gretsch route, but I’d need to find one with usable tone controls. I hate the mud switch.

The streamliners don't have the mud switch and the tone controls work pretty well.

Vanderfuzz wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 27, 2017 3:36 pm

This is the route I’m most heavily considering. I like mini-hums, and I love the Riviera look.

But with so many variations on the same common theme, it can be a bit overwhelming.

The mini hums are great, and mine at least plays like a dream. I bought mine after selling my vintage Les Paul to fund a forever acoustic so that I’d have something with buckers n my arsenal. My cheapy Epiphone plays as well as a desirable vintage Gibson, and frankly I prefer the sound of the mini hums over the Norlin era full size humbuckers in mine.

I do have a couple of complaints; the length of string required for the d. Let’s just say that I don’t have to snip it after I change strings. Also the stock bridge and tuners are pretty cheap.

i have a gretsch 5120 that gets the bulk of my playing time. it's a great guitar!

I have owned a Dot and two Sheratons. I like the Sheraton more than the Dot. Not sure why. I think the Dot had a smaller body? All three were humbucker equipped. I miss my first Sheraton I sold. I got it in college.

I mean, you've got a great budget there, don't settle, get what you really want.

Those ES-335 Studios are on Reverb for around $1k, maybe try one of those.

I couldn't get along with my Casino at all, what I did was get an ES-330, since I couldn't deal with the nut width on my Epiphone. Now I'm happy.

My suggestion of a Ric is something that you might want to consider. If you get it used, you can turn around and sell it for most or all of what you spent on it. That's the only way to know if you are a Ric guy, you know? You might be. You probably heard scary things about them and I did too, but I wish I hadn't listened all these years. They play just fine, and even better, I find I play mine a little differently than I do Fenders and Gibson type guitars. Not sure why. I've heard other people say the same thing.

So, maybe give it a shot. If you are at all intrigued, you might find it'll blow your mind, you know? People do. I feel like if somehow my Ric 330 was my only guitar, I would be just fine.

Larry Mal wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:22 pm

I couldn't get along with my Casino at all, what I did was get an ES-330, since I couldn't deal with the nut width on my Epiphone. Now I'm happy.

Aren't these two essentially the same guitar? Was the nut width worth the huge price difference?

If I had that budget I'd be sorely tempted to buy one of the Yamahas mentioned further back in this thread. From what I've read they're amazingly well made guitars.

mediocreplayer wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 28, 2017 12:31 am

Larry Mal wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:22 pm

I couldn't get along with my Casino at all, what I did was get an ES-330, since I couldn't deal with the nut width on my Epiphone. Now I'm happy.

Aren't these two essentially the same guitar? Was the nut width worth the huge price difference?

Superficially, they are. There’s a lot of difference in the actual guitars, though. They bodies themselves are very different, not in shape but in construction.

The Gibson and Casino use different plies of laminate. The ES has a good and rich acoustic sound, the Casino sounded plastic and cheap.

For your price you could get a pro line gretsch rather easily. There's plenty of filtertron 6119's with no mud switch sub 1500.

The pro line Gretsch recommendation is also a really good one. The nut width will feel nice and normal. I do find the necks on these to be on he shallow side in terms of profile, but this is a matter of personal preference. They sound great, though, and are very well built.

Larry Mal wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 28, 2017 6:58 am

mediocreplayer wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 28, 2017 12:31 am

Larry Mal wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 27, 2017 8:22 pm

I couldn't get along with my Casino at all, what I did was get an ES-330, since I couldn't deal with the nut width on my Epiphone. Now I'm happy.

Aren't these two essentially the same guitar? Was the nut width worth the huge price difference?

Superficially, they are. There’s a lot of difference in the actual guitars, though. They bodies themselves are very different, not in shape but in construction.

The Gibson and Casino use different plies of laminate. The ES has a good and rich acoustic sound, the Casino sounded plastic and cheap.

Right, I remember now that one is 3-ply and one is 5 (or something). I had the IBJL Casino, which is 5-ply. It was a really nice guitar but I did not like the sound and upper fret access.

I fantasize about selling all my guitar and buying a Collings I-30.

I’ll look at Gretsches.

And the thought occurred to me...

Westerly Guilds? 90s versions are doable. Any opinion on those?

Really nice, very underrated guitars. But even for vintage standards, the frets are tiny as hell. Eventually I'll pick up a Westerly x170.

If you can find one, a mid to late 90's Samick Charlie Christian/SoloFlight. Built in Korea, set up at Valley Arts in California. Semi- hollow laminate body with maple centerblock, single cut away, set neck, hard tail, split coil no-name brand humbuckers. I've been beating the snot out of this guitar for over twenty years and it will not die. They came in piano black, white lacquer and a sunburst of some kind. They don't come up for sale very often. I'm always looking for a white one in good condition. They weren't very expensive when new but just a blast to play. A really great working guitar for a few bucks.