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I almost poked my eye out just looking at it! I'm scared of pointy guitars. 😱

I can actually bend up an octave if I use 8s. As far as strings on a jazz guitar. I have found that using big ass strings gives a certain fluidity to my lines. I have them on my L5 and my 576. I don't bend on those guitars. I did some stuff with Albert King and that man had some big strings and he could bend the shit out of them. Stevie Vaughn could all bend big strings. I can't. I have guitars that I bend on, usually with 9s and guitars that I don't.

Let me fix what I said. I bend up a whole step not an octave! I would love to be able to bend up an octave but…….

When i wanted to experiment with a heavier gauge to get a bigger sound on my SKB, i intended to go from 12s to 13s. But Thomastik doesn’t make a 13 in the GB line. So i skipped to 14s. Had them on my SKB now for a few years. I would have stuck with 12s on the 550 but didn’t have any left in the house. It was an adjustment at first- definitely, but once i got used to it, it was not a big deal. Going from one guitar strung with 12 to another with 14 you can feel it for sure, but it just takes a minute to remind yourself to give it a little extra oomph all around. On the other side- i tried heavier gauges on my Martin 000-18 and didn’t really like it. I found it much harder to get what i wanted out of heavy gauge on acoustic.

A couple years ago, I bought a used Collings 290 wraptail from Willcutt Guitars and got a KILLER deal on it. Before I bought it, I asked the store manager (Eric, who is also a good pal of mine) what P-90s are in the guitar. He said that he thought they were Lollar P90s but wasn't exactly sure because it was a used guitar, but he said that what ever P90s are in it I won't want to change them because they sound incredible. The guitar was mint and it was such a good price that I didn't push the issue. I got it home and played it, and they did sound incredible! Well, I changed the stings and looked under the covers.... the guitar came with Throbak '52/'54 P90s!!! My killer deal got EVAN BETTER!!! So yes, I have Throbaks in my Collings 290 wraptail.

great looking guitar!

I think the Duncan Stack pickups are probably closest to the Area T DiMarzios

Did you try Throbaks in the Collings???

Marv built the Terminators!

Oof! 14s are some heavy hitters. I run 13s on a ‘47 Epiphone Triump but I don’t really bend strings on that. For an electric archtop with a cutaway I use 12s with a wrapped G. I can still bend the e and b strings up an octave with that gauge. I have no doubt that 14s sound good though, I’ve always been a fan of heavier string sound.

Ha! It’s all the free dinners at the gigs that really helps to put the big bills in the pocket.

SD APIIs are great pickups, I had a set years ago and remember them sounding wonderful.

Old H-140s are fun guitars. I've got an '87, changed out the pickups to SD Alnico Pro IIs because there was a problem with the originals. I think I tried changing caps, but that didn't help. The jack had to be replaced a few years back. Other than that mine is original. It's been back to K'zoo a few times over the years for PSP, including PSP 2023. Yours has a nice looking top!

It's from a Mopar blog from 2013, so, NO. https://moparblog.com/movie-mopar-of-the-week-1970-dodge-challenger-rt-from-vanishing-point/

Thanks for the tip! The neck is very comfortable. I’d equate it to a modern Gibson 60s neck. Thin enough, but not as flat feeling as some Heritage necks I’ve felt from the 90s and 00s. Certainly not a “50s profile” though. Overall I’m elated with this guitar. Just feels and sounds right. One thing I also noticed is the Heritage logo on the headstock is a pearl inlay. Many from this era I’ve seen have been just a flat white logo.

I know ya'll have seen this pic before, but in the spirit of this thread I'll share once again. Marv built and sprayed my #1 (H-525 Custom) that includes his 50's stye thick neck carve. Man, I love this beast of a guitar!

This one does not have a huge neck. Very comfortable medium C.

This one has a monster neck

I keep thinking about a Jazz box. My guitar teacher has a Herb Ellis and I keep thinking "maybe I should have one of those". I'd probably only put 11's on it, as somehow I think i'd end up also playing more blues stuff on it. Man these are some nice looking guitars in here.

Ahh, I didn't notice that they were stacked humbuckers. Looks like even the "vintage stacked' set has quite a bit of DC resistance. They just use a different type of design than the Dimarzio stacked single coils, which have a much lower DCR. My experience with the stacked pickups is limited to a Dimarzio Paul Gilbert "Injector" set in a G&L legacy I picked up years ago. I do think they have a really nice sound, definitely a bit more bark than regular single coils. Regarding P90s, I thought I would chime in with Lindy Fralin pickups. I picked up a set used to put in a Hamer P90 special, and I love them there. The stock pickups were the Seymour Duncan Hot and Custom P90 pickups, which are BEASTLY, but also do sound quite good. You just really need to plug into the low gain input or you're gonna get nothing but Mississippi queen all day long.

Since we are sharing H550 pics....My 550.

There is a trick for pickup rings. Tape a piece of sandpaper on the top, gently glide the pickup ring back and forth until it makes the curve of the top. The tailpiece is also original.. Fine guitar all around. Hows the neck shape?

Right. Very little bending in my playing. Slides, and hammer on, yes, but almost no bends.