zguitar71

It is recent and on the custom core models only, the standard models have the original size head stock.

My 150 Goldtop was like this. It’s a 2011, I got it in 2012 from the HOC classifieds, it was in nearly mint condition. It arrived and I opened the case plucked the low E string on the 3rd fret and knew it was a keeper, it had the bell like ring I love about a good LP. It played ok but needed a little work on the frets to be right. I started to look closely at them and the ends were atrocious, gouged, scratched, uneven and just plain ugly. There was also a bit of a hump where the body and neck join. I played the guitar for about 6 months as it was, the tone kept getting better but the frets bugged me. I decided to file them. I leveled them and crowned them and smoothed the ends as much as I could. It was a big improvement. Now I’ve done the process two more times but it’s to the point that the hump getting in the way, the frets in the 14-17 area are just too low. I’ve played this guitar a ton, it’s my main gigging guitar so I go through frets pretty fast. My previous main guitar (G ES347) had multiple filings and refrets over a 20 year period. Now it’s time for a refret and remove the hump at the body joint on the 150. I bought tall frets Incase I don’t get the hump all the way flat, I’ll have some room to compensate with the frets. It should not have left the factory like that but it is also the best sounding LP I’ve owned over the 43 years I’ve played. Sometimes you just have to take the good with the bad. I paid $1,100 for the guitar and that makes it palatable, imagine paying $7,500 for a M Lab guitar and the finish starts falling off. Perfection is hard to achieve.

Gold with a little wear is my favorite

I can’t complain about making the line in China or elsewhere since I own two Eastmans. I do wish they could make the quality more like an Eastman or the PRS SE guitars. Maybe they will offer a mid level with more traditional build and woods. I’m not into marketing so they might understand the market better than I do but starting with a mid level first then going to the entry level could be a better plan. Of course that could be just because I would have interest in one like that but I don’t have any interest in a low end guitar.

I’ve always felt the guitar I’m playing is part of me. I’ve never named a guitar since they are me. I’ve always done what I need to do to any guitar to make it right in my mind or my hands. You do you boo! Modify that guitar however you want.

No poker chip on my 2011 150.

I also love A2s. I have a P90 with A3s and really like it in the neck but that is a bit different since there are two magnets with p90s. Mostly though I have settled into A2 magnets for everything. Changing magnets can make a big difference and it is worth a try. I have bought them from Philadelphia Luthier, they are cheap and it’s easy to do if you are ok with a soldering iron. IMO A2s have more character than 3 or 4s and therefore have a noticeable very noticeable difference.

I thought they were using an A3 magnet in the neck which shouldn’t be dark. Maybe they changed to an A4 which I sometimes find a bit dark. A4 an are pretty common in the neck. You could try to change the magnet to an A2. Also see what the ohm reading is. If they are in the 8s then they tend to be dark in the neck position imo, the low 7s is great for a neck.

The Hiwatt is beautiful inside. I’ve been trying to get my builds cleaner and cleaner and it is working but I still have so far to go.

I think often the nib frets start sloping to the edge of the board too soon, I’m not sure why but possibly it has something to do with matching the height of the binding used, idk. I have a 2011 Goldtop 150. It has the nibs and it was pretty atrocious how bad the fret work was when I bought it. It was used, less than a year old but it probably was never played and I’m sure the fretwork was from the factory. I leveled the frets and crowned them. Then did it again about four years later and then again probably four years after that. Now it is about four years later again and the frets are low and it is time for new frets. This is my main guitar and it gets a lot of play time and I bend quite a bit so the frets get worn fast. While I do love the look of the nibs they are going bye bye with a new fret job. I’ve had other nib guitars and I have eliminated the nibs on them with new frets too. I prefer the frets to go to the edge. I’m going to do it this winter during a low gig window and after I’ve retiled my backsplash (or risk some serious trouble for putting it off for another guitar/amp project!).