NGD H157

[MartyGrass]

 

I only had 20 minutes to check it out.

 

Medium neck with very low action.

 

For aesthetics, I'm undecided about gold for the pups. They look pretty darn good the way they are in person.

 

The sound is amazing. There is not a hint of mud. Pitch separation is incredible. Mid tones are not scalloped out like I expected. The extra pickup does not seem redundant in tone.

 

It is noticeably heavier than my two H150s, and the extra weight anchors the body down. The balance is fine.

 

The guitar is classy and it has gravitas. (No, not the Dick Cheney kind of gravitas. More like Jimmy Page.)

 

The only tweaking might be to split the middle pup, probably the bridge coil if it is out of phase with the bridge pup coil next to it.

[FredZepp]

Man, that thing is freakin' cool. I love the top and the abalone inlays.

 

It has a look, as in ...Satans Guitar Extraordinaire.

 

If it were mine, I'm not sure what I'd change, if anything.

 

And it sounds good, so no changes needed really.

 

But yeah, the middle pickup should have some type of a different tone or tone options, just because.

[smurph1]

Ummmm..SWEEEEETTTT!!!!

[yoslate]

Speaking as one who lives in a house which still has Formica, that 157 is the marble counter top of guitars! "Gravitas." Exactly! And I would think gold p'ups would only distract from that exceptional looking top.

[Spectrum13]

Very interesting, very cool! What kind of pickups?

 

 

 

Only thing I would change (not a big gold fan) chrome/nickel bridge/tail and tuners but keep the buttons.

[JeffB]

Looks great. Nice score.

[MartyGrass]

The pickups are some form of Bill Lawrence's work. The seller said XL500's. I have no reason to doubt that.

 

Some day I'll pull them off and see what I can learn about them.

[Millennium Maestro]

The pickups are some form of Bill Lawrence's work. The seller said XL500's. I have no reason to doubt that.

 

Some day I'll pull them off and see what I can learn about them.

typical would be a xl500 bridge and 2 r500's middle and neck

[skydog52]

 

 

Nice one Mark. I like the gold idea. That is a beauty. Inlays are special!

[Guest HRB853370]

 

I only had 20 minutes to check it out.

 

Medium neck with very low action.

 

For aesthetics, I'm undecided about gold for the pups. They look pretty darn good the way they are in person.

 

The sound is amazing. There is not a hint of mud. Pitch separation is incredible. Mid tones are not scalloped out like I expected. The extra pickup does not seem redundant in tone.

 

It is noticeably heavier than my two H150s, and the extra weight anchors the body down. The balance is fine.

 

The guitar is classy and it has gravitas. (No, not the Dick Cheney kind of gravitas. More like Jimmy Page.)

 

The only tweaking might be to split the middle pup, probably the bridge coil if it is out of phase with the bridge pup coil next to it.

 

Was this on Ebay? I believe I saw it and liked it, except for the aftermarket pups. What kind are they?

[Guest mgoetting]

Was this on Ebay? I believe I saw it and liked it, except for the aftermarket pups. What kind are they?

 

Bill Lawrence's pups. See above.

[ronalr]

A real beauty!!!....stunning....congratulations

[Dipper]

Black tuners are a nice touch. Excuse my French, that thing is badass.

[zookroo1]

I don't know if you can get gunmetal colored hardware (I don't think I've ever seen it), but that would look pretty amazing if you ever replaced the gold. Anyhow, me likey!!!

[MartyGrass]

I don't know if you can get gunmetal colored hardware (I don't think I've ever seen it), but that would look pretty amazing if you ever replaced the gold. Anyhow, me likey!!!

 

 

I have never thought of that. Case hardened steel!

[MartyGrass]

pics of case hardening

 

 

 

[mtpatty]

mark:

if those are Bill Lawrence XL 500's give them a chance...I had one in the bridge of a LP Custom years ago and that thing was sho' nuff Baaaaad! Very warm and they rock....

 

Mark

[brentrocks]

MORE PICS!!!!

[kbp810]

Love that top, lots of quilt and flame going on there!

 

Personally, I like the way the pups look as is - doesn't divert any attention away from the top or the abalone inlays on the neck. It just seems to all come together quite nicely!

[big bob]

Well done my friend...

[schundog]

Wow!! That trans-black 140 you had a few months ago looked great, but not to the extent that this 157 has it "going on!" Enjoy it!!

[MartyGrass]

I restrung the 157 last night with 11s and played it a fair amount.

 

The neck is on the fat side. The action is very low. Frets are in

good shape. Neck is straight. All of the electronics work perfectly.

 

I pulled out the bridge pup. It says Bill Lawrence USA, which I

expected. It doesn't state what model. It's hot so it must be the

XL500. The other pups balance well with it, so MM is probably correct.

 

The volume pots for the bridge and the neck are in the usual spot.

They use the old style wiring, so you can shut off a pup while the

other still can be heard. The bridge tone knob position controls all

tone.

 

The middle pup is always on, regardless of the toggle position. The

neck tone knob position controls the volume. This configuration

allows you to blend any combination of pups with any volume ratio you

want. Quite slick.

 

The middle pup is either out of phase or split, probably split. It

doesn't hum and is very chimey.

 

So there it is!

[FredZepp]

MORE PICS!!!!

+1

 

 

 

[MartyGrass]

I can take more pictures. Maybe some action shots or group poses?

 

I suppose I could do a cavity shot.

[Steiner]

I have never thought of that. Case hardened steel!

 

And a fingerrest made of diamond plate!