heritagefan7 Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 Are the main differences the solid top & the single jazz pup on the Eagle? Also...Anyone ever played/have a Henry Johnson?...yeah, I'm strategically planning (wishing) for the next purchase!
hinesarchtop Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 A Golden Eagle has a solid, carved top and back while the 550 has laminated plates. The 550 I believe is slightly less deep {body} The bracing is different too. You can order floating or inset pickups on the Eagle. The 550 bridge posts go directly into the top where the eagles bridge is floating.. Both great guitars just different. The 550 would have a more choked acoustic voice, but less amplified feedback.
hinesarchtop Posted November 11, 2011 Posted November 11, 2011 Sorry............the body depth is the same at 3". I thought the original ones were 2 7/8". You can order different depths though. Scale is the same.
heritagefan7 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Posted November 12, 2011 Thanks hinesarchtop---ok, so what is the tonal diff b/w a solid top and a laminated top? my 574 is laminated. ALSO, What's the diff b/w the floating pup and the inset pups. I've played humbuckers since I got the LP in 1991. Is the solid top more resonant---is there lass feedback w/ the laminate?
Gitfiddler Posted November 12, 2011 Posted November 12, 2011 Lam tops do not vibrate as much as a solid top archtop. Also, the solid top is braced for better acoustic tone (either X-braced or parallel bracing). Another visual difference is that the 550 has more of a flat-ish top, while the carved solid top GE (Eagle, Sweet 16, etc.) all have a slight arch or rise in their top. Here's a side by side shot for visual reference. They look very similar but there is a distinct difference in their respective tones. Overall the GE is a much sweeter acoustic and amplified tone to my ear. It can be a beast to control the feedback for live performances and one needs to EQ very carefully. The 550 is designed for live performances but can feedback if pushed. The Golden Eagle is a wonderful recording and live player at low volumes.
heritagefan7 Posted November 12, 2011 Author Posted November 12, 2011 Lam tops do not vibrate as much as a solid top archtop. Also, the solid top is braced for better acoustic tone (either X-braced or parallel bracing). Another visual difference is that the 550 has more of a flat-ish top, while the carved solid top GE (Eagle, Sweet 16, etc.) all have a slight arch or rise in their top. Here's a side by side shot for visual reference. They look very similar but there is a distinct difference in their respective tones. Overall the GE is a much sweeter acoustic and amplified tone to my ear. It can be a beast to control the feedback for live performances and one needs to EQ very carefully. The 550 is designed for live performances but can feedback if pushed. The Golden Eagle is a wonderful recording and live player at low volumes. thanks so much gitfiddler....I'm thinking of selling my 555 to move to one of these for jazz and blues. Mostly playing will happen in smaller venues. This is a great and comprehensive comparison...any thoughts on the pup difference? I'm familliar w/ the humbuckers but not the jazz pup---what's the signifcant difference? BTW---BEAUTIFUL gits!
Kuz Posted November 13, 2011 Posted November 13, 2011 Humbucker GEs will give you are darker tone, less acoustic due to the bracing differences and less top vibration with a Humbucker hole cut in the top. A GE with a floating pickup will give a more acoustic tone, more top vibration due to the pickup floating and overall a brighter tone. Best is to have one of each, ha, ha.
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