No more solid bodies, I have "The One"

[zguitar71]

I traded/sold a guitar for some cash an amp and one 150gt. I started to play the H150 the second I received it and noticed on the E and A strings around the 3rd,4th and5th fret it really had the tone I was looking for. It was not huge at the time but there, bell like and honky (the best I can do for description) like the "real" gold tops from the mid 50s. This was acoustic, it did not fully transfer electronically.

 

Well that was 4 years ago. Now the guitar has that tone at all areas on the neck and on all strings. I cannot put the guitar down, I go through withdrawals like an addict. I used to play multiple guitars all the time at home and at gigs. Now I mostly play the GT. I spend some time with an old arch top from the 30s but the GT gets the lions share. In four years I have worn an area through the finish on the top by the bridge PU with my little and ring finger resting on it. I have also worn through the finish on the neck on the treble side from the 4th fret to the 12th and as long on the bass side but not as far around the neck. Not a complaint at all, I love the wear from my playing, it's my signature.

 

The tone of the guitar has changed my playing. I quit all pedals and abandoned Master Volume amps. I use Pre Rola type speakers that shine the midrange honk and low wattage amps that get dirty but always have a bit of clean underneath. I never had this on the horizon before, the guitar brought me to it.

 

Here are a couple photos of the player wear. Sorry for getting so sappy and all.

 

 

[tulk1]

Honest wear and tear. Looks great! What pups?

 

Also, cool that you have managed to do what so many other guitarist struggle with on a daily basis -- finding THAT one. I've done that about 5 times, now!

[Horace]

That's the kind of post I enjoy reading the most. Love to hear a recording sometime zguitar71.

[zguitar71]

Tulk1, it has the Lollar standard wind P90s that Heritage ship with. Good PUs but I'm searching for either old 50s P90s or a set of new very accurite remakes. I have the 50 wiring conversion now and like the way the volume rolls off better.

[zguitar71]

Horace, I'm going into the studio over the next month or two. The final product will be a while but I will try to get some clips. I might get a decent cell phone sample in my house and post that, but it could be desaterous too. I have been bugging the sound engineer about capturing my tone just like it is live, he says it's "no problem."

[Vanschoyck]

It's great to connect to a guitar that way. I particularly like the part about abandoning pedals; it would be great to hear your sound.

[bolero]

that is pretty sweet!!

 

 

I would love to hear the stuff you are recording. I also have abandoned most effects, initially just as an exercise, but it has really grown on me & made me appreciate the great sounds you can get, just going into an amp & using:

 

1. amp volume

2. gtr volume & tone controls

 

to get a variety of sounds

 

I think P90's especially lend themselves to this?

[RhoadsScholar]

So GLAD that guitar is working out for you. It's a sweetie for sure. Always that that little champ made that guitar sing more than any other amp I had in the stable at that time. GOOD STUFF

[zguitar71]

That little champ is a beast! I'm running through 2 12s now. The are Scumback M75PVC speakers and they really bring out the bottom end in the champ. The sparkly top is still there of course.

 

I had been looking for a LP guitar for a while but just could not find one that did it for me. I'm really glad I took a chance with the 150GT.

[StephenK]

z- I love to see player wear on guitars. They are built to be played. Take a look at the Klein P90's. I believe Chris builds the best single coils on the market. Peace...

[Beagle216]

Wow, I can't wait to see what it looks like Ina few years from now.

[golferwave]

A great story and a fantastic guitar! Enjoy that Kalamazoo masterpiece!

[pegleg32]

Hey Chris, nice pics. If you guys ever get up to Kalispell I would love to come hear you.

[Yooper]

A GT with P-90's through low watt tubes has been my latest thing too. Every note just "feels" so deep and cutting, and sweet, at the same time. Nothing like it. Feels like home.

 

This has been distracting me from my other "the one", an H-150 with Throbaks. I guess what I have is a solid body "The Two".

 

"Down-watting" has also been the best direction for my sound lately.

[zguitar71]

Hey pegleg32 we are starting to look at gigs outside of MSLA and the Bitterroot area and would like to get up there. I'll let you know if we are book somewhere for sure.

[zguitar71]

Yooper, I hear ya. There is just nothing like a cranked up low watt amp with P90s. I have put this guitar through quite a few amps now and the P90s work in everything. I just played through a Marshall 2061x with a 4x12 the other day. It was huge and so LOUD! cranked up was pretty cool but over the top. I really would like to my hands on a 6g2 clone or real one. In my head I think that would be the perfect amp.

[zguitar71]

Well here is a cell phone clip (if it loads) of the 150gt and the Creama Wheat. I have the guitar volume all the way up and the tone too. I'm in the bright channel 1 input with the volume on 4 or 10 o'clock. The tone is on 4 and the unused volume is on 8 or 1 o'clock. It's all noodling but it does kinda get the hollow tone.

 

[Gianluca]

@zguitar71 thanks for sharing your happiness and experience

I'd love to know how the guitar will get (what P90s, pots, wiring) if possible

 

I'd be curious to test a staple P90 @neck

 

you maybe want to have a look at Bare Knuckle's P90s something like their Nantucket model

 

enjoy your music

[smokedtires]

Gold top P90, very nice!

[zguitar71]

Gianluca, tha Bare knuckle and the Klein are on the list as well as Tyson Tone lab and Stephen Design. My preference is for the Stephens Design but the $600 is way way steep; however, they are the most accurite. But, are they $400 more accurite than the other suppliers? Hard to say. I do know his PAFs are the shyt. As far as pots and wiring I currently have pots from RS Guitarworks and paper oil caps and wired in the 50s schematic.

[pressure]

I have Stevens Design pickups in the Spruce Millie and Doylescoils in the Spruce Prospect. I had Seymour Duncan's Seth Lover pickups in H150p. They all sound fab. I haven't used Throbak pafs in a guitar yet but I do have Throbak p90s in the Spruce H170, and those sound fab. These days its impossible to choose a bad pickup. Good times.

[Gianluca]

Gianluca, tha Bare knuckle and the Klein are on the list as well as Tyson Tone lab and Stephen Design. My preference is for the Stephens Design but the $600 is way way steep; however, they are the most accurite. But, are they $400 more accurite than the other suppliers? Hard to say. I do know his PAFs are the shyt. As far as pots and wiring I currently have pots from RS Guitarworks and paper oil caps and wired in the 50s schematic.

 

cool, thanks for sharing this info

didn't know of Tyson Tone PUs (bookmared)

[bolero]

I have Stevens Design pickups in the Spruce Millie and Doylescoils in the Spruce Prospect. I had Seymour Duncan's Seth Lover pickups in H150p. They all sound fab. I haven't used Throbak pafs in a guitar yet but I do have Throbak p90s in the Spruce H170, and those sound fab. These days its impossible to choose a bad pickup. Good times.

 

what he said...I think the difference between a lot of boutique pickups these days is like splitting hairs

 

it's not like 30 years ago, when the choices we had were much more limited

 

ps that clip sounded great!! thx for posting

[zguitar71]

Well I'm reviving this thread to post a sound clip of the guitar unplugged. I sat the phone on the bed next to me and it kinda caught the tone. Normally I can never get the acoustic sound. These newer phones are pretty amazing.