RJLII Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 Well I just picked up the H-550 from Moreno's Guitar Clinic. All I can say is wow! Pete leveled the frets and adjusted the neck for super low action, plus swapped out the roller bridge for a standard Tune-O-Matic and topped it all off with a new set of flatwound 12's. While it was in the shop I ebonized the pickguard for a little more traditional look. This girl plays really sweet now and the tone has changed dramatically. The change in the bridge seemed to eliminate all the sympathetic harmonics I was getting from the strings between the bridge and tailpiece, and the heavier strings balanced out the sound too. No more boomy bottom end and weak highs. The tone from each string is as thick as a milkshake. Time to get to work on some Jazz Standards!
Jazzpunk Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 Bad ass! Congrats on the new and improved guitar.
brentrocks Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 Pete does great work!!! it looks great man!!!
RJLII Posted September 8, 2009 Author Posted September 8, 2009 Pete does great work!!! it looks great man!!! I agree (on both counts). What really blows me away is how it plays now. I'm thinking it will be getting a lot more attention in the future. I've got to tell you Brent, I'm really glad you helped me reconnect with Pete. He's worked on my guitars since about 1982, except for the period from 1994 through this past year when I lost track of him. That's what I get for moving away from Kalamazoo!
brentrocks Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 I agree (on both counts). What really blows me away is how it plays now. I'm thinking it will be getting a lot more attention in the future. I've got to tell you Brent, I'm really glad you helped me reconnect with Pete. He's worked on my guitars since about 1982, except for the period from 1994 through this past year when I lost track of him. That's what I get for moving away from Kalamazoo! I'm glad i could help...i am always so pleased when he does stuff for me too.
ronalr Posted September 8, 2009 Posted September 8, 2009 Brent that is outstanding...would love to here a clip of it ..all those changes sound like a winner...congratulations on a real beauty........now ...if you want me to come over and show you how I play ..er (stumble) through "Moonlight In Vermont"....I'll catch the next plane
RJLII Posted September 9, 2009 Author Posted September 9, 2009 Once I get Autumn Leaves nailed down I'll try to get a clip posted. I'm guessing it will take at least a couple weeks to put together a respectable performance.
barrymclark Posted September 9, 2009 Posted September 9, 2009 Once I get Autumn Leaves nailed down I'll try to get a clip posted. I'm guessing it will take at least a couple weeks to put together a respectable performance. Now there's a standard for you!
SouthpawGuy Posted September 9, 2009 Posted September 9, 2009 That's a nice 550, a model that has aroused my curiosity more than once. Congrats.
Krohawk2 Posted September 9, 2009 Posted September 9, 2009 Awesome looking guitar, and I bet it sounds just as good! congratulations! H-535 Gold Top 2004 David Paul Prototype 2002 Custom H-516 Heritage Eagle 2002 Heritage Sweet 16 2005 H-137 2009 H-525 Custom
yoslate Posted September 9, 2009 Posted September 9, 2009 RJL, that box has 2:00 a.m., smoky Greenwich Village jazz dive, organ trio, written all over it! Nice, nice guitar!
Gitfiddler Posted September 9, 2009 Posted September 9, 2009 RJL11~ Thanks for the great mini-review/update. We can almost hear your 550. How about a few more shots when you get a chance?
RJLII Posted September 9, 2009 Author Posted September 9, 2009 Here's another shot out in the yard. It was a tough shot. With all the rain we've had the skeeters are fierce! A little sunlight brightens the burst right up. I'm glad you folks like the way it turned out. - Rob
skydog52 Posted September 9, 2009 Posted September 9, 2009 Here's another shot out in the yard. It was a tough shot. With all the rain we've had the skeeters are fierce! A little sunlight brightens the burst right up. I'm glad you folks like the way it turned out. - Rob That is a beauty. How long did it take to get the tune up?You have me gassing for a jazz box.
RJLII Posted September 10, 2009 Author Posted September 10, 2009 That is a beauty. How long did it take to get the tune up? Pete had it a week but he talked like he could have finished it is just a few days. I was out of town for several days after I dropped it off so I told him to just take his time. He had a fair amount of other work in his shop and I couldn't see rushing mine when I couldn't be back to pick it up for a week anyway. You have me gassing for a jazz box. There's only one cure for gas!
High Flying Bird Posted September 11, 2009 Posted September 11, 2009 It looks exactly like Joe's 550. It is a fine guitar. Some times I show up with out a guitar. That means I am playing the 550 that night.
FredZepp Posted September 11, 2009 Posted September 11, 2009 OH yes the pic in the sunlight does it right..... You should put that one in the gallery, if it's not already there... truly awesome ..
DCA Posted September 11, 2009 Posted September 11, 2009 Good God, that's a handsome guitar. I'm green with envy.
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.