My Grail...

[yoslate]

Bit of an update bump.... E-mailed Tom Short this evening. He said he was boxing up my custom wind p'ups when the e-mail came in; they're being shipped this afternoon (Left Coast time). Very itchy to get them in! I've got a LOT of time in on the 150 the past two weeks, trying to exorcise the unfamiliarity and "newness." Think I'm there. I've really bonded with it, and it's an eager player, one of those guitars that just feels right, very tough to put down! The non-descript neck carve turns out to be comfortable because it's not overtly anything. It's not large in any sense, but stops just shy of the dreaded "thin" neck. It's not at all "D" shaped, but is not rounded enough to be an obvious "C." It's a weird kind of hybrid. Bottom line is that the guitar's light weight makes the neck work. If it had been a 10.5 lb. 150, I think the neck would seem inadequate, unbalanced, not fitting the guitar. But this one is so light and...graceful (reminds me a lot of John's butterknife 170, which I described to him as "feminine"), the neck works with it. I'll bet anything Marv whittled it! Had the day off with snow Tuesday, but Cindy had to work. So played it for five hours, through all of my amps, in various combinations. The Tone Zone and Air Norton did nothing for me! They have no discernable character that I'm interested in. I hope the Shorts do it though because the guitar feels wonderful, and it speaks acoustically. I've also been able to observe that it is, in every way, the equal to my Super Eagle (which is nigh perfect!) in terms of its build quality. Man, I dig these guitars!

[FredZepp]

Thanks for the update... I was going to mention that you still owe us some pics, but the update helped.

It so cool that it is working out as the right feel , but you knew that it would.. I mean, just look at it,,,!!!

Once you get the new pickups in it... you will reach a tonal nirvana, that is going to be sweet.

A Grail.. indeed.

[yoslate]

Thanks for the update... I was going to mention that you still owe us some pics, but the update helped.

It so cool that it is working out as the right feel , but you knew that it would.. I mean, just look at it,,,!!!

Once you get the new pickups in it... you will reach a tonal nirvana, that is going to be sweet.

A Grail.. indeed.

 

 

Thanks, Fred. No pics until the transitions is complete. The zebras are cool but decidedly not me!

[Kuz]

Rob,

Terry Mcinturff once told me about the "bathroom test". He said that if you guitar displays all the tones & timbres in a quiet bathroom, then pickups are just microphones. Some microphones can make an excellent singer sound different, but not bad. These are wise words. Sounds like you have a great singer that just needs the right microphone to ease & ooze out all the tonal greatness your 150 has.

 

I got another set of Tom Shorts on order myself. Mine are wound a little less (but a little more than Mike's low wind) plus they are NOT potted. It sound be the ticket for Yodder.

 

Good luck. Now we will give you a week, pics and a tone report are mandatory after that time period.

[FredZepp]

Thanks, Fred. No pics until the transitions is complete. The zebras are cool but decidedly not me!

I was searching for this thread as you posted the update. Your comment on the other thread (thank you) made me wonder how this one slipped off of the radar so fast.

I see now that things are progressing nicely.

[brentrocks]

That is great to hear Rob!!!!

[slider313]

Thanks, Fred. No pics until the transitions is complete. The zebras are cool but decidedly not me!

 

Rob,

I guarantee you're going to be amazed at the complexity of tones from the Tom Short pickups. They seem more responsive than most when turning down the volume or tone knob on either pickup. I installed my Tombuckers in my R8, replacing a set of late 70's patent #'s. The lower wind pickups really bring out the sound of the wood. A full tone report is expected as soon as possible!

[yoslate]

Rob,

I guarantee you're going to be amazed at the complexity of tones from the Tom Short pickups. They seem more responsive than most when turning down the volume or tone knob on either pickup. I installed my Tombuckers in my R8, replacing a set of late 70's patent #'s. The lower wind pickups really bring out the sound of the wood. A full tone report is expected as soon as possible!

 

 

This is on you, Mike ! After meeting you and talking at length, with Larry, in Chapel Hill, I was convinced, regarding Tom Short (Kuz's $.02 is worth its weight, as well)! Complexity and response at lower volume are exactly what interest me. My best playing occurs when I get way out of the volume. It's nice, in the band. Terry has vast experience and great control, and he's not a bit shy. I really enjoy trying to underplay with him. I'll go first in a solo section and set things up, and then he'll roll into it, let it rip, and finish it off. Just the way we both like it. So for me, it's all about the "voice," the tone of the guitar, without a push behind it. Think Peter Green with Jumpin' At Shadows.... UPS tells me the p'ups will arrive Wednesday. I told Tom, in my last e-mail, that he'd been all over the HOC lately. He seemed to dig that. And he really is going to name that mini-bucker after you, eh?

[tulk1]

Geez, no GAS inducing conversations here. No!! None at all ............

[yoslate]

Rob,

I guarantee you're going to be amazed at the complexity of tones from the Tom Short pickups. They seem more responsive than most when turning down the volume or tone knob on either pickup. I installed my Tombuckers in my R8, replacing a set of late 70's patent #'s. The lower wind pickups really bring out the sound of the wood. A full tone report is expected as soon as possible!

 

Sorry, fellas! I know you thought (hoped?) this thread had gone to the bottom. Mike (slider) was dead on the money about Tom Short's pickups! See the "1600 members!" thread, which welcomes Tom Short to the HOC, for my response to the Marc Ford Tombuckers in The Grail 150. I cannot describe how magical this guitar has turned out to be! The Boys got it all right, down to the last detail: fit and finish (I'm assuming Curly did the binding...it's perfect), weight, resonance, woody character, simply stunning curl and color in the top, neck carve, and now the Tom Short pickups. Between this one and the super Super, I have, no doubt, gone to guitar Nirvana....

[tulk1]

Count me in on the Tom Short bandwagon. Got a set of 6.9/7.8s Tombucker Nickel covered, coming. Not sure when. But soon.

[FredZepp]

Sorry, fellas! I know you thought (hoped?) this thread had gone to the bottom. Mike (slider) was dead on the money about Tom Short's pickups! See the "1600 members!" thread, which welcomes Tom Short to the HOC, for my response to the Marc Ford Tombuckers in The Grail 150. I cannot describe how magical this guitar has turned out to be! The Boys got it all right, down to the last detail: fit and finish (I'm assuming Curly did the binding...it's perfect), weight, resonance, woody character, simply stunning curl and color in the top, neck carve, and now the Tom Short pickups. Between this one and the super Super, I have, no doubt, gone to guitar Nirvana....

It's always good to hear about the Heritage that is.... magical, perfect, stunning, and no doubt, nirvana.

Those adjectives make you sound like a very happy 20th Anniversary owner.

 

I'm sure we'll learn even more about the pickups from several members.... very cool.

Your description in the other thread sounds top rate.

 

I'm glad this Heritage turned out to fit you so well.... I look forward to seeing and hearing you play it.

[Kuz]

Count me in as well on the Tom Shorts. Mike (Slider13) know tone and he is a good salesman for Tom Short

 

My second set is coming Tuesday. The first set is stock Marc Ford Tombuckers. The set that is coming is the same except they are un-potted.

 

One set will be in my 150GT and the other will be Yodder 150 Quilt/Blur.

 

This pups are great at ANY price, but for less than $250 they are a steal. Well done TOM!!!!

[SouthpawGuy]

Sorry, fellas! I know you thought (hoped?) this thread had gone to the bottom. Mike (slider) was dead on the money about Tom Short's pickups! See the "1600 members!" thread, which welcomes Tom Short to the HOC, for my response to the Marc Ford Tombuckers in The Grail 150. I cannot describe how magical this guitar has turned out to be! The Boys got it all right, down to the last detail: fit and finish (I'm assuming Curly did the binding...it's perfect), weight, resonance, woody character, simply stunning curl and color in the top, neck carve, and now the Tom Short pickups. Between this one and the super Super, I have, no doubt, gone to guitar Nirvana....

 

Thanks for the Short GAS Rob !

[pro-fusion]

Glad it's working great with the Tom Shorts. You know you're going to have to post some clips, right?

[brentrocks]

i bet that thing is a tone monster!!!!

[yoslate]

I can let this thread go now. Played The Grail out last night, for the first time. Set up just right, with the Tom Short, Marc Ford Tombuckers. A jazz/blues set with my great friends Ray and Terry, who know how to turn it down. Plugged straight into a particularly good Deluxe reissue. It was everything good about playing music.... I've never had such exquisite tone!

[tulk1]

So, I'm getting the vibe that you kinda like that guitar, now. Is that correct? .......... <lol>

[FredZepp]

I can let this thread go now. Played The Grail out last night, for the first time. Set up just right, with the Tom Short, Marc Ford Tombuckers. A jazz/blues set with my great friends Ray and Terry, who know how to turn it down. Plugged straight into a particularly good Deluxe reissue. It was everything good about playing music.... I've never had such exquisite tone!

An excellent result...

One day you may feel obliged to bestow upon us mere mortals a simple photograph... as bread to a pauper.

That we may bask in the resounding glow of your tonal exploits.

 

I know the air speed velocity of a fully laden European swallow....

[Kuz]

An excellent result...

One day you may feel obliged to bestow upon us mere mortals a simple photograph... as bread to a pauper.

That we may bask in the resounding glow of your tonal exploits.

 

I know the air speed velocity of a fully laden European swallow....

 

+1

 

But all the great masters were a little suspect of technology!!!

[slider313]

In the end, that's what it's really all about...................TONE

[JeffB]

Hmmm.....Nice thread.

It is just that tone thing at the end of all the talk and all of the notes isnt it.