Grasshopper
I wanted to come up a good set of modifications and aesthetics that would compliment the voicings and look of a LP with a pair of P-90s. The Lace version of these foregoes the otherwise mandatory hum of the classic single coil versions, but to boost the output to match that of humbuckers one might usually find in a LP, I added a preamp. Body Style: Les PaulNeck Wood: Birdseye maple fretboardHardware Tuners: Locking classic stylePickups Neck: AGI Lace PS-900**these are Lace's P-90 equivalent. Electronics Switch: Standard 3-way toggle Darkcaster With the exception of a few iconoclastic players like John 5, Telecasters aren't usually found in any genre where the term "shred" might be applied. However, many variations on the classic Tele configuration include humbuckers, and single-coil-sized mini-buckers mean there's no need even to rout the wood to make this conversion. When Squier put out a black Tele with a mirrored pickguard a couple years ago, I thought this was the ideal guitar to reimagine this model as a post-modern Goth-rock instrument. Body Style: TelecasterNeck Wood: EbonyHardware Tuners: Locking SchallersPickups Neck: Mini-humbucker (no idea about which model, probably something with blades)Electronics Switch: Megaswitch P model 5-way switch1) neckOther controls: |
Emerald Spirit
My favorite things about the Steinberger GM series are the look and the tremolo. The pickups? Not so much, and the Select series even less so. Although I do like EMG's single-coils, their active pickups collectively are somewhat dry-sounding. I've heard the term "sterile" applied to them, and that's a good description. Additionally, EMGs are almost always black (occasionally white though), and that didn't seem like a good complement for most of the finishes on the modern series of Steinbergers that have transparent hues instead of the solid black or white or turquoise(!) of the early '80s models. Body Style: Steinberger GMNeck Wood: 24-fret maple w/ reverse Jackson headstockHardware Tuners: Steinberger gearlessPickups Neck: Single coil style Telecaster chrome-covered neck pickupElectronics Switch: Megaswitch P model 5-way switchCustom approach:Other controls: Greencaster This is a more traditional Telecaster, just one that looks classy and maximizes the tonal potential of the instrument. Body Style: TelecasterNeck Wood: Birdseye maple fretboardHardware Tuners: KlusonsPickups Neck: Single coil (no idea about which model)Electronics Switch: Standard 3-way toggle |
Strat from the future
There's a lot of baggage Strats have carried though to the present from their inception in the '50s. The idea here was to move away from some of the limitations of a guitar with only single-coil pickups and reimagine it as a humbucking instrument. First of all, looks aside, this is actually a two-humbucker guitar. Period. In other words, it's very much a Les Paul or, more appropriately, a classic PRS, hence the coil splitting/recombining combinations. Additionally, there's a piezo bridge to add still more tones. Body Style: StratNeck Wood: Ebony or glossed birdseye mapleHardware Tuners: Locking satinPickups Neck: DiMarzio virtual vintage (mini-humbucker)Electronics Switch: Megaswitch P model 5-way switch1) neckOther controls: Dark Paul While Pauls have been used by generic rockers, they tend to be edged out by harder instruments once you get to the transition into metal. There's no real reason why you have to follow Zakk Wylde's narrow inroads against type either if you don't want to do the EMG route that's been done to death at this point. Personally, I like sound and raw power of DiMarzio's Evolution (developed by Steve Vai) as a rhythm pickup, so that's the obvious choice for me. Body Style: Les PaulNeck Wood: EbonyHardware Tuners: ImperialsPickups Neck: DiMarzio (no idea which model)Electronics Switch: Standard 3-way toggle Body Style: Modernist jazz box (a la Eastman style)Neck Wood: EbonyHardware Tuners: ImperialsPickups Neck: Black Benedetto style (no idea which model)Electronics Other controls: SRV replica with a few twists The idea here was to build a a replica of Stevie Ray Vaughn's famous "Number One" Stratocaster, but then pack in some extras like a series/parallel knob so I could crank up the gain a bit while still keeping the electronics passive (i.e., no preamps). Additionally, there's a phase switch and the pickup add-in switch to get a few additional sounds outside of what most folks would likely associate with SRV. I don't know that he ever had a TBX onboard either, but those are nice for adding a tiny bit more sparkle if you already have decent low end. Considering the huge string gauges he used, I'm guessing a true replica would probably be okay in that department. Body Style: StratNeck Wood: RosewoodHardware Tuners: Gold KlusonsPickups Neck: Texas SpecialElectronics Switch: Standard 5-way Strat-style blade |
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