Martin X Series: DCX1KE
This Martin Dreadnaught shaped Guitar is what some are calling an “environmentally-friendly” model. At first glance the body looks like Koa but in fact it’s not wood at all but rather a formica like material made from a compressed wood fiber composite called HPL (high pressure laminate). The neck is made from “Stratabond” a laminated wood product used for decades in gun stocks and hunting bows - basically it’s a VERY thick plywood. The fingerboard and bridge are made of something called “Richlite”- another composite material that looks and feels like ebony. The saddle is TUSQ. The Nut, Corian. Lots of modern ways to avoid Wood and Ivory - but what really makes this guitar sing is wood where it counts - the Solid Sitka Spruce top also braced with Sitka Spruce.
The DCX1KE is also equipped with a Fishman pick up system including an onboard “Presys Plus” Preamp with built in Tuner. Despite it’s unfinished and easily sweat stained top and neck, (to be rectified) - this Guitar is one of the best I have ever played - stable as a rock in weather changes and a slightly wider neck making more room for bigger fingers. The tone is very balanced, with fantastic harmonic nuance and sustain - some would say it’s “dark” but then I believe that Taylor’s are a bit too “bright”. If this Guitar was a wine, it would taste fantastic. For more details: Martin Guitar > X Series > DCX1KE
This Martin Dreadnaught shaped Guitar is what some are calling an “environmentally-friendly” model. At first glance the body looks like Koa but in fact it’s not wood at all but rather a formica like material made from a compressed wood fiber composite called HPL (high pressure laminate). The neck is made from “Stratabond” a laminated wood product used for decades in gun stocks and hunting bows - basically it’s a VERY thick plywood. The fingerboard and bridge are made of something called “Richlite”- another composite material that looks and feels like ebony. The saddle is TUSQ. The Nut, Corian. Lots of modern ways to avoid Wood and Ivory - but what really makes this guitar sing is wood where it counts - the Solid Sitka Spruce top also braced with Sitka Spruce.
The DCX1KE is also equipped with a Fishman pick up system including an onboard “Presys Plus” Preamp with built in Tuner. Despite it’s unfinished and easily sweat stained top and neck, (to be rectified) - this Guitar is one of the best I have ever played - stable as a rock in weather changes and a slightly wider neck making more room for bigger fingers. The tone is very balanced, with fantastic harmonic nuance and sustain - some would say it’s “dark” but then I believe that Taylor’s are a bit too “bright”. If this Guitar was a wine, it would taste fantastic. For more details: Martin Guitar > X Series > DCX1KE
The Warmoth Strat™
This Guitar was first built or “previsualized”in Photoshop and then assembled for real by myself. The Warmoth Strat™ has 1 Piece Alder Tobacco Burst body. Unfinished Padouk neck with Ebony Fingerboard. Gold (colored) Frets. Vintage Pearl Pickgaurd and a matching Spring cover on the back. Almost all the hardware is from Warmoth except the Knobs, pickups and the electrics (bought locally in Cape Town). The Pickups are DiMarzio Area series. (61 at bridge, 58 in the middle and 67 at the neck) The Area 61 sounds EXACTLY like a Telecaster in the Bridge position. The inside of the guitar is lined with copper for shielding.
The Sustain of the Warmoth Strat™ is literally unbelievable for a guitar fitted with a tremolo bridge (a Gotoh Wilkinson) and the TONE IS AWSOME!
The Earvana nut was pre-installed by Warmoth in the USA and is a made from Black TUSQ XL (a type of graphite impregnated plastic). This is my favorite Guitar of all time.
This Guitar was first built or “previsualized”in Photoshop and then assembled for real by myself. The Warmoth Strat™ has 1 Piece Alder Tobacco Burst body. Unfinished Padouk neck with Ebony Fingerboard. Gold (colored) Frets. Vintage Pearl Pickgaurd and a matching Spring cover on the back. Almost all the hardware is from Warmoth except the Knobs, pickups and the electrics (bought locally in Cape Town). The Pickups are DiMarzio Area series. (61 at bridge, 58 in the middle and 67 at the neck) The Area 61 sounds EXACTLY like a Telecaster in the Bridge position. The inside of the guitar is lined with copper for shielding.
The Sustain of the Warmoth Strat™ is literally unbelievable for a guitar fitted with a tremolo bridge (a Gotoh Wilkinson) and the TONE IS AWSOME!
The Earvana nut was pre-installed by Warmoth in the USA and is a made from Black TUSQ XL (a type of graphite impregnated plastic). This is my favorite Guitar of all time.
Guyatone HG-107 Seven string Lap Steel
This old Guyatone dates back to the mid 60’s and seems to be quite rare. It sounds poor due to weak pickups but it plays well.
Another weakness of the HG-107 is the tendency for the light action switches to be “caught” by the right hand and switched accidentally. I have disconnected the switches for this reason and use only the Bridge pickup. This HG-107 still has it’s original hard shell case.
The pickups match those found on the early Guyatone D-8 twin necks.
It would be nice to fit it with legs - but that would cost nearly 4 times what was paid for the guitar and could prevent the HG-107 from fitting in it’s case. A keyboard stand will suffice for now.
This old Guyatone dates back to the mid 60’s and seems to be quite rare. It sounds poor due to weak pickups but it plays well.
Another weakness of the HG-107 is the tendency for the light action switches to be “caught” by the right hand and switched accidentally. I have disconnected the switches for this reason and use only the Bridge pickup. This HG-107 still has it’s original hard shell case.
The pickups match those found on the early Guyatone D-8 twin necks.
It would be nice to fit it with legs - but that would cost nearly 4 times what was paid for the guitar and could prevent the HG-107 from fitting in it’s case. A keyboard stand will suffice for now.
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Vintage 1974 Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar.
This Guitar was purchased in fully working condition (but without a case) from an old friend who is something of a collector. It is my intention to restore this bass to as close to original condition as possible. This entails re-fretting, repairs to all the “dings”, new outer finish & polish, some new chrome parts, as well as some new screws and springs and finally an original Rickenbacker vintage style hard case (they still make them!)
It has that characteristic “growl” (al-a Chris Squire of Yes) that this guitar is famous for, especially when fitted with round wound strings. For a more Floyd sound it will be fitted with flat wound strings. Waters used a Rickenbacker 4001 in the early days of Pink Floyd.
This Guitar was purchased in fully working condition (but without a case) from an old friend who is something of a collector. It is my intention to restore this bass to as close to original condition as possible. This entails re-fretting, repairs to all the “dings”, new outer finish & polish, some new chrome parts, as well as some new screws and springs and finally an original Rickenbacker vintage style hard case (they still make them!)
It has that characteristic “growl” (al-a Chris Squire of Yes) that this guitar is famous for, especially when fitted with round wound strings. For a more Floyd sound it will be fitted with flat wound strings. Waters used a Rickenbacker 4001 in the early days of Pink Floyd.
Vintage 1974 Rickenbacker 4001 bass guitar.
This Guitar was purchased in fully working condition (but without a case) from an old friend who is something of a collector. It is my intention to restore this bass to as close to original condition as possible. This entails re-fretting, repairs to all the “dings”, new outer finish & polish, some new chrome parts, as well as some new screws and springs and finally an original Rickenbacker vintage style hard case (they still make them!)
It has that characteristic “growl” (al-a Chris Squire of Yes) that this guitar is famous for, especially when fitted with round wound strings. For a more Floyd sound it will be fitted with flat wound strings. Waters used a Rickenbacker 4001 in the early days of Pink Floyd.
This Guitar was purchased in fully working condition (but without a case) from an old friend who is something of a collector. It is my intention to restore this bass to as close to original condition as possible. This entails re-fretting, repairs to all the “dings”, new outer finish & polish, some new chrome parts, as well as some new screws and springs and finally an original Rickenbacker vintage style hard case (they still make them!)
It has that characteristic “growl” (al-a Chris Squire of Yes) that this guitar is famous for, especially when fitted with round wound strings. For a more Floyd sound it will be fitted with flat wound strings. Waters used a Rickenbacker 4001 in the early days of Pink Floyd.