Decisions decisions-and a don't laugh question

[beecee]

Most of the electrics I've owned in the past were pretty well unplayed after getting married as I've always gravitated to acoustics with wife and child running around...which I am sure my wife is very grateful for. Sold off some beauties over the years but have a cool Jackson I kept just because it sounds so good! And I "get it"

We finally moved into the new house Monday!!! With the new room taking shape I see a logical set up for my amp.

So I went tooling around for a nice electric. I parted ways with the Orph, D-70 and F-512 recently and bought my wife 3/4 of an acre in fencing for the 4 dogs and there's a few shekels left over. Always liked the simplicity of the Telecaster so I was focusing on one of those....used.

Well the search widened for a Westerly RI built Guild but the "complexity" of some of the other guitars out there baffle me..for example:

Sorry, I'm not as smart as that guitar, I like 'em simple, I'll pass...(oh and I know it is not a RI build).

This....Not bad...but do I really want to fiddle with all those knobs. I play rhythm, (everyone else on earth is a lead guitarist...so I can "play" with anyone)...but this sure is gorgeous!

This may be a bit too simple and that bridge tailpiece set up always scared me...

While I've always loved the look of an archtop I shudder to think how badly I could mess the set up on this by just trying to change strings!!!!

This ain't horribly complex and looks like a god option but a lot more $$ than a Tele (and here's the don't laugh), but...what is this tiny switch for next to the tail piece??? I assume the larger one is the pick up selector switch but I can't figure out the other.

 

[GAD]

Man you're all over the place!

Let's see - the last pic is a Nightbird. The mini-toggle is a phase switch for the middle position. You can easily never touch it so long as you leave it in the proper position.

On the Bluesbirds with four knobs, I can tell you that I and many MANY other people spent their youth never touching any of them.

I dig your Jackson, but that's a super-Strat setup which is why it's got a master tone/volume. If you want simple go for this:

Or even better this:

It looks like there's a lot going on, but there's one pickup and one volume. The end. Not even a tone knob. Here's a cleaner version:

EVH Striped Series - Red with Black and White Stripes

Solidbody Electric Guitar with Basswood Body, Maple Neck, Humbucking Pickup, Floyd Rose Tremolo, and D-Tuna - Red, Black, and White Stripes

www.sweetwater.com

Don't be afraid of knobs. Just because they're there doesn't mean you have to use them. Plenty of us just left them dimed all the time.

 

[GAD]

Also they made a much simpler version of that first guitar: https://www.gad.net/Blog/2019/02/28/guild-newark-street-t-bird-st/

 

[cupric]

The big question: what kind of amp? They can be the scary part imo.

 

[Westerly Wood]

Congrats on the move. Never easy, that, especially the older you get.

really dig the electrics you have. I can’t weigh in on them really, leave that up to GAD. I will never add an electric nor switch to them. When my acoustics one day become to difficult to play, I will buy a Mark. Not looking forward to that day.

how about a nice D55 for the new place?

 

[GGJaguar]

As GAD said, don't fear the controls. I'm a rhythm guitarist, too, and I don't fiddle much with the controls except on my G&Ls. I generally get the sound I want from selecting the optimum pickup or pickup combination (on multi-pickup guitars).

 

[spoox]

I'm the rhythm guitarist for our group (when I'm not playing uke or steel) and this '62 Supro Martinique has been my main guitar used in recordings and performances since I got in in '72. For rhythm, I've found I like having the option of many different tones one can get out of a single guitar. The "Bridge-Tone" pickup is MAGNETIC (not piezo as usually reported) and while supposed to give an acoustic sound produces the craziest tone which I absolutely love. If I could find another pickup like that I'd serious think about putting it on my '60 M65. I guess as I write most of the songs, I get the guitar sound first in my head and then try to duplicate it on one of my electrics--or else simply play an acoustic.

 

[walrus]

If you really want a Telecaster, but also want a Guild:

https://letstalkguild.com/ltg/index...-roy-buchanan-signature-model-on-ebay.205084/

walrus

 

[beecee]

That will be the next question.

I have to apologize. That long winded post was an excuse to get to my dumb question.

You see I actually pulled the trigger on a Nightbird GG...no pic, on GC late last night. Price seemed good from what I've seen

 

[Bonneville88]

Congrats beecee!

 

[GAD]

That will be the next question.

I have to apologize. That long winded post was an excuse to get to my dumb question.

You see I actually pulled the trigger on a Nightbird GG...no pic, on GC late last night. Price seemed good from what I've seen

Nice!

 

[GGJaguar]

Cool score, can't wait to see some pix!

 

[ruedi]

+1 in the Nightbird family, welcome!

 

[Guildedagain]

I wouldn't rush into anything. I probably got here too late but think about weight.

As much as I like some guitars, I don't wan't a 10lb albatross around my neck.

I draw the line over a certain weight, that's really one of my biggest considerations.

Next, what kinda music attracts you on the electric?

Do you feel the need to be a lead twanger, or more happy just playing the chords?

There nothing to fear from Les Paul type wiring. A monkey could do it.

Two volumes, two tones. A set for the upper pickup (neck), a set for the lower pickup (bridge), a 3 way switch, dead simple. And if you're lucky you get a coil tap or phase switch that lets you get a more Strat like tone from a Les Paul type guitar, usually on the neck pickup.

Personally, I'm very at home on this circuit.

It's guitars that have two pickups that share a set of knobs that freak me out, one knob only even worse, no tone control, it's madness, unless you're EVH.

What I like to do is play in the middle position, then you've got everything, the bass, the treble, all of it adjustable from your fingertips.

Electrics are fun, even not plugged in. You can adjust everything, tinker.

And the low action not only easier to play it makes it possible to do things you could never do on the acoustic.

 

[walrus]

Nice, beecee!

walrus

 

[Rebosbro]

Good choice!
Paul

 

[Rambozo96]

Also they made a much simpler version of that first guitar: https://www.gad.net/Blog/2019/02/28/guild-newark-street-t-bird-st/

It still kills me to think I passed on one just like the r for $120

 

[cupric]

Beecee,
Excellent choice. I think the NB is one of the greatest guitars ever built. It does everything. And it's comfortable. The only guitar in its class,imho, is the Nightingale. But I've never played one as that's for otherworldly folks! Only the gods of Guild know it's pleasure....