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Howdy all,

I would consider it a great honor and favor if you would help me in figuring out just exactly what guitar should be my next purchase. I have always been a one-guitar-does-all type of player. The most guitars I have ever owned simultaneously are three. I owned a Les Paul Deluxe, a Music Man Albert Lee Model, and a Fender Nashville B-Bender Telecaster. All are gone now…. I have made a very bad habit of impulsively trading guitars. Now, I am paying the consequences of those horrid decisions. I won’t go into that because it’s too sad and maddening.

Right now, I own a Samick Avion 3. It’s one of the Greg Bennett-designed guitars in their line. It’s not a bad guitar however. It’s basically a Les Paul with an upper bout like a Telecaster. Its pickguard is like an ES-335’s but smaller. The pickups are crap. They can be changed though.

I guess I have always liked to have that one special guitar that folks identified me with. When playing Country, of course, I used a Tele; (MIM) Nashville Tele, Nashville B-Bender Tele, (MIM) 50’s Tele, 52 Reissue. But the Albert Lee was absolutely killer. Since I’m not playing Country anymore, I feel that maybe I need a new identity. The music I’m playing more has a very eclectic flavor to it. It’s Pop, Rock, Fusion, Blues, and Funk. A lot of it are original compositions by my lead vocalist. I want to have a “go to” guitar that can fit the bill in virtually any musical situation. My Teles, even when not playing Country, really were workhorses and I felt good taking them into any situation.

Here are some choices I have been thinking about and a little “why or why not” about them:

1.Keep my Samick – a.Pro - Decent guitar with individuality. b.Con - Bad pickups.
2.Les Paul – a.Pro – Great look and feel. b.Con – Not as versatile as I may need.
3.Strat – a.Pro – Very versatile especially if H/S/S config b.Con – I really don’t like Strats…
4.Tele – a.Pro – Just a cool guitar and can be hot rodded to suit. b.Con – I can’t think of any… (I’m biased though)
5.Schecter C-1 E/A – a.Pro – Very cool design b.Con – Maybe limiting like Les Paul
6.Albert Lee Model – a.Pro – Very cool design. Feels great. b.Con – Might have to install a humbucker to be truly versatile.
7.PRS Swamp Ash Special – a.Pro – Seems to be able to do what every guitar does; even a Tele (Johnny Hiland uses one now instead of his own Tele. b.Con – Pricey…..

Okay, there you have it. I might be spot on and I might be missing the boat here. Please give me some feedback as I go from wanting one guitar one day and another the next. Please feel free to add other guitars to the mix too. I don’t have a budget that will allow me to do that. Also, please feel free to ask questions and draw more info out of me. I really appreciate any and all help.

Cheers,

before i read your pro/con list, i thought quot;H-S-H Strat w/ splitable N/B is the answerquot; ... 59n - VR - CC/C5 ... but then i read that you do not like strats

so next i thought quot;any other HSH guitar that is not a stratquot; ... which led me to the PRS SAS .. but then i read that it is too pricey ... :

what about new pups in the samick (AIIP / JB) with a P-type 5-way megaswitch?
or try one of the new PRS SE Custom ? after an upgrade to add McCarty wiring and new pups, could cover a lot of ground ?

good luck
t4d


Originally Posted by tone4daysbefore i read your pro/con list, i thought quot;H-S-H Strat w/ splitable N/B is the answerquot; ... 59n - VR - CC/C5 ... but then i read that you do not like strats

I could be persuaded... Originally Posted by tone4daysso next i thought quot;any other HSH guitar that is not a stratquot; ... which led me to the PRS SAS .. but then i read that it is too pricey ... :

Maybe pricey, but, if I decided on it, I could save my pennies... Originally Posted by tone4dayswhat about new pups in the samick (AIIP / JB) with a P-type 5-way megaswitch?
or try one of the new PRS SE Custom with McCarty wiring and new pups as needed?

good luck
t4d

That would be the easiest thing and a viable thought too... I had thought about a 4-conductor 59 and a C5 with the Jimmy Page wiring....

Butch, do you prefer vintage looking guitars, or are you happy with modern too?

Butch, you know I'm a LP nut. If it's comfortable to you, and it quot;fitsquot; you, you should be able to get a lot of versatility out of the guitar. One thing that I've been doing for a long time is a treble bleed cap on the neck pickup. When you roll off the volume it gets really clean and sparkley-like. I still haven't found the perfect value cap, but just knowing I have that sound available to me, the quick tone adjustment is nothing.

My Tele has been done with HD pickups in it. Very few things are as advertised- they claim it's like putting a P-90 in a Tele. It is.

What sort of bridge do you prefer?


Originally Posted by stevie_beesButch, do you prefer vintage looking guitars, or are you happy with modern too?

Either...I just want something I can call mine...
Originally Posted by stevie_beesWhat sort of bridge do you prefer?

Doesn't matter...
Originally Posted by The Golden BoyButch, you know I'm a LP nut. If it's comfortable to you, and it quot;fitsquot; you, you should be able to get a lot of versatility out of the guitar. One thing that I've been doing for a long time is a treble bleed cap on the neck pickup. When you roll off the volume it gets really clean and sparkley-like. I still haven't found the perfect value cap, but just knowing I have that sound available to me, the quick tone adjustment is nothing.

My Tele has been done with HD pickups in it. Very few things are as advertised- they claim it's like putting a P-90 in a Tele. It is.

Nice advice. I have thought about P-90s in my guitar. I have thought about a lot of things lately... That's why I started this thread.

I see two things, Butch.

First, why not go for a Tele with a couple hot, yet tappable, pickups? There's a lot of possible pickup combinations there, and it could be a very versatile axe. You could even go with a Nashville Tele and have even more combos on tap.

Second, with the right pickup selection, I think a good LP can do anything you ever need it to do. My LP makes up 10% of my collection, yet gets 80% of the workload. It's a true workhorse that will do nearly anything.

Well, I didn't decide for you, but I atleast narrowed you down to two


Originally Posted by MikeSI see two things, Butch.

First, why not go for a Tele with a couple hot, yet tappable, pickups? There's a lot of possible pickup combinations there, and it could be a very versatile axe. You could even go with a Nashville Tele and have even more combos on tap.

Second, with the right pickup selection, I think a good LP can do anything you ever need it to do. My LP makes up 10% of my collection, yet gets 80% of the workload. It's a true workhorse that will do nearly anything.

Well, I didn't decide for you, but I atleast narrowed you down to two

Mike, while I would really like to keep my current guitar (mainly because of finances), I am feeling a lot of doubt about it. It would be easy just to replace pickups. That's why I really listen when someone mentions Les Pauls and versatility in one phrase. What do you have in your LP? How is it wired?

I am going to end your search. It sounds to me like you need a truly versatile guitar..a guitar that can truly do it all....well I'm going to point you in the right direction..

Ernie Ball Music Man Steve Morse Signature Model guitarThis guitar can do it all!

Musicians Friend has a Fender quot;Custom Tele Special Limited Editionquot;
which looks like something you might be interested in.

It's an interesting configuration, two open coil humbuckers in a tele body, the kicker is that is has a coil tap, and it comes with dimarzio buckers. Good price too, 399.99

They are featuring a cool looking quot;aztec goldquot; with cream buckers, it's a killer looking guiter.

It sure has a lot of pickups in it...

They're cool guitars too. Thanks, that's more food for thought.


Originally Posted by jayKMusicians Friend has a Fender quot;Custom Tele Special Limited Editionquot;
which looks like something you might be interested in.

It's an interesting configuration, two open coil humbuckers in a tele body, the kicker is that is has a coil tap, and it comes with dimarzio buckers. Good price too, 399.99

They are featuring a cool looking quot;aztec goldquot; with cream buckers, it's a killer looking guiter.

I have seen those and they are cool. I was also thinking about a Squier Esprit; which is a remake of the old Robben Ford guitar. But, if I get down to it, it's still an H/H setup which is really no different than what I have...

Here are the specs on it!Size 12-1/2quot; wide, 1-3/4quot; thick, 36-7/8quot; long
Weight 7 pounds, 7 ounces - varies slightly
7 ounces more with tremoloWood Poplar
Finish High gloss polyester
Colors See color chart
Bridge Standard - Thumbwheel height adjustment, individual saddles, and MusicMan® chrome plated, solid brass tail block
Optional - MusicMan® Floyd Rose licensed locking tremolo with fine tuners; lowers pitch only
Pickguards Black or White
Optional - Shell, Black Pearloid, White Pearloid and Abalone available at an additional charge.Scale 25-1/2quot;
Radius 12quot;
Headstock Only 5-7/8quot; long
Frets 22 - high profile, wide
Width 1-5/8quot; at nut, 2-1/4quot; at last fret
Wood Selected maple with rosewood fingerboard
Finish Gunstock oil and hand-rubbed special wax blend
Tuners Schaller M6-IND locking (non-tremolo bridge)
Schaller M6LA (MusicMan® Floyd Rose tremolo)
Truss rod Adjustable - no component or string removal
Attachment 5 bolts - perfect alignment with no shifting
Sculpted neck joint allows smooth access to higher fretsSheilding Graphite acrylic resin coated body cavity and aluminum lined pickguard
Controls 250kohm volume and tone - .047µF tone capacitor
Switches 3-way lever and 2 toggles provide eleven pickup selections
Pickups DiMarzio (neck to bridge)
Humbucking - DP-205 Morse Signature
Single coil - DP-108 Vintage Single Coil
Single coil - Proprietary Custom Wound
Humbucking - DP-200 Morse Signature

Butch I know you didn't mention it but whenever someone wants a do-all guitar, I think semi-hollow. When someone names the styles the styles you are looking to cover I think semi-hollow.

A Heritage 535 would be a great investment and very versatile in my oh so humble opinion, and you'd get away with paying less than you would for a SAS.

Luke

You may laugh, but I would recommend that you go out and try a Squier '51.

It is a very versatile guitar, the neck single sounds essentially like a strat neck, and the bridge bucker has a unique tone all its own, when it's quot;tappedquot; it sounds very much like a tele bridge single, maybe not quite as nasty but it gets close.

For the price $149 you could keep your avion.

No strat, Butch? When I hear quot;versatilequot;, the first thing that I think of is a Tom Anderson H/S/S with the Switcheroo wiring. A Proam is a little bit more reasonable in price than a Droptop or others. If a strat is totally out of the question, hmmm.....

Keep'em comin' these are some great ideas!!

You know what I'll say........ Tele. Put Filter'Trons or Soaps in it. You can do some pretty neat stuff with those. You would probably have to have it customized.


Originally Posted by CapoFirstFretI am going to end your search. It sounds to me like you need a truly versatile guitar..a guitar that can truly do it all....well I'm going to point you in the right direction..

Ernie Ball Music Man Steve Morse Signature Model guitarThis guitar can do it all!

EB's are seriously great guitars.... I'd pick one of their models for a great quality and all in one guitar....