Conference napalm::guitar

    There's also a bitchin' little Kay semi-acoustic for $250
    

    >	If you had the chance to get a 1953 Gibson Les Paul (gold top, with
    >a newer neck replaced at the Gibson factory sometime in the 60's), for
    >$2000, what would you do?
    
    No.  For $2K, I'd get a newer, more reliable instrument.
    
    
    >	Also, which of the following amps would you consider the best
    >value (i.e. flexibility vs. cost; all prices in Canadian dollars,
    >before 15% tax):
    >
    >1) Marshall JCM 800 50 watt, and late 60's VOX 2x12 cabinet
    >	 (w/Celestions), for 495 + 275 = $770
    >
    >2) Hughes & Kettner ATS60 60 watt hybrid combo
    >	 (solid state with tube front end), for $630
    >
    >3) Mesa Boogie S.O.B. with simul-class option (15/75 watt) & graphic
    >	 E.Q., separate head and 1x12 cabinet, for $995
    
    I'd take option #1, personally.  Not hear the H&K stuff, but they say
    it is killer.
    

    $2000 for a reworked '53 Paul is probably no great deal, especially with
    a replaced neck.  Depends on what type of Paul it is.  The earliest
    ones, till sometime mid-53, had a trapeze tailpiece and a very shallow
    neck angle.  These are lousy players stock, and you often see them reworked
    with a stop tailpiece, which helps.  Nevertheless, they are not in big
    demand, and you might expect to pay $2000 for a mint original collectors
    piece.  I see high priced dealers advertise these a lot, usually
    refinished and/or otherwise reworked, for about a grand.
    
    If it's a later '53, with stock one-piece bridge-tailpiece and the more
    common steeper Les Paul neck angle, something in the $2k range is
    typical.  But again, a replaced neck drops the value.
    
    Note that it isn't till mid-to-late 50's that vintage LP prices start
    to go ballistic.

    >	Also, which of the following amps would you consider the best
    >value (i.e. flexibility vs. cost; all prices in Canadian dollars,
    >before 15% tax):
    >
    >1) Marshall JCM 800 50 watt, and late 60's VOX 2x12 cabinet
    >	 (w/Celestions), for 495 + 275 = $770
    >
    >2) Hughes & Kettner ATS60 60 watt hybrid combo
    >	 (solid state with tube front end), for $630
    >
    >3) Mesa Boogie S.O.B. with simul-class option (15/75 watt) & graphic
    >	 E.Q., separate head and 1x12 cabinet, for $995
    
    Flexability?  I'd say NOT! on both the Marshall and the Boogie SOB. 
    Both these amps make basically one sound.  If the Marshall is the
    channel switching version, then you'd get two sounds.  I haven't heard
    the H&K, but I'd suspect it would be the most versatile.
    
    FWIW, I don't think any of the above prices are exceptional (at least
    in US dollars).  How's the Canadian dollar compare to the US?
                                                            
    Greg

    I believe the going exchange rate is $1 Can. = $0.85 U.S.
    
    (so once you do the calculations and add the 15% tax I'll have to pay
    on top of the actual price, the Can. price with tax and the U.S. price
    without tax are in the same ballpark, I guess)
    

to pay over 700 bucks for a guitar is sheer lunacy in my mind...

I gasp at the prices I see guys paying for LPs by the new
prices...

    re >>I gasp at the prices I see guys paying for LPs by the new
prices...
    
    Yeah, and know what else seems foolish? To see some dude (usually a
    kid) with a LP or any other guitar with a characteristic sound, 
    playing it with the amp's gain turned to blastboost mode.
    
    "sakman"                                                     

    RE: -1
    
    I know what ya mean, why buy a Les Paul, or an ES335, or a strat if ya
    want it to sound like all the other puff head stuff ?  8^)
    
    If yer gonna run the gain WFO, the low end cheapo guitars start becoming more
    cost effective.....
    
    Steve (old fart)

I got the latest issue of bass player mag in the mail yesterday.

One of the reviews was for an ESP bass guitar. From what I could
see this was yer basic P-Bass clone: 4 string, PJ pickups (maybe
active, I don't remember), bolt on neck, no exotic finishes, etc.

List price? $1395!

Yow! Even with a reasonable discount yer talking 800-900 clams for
this bass. 

Maybe someone can explain to me why ESP basses are so pricey.

RE: Bulldawg and Sakman

Yeah, thats why I sold my LP - it just didn't shine thru like it
would if I just plugged it into an combo or something.
By the time I'm done processing, there just isn't much left of
the signal...  The Ibanezs' are flexable enough to emulate about
anything, but aren't so expensive.  

Although I love the strats' sound for classic rock and blues...
jc

>    I know what ya mean, why buy a Les Paul, or an ES335, or a strat if ya
>    want it to sound like all the other puff head stuff ?  8^)
 
    Ummm...'cause you like the way they feel and play?
    
    Greg

Now there is a concept !!

Who feels like an Ibanez.  :)
jc

>Who feels like an Ibanez.  :)

    re: greg
    
   >> Ummm...'cause you like the way they feel and play?
    
     ok, ok, I know, good point......it just seems like a waste sometimes
    when I see a guy playing a Les paul and THAT tone is lost in wash of
    effects....I'm just old fashined, I guess...
    
    Stevo

RE: Mike.

Gee, my spouse tells me I've got a pointed head...  Does that mean I resemble?
:)

    Coop,
    
    now that you mention it, you DO kinda look like a Jackson....CJ is very
    perceptive.....8^)
    
    Steev

      Les Paul's are GREAT guitars with GREAT tone, but the two that I have
    are flakey. I haven't had a Gibson that stayed in tune like my Fenders,
    so I don't use them nearly as much as I probably should. They just hang
    out in the closet (in their cases). In my mind they don't have as much
    personality as a Strat (sorry, but it's just my opinion), they're very
    fragile (heads snap off easier than Fenders) --> I have experience in
    this dept,  :^(  and for the price Gibson asks for them...  I just
    don't think they're worth the BIG price tag. Then again, there are
    ALOT of guitars that aren't worth their big price tags IMO.
    
    Rock on,
    	    Fred (who bought his mint LP "cherry burst" Custom for $350.00
                  and thought that price was a fair one.)
    
    
    P.S. Ahh forget it, give me my '69 Strat instead!   ;^)

    
    Fred, unless you've got a Bigsby on your Gibson something's wrong.  The
    LP Custom I've got is extremely stable, even with Super Slinkies and 3
    interval bends.
    
    As a new strat owner I agree that it has more tonal flexibility...
    But it can't do that Gibson sound...or that Rickenbacker sound...or
    the signature sound of any other well-known guitar.  Which (to quote
    Stuart Smalley) is, OK.
    

    re:  .18
    
    Nope, no Bigsby. Hardtail (stop) tailpiece with Grovers and it doesn't 
    stay in tune that well. FWIW, I use .010's on it.
    
    Fred (who like the LP, but plays the Strat)