3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on Apr 13, 2018 9:30:13 GMT
All things being equal you are better off without a tremolo as a beginner. Trems can be fiddly and can be detrimental in keeping your guitar in tune - especially if they are floating. A bad trem will ruin the guitar for someone who doesn't know how to set them up. It's not complicated but as a beginner you probably want to focus on playing rather than messing with your gear.
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DefJef
THBC Moderator
Due to musical differences I've decided I can't work with myself any more.
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Post by DefJef on Apr 13, 2018 9:32:11 GMT
Are you certain you want humbuckers andreis ? Just asking because I thought I'd get an electric guitar decades ago and bought an Aria Les Paul. I never enjoyed playing it. The notes and chords seemed one dimensional. I hardly played it for 25 years and was about to sell it in the belief that I wasn't an electric player but, for some reason, decided to buy a strat-like Yamaha Pacifica. My attitude to playing electrics changed the day it arrived. Yes it has a splittable humbucker in the bridge but I rarely use it. I much prefer the single coil string tone colouration. And now my go-to guitars are always single coils and usually a tele. If you know you like humbuckers then great, but if you've not compared pickup types it is worth considering the type of music that you intend to play. As an acoustic player originally, the leap to humbuckers was a tonal direction that didn't suit me. Saltee has a point about tremolos. You may have some knowledge of them but, depending on your confidence/YouTube nous you might want to avoid them. Mind you they only take a screwdriver to set flat by screwing the claw inside tight and as good as a hardtail. Whack in a wooden block too and it will be rock solid if you don't want to waggle.
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Post by DerAlex on Apr 13, 2018 22:24:34 GMT
I would also throw the SC450 P90 GT in the ring. I have the old version and returned the copper top (what I now regret deeply) and the P90 sounds are great. In fact I love P90s now more than humbuckers so in my experience what DefJef and salteedog said should be also taken into account. Now you are already at 3 guitars.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 13, 2018 22:57:27 GMT
SC450P90 comes with the Blackwood fretboard right? Big no from me! I'm waiting for HB to stop using that crap wood for such an important part as fretboard!!!
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9 posts
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Post by andreis on Apr 17, 2018 14:44:33 GMT
salteedog: Thanks for the advice. My friends advised against the tremolo as well. I intend to keep it out for the first few months at least. I'll take DefJef's advice and screw them in tight. DefJef: I don't know what kind of sound I prefer yet. I thought that the CST having split-able coils out of the box would help me decide (I know the SC550 can also be set up to have split coils, but I won't want to mess around with wires for the first year, as I have no knowledge of it). So, in short, I'll have to find out by myself I don't really know how else I can find out without trying them for some time. There's a local music shop, but they don't have lefty guitars. Btw, I've seen a few reviews of the Yamaha Pacifica and I was very very intrigued by it. Unfortunately, Thomann doesn't sell a lefty for it. DerAlex: I think I'll keep the 450 out. All the comparos I've seen with it and the 550 turned out in favor of the 550. I have the money for the 550 and don't have the brains to discern between the two, so I'll stick with what most people think is the best - I know, it makes me a sheep, but at least I'm the first self-aware sheep Plus, I think stretching out for 3 is tying up too much of my finances (I'm sure the return will take a few weeks).
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1,773 posts
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Post by MartinB on Apr 17, 2018 15:00:19 GMT
Not all split/tapped coils are equal. my personal favourite is having a humbucker setup for series/parallel. But you need a 4 wire pickup for that and it might be a bit daunting for someone who hasn't faffed about with soldering yet, though on the other hand everyone starts somewhere.
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Post by DerAlex on Apr 17, 2018 15:11:25 GMT
FWIW someone told me that the new SC550 has now coil-split. Didn´t know that and I am looking for confirmation on that. Will report once I know it.
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3,968 posts
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Post by salteedog on Apr 17, 2018 15:57:52 GMT
By the way for what it's worth I rate the JA-60 as the best value Harley Benton Guitar. No messing with Tremolos, super sounding P90s (which are a very versatile pups) and a very very nice neck coupled with a lightweight but resonant body.
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