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Post by bonesai72 on Sept 18, 2018 14:27:24 GMT
I'm in the market for a new guitar, playing again after many years and want something nicer than my 1994 Korean BC Rich Warlock (was a cheap model and a big pain chip shows it is some kind of plywood/laminated body). I did put Irongear Steam Hammer pickups in it recently.
I will play mainly Billy Idol, GnR and Maiden tunes, not gigging. I have a Katana 50 and a Zoom G3n. Having looked through this site I see there are different pickups in the two colours of the SC-550 - prior to this and watching the Rob Baker video I was going to get one of these - but now a little confused. Also, with 80s metal/hair metal in mind are either the R-456FR BK, S-620 TR reasonable? This is just a hobby otherwise I'd invest in a proper RG.
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Post by LeoThunder on Sept 18, 2018 15:33:44 GMT
I'm not going to be very helpful but I think if you have a modelling amp and an effect box, you can play anything with anything provided it has the necessary bandwidth in the high frequencies. I can plug a Strat' in some "Metal 2000" profile on my Fender Mustang and it sounds just like anything else. I would stay away from anything that resembles a Les Paul or pretends to sound like one because they usually make a point of being truncated in the treble area but coil split can help there too (the SC-550 doesn't have it). And of course, you can also go for a GRG or a GRX. They should fit the bill…
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Post by bonesai72 on Sept 27, 2018 10:03:11 GMT
Thanks - much food for thought. Spent a lot of time looking at GRG and GRX based on what you said - was not keen on a non-locking trem. But that led me to the Jackson JS32 Dinky Arch Top, which seems great value, while lacking the coil split I'm sure that is something I can upgrade later. So I have the natural oiled mahogany bodied version arriving tomorrow...
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Sept 27, 2018 10:21:45 GMT
Don't forget to post some photos of the new guitar, hope you like it. 🎸
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Post by LeoThunder on Sept 27, 2018 10:23:32 GMT
Hey, that's a nice looking one, not quite as pointy as the RG: Yes, if you are capable of holding a soldering iron, coil split is an easy upgrade provided you have access to that point in the pick-up.
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Post by LeoThunder on Sept 27, 2018 10:27:14 GMT
Spent a lot of time looking at GRG and GRX based on what you said - was not keen on a non-locking trem… I started out looking for an Ibanez S with one of those, then I bought a Jazz Bass
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Post by doktorsteve on Sept 27, 2018 16:55:24 GMT
I came to mock but that looks great. Good choice - you cannot beat a maple neck for tone.
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Post by bonesai72 on Oct 31, 2018 8:37:45 GMT
Finally got around to taking some pictures. It was hard to find, only PMT in the UK had one in stock. But its great, low action, very little buzz (probably my fingers rather than the guitar) and smooth satin neck. Pickups not super hot but are clear and not muddy. I really like it and glad I was prompted to look harder at non-HB options. The only thing is that being oiled, the body is not smooth - you can feel the grain. Over time, and with some polishing (though I don't know what with - maybe just a little oil once a year or six months?) it will wear down and smooth out. Its just something to get used to. Nice grain, and its not black so my wife is happy!
Case was £44 from Amazon - cheapest they had on prime and I think suits the guitar well.
So I spent a little more than I would on the sc-550, is it better? I won't know without playing both but having a proper FR trem means I can play more styles. I'm happy and that's the main thing.
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Post by Vincent on Oct 31, 2018 9:19:25 GMT
Looks fine to me. How was the set up when it arrived?
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Post by bonesai72 on Oct 31, 2018 9:52:12 GMT
Came in tune, good action, pick up and play. Has stayed in tune and I've had it a month now. Probably should change the strings as the quality control tag wold suggest they've been on over six months and left in the box - but have never had a FR before so am leaving that alone until I have to change them. Was surprised that it had Fender on the box - had forgotten they own Jackson. So a nice, good quality budget guitar.
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Post by LeoThunder on Oct 31, 2018 10:26:34 GMT
It looks good. If you never handled a Floyd Rose before, here's the trick that will make everything easy:
I don't think strings get bad by just being under tension doing nothing, by the way.
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Post by Vincent on Oct 31, 2018 10:33:31 GMT
FR trems look complicated at first and I suppose compared to something like a Bigsby they are. As for setting them up just think See-Saw and you will be okay.
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1,773 posts
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Post by MartinB on Oct 31, 2018 15:31:01 GMT
I still have a stack of pennies taped together from last time I had a dalliance with a FR equipped guitar.
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3,457 posts
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Post by LeoThunder on Oct 31, 2018 16:17:20 GMT
I still have a stack of pennies taped together from last time I had a dalliance with a FR equipped guitar. Must have been a cheap one. For precise adjustment, you need bank notes…
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Post by blindwilly3fingers on Oct 31, 2018 16:33:25 GMT
Nice looking guitar 👍
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