This is my current "GO-TO GUITAR" Please show me yours?

ZarK · 2012-06-17T13:05:36+00:00

Been thinking about starting this thread for quite some time after I got my first Fender Stratocaster in many years. (Prior to that I swore I'd never play Fender's again... :-[ Like I said, this was a long time ago and I was heavily into hard rock/metal guitars back then...) Over the years I have been privileged enough to have acquired most of the guitars I've always dreamt of and then some... I traded one of these for a Gibson and US Fender Strat, thinking I'd keep what I liked (probably the Gibson) and sell off the rest -even both if we didn't gel... To my surprise I ended up keeping the Strat and found something peculiar starting to transpire... Most of the time when the urge hit for a quick jam, the Strat would come out of the case! (Back then I had no less than 11 guitars -most of them very high-end examples each worth more than double what the US Strat was worth... Arguably also prettier and fancier guitars for the most part...) This specific guitar just felt right and the variety of tonal options it offered just begged me to keep coming back for more. I was actually caught out by the affinity I developed for this specific instrument and she single-handedly lead me to develop a fresh approach to guitars (and music) and what I'm looking for in them these days when considering a new acquisition... She doesn't have the most elaborate look. She goes against many of my previous self-imposed constraints in my approach to instruments but she has tone, feel and mojo that is undeniable albeit completely subjective... She has an extremely thin finish that shows up any imperfection and accepting that has certainly been a positive departure for me. Her feel and quality of tone was so apparent that I took the leap and accepted her -warts & all. It was liberating... She has been my main "go to guitar" for some time and she's never failed to impress and inspire! The point of the rant is that I thought it would be very interesting and potentially quite insightful to have an 'archive' in which I (we) can catalogue which guitar at any given period of our musical journey has been your main inspiration. Your go-to instrument. I'm not looking for "the best" or "the most expensive" or "the fanciest" or "the dream guitar". I'm looking for your current instrument that puts the smile on your face every time you take her for a spin, the one that inspires you to venture further down your musical path. I suspect as time passes and tastes change/mature that your favourite favourite will most probably also change with the times... I just thought that it could be great to have a record that you could page through in the years to come that shows what inspired you in the present and the past and showcases the progression you've gone through... I anticipate that it could bring back great memories and feelings down line -if you're as passionate about instruments as I am... Lets see if you agree and this takes off? Some ground rules: 1. You have to own more than 1 guitar of the same type (either electric or acoustic) at any given time. If you have 2 or more instruments in each category, you can post 1 of each. (Only if they're truly inspirational to you... Not just because you have more than one of a type...) Technically this thread is about "the one", however... 2. If you only have 1 guitar and its not just a temporary stepping stone to the next, in other words its the one because it's well ...the one, I suppose that also qualifies... 3. It has to be the one you're naturally drawn to pick up and play. (Price, fanciness etc. is irrelevant) It has to be the one that inspires you for all the right reasons and tickles your creativity on a more primal level... 4. The 'honeymoon' phase has to be well and truly over. No point in posting a new acquisition: The guitar needs to have proven itself for long enough. 5. This is the place to rant about your passion and love for your main axe! 6. If your main guitar is still the same in a years time and your passion for it is even stronger. Post new pics and tell us why! 7. This is NOT the spot for bashing guitars and brands! Here you express your love and appreciation for your guitar. That is it! All guitars and brands are welcome. Please guys and girls: feel free to chip in with suggestions and recommendations but most importantly share your stories, photos and love for your main axe. Why is she 'the one' at this point in time? I don't care about aesthetics,exclusivity or monetary value. If she's worth 50 bucks and she inspires you, please share your passion with me (us) all the more! I'll start by posting 'the one' that's dramatically changed my approach to guitars and has been my main inspiration for more than a year already... This Fender has totally blind-sided me and I'm thankful and all the better off for it... Fender Standard USA Stratocaster '09 limited edition... :goodtimes:

AlanRatcliffe

ZarK wrote OK... that is something totally different! Thanks for posting. How does she sound and play? Can the tone be compared to anything we might be familiar with?

There's a build thread for that one here:
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/your-gear/the-nel-custom-flying-chessboardkasparov-build-with-pics/

ZarK

Alan Ratcliffe wrote
ZarK wrote OK... that is something totally different! Thanks for posting. How does she sound and play? Can the tone be compared to anything we might be familiar with?
There's a build thread for that one here:
http://www.guitarforum.co.za/your-gear/the-nel-custom-flying-chessboardkasparov-build-with-pics/

Thanks Alan.

Shibbibilybob

My number 1 :

So incredibly happy with how this guitar plays, feels and sounds.

Big-G

Shibbibilybob wrote So incredibly happy with how this guitar plays, feels and sounds.

She's a real beauty Harrington! Casimi's are totally my favourite acoustic right now, but I just don't have the cash for one, even on the self building course. Make sure you always appreciate her, and treat her right! ?

Regards
G!

ZarK

Wow. Your Casimi is simply sublime. Every angle, a masterpiece. I love everything about her... :goodtimes: Congrats and enjoy! :goodtimes:

AlanRatcliffe

The Casimi is gorgeous.

Shibbibilybob - please tell me more about the bridge. Is that a Black Tusq saddle? And how does the block work that replaces traditional bridge pins? Is it like a rear loader?

Shibbibilybob

Alan, yes that is a black Tusq saddle. I will pm you details of the bridge design, which I think the guys would prefer were not made too public just yet.

I am not sure whether it is fair to call this guitar a Casimi. It is based on a Casimi C2, but falls short (aesthetically) of the high standards set by Casimi guitars in their actual guitars.
I don't know the best way to name/discuss this guitar, but it'd be unfair on Casimi to group this with one of their own.

AlanRatcliffe

Fair enough on calling it a Casimi.

Bridge design - no worries. I just find the traditional bridge design to be more than a little clunky and most of the alternatives either ugly or less than functional. So I'm always interested in new takes on it.

IceCreamMan

danienel wrote After finishing this build, I haven't been able to put it down. Immediately started composing on it. Will be my first take guitar for a long long long time.

Custom Build: NEL FLYING KASPAROV
Neck from Cannon Custom Guitars: Maple with rosewood fretboard
Body: Yellow wood and teak checkers, spider gum trim, imbuia back\
Bridge: Reclaimed Chinese Tele Bridge, cut the single coil cavity away
Tonerider Generator Humbucker Pickup (for Neck, but used in bridge). Coil-tapped with 250k pot.
Might Mite everything else basically.

Flying kasparoV .......brilliant

what an intriguing guitar.......

guidothepimmp

been reaching for the trusty Kramer these last couple of weeks..

enjoying the wider neck and flatter radius.. great feeling and of course the paint job makes me feel like im an 80s guitarist 8)

ThAt and with my little one starting to walk, I don't get heart palpitations when he heads over towards it..

Funny enough he is quite gentle with it.. gently brushes the strings.. might have a budding guitarist in a few years ?

Squonk

Been away for the last week and a bit. First the Berg and then the Pilanesberg and after two years my Cort Earth Mini is starting to sound good. Such a cute little guitar.

beardedmoose

Manfred Klose wrote Well my go to guitar almost 90% of the time is, my cheapie.
this baby popped up on gumtree oneday, went to checked, and i could not put it down, it needed alot of cleaning, but it kicked ass. havent played much of my other guitars since.

The Sanox, date unknown, somewhere between 1978 - 1985.
Bolt on.
24.75'' scale length
neck:maple/mahogany neck
body: maple/mahogany in center, and ash on sides
brazilian rosewood fretboard
Tuners i still want to replace with better ones.
graphtech nut
Dimarzio PAF Joe neck
Dimarzio Air norton bridge(i think)

small switched wired to spit humbucker coils, and 1 to split phase.
i can go from fender to gibson with a flick of a switch, and i can almost emulate any sound i want in a live situation

note the pics is still with the old pickups

any matsomako made jap guitar is worth not being called a cheapie lol!!! This is a fantastic piece of wood mate!!

beardedmoose

This is it guys. Jap Made Tokai SG 88 best damn '61 model out there Gibson can go fly a kite!

beardedmoose

Ok how do i post a photo...lol

AlanRatcliffe

beardedmoose wrote Ok how do i post a photo...lol

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/how-to/how-to-post-pictures-t4055/

beardedmoose

Ok here we go...

This is my "go to" guitar.

ajdebeer

Here are my 2 Go to guitars

1. Gibson Les Paul Studio

2. ESP Eclipse ii

Wizard

My recently completed "violincaster".

V8

Wizard wrote My recently completed "violincaster".

Sooooooooo sweet. About time you finally shared it with us GFSA'ers.

Dont think I'll get tired of seeing this lady!

ZarK

ajdebeer wrote Here are my 2 Go to guitars

1. Gibson Les Paul Studio

2. ESP Eclipse ii

Technically, you'll have to dig deeper and choose just one... :-[

Beautiful guitars! :goodtimes: (Even though I'm slightly partial to ESP...)

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