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Post by theboatcandream on Mar 4, 2005 0:45:43 GMT -5
I'll add that the guitar I'm looking at is in tv yellow.
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Post by ZacAttack on Mar 4, 2005 14:16:41 GMT -5
If your has a mahogany body, can you post a picture of it which shows the grain? There is a pic in the gallery, but it does not show the grain very well at all. When you look at it in person the finish is much more of a wine red and translucent. You can see the grain quite well on body and neck. I recently bought a digital camera and have been trying to get good pics of all my guitars with it. I think I have some good ones of the quilt top and some that show the finish better on the special, but the grain still eludes me. I dont care enough about the matter to take the neck off but when I took the cavity cover off it sure looked like mahogany to me. I guess I could do it again and try to get a good picture for ya. I dont claim its solid mahogany, only the wood I am looking at, which could be a ply. And I agree with Steel. I like the thing no matter what it turns out to be. Zac |
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Post by Ol Geezer on Mar 4, 2005 16:24:17 GMT -5
There is a pic in the gallery, but it does not show the grain very well at all. Zac, didn't you once state that the image of my Special II (in Gallery II) looks more like yours does in person? You can kind of see the grain in my picture there, and I'd agree that mine is likely mahogany as well. |
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Post by Steelpriest on Mar 4, 2005 16:46:14 GMT -5
Have you guys thought about a mahogany veneer?  There were even some korina models in the higher price range that were seemingly wearing veneers over their alder or mahogany bodies... So it is well possible that those Specials use veneers over plywood, this would be most common in the low price range. |
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Post by ZacAttack on Mar 4, 2005 17:30:03 GMT -5
Zac, didn't you once state that the image of my Special II (in Gallery II) looks more like yours does in person? You can kind of see the grain in my picture there, and I'd agree that mine is likely mahogany as well. Hey Geez. Yes I did, and yes it does. And yes it very likely could be. Hey Steel that is also very likely. Hey Smooth. At one time you told me that Epi factories ordered wood in bulk and used whatever they had at the time. So in my mind it stands to reason that Epi doesn't quite know what wood was used on what guitars. This makes since to me due to the fact that Epi has so much trouble keeping their serial numbers straight. And some serial numbers are completely a mystory as to point of origen. Ok now I close my case and don't really care if I am right or not, due to all of the discussion over a point that I don't think anyone can have the definative word on anyway. I like my special II no mater what anybody may claim it is made of. Zac |
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Post by theboatcandream on Mar 4, 2005 21:08:36 GMT -5
Just look in a pickup cavity. If it's a solid finish, do a little sanding. Then everything should be plain as day.
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Post by ZacAttack on Mar 6, 2005 17:05:58 GMT -5
If your has a mahogany body, can you post a picture of it which shows the grain? There is one pic that does the finish justice and also shows the grain a little. But you will have to go here ZacAttack.yafro.com/ and look for it. There are only 2 pics of the special II. One is all flash but the other one came out pretty well. The next time I get ready to change strings I will pull the pup and do as you ask. p.s. Feel free to check all my pics on yaFro ZacAttack.yafro.com/ |
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Post by Steelpriest on Mar 6, 2005 17:27:27 GMT -5
If the edges of the guitar are non-translucent you can be sure that there is something to hide and you can spare the pulling of the pickups and the sanding. Why is it so important of what kind of wood such an affordable guitar is?  As long as it sounds good it is a good guitar for the money... Just my opinion though... Steele. |
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Post by theboatcandream on Mar 6, 2005 17:34:07 GMT -5
If the edges of the guitar are non-translucent you can be sure that there is something to hide and you can spare the pulling of the pickups and the sanding. Why is it so important of what kind of wood such an affordable guitar is? As long as it sounds good it is a good guitar for the money... Just my opinion though... Steele. Mahogany = The Gibson Sound Humbuckers, P90s, or whatever, mahogany is a key ingrediant. Even if I get a guitar which sounds good with the stock humbuckers, knowing thebody woods allows me to predict what the guitar will sound like with new pickups. |
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Post by ZacAttack on Mar 6, 2005 17:35:07 GMT -5
If the edges of the guitar are non-translucent you can be sure that there is something to hide and you can spare the pulling of the pickups and the sanding. Why is it so important of what kind of wood such an affordable guitar is? As long as it sounds good it is a good guitar for the money... Just my opinion though... Steele. Dude, I agree completly. I just get caught up in the argument sometimes. It's funny, in person I am very non-confrontational, but get me on the internet and I become an expert on everything. It's a character flaw I guess. Zac |
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Post by Steelpriest on Mar 7, 2005 2:36:58 GMT -5
Mahogany = The Gibson Sound Humbuckers, P90s, or whatever, mahogany is a key ingrediant. Even if I get a guitar which sounds good with the stock humbuckers, knowing thebody woods allows me to predict what the guitar will sound like with new pickups. Okay, but even a guitar with a plywood body will actually sound better with good aftermarket pickups than with it´s stock pickups. Speaking about mahogany and the classic typical GIBSON SOUND, well... it is not only mahogany, it is (and what is more improtant) the set neck. You can´t expect a bolt-on guitar to sound like a real Gibby Les Paul... never. |
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Post by theboatcandream on Mar 7, 2005 2:45:08 GMT -5
Okay, but even a guitar with a plywood body will actually sound better with good aftermarket pickups than with it´s stock pickups. Better, yes. But there's more to it then that. For instance, will it sound not only better, but also good? Will it be something I can use professionally? What kind of character will it have? An ash body and a mahogany body will both sound sweet, but they'll be very different as well. I think the godin LG guitars pretty much demolishes the claim that a set neck is essential to get the Gibson tone. I've never found evidence that suggests that bolt on vs set neck is anything but a minimal factor in tone, if it is a factor at all. What's more important is the body woods, humbucker pickups, and tunomatic bridge. However, if you have any experience or proof which backs up your claims, I'd love to hear it and be educated. |
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Post by Steelpriest on Mar 7, 2005 3:20:26 GMT -5
I think the godin LG guitars pretty much demolishes the claim that a set neck is essential to get the Gibson tone. I've never found evidence that suggests that bolt on vs set neck is anything but a minimal factor in tone, if it is a factor at all. What's more important is the body woods, humbucker pickups, and tunomatic bridge. However, if you have any experience or proof which backs up your claims, I'd love to hear it and be educated. Generally it is said that set necks provide a warm and sustained sound, while bolt-on necks give a faster attack and thus are more appropriate for fast play, i.e. that a bolt-on neck guitar sounds more detailed in certain styles of music but has less sustain, while a set neck guitar is always a bit mushy when played really fast. Well, but that´s what makes the specific sound. I don´t want to argue around anyway. But this is what you can read almost everywhere. Set neck = warm and sustained sound with a good bottom edge bolt-on = fast attack, less sustain but more clarity soundwise |
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Post by theboatcandream on Mar 7, 2005 3:25:00 GMT -5
Generally it is said that set necks provide a warm and sustained sound, while bolt-on necks give a faster attack and thus are more appropriate for fast play, i.e. that a bolt-on neck guitar sounds more detailed in certain styles of music but has less sustain, while a set neck guitar is always a bit mushy when played really fast. Well, but that´s what makes the specific sound. I don´t want to argue around anyway. But this is what you can read almost everywhere. Set neck = warm and sustained sound with a good bottom edge bolt-on = fast attack, less sustain but more clarity soundwise These people are comparing strats to les pauls though, and there's way more that's different between a strat and a les paul than how the neck is attached. To do any kind of worthwhile comparison, all other factors must be equal. How many strats or telecasters are there with set necks, and how many REAL les pauls are there with bolt ons? |
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Post by ZacAttack on Mar 11, 2005 21:25:41 GMT -5
These people are comparing strats to les pauls though, and there's way more that's different between a strat and a les paul than how the neck is attached. To do any kind of worthwhile comparison, all other factors must be equal. How many strats or telecasters are there with set necks, and how many REAL les pauls are there with bolt ons? Ok there are teles and strats with set necks from the custom shop and a few other runs. The Invader and the Marauder or S-1 Gibsons are probably as close as I know of for a bolt on neck LP. Not really a LP but as close as I can think of. You both make some very valid points. I have never been completely convinced that set necks get THAT much more sustian or change the tone a great deal but to only the most trained ears out there. Yes I can hear the dif, but it is not that big in most cases. I have a bolt on neck Gibson S-1 and I love it. Noel had a Bolt on neck Gibson Invader and it was a sweet axe. Are they true Les Pauls? No But they are great all the same. My bolt on neck Special II is the best guitar I will ever get for $200, hands down. My quilt top is as close as I will ever get to a true LP unless I hit the loto or someone dies and leaves me one. I am quite happy with all my guitars. Its when people start comparing and saying things like better quality of wood, or set necks are always better and such. This is when the topic gets heated and people stop comunicating and start argueing. If you like the guitar and it suits you then it is a good axe for you. If you don't want a bolt on neck guitar don't get one. If nothing else than a Gibson tone will do, forget Epiphone. They are as close as I have seen, but still not a Gibson. It's getting like a Ford vs Chevy thing in here, or closer still Chevy vs G.M.C. vs Cadilac. OMG! If you like what you hear and see then great, if you don't too damn bad get something else. Zac |
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As long as it sounds good it is a good guitar for the money... Just my opinion though...