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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 25, 2020 9:12:44 GMT
D'Angelico guitars are made in South Korea, Indonesia and China and are apparently laser scanned exact replicas of the real thing. So they are using a selection of factories for production. They also build custom handbills in New York, but I know nothing about them. I have seen on their website that a few well known musicians are photographed with the new production models, but I don't know if they actually use them on a regular basis.
It is an interesting concept, taking an iconic brand name that produced guitars which today are worth tens of thousands of $$££€€, and marketing a range of budget and mid range instruments. It is actually much the same as National Reso-Phonic Guitars, Supro and one or two others, in as much as the brand name and logo was bought by a group of people that relaunched the company using its original heritage. I have not played a new D’Angelico, or even seen one in the flesh, and you are the first person that has ever mentioned them to me on here or anywhere. Considering they have been around since 2006 I believe, I would want to know more about them before saying anything.
On the original subject of this thread.... Good slide guitars? I don't know, but I doubt it because that its not the demographic they are targeting.
Not much help, but an observation.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Kris on Feb 25, 2020 10:58:35 GMT
D'Angelico guitars are made in South Korea, Indonesia and China and are apparently laser scanned exact replicas of the real thing. So they are using a selection of factories for production. They also build custom handbills in New York, but I know nothing about them. I have seen on their website that a few well known musicians are photographed with the new production models, but I don't know if they actually use them on a regular basis. It is an interesting concept, taking an iconic brand name that produced guitars which today are worth tens of thousands of $$££€€, and marketing a range of budget and mid range instruments. It is actually much the same as National Reso-Phonic Guitars, Supro and one or two others, in as much as the brand name and logo was bought by a group of people that relaunched the company using its original heritage. I have not played a new D’Angelico, or even seen one in the flesh, and you are the first person that has ever mentioned them to me on here or anywhere. Considering they have been around since 2006 I believe, I would want to know more about them before saying anything. On the original subject of this thread.... Good slide guitars? I don't know, but I doubt it because that its not the demographic they are targeting. Not much help, but an observation. Shine On Michael Thank you Michael, that is actually very helpful. It seems an awful lot is made in China these days, National bodies too right? I don’t particularly want to go vintage which has drawn me to small boutique luthiers who could also make a guitar with slide in mind. I do love custom instruments in the mind that they are a one of a kind made to measure, and treasure. I hear good things about Randy Parsons in Seattle?
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 25, 2020 11:30:53 GMT
Hi Kris,
There is nothing wrong with Far Eastern built instruments, but I completely understand what you are saying. National guitar bodies are not manufactured in China, they are built at their own factory in the US. That is the reason for the price differences between them and other makes that are often discussed on here. Custom built instruments are beautiful and as you know, that is what I play. I have Fine Resophonic resonator instruments and my main electric guitar is a Dave King instrument.
I know of Randy Parsons because of his connection with Jack White, but I have not seen one of his instruments in the flesh.
A maker that does make an interesting slide guitar is Rick Turner. He builds his own version of a Supro Ozark (or Coodercaster, which is what they have become known as) with a Horseshoe pickup and a Hipshot Trilogy bridge, called a Model T. This is definitely designed as a slide guitar and is an interesting take on the Ozark / Coodercaster idea. My only question about it is the position of the pickup. I have played a couple of Model Ts and they are very nice. My own Dave King Telecaster is a variation on the Supro Ozark / Coodercaster idea, which Dave built for me 20 years ago. It has a 50s Supro wraparound horseshoe-type pickup and a repro Danelectro lipstick PU. I have used this guitar on almost every show and recording since I got it in 2000. It was not built as a copy of a Coodercaster, it was a Supro Ozark but in a better quality guitar.
I think you need to try some of these instruments and get to know the feel of them and of what you like before you buy one.
BTW... There is a Model T at the North American Guitar, which is not far from you.\
Shine On Michael
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Post by Kris on Feb 25, 2020 14:15:02 GMT
Food for thought Michael, thanks. I take a great deal of pleasure from the aesthetic of a beautifully made guitar but obviously the novelty wears off very rapidly if it doesn’t sound good or isn’t enjoyable to play. I’m tying to strike a balance between the vanity element with tone and of course playability. The latter two can only be assessed in person so I’m certainly going to go on a mission and see what strikes a chord with me! In my mind’s eye I have something in a classic shape with F holes, Bigsby and, as of now, I’m thinking dual style pickups with switch so I can play around with different sounds. All subject to change of course!
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 25, 2020 15:07:42 GMT
Kris, The aesthetic of a beautifully built instrument is absolutely very important and there is no question that we must be visually attracted to an instrument. Whether that is because it's a handcrafted piece of art or a beaten up old guitar from a junk shop, it has to draw us in visually and then show us how it sounds and feels. It can take years to find all of those qualities in a guitar, because you really don't get to find out without owning the instrument and playing it a lot. When you find a guitar that pleases in every way, just stick with it and play that one. I have found those qualities in the few guitars I play all the time and I don't search for anything else.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Kris on Feb 25, 2020 15:17:36 GMT
Kris, The aesthetic of a beautifully built instrument is absolutely very important and there is no question that we must be visually attracted to an instrument. Whether that is because it's a handcrafted piece of art or a beaten up old guitar from a junk shop, it has to draw us in visually and then show us how it sounds and feels. It can take years to find all of those qualities in a guitar, because you really don't get to find out without owning the instrument and playing it a lot. When you find a guitar that pleases in every way, just stick with it and play that one. I have found those qualities in the few guitars I play all the time and I don't search for anything else. Shine On Michael I’m very similar, I don’t dream of a room stacked wall to wall with guitars but rather a maximum of 3-4 perfect guitars that I am enamoured with in every way, that I can steep with my mojo over the years! That’s what I love about boutique builds, they’re just such a personal thing and something you know you are investing in for the long term. The thing is it pays to date quite a few guitars before you choose which ones to marry! 😆
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 25, 2020 15:47:59 GMT
Kris, rooms full of guitars.... I’m afraid I have been down that route in quite a big way. There have been times in my life when I really was dating too many guitars, and it was that craziness that led me to settle down with just what I needed to play my music. I guess that happened to me twenty years or so ago in my forties.
Shine On Michael
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Post by gaucho on Feb 25, 2020 16:28:10 GMT
This video prompted me to try a Gibson ES 125 3/4 model: . I eventually found this one, a 1957. Love the warm tone of the single P90 pickup!
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 25, 2020 17:19:54 GMT
Gaucho, Many years ago in Dublin I did gig/Q&A with Roy and played his Gibson. I think he used flat wound strings at the time, or maybe they were on the Martin. Nice guitar.
Shine On Michael
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Post by leeophonic on Feb 25, 2020 18:08:46 GMT
There is a common theme with my electrics, can anyone guess what it is??? I forgot to mention Kris, you are more than welcome to try them to help with your quest, I have others but not for this category... Lee
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Post by pete1951 on Feb 25, 2020 18:10:53 GMT
Have a feeling I read RR used Martin ‘Silk and Steel’ on his Martin. A lot lighter than most slide players. Pete
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Post by pete1951 on Feb 25, 2020 18:11:56 GMT
Easy, They all have 6 strings!
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Post by Kris on Feb 25, 2020 18:43:15 GMT
This video prompted me to try a Gibson ES 125 3/4 model: . I eventually found this one, a 1957. Love the warm tone of the single P90 pickup! Lovely tone isn’t it!
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Post by Kris on Feb 25, 2020 18:44:30 GMT
There is a common theme with my electrics, can anyone guess what it is??? View AttachmentView AttachmentView AttachmentI forgot to mention Kris, you are more than welcome to try them to help with your quest, I have others but not for this category... Lee Ahh Lee you are so kind! The Dave King caster is a beauty! They all are.
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Post by Michael Messer on Feb 25, 2020 21:00:18 GMT
Those Dave King guitars are beautiful. Lee's is the only one with the Rickenbacher style horseshoe, mine has a Supro pickup that came from a lap steel of mine. There was also a lovely koa one that was made for a friend of mine. The only photo I have of that guitar was when I borrowed it for a show at the Shepherds Bush Empire (see photo). And of course my maple Dave King guitar that I have done hundreds of gigs and recordings with. MM and koa DK guitar at Shepherds Bush Empire MM and maple DK guitar at a festival in Belgium - apparently. Shine On Michael
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