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Post by Deleted on Mar 19, 2010 20:30:38 GMT
Some pics in case it helps anyone out making a choice, especially if they're worried about buying a 'second'. Wasn't expecting a bound fingerboard... but how cool to get one! Triple dots at the 12th fret are nice! For the historians, this is where 0179 went... Tiny flaws in the paint finish and a fingerboard scratch at the 14th fret paint made this one a 'second' - saved me £50 The finish has a lovely matt/semi matt quality to it - looks nicer than the gloss of some previous ones I have seen online. Not the baaad kind you understand, but the goood kind: my MM Blues 12 fret 'second' has arrived with a totally unexpected bonus bound fingerboard. Yes I waited five weeks in total, but Robin/Ron had at least 50 guitars to in the queue to be set up when I placed my order and let's face it, who want's their set up rushed? Hands up anybody... me neither. My initial impression? This guitar is bloody fantastic. Last year I played a busker's Triolian in Byron Bay, Australia and knew from that moment I had to have a resonator of my own. This guitar is everything I have wanted since that fateful night. Thanks (in no particular order) to Robin, Ron and Michael. I might even put a picture up when I put the guitar down long enough to pick up the camera. It just keeps saying "play me some more." Even the Mrs digs it. Anyway, off to play some more - pity my poor neighbours. Regards Zwit
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 19, 2010 21:33:50 GMT
Hi Zwit,
Thank you for your kind message. Cool, you got a bound fretboard! They are very nice and won't turn up in every shipment. We like to vary things so that not every guitar in every shipment is the same. It keeps it interesting and is in keeping with what National did in the 1920s & 30s. It will also be fun for future collectors.
Enjoy!
Shine On Michael.
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Post by slidenpickit on Mar 24, 2010 23:15:09 GMT
Hey Zwit,
Cool guitar! you are right to be pleased with your purchase. A well above average guitar for a well below average price!
What it needs now is lots of playing and a few natural knocks for some street cred.
It makes me want one!
Regards
Chris W
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 25, 2010 9:27:51 GMT
I am sure those photos weren't there when I wrote my original reply. It looks great Zwit and I am pleased that you are happy. I think you did really well as those seconds only have minor flaws in the finish. Big companies like Gibson and Taylor don't sell seconds, they destroy them with a band saw. Luckily, we are not in that position and are happy to sell the seconds at a discount price. MMB0179 10 - has found a good home! Have fun & keep in touch Shine On Michael.
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Post by andys on Mar 25, 2010 11:52:51 GMT
Big companies like Gibson and Taylor don't sell seconds, they destroy them with a band saw. Judging by the build quality of some of the Gibsons I have seen in stores over here, I think they let some of these slip through even!!! Either that or they rebuild them into thinks called "Dusk Tigers"
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 25, 2010 12:17:00 GMT
Very good Andy! I wanted to say that they should consider band-sawing a few more ;D That tiger imagery looks a bit too close to Apple's Snow Leopard for me. Next it'll be the iGuitar. Shine On Michael
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Post by slidenpickit on Mar 25, 2010 17:25:20 GMT
Hi Michael,
Do you think a Hotplate would fit an MM14 fret Blues?
Chris W
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 25, 2010 17:40:37 GMT
Hi Chris,
I am not sure it would because of the screw hole positions not being identical. I would not like to say for sure without trying it. Everything has to be identical for it to fit.
It would not be difficult to get a spare MM coverplate and make your own version of a hotplate. The pickup & wiring is very simple. Just get the right bits and get someone to cut the necessary holes. We might be able to do it for you at Busker HQ.
Shine On Michael
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2010 20:46:59 GMT
Thanks guys.
Learning loads of new skills here, even getting a quick slide in after breakfast before leaving for work in the mornings. The guitar is playing in nicely now.
Will do a vid soon.
By the way, this guitar is so 'resonant' that when my dog barks, you get a waft of open D hrumming across the room!
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Post by slidenpickit on Mar 26, 2010 13:51:14 GMT
Hi Michael, Thanks for the information; I do think the MM coverplate looks very working guitar industrial cool. I already have a hotplate with the specially voiced pickup which works well so maybe the boys at Busker could use the gubbins from that for an MM coverplate. Which Blues did you play at Slide Fest? Sounded really good. I can feel a long trip to Wales coming on.
Is the flat fretboard on the MM 14 fretter a pot luck thing?
Thanks
Chris W
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 26, 2010 14:38:29 GMT
Hi Chris,
I was playing my 12 fret MM BLUES - MMB 0002 08 at the slide festival. Totally standard and untouched since it arrived, except for a new maple bridge saddle and set of tuners (which are now standard on all MM guitars). That guitar is heading for two years old now and has been played quite a lot.
The 14 fret MM BLUES do come with both fretboards, but we can pick one out for you of whichever you prefer. I have been playing a 14 fret BLUES recently at my concerts and I am very pleased with the way they have turned out. The one I am playing is also totally standard with no upgrades of anything.
I think that taking the gubbins out of your hotplate and fitting it into an MM coverplate would work perfectly. Just give us the complete hotplate and Ron can copy it.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by slidenpickit on Mar 27, 2010 2:05:51 GMT
Thanks Michael.
Regards
Chris
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Post by andys on Mar 27, 2010 21:11:46 GMT
This could be a whole new thread on its own.
The Hotplate thread.
Great Idea, but then you look at the price tag, which Im sure would be justifyable on an NRP but for some of us its a lot of £££s.
I have done a bit of research on this and the trouble is that NRP obvoiusly have had their own coverplates made without the sieve pattern in the foremost position, leaving space for someone to rout them a pickup slot. The standard replacement coverplates that most players can buy still have this in place. Making a slot nearer the centre of the coverplate fouls up the cone as the bottom of the pickup will actually touch it.
Also IMO they are missing a trick.
Why a Tele neck pickup? I love Teles but the achilles heel for me on a Tele is the neck pickup. The neck pickup is the reason why a lot of players do the following mods;- 4 way switches, Esquires, open out the covers, replace with humbuckers/hotrails/etc.
Personally I couldnt think of a worse pickup to mount into a big circular piece of metal for playing slide guitar with than a Tele neck pickup.
A Hot Plate with a P90, or a Tele bridge pickup, a humbucker or even a Danelectro lipstick;- now youre talking!!!
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Post by Michael Messer on Mar 27, 2010 21:46:48 GMT
Andy, I agree that ideally it would be better to fit the pickup, socket and pots into a coverplate that is purpose built with the correct holes punched into it, but to get one up and running for Chris by doing some drilling on an existing one is worth a try.
I have seen this done before, but not with a Tele pickup, and it all fitted together quite well. In theory I agree with you about the Tele pickup, but to be fair I have not tried one or knowingly heard one.
Shine On Michael.
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Post by slidenpickit on Mar 28, 2010 3:35:08 GMT
Hi andys, The pickup on the Hot Plate is a specially voiced Jason Lollar design. I've had 3 Teles in different formats and don't think the Hotplate one resembles them except in appearance. It does work very well and looks part of the guitar (currently on an NRP style O) without hum through a PA ( better with a pre-amp in my opinion) or amp. Ironically, you have the very guitar I am interested in I believe (14 fret MM with flat fretboard?). The Hotplate is expensive really for what it is however and is sort of a quick fix that anyone can do..... probably better going a bit more for a Highlander. But, the reason for asking Michael about the mod to an MM Blues is that it would probably work well plugged straight in to a Vox DA 5 for busking. I was very impressed with the sound of the MM Blues and the potential street cred and am selling the style O to finance an MM Blues and possibly a Roland BA - 330 mini PA which runs on 8 AA batteries for 10 hours (cue another thread!).
Regards
Chris W
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