Hey guys, I just had to share my new guitar because it's... well, you'll see.
This guitar has a bit of a story behind it. I ordered it in January 2014, and after a long delay that was no fault of the builder, I received it in October last year. Unfortunately, Fedex damaged it in shipping, even though it was in a very protective case. I kept it for a week or two before sending it to Fedex for inspection, as it was insured. Unfortunately, they denied the claim and then damaged it AGAIN when they shipped it across the country back to the builder!
It then spent a few months in limbo while I tried to get a payout for the repair. And once that eventually happened, it took another 4-6 weeks to get it back from repair. Ugh. But it's all good now, because I have it in my grubby mitts, and it's absolutely perfect.
I designed this guitar with input from the builder. I originally wanted a very basic tele config with a few alterations - this body shape, SS frets, a Gibson 3 way toggle, and a P90 in the neck. Those ideas didn't last long as I discussed with Mike all of the options that he offers and even ones that at that time he was still developing, like the contoured heel. Somehow, we ended up with what you see here - 1 piece mahogany back, super flamed maple top, rosewood neck, jet black ebony board, direct mounted Zhangbucker pickups (with a tap on the bridge), hipshot hardtail bridge and locking tuners, and the incredible paint job (dark cherry burst top, LP Goldtop style dark back). I based the neck off one of the best necks I've ever played, my old Music Man Morse Y2D, which I actually sold last year to fund a PRS McCarty. It's got a 1 5/8" nut, which fits my hand just perfectly. The combo of rosewood shaft, ebony board, and stainless frets makes this thing a motherfucking speed demon like nothing else I've ever played, and MIke's setup work is beyond brilliant, so it just sings.
I've never had another guitar as good as this one. It blows my PRSi out of the water, there's not even any comparison. The pickup combination makes it super versatile, especially since - unlike most every guitar I've tried - I actually find the tone knob super useful on this instrument. I can run it wide open for awesome tele-esque tones or pull it down to 6-7 to get into more humbucker territory, but still with a bit of that tele bite. And even with the tone rolled back, the P90 never gets muddy. I only got this four days ago, so I haven't really had time to compare it to other guitars, but I've never played a tele that can do for me what this guitar does.
Now I just want to get this out of the way - I am far from rich. I saved up for a long time to get this guitar. I'm just a 23 year old student - no trust fund, no super rich parents, none of that shit. I just knew that this is the best time I'll ever have in my life to splurge on a custom guitar like this, and I'm very glad I did, because I will never ever get rid of this thing. Have I mentioned that it's the best guitar I've ever played yet?
Anyway, this thread is shit without pics, so here they are.
