i stumbled into electric over this past winter. had never really had the itch for it, love acoustic instruments so much. but, i had a couple electrics for setups and i really enjoyed the whole time with them. traded a taylor acoustic for a USA PRS custom 24, and then had to have this 70's tele in vintage blonde with humbucker in the neck. researched amps extensively, was going to build a tube amp using a kit from stewmac, but i didn't want the weight or the issues. Fender had just introduced the Deluxe Reverb tonemaster and after i heard and played thru it, i picked one up. i'm all set, and done now. i do have a driving urge to build a partscaster with two humbuckers though. picked up this faded surf green squire tele when i caught it on sale for $119. needed some fretwork, outside of that its really quite nice, and fun. put some 11's on it and raised the action a little and made it slide dedicated . i just turned 60 so i don't know whats going on with all this electric infusion in my life, but its really cool and i haven't dropped a lot into it. feel like a total beginner, its so different than playing an acoustic guitar-the touch, the feel. its a neat side step.
![]()
What! No one told you serious mando heads all play tele's? Edit: I see you ended up with a tele after all. A Marshall might be a little intense. To keep the peace, you might better go with a Princeton Reverb and a couple of pedals. Both my strat and tele love mine. Rock on!
The Midlife Meltdown continues...
So first it was a Stratocaster, then a Les Paul, then a Tele-turned-Esquire -- all of which failed to make a lasting connection for whatever reason. The other day I came across one of the newly-redesigned Epiphone Les Pauls. I've always been a sucker for goldtops but had never owned one. We'll see how long this one lasts!
![]()
...
Ahhhhhh ... the joys of instrument acquisition! I am an acoustic player like most people here, but lately I’ve been plugging in the electric guitars, as well as buying electrics, amps and pedals.
Why? Who knows! I’m 69 years old. I should be acting my age.
...
Caleb, I am with you, brother! I bought a new Epiphone Casino (hollow body with P90's) recently and I love it. Epiphone makes really good quality electric guitars. I have owned several and the Les Pauls are competitive quality wise, when you consider their counter part can be three times more money. They aren't three times better, IMHO.
2014 BRW F5 #114
2022 Kentucky KM 950 Master Model
YouTube Original Recording of My composition "Closer Walk"
At the beginning of the pandemic I bought a cheap HH Squire ($160), figuring I might have a little fun. I have since repalced everything but the neck, and a new one is on order. Now all the big pieces of wood will be torrefied (Swamp ash for the body, maple/rosewood for the neck), the Fralin's can both split with push-pulls, and the switch gives me 6 positions (3 conventional choices and series in phase, series out of phase, and parallel out of phase). Bought nut files because cheap guitars all have the strings too high at the nut. I sold a Nashville Tele and a 335 about 10 years ago thinking I was done with that stuff. Could be worse, I had a sailboat when I was in my 20's, that was real money!
Steve Lavelle
'93 Flatiron Performer F
Customized Eastwood Mandocaster (8str)
Have you had a PRS yet? If not, treat yourself to one with the next guitar.
Soliver arm rested and Tone-Garded Northfield Model M with D’Addario NB 11.5-41, picked with a Wegen Bluegrass 1.4
I've never owned a PRS but I do like them.
......................................
Another failed attempt at a love connection... I've already gotten rid of the goldtop Les Paul and have purchased another guitar online. I'll post some pics and info when it shows up.
![]()
...
I picked up a Blues Jr 15 watt amp a couple weeks ago and have been having a blast with it. I’m still debating my next guitar purchase. I like my Tele and can growl it up with an overdrive pedal, but I want a beefier option. I’m intrigued by the Jazzmaster with ‘62 pickups, but PRS is making some nice stuff now as well. Given the Weber story from today I should probably just find something in stock and roll with it...
Chuck
2014 BRW F5 #114
2022 Kentucky KM 950 Master Model
YouTube Original Recording of My composition "Closer Walk"
I started out with a little dinky Blackheart 5w tube head and Egnater 1x12, which cost $300 altogether and sounded great. Now up to 4 cabs, 3 heads, which cost more than $300. With 4x12, a couple 2x12's and 15 bass cab, need more room...
Kentucky km900
Yamaha piano, clarinet, violin; generic cello;
a pedal steel (highly recommended); banjo, dobro don't get played much cause i'm considerate ;}
Shopping/monitoring prices: vibraphone/marimbas, rhodes, synths, Yamaha brass and double reeds
Check out the little Orange micro heads sometime. I had a Dark Terror, which is a single 12AX7 preamp tube and 20 solid state watt power amp, volume, gain, and a contour control for tone, which sweeps through EQ curves from scooped mids/boosted bass & treble to the opposite. Paired with a 12” speaker in a home made open back cabinet, it was awesome. Skip the Orange 8” matching cab, it sucks.
With the aforementioned PRS guitar plugged straight in, just about any style is covered. Add an overdrive, and it was just insane. For blues jams, I velcroed a mini Tube Screamer to the cabinet, put a Wah in front, and it was a guitar in one hand, rig in the other setup that was great.
Soliver arm rested and Tone-Garded Northfield Model M with D’Addario NB 11.5-41, picked with a Wegen Bluegrass 1.4
Midlife Meltdown continued...
I think at last I’ve found a love connection. It dawned on me a while back that I’ve been playing acoustic guitar so long that most electric guitars just feel awkward to me. Most times they feel toylike. So I decided to try a different approach: enter the Ibanez AF75. It feels a lot like an acoustic guitar but does way more. I love it.
Dan’s post about his Casino got me thinking in this direction. Thanks, Dan!
...
These Ibanez's are absolutely the real deal. I have owned a couple and loved them. (I get what you mean about the archtop and its similarities to acoustic guitars, and yet their ability to go bluesy, jazzy, country or rock out!) Problem is I flip instruments when I want another guitar, mandolin or amplifier. You enjoy this and congrats, Caleb!
2014 BRW F5 #114
2022 Kentucky KM 950 Master Model
YouTube Original Recording of My composition "Closer Walk"
I really wanted a Deluxe Twin Reverb 22 watt ‘62 reissue, but I mainly play at home and in church, and just thought it would be too much based purely on online research. Though I rarely go there, I hit Guitar Center so I could try a couple out. The youngster who jumped me when I came inside was actually very helpful. Told him I was looking for a tube amp I could play at home and church, no stadiums or big clubs given my talent level and day job, and that I wanted the Deluxe but thought it might be too loud, so I was interested in a Jr unless he had other ideas. I almost laughed when he set the master volume at 2, until I hit the first chord, and, man that thing is loud! I’ve gone as high as 4 when home alone (for a song or two), but 3 rattles the windows, lol, and any more than that for long and I’d need ear protection. My Red Dirt OD pedal works nicely with it as well.
My problem is my broad musical interests. If I just loved metal or blues or funk or punk or country or whatever, it would be a little easier to build a rig, but I’m all over the map, so I’m just keeping it simple and accepting some compromises. But, a semi-hollow PRS may be in my future...
And, yes, I’m very glad I have my Weber OM...
Chuck
Bookmarks