The Wish List for Wednesday

When I was a kid, I imagined myself having a room full of guitars - two rows on each wall, with one wall saved for the requisite wall of amplifiers. Also a door, but that was less important.

This was an accurate predictor of my future - I didn't dream of being a rock star, I'd dream of owning a lot of guitars.

If you're a rock star you probably own a lot of guitars.  You'd probably even have vintage guitar dealers in your pocket, calling you every time something amazing came through the door.  That wasn't my dream - I'd spend most of high school playing in various bands, but I was never going to make music my life. But guitars?  Yeah, it was always about the guitars...

Fast forward to today, and my teen aged self would probably be pretty happy -  10 guitars currently hanging in the basement, all enjoyed to varying degrees, all varying in value and sentiment.  No, I don't have a wall of amps - adulthood has to rear it's head once and awhile.

Here's the thing though - My teenager self is lurking in here somewhere, and he wants more.  Doesn't matter that I acquired a new guitar 2 weeks ago, and a different one the week before that, and 8 in the last 36 months.  I want more.  I want different.  I want them all.

Here's what's got my attention this week:

The Wishlist

Gibson Model T Les Paul ($1450)

The recent Epi acquisition is drawing me back to Gibson, like an falcon is drawn to "no moon".  Gibson's latest lineup makes me once again question their product team, but this model year (2103) seemed to have some incredible value.  Wiring and tuners different from a Classic, but other than that I'm hard pressed to see the difference.  No the finishes being different doesn't count.

Aside: Why does Gibson think the adjustable nut is a good idea?  Fender did this in the '80s.  It didn't stick.  My guess? An adjustable nut removes a tight tolerance from the construction process - the setting of a traditional nut.  This is the work of accountants, mark my words.

Gibson Les Paul Classic Sea Foam Green ($????)

In my last post I indicated this had caught my attention. Again, not the current model year, because screw adjustable nuts (phrasing, boom).

I could live without that "boost" switch in place of the bridge tone, but since I've never really used a tone knob on a Les Paul, maybe it is super awesome.

More important is the finish.  Sea foam green is such a Fender color, but here Gibson says "nope, we do this now, and do it better."  The combo of the zebras and the light back make this mint chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream for me (she named it, that means I can keep it!!!).

Washburn HB35 ($400)

Not a Gibson, but in the same vein, and way more affordable. I've mentioned before that I'm mildly interested in a semi-hollow for the right price, and this example seems to be much better value than an Epi Dot or an Epi 339.

Washburn used to be a pretty resepected guitar company. Used to.  This one is reportedly from 1983 in Japan, though I'm suspicious having done no research on this.  If true, this is super value, and I'm tempted to flip the Jaguar for it (for which I have received offers at full value but am getting cold feet on - see how modifications make this personal?).

Squier Series Fender "Foto Flame" Stratocaster ($380)

I'm good for Strats right now, but this one is pretty tempting at this price.  Made in Japan, and sure it's a Squier Series, but who cares.  Floyd Rose trem, plus a "foto-flame" (which the seller claims is actually the basswood etched chemically - he's not the only one). 

Who knew?  I always thought it was a picture of a flame glued under.

Ibanez Prestige ($500!?!?)

A Prestige for $500?!?!  Case included?  Seems too good to be true, and honestly I probably wouldn't be that interested otherwise.  

An "Andy Timmons" before the new model, the owner replaced the bridge with a Phat Cat P90 (yuck) and the neck with a Tele pickup (Twang King maybe?).  The neck is also much bigger than an Ibanez is typically.

At any rate, the pickups could be replaced and you'd have a pro-level guitar for waaaaay under a grand. How cool is that?

Money no object, I'd be driving around Ontario today buying these up and adding them to the wall.  Never mind that even with ten, the truss rod adjustments this time of year require triage to get them all done.  I need to move to a more stable climate...