Guitar Project Completed

[Anonymous]

I completed a strat refurb project this winter. Bought a pawn shop made in china fender squire, gutted it, strip it to the wood, re-painted it in a cool 50s fender baby blue, got a nice 90s Mexican rosewood strat neck, and to top it off - a set of David Gilmore EMG pickups. This baby WAILS! and plays like a dream thanks to Mike Lull, guitar repair guy expert who did the final set up.

My paint job isn't flawless by a long shot, but I'm generally happy with the loks, and more important how it plays and sounds.

[Toni]

Looks very good!

[salmonslayer117]

Nice strat mike! I didn't know you played! Did a really nice job on it if I do say so myself. I did an old SG a few years back and ended up selling it for 750.00. I'm playin an Ibanez RG5EX1 with the wizard 3 neck and Dimargio pickups nowadays. I run a crate amp. What kind of amp do you use?

[saltyseadog]

iv found that a japanese neck plays alot nicer than a mexican nice pickups. still says squire how are the tuning keys on that thing?:-"

[BentRod]

Sweet look'n sixer there Mike. Nice job. =d>

[bcalvert]

Nice looking referb Mike! I think you will like those EMG pickups. I put the EMG 80 & 81 into my Fender Heartfield Elan II - took it right over the top! the Heartfield is made in Japan in the late 80's to compete with Ibenez. I also have a American deluxe ash tele. I play both though a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe combined with a ToneBone Hot Brittish Tube pedal. But even with all the sweet electronics available - the ole standby for me is my Martin HD-28. Like a great dog, that thing will always be by my side.

[Anonymous]

Nice strat mike! I didn't know you played! Did a really nice job on it if I do say so myself. I did an old SG a few years back and ended up selling it for 750.00. I'm playin an Ibanez RG5EX1 with the wizard 3 neck and Dimargio pickups nowadays. I run a crate amp. What kind of amp do you use?

Nice job on the SG. My paint job leaves a lot to be desired up close. But hey, it's just me and it was a fun project.

I have a Vox Valvetronix 30 watt, but mostly I play through a Stealth Pedal and Rokit5 monitors on my computer, using the Amplitube line of amp/pedal emulations.

Lot's of fun. My music is up on AcidPlanet.com. It's mostly Acid Pro 7 software created, some Reason 4, and guitar parts recorded in. Some stuff I'm quite happy with, some stuff that's almost painful to listen to, LOL.

Mike's music on AcidPlanet.com

[Mike Carey]

iv found that a japanese neck plays alot nicer than a mexican nice pickups. still says squire how are the tuning keys on that thing?:-"

sorry, you are mistaken, the small print says "deluxe series". It's a retro to the 70's fat headstocks. No Squire, this is a Mex Strat neck, there is a difference. It's a great neck.

I also have an 86' Japanese Squire Strat - which as you probably know is well regarded as an equal to the American strats of that day. And yes, it has a killer neck as well. That neck is a maple neck. I wanted a rosewood neck for a change of pace. To my surprise these Japanese Squires are becoming collectors items, mine is probably worth $600ish, paid $300 a few years ago.

The tuners on the Mex neck are excellent, no complaints.

[guitarfisher]

Sweet axe Mike! Love those DG EMGs - just like you told me when we met at the Puyallup show (I'm that other Schecter & Squire guy ;) It was a pleasure to meet you. If we get enough axe swingers in the forum, you may need to start another website ;)

[Mike Carey]

Nice looking referb Mike! I think you will like those EMG pickups. I put the EMG 80 & 81 into my Fender Heartfield Elan II - took it right over the top! the Heartfield is made in Japan in the late 80's to compete with Ibenez. I also have a American deluxe ash tele. I play both though a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe combined with a ToneBone Hot Brittish Tube pedal. But even with all the sweet electronics available - the ole standby for me is my Martin HD-28. Like a great dog, that thing will always be by my side.

yup, those EMGs will rip the guitar right out of your hands, they just scream, but also have pretty amazing tone control to mellow it back down. Everything I hoped they would sound like. I started playing in the 70s and back then it was a Marshall 50 watt, 4x12s, strat, and one pedal, an MXR distortion plus. Probably lost some of my hearing back then, I'd guess. But it sure was fun. I sometimes think about doing the band thing again, but there just isn't enough time to do everything I would like to do in this lifetime. But who knows what the future holds in store for any of us?

[Mike Carey]

[quote="guitarfisher"]Sweet axe Mike! Love those DG EMGs - just like you told me when we met at the Puyallup show (I'm that other Schecter & Squire guy ]

WashingtonGuitarFishing.com, I like it! Maybe we need to do a WL.com band.

[guitarfisher]

BTW - Just picked up a Humminbird 140c finder for my float tube. Thinking about taking it for a maiden voyage on Lone Lake (Whidbey) on Sunday. Gonna strip some buggers and rip some lips!

[salmonslayer117]

Time and place mike. I'd be happy to jam with ya! Posted a few pics up above.

[Anonymous]

Time and place mike. I'd be happy to jam with ya!

hey, nice ax. those ibanez are nice guitars. yes, I had one of them as well - my second guitar was an ibanez les paul. back in the day!

jamming, sounds like fun. but trust me, I'm a hack. A shadow of my former skills. Maybe when the weather is a little nicer and we can annoy the neighbors by setting up in the garage.

Anyone else want to post their guitar pics? It's as satisfying as drolling over a nice boat.

[salmonslayer117]

I love that axe. It plays like a dream! The wizard 3 neck is one of the best I've ever played on. Solid as a rock but super thin for easy flight. I've had alot of guitars in my time, but I wouldn't trade this one for the world!

[Anonymous]

Nice looking referb Mike! I think you will like those EMG pickups. I put the EMG 80 & 81 into my Fender Heartfield Elan II - took it right over the top! the Heartfield is made in Japan in the late 80's to compete with Ibenez. I also have a American deluxe ash tele. I play both though a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe combined with a ToneBone Hot Brittish Tube pedal. But even with all the sweet electronics available - the ole standby for me is my Martin HD-28. Like a great dog, that thing will always be by my side.

never heard of an Elan 2 so I checked it out on the web - nice looking guitar. what color is yours?

[Coastfishin]

Here are a few of ours:
From Left to right:
Epiphone SG Special (wifes)
Epiphone Les Paul Special
Wasburn X-series (wifes)
Gibson Les Paul

[Mike Carey]

nice, nice, nice, and REALLY NICE!

Post your Guitar Porn Here.

[bcalvert]

Nice looking referb Mike! I think you will like those EMG pickups. I put the EMG 80 & 81 into my Fender Heartfield Elan II - took it right over the top! the Heartfield is made in Japan in the late 80's to compete with Ibenez. I also have a American deluxe ash tele. I play both though a Fender Hot Rod Deluxe combined with a ToneBone Hot Brittish Tube pedal. But even with all the sweet electronics available - the ole standby for me is my Martin HD-28. Like a great dog, that thing will always be by my side.

never heard of an Elan 2 so I checked it out on the web - nice looking guitar. what color is yours?

The Elan2 is great, my wife bought it for me before she was my wife. Some use cooking or lovin for bait, my wife used a new guitar

I will attempt to post my collection...

[Mike Carey]

OK, that is a sweet collection. I'm a tele fan as well. I've got a Mex tele. I might do a pickup up-grade on it, get tex-mex pickups and have it cross-wired to be able to activate both pickups. Is your's stock?

I'm a great fan of Roy Buchanan, who you may know of as getting an amazing tele tone out of his guitar. I actually saw Roy B at a small venue in Ballard. My friend and I sat smack dab in front of him on the dance floor while all the other fans sat in tables. I'd look up at him, he'd look down at me with a big old smile on his face and he just squeezed those notes and made them cry. Definately a concert highlight of a lifetime. I couldn't believe no one else moved up to the stage, it was kinda wierd.