New GSR T-500

[Los Angeles]

Thanks for checking guys! As for the "why" it sounds good that way, I don't know really, but it does. All I know is Strats and vintage Franz-pickup Guilds have their neck pickup under that harmonic, and they have some of the best neck pickup sounds I've heard - enough for me!

Ah! So I guess it's preferable. Can't wait to get back home and to a taste test with different guitars.

 

[matsickma]

The articles explaination and Walters confirmation is exactly why aestetic design decisions cannot be based solely on quantative engineering criteria. Very complicated systems , like the tone of a guitar, also need to consider empherical and qualatative criteria. The theory is often over simplified to understand complicate systems which lead to bad design decisions.

M

 

[guildman63]

The articles explaination and Walters confirmation is exactly why aestetic design decisions cannot be based solely on quantative engineering criteria. Very complicated systems , like the tone of a guitar, also need to consider empherical and qualatative criteria. The theory is often over simplified to understand complicate systems which lead to bad design decisions.

M

Then can one assume, if it is such a complicated process, that having the pole pieces directly under the 24th fret harmonic isn't necessarily right for each guitar? The article suggests that under the harmonic is twangy, closer to the 12th fret is warmer, and closer to the bridge is brighter. Matsickma, it sounds like you are inferring that it isn't that straight forward, and thus each guitar needs to be evaluated on its own merrits rather than based on the physical position of the pickups?

 

[matsickma]

Yes. The article indicate that placment of the pickup can emphasize different harmonics and phasing. Walter has confirmed that from his experiance and Leo Fendor and Les Paul did much of the initial experimental work. Note on guitars with 24 frets like the S-275, S300, Liberator, etc. theire is a 24th fret to play so the neck pickup isn't located at the "ideal" spot. On single pickup guitars I have always perfered the middle lpickup ocation over the neck location and that is a preferencial thing. Others would disagree and perfer to keep the pickup in the neck position.

I doubt any position that would sound "bad" because of the vast number of combinations but some may sound sweeter than others because of the key one play in, the picking style and use of pinch harmonics, etc.

Actually being very close to the bridge is probably as close to a "bad" spot as you can get. You only get the highest harmonics so it could be a bit thin sounding.

M

 

[guildman63]

Not all of my Guilds have the neck pickup at the 24th fret, yet in my opinion they each sound fantastic. It sounds to me that rather than worrying about whether or not the neck pickup is at the 24th fret one should just play a bunch of guitars until they find the one that sounds right. After all, most of us at one time or another have played two guitars that don't sound or play quite the same, yet the specs are identical. Also, who is to say that the guitars we have sound as good as they possibly can since we only get to hear them with one specific pickup configuration?

I'm just playing devil's advocate to stimulate some thought :wink:

 

[jcwu]

You can always slide the pickup around to get the best sounding position:

 

[fronobulax]

You can always slide the pickup around to get the best sounding position:

Gibson Ripper? I always thought it was a solution in search of a problem since once you dialed in the position you like, how often are you going to change it?

The earliest Starfire I basses also had a PU in a "sweet spot" that is not the same location as the bridge PU on a Starfire II. Folks who have played both say it sounds better and now I think I can guess why.

 

[guildman63]

That's a very cool design! I agree that once you find your own sweet spot with that pickup you may leave it there most, or all of the time. I would think that the reason for that pickup is not to allow people to constantly change the pickup position, but to provide a product that appeals to a wider audience thereby increasing their market size. As I don't know bass guitars perhaps someone out here can comment on how frequently one may tend to adjust the pickup, or whether or not that bass sold well?

 

[Bobo]

I believe that's a Grabber, not a Ripper, although they look similar.

I remember the Ripper as THE hot bass to have in the '70s. Very popular for a few years, and then it faded (not just the finish :lol: ).

 

[fronobulax]

I believe that's a Grabber, not a Ripper, although they look similar.

I remember the Ripper as THE hot bass to have in the '70s. Very popular for a few years, and then it faded (not just the finish :lol: ).

You're right.

Gibson Grabber I which according to the ever reliable web searches was a success. Gene Simmons of Kiss used one which may or may not be a motivating factor. The only Simmons bass that ever interested me was the blue Ricky that Star Stowe posed with.

 

[Bing k]

Well I see that all the GSR T-500s on Ebay have now sold.

 

[Jeff Haddad]

How about yours, Bing? Didn't you have 3? Or weren't they for sale?

 

[Bing k]

Still have 2 for sale here

 

[SFIV1967]

Finally the Guild webpage was updated to show the GSR T-500 with specs.

http://www.guildguitars.com/instruments/electric/archive/gsr-t500/#simpleContained4

Ralf

 

[Jeff Haddad]

Of course the website spec page lists a mahogany/maple/mahogany neck which is not correct.

 

[Default]

Scottsdale is just puzzled when it comes to Guild. :?

 

[SFIV1967]

Of course the website spec page lists a mahogany/maple/mahogany neck which is not correct.

Maybe by accident they posted the spec for the next coming X model... :shock:
Ralf

 

[Default]

Of course the website spec page lists a mahogany/maple/mahogany neck which is not correct.

Maybe by accident they posted the spec for the next coming X model... :shock:
Ralf

I don't remember what the X-180 had, but I thought that was maple too. :?

 

[SFIV1967]

I don't remember what the X-180 had, but I thought that was maple too. :?

Steve: The X-180 should have a hog neck. You can barely see the dark neck heel in this picture:

Ralf

 

[Default]

I don't remember what the X-180 had, but I thought that was maple too. :?

Steve: The X-180 should have a hog neck. You can barely see the dark neck heel in this picture:

Ralf

So they got it confused with the X180. Gotcha. I didn't play the X-180 when I was there. They didn't have amps there.