AcornHouse
Venerated Member
I still can’t believe it myself
I’ve been very pro-US-made Guilds, not really interested in the imports (with the lone exception being the T-Bird, since I can’t ever afford a vintage one.) But, I have to admit, I’ve fallen in love with a very unlikely model.
A little background. (Gather ‘round, kiddies! Uncle Acorn’s going to tell you a story.)
Johann Segeborn did a video comparing vintage Les Pauls year by year. Yes, the ‘59 burst was great, but what really made my ears perk up, was the ‘55 Custom with the Alnico V Staple pickup; not a pup that you see a lot. Even the reissues of this model goes for big bucks. But, I wanted them!
Now, I’d also been looking at G&L Bluesboys; almost got one. But the problem with them, and all Tele-Style guitars, is the long scale. I’m a short-scale guy.
Then, while seeing if there were any short-scale Teles, other than overpriced booteek builds, I came across this Jim Adkins signature model Fender Tele. Of course my first question was: “Who the @$%# was Jim Adkins. :fat:“ Then I saw that it was an import; and not even MIM. BUT! It seemed to be getting a lot of great reviews from major outlets. So, I kept it in the back of my mind.
Then I saw this one. Artisan Guitars had it on Reverb. Someone had swapped in Lollar staple pups instead of the Duncan P90s (which were also included); about $300 worth of an upgrade. (And the Duncan’s weren’t the cheap ones to begin with, btw.) It also came in a Fender Pro case, instead of the no-case it came with (or didn’t come with.) And it was pretty much unplayed. And it was at the going rate for these used.
So, I bit, figuring I could take out the Lollars and sell it with no trouble. But, I found that I loved it! Sounds amazing with those pups, and it feels so nice in my hands.
As you can see from the pics (yes, yes, I’m getting to them), it’s almost not a Tele the way Adkins spec’d them. 2 P90s stock, stoptail bridge, Gibson-style knobs and switching, short scale, and a set neck.
A really surprisingly great guitar.
Pic time.
I’ve been very pro-US-made Guilds, not really interested in the imports (with the lone exception being the T-Bird, since I can’t ever afford a vintage one.) But, I have to admit, I’ve fallen in love with a very unlikely model.
A little background. (Gather ‘round, kiddies! Uncle Acorn’s going to tell you a story.)
Johann Segeborn did a video comparing vintage Les Pauls year by year. Yes, the ‘59 burst was great, but what really made my ears perk up, was the ‘55 Custom with the Alnico V Staple pickup; not a pup that you see a lot. Even the reissues of this model goes for big bucks. But, I wanted them!
Now, I’d also been looking at G&L Bluesboys; almost got one. But the problem with them, and all Tele-Style guitars, is the long scale. I’m a short-scale guy.
Then, while seeing if there were any short-scale Teles, other than overpriced booteek builds, I came across this Jim Adkins signature model Fender Tele. Of course my first question was: “Who the @$%# was Jim Adkins. :fat:“ Then I saw that it was an import; and not even MIM. BUT! It seemed to be getting a lot of great reviews from major outlets. So, I kept it in the back of my mind.
Then I saw this one. Artisan Guitars had it on Reverb. Someone had swapped in Lollar staple pups instead of the Duncan P90s (which were also included); about $300 worth of an upgrade. (And the Duncan’s weren’t the cheap ones to begin with, btw.) It also came in a Fender Pro case, instead of the no-case it came with (or didn’t come with.) And it was pretty much unplayed. And it was at the going rate for these used.
So, I bit, figuring I could take out the Lollars and sell it with no trouble. But, I found that I loved it! Sounds amazing with those pups, and it feels so nice in my hands.
As you can see from the pics (yes, yes, I’m getting to them), it’s almost not a Tele the way Adkins spec’d them. 2 P90s stock, stoptail bridge, Gibson-style knobs and switching, short scale, and a set neck.
A really surprisingly great guitar.
Pic time.
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