Alexander

Ah I see... so by what you're saying, a standard spaced humbucker used with a Floyd would be less than ideal? I'm planning an EMG81/Floyd equipped guitar you see and was wondering if I should slant it, or whether it made any real difference.

What are everyone's thoughts on slanted bridge humbuckers? Does it make a noticeable difference to the sound or is it mainly a cosmetic issue? Also, will normal sized humbuckers and mounting rings work fine in this style?

Thanks for the heads up!

You are one clever kid and I wish you all the best with it!

Makes me glad I'm gay.

True, but only the first two were any cop!

I can't imagine playing an 8 string guitar would be very pleasant. Has anyone actually played an 8 string before?

Yep, proving my point somewhat.

I find all these retro bands interchangeable and insufferably dull. If I want to listen to the Stooges or AC/DC I'll go and listen to them, not some weak-ass copy by people who can't play (or can play worse than the original artists). It IS a fad, and it will pass, which is bad news for all these hairy, skinny tie wearing muppets.

Oh hell you'd better believe there's going to be tapping! The only other option would be to drop the volume down to where the first "tone" control would be if it were a strat - I'm always knocking the vol on my soloist-shaped guitar to the extent that I've had to put a rubber washer between the knob and the guitar body so it's physically harder to turn. So I'm keen on getting that little blighter well out of the way of my trem abuse! Good call on the headstock shapes too, ikke! I didn't realise there were so many variations...

I can attest to this - I'm using the SM direct x plugin in my studio and it really does make a massive difference - the best way I can describe it is it makes the sound "higher resolution" - bypassing it makes the original sound more "grainy". Really clever technology.

Do you have a link to his site?

hmm that's a nice idea too, dude.. I'll give it some thought...

Please excuse the crappy photoshop work... I think that headstock looks pretty fine on that body? Note also - no inlays!! And I had a wild idea of moving the volume pot up to the upper horn, as I tend to knock it during whammy use etc. What do you think?

Here's another thing (thanks guys for your help): The guitar's going to have a recessed OFR, should I opt for rosewood to try and "warm up" the tone of the axe, as I've heard a Floyd can make a guitar sound brittle sometimes. (The body wood is going to be basswood, btw).

Warmoth necks are absolutely superb, although they're not cheap. But then, if you think of it like - the neck is the way you interact with the whole guitar, it's pretty important that it feels good, it's straight, and it's playable.

Hmmm! I'll try and mock up what it'd look like with a banana headstock - I was thinking about the whole double-EVH-tribute bit and it would be interesting to see how many people "got it" when looking at the guitar! I've not had any experience with the Lawrence, but I've never heard a single bad word about Bill Lawrence's pickups. I've got a Kent Armstrong Motherbucker in my 01 guitar, it's nice - pretty versatile but a bit 'cold' so I'm either gonna go with the XL500 (if I can get one in decent time) or a Seymour Duncan standard humbucker (PAF? 59? not sure). I play really hot through an ENGL Screamer 50 combo so high output is pretty important, but I'm not a death metal shredder, so tone can't be sacrificed for volume if you see what I mean. I've got an EMG 81 in my 02 and it's absolutely fantastic. But I'd like to have something new in this guitar. Anyway enough rambling - thanks for your input!

What are the main differences between rosewood and ebony as fretboard materials? For example what difference do you find regarding tone, playability etc?

Merry xmas all! I'm planning my next build at the moment. So far I've built a frankenstrat (01) and a Solo-ist shaped thing (02) and I want my next one to be different again. I quite like the shape of the Peavey Wolfgang/axis, but I'm not wanting to build a copy of the whole guitar if you see what i mean - I'd go out and buy one if I wanted a wolfgang! So.. I'm getting the body and neck from Warmoth because I frankly don't have the skills or tools to fashion them myself (and I know warmoth stuff is great, that's what I used on my 02/Soloist thing) which gives me a choice of headstocks to go on it. I would like to get something original, so the whole guitar is one-of-a-kind (sorta), and can't be mistaken for a shop-bought piece (ha!). I was thinking a Kramer-style banana headstock would look pretty sweet? What do you all think? (oh for the record, current plan is to have the Wolfgang-shaped body with a single Bill Lawrence XL-500 (yes?) in the bridge, OFR, single volume pot, painted white with all chrome hardware... and of course a big-ass 03 behind the trem).

Nope, don't really see the point. That was pretty much EVH setting his stall out and showing what he can do. If I try to play it all I'm proving is that I can copy someone else. I'm more interested in spending my time working on my own sound and skills.

That's a brilliant article! Thanks very much!

Which would cost you more than $700?

Wow... $700! Jeebus. Well thanks guys - I reckon a Floyd it is! Interesting bit of gear though isn't it?

Hi all, Just idly wondering what length cable you use - I was reading something that said to keep your cable length as short as possible, especially between axe and pedalboard/amp. I have a bad habit of buying long (20ft) leads and was wondering exactly how much of a difference, if any, I'd notice by using shorter (10ft) leads.

Hi all, merry xmas and all that! I'm planning my next build and I've been looking into the Steinberger transtrem. They look interesting, if complicated. I have a few questions: 1) Are they still available, if so from where? 2) Are they any better or worse than an OFR? 3) Anyone here had any experience of fitting or setting one up? Cheers!