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Sunday, September 28, 2008

My Vote

Schallers, Klusons... which is the better tuning machine for your Fender guitar?  And why does Andy Summers (and so many other guitarists) want Schallers on their guitars, instead of Klusons?  How about the difference between true Vintage Klusons, and the 'newer' ones, that still have that vintage look? Well.. let's start with three guitars I own.  My true '58 Esquire has original like-new vintage Klusons... turn the tuner a little, and the string goes 'out' a whole note.
The thing pops and slips like a '58 Ford without snow tires in San Francisco snow.  This is so bad, I don't generally play this guitar, even though the old wood sounds much better than any new guitar ever could.  I also have another tele with mini-schallers... and they are as tight as John Paul Getty was with money.  Set those babies, and it stays in tune for days, while my original '58 goes out in minutes or seconds.  How about the 'new and improved' Klusons?  Well, my Jeff Beck Esquire goes out of tune every day, and always needs retuning... sometimes twice an hour... so my vote... Schallers! (for me). 

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Cracked Necks


So you want to be a rock and roll singer... and maybe a rock and roll star...well... maybe just have a collection of 3 or 4 electric guitars that a rock and roll singer would have...sitting in a stand at the back of the stage.  We get bombarded with advertising from Fender and Gibson... and... er...Danelectro...about which guitar some rock persona recommends. Truth be told, take a close look at say Keith Richard's collection (google it)...or even Brian Setzer's guitars.... you will not see a lot of new mid-range tele's and Strats, or new Les Paul Bursts.  You might see some eclectic stuff though... old Gretsch's... old Danelectro's that you can still buy on Ebay in like-new condition...and also stuff like Silvertones and (of course) older 50's and 60's Les Pauls and Strats/ Tele's.  Truth be told, these guys aren't buying on EBay though... unless there is a good return policy... which can be time consuming anyway.  If you must get something new, I lean towards the masterbuilt guitars (the ones with the numbers on the back of the headstock), from Fender's masterbuilders... I mean, they ARE good enough for the rock guys and gals to tour with.  Think Dennis Galuszka... I think he's the best masterbulder out there today.  Also try and find a 'Stinger' headstock Les Paul... those are neat.  As far as other choices... get some of the older babies at Pawn shops and guitar stores that sell vintage... or maybe from a garage sale down the street.  Most true working musicians play stuff that sounds 'right', plays even righter...and is also unique as far as looks... with time worn dents and bruises... just skip any cracked necks.