This started in the stickers thread:
Did you ever have one of those cheap old 80's knockoff guitars that actually, looking back, was a pretty decent instrument? Still have it? Show us!
I've had some really sweet Squiers, Hondo's, Cort's and Vantages, and there was also Westone, Memphis, Aria Pro II, Epiphone, and so on. They were pretty cheesy usually, but with a bit of setup work and some better pups, you could maybe even play gigs with them.
Whatcha got?------->JMS
Cheep 80's guitars. Post 'em!
SS,
Yep. One of the nicest playing instruments that I've ever owned, and a
REALLY, well-built instrument, (Still have the body, pups, and trem (Sold
the neck), is a Westone Spectrum ii. Got it in...'87. Washed many an
overnight dish at the truck stop saving up for it.
They were used by Paul Hansen and a bunch of other guys at the time
(Including the studio guy who actually played a lot of the lead stuff on the
first Cinderella album). I'd read Trevor Rabin saying he used a Spectrum
ii, then iii in the studio as well. Big Rabin fan, and they were at George's
House o' Music, plus would never've been able to afford the Signatures,
like Alex Lifeson was using at the time. Rabin later used Westone Panteras
and I think had a signature model.
Later, I also got a Spectum I, which, somewhat ironically, I was thinking
about last night as the T-Storms were going on (GIT OUTTA MY HEAD
MAN!). Gave it to the one guy I was teaching so he had a better instrument
than his Series 10. Annnndddd....he just left it somewhere, I later found out.
I used the Spec ii for a coupl'a years until Fender got their crap together
and started making quality instruments again and I was outta college and
could (Sort of) afford the first strat.
I have a neck sitting in the basement with the sole purpose of putting it
on the old Westone body.
BTW, good thread idea.
Yep. One of the nicest playing instruments that I've ever owned, and a
REALLY, well-built instrument, (Still have the body, pups, and trem (Sold
the neck), is a Westone Spectrum ii. Got it in...'87. Washed many an
overnight dish at the truck stop saving up for it.
They were used by Paul Hansen and a bunch of other guys at the time
(Including the studio guy who actually played a lot of the lead stuff on the
first Cinderella album). I'd read Trevor Rabin saying he used a Spectrum
ii, then iii in the studio as well. Big Rabin fan, and they were at George's
House o' Music, plus would never've been able to afford the Signatures,
like Alex Lifeson was using at the time. Rabin later used Westone Panteras
and I think had a signature model.
Later, I also got a Spectum I, which, somewhat ironically, I was thinking
about last night as the T-Storms were going on (GIT OUTTA MY HEAD
MAN!). Gave it to the one guy I was teaching so he had a better instrument
than his Series 10. Annnndddd....he just left it somewhere, I later found out.
I used the Spec ii for a coupl'a years until Fender got their crap together
and started making quality instruments again and I was outta college and
could (Sort of) afford the first strat.
I have a neck sitting in the basement with the sole purpose of putting it
on the old Westone body.
BTW, good thread idea.
DaveP.
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
OH YEAH! Also wanted to add, saw Chris Duarte Group (Great show. Killer players)
a few weeks ago. He's long been a strat guy, but has used Gibsons on occasion and
had a Les Paul as a backup at the show. I've been trying to find out for sure yet, BUT!
could SWEAR that the guitar he was using that night was a Cort. Greenish, strat-y-shaped.
Only got to talk to him for a minute or so and didn't get to asked. Talked to his bassist
a while (Joel Powell. Who was using a Squire Precision. Powell's toured with a lot of
people before hooking up with Duarte. Not too long ago finished a tour with India.Arie)
but figured it'd be a bit rude to ask "So, what kind'a gear is Duarte using nowadays?"
a few weeks ago. He's long been a strat guy, but has used Gibsons on occasion and
had a Les Paul as a backup at the show. I've been trying to find out for sure yet, BUT!
could SWEAR that the guitar he was using that night was a Cort. Greenish, strat-y-shaped.
Only got to talk to him for a minute or so and didn't get to asked. Talked to his bassist
a while (Joel Powell. Who was using a Squire Precision. Powell's toured with a lot of
people before hooking up with Duarte. Not too long ago finished a tour with India.Arie)
but figured it'd be a bit rude to ask "So, what kind'a gear is Duarte using nowadays?"
Last edited by VENTGtr on Wednesday Aug 06, 2008, edited 1 time in total.
DaveP.
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
-
metalchurch
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 3719
- Joined: Friday Feb 09, 2007
- Location: Somerset
Johnny, this is an awesome topic, but unfortunately I don't have any of them any more, but I'm trying to find pictures.
GTX was a good brand built by Kaman Music Inc, which was a subsidary of Gibson.
They had awesome finishes that rivaled most manufacturers, but they lacked in the bridge and pickup dept.
I had a really nice 87'Charvel Model 3 but it wasn't what you'd call cheesy, it was very well built as you'd expect, but it was the epitome of 80's axes.
I had a few mid-late 80's Kramers also, alot of Jacksons and Charvels, a few B.C. Rich's
I also had a Cort Explorer, it had like 5 or 7 built in effects, that were very cheesy, I ripped those out as soon as I got smarts enough to tackle a pup change
.
The Aria ProII is a perfect example of what this thread is about though.
Don't forget the JB Players and Harmony's, they made some nice V copies in their time.
The craftmanship was alot better than most of today's shit that's being mass produced.
80's guitars rule!!
GTX was a good brand built by Kaman Music Inc, which was a subsidary of Gibson.
They had awesome finishes that rivaled most manufacturers, but they lacked in the bridge and pickup dept.
I had a really nice 87'Charvel Model 3 but it wasn't what you'd call cheesy, it was very well built as you'd expect, but it was the epitome of 80's axes.
I had a few mid-late 80's Kramers also, alot of Jacksons and Charvels, a few B.C. Rich's
I also had a Cort Explorer, it had like 5 or 7 built in effects, that were very cheesy, I ripped those out as soon as I got smarts enough to tackle a pup change
.
The Aria ProII is a perfect example of what this thread is about though.
Don't forget the JB Players and Harmony's, they made some nice V copies in their time.
The craftmanship was alot better than most of today's shit that's being mass produced.
80's guitars rule!!
I had a bronze Aria Pro II Les Paul copy that I paid $400 used in the early 90's... I'd put it up against any full-bird Gibson LP I ever played... the pups weren't what you'd call amazing, but it stayed in tune much better than the LP's, and the workmanship was incredible.
Joe George has a very sweet Westone that just SCREAMS 1980's hair band. It's really a nice guitar, so tough-built, and sounds good, too, though I haven't played it.
I forgot about Electra's, too, some of those were cool. I never really saw a decent JB Player, but I suppose the more expensive ones may have been better... they always had flashy paint, but plywood bodies and cheapo electronics.
I had a Cort bass, a steinberger-y thing with no shoulders or waist on the body... was it The Rail, or something like that? It wasn't real bad, but not exactly top-shelf either. Sorta plain-sounding, no character.
We had a guy bring a Harmony Flying Vee to the Emporium a week or two ago... what a trip back in time for me... so many kids had those, but they were considered too cheap and toy-like to play in a serious band, so nobody played them out. They were distinguished from Gibsons by having the Harmony headstock, and they had these odd bevels cut into the edges of the body. You knew them a mile away. I hear they're actually going up in value now, as nostalgia pieces.------->JMS
Joe George has a very sweet Westone that just SCREAMS 1980's hair band. It's really a nice guitar, so tough-built, and sounds good, too, though I haven't played it.
I forgot about Electra's, too, some of those were cool. I never really saw a decent JB Player, but I suppose the more expensive ones may have been better... they always had flashy paint, but plywood bodies and cheapo electronics.
I had a Cort bass, a steinberger-y thing with no shoulders or waist on the body... was it The Rail, or something like that? It wasn't real bad, but not exactly top-shelf either. Sorta plain-sounding, no character.
We had a guy bring a Harmony Flying Vee to the Emporium a week or two ago... what a trip back in time for me... so many kids had those, but they were considered too cheap and toy-like to play in a serious band, so nobody played them out. They were distinguished from Gibsons by having the Harmony headstock, and they had these odd bevels cut into the edges of the body. You knew them a mile away. I hear they're actually going up in value now, as nostalgia pieces.------->JMS
I used to have a Westone Thunder II that was a great guitar. It played well, was neck-through-body, and had a great pearl white finish.
I let a good friend of mine borrow it and somebody stole it from him. I'd love to have that thing back.
I also had a good friend give me a '72 Harmony hollow-body that looked nice, but the neck was severely warped and twisted. Totally unplayable. I tried to tweak the truss rod several times and I could get rid of either the warp or the twist, but not both. I ended up smashing it to pieces in Jeff Wallack's living room. That was fun.
I let a good friend of mine borrow it and somebody stole it from him. I'd love to have that thing back.
I also had a good friend give me a '72 Harmony hollow-body that looked nice, but the neck was severely warped and twisted. Totally unplayable. I tried to tweak the truss rod several times and I could get rid of either the warp or the twist, but not both. I ended up smashing it to pieces in Jeff Wallack's living room. That was fun.
... and then the wheel fell off.
I do think mebbe we all tend to sometimes get stuck on the idea that if it's a particular
type, it may not be "good" or at least AS good.
Sometimes even just the name can colour our judgment either way. No doubt, there's
some really expensive garbage out there relying on the name on the headstock, etc.
and I'm sure some great stuff that rarely gets into the conversation for the same reason.
GOOOOOOOOO SILVERTONE!
type, it may not be "good" or at least AS good.
Sometimes even just the name can colour our judgment either way. No doubt, there's
some really expensive garbage out there relying on the name on the headstock, etc.
and I'm sure some great stuff that rarely gets into the conversation for the same reason.
GOOOOOOOOO SILVERTONE!
DaveP.
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
"You must be this beautiful to ride the Quagmire."
-
metalchurch
- Diamond Member
- Posts: 3719
- Joined: Friday Feb 09, 2007
- Location: Somerset
I agree with you there man! There's alot of brands selling at high prices only because of their name, and what their legact was based on.VENTGtr wrote:I do think mebbe we all tend to sometimes get stuck on the idea that if it's a particular
type, it may not be "good" or at least AS good.
Sometimes even just the name can colour our judgment either way. No doubt, there's
some really expensive garbage out there relying on the name on the headstock, etc.
and I'm sure some great stuff that rarely gets into the conversation for the same reason.
GOOOOOOOOO SILVERTONE!
I do not see how they remain in business selling by their name only?
Ya gots to have the goods to go with it also.