What will I have for Lunch Report? NGD!

[JagInTheBag]

NGD! So I am driving down to pick up the trans honey USA S-500 and will most likely require eating some drive-thru. Any suggestions or favorites?


G&L Topic: G&L was founded by iconic visionaries that radically changed the face of popular music through their designs and inventions. Apple had one revolution in the Macintosh then decades later with the iPod/Phone/Pad. Is there opportunity to have the second impact on the guitar world the way Apple has in the consumer electronics world? In your humble opinion, what is the next logical evolution for G&L to bring to the public?



Non G&L Topic: As a young teen, my go to anthem i listened to when the world seemed to direct its SUCK nozzle at me was "Behind Blue Eyes" by The Who. What was your personal anthem or go to song when you were a young, hormone raging, shaver?

[kakerlak]

I don't see too many parallels b/w the computer industry and the guitar one (then again, I'm no visionary). Where the computer has an ever-evolving range of functions, most innovations in the guitar industry (after the progress made in the 40s and 50s) have been on the manufacturing side. Things like CAD routing, PLEK dressing, etc. Though there are some legitimate structural innovations, like bi-flex trussrods, locking tuners, etc., none of them cause an older instrument to become obsolete. I don't see a new innovation coming that will allow the guitar to serve a new or broader function. We've already seen the development of the guitar as midi controller and things like the Chapman touch-guitars, but they'll only ever have a niche appeal.

In my young teens, I wound up listening to a lot of (at the time) 10-15 year old CA punk bands, like The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, 7 Seconds, etc. As an older and calmer 29 year-old, I find DK to be the only one of them that's actually still amusing and musically intelligent.

[JagInTheBag]

I ended up grabbing a Maxwell Street Polish, fries, and a cherry coke made with cherry syrup.

I also grabbed this:


P1060596 by ShowYourAuto!com, on Flickr


P1060600 by ShowYourAuto!com, on Flickr


P1060597 by ShowYourAuto!com, on Flickr


P1060601 by ShowYourAuto!com, on Flickr


P1060599 by ShowYourAuto!com, on Flickr

Flamed Swamp Ash in Trans Honey with Rosewood Fingerboard/Maple Neck. Notice the reflection of the snow in the finish!

[JagInTheBag]

In my young teens, I wound up listening to a lot of (at the time) 10-15 year old CA punk bands, like The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, 7 Seconds, etc. As an older and calmer 29 year-old, I find DK to be the only one of them that's actually still amusing and musically intelligent.

I too listened to DK, Black Flag, etc. Add to that Rollins Band, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, NOFX, Dead Milkmen, Ministry, etc. etc. As my understanding of the world matured, so did my musical choices...

[Elemeno P]

HNGD! That is one good looking axe.

I have a little 7 Seconds and Black Flag in my workout mix. Got to see 7 Seconds in Austin back in the college days. They stuck around after the show and hung out with everyone.

[kakerlak]

In my young teens, I wound up listening to a lot of (at the time) 10-15 year old CA punk bands, like The Dead Kennedys, Black Flag, 7 Seconds, etc. As an older and calmer 29 year-old, I find DK to be the only one of them that's actually still amusing and musically intelligent.

I too listened to DK, Black Flag, etc. Add to that Rollins Band, My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult, NOFX, Dead Milkmen, Ministry, etc. etc. As my understanding of the world matured, so did my musical choices...

I must add Dead Milkmen to my very short list of those bands that actually still prove clever (and funny) to my older ears. My wife and I still crack up, listening to those guys in the car every one in a while. The Vandals belong as a cut above, too.

BTW, really neat ash on that S-5!

[Dave_P]

Beautiful S500 Jag!

I saw that one up on ebay a few weeks ago and had I not just bought an asat classic I would have bought it. You don't see ash like that very often, Congrats!

Personal anthem...hmmmm I'm sure I had a few the only one that comes to mind at the moment is "Muzzle" by the Smashing Pumpkins

G&L topic: not sure on what else G&L could bring to the table, I liked the idea someone had about being able to choose your actual guitar blank when special ordering but that isn't all that practical.
I think TC Electronic is on a great path with their Toneprint pedals, great idea and only a matter of time before there is an open source program to tweak them yourself.

-Dave

[willross]

Nice S-500! A late 90's model too! It took 12-13 years for that neck & body to look that good... Don't ever sell it!!!

G&L can continue to focus on quality and production efficiency. If they re-visit the amp world, that could be a place for innovation.

Non G&L: I dig "old" Ska bands; Laurel Aitken and the like. Good stuff... Have a great weekend!


Cheers,

Will

[louis cyfer]

i would like a wood laminate pickguard on that guitar. would look awesome. bheffner makes those.

the anthem would be cocktales from too $hort.

[JagInTheBag]

i would like a wood laminate pickguard on that guitar. would look awesome. bheffner makes those.

the anthem would be cocktales from too $hort.

I thought you'd be proud that it wasn't pearloid!


Bheffner:



Found em!

So master of pg style, Louis Cyfer, which would you recommend?

[kakerlak]

Of those pictured, I'd go w/ zebra or rosewood, but I'm not the one being asked a question.

I will say that the factory white, of which I'm not always too fond, looks pretty good!

[louis cyfer]

i would like a wood laminate pickguard on that guitar. would look awesome. bheffner makes those.

the anthem would be cocktales from too $hort.

I thought you'd be proud that it wasn't pearloid! I'll check it out. You have a email or web address for bheffner?

i love it. the wood looks so good though, i wood think a wood pickguard wood help to bring that out

http://www.bhefner.com/index.php?l=product_list&c=7

[louis cyfer]

i think the flamed maple or zebra could work well.

[Michael-GnL-Michael]

.
It has been a great week Jag.

Beautiful guitar! Whatever pickguard is placed on that one will detract from the body ash. I like a more Strat appearance on S-style guitars so I would not go sans pickguard. A wood might work but it will definitely compete with the ash body grain. I would avoid anything dominating like the zebra and go for something that has less contrast and stark grain. Are those wood pickguards available for G&Ls? I wanted a wood guard but ruled it out because Chandler did not offer them. Black or cream would look pretty darn good on that S-500. If either, I would swap out the knobs and switches for cream or black as well. The white is only acceptable with the white pickguard IMO.

I have had many anthems. I think every year I had a new one until I was in my mid-20's. They are all over the map. I have listened to a wide range of styles.

[louis cyfer]

.


Beautiful guitar! Whatever pickguard is placed on that one will detract from the body ash. I like a more Strat appearance on S-style guitars so I would not go sans pickguard. A wood might work but it will definitely compete with the ash body grain. I would avoid anything dominating like the zebra and go for something that has less contrast and stark grain. Are those wood pickguards available for G&Ls? I wanted a wood guard but ruled it out because Chandler did not offer them. Black or cream would look pretty darn good on that S-500. If either, I would swap out the knobs and switches for cream or black as well. The white is only acceptable with the white pickguard IMO.

I have had many anthems. I think every year I had a new one until I was in my mid-20's. They are all over the map. I have listened to a wide range of styles.

i think the flame in the maple is subtle, so that would work well. i like your idea of the cream. i don't think you can go sans pickguard given the cavity routing.

[JagInTheBag]

If we are talking wood laminate, then I'd play with either the rosewood- playing off the finger board or flame maple with the same satin clear finish as the neck. I am inclined to agree that they would compete with the body wood for attention. Cream may look nice, but would it clash with the white pup covers? If I stuck with the white S-500 covers, I'd go 3ply black/creme/black pick guard, black legacy knobs, and leave the toggle alone- it has yellowed nicely.


UPDATED with similar image:




~Patrick

[blargfromouterspace]

Nice S-500 there. I'm picking up a new G&L today too - details soon!

My teen angst anthems were Sepultura's "Arise" and Slayers 'Divine Intervention' album. Gotta admit that I still really enjoy listening to Slayer, but no longer play any metal

[youtube]6BOHpjIZyx0[/youtube]

For the record, I think those wood laminate pick-guards look horrible. YMMV.

[darwinohm]

Just got home from Big Louies on my Friday night date with Ginny and life is good. She still goes out with me!!!

Great week Jag, The S-500 is gorgeous. Great Swamp Ash grain. If I had to change anything, it would be to a pearl white pickguard. All the fancy wood grain ones these dudes are showing you are for Strats. If you want something like that you would have to send your original pickguard in for a pattern to have one made, besides if I were to go wood, I would get real wood!!!! Boy, these choices are fun, just like the Pearl on my MM bass.

My teen stuff was Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson, Dirt Band and Roy Orbison. Any song from any one of them would an anthem. One of the songs we will be doing next weekend is "Third Rate Romance" by the Ooriginal Rhythm Aces, a song all of you young dudes should learn. There was a lot of wisdom in these old songs. I'm not in a rut, it just seems to others like I am! Thanks for the fun week and G&L doesn't need a bunch of new products. They just need to market what they have! Blarg, keep us posted on the incoming.-- Darwin

[KenC]

Jag,

Your S-500 may be the first guitar I've ever liked a plain white pick guard on. Anything with a pattern or color would take away from the beauty of that curly ash.

I've been through more anthems than I would care to remember, but back in the early 80s the Dead Kennedys' "Holiday in Cambodia" was a perennial favorite. I got to see them live the night before my high school graduation. They played a small auditorium with the Circle Jerks also on the bill. The CJs seemed like really nice guys. When they weren't playing, they were out in the audience enjoying the rest of the show. They came back to town a couple of years later and played a show for about two dozen people. Between sets they would just come down off the stage and join in the conversation.

Ken

[zapcosongs]

I'm with Ken here on the PG. Why mess with something so simply beautiful. Leave it alone. Just enjoy it. Congratulations!

When I was a young puke and felt like the odor-eater cake at the bottom of of a urinal, I used to crank my Best of Uriah Heep album. It launches with Easy Livin' and really is a great collection of songs that I still enjoy. Really brings me back and makes me smile.

Great week. I appreciate it. Now go play your stunning "new" S-500! - ed

[yowhatsshakin]

First off, nice week Jag! Second, I have to find me that drive thru. The toys in my Happy Meal bags are infinitely inferior to yours Nice score on the S-500.

To some extend it is sad that companies that do something very well are sometimes discarded as archaic because they do not 'innovate'. Building high quality instruments is not an area where one necessarily needs innovation. It is more like an artwork, like woven carpets, than e.g. a high-end car or software where it absolutely imperative to stay abreast of the latest technologies (although on the other hand MSFT has for decades now basically been raking in the money on the backs of papa Windows and mama Office with very little to no innovation no matter what Mr. Balmer is claiming). There is a reason the modern-day electric guitar is still the same as the ones released in the '50. The innovations have been on the production side not so much the product side. Note that the 2 Apple products you mention, although both running an operating system, are vastly different platforms and it was that difference, and their unrelenting attention to the user-experience and design, that allowed Apple to 'reinvent itself' several times. In short, as far as G&L is concerned, IMHO I have no other expectation beyond them releasing high-quality instruments that will be treasured for decades to come.

My goto song has always been 'Happy' by the Stones followed closely by the 'Get yer Ya-Ya's Out' version of 'Midnight Rambler' and 'Let It Bleed''s 'Monkey Man'.

- Jos

[louis cyfer]

Just got home from Big Louies on my Friday night date with Ginny and life is good. She still goes out with me!!!

Great week Jag, The S-500 is gorgeous. Great Swamp Ash grain. If I had to change anything, it would be to a pearl white pickguard. All the fancy wood grain ones these dudes are showing you are for Strats. If you want something like that you would have to send your original pickguard in for a pattern to have one made, besides if I were to go wood, I would get real wood!!!! Boy, these choices are fun, just like the Pearl on my MM bass.

My teen stuff was Buddy Holly, Rick Nelson, Dirt Band and Roy Orbison. Any song from any one of them would an anthem. One of the songs we will be doing next weekend is "Third Rate Romance" by the Ooriginal Rhythm Aces, a song all of you young dudes should learn. There was a lot of wisdom in these old songs. I'm not in a rut, it just seems to others like I am! Thanks for the fun week and G&L doesn't need a bunch of new products. They just need to market what they have! Blarg, keep us posted on the incoming.-- Darwin

yeah, ruin it, why don't you. those are real wood. the reason they are applied on top of plastic, the wood when that thin would be too fragile, too prone to cracking. this way it is sturdier, lasts longer. it can be finished like any other wood. the plastic is thinner than a regular pickguard, just serves as backing.

[louis cyfer]

If we are talking wood laminate, then I'd play with either the rosewood- playing off the finger board or flame maple with the same satin clear finish as the neck. I am inclined to agree that they would compete with the body wood for attention. Cream may look nice, but would it clash with the white pup covers? If I stuck with the white S-500 covers, I'd go 3ply black/creme/black pick guard, black legacy knobs, and leave the toggle alone- it has yellowed nicely.


UPDATED with similar image:




~Patrick

i think this one finished in the same tinted clear as the guitar would actually bring more attention to the wood of the body, rather than compete with it. you'd be surprised how well it would actually blend imnsho. if you did decide to get it, you could ask bernie to throw in a piece of extra maple that he used to laminate the guard, so you could test the finish to get the same tint as the guitar. it shouldn't be too difficult to get the trans honey going on the maple to match the ash.
when i got a cypress tele body, the maker included 4 cypress boards from the same piece of wood to test finishes, it was a lifesaver, ended up going with a finish i would have otherwise chosen, but with the testing i was able to see how it looked on that wood, and also what grade to sand to get the right penetration from the stain, on the top and on the endgrain.

[JagInTheBag]

i think this one finished in the same tinted clear as the guitar would actually bring more attention to the wood of the body, rather than compete with it. you'd be surprised how well it would actually blend imnsho. if you did decide to get it, you could ask bernie to throw in a piece of extra maple that he used to laminate the guard, so you could test the finish to get the same tint as the guitar. it shouldn't be too difficult to get the trans honey going on the maple to match the ash.
when i got a cypress tele body, the maker included 4 cypress boards from the same piece of wood to test finishes, it was a lifesaver, ended up going with a finish i would have otherwise chosen, but with the testing i was able to see how it looked on that wood, and also what grade to sand to get the right penetration from the stain, on the top and on the endgrain.

Thank you Loius, this is worth checking out. ~Patrick

[Muleya]

I'm not generally a plain white pickguard kind of guy, but I do think it looks really sharp on that guitar. I'd be afraid that no matter what you go with in a wood pickguard will take away from the extroardinary grain on that beautiful body! And possibly clash from a color perspective. YMMV

I don't know that I ever had one song that I went to as an anthem, but I was a kid in the late 70s and 80s. My goto groups back in the day were Boston, Asia, Journey, Triumph. However, some of my favorites by these groups were not the radio hits. For example, one song I liked when I was feeling down was Little Boy Blues, by Triumph...a bluesy, sort of melancholy instrumental.

[kakerlak]

The more I think about it, I really like the stock guard on that one. Sometimes, a plain white guard really is the best contrast for the wood and finish. I've never been able to convince myself that anything would look better on this one of mine:





This is an '84 St. Blues guitar. I had it disassembled to take pics and send to the company for ID/dating. Anyway, it's a similar hue, even if it is a sunburst.

[kakerlak]

To further hijack this thread, the guitar below (Warmoth parts tele) came to me w/ a white pearloid guard. Between the cherry sunburst, figured ash top and gold hardware, it was one slutty looking telecaster... I went with the tortie guard to try and darken up the overall color and subdue things a bit. I wonder now, though, if plain white might have been even better...

This is kind of washed out, but it's the best whole body shot I've got:


This is a better example of how the colors look in real life:

[JagInTheBag]

I re-appropriate my thread- wresting it from the tawdry guitar porn (very nice) to as this: The neck as a couple of fingernail indentations I can feel as I work my hand up and down the back of the neck. They are barely noticeable to the eye, but certainly there. Any pointers on how to fill them? Tung oil and steel wool? Please advise.

~Patrick

[kakerlak]

I re-appropriate my thread- wresting it from the tawdry guitar porn (very nice) to as this: The neck as a couple of fingernail indentations I can feel as I work my hand up and down the back of the neck. They are barely noticeable to the eye, but certainly there. Any pointers on how to fill them? Tung oil and steel wool? Please advise.

~Patrick

That's a tough one. I assume your neck has a hard, but satin finish. This (I think) would prevent you from steaming out the dents in the wood. With a gloss finish, you could drop fill with lacquer or superglue, polish it out and be done with it, but I think it would be tougher to approximate the texture and shine level of the satin finish.

You might be able to get somewhere by just taking the sharpness of the edges off. Maybe some kind of nonabrasive polish or even wax might work its way into the nicks and collect there so they aren't so apparent to the hand.

Steel wool, even #0000, will leave a rougher texture than what's there now. I don't think those satin necks have a very thick finish to start with, either, so I'd be worried about going through it with steel wool. I wouldn't use oil on a hard finish, only on the fretboard.

[louis cyfer]

The more I think about it, I really like the stock guard on that one. Sometimes, a plain white guard really is the best contrast for the wood and finish. I've never been able to convince myself that anything would look better on this one of mine:





This is an '84 St. Blues guitar. I had it disassembled to take pics and send to the company for ID/dating. Anyway, it's a similar hue, even if it is a sunburst.

this one would look best with a wood guard with a matching burst finish on the guard, so you'd have the burst twice.

[louis cyfer]

To further hijack this thread, the guitar below (Warmoth parts tele) came to me w/ a white pearloid guard. Between the cherry sunburst, figured ash top and gold hardware, it was one slutty looking telecaster... I went with the tortie guard to try and darken up the overall color and subdue things a bit. I wonder now, though, if plain white might have been even better...

This is kind of washed out, but it's the best whole body shot I've got:


This is a better example of how the colors look in real life:

plain white would have been a 100 times better.

[zapcosongs]

I like it just fine how it is.

Also think black would be cool, sort of bringing things together with the dots on the neck. Either way, looks like a fun guitar. Just enjoy! - ed

[JagInTheBag]

I like it just fine how it is.

Also think black would be cool, sort of bringing things together with the dots on the neck. Either way, looks like a fun guitar. Just enjoy! - ed

Not even talking aobut my guitar anymore. Thread is well highjacked!

[zapcosongs]

Next stop, Havana! Ha! - ed

[JagInTheBag]

The guitar as it sits has really grown on me. I am going to leave it alone for the time being.