An SC-2, in my hands, at last, and a lengthy review...

[blargfromouterspace]

After a 14 week wait, the SC-2 is finally in my hands.....

[supereiv]

Nice, I agree with you about the color... it's a bit disappointing, it must be seen in the sun, definitely.
When I was caressing the idea of a custom order, there was a debate between yukon and shoreline gold, I was pretty sure I'd prefer yukon gold over shoreline, but I can't be at ease with that colour, so shoreline grabbed the first place...
And then everything disappeared in front of the S-500 prototype.

... I digress.

Nice review Jamie, must feel weird to hold such a small guitar, congrats on your NGD !

[blargfromouterspace]

[ravelleman]

That photo is very interesting. I always had the impression that the SC-2 was closer to the size of a Mustang, although I imagine that most people do too. Of course, the scale length is longer so the comparison is deceptive.

I wouldn't be too disappointed with the finish. Perhaps it looks a little bit different to what you imagined because it doesn't have a pickguard to give it some contrast. I think that shade of Shoreline with a creme pickguard would look fabulous.

[supereiv]

that ASAT bass looks really tasty to say the least ! it has two rear strap buttons ???
shoreline gold reminds me a lot of the inca silver you find on certain Robert Cray signature

[darwinohm]

Jamie, that is beautiful! Shoreline gold is one those colors that look differently depending on the lighting. You will probably be happy when the sun hits it. I agree that the SC body is not that small. Mine doesn't look small hanging on the wall with the others. The DF is very precise and if you haven't had a trem before, it will take some getting used to. It is the best out there.-- Darwin

[Fumble fingers]

I like it !! ....

[Philby]

Hi Jamie,

Nice SC-2! I was following a gold Honda Accord to work this morning, and in the dull Melbourne light it looked the same grey as your new SC-2. I'm pretty sure some warm indoor lighting or sunlight will make it look far more golden than the pewter colour in the pics.

Re. the big MFD's, I've found if you play around with the heights (mainly lowering) you can tame some of the excessive treble and bass. I've grown to like the clarity of the bass in the MFD's and dial back the settings on my amp to get the right balance.

Have fun rocking out......

[blargfromouterspace]

Phil - I know the exact Honda colour you're talking about, I've often wondered if the guitar would come out like that! And yeah, adjusting at the amp is necessary with the MFDs, it's better to have too much of something than not enough.

Ravelleman - I have an ASAT pick guard that I will be experimenting with on the SC2, a tortoise shell one. The neck on the SC2 is a good 5mm wider than the pick guard, so it'll take a fair bit of sanding/filing to get it to fit!

[yowhatsshakin]

Hey Jamie,

Congrats man! Happy to learn the guitar got to you safe and sound after all its travels (and travails to some extend).

I'm just waiting for my LE-2 to compare the modern SC-2 body shape with the old one, especially the thickness.

- Jos

[gitman001]

Hey Jamie,

WOW... I love it. I think the colour is really cool. I found that the action on mine was a little high right from the factory - The local tech cut the nut slots a bit deeper and it has been outstanding ever since. I am glad you are happy with it. Hope you get a nice day so you can update your avatar!!

Scott

[blargfromouterspace]

Thanks Jos. I'm really looking forward to the first pics of the LE-2s, and hearing how sound

Scott - Gotta admit the colour is growing on me - it was sunny today and it looked a different shade. And I just love the shape. I've set it up with a set of 11s now, the 10s felt really wimpy on it. Bring on the SC-1 reissue!

[sirmyghin]

Nice looking axe, as far as the colour not being quite 'it', you are fortunate as colour only really matters long enough to get you to play the thing to see if it really jives with you. I doubt any serious player has ever not bought a guitar that feels perfect just because it wasn't his ideal colour.

[jdavies]

I am loving my equatorial mahogany so much I have been playing it and not visiting websites etc (eg here).

I played a show in Toodyay (small West Australian town connected with family history) and got such a great sound one of the guitarists there got in contact with me to try out my rig next time we play there. I think he liked the valvetone amplifier (hand made by Darryl Hoy in Newcastle) but the match between the guitar and the amp is heavenly.

I have graduated through G&L tribs to a will ray (which I still love) but the SC2 is almost the perfect all round electric guitar. I am sorely tempted to get a hardtail as well for drop tuning as the tremelo bridge is tricky with retuning to drop D as it balances so well with the springs all the others come up evenly so Im not quite to D when its in tune across the intervals but I am sharp against the Bass. For now I am more than happy to switch to the Will Ray for those and other songs.

I have set up with 9 to 42 as I use very light touch and like the funky snap I get out of the thinner strings. Also easy for bending and vibrato shaking and less fatiguing on the hands playing long sessions. I have also put locking machines for fast string changes if needed. The angle of the whammy bar has a slightly bigger bend in the main handle compared to my legacy but it sits perfectly in my hand for doing surf style tricks and subtle wobbles. Must go and play my beauty....

Oh and by the way by sheer alignment of universal forces it was ordered the same day Dale Hyatt passed away so it may well carry some of his universal spirit into the future...

Jeremy

[blargfromouterspace]

....but the SC2 is almost the perfect all round electric guitar. I am sorely tempted to get a hardtail as well for drop tuning as the tremelo bridge is tricky

I agree. They're brilliant. I will definitely be getting a hardtail one day.

I didn't know or had forgotten that you were in Australia - good to know that my SC-2 is not alone on this continent, and being played through an Australian-made amp at that I'd love to see some more photos of your EM one if you get the time, the ones on the AG&B website were rubbish.

[darwinohm]

Jeremy, I was curious about your EQ Mah SC-2 as we hadn't heard anything. I knew that you had ordered it some time ago. Glad your liking it. I thought it was especially cool.-- Darwin

[jdavies]

I am right in the middle of lots of work - but I will take some pics when I can.
I am loving the sheer clarity of voicing and the rich, acoustic quality of this guitar through the right amp. The tone sits so well in a mix and leaves space for everything else while still sounding full yet defined. Blarg if you have ever played a Maton CW80 acoustic from the 80's this has that same rich vibe - though not exactly the same tone.

cheers
Jeremy

[blargfromouterspace]

I am loving the sheer clarity of voicing and the rich, acoustic quality of this guitar through the right amp. The tone sits so well in a mix and leaves space for everything else while still sounding full yet defined

I know what you mean - big, clear, full, "piano-like" etc. I found the same thing with my Korina Jr, and I was very surprised to find this quality in a guitar with a vibrato system. At the moment our neighbors on one side are off holidaying, and the other side is a construction site, so I've been able to turn my Bassman-esque amp up much louder than usual and have been running through 4x12's. It's about as much fun as it sounds!

[LeoFThe Champion]

Hey Jamie,Firstly I though you wrote a really interesting and subjective review .
I love an offset shape almost as much as a matching headstock. Very cool guitar and I'm sure it's got tone . What body wood is it made from ?
Have fun
Anthony

[blargfromouterspace]

Thanks Anthony. It's an alder body, 7.7lbs.

[GDub]

Can't say I like the silver color, and I'm definitely not a fan of matching headstocks. Mine is vintage white, and a hard tail... But the pups are the same (hooray!) and sound GREAT. LOVE the shape. Finish-wise, mine is a little rough and tumble. No complaints, but a little more time on the fret edges would have been good (I got spoiled by the PERFECT neck on my Legacy). Still, a ROCKIN' guitar! I play/gig with it a lot. Oh, and mine is heavy too.

Here's mine in new condition:


--GDub

[blargfromouterspace]

Can't say I like the silver color, and I'm definitely not a fan of matching headstocks.

They're the two things I'd change... Should have gone with a classic colour and will next time I order one, but the way it plays and sounds more than makes up it. And that shape!

[Fumble fingers]

Jamie , did you ever get any out-door pict's ??... curious how the color looks outdoors

[blargfromouterspace]

Jamie , did you ever get any out-door pict's ??... curious how the color looks outdoors

Looks pretty much the same.

[Fumble fingers]

does it look the same in real life compared to the computer monitor ??..... it does look like a gun metal grey on my computer , I still like it , but I can understand the dissapointment based on the other shore line gold's on the net .... wonder if this could of been a mistake ?

[blargfromouterspace]

....