Mick from Maine

Hi everyone,

I've been reading your threads for a while now thanks to Carey. I had read several of his reviews and ended up following him here. BTW after reading his review of the "Thin Skin" '62 Strat, I sought to find one. I discovered this limited edition sold out in 2006....except for the original prototype that Fender made....I now own it. Carey's right this guitar feels perfect for my hands.

I play blues, rock and am learning some blues/jazz. My equipment:

G&L ASAT JD5 - Blueburst/Maple
'62 Thin Skin Strat Limited Edition - Olympic White/Rosewood
Martin D28 - about 20 years old now
Eastman Mandolin
Banjo - older beginner model
Traynor YCV-50 Blue Amp - tube 50 watt.....thanks everyone....Mick

Welcome, Mick from Maine!

How do you like your G&L? I know people who swear by them and prefer them to any Fender instruments. I haven't spent enough time with them to make that call.

Awesome call on your Strat.

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My G&L is very well made. Strong, sturdy, with a maple neck and swamp ash body...so heavy too. It has a Legacy pup (single coil Strat type) in the neck and a special extra wound single in the bridge for extra sustain. It also has a five way switch. I like this guitar lots. I think there were only 40 or so made. My only complaint is that it has a pronounced V neck, but it is somewhat offset (if that's the term) by it's 7.5 inch radius. It's probably a Warmouth made neck, but I really don't know. It's good for blues, rock, and believe it or not Jazz (one of the switch positions gets close to the "Woman Tone). I'll probably keep it, but would love to add a guitar with humbuckers to my small collection. Any suggestions? Neck feel and tone are important. I am a bit spoiled with the '62 strat for obvious reasons (I'm fortunate for sure...thanks to Carey). My G&L is a great playing guitar too. It's not a true Tele sound though, so I debate whether to sell and invest in a Gibson or some other humbucking guitar.

Thanks for the info on your G&L. I've looked at a new G&L Tele with a great looking flame maple neck before I had my custom relic built, but it was a bit too pricey and "new" feeling.

As for a good humbucking guitar for Jazz, I guess it depends on the type of Jazz. Straight ahead bebop style comping sounds great on a L5 or similar hallowbody, but Scofield/Carlton style fusion requires the feedback resistance of a ES-335 or even a Les Paul. Most of my professors at Berklee had ES-335s or L5s....but there was the occasional rebel that played a Strat or Tele (John Damian or Jim Kelly). The guys that taught me the most had 335s and even Steinbergers, although some confessed it was because the were lighter to carry around on the T (Boston's Subway) back and forth to Berklee!

I occasionally play jazz on my Relic Tele (with an HB in the neck position) and my Line6 Variax (which can sound like a hollowbody or semi-hallow body). I like the fat bass in the lower register but with the "compresion" that happens when you comp in some triads in the mid/upper register. When I play a lot of jazz (its been a few years), I'll put heavier gauge strings on the guitar I'm using (light top/heavy bottom). Not only does it give you extra sustain, but it also keeps complex chords in tune better.

The very best guitarist I know and have played with (jazz or otherwise) plays an L5 with specialized handwound pickups and plays through 10s of thousands of dollars worth of high end tube pre-amps and EQs.....Although he can make any guitar sound spectacular.

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Thanks for your advice. I've not yet played an L5 or a 335...the price still scares me. I've tried the Artcores but can't quite deal with the necks. The Gibson Classic 137 would be more in my price range and might give me some Jazz capability. I'll probably wait until my chops justify the purchase. I too have put heavier gauge strings on my G&L. I have to adjust lots of guitar and amp tones to get what I'd like, but at least it's better than nothing.

An excellent value Jazz guitar is the Japanese made Ibanez Artist John Scofield model. It plays as good, if not better than most new ES-335s, and costs about as much as the ES-137. I stupidly sold mine when I thought my jazz days were over..... Plays like a late 60s ES-335 (apparently those are the best years for a 335).

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