WOOOO PAGEBREAK!!
Okay, since this thread has been kind of idle for a few days, I'll try and kick it up again with a little rundown of my gear.
Let's start off with favourite six-string; My Gibson Les Paul.
It's a standard, from around 05-ish. Therefore it is not one of the new, chambered LP's, and therefore also pretty darned heavy, even though it's fairly light.
It's been retrofitted with Seymour Duncan Alnico II pickups, and is strung up with a custom-gauged 11-52 set. It is permanently tuned to Eb. It plays and sounds absolutely to-die-for.
Her name is Peggy Sue.
Up next is something KimJongSick will be familiar with.
A Gibson SG Special, in the Worn Cherry finish. You can get these things for dirt cheap pretty much everywhere, and they are absolutely fantastic. Mine gets just as much playing time as my expensive-ass Les Paul. I would also like to point out, that it DOES NOT NECKDIVE. I would even go so far to call it perfectly balanced.
It is strung up with a set of 11-54 Ernie Ball string, and tuned to Drop Db.
Her name is Daisy Mae.
Mmmmm, buckle-rash.
Up next is another total gem.
It is an X-Tone PS-2, from around 05-06-ish. I got it through a blowout sale a store in my country had, of some discontinued ESP models. That sale had some sick-ass offers, including the sweet-as-hell Dave Mustaine signature Flying V's for less than half the price, while still brand spankin' factory new!!
It was the same deal with this one. I paid the same price for it, as I would have paid for a Squier or something else ass-tastic.
Instead, I got a REALLY nice Semi-hollow, with a great tone and nigh-on perfect playability. I really couldn't be happier with this, actually.
I went to the aforementioned store, the day after I had witnessed godlike prog-twiddlers Porcupine Tree lay down one of the most awe-inspiring displays of musicianship and art I have ever witnessed. So naturally, I was in a pretty good mood! I had crashed at a good friend's place, and even gotten a good night's sleep, plus a shower.
After this, I figured I might as well go pick up some strings, since the store in my home town doesn't carry Ernie Ball.
When I get there, there's a bit of a line, so I decide to look around a little.
Naturally, I gravtitate towards where they have the ESP/LTD's and Ibanez axes, being the metal-head that I am. I ask one of the clerks if I can try out some guitars over the line 6 POD XT they have set up, and I'm given the green light.
I try out an Ibanez RG321MH, which I really, really liked, but ultimately decided against buying. Glad I did, that day.
Amidst the ESP's, I spot this one. Mainly because it looks cool, but also because it looked TOTALLY out of place next to all manner of pointy, black, EMG-equipped monstrosities.
In the middle of all these guitars that would make you believe they come with a set of spiked leather bracelets and a DIY Tattoo'n'Piercing Kit, I see something that would go hella well together with a sharp tuxedo and hair parted neatly to the side.
Then I think, "Oh what the hell", and try it out just for shits'n'giggles. Surprisingly, the neck feels absolutely perfect. Just the right dimension for my hands and playing style. So far, so good.
I plug it in to the POD, mainly to check the tuning. Surprisingly, it was tuned to Eb, the tuning I use for my band. Surely, a sign from the heavens?!
I jam around on it, and I'm really diggin' the sound, so I ask if I can try it out over some tubey goodness.
I get plugged in to an ENGL Screamer combo, and THIS is where the magic really happens! The amp is set to a low-gain dirty sound, ie. an absolutely rockin' blues tone from the get-go.
All of a sudden, it just clicks and I start to throw out southern RAWK licks and riffs like there's no tomorrow. After a good half hour of pentatonic wanking and an ever-widening grin, I paid the money and took her home, feeling like I'd just hit the jackpot big time.
A good six months of playing it later, I am still convinced that I did. This is very much a story of love at first sight, so this guitar is not going anywhere.
It is strung up with a 10-52 set, and set in Standard E tuning.
Her name is Brandine, named after the redheaded she-yokel of the Simpsons.
Remember this name, kids. If you see one, buy it! Most underrated guitar brand ever, IMO.
Up next, is a guitar that has been in my hands the most recently. Since my band is pretty much completely dissolved, I have turned my attention towards getting a Grindcore/Death Metal band up and running. Naturally, my old 7-string had to come out for this occasion.
It is a heavily modif.... Ehh, Bastardised and Fucked UP Ibanez S7420.
The trem has been blocked, the finish stripped and the neck pickup and switch have been removed. The Bridge pickup has been replaced by a DiMarzio X2N-7, which wired directly to the volume pot, effectively making this the 7-stringed Mr. Hyde-on-steroids version of a Fender Esquire
It's not that versatile, as you may have guessed, but what it does, it does REALLY well. It also has one of the nicest necks I've ever played.
It is strung up with a 10-52 set, with .65 bass string added as the low B.
It's name is "Ungeheuer".
Up next is a kind of prodigal son. It's an Ibanez RG1570 that I bought from a friend. It's really nice, but I never use it, so I'm afraid I'll have to let it go.
It doesn't have a name.
And now, the basses! I have two, and only one of them has a head.
This is my practice amp for home, an Ibanez Valbee. A shame they don't make them anymore.
And my POD.
Yay.
In my now-defunct band's jam room, I also have a Laney GH50L head, with an ENGL 4*12 cab. That amp rocks hard. So hard it doesn't need it's picture taken.
