BEST LOOKING (non-Rickenbacker) GUITARS EVER!!!

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 1:07 pm

My 345 is a bit nice looking!

Not a Ric. but a Gibson (obviously).

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Mon Jan 02, 2006 9:29 pm

Nice 345! Is that a more recent one?

Here are my "Gibson Girl", my second-owner 1967 ES-335TDC I've had since 1969, my 1991 Les Paul 40th Anniversary, and my 1988 Les Paul Junior Pro Custom (which looks like a Tuxedo):

One doesn't see too many Gibsons with all-white headstocks!

leftyguitars · Post by **leftyguitars** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 7:31 am

Gary, it's a 2002 '65 historic re-issue. It is a very nice guitar but the neck is too slim for me, I prefer the thicker '50s necks.

I have a white headstock '69 Fender...

rickenbrother · Post by **rickenbrother** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 9:53 am

"My wife LOVES those basses, Joey! That Stingray looks cool, I didn't know PRS made basses!"

Thanks...actually my wife was a little upset when I sold the PRS. but I hadn't really played it in about 10 years. Thew little that I play a 4 string, I use a Rick.

doctorwho · Post by **doctorwho** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 10:58 am

Nice Fender, Peter - I always have thought that Fenders looked better with the headstock painted, with the exception being my MIJ reissue Rosewood Telecaster (I don't have a picture of it with me at the moment).

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 2:12 pm

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Tue Jan 03, 2006 6:28 pm

I always thought that those Firebirds looked quite strange and disproportionate, back when they were new, but they seem to have stood the test of time...They are attractive in an ugly sort of way, kinda like that girl in high school...you know, the one who would never make Prom Queen, but who still had that indefinable something, and furthermore, she knew it.

Those two archtops are gorgeous. I'm not familiar with the top one, but would sure like to own one; the middle one came from one of those super-churches in Tulsa, no?

More info on the arch tops, Lindsay, if you pleeze!

ken_j · Post by **ken_j** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:34 am

Paul, Elderly sells the Andersen. The Gibby is a ,30s reissue for this year.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 6:51 am

Thanks, Ken. Without any quibble, both exquisite guitars.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 3:34 pm

Hi Paul, Ken has nailed 'em. That soft curve that runs from the tailpiece to the headstock on the Andersen just blows me away.

I wish I'd built that.
There is a second Gibson Art Deco model, but it is busier than this one. This one has a Chrysler Building vibe that I really like. The Firebird is just cool, and to me looks best in the blue.

Great choice for a topic BTW, now if there was a related topic on home refinancing...

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Wed Jan 04, 2006 4:07 pm

Wrong Forum, Lindsay.

BTW, I logged onto Gibson's website trying to find the deco models.

Talk about an exercise in frustration.

The site is not optimized for Apple's browser, Safari, and the Java codes are nonfunctional on many links. After a half an hour of random browsing, I was none the wiser and as alien to Gibbies as I usually am. I have owned my share of 'em, but I've gone off them in general. They do build some lovely archtops, though.

The only thing spoiling the Andersen IMO is the script logotype. Its location on the tailpiece looks like an afterthought. They could learn a lot from Turner, who apparently have a design-savvy person somewhere on staff.

There are some gorgeous archtops being made today.

This is a slightly-modified Carlo Robelli that I got on eBay for about $350.00. Plans include a custom, stairstep-type bound pickguard. The tuners are Imperial replicas and the tailpiece is Benedetto. I know it's a far cry from an Anderson, but it's a great buy in a full-bodied jazzbox with that mid-century vibe.

lshaia · Post by **lshaia** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 3:53 am

Here's the link:
http://www.gibson.com/whatsnew/pressrelease/2000/jul11a.html
My mistake, though; what I thought in my very quick look at the pictures was a "busy" guitar was actually the back of either the first Gibson, above, or this one:

red_rob · Post by **red_rob** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 6:31 am

I can't believe there's no Gretschs on this thread!!

Camera is coming out tonight....

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:25 am

Here's a Gretsch--one of my own creations: a model G5275 that's been modified into a Duo Jet 120th Anniversary model.

I suspect that some might think it arrogant to nominate one of my own creations, but I love the looks of many Gretsches, and this is a model they never built.

This was originally a black and mahogany guitar, which I picked up in sadly butchered condition from an 18-year-old fellow whose ambitions unfortunately exceeded his ability to fulfill them. The guitar originally came with humbuckers by Gretsch, and he wanted to fit Filtertrons. so he got out his only toolkit--a Swiss Army Knife--and started to hack away at the pickup openings... The result was not pretty, but he did manage to jam in the pickups. I had to completely route out the openings, fit material in and then re-route the openings to proper size and location. Then I made the heights adjustable with screws and springs. The paint job is Bamboo Yellow/Copper Mist. The pickguard is a refinished and reshaped 120 Anniversary hollowbody guard, and all hardware is new including a rocking bar bridge, which gives surprisingly good intonation.

wayang · Post by **wayang** » Thu Jan 05, 2006 7:43 am

Er, JJ...I could swear this guitar was used by you in a post to illustrate why yellow is a color that never looks good on a guitar. Just wondering: have you changed your mind?

It looks fine to me...just makes coordinating it with your stage clothing a bit more of a challenge...