Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Non-Rickenbacker Guitars & Effects

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lovecity
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Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by lovecity »

I've got the itch for a teardrop (again)!

Initially I was thinking a vintage Vox... but those are pricey.

Has anyone played/owned a Phantom Guitar Works copy?

I've read that they're better than the originals.. is this true?

Any help would be awesome!
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jps
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by jps »

After reading an interview with the owner of PGW in VG magazine, I'd buy one. :)
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collin
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by collin »

I used to own a Seafoam green Three pickup solidbody Teardrop.

Really cool guitars. Well built, assembled in the US (foreign parts though). Top quality fit/finish, buy the case too!!

Couple things that bothered me....the roller nut is irritating, and the guitar sounded TERRIBLE overdriven. The single coils are thinner than thin, but overall it's strat-esque.

Overall a Good value for under $800, IMO. I later bought a white LE authentic Vox Brian Jones teardrop, but wasn't too thrilled or impressed with the guitar, and sold it. I'd actually take the PGW over the Vox anyday.
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collin
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by collin »

jps wrote:After reading an interview with the owner of PGW in VG magazine, I'd buy one. :)
The owner of PGW is Jack Sands, previous guitarist in garage band legends Quarterflash.
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longhouse
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by longhouse »

They're great! Had to do some set-up work on mine initially, but I've loved it since.
Have a look / listen:

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jps
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by jps »

collin wrote:
jps wrote:After reading an interview with the owner of PGW in VG magazine, I'd buy one. :)
The owner of PGW is Jack Sands, previous guitarist in garage band legends Quarterflash.
I have their first album.
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Danotron
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by Danotron »

Quarterflash?

Is that "harden my heart" Quarterflash?
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longhouse
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by longhouse »

Yes, the selfsame Quarterflash with the scritchy pitchy sax part! Jack's a very amiable guy -and, like us, a true believer!

The guitar bodies/necks come from India. The (substantial) hardware come from G.K.W.

I like the sort of Jag meets Strat tone of my Phantom.
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sjb-66
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by sjb-66 »

I have one of the Brian Jones models on Ebay right now. Only reason I am selling is because I lost my job, and I really don't use it much.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0397220232

They are great players, and they have a good clear tone. And they look great. I think the owner of PGW is named Jack Charles.
Karl
"i'll never be more than what I am,...Just a swingin' little Guitar Man!"
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iamthebassman
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by iamthebassman »

The Eggmen are Phantom endorsers, we own 3 different models.
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lovecity
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by lovecity »

Well now I kinda HAVE to buy one!

This part concerns me...
collin wrote:.the roller nut is irritating, and the guitar sounded TERRIBLE overdriven. The single coils are thinner than thin, but overall it's strat-esque.
Could you elaborate, Collin?

Everyone else...

Which would be better... Hollow or solidbody.

I thought solid because it would be less prone to squealy feedback (the ONLY thing I dislike about Rick 300 series) but maybe not!

THANKS!!!
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lovecity
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by lovecity »

sjb-66 wrote:I have one of the Brian Jones models on Ebay right now. Only reason I am selling is because I lost my job, and I really don't use it much.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0397220232

They are great players, and they have a good clear tone. And they look great. I think the owner of PGW is named Jack Charles.
Karl
Hey Karl! I saw yours on ebay, but I was kinda turned off by $75 shipping.
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longhouse
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by longhouse »

Hollow! Definitely.
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sjb-66
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by sjb-66 »

lovecity wrote:
sjb-66 wrote:I have one of the Brian Jones models on Ebay right now. Only reason I am selling is because I lost my job, and I really don't use it much.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0397220232

They are great players, and they have a good clear tone. And they look great. I think the owner of PGW is named Jack Charles.
Karl
Hey Karl! I saw yours on ebay, but I was kinda turned off by $75 shipping.
I can understand that, but last time I shipped a guitar I only charged $50 dollars, and it cost me $75 after all the UPS hiked it. I ammended the shipping charge if it was deemed high. We will see. PGW forces you to buy the case, which cost $150 dollars. I only had the guitar for 4 months and probably only played it not even 10 times. And it has s great clean sound, but over driven is subjective. I thought it sounded better than I hoped overdriven, but it had it's own unique sound. Not like an SG or Les Paul but still pretty cool sounding.
Karl
Last edited by sjb-66 on Thu May 28, 2009 1:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
"i'll never be more than what I am,...Just a swingin' little Guitar Man!"
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collin
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Re: Phantom Guitar Works Guitars

Post by collin »

sjb-66 wrote:I have one of the Brian Jones models on Ebay right now. Only reason I am selling is because I lost my job, and I really don't use it much.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0397220232

They are great players, and they have a good clear tone. And they look great. I think the owner of PGW is named Jack Charles.
Karl
Nice! Your BJ model is a good deal. You're right---it's Jack Charles, I have no idea where sands came from ! (?)! :lol:
lovecity wrote:This part concerns me...
collin wrote:.the roller nut is irritating, and the guitar sounded TERRIBLE overdriven. The single coils are thinner than thin, but overall it's strat-esque.
Could you elaborate, Collin?
Well....I found the single coil pickups a bit "shrieky" when overdriven. Massive highs, thin lows, without the rounded tone of a strat. It was the kind of guitar I bought because of the cool shape and build quality, not necessarily the sound. I'm sure I could have figured out a way to stuff another pickup in there (hot rails humbucker would have been cool), but I sold it before I had the chance.

That said, either the Vox reissues or the PGW guitars are VASTLY superior to vintage Vox items, especially the EKO made italian models (the necks are generally regarded as "terrible"), but those are vintage, collectible etc....so it's a little different.
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