Thanks everyone! It will be a change for me. Doesn't mean the Rics will not get played, just time shared
Joey, I am not generally a Tele or Strat shape guy myself. I have never found a Tele or Strat I got along with. But the differences in this T style were significant. The neck carve is very close to my 350V63, which I adore. The upper bout is smoother and less canted, and the line is continued into the cutaway, which is a sharp, sort of venetian style instead of a long rounded protuberance (I never liked the standard tele cutaway), and is very deep, allowing third finger access to the last fret naturally when the back of the palm bottoms against the body. I have never had a guitar like that before. The comfort carves and rounded over body add to the style as well. The headstock is a work of art on it's own. The inlays and matching side markers are pretty unique as well.
Jeff, no point in fanned frets on a 6 string guitar. The fanned frets only become a factor with seven string or baritone instruments, and of course basses, allowing a thinner gauge low B (and lower) string at slightly less tension providing a clarity of tone and ease of play on the bottom end. Not required on a regular old thin string. He is planning a fanned fret 7 string and a fanned fret baritone. For Gretschiness, there is a TV Jones Magnatron in the neck and a Classic at the bridge. Originally a Classic Plus, but the Classic provided better balance between the two. Master tone, Master volume. Nice and simple.
Spring modified Bigsby, Graph Tech recessed bridge, bone nut (Sheldon wrote me how surprised he was that the bone out performed the Graph Tech nut), Sperzel locking tuners, 5 piece walnut neck with wenge fingerboard and flame maple headstock face (from the same top wood piece used on the body), ash chambered body. I am looking forward to this.
Cool guitar!
