AlanN
Well-known member
(Danger: long post. There may be a review in here somewhere, but I'm buggered if I can find it.)
My first proper guitar - you know, one that stayed in tune, didn't rot, didn't have the action of a double bass, didn't have to have its neck re-glued every two weeks, and didn't smell like it had been used as a rolling bench by the slightly scabby pothead you bought it off - was an Epiphone Sheraton. It was the most expensive thing the sixteen year old AlanN had ever owned, and though I was chuffed t'bits with it, I always harboured a secret longing for the guitar that was hung next to it in the store - a blonde 335.
It was beautiful. I didn't dare play it - guitar shops in the UK aren't the friendliest places in the world to your average teenager (or now that I think about it, anybody else for that matter) and even with the money to buy something, you're regarded with immeasurable suspicion until your money is in the register and you're safely out the door. But still, i'd invent reasons to come back - a snapped string here, a few plectrums there, and oh! I need another string winder so I can do two strings at once - just to come in and stare at her. Yes, her, for she was undoubtedly a she; a classy lady, teasing me with her ?1899 price tag; flirting away as if she knew I'd never have her. Her sensuous curves, her... *cough* hang on. Anyway, the day she was sold was the day I promised to hunt her down and own her one day. Or one just like her. I'm not a picky man.
So anyway, I've been looking for a brand new Gibson 335 for the past few months after suddenly finding myself with the excess cash to afford one, which isn't something that happens every day. I've scoured every shop in the north west of England and I have to say I've been appalled by what I've played - Gibson are not doing themselves any favours by putting out such a horrific display of quality control. A slightly warped neck, a fingerboard separating from the neck, a tone control which refused to work... god-awful. The second hand instruments were lovely, but the price tag of a new one was making me baulk enough without breaking the ?2000 mark. So I hunted around until somebody mentioned Tokai - and a quick google search later led me here.
And I've just received Johan's natural ES120. He posted it very quickly, but that hasn't stopped me from being as irritable and irrational as a schoolboy on Christmas eve for the past week while waiting for it. What was worse was that we were down to entertain the in-laws tonight, who are amazingly lovely people, but getting between me and a guitar, which made them hell-spawn for the evening.
Somebody supernatural, however, must love my playing*, as the in-laws cancelled and I've just emerged from two hours of uninterrupted play with a massive grin on my face. Johan, your choice in pickups is exemplary my friend - those Seymour Duncan Antiquities you installed are just staggeringly good; the finest ear candy I've greedily consumed in a long, long time. As for the guitar itself - beautiful to look at, and an utter joy to play; I don't recall ever playing so cleanly, so quickly, and so dynamically before in my life.
So in conclusion: Teenage AlanN is a loser! Gibson can kiss my grits! Tokais grant you magical finger-based powers!
*Probably one of those gods with no ears.
My first proper guitar - you know, one that stayed in tune, didn't rot, didn't have the action of a double bass, didn't have to have its neck re-glued every two weeks, and didn't smell like it had been used as a rolling bench by the slightly scabby pothead you bought it off - was an Epiphone Sheraton. It was the most expensive thing the sixteen year old AlanN had ever owned, and though I was chuffed t'bits with it, I always harboured a secret longing for the guitar that was hung next to it in the store - a blonde 335.
It was beautiful. I didn't dare play it - guitar shops in the UK aren't the friendliest places in the world to your average teenager (or now that I think about it, anybody else for that matter) and even with the money to buy something, you're regarded with immeasurable suspicion until your money is in the register and you're safely out the door. But still, i'd invent reasons to come back - a snapped string here, a few plectrums there, and oh! I need another string winder so I can do two strings at once - just to come in and stare at her. Yes, her, for she was undoubtedly a she; a classy lady, teasing me with her ?1899 price tag; flirting away as if she knew I'd never have her. Her sensuous curves, her... *cough* hang on. Anyway, the day she was sold was the day I promised to hunt her down and own her one day. Or one just like her. I'm not a picky man.
So anyway, I've been looking for a brand new Gibson 335 for the past few months after suddenly finding myself with the excess cash to afford one, which isn't something that happens every day. I've scoured every shop in the north west of England and I have to say I've been appalled by what I've played - Gibson are not doing themselves any favours by putting out such a horrific display of quality control. A slightly warped neck, a fingerboard separating from the neck, a tone control which refused to work... god-awful. The second hand instruments were lovely, but the price tag of a new one was making me baulk enough without breaking the ?2000 mark. So I hunted around until somebody mentioned Tokai - and a quick google search later led me here.
And I've just received Johan's natural ES120. He posted it very quickly, but that hasn't stopped me from being as irritable and irrational as a schoolboy on Christmas eve for the past week while waiting for it. What was worse was that we were down to entertain the in-laws tonight, who are amazingly lovely people, but getting between me and a guitar, which made them hell-spawn for the evening.
Somebody supernatural, however, must love my playing*, as the in-laws cancelled and I've just emerged from two hours of uninterrupted play with a massive grin on my face. Johan, your choice in pickups is exemplary my friend - those Seymour Duncan Antiquities you installed are just staggeringly good; the finest ear candy I've greedily consumed in a long, long time. As for the guitar itself - beautiful to look at, and an utter joy to play; I don't recall ever playing so cleanly, so quickly, and so dynamically before in my life.
So in conclusion: Teenage AlanN is a loser! Gibson can kiss my grits! Tokais grant you magical finger-based powers!
*Probably one of those gods with no ears.
