shredmeister

But they slaughtered Charvel. I would guess that if I ordered a master built Eldred with Fender on the headstock, it would be cheaper and not screwed up. How do you mean? People buying new Charvels are saying they play and sound as good as the originals.

Yeah they really are. I have a PC1 and a custom shop Demon. And an 80's Charvel mutt. All 3 scream.

OK I'll play.........

Its all conjecture but some good guesses also. Fender has been down the road with some other guitar companies. With some drastic changes were made. Others not so much. I know that Jackson/Charvel is still putting out good quality product but prices have gone up rather dramatically for the custom shop items. And quality control has not been what it use to in some cases but not all. Some bloopers make it past QC. Fender is not going to lose money. What would be the point of losing money for anybody. I think all can agree to that. So I would think supply and demand are in play here. If Hamer USA is not currently making money then something is wrong and has been wrong all along. Either prices have to go up, quality has to go down or they sell the brand.

Hey look at the positive side - (although HIGHLY UNLIKELY) - The new EVH SIGNATURE HAMER !!!! Nobody will be bitchin' then.

Yeah don't freak out over this just yet. Jackson is still building great guitars. I have a custom built 2005 model and it kicks ass over any superstrat I have ever played. Its the cost that will be the issue - that is whether Fender will cheapen some things unless you order custom built. Expect prices to go up period. With large corporations the BOTTOM LINE is more important than artistry or pride or anything. God I hate corporations - all of them! Anybody that was thinking about ordering a custom from Hamer - let me tell you from experience - ORDER NOW !!! DONT WAIT !!! Price hikes will come.

Yeah the PC1 is my all time favorite American production bolt-on guitar in both tone and playability catagories. Quality wise they are right up there with Suhr or Anderson and I have played several of all of these. The Hamer Cali had a neck that was a little too thin for me. But I love the guitar and the concept of the upper fret access - so much I am having a custom built that will resemble a 24 fret Cali with a thicker neck and two hums.

Its going to be hard to say. This has been a HUGE topic over at the Jackson forum when Jackson got bought out by Fender. Some things did change - the biggest thing were quality control issues even with the Custom Shop. For example, normally when Jackson would screw up a body for instance they would start all over from scratch. Since being owned by Fender they are now reworking everything to save money on materials. So there is always different financial circumstances that will affect things somewhat when this type of thing happens. No way of telling at this point. I can say though there still are some stellar guitars coming out of Fender and Jackson. And EVH has his new Wolfgang made by Fender and it sounds great. So I don't think all is lost......yet. Guess now when I bring some of my Jacksons to the Hamer jams I can say we are all one big family!

Wow its that time of year already! HBD! We need to ROCK the joint soon.

I think if you are good at what it is you play people will listen. Hell I'm in my 40's and I shred. Its what I like to do. I just can't play stuff that bores me or that I don't like. And wherever I go people like to listen - especially the 20 year old kids who like to listen to the stuff and are into good guitar music. I just saw Ronnie James Dio with Sabbath last year and they still kick ass and the place was full. But there is also the fine line of the bald guy singing about banging the chick in a car.... some things just don't sit well.

An original - that's what I always play. Or I will make something up on the spot if the mood is right.

http://www.myspace.com/shredmonster_z ]Here is Mine

Once apon a long time ago I had an Original - only one pick up. I did not know anything about the value of guitars of course back then and sold it for $250 back in 1976. Kicking myself in the ass now but that is how you learn I guess.

That guy has the worst reputation of anyone I have ever heard of in the music business. I bought an Ibanez JEM Blue Floral Pattern in about '93 and talked to him in '96 or so. He said he had a collector that he could get $7000 from for it. So I called him back and got the usual BS from him.

Dave at Robin Guitars! He called me when they forgot to send the tools with my guitar! I was blown away.

After all that "research" you didnt know locking trems used 3mm wrenches? Sounds like a bit of sarcasm here. They don't all use 3mm wrenches. Nothing I had fit. Fact is its a Kahler Steeler floating trem from the 90's. The wrench sizes are different and you need a separate wrench for the bridge and a different size wrench for the nut.

Go to allparts.com because it might be too late to get some from the manufacturer. I hear ya bro.

I am working with moving in and out of the box - that is using notes that are not part of the scale I am in. I play lead. When I solo I combine a number of scales into one solo. Typically the scales I will use when I solo are the major/minor, harmonic minor, minor blues, major blues, diminished, pentatonic and chromatic. I use notes and phrases from each scale for example often in one solo. What I work on is differrent combinations that won't clash with the chords and will resolve smoothly. I also will also switch scales in a song. For example whatever key I am in if we are on the Em chord for example you can use an Em scale or an E pentatonic scale or E major / minor blues scale etc... Or take a blues progression for example. Instead of sticking with one key you can switch to a pentatonic scale for each chord at their root position. Lets say you start with an E then A then B. Instead of playing the whole song in an E blues scale you can use an E pentatonic or blues scale followed by an A pentatonic or blues scale and then the B scales. And then I go in and out of the box.

I don't get it? What kind of tool did you expect? I have never bought a guitar that came w/ a tool. What do I expect ??? How about a truss rod wrench. How about an allen wrench for the floating trem. And another allen wrench for the locking nut. I couldn't change the strings for a month until they all arrived.

Don't know about Hill and US Masters, but when's the last time you tried to order a custom guitar from Jackson?! I've been hanging out at the JCF board a bit recently and I wouldn't place a custom order with them if my life depended on it. Also, since they were acquired by Fender, good luck on getting anything Gibson-esque out them. -Austin Funny you should ask! Last year I got a custom from Jackson and it is absolutely awesome. It was a one of a kind guitar. Incidentally they also made a one of a kind for Rusty Cooley and for other people. Every manufacturer has their problems and issues and Jackson is no different. On the board you hear about gripes and that is with every manufacturer. Check the Parker, Gibson, Fender boards sometime! I recently received a custom from Robin and no tools came with it. Brand new custom guitar and no tools. If you dont like Jackson then try Hill. Hill is your best priced option of the two. Hill currently has a V on ebay and they have a website and reviews on HarmonyCentral. But there are lots of quality small custom shops out there. I research the hell out of guitars - go to all the websites including French and British builders. I am a member of the Parker, Ibanez, Hamer, Jackson, Fender, Shred Guitar, Dinosaur Rock Guitar, Suhr, Harmony Central, HugeRacks Inc, Jam Session and Gear Page forums and a few more. It might take you a while and a lot of research but to find the guitar you want it is well worth it. Go to the forums just like this one and start asking. You will find more options than you know what to do with. It also depends upon how much money you want to spend but what you want is out there. You just have to find it. Personally I dont give a crap what name is on my headstock as long as its a quality product.

There are plenty of other options out there though that won't cost an arm and a leg - some just legs and some arms! Jackson and Hill will give you anything you want and both make top notch guitars. Jackson Custom Shop Hill Guitars USMasters to name a few of the good ones. I would start looking at other companies options - plenty out there to choose from.

I don't know if anyome metnioned Y & T yet. Great great band. Were commonly using harmonic minor scales before just about anybody else. The record company never put enough money into promoting the band. They could have been big.

Between just these 2 woods I prefer Rosewood. Ebony sounds more sterile to me. Have had ebony on a number of guitars. Ebony sounds tight when overdriven for rhythm but sounds crappy for leads. I like both the feel and sound of Rosewood. Rosewood feels a little bumpier and for some reason I like the feel of texture on the fingerboard. Does not slow me down a bit. Overall I prefer Maple above everything else. I get better harmonics, more growl and it seems more articulate when doing fast runs. Why don't you go over to the Suhr or Warmoth sites and check out their wood descriptions. They both have great advice. And they have forums that contain this very topic.

I agree with scooter about an Original Floyd as long as it will fit. Will set you back about $250 though. Floyds have more hardened metal and stiffer springs giving you a little better tone than the Hamer units. Although the Hamer units are not bad. IMO the Californians would have been better with Floyds or Kahler Steelers.

The Hamer Cali has a really nice feel to it and 27 frets is to die for if you like to shred. Nice wight guitar, comfortable neck. A definite winner. A couple minor things - I like a satin back maple neck rather than the shalack or whatever they put on the Cali. Not a big deal just personal preference. The trem was OK - not great. I would prefer an original Floyd Rose or Kahler. Kurt on the board bought this one from me. Good guitar - I just prefer passive pups and did not want to have to change the pots etc... BTW I would try to find an old USA made - preferably Maple Topped with the Boomerangs and passive pups. But thats just me.