DBraz

I have owned several Jems and always found them incredibly playable. One downside was the shoddy paintjobs and another that they always felt cheap. I know that is subjective but just my own impression. Hamer shredders to me have always felt substantial and give the impression of being designed as one solid piece. The Jems by contrast felt like a box of parts put together.

I am curious to experience the scale length of a Virt. It really must open up that upper register. The only reason I have held back on some opportunities where I could have bought one is the lack of flexibility with the stacked single coil. I think that is why the Cali is so appealing. That single coil on the neck does add so many options.

I for one would love one. I tried to contact the dude on Ebay about the one that was for sale last year but to no avail...

Wolfgang is not a patch on a Cali. Build quality is less consistent, they feel a lot shorter (scale length and 22 frets), and don't cut the mix in the same way. Floyd is an original from what I gather and is very good. To me they always felt weird, a little crampt and not as natural to play as the Cali which is effortless by comparison. And aesthetically (I know) they cannot hold a candle to the Cali.

What a fantastic video. Thank you for posting.

I am still in buying mode but only for really special items that grab my fancy. Nothing run of the mill. The kind of things that tick my boxes are either Shishkov made, Hamer's with LED's, FM Cali Customs or Chris Matthes's Prince guitar. Priority is getting the studio built.

I have plenty of experience of a Soloist. More attack than a Cali Custom set neck but doesn't sound as big. The Cali Custom (with a mahogany body) is more like a shreddy Les Paul in my opinion.

I am interested. Is that a headstock repair?

Really awesome work Mike. It's funny how high quality build photos can build the appreciation of your brand soooo much. But it really does. Like any craftsman at the top of his game you make it all look easy but as any of us who have tried this will testify - it isn't. Very very exciting. I can only imagine how people will respond once the paint gets applied!

Definitely my favourite selection of update pictures to date. Awesome work Mike.

Absolutely awesome photo updates Mike. What a beautiful build. The Ultimate owner's are going to really treasure the finished product's seeing the care and attention that's going into these wonderful works of art.

My V picks arrived for the weekend. I bought a pack of ten. These are ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT. Incredibly fluid and fast for chords, alternate picking, you name it... Lonel - thank you for posting about these!!

This has got my attention. I have used Jim Dunlop 1mm blue picks for 20 years, often slightly filed, and love trying new picks out - to date with no change. These seem to be universally praised so I'd be a fool not to give them a shot. Thank you for posting!

I have often swapped the neck pickup's in Cali's as they quite often don't have enough for me. By and large though I tend to keep them as they are.

I tend to use 10's on anything that is 24.75 scale and 9's on 25.5. 10's definitely sound meatier. 11's are currently on my Newport and sound awesome so I am reluctant to change them and the set-up.

If someone on the HFC didn't buy it I suspect it's on its way to Russia.

Gone. Perhaps the nicest maple bodied Cali body I have seen and I love the colour. Agree with above - if it was a set neck it would be perfect.

Very cool. Shit loads of energy going on there.

Ok show off Lol Time to get the pictures up!

Is this the greatest guitar in the world? Oh no... This is just a tribute.

Yes, nice in red.

Yes in my opinion. The upper access is amazing, as are the sound combinations. My A5 Custom is one of my go-to guitars.

For me it's a Cali set neck with a mahogany body. I LOVE the look of the FM bodied ones much more but the sound of mahogany, to me, is far nicer. Peter likened it to a shredders Les Paul and I agree. My FM bodied one is very aggressive sounding. Great if you want something that's going to cut in the mix but perhaps not as nice in isolation. The set neck I prefer because of the access to the upper register. And if you have a Cali upper register access IS important.

Perhaps Mike made this one when he was on holiday?

Then I will watch carefully