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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The Duotone and the T5 are interesting concepts, but for my taste they offer nothing more than a pretty good generic electric sound and a pretty good generic acoustic sound. Competent but nothing to get excited about. And that's before you even think about string guage, set-up and dual amplification issues. For me they'd only be useful if I needed both sounds during one song which seems like an expensive hammer to crack a walnut. What's the problem with carrying guitars that are designed for a specific purpose and not having to deal with the compromises inhierent in hybrid instruments? Don't get me wrong, I'm not knocking them, they just don't have a place in what I do. |
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Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 14842
Location: NJ | The only thing that I found lacking on the DuoTone is a tone control for the piezo.
Other'n that, it's a KickAss guitar . . . |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 5750
Location: Scotland | The problem I have with hybrids is that if you set them up low & light light like an electric guitar the piezo sound sucks, and if you up the gauge to give the acoustic tone some guts they no longer play and feel like an electric. No matter what you do there are major compromises in tone and feel which is nothing to do with the design and everything to do with the fact that electric guitars and acoustic guitars are completely different animals. Screw the convenience, I'd rather haul extra guitars. On the last batch of Cheevers UK tour dates I was carrying 5 stage instruments plus 2 backups, so I guess I'm used to it.
I guess they are perfect for the predominantly electric player who needs an acoustic-like tone for a couple of numbers and that's probably their target market. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 11
| I have owned many Gibsons in my day. It used to be Gibson guitars and Fender tube amps. I've had a number of Les Pauls, but could never get comfortable with them. ES335's were always my favorites. Now, I don't own a single Gibson. I have a Ibanez AS200 and a Hamer DuoTone. Love them both. I saw a beautiful Hamer Artist in a place called Fearless Guitars in Portland (the owner is a luthier, a guy named Chance). He was only asking about $1200 for the Artist. A nice buy. For the bolt-on neck crowd (and I own four, not including my Roland strat-type guitars), check out US Masters guitars. They're sold mostly on line and made in Wisconsin. www.usmasters.com. They do a compression set neck design that is as brilliant as it is simple. Nice stuff at great prices. By the way, I've also owned a couple of Harleys. Just sold my 2003 Road King for what I paid for it. If I'd held it longer, I might have gotten more. I guess re-sale is the only reason to own some things. Keep playing. |
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Joined:
August 2006
Posts: 11
| Just noticed my reply got posted on the wrong thread. The comments regarding Gibson and Harleys make a lot more sense in context with Mr. Ovation's walk on the dark side. Regarding the Hamer Duotone though, it's a great guitar for what it is. It neither replaces, or adequately compensates for an Ovation, but it is a unique animal. Mine has Fat Cat P-90's and a Roland GK2 pickup. The Fat Cats make is seem like a favorite old SG and the Roland pickup sounds combine with the acoustic/piezo pickup sound great for background and keyboard-like parts. It's just a really different animal and I like it for that. |
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Joined:
July 2006
Posts: 171
Location: Oregon | Well I tred there today. My guitar teacher(who sells Ibanez) told me to tru out his new shipment. Because he knows I have constant gas... you know what I mean. Anyway he handed me a http://www.ibanez.com/guitars/guitar.asp?model=AW500NT Sounds awesome. I've always loved Ibanez, and must say they sound great. I don't really care for their looks though. There strong point are there electrics I think anyway. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I think if I just wanted an LP style guitar other than a Hamer, the only one that has impressed me resently are Nik Huber guitars.
Keep in mind the only reason I was interested in an LP was just to have in the studio for familiarity of artists that stop by some traditional gear. But unless I stumble on one helluva deal, I don't think that will be happening.
However, I did happen by the store again today, and I decided I would have to get a black LP if I got one at all. At least in black, I don't have the neck joint and other issues I'm concerned about staring me in the face. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | I know Nik Huber. In fact I had lunch or dinner with him a couple of times. Nice guy, competent builder and puts out a damn nice guitar. My only problem with his guitars are the finishes. although they are good, Hamers still seem to have a ton more persepective in there. It may have to do with Hamer does not usually double stain. |
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Joined:
August 2003
Posts: 430
Location: Lebanon, TN | For me the Brian Moore 24.5" scale guitars are great. I loved that 2.13 I had to sell recently and I would buy one again in a heartbeat. Street price new is only around the $1400 mark.
They also do some marvellous custom builds for around the same a stock Gibberish LP would sell for with greater utility, better looks and that cache that the unknown brands bring. Find more at www.iguitar.com |
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Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Thanks for the Brian Moore link.
I looked in their "recently shipped" section.
They shipped a semi-hollow koa to my local music store of choice. I'll have to look for it when I stop in on monday. |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 10583
Location: NJ | IMHO the import brian moore guitars are expensive |
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Joined:
May 2003
Posts: 4389
Location: Capital District, NY, USA Minor Outlying Islands | If you\'re looking for an ibanez, this is great. But it\'s not a les paul type, though it has two humbuckers. Very easy playing. The necks are to die for. |
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OT - I tested the water on the dark side...
