What's your favorite guitar that you own?

chris.knudson

chris.knudson

Well-known member
I just saw @mkstewartesq post about his 1977 Strat in the "What does everyone do for a living?" thread, and it made me think that everyone here has a favorite or vintage guitar that we love. Here's mine. It's a 1982 Gibson Victory Artist series bass. I bought it used in 1983, and I love this bass. I don't gig with it anymore because it's heavy as F, but it's my No. 1 bass. It's got some road wear, but for me, that just adds to its character. What's your favorite guitar?
1709602656410.png
1709602723473.png
1709602827076.png
 
Last edited:
chris.knudson said:
I love to see guitars where they were loved so much that the finish is coming off of them.
Click to expand...
It is a factory relic job, that is funny, because I always hated relic jobs. Until I picked this guitar up and felt how it played and heard how it rang out. I was instantly in love with it in spite of it being a relic job. This is one I’ll never sell
 
Giorfida said:
The irony of this is that I’m more of a Gibson man, and out of most Fenders, I normally prefer teles over strats.
Click to expand...

Interestingly, I’m sort of the same way by happenstance.

My most prized guitar is my 1977 Strat that I’ve had since I was a teenager in 1985. But I keep it in its case so, just for a quick “grab and play” session, I actually tend to reach for a cheap MIM Telecaster that I have hanging on the wall near my amp.

While I still love the Stratocaster and pull it out when my time affords some more extended playing time, I am actually finding that, just for a fun guitar to play and noodle around on, I actually prefer the cheap Telecaster. I also think, in a lot of ways, the Telecaster sound suits my playing style even more than the Stratocaster.
 
hard to pick a favourite. they're all different.

alright, how about this (1980) Aria Pro II LC1000

bought it a few years ago 'sight unseen' from a local online secondhand dealer (musicswopshop), which i'd never done before.

- came with original chrome (flaked) hardware, warped black plastics, and the factory fitted USA DiMarzio pickups that appear to be Super IIs (too weak for me)
- replaced pickups with seymour duncans - JB+jazz (zebras), and then more recently -> distortion+jazz (gold covers)
- replaced hardware with gotoh gold.
- new allparts plastics, and new witch hat knobs
IMG_0698.jpeg

it's got the 60s style profile, probably one of the most comfortable necks i've ever played.
yeah i can faster stuff easier/more effortlessly on the RG550, but something about this LPC just feels at home.

Unfortunately it appears to be one of those 'fretless wonders' - you do get used to it, it's kinda cool, but I do wish the frets had a bit more chunk to them, cos sometimes with bendys I run out of clearance and end up mashing my fingertips/nails into the board.


IMG_0619.jpeg

and i actually took it out last year too (not sure ill do this again, weighs a bloody tonne)
IMG_0768.jpeg
 
Last edited:
owlexifry said:
hard to pick a favourite. they're all different.

alright, how about this Aria Pro II LC1000

bought it a few years ago 'sight unseen' from a local online secondhand dealer (topshelfinstruments), which i'd never done before.

- came with original chrome (flaked) hardware, warped black plastics, and the factory fitted USA DiMarzio pickups that appear to be Super IIs (too weak for me)
- replaced pickups with seymour duncans - JB+jazz (zebras), and then more recently -> distortion+jazz (gold covers)
- replaced hardware with gotoh gold.
- new allparts plastics, and new witch hat knobs
View attachment 69993

it's got the 60s style profile, probably one of the most comfortable necks i've ever played.
yeah i can faster stuff easier/more effortlessly on the RG550, but something about this LPC just feels at home.

Unfortunately it appears to be one of those 'fretless wonders' - you do get used to it, it's kinda cool, but I do wish the frets had a bit more chunk to them, cos sometimes with bendys I run out of clearance and end up mashing my fingertips/nails into the board.


View attachment 69992

and i actually took it out last year too (not sure ill do this again, weighs a bloody tonne)
View attachment 69994
Click to expand...
I love Les Paul style guitars, but I get it. I can't do a 3 hour gig with my Victory anymore. I have to play the Jazz bass for anything over an hour. However, I still love playing that bass.
 
owlexifry said:
hard to pick a favourite. they're all different.

alright, how about this Aria Pro II LC1000

bought it a few years ago 'sight unseen' from a local online secondhand dealer (topshelfinstruments), which i'd never done before.

- came with original chrome (flaked) hardware, warped black plastics, and the factory fitted USA DiMarzio pickups that appear to be Super IIs (too weak for me)
- replaced pickups with seymour duncans - JB+jazz (zebras), and then more recently -> distortion+jazz (gold covers)
- replaced hardware with gotoh gold.
- new allparts plastics, and new witch hat knobs
View attachment 69993

it's got the 60s style profile, probably one of the most comfortable necks i've ever played.
yeah i can faster stuff easier/more effortlessly on the RG550, but something about this LPC just feels at home.

Unfortunately it appears to be one of those 'fretless wonders' - you do get used to it, it's kinda cool, but I do wish the frets had a bit more chunk to them, cos sometimes with bendys I run out of clearance and end up mashing my fingertips/nails into the board.


View attachment 69992

and i actually took it out last year too (not sure ill do this again, weighs a bloody tonne)
View attachment 69994
Click to expand...
The Aria Pro II brand is definitely my favorite out of all the guitars from the Matsumoku company…in fact, my favorite out of all Japanese guitars made period.
 
IMG_2577.jpeg
Reverend Jetstream 290 purchased while looking for a tele, but this caught my eye instead mainly because of the p-90s. Had never played p-90s, but from everything I’d heard, it was what I was looking for and this delivered. The neck is super comfortable, the 12in radius makes chording and playing leads easier. I thought I was a die hard rosewood fan, but I love the maple fretboard. The body is Korina so it is light, but resonant. The pups can drive hard, but stay articulate and chimey. I don’t use the bass cut knob much since I really just want the p-90 tone, but it is great for sculpting tone especially in the middle position. This is my go to time and again. The only downside is the previous owner did not disclose that they had borked the trussrod nut and since these have a biflex trussrod, you can’t just replace it and Reverend doesn’t sell just necks. Luckily, the neck is super stable and I have only had to adjust it once in the 6 years I’ve owned it. Had to order one of the stewmac tapered hex wrenches.
 
chris.knudson said:
I love Les Paul style guitars, but I get it. I can't do a 3 hour gig with my Victory anymore. I have to play the Jazz bass for anything over an hour. However, I still love playing that bass.
Click to expand...
yeah no kidding the weight of that victory looks like it'd do a mischief on anyone's back or shoulder.
not all les pauls are super heavy, but this pancaked thing sure is.

Giorfida said:
The Aria Pro II brand is definitely my favorite out of all the guitars from the Matsumoku company…in fact, my favorite out of all Japanese guitars made period.
Click to expand...
hell yeah 🤘🏻
when just going by the photos, and then receiving the item - crikey, i never expected the build quality to be so good.

so yeah, when i saw this goldtop pop up on another online dealer (topshelfinstruments), i jumped on it immediately... (it's a bit of a gaudy gold, but ill take it)
 

Attachments

  • IMG_5925.jpeg
    IMG_5925.jpeg
    552.3 KB · Views: 9
I don't have pictures right now, but I'll see what I can do in the next couple days.

My S500 MIK blue burst my wife bought me when we got married. Heavy as hell swamp ash but those MFD singles can sound like humbuckers. The neck is thick but not uncomfortably thick.
Second is one I haven't gotten out in a long time. My mom's 76 (I think) Jazz Bass. Sunburst, only a couple nicks, otherwise original. She gave it to me about 5+ years ago when her hands were finally too arthritic to try. Now that she's passed away, it stinks I haven't been able to use it more. I will though!
 
Diynot said:
View attachment 70015
Reverend Jetstream 290 purchased while looking for a tele, but this caught my eye instead mainly because of the p-90s. Had never played p-90s, but from everything I’d heard, it was what I was looking for and this delivered. The neck is super comfortable, the 12in radius makes chording and playing leads easier. I thought I was a die hard rosewood fan, but I love the maple fretboard. The body is Korina so it is light, but resonant. The pups can drive hard, but stay articulate and chimey. I don’t use the bass cut knob much since I really just want the p-90 tone, but it is great for sculpting tone especially in the middle position. This is my go to time and again. The only downside is the previous owner did not disclose that they had borked the trussrod nut and since these have a biflex trussrod, you can’t just replace it and Reverend doesn’t sell just necks. Luckily, the neck is super stable and I have only had to adjust it once in the 6 years I’ve owned it. Had to order one of the stewmac tapered hex wrenches.
Click to expand...
I am a diehard rowsewood/ebony fretboard fan, but I have this Kramer with a maple neck that I love too. I keep tape wounds on it, and it is the smoothest bass I have to play. It's a toss up between my Jazz and this bass as my second favorite... well not really, the Jazz is my second favorite, but this one is definitely a favorite for certain kinds of playing styles...
1709608975282.png
 
owlexifry said:
yeah no kidding the weight of that victory looks like it'd do a mischief on anyone's back or shoulder.
not all les pauls are super heavy, but this pancaked thing sure is.


hell yeah 🤘🏻
when just going by the photos, and then receiving the item - crikey, i never expected the build quality to be so good.

so yeah, when i saw this goldtop pop up on another online dealer (topshelfinstruments), i jumped on it immediately... (it's a bit of a gaudy gold, but ill take it)
Click to expand...
At one point in the 70s and 80s, Matsumoku was making the Epiphones for Gibson, so they likely were closer than many copies…and looking back, John Taylor of Duran Duran, Neal Schon, Rudy Sarzo and Cliff Burton (even Yngwie was spotted using one a time or 2) all used Arias at one time or another so they definitely caught the pros’ eyes
 
Mine's a warmoth partscaster from the late 2000s (2008 maybe?). Mahogany body, mahogany neck, ebony fretboard. This thing is my reference for a perfect neck shape. SD quarter pound pickups. Lost the knob on the pickup selector at a show. Cut my hand on the bare switch a few weeks later so I bent the switch down. Seemed like a good idea at the time. This thing has been to many different cities, it's been on a bunch of records, and I think it needs a refret. I doubt it's a particularly valuable instrument but I'll never part with it. IMG_0113.jpeg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top