This is Woody and he’s my best friend. He needs a new knee and I really don’t need more than one guitar. No sympathy required here as he’s going to be just fine and I have no problem turning a few toys back into cash. What I have had real trouble with is deciding which to put on the block, so I’ve put a load here but I’ll likely sell two at most. I will add a little cautionary note though for anyone like me, who took out their pet insurance several years back and have renewed at the same level of cover. A figure per claim that would have covered an operation, the pre and post op rehabilitation therapies and all the drugs back in 2015 won’t do now.
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This one is just a few weeks old, bought after being really really impressed with the Mondata baritone. I was fairly skeptical about the whole Rivolta brand for a while, I know that Denis Fano's reputation speaks very loudly but they are still made by Eastwood and their reputation, when it comes to quality, is not always so hot. But seeing the retailers that have chosen to stock them did suggest they are a top level product. And you know what? They really are.
The finish is deep and flawless, the fretwork is that of a premium brand, the set up it arrived with is excellent, the pickups have genuine character and it plays with a smooth low action. Oh.... and did I mention, it's sparkly and lovely
Now, pay attention. This bit is important.
The guitar is in fabulous condition but it has had A SIGNIFICANT NECK/HEAD REPAIR.
It suffered a drop before it had even been sold by Andertons and they have had it repaired. It's the best neck repair I've seen, had to see at all and impossible to feel but it's there. Please take a close look at the pics.
From the workshop of Michael Coulings, this is 'Pistachio". I don't actually know many of the specs on this one. I can tell you it's light, the finish is a yellow over blue to give the green, the relicing is nice and restrained, the neck is all maple and feel wonderful (like REALLY wonderful) and the hardware is great. This is the one that the folks I know as real people on here have said I'm mad to put on the block. They're probably right. It came to me with a completely mad 11 pole piece tele pickup in the bridge and while not bad at all, it wasn't quite right. I've changed that this week for what is probably a Pure Vintage 64 from Fender. See this thread https://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/212861/anyone-recognise-this-tele-pickup#latest
The Neck pickup is a WRHB style from The Creamery and is without doubt the sweetest neck humbucker I've ever heard. If this guitar does go, I'll be getting one of these in something else one day. Comes in a very sweet lightweight aluminium flight case too.
The last gem is this hand build from Matt, who is Fidelity. It's a chambered swamp ash body and top, the neck is single piece of wenge, or if you prefer the other way, wenge. All the hardware is completely bespoke, the pickups are from Mojo and it's nice and light. Around the low 7s. It definitely has it's own voice, in no small part due to the pickup voiceings. The Mojotron Blade in the bridge is very mid biased, great for sharp and cutting tones but never shrill. The single coil Goldfoil at the neck is super scooped, so huge amounts of warmth and sparkle. The 4 way switch gives you the option of series or parallel for the both on setting. One is what you'd expect and the other is really hot. I like that one a lot. I've always thought that the difference between the two pickups is more like taking a guitar from a very mashally amp to a very fendery one. A great juxtaposition of a guitar, it looks very industrial but plays like the very refined hand built thing it is.
To quote Murray, "I'm going to stop now because I have a lump in my throat"
Yeah, I quite like this one
Oh, comes in a lovely Hiscox hard case too.
(Not related to any of the guitars!).
loving the green Tele!
All those photos of guitars ... pah!
If you're so inclined and have a few pennies spare, pop something in the tin next time you see a vet charity collecting for people that cant afford to help their best friend
@dazzajl has a baritone version too, I’m kinda listing over that one, love that throaty deep open chord baritone sound.