Post by grayn on Aug 23, 2016 19:33:22 GMT
I actually had a reason, to get yet another guitar.
Other than incessant GAS.
The trio I'd been playing/gigging with, lost our drummer.
After a ton of drummer wanted ads and auditions, we just couldn't get the right guy/gal.
So we've decided to become a duo.
The lead singer does the chugging guitar work.
He uses a Sigma cutaway dread.
I'd most recently been playing bass but decided, as a duo, another guitar would work better.
I didn't want to go back to 12-string and decided a 6-string electro, with effects pedals, was the way to go.
Playing counter melodies, lead lines, bass lines and arpeggios.
Whilst also wailing some back up vocals.
I didn't want to spend too much but wanted something cool, with a good pickup.
I have recently become aware of the Fender, Paramount, acoustic guitar series.
All solid wood guitars, including ebony fingerboards and bridges, with very stylish designs.
The PM3 parlour really caught my eye.
At half the price, I loved the look of the Fender Ron Emory Loyalty Dreadnaught, too.
An all laminate guitar.
Both use Fishman pickups.
I went to Reidys, in Blackburn, who had both these electros, in stock.
I first tried them acoustically.
The all laminate dread was surprisingly good.
A very decent, overall sound and very easy and pleasant to play.
The finishing was again, very good.
The Paramount Parlour was a gorgeous, sunburst guitar.
A real stunner, IMO.
And yes, it's all solid wood (rosewood/spruce) gave this small guitar a warm, deep, lush tone.
Nothing boxy here.
I was even more impressed with this baby.
So I asked if I could try these 2, through an amp.
I was taken into the shop's lavish, new, Taylor room.
Where the rarified air was humidified, and a plush, leather couch was for added comfort.
They seemed to have have stopped stocking Acus combos, so I had to make do with AER.
Amped up, both guitar's pickups did a decent job of amplifying the guitar's sonic characteristics.
The dread was nice and even, with a really strong sound.
The parlour, a tiny bit deeper and a tiny bit sweeter.
Though, being saddle based, piezo pickups, they also had that synthetic quality, that is inherent, in the design.
Nothing that couldn't be worked with.
Especially with some subtle effects.
I'd spotted that they had a few Taylor GS Mini-e guitars in.
Very smart looking guitars.
The one that grabbed my attention, was an all koa guitar.
Laminate back and sides, with a solid top and an Expression pickup system.
A more organic looking guitar.
It's style coming from it's woods and shaping.
No glamourous binding, rossettes or headstocks.
A short scale of 23.5 inches, also set it apart.
Being used to my Jag's 24 inch scale, it didn't phase me.
Acoustically, this little Taylor did not disappoint.
Koa is like a focused mahogany, or even like walnut, to my ears.
It is very playable, with a lovely ebony fingerboard, sapele neck and good fretting.
Not as lush, deep or sweet as the Fender parlour but very strong and defined.
I put it through the amp and this is where it came out top, sonically.
I think the Expression pickup goes at the back of the bridge, rather than under the saddle.
This seems to keep things very natural sounding.
If I'd been buying a guitar for mainly acoustic usage, I'd have gone for the Fender Paramount PM3 Parlour.
For amped up usage, the Taylor won the day.
It sounds great acoustically but excels, through the amp.
I like the way the 3 controls sit on the shoulder.
Not the visually ugly preamp unit, one usually sees.
Although you don't get the very helpful, built in tuner.
Though, to be fair, the Fender Paramount series use a fairly discreet control set up, too.
The GS Mini-e comes with a nice gigbag, that is really more like a rigid foam case.
Not quite as protective as a hard case but not far off.
It's home now and sounding very sweet.
After a day at work and a guitar buying session, I'm feeling pretty pooped now.
It's tiring stuff, if indredibly enjoyable.
Can't wait to get the new baby through my Acus and the singer's coming round tomorrow.
So it's straight into it, for my new geetar.
Taylor GS Mini-e
Tech Specs:
Body Shape GS Mini
Color Natural
Finish Satin Varnish
Top Wood Solid Koa
Back & Sides Wood Layered Koa
Body Bracing X-Bracing with Relief Rout
Neck Wood Sapele
Fingerboard Material Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay Dots
Number of Frets 20
Scale Length 23.5"
Tuning Machines Die-Cast Chrome
Bridge Material Ebony
Nut/Saddle Material Tusq/Micarta
Nut Width 1.6875"
Body Length 17.625"
Body Width 14.375"
Body Depth 4.4375"
Overall Length 36.625"
Electronics Expression System 2
Strings Elixir Phosphor Bronze Medium
Case Included GS Hard bag
Other than incessant GAS.
The trio I'd been playing/gigging with, lost our drummer.
After a ton of drummer wanted ads and auditions, we just couldn't get the right guy/gal.
So we've decided to become a duo.
The lead singer does the chugging guitar work.
He uses a Sigma cutaway dread.
I'd most recently been playing bass but decided, as a duo, another guitar would work better.
I didn't want to go back to 12-string and decided a 6-string electro, with effects pedals, was the way to go.
Playing counter melodies, lead lines, bass lines and arpeggios.
Whilst also wailing some back up vocals.
I didn't want to spend too much but wanted something cool, with a good pickup.
I have recently become aware of the Fender, Paramount, acoustic guitar series.
All solid wood guitars, including ebony fingerboards and bridges, with very stylish designs.
The PM3 parlour really caught my eye.
At half the price, I loved the look of the Fender Ron Emory Loyalty Dreadnaught, too.
An all laminate guitar.
Both use Fishman pickups.
I went to Reidys, in Blackburn, who had both these electros, in stock.
I first tried them acoustically.
The all laminate dread was surprisingly good.
A very decent, overall sound and very easy and pleasant to play.
The finishing was again, very good.
The Paramount Parlour was a gorgeous, sunburst guitar.
A real stunner, IMO.
And yes, it's all solid wood (rosewood/spruce) gave this small guitar a warm, deep, lush tone.
Nothing boxy here.
I was even more impressed with this baby.
So I asked if I could try these 2, through an amp.
I was taken into the shop's lavish, new, Taylor room.
Where the rarified air was humidified, and a plush, leather couch was for added comfort.
They seemed to have have stopped stocking Acus combos, so I had to make do with AER.
Amped up, both guitar's pickups did a decent job of amplifying the guitar's sonic characteristics.
The dread was nice and even, with a really strong sound.
The parlour, a tiny bit deeper and a tiny bit sweeter.
Though, being saddle based, piezo pickups, they also had that synthetic quality, that is inherent, in the design.
Nothing that couldn't be worked with.
Especially with some subtle effects.
I'd spotted that they had a few Taylor GS Mini-e guitars in.
Very smart looking guitars.
The one that grabbed my attention, was an all koa guitar.
Laminate back and sides, with a solid top and an Expression pickup system.
A more organic looking guitar.
It's style coming from it's woods and shaping.
No glamourous binding, rossettes or headstocks.
A short scale of 23.5 inches, also set it apart.
Being used to my Jag's 24 inch scale, it didn't phase me.
Acoustically, this little Taylor did not disappoint.
Koa is like a focused mahogany, or even like walnut, to my ears.
It is very playable, with a lovely ebony fingerboard, sapele neck and good fretting.
Not as lush, deep or sweet as the Fender parlour but very strong and defined.
I put it through the amp and this is where it came out top, sonically.
I think the Expression pickup goes at the back of the bridge, rather than under the saddle.
This seems to keep things very natural sounding.
If I'd been buying a guitar for mainly acoustic usage, I'd have gone for the Fender Paramount PM3 Parlour.
For amped up usage, the Taylor won the day.
It sounds great acoustically but excels, through the amp.
I like the way the 3 controls sit on the shoulder.
Not the visually ugly preamp unit, one usually sees.
Although you don't get the very helpful, built in tuner.
Though, to be fair, the Fender Paramount series use a fairly discreet control set up, too.
The GS Mini-e comes with a nice gigbag, that is really more like a rigid foam case.
Not quite as protective as a hard case but not far off.
It's home now and sounding very sweet.
After a day at work and a guitar buying session, I'm feeling pretty pooped now.
It's tiring stuff, if indredibly enjoyable.
Can't wait to get the new baby through my Acus and the singer's coming round tomorrow.
So it's straight into it, for my new geetar.
Taylor GS Mini-e
Tech Specs:
Body Shape GS Mini
Color Natural
Finish Satin Varnish
Top Wood Solid Koa
Back & Sides Wood Layered Koa
Body Bracing X-Bracing with Relief Rout
Neck Wood Sapele
Fingerboard Material Ebony
Fingerboard Inlay Dots
Number of Frets 20
Scale Length 23.5"
Tuning Machines Die-Cast Chrome
Bridge Material Ebony
Nut/Saddle Material Tusq/Micarta
Nut Width 1.6875"
Body Length 17.625"
Body Width 14.375"
Body Depth 4.4375"
Overall Length 36.625"
Electronics Expression System 2
Strings Elixir Phosphor Bronze Medium
Case Included GS Hard bag