NGD: I've got another semi!

Today was gloriously sunny and a good day for guitar hunting.
I set off early and managed 3 guitar shops.
The first shop seemed to have sold all the guitars, I'd seen on their website, that interested me.
I had a quick go on a John Page Classic.
John Page being a co founder of the Fender Custom shop.
Had a lovely ring to it and felt really well made.
Just don't like the looks, at all.

The 2nd shop had none of the guitars, I'd seen on their website.
Saying, they were all available online, from their warehouse.
Nuts to that.
Finished up at my old favourite, Promenade Music, in Morecambe.
Morecambe Bay looked stunning, in the sunshine.

I started off with a Gretsch Electromatic Centre Block semi, in Georgia Green.
Very nice guitar, stylish and resonant, with a cool look.
Not so keen on the very flat radius fretboard, though.

Next was a white Hofner Verythin, with a "Mod" RAF, coloured,concentric circles, behind the controls.
And a Bigsby.
A meaty guitar that is really well made.
Really solid, with good finishing.
Although the hardware on it is a little cheap.
And it felt a little stiff to play.
But a good set up could sort that out, I reckon.

Then I tried a couple of Radiotone, 335 styled guitars.
Very low cost but deceptively nice guitars.
Good but didn't quite have the magic, for me.

Then came a couple of Duesenbergs.
A Starplayer semi and a Carl Carlton semi.
Both in black and they are infact, very similar guitars.
The Carlton having larger body and a better balance.
Both on the knee and particularly, with a strap.
Very well built with very tasty pickups.
Good lookers, apart from the the gold sparkle, pick guards.
I'd more or less settlled on the Carl Carlton.
Even negotiated a better price with the shop guy (Gary).

He was called away for 10 mins, so I thought I'd try out some preowned Gibsons.
That's when I picked up this 335.
Soon as I held it and played a few riffs and runs, I knew it was a cut above everything else I'd played, that day.
Real quality and real, players guitar.
Rather easy on the eye, too.
It was unpriced and I knew i couldn't afford it.
It was one of those moments when you know you've found something a bit special.
But accept it not going to be yours.
Well, Gary returned and stunned me by quoting a price, only £50 more than the Duesenberg.
Yes please.
Ear to ear grin.

It's in top condition, for a 15 year old guitar.
A couple of hard to see, mini dings and the chrome has lost a lot of it's shine.
It plays beautifully, with a great set up.
Low, solid action and a great acoustic resonance.
Amped up, through my Bues Junior, it is a knock out.
The pickups are quite loud but in their way, very subtle and musical.
Gutsy bridge pickup, that has a lot more to it, that just balls.
The neck pickup sounds magical, with just a hint of break up, on the amp.
Together, they really sparkle and are fantastic for chord picking and 2-note riffs.
You don't need much to get this guitar sounding great.
With flat settings on the the Junior, a touch of spring reverb and alternating the "fat" switch on or off, you get a lot to play with.

Great find.

Tech Specs
Material: Figured, Laminate, Maple Top and Body Finish: Nitrocellulose
Colour: SunBurst
Neck Material: Mahogany
Neck Shape: 1960 slim taper neck profile
Scale Length: 24.75"
Fingerboard Material: Rosewood with Inlay Perloid Dots
Number of Frets: 22
Nut Width: 1.6875"
Bridge/Tailpiece: AVR2 Bridge/Stopbar Tailpiece
Tuners: Grover 102N kidney tuners
Pickups: '57 Classic Humbuckers.
Controls: 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone, 3-way switch
Case: Hardshell