Here are a few more delectable bottom-end monstrosities from around the web. As before, the original gallery from 2011 can be found here: Strange Bass Gallery. It also serves as an index to the res…
Dennis Fano and his Nashville-based team are building some of the best bolt-on electrics on the planet right now. Time to get some air…
OK so sometimes I like to find things that are do-able for my Sunday visits, but sometimes, I just sit, jaw dropped, looking at something fabulous and I never think Hey, I could do that! This is on…
The term “neck profile” refers to the shape of the back of a guitar neck in cross section, and it’s often used interchangeably with the term “back shape.” You can also refer to it simply as “neck shape,” although there are other important neck measurements with which “neck profile” shouldn’t be confused (i.e., neck width, neck depth and fingerboard radius). So, what does all this mean to the average guitar player who is considering buying a Fender guitar with a description that mentions the instrument’s neck profile? Before delving into the details, it’s important to understand that neck profile doesn’t affect the sound of the guitar itself; rather, it affects the way you play it. There isn’t one shape that’s objectively better than another when it comes to soloing, chording, jazz licks, scissor kicks or whatever technique you fancy. It’s purely a matter of personal preference and playing comfort—originally instituted at the request of players who simply had their own individual preferences. OK, now the details: Fender uses the letters C, U and V to designate its neck profiles, along with numerous variations of each. The actual shape of these letters roughly corresponds to the shape of the back the neck in cross section, and each may have varying depths—different thicknesses from the front of the neck to the back, resulting in terms such as “thick C shape” and “deep U shape,” etc. Let’s take a look at the three letter types and what each can offer you. C-Shaped Neck Profile This is the most common modern neck profile: C-shaped necks have a comfortable oval profile that works well for most playing styles. They are usually not as deep as most U- and V-shaped neck profiles. Many Fender guitars, especially Stratocasters, now have a “modern C shape” (or “flat oval”) neck profile, a flattened variation of the traditional C shape. V-Shaped Neck Profile Two versions of this type are popular—a more rounded “soft” V, and a more pointed “hard” V often preferred by players more comfortable with their thumb hanging over the edge of the fingerboard. V-shape necks are part of the old school, and show up on many reissued instruments. U-Shaped Neck Profile Chunky and rounded, with high shoulders. Especially deep U-shaped necks, like those found on some Telecaster guitars, are sometimes referred to as “baseball bat” necks. They’re good for players with large hands, and players who are more comfortable with their thumb on the back or side of the neck. There are also further subdivisions of each type, usually denoted by a design year or era (i.e., ’50s V shape, ’61 C shape, ’70s C shape), in which subtle period-specific variations in one of the basic neck profiles is recreated precisely. There is occasional confusion about C, U and V neck profile designations and A, B, C and D neck width designations. From the early ’60s to the early ’70s, Fender referred specifically to the nut width of its instrument necks using the letters A (1 ½”), B (1 5/8″), C (1 ¾”) and D (1 7/8″). These letters were stamped on the butt-end of the necks, and have nothing to do with neck profile.
Rickenbacker 330 This is my Rickenbacker 330. To see more about it visit: nevertoolateguitar.com/2009/07/24/buying-a-rickenbacker-330/
Not all secrets are equal. Far from it! Some are as simple as who stole the last cookie from the jar (though that can still make us feel incredibly bad). Others deal with the dark past of your family, immense feelings of guilt, and trying to hide some truly awful things that you’d done. Today, we’ll be taking a look at the latter.
Inspired by a recent post on reverb.com, I jumped down an Internet rabbit hole of vintage guitar ads. Naturally, there’s a ton of wonderful stuff to be found, and I was surprised, despite how niche a market these ads were trying to reach, at how little they differ in look and tone from any other ads of their times. ‘50s ads tended to be bland product shots surrounded by expository text, by the mid-‘60s ads started getting more creative, and ‘70s ads were often rainbow-hued blowouts executed by illustrators who owed their livelihoods to Milton Glaser. Which is basically to say that a lot of them could just as easily have been ads for cars or small appliances. Why this surprised me, I don’t know—they were crafted by the same agencies, using the same broad theories as to what worked, as all other ads. (And if those cultural transitions interest you, I cannot recommend Thomas Frank’s The Conquest of Cool
A selection of guitars and amps from Richard Gere''s personal collection. All photos: CHRISTIE''S IMAGES LTD. 2011
Anibal Mistorni of AM Guitars is building guitars from vintage chrome vacuum cleaners
As the name implies, clickbait is a form of false advertisement online. It usually comes as a link to a website with a sensationalist headline, and it has become the laughing stock of the internet.
I've seen some really weird basses and I'd love to open a thread about the weirdest shapes around :) [IMG] I remember BTW a very weird body...
