Metropoulos Forum

Went to Huber&Breeze music yesterday( our local music store other thanGC) and what did we find?
We found the Gibson bus out front and all Gibsons 40%to 60% off ,most were 50% off, and they were giving a demo of the robot guitars.
Ok the robot guitars? Not impressed.
But I did play many less pauls an explorer and a V.
I have to say I was impressed with all the gibys I played, despite all the negative things I have been reading, the guitars all appeared flawless.
I think there must be something to that PLEK thing because the feel and playability of them was outstanding, it almost seemed as if there was less string tension somehow? I don’t know any other way to describe it they almost played themselves!
Sure there were a few that I did not care for the tone of but some were killer. In fact there was one root beer colored LP standard that sounded angelic, the sound just bloomed through a 18w marshall and when pushed it snarled and bit, hung onto notes what a tone machine! I would really love to own that guitar!
There was also a white explorer that was just so %#@!*^% smooth!
We also got to play with #45 of the new jeff beck guitars it was cool but I was not really impressed.
But that may just be me, I don’t think I will ever be impressed with a beat up guitar that costs 25 thousand dollars. And yea no discount on that kind of stuff.
With the discounts it was really hard not to bring one home but my money just wont allow it at this time.
I would also like to say that Huber&breeze is a local shop that has been around since before I ever touched a guitar, they are private owned very mom and pop type store, and the people there are first rate and they seem to do better then the wall mart price and attitude of GC, also I can’t ever remember seeing so many customers in that store in my life, it was hard to move.

TONGA wrote:In fact there was one root beer colored LP standard that sounded angelic, the sound just bloomed through a 18w marshall and when pushed it snarled and bit, hung onto notes what a tone machine! I would really love to own that guitar!

But you know whats strange?? If you bought that exact set up, it would sound different (and I would say, not as good) as what you heard when you first heard it!!
I dont know what the hell thats about, but I've seen it so many times I cant count it anymore. Guitar/amp combination sounds awesome in the store. I buy that exact set up. Get it home, and it sounds "so-so". Not bad, but definitely NOT what I heard 15 minutes ago.
I dont know what that is, but I've seen it happen a zillion times. Maybe its the room?? Buyers fever?? Your guess is as good as mine.

fillmore nyc wrote:

TONGA wrote:In fact there was one root beer colored LP standard that sounded angelic, the sound just bloomed through a 18w marshall and when pushed it snarled and bit, hung onto notes what a tone machine! I would really love to own that guitar!

But you know whats strange?? If you bought that exact set up, it would sound different (and I would say, not as good) as what you heard when you first heard it!!
I dont know what the hell thats about, but I've seen it so many times I cant count it anymore. Guitar/amp combination sounds awesome in the store. I buy that exact set up. Get it home, and it sounds "so-so". Not bad, but definitely NOT what I heard 15 minutes ago.
I dont know what that is, but I've seen it happen a zillion times. Maybe its the room?? Buyers fever?? Your guess is as good as mine.

You're absolutely right, fill. I found that on the D41 I bought at the giutar show and even the new Dobro. The Dobro still sounds great but not as outstanding as seemed to be in the store.

NY Chief wrote:You're absolutely right, fill. I found that on the D41 I bought at the giutar show and even the new Dobro. The Dobro still sounds great but not as outstanding as seemed to be in the store.

What are you using for strings on the Dobro, Chief? I've gone thru a bunch of different sets, and those guitars seem to like phosphor bronze. Especially with the steel body, phosphors will really bring out that high end rip. You know, on the other side of the coin, steel bodied Dobro's or Nats are very responsive cause steel is very reflective of the sound the cone makes, so you might wanna experiment with string types. I could see 80/20 Vintage Bronzes sounding excellent too. Lots of warmth in the tone.
I use Elixir's just so I dont have to change them as much.

BTW, one thing I discovered about those Martins... A few years back I bought a D-42 from Mandolin Bros, and it sounded "good", but not great. I thought it might be strings, but not really. Changing the bridge saddle to Stew-Mac "vintage bone" (Im pretty sure they use "Tusq") made a big difference. If they DO use bone, then the piece in my guitar must've been soft or something like that. Replacing the bridge saddle changed the guitar completely.
(And I sold it anyway... funding my G.A.S, Im sure you understand!!)

Perhaps it's Buyer's remorse you feel when you get home...

chubs wrote:Perhaps it's Buyer's remorse you feel when you get home...

Yeah, I get that sometimes, especially if its a big purchase. When Im in the store (or on eBay), its like "oh, MAN, that guitar is sweet!!"
That very quickly turns into "Did I REALLY need another guitar???" after the money is spent.

fillmore nyc wrote:

NY Chief wrote:You're absolutely right, fill. I found that on the D41 I bought at the giutar show and even the new Dobro. The Dobro still sounds great but not as outstanding as seemed to be in the store.

What are you using for strings on the Dobro, Chief? I've gone thru a bunch of different sets, and those guitars seem to like phosphor bronze. Especially with the steel body, phosphors will really bring out that high end rip. You know, on the other side of the coin, steel bodied Dobro's or Nats are very responsive cause steel is very reflective of the sound the cone makes, so you might wanna experiment with string types. I could see 80/20 Vintage Bronzes sounding excellent too. Lots of warmth in the tone.
I use Elixir's just so I dont have to change them as much.

BTW, one thing I discovered about those Martins... A few years back I bought a D-42 from Mandolin Bros, and it sounded "good", but not great. I thought it might be strings, but not really. Changing the bridge saddle to Stew-Mac "vintage bone" (Im pretty sure they use "Tusq") made a big difference. If they DO use bone, then the piece in my guitar must've been soft or something like that. Replacing the bridge saddle changed the guitar completely.
(And I sold it anyway... funding my G.A.S, Im sure you understand!!)

Dunno what's on there, fill. She still has the strings that were on it from the store. Seems I gotz me some (more) 'sperimentin' to do.

fillmore nyc wrote

But you know whats strange?? If you bought that exact set up, it would sound different (and I would say, not as good) as what you heard when you first heard it!!

No I’m pretty sure I would still love that guitar when I got it home

TONGA wrote:fillmore nyc wrote

But you know whats strange?? If you bought that exact set up, it would sound different (and I would say, not as good) as what you heard when you first heard it!!

No I’m pretty sure I would still love that guitar when I got it home

I sure have a lot of equipment that fits that description too. Some stuff I wouldnt sell at twice what I paid for it. It seems the "impulse" buys... the "I GOTTA HAVE THAT" purchases, are the ones that get the face after a few days.

NY Chief wrote:Dunno what's on there, fill. She still has the strings that were on it from the store. Seems I gotz me some (more) 'sperimentin' to do.

Oh, man... you gotta get some new strings on that thang, bro!! Try a set of phosphors. I think you'll be impressed. My steel "O" friggin' snarls with phosphor bronzes on it.

fillmore nyc wrote

I sure have a lot of equipment that fits that description too. Some stuff I wouldnt sell at twice what I paid for it. It seems the "impulse" buys... the "I GOTTA HAVE THAT" purchases, are the ones that get the face after a few days.

Oh I know the phenomena you are talking about it got me a rack processor back in the eighties, you know before I realized “digital” was French for “sterile lifeless tone!”

that's called Voodoo, they put a spell on teh guitars for they sound good in teh shops ! LOL