The question often arises as to whether it makes sense to upgrade a cheap or less expensive guitar or to save until you have the cash to buy the Name Brand?
This video compares the tone of a Gibson Les Paul Traditional Plus Top electric guitar with 57 Classic pickups vs a factory upgraded Epiphone Bonamassa Signature Les Paul with USA Burstbuckers, a #2 in the neck position and a #3 in the bridge position.
Both guitars have the same strings and are setup the same, meaning pickup height to bottom of the strings is the same and the volume and tone knobs are all at “ten”.
I play the same riff throughout so you can judge the sound, not the song or playing.
I start with the acoustic sound of the guitar, then all three pickup positions with some overdrive then all three pickup position with a clean amp that is a bit louder.
I finish up by playing a verse of “Stormy Monday” in the middle position on both guitars.
Please hit the YouTube “like” button on the video and feel free to share it!
Thank you,
Rick McCargar
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Little Martha – Rick McCargar
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Rick
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Alvarez Masterworks MDA70CE acoustic-electric guitar – New Gear Day!
Alvarez Masterworks MDA70CE acoustic-electric guitar – New Gear Day!
These guitars are beautiful, and relatively inexpensive considering they are made out of all solid wood, bone nut and bridge, ebony pins and tuning key buttons plus Paua Abalone and Mother of Pearl.
I bought it new from Pacific Guitar Sales on reverb.com and got it for the offer I made of $800. They were asking $899.
So far, I’m loving it! The top is a bit more stiff than the Guild Jumbo (in the pix) and naturally it’s less boomy/bassy. So they each have quite different voices.
The Photos!
Alvarez Masterworks MDA70CE
Alvarez Masterworks MDA70CE body front photo
Alvarez Masterworks MDA70CE tuner
From Alvarez: Key features
* Series – Alvarez Masterworks
* Top Wood – Solid AA Sitka Spruce
*Back & Sides Wood – Solid East Indian Rosewood
*Shape – Dreadnought w/ Cutaway
*Neck – One piece mahogany, 50/50 Semi gloss finish
*Bracing System – FST2M – Forward Shifted, Scalloped X
*Bridge – Bi-Level Rosewood
*Inlays – Abalone & Mother of Pearl
*Purfling – 1.5mm Paua Abalone
*Fingerboard – Rosewood with 12th Abalone Fret Inlay
*Headstock Plate – Rosewood
*Nut & Saddle – Real Bone
*Tuner – Premium Die Cast Gold w/Ebony Buttons
*Binding – Flame Maple
*Bridge Pins – Ebony
*Strings – D’Addario EXP
*Accessory – Alvarez Hardshell Wood Case
The Alvarez MDA70CE is made from a hand selected, AA solid Sitka spruce top, and solid, cured mahogany back and sides. Each component is made of natural material, including real bone saddles and nuts, Acacia Koa bindings, Paua Abalone purflings, ebony bridge pins and green abalone inlays. Masterworks guitars feature a one-piece mahogany neck with a 50/50 finish, premium tuners and 12th Fret abalone inlay.
Thanks for watching, hit “like” if you did!
Rick McCargar
1 ) Donate using the PayPal Donate button or by clicking here: http://paypal.me/RichardMcCargar
Download “Little Martha” from iTunes, I’d sure appreciate it!
Little Martha – Rick McCargar
Stream Maxstrumental 6C on Spotify.
Evolution of a Guitar Player T-shirt by LegendaryLicks
Make unique custom t shirts no minimum at Zazzle.
Thank you for your support!
Rick
or here: http://paypal.me/RichardMcCargar
Blackstar HT-1R: Channel 1 at full gain and volume – lots of crunch on this 1-watt amp
Blackstar HT-1R crunch demo. I Recorded three short pieces using my 1 Watt Blackstar HT-1R Combo with the supplied 8″ speaker using my ZOOM Q3HD video camera with XY mics. This little amp provides great bass and crunch for such a small amp. Let me know if you have any questions or comments, and thanks for watching!
Thanks for watching, hit “like” if you did!
Rick McCargar
1 ) Donate using the PayPal Donate button or by clicking here: http://paypal.me/RichardMcCargar
Download “Little Martha” from iTunes, I’d sure appreciate it!
Little Martha – Rick McCargar
Stream Maxstrumental 6C on Spotify.
Thank you for your support!
Rick
or here: http://paypal.me/RichardMcCargar
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