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  #1  
Old 04-16-2018, 05:01 AM
maplebaby maplebaby is offline
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Default I30LC/I35LC - comparison

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5eAm_7OojHk&t=2s
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  #2  
Old 04-16-2018, 09:18 AM
ChrisN ChrisN is offline
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Thanks for walking us through those 2 guitars. Inspiration meets aspiration in those beauties.

As a newb, I am drawn to the same combination (semi and fully), but in smaller-than-normal-Gibson sizes. I have a Gibson ES 390 (mini HB, not P90) for the fully and an Epi Es 339 for the semi. Both of those have lower bouts just a smidge wider than an LP, so they feel less intrusive to me, and I don't notice a sound deficit. I especially enjoy the 390 acoustically. Excellent combination for me. I'll work on being worthy of Collings!

NB - watching that vid I noticed/watched your Dust in the Wind with that Taylor parlor - that was a nice catch of a very rare bird. It's more cost efficient if I just live vicariously through you.
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Old 04-16-2018, 09:48 AM
maplebaby maplebaby is offline
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Originally Posted by ChrisN View Post
Thanks for walking us through those 2 guitars. Inspiration meets aspiration in those beauties.

As a newb, I am drawn to the same combination (semi and fully), but in smaller-than-normal-Gibson sizes. I have a Gibson ES 390 (mini HB, not P90) for the fully and an Epi Es 339 for the semi. Both of those have lower bouts just a smidge wider than an LP, so they feel less intrusive to me, and I don't notice a sound deficit. I especially enjoy the 390 acoustically. Excellent combination for me. I'll work on being worthy of Collings!

NB - watching that vid I noticed/watched your Dust in the Wind with that Taylor parlor - that was a nice catch of a very rare bird. It's more cost efficient if I just live vicariously through you.
haha...thanks for the post and the kind feedback and checking out the DITW video.

Your guitars sound awesome - nice pair that cover a lot of ground i'm sure! I'm totally with you - love Gibson HBs but just prefer the smaller body size of what you and i have. I'd LOVE see pics of your guitars if you wouldn't mind posting.
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Old 04-16-2018, 12:29 PM
ChrisN ChrisN is offline
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Originally Posted by maplebaby View Post
Your guitars sound awesome - nice pair that cover a lot of ground i'm sure! I'm totally with you - love Gibson HBs but just prefer the smaller body size of what you and i have. I'd LOVE see pics of your guitars if you wouldn't mind posting.
Happy to post pics. I note with some embarrassment that I actually have 2 390s, one in vintage burst and one in black. I wanted black, couldn't find one, bought the last (offered only 2013-2015) brand new 390 available in VB, and promptly found a used black, so bought that. The mini HBs were available only in the 2013, after that they went to P90s. I have no need for 2 of these, so one's a spare (??) - maybe I'll put P90s in the black someday. The unplayed VB's in its case w/strings and truss rod loose, while the black's in the rack. The 390s both have your preferred neck - that '60's slim - it's great and what I'd get if I go Collings someday. The epi has a "slim taper D" which has noticeably broader shoulders than the 390. The Gibson 339 originally was offered with 2 necks - 30/60 (.030 larger than '60s slim) and '57 Classic (much stouter). They stopped that a year or 2 ago and now offer one neck that, I'm told, is very comparable to the epi's slim taper D. The argument is that the semi-hollow design gains better sustain with a stouter neck. Doesn't sound like Collings subscribes to that position, so who knows.

The epi is from a 2012 limited run of several different models bearing a scheme they called "Black Royale" with fine black metallic paint and some kind of sparkle body/fretboard binding (paint is called "Black Pearl" and BP is in the model no.). http://www.epiphone.com/News/Feature...ck-Royale.aspx

I love it, though I don't like the neck as much as the 390s'. I'm trying to force myself to a Gibson 339, but I can't tell the sound apart between the 2, even with the stock pickups, the fit/finish on the epi's actually better done than on the new 390 (shame on Gibson QC these days), and I love the funky look. Plus, it's poly-coated and already has some knocks, which I like for worry-free use. Being a semi, not a fully hollow, I'm not sure I could notice any tonal differences between the epi and the 339, with its "better" single-piece woods, nitro finish, etc. That king of thing would be more apparent on the fully hollow, which is why I didn't get the epi casino coupe (same as 390 spec, but for the same "D" neck). That said, if I gain a finer appreciation for tone and want to upgrade the epi 339's pickups to those Throbaks, I'd be hard-pressed to install $500 pickups in a $400 guitar (but I've done dumber things - I have 2 390s). Not as tastefully presented as yours, but here are some pics (390 VB's pics are sales pics of actual guitar):




















Last edited by ChrisN; 04-16-2018 at 12:51 PM.
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Old 04-17-2018, 04:59 AM
maplebaby maplebaby is offline
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wow...what a great collection! LOVE all three...i'm a sucker for silver sparkle to that guitar just rocks. That guitar is so unique and classic cool - love the 'aged' hardward - just looks like you've put some miles on it.

The burst is just is just killer! How can a guitar picker not like that finish, so good, and the mini HB look so cool and i'm never seen them on this style guitar! The block fingerboard inlays

The Black with white binding and black pickguard to match is just so classic. Love the back of the neck! Did it come that way or did you have that done - i really like it.

congrats on three killer guitars!
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Old 04-17-2018, 07:37 AM
Song Song is offline
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Originally Posted by ChrisN View Post
I'll work on being worthy of Collings!
You are worthy!

---------------

Great looking and sounding guitars!
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  #7  
Old 04-17-2018, 09:41 AM
ChrisN ChrisN is offline
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Originally Posted by maplebaby View Post
wow...what a great collection! LOVE all three...i'm a sucker for silver sparkle to that guitar just rocks. That guitar is so unique and classic cool - love the 'aged' hardward - just looks like you've put some miles on it.

The burst is just is just killer! How can a guitar picker not like that finish, so good, and the mini HB look so cool and i'm never seen them on this style guitar! The block fingerboard inlays

The Black with white binding and black pickguard to match is just so classic. Love the back of the neck! Did it come that way or did you have that done - i really like it.

congrats on three killer guitars!
Thanks Dale. You've spotted most, if not all, of what drove me to these. I should add that this is the non-solid body part of the "collection" (not counting acoustics!) - yes, I have too many guitars for my skill set, but I am enjoying the ride, and the gear's part of it (the easy part).

You're right about the burst, too, but my issue with it is that 90% of Gibson's semis/full hollows seem to come in it, so it's anything but unique. The block inlays are very sweet. Gibson just started offering them this year on the base 339 - previously available only on the spendier 359. Not available on the epi, though. I really like the mini HBs on this hollow body style, sort of a warmer single coil sound (very clear) that still dirties up nicely - great compromise. Of course, when I hear a well-played P90, I can't imagine not having those.

Re: Epi's "aged hardware" - you're right - it was a gigged piece (not by me), clogged with someone else's green DNA detritus, so I dissected and cleaned it up. Sorry to say, it looks new and hygienic, but it lost some of its mojo. Still has the bumps and bruises, though.

Re: Black 390 - I love that classic look. That piece, too, was someone's gigger and they preferred to de-nitro the back of the neck. Feels great, looks like I mean business (lol). Though gigged, there was hardly any visible fretwear. I'm at least the 3rd caretaker.

I appreciate the kind words, and your own Collings contribution to my journey.
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  #8  
Old 04-17-2018, 09:43 AM
ChrisN ChrisN is offline
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You are worthy!

---------------

Great looking and sounding guitars!
And you are too kind. Seriously, I'm a latecomer, older, but dedicated, newb with a mastercard - the worst kind of poser, but I'm having fun, and nobody's getting hurt. That's all I can ask.
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