Ive got $2,000 which PRS/Gibson/Fender???

[lyman]

I would get a total custom guitar from First Act.

LOL

I don't think fluff191 was kidding. A lot of people don't know but they do have a custom shop - it's no different than Fender selling Squires for $99 while building $3k custom guitars to pro players.

On a recording session, I used a custom shop first act guitar and it's no joke. It's Dave Minehan's guitar from The Neighborhoods which you can see on the website. Sounded and played as nice as my 335.

 

[ricomock]

NICE AX cabba. Did you do that all yourself?

I wish!
If I had those skills I'd be hobbited away in my workshop building custom guitars all day and night!

That is Christian George and he built that for me in 2008. It's a prototype called "The Sorcerer". He has his own shop up in Highland Springs, VA.
He has mad skills!
He did some work at Neal Moser's custom shop before he moved to VA.

I met him when I purchased one of his first guitars, an Exodus model:

Great guy and awesome guitar craftsman!

To my knowledge Christian never worked at/for Neal. But like many of us over on the Moser Custom Shop forum learned to build from Neal, and he was a dealer for Neal's imports.
Either way he builds some killer guitars

 

[Anonymous]

To my knowledge Christian never worked at/for Neal. But like many of us over on the Moser Custom Shop forum learned to build from Neal, and he was a dealer for Neal's imports.
Either way he builds some killer guitars

Ah, my confusion.
When he told me where he learned to build I assumed it was while working at MCS.

 

[dmcguitar]

How does one find a luthier that can build something like that?

 

[Dersu Uzala]

Any luthier can build 'something like that'. There's nothing special about guitar above. Shape is a bit unusual, gothic/metal/viking/Conan/Thor weapon of sorts, that's it.

In any event, if you got money to spend, I got a luthier for you in Los Angeles.

 

[Anonymous]

How does one find a luthier that can build something like that?

I was in contact with him at first via ebay, I purchased that first guitar from him.
I later met him in person when he did that prototype for me.

A good place to start would be online, all kinds of luthiers on guitar forums.

Around me there is luthier school, so you might look for one locally or check around your reputible repair shops.

 

[Anonymous]

Any luthier can build 'something like that'. There's nothing special about guitar above. Shape is a bit unusual, gothic/metal/viking/Conan/Thor weapon of sorts, that's it.

In any event, if you got money to spend, I got a luthier for you in Los Angeles.

LOL! "Gothic Thor Hammer", I like it! I may just call it that.

What's special about it to me are the 4 different exotic woods and the fact it doesn't look like what 20,000 kids just got from Guitar Center or a Musician's Friend catalog.
I wanted something a little unique and what represented me. LOL - That's it, the "Gothic Thor Hammer"
The closest thing I've seen to it is a BC Rich "warbeast" but not really, so it's still pretty unique unlike another Strat, Les Paul, PRS, SG shape guitar I already own.

I'm just suggesting that if you're gonna spend over $1500 on something, get something special.

What's really funny, or maybe sad, is that Conan The Barbarian is my favorite movie of all time. LOL! I'm a Manowar fan too!

 

[ricomock]

Any luthier can build 'something like that'. There's nothing special about guitar above. Shape is a bit unusual, gothic/metal/viking/Conan/Thor weapon of sorts, that's it.

In any event, if you got money to spend, I got a luthier for you in Los Angeles.

LOL! "Gothic Thor Hammer", I like it! I may just call it that.


The closest thing I've seen to it is a BC Rich "warbeast" but not really, so it's still pretty unique unlike another Strat, Les Paul, PRS, SG shape guitar I already own.

I'm just suggesting that if you're gonna spend over $1500 on something, get something special.

What's really funny, or maybe sad, is that Conan The Barbarian is my favorite movie of all time. LOL! I'm a Manowar fan too!

The shape's a combo of Neal Moser's Genesis, and Scythe (with a little tweeking)

 

[Anonymous]

The shape's a combo of Neal Moser's Genesis, and Scythe (with a little tweeking)

http://www.nealmoser.com/store/images/1_genesis.jpg
http://www.nealmoser.com/store/images/1_scythe.jpg

I was speaking of the one he built for me, not that one.

It's closest to the "Beast" or "Warbeast", but not quite.

 

[Anonymous]

The shape's a combo of Neal Moser's Genesis, and Scythe (with a little tweeking)

http://www.nealmoser.com/store/images/1_genesis.jpg

I like that Genesis tho! It has Bich horns! I miss my old Koa Bich a lot.

 

[ricomock]

The shape's a combo of Neal Moser's Genesis, and Scythe (with a little tweeking)

http://www.nealmoser.com/store/images/1_genesis.jpg

I like that Genesis tho! It has Bich horns! I miss my old Koa Bich a lot.

Ok, from the different pics I wasn't sure which one you had. I'm not a fan of Christian's headstocks, but it really is a beautiful guitar. The wings are.....Black Limba, right? I always loved the look of that wood.

Any more pics of the Bich? Vintage BC Rich's are all I really play anymore.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok, from the different pics I wasn't sure which one you had. I'm not a fan of Christian's headstocks, but it really is a beautiful guitar. The wings are.....Black Limba, right? I always loved the look of that wood.

Any more pics of the Bich? Vintage BC Rich's are all I really play anymore.

LOL - you can blame me for the headstock, he had something different in mind.
I wanted the tip pointed because I was liking the Jackson Dominion's headstock at the time.
Yes, Black Limba for the wings, Wenge for the runners.

I have a few pics of my old Rich's at my myspace: Myspace Link

 

[MrBear]

The only guitar that I have in that range is my PRS Custom 24 10-Top in Black Cherry, and it barely tipped the scale ($1950 new) in the given price range because it was on clearance to make way for the newer, "hollow birds" PRS guitars coming in. Then again, I also tend to buy in the used/clearance aisle of music stores, where I scored my Fender AVRI '62 Strat for $1000. I really like the PRS as a good workhorse for almost every type of music, but as with any guitar, it won't ever sound JUST LIKE a Gibson, Fender, Gretsch, whatever; it has it's own voice. I'd describe it as loud, articulate, purring, and clear.

Just a thought; do you have to spend all the cash on ONE guitar? I'll bet if you looked around, you could score a couple of NOS/Used guitars that retailed in that range on craigslist or on the forums. Happy hunting!

 

[Don]

If you like something more subtle you could buy 3 or 4 of these. It's a 2008 Carving DC150- neck through, mahigany body and neck, quilted maple top, ebony fretboard, stainless steel frets. I paid $425 for it (shipped) and it's in immaculate condition. I can't get over what a beautifully built guitar it is and, with a minor tweak to the wiring, it sounds fantastic!

 

[MesaENGR412]

I vote PRS. But then again, I'm a little biased . But, in all seriousness, their quality and product is just unreal, and for the money, the attention and detail that is given to each and every guitar is awesome. Plus they have some new models that give a little more flexibility, like the Mira, Starla, Single Cut, the 513, the Narrowfield, and the 305 (might look into this model since you are also looking at a Strat as well).

-AJH

 

[iceman]

Just a thought; do you have to spend all the cash on ONE guitar? I'll bet if you looked around, you could score a couple of NOS/Used guitars that retailed in that range on craigslist or on the forums.

Yeah, get a couple. I just ordered an EC-1000 MGO, and an ESP STD FX. Totaling ~2k. My second choice was to go with a PRS, but I just couldn't plop down 2k (or more) for one guitar (yet).

 

[Heritage Softail]

Used Suhr Modern. One on Rig Talk for 1650. Sweet guitar. I would go with a used Suhr S5/6 or Modern for that level of coin. You would retain your resale value on a used anyway. Well, if you don't pay too much...

 

[Guitar GeeK]

ESP Eclipse II
http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_eclipse.html

Or maybe
http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_vintage.html

 

[ricomock]

Or maybe
http://www.espguitars.com/guitars_vintage.html

Those are F'n AWESOME!!!! And I hate traditional strats

 

[Thundersteel]

Another vote for Heritage.

Here's a pic of their H157 model: