Why Guitar Companies Want To Make Pickups Now / I Had A Guitar Stolen / Guitar Of The Week

[@miaouew]

My best friend when I was a teenager stole my main guitar that I loved more than anything, a 1990's Ibanez Universe that my mom purchased for me. This was when I was about 17 years old and he was 20 we had been friends for 5 years and played guitar together all the time. I left it at his apartment because he said he was going to fix something on it for me but he actually moved out of that apartment within a week and never answered any of my calls. I haven't seen him since. Realizing that he valued the guitar over me and my friendship hurt a whole lot more than losing my main guitar. It still hurts bad to this day.

[@robertblumenfeld824]

Total jerk. You are better off without that dude in your life.

[@strumminronin]

To the OP, mate, I had a similar experience, though it wasn't a guitar that was stolen. Either way I trusted this person and lent her an item. She did a nasty thing to me and that was the moment I realised that even though we had been friends since we were six, status and hanging with the "cool" crowd meant more to her. I cut my losses and that was that, after some twenty odd years of friendship. Fast forward roughly ANOTHER TWENTY YEARS... During / over that time she's tried to get in touch but never once acknowledging what she did. Eventually she messaged me with a photo of the said item, saying how she knows it matters to me and that she wants to return it. BS. If she had any desire to return it, one, she would have done it a long time ago. She knows full well she could have posted it. She also knows full well how much that the thing mattered to me. She just never cared. If there ever was intention to return the item, all she needed to say was, "can I double check if you're still living at the same place, I want to send you your thing back." So basically there never was the desire to return the thing. Two, after my non-responses she basically did it like when people want to get a reaction out of their dog or cat by flashing a treat, by sending me a photo of the thing that, yeah, I had mistakenly trusted her with. The betrayal hurts, but NEVER AGAIN. All she needed was to apologise, "sorry I was a total douche, and have been like that all these years " But nope. Lesson learnt. Someone has probably stolen that guitar of yours from him since and we might never know what's happened to it. I believe it is making someone else very happy. I feel your pain bro.

[@Mountainrock70]

Time to track him down now. Paybacks are a beach.

[@drivinsouth651]

It is still your guitar; go get it! Take him to court! Sue that thief!

[@joecoach7268]

Phil, not only have your videos saved me a TON of money on guitar fixes that I can actually pull off, but they inspire me to challenge myself in my pursuit to learn more about working on guitars. I want to work in a guitar store when I retire in about 7 yrs. Sharing your knowledge through your videos has been such a valuable contribution to my learning experience. Thank you so much!

[@darrenworth1236]

A cool headstock is one that doesn't poke out anywhere unnecessarily, but still employs straight string pull.

[@phunkyjunkee]

I hate Gibson too lol

[@dennisrohm6372]

If you don't like the headstock, bag it!

[@jonthehermit8082]

Yup, that’s like your spirit animal speaking to you or something. Don’t do it.

[@Hugh_Jaynus_00]

Just like women? Two bags. One on headstock and one on your head, in case the one on the headstock comes off?

[@DosHemperor]

​​@@Hugh_Jaynus_00 use the smokey ole guitar bag? I don't have the sewing skills...

[@Steve.Cutler]

You are totally right about the widow headstock! 😂 You can NOT unsee it once someone tells you that. I do like the other similar one that's just round.😂

[@jonthehermit8082]

I thought it was because it was trying to hard to look evil and scary, but it’s because theirs a subliminal ball sac hidden is why I hate that headstock.

[@howardthrust]

"Sack", "Rack" or "Crack": There's DEFINITELY some kinda "Evil Genius" behind that design... 👿

[@jeffb5798]

Ugliest head stock EVER: Fender 12-stings! I love Fender guitars and their head stock shape (for their 6-stings). I love 12-string guitars too! But the head stock Fender designed for their 12-sting guitars is BUT UGLY!!!

[@ryanandring2688]

You’ve had the experience of touching and viewing and working on incredible instruments, an unboxing video would feel fake. We appreciate your authenticity over trying to generate easy emotional responses

[@GaryBertolo]

Put some lipstick on the SG, then close your eyes ¡¤¡

[@jamesonpace726]

Mr Phil, your truth telling is both awesome & terrifying at the same time....

[@Halfaloaf599]

Thank you, Phil, that’s all I got.

[@ozoneswiftak]

Sounds great. I have an 88 charvel( hot). Shes a beauty. Original owner.

[@WilliamDeShazer]

The Sounds Awake album is incredible. I listen to it from start to finish constantly.

[@joemccarthy641]

I like Larry Mitchell. Great guy, great guitar player. I enjoy his playing on Tuesday nights.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

As a trained medical ultrasound technician I know that the phenomenon of relationship at the point of joining media of two differing values (of both density and stiffness) can be exploited as evidence informing the diagnostician. Sound waves loose energy to the lesser dense component, When a system of soundwave transmissions has a "dull" component, the whole system suffers.

[@BillyTheKidsGhost]

Terminology = Spruce top = Laminated top. Solid Spruce = Soldi spruce. Omission usually mans the less popular option.

[@scotthumphrey99]

There is a pickup that is shaped like a lightning bolt I saw on the 60 cycle Hum channel recently. It fits in a humbucker route.

[@howardthrust]

Regarding "House Brand" P'ups: it's ALL in the "Marketing Spin", isn't it? I mean, we first saw them on lower-priced Guit's...with manufacturers offering "Name Brand" units as an "Upgrade". Now, THEY'RE being pitched as "The Upgrade"!! Of course, in some cases (like Suhr, for example), I wouldn't necessarily argue against their actual "value"...but, for the most part, it appears to be more like a "Hustle"... 😏

[@Lomoholga2]

Everything’s a hustle

[@howardthrust]

@@Lomoholga2 ...more often than not--and sooner or later... 🙄

[@crosswalklarry]

Lita played the Red Alvarez on the Arsenio Hall show.

[@kemica04]

Hey Phil! Ten percent isn’t even close to the level of appreciation some of us have for you. I saved up and had re wiring work and a set up done on my Squier S73 at guitar center about 5 years ago, a car stereo installing friend of mine had helped me install Zakk Wylde EMG set in it about a decade prior. I got to overhear the employees laughing at my guitar and waste of good electronics on such junk. So glad I learned from your show and can do all of that and more on my own now at home!

[@zoeherriot]

How could the boss katana go be discontinued? It has even stayed in stock in Japan. It’s been constantly sold out since release!I have been trying to buy one and it’s selling for twice the original price on the used market. (Although the chip shortage makes sense).

[@nuitari666uzgurzmor6]

Just the katana go headphone amp is currently sold out/not abailable

[@zoeherriot]

@@nuitari666uzgurzmor6 yeah, that’s the boss katana go - that’s the headphone amp. That’s what the person asking the question stated was discontinued. A Reddit post suggested he was told a boss rep said there was manufacturing issues and they will no longer make it.

[@prs149]

Mick Mars( motley crue) in the looks that kill video played a white warlock,wanted one ,local shop had one,bought a charvel San dimas(1985) instead

[@riverstone5994]

Bareknuckles. Seymour Duncan with some relicd covers

[@MartyGerman]

Purchased new for a grand, PRS SE20 (when it was 3 weeks old), reverb died & PRS wouldn’t promise to fix it! They expected me to pay to ship the 60 pound amp (both ways) and offered to, look at it? And I own 8 PRS guitars including 5 core models. They still refused to promise to fix my 3 week old amp! Phil is correct … but don’t count on PRS honoring their warranty on off shore models! They won’t!

[@JoshuaC923]

You should look for the retailer that sold it to you, not prs

[@carpathus]

G&L headstock looks like a fish mouth, gross. Agree Tyler is bad too.

[@howardthrust]

Always content in Yr. KYG P/C that I can get in2, Phil!! For me, Headstocks on Guit's are like Heads on Humans: I prefer their presence to their absence; and some do, in fact look better to me than others! Some of my faves: Pre-CBS-style Fender; Kramer "Beak" and "Hockey Stick"; Charvel/Jackson + ESP "Pointy" and Jackson "Modern". Also, I especially enjoy performing my own Pickup/Electronics Mod's. Getting it "right" blows away OTC on all fronts!!😁

[@christophervaldez8746]

There was a guitar company that had head stocks shaped like a thumbs up. 👍Does anyone remember the name of the company???

[@christophervaldez8746]

Nevermind, I realized the company was called Lindert Guitars.😅

[@SeanAllocca]

In regards to the looks of the SG Phil, remember, beauty is only a light switch away.

[@Tatted-ne7tu]

I look for BK’s , Mojotones, Fishmans because I’m just bored of the usual Dimarzio/ SD’s. JB/59 combo was great some 20 guitars ago but I’m quite done with them.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

For the guy who is looking for a 25th guitar, may I suggest an early 2000s PRS Modern Eagle, with Brazilian rosewood neck and fretboard, and a flamy whale blue top

[@NoBrakes23]

Someday I WILL have a Commanche made right here in Fullerton. Wouldn't mind a G&L ASAT either, but I really want those Zcoils.

[@Twy7chTec_Vayper]

Funny you mentioned the John Petrucci Model guitars lol actually just got my John Petrucci Signature Model, The Mystic Dream (Chameleon color) JP60, granted it's the Sterling version but still a JP model lol.. Got it about almost 2 weeks ago, and couldn't be more happier! It was one of three, of my top 3 pieces of gear I've wanted to own over the past 25+ years of playing Guitar. Went for the Kirk Hammett Signature LTD(one of the other of 3 pieces of top gear I've wanted an it was the most affordable😮) but AMS apparently stopped carrying it. Plus, since the last piece I've always wanted is a Mesa Boogie Single Rectifier Head (now I'll settle for the Mini Rec Head) but didn't have the funds lol and the JP60 popped up so I was, alright, DONE! Living in Arizona, you'd think Id have a easy time finding a Mesa Single Rectifier lol ppffttttt yea no

[@belbol1547]

My guess is that at some point boutique pickup prices will come down, or Chinese clones will start to become more common. Sure, BKPs and so sound great, but they are raising the prices with each iteration just to see if they can get away with it. Most consumers who know they cost truly little to manufacture are still willing to pay the markup to get the sound they want, but everything has a limit. At least that's what recently happened to me. I bought an 8 string Strandberg, I wanted to swap the pickups for M8Cs and was willing to be dumb as a rock and pay 350€ for them. Except they now sell an M8C version supposedly better suited for Strandberg's multiscale that costs a whooping 400€. Sure, it's not an enormous difference all things considered, but I ended up not buying them because I didn't want to feel ripped off.

[@9999plato]

I Love my Jazz bass in Texas Tea. These shame is the real shimmer of that finish is something that only I will experience. Nobody in the audience or even in the room will see it’s magic. It’s like having a black cat that turns into a sexy woman only when we are alone. Well, as long as I love it. Everybody else will think it’s a murky brown or a strange black. It’s my secret.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

My strategy has developed to hide most - keep less than 6 out - focus on one a month. the one seen most recently noticed on a daily basis should appear most similar to the next (and previous) month's "star". Only another experienced guitar buyer will notice small differences. Avoid bright colors. When you get caught binging a new one home, explain (truthfully) that you've traded two for one and paid very little or even got money back. You'll be appreciated more as a savvy business negotiator than an "artist" (no matter how well you play).

[@ChainsawChristmas]

I'm not sure why anyone enjoys unboxing videos of any product. They're so boring that I completely skip them.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Your description of the impact of alcohol on your performance shows that you have (thankfully) failed to achieve "alcoholic" status. Stay aware of yourself in every surrounding.

[@nomorebs]

Like you said before. Pickups are just recipes. Idgaf about price. A pickup either sounds good or it doesn't. Not magic.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

Quality of anything increases only when buyers perception leads to reduction in sales. The rate of reduction informs the maker whether "renaming', calling something about it "new", or dropping the item (often for another) will have the greatest effect toward improving profit margin.

[@Metro_Gnome]

The best, only 'cool' headstock to me. Martin. They went ultra basic and now every other acoustic guitar looks bad to me. No way around it. Even the years the tooling was dull and the corners were rounded...even those flawed Martin headstocks look better to me than...any other acoustic. Especially seagull. Godin is a headstock legend if you don't count seagull

[@mikesullivan5219]

Yes I think the Larry Mitchell podcast was great......!!! Great guitarist......

[@strumminronin]

10:14 Strandbergs have the best headstocks. .

[@prs149]

My brother had his first album

[@BaronVonQuiply]

19:55 I glance over at my 11 PRS guitars (the 53/10 is still my favorite neck pickup though)

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

A guitar neck and its strings are like a bow and arrow. The strings are attached at each end. Yes, the body adds more mass at that end than the headstock adds mass at the other. The neck through design shows awareness of this relationship. That relationship (however it is modified - by design) cannot become nonexistent. Mechanical sustain is a result of the function of that relationship. Pickups will magnify the electro-sonic output, but the mechanics must exist in order to be enhanced. The electric guitar is still an acoustic system - just less mechanically amplified.

[@HauntedGuitarMan]

Dead on for the difficulty in modding. My kiesel headless i went to switch pickups and its a pain in the arse. Can’t put pickup rings on. The pickup “post” are different heights than sd or dimarzio. Which is the biggest problem lol. Was going to sell after a while but tried it in a different tuning and loved the sound so idk.

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

The term "cumulative error" is true relative to quantity and quality of components. The end result varies according to the error of each component which may be additive or subtractive to the previous average result. Whether all that is detectable varies with the user (or listener). Each component will have an affect on the system relative to the quantity of components. This helps in understanding certain artists reduction to guitar/cord/amp rigs.

[@DT-ml3xv]

Don't know if you've heard this before but: Really like the way a Thinline Telecaster looks. But once you see that pickguard you can't unsee it.

[@sea-tramp]

Companies get into branding their own pickups for economic reasons and also because there's still some room for some mythology. Some people know how to use mythology as a selling point. Pickups are all about magnetism but not everybody studies it. A small hint for everyone, a pickup has more than one magnetic field, see if you can figure it out.

[@honkytonkinson9787]

I think that the Fender headstock is the coolest one of all! I’m kinda a fender fan boy though. The Parker headstock is my second choice I don’t get the fuss over the Gibson headstock. It’s pretty basic. It’d be like if Coca Cola had trademarked the soda can

[@gaberox1]

To this day I only like pointy headstocks and Jackson is the holy grail. Jacksons are just cooler than every other guitar. You wont cach me dead playing a single cut especially a Gibson lol.

[@geraldpeck7602]

I knew a guy who had Dana Scoop number 3, I used the scoop as a fret when I tried it, it was white. Wasn't this guitar designed in Delaware where I once lived?

[@slimsantilli4476]

I picked up a Japanese guitar from a brand called Saito. They started as a pickup company. Some of the clearest ive ever heard.

[@jamesmurry5910]

Literally just fixed the rail with the rubber thing on the bottom of my garage door, with a guitar string a couple days ago( used D string)

[@davidtguitar]

If you have time for a YT question, how would you set up everything to play both guitar and have mic on the same time when using vsts/digital amp?

[@Halfaloaf599]

I like Heritage, I look forward towards that video. Curious what your people say.

[@newmexicosaint]

I always thought the scoop was a cool guitar. I can’t find one for less than 750 bucks tho! 🤦

[@imaxeman69]

I sold Dana Scoops back in the '80s and early '90s. I really liked them.

[@VintageRadius]

Phil, you had great energy during this show. Always love the show and not sure why this occurred to me but you seem to be extra 🔥

[@alsantangelo]

I have always liked the Widow headstock and now I can't not see a ballsack. Thanks, Phil!!!

[@ronnieroxx13]

LOVE THE BLACK SG behind you!!😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍

[@acidfilth2007]

I hated Telecasters because of their headstock as a teenager playing strats until i played one and realized i was an idiot , also 3X3 headstocks on fender style guitars look sooooo good

[@Youtubemademeaddahandle]

The "coolest" design of any tactile tool are those which have adhered to ergonomic solutions and seamlessly applied an artistic envelop to contain them.

[@ericlewis9638]

MACON = BACON with an M. I lived in Atlanta for 20 years.

[@nickalderman5943]

heat treated pickups sounds as gimmicky as oxygen free copper.

[@vaiisgod8]

The heritage headstock is ugly to me and holding me back

[@CD-gk9ix]

I feel if they added some binding, like Gibson, it could help a bit

[@jonscudder759]

100% agree James Tyler guitar head stock is awful!

[@ahabshell3571]

I agree: check out Karnivool... great progressive hard rock

[@michaeljquintana5863ROKXWORX1]

LIKE/COMMENT/SHARE. Done.

[@onlyguitars]

If you want a great amp that is durable, get a Roland Blues cube.

[@mattbrown193]

Have you considered a Reverend Airwave for a 12 string?

[@21mango21]

Absolutely loved the Larry Mitchell video

[@ulknatmelknatu]

Thems is some funny guitars on the wall...

[@Hugh_Jaynus_00]

I’ll say it again…Larry seems cool as hell.

[@Apitome1]

like to see a pic of you with your hair. lol

[@TheSavagederek]

I like Jackson headstocks , but my favourite is Fenders . I never used to like the Tele shape , but it grew on me and I love the Starcaster type (semi hollow version) . I quite like Gibsons as well and I don't mind PRS , but can't stand Tyler , BC Rich or Dean .

[@Headless97]

Maybe you need a thermos for your beer.

[@shotgunrebels]

I picked up the “Nashville” tele inspired version of that Dana guitar from a pawn shop in the early 2000’s. Interesting guitar. I ended up selling it. These days wish I had kept it because it was so bizarre.

[@alexanderroy5713]

Great episode Phil!

[@GaryBertolo]

Check out the/a Danelectro '67 Hornet, mahogany body; put some jj pickups out of Australia or Lollars ... your choice. ¡¤¡

[@AJNpa80]

I'm all about form and function, but I do find some pretty, nothing beats the Firebird , Rick 12 though function would be improved with bushings on the slot tuners and a few things, also the Rick 480\4003, and I love , love steinberger headless. I like the oars more than the ergo shape. Wish I could afford to by a Rickenbacker to fix it's flaws. A 660 neck on a 360 with a wide 12 bridge to take advantage. I'd just get a wide bridge on a 660 12 and add rickosound. As I only play for me I love sitting between 2 amps with split sound.

[@robertblumenfeld824]

Great pod as always, Phil! Thinking “odd” pickup shapes, jazzmaster and mini humbuckers come to mind. The jazzmaster pickup is one of my faves

[@terryenglish7132]

I was up at Dana's store in Christiana DE. trying out the "Dana Detonator" which is the electronic section of the Scoop . I and the guy working the counter tried for 10 minutes to get a good sound out of it, but we couldn't. Dana comes out from the shop section and tweeks the controls, and then it sounds great. So apparently it wasn't that easy to use since even his own guy couldn't use it properly... Why did you remove that as well as the p ups ?

[@benfowler2127]

I did that with a friend’s dog one time. They went out of town and I just went to feed him and he freaked out. Out of options, I just laid down on the floor to see if it would help him calm down. After about 5-10 minutes he finally came over and sniffed etc. and all was well. I couldn’t believe it.

[@chrisw6806]

In regard to the widow BC Rich headstock, is that why Kerry King ultimately left for Dean 🤣😅?

[@billyshears6622]

That discussion about moving a neck to different bodies was great. I've experienced mismatches too but when your experience of that is only once or twice you just think you're trippin'. To hear this perspective was invaluable. Also the part about a guitar can only be as good as that guitar can be. It seems mathematically and geometrically impossible that 2 identical model Strats can't be set up the same but I've experienced that too. 🤦🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️

[@dlmyrs]

The Larry Mitchell video was awesome! Loved the surprise at the end. Would hsve been great if you’d have started taking his guitar apart or adjusting it.

[@spokes28]

I don’t think most people are looking for a “high end” Blues Jr., just a well made product for your money that will last.

[@bch2322]

The coolest head stock, hands down is David Thomas McNaught's Puzzle piece headstock.

[@dw7704]

I’m not concerned about the look, although a look I like is cool to have. I am more concerned with function and all that. Not a fan of reverse headstocks, but that’s due to function, some look real cool Some are impractical

[@robslabaugh3139]

I think that guitar looks awesome!!! Practical, probably not, but still cool looking

[@stoneysdead689]

To the guy with the PRS banjo- if it has a Floyd or some other floating trem. system- I bet it's not set up and your action is too low. I just got an Ibanez that sounded like that and that was the issue- I would check it if I were you. The bridge should be level at whatever tuning you're going to keep it at. If it's tilted forward or back- you need to adjust the trem. claw springs until it's level with the face of the guitar at standard pitch- or whatever tuning you plan to keep it at primarily. Something I didn't understand was that the intonation on my Ibanez was great- closest I've ever seen it- how did they do that without setting up the trem.? Idk- but it's spot on out of box- somehow, they set it without setting up the trem. system.

[@mcheustis]

My favorite headstock shape is Ovation. Especially on a Breadwinner.

[@Wyldwulf]

I played one of these in white at a music go round a couple of years ago. Being about your age I thought these were so cool when I saw them when new. I wonder f you could wire a floating neck pickup in the scoop, just suspended.

[@saml4157]

G&L needs to contour the heel in their guitars, why would someone pick them if they can just get a fender if they both have block heels

[@crunchchannel8788]

Wait. Is the know your gear happening only every couple of months?

[@Firemedic361]

Alvarez makes some really good acoustic guitars. For the price point that is, I have a barn find that is 20+ years old, I got it for $20. I replaced the saddle and nut with bone replacements, rehydrated the guitar, straightened a twist in the neck and compensated the saddle to correct the small amount of twist I couldn’t straighten, leveled and polished the frets, dressed the fret ends, and now it is nearly perfect. It competes with my D28 in tone, sustain, and projection. Seeing the Dana scoop makes me want one to sit next to the acoustic lol

[@copperaudio9664]

Heating and cooling metal does one of two things. cool it fast and it gets harder. Cool it slow and it gets softer. Heat treating has no magic other than changing the resonant acoustic frequency. You cannot heat treat a magnet as the magnet will be ruined. If you've ever welded next to a magnet you'll understand.

[@TheSavagederek]

I think the Alvarez looks amazing . It's unique and it's red .

[@frederickvondrasek5618]

...Jazzmaster pickups?

[@davidepaolo276]

Now I want a Dana Scoop :/