Doctorblue
10-19-2006, 03:20 PM
Just got my new Rice Custom Guitars Tele and . . . . . .WOW!
Before I describe it in detail, I want to comment on the experience of buying a guitar from Rich and Chris Rice. Over the course of several weeks Rich and I exchanged many emails and a bunch of phone calls. I have been playing guitar for over 40 years and this was BY FAR the most enjoyable buying experience I have ever had. Rich was accomodating, kind, obviously passionate about guitars; we became friends by the time the process was finished. Both he and Chris are obsessive about quality and detail; I will never buy another electric guitar from anyone but Rich and Chris!
Now on to "Cocobolo Bill" (You can view it under this title on their web site: www.RiceCustomGuitars.com (http://www.RiceCustomGuitars.com)).
SPECS:
* Solid Alder body with a gorgeous 1/8" cocobolo top hand finished with a meticulous nitrocellulose lacquer and flame maple binding.
* Beautiful birdseye maple neck and fretboard with a thick C carve, 1.75" nut width, camel bone nut, abalone dots and Gotoh staggered tuners. The neck feels even better than it looks (if that is possible).
* Pickups - Manlius humbucker in the bridge and an AllParts minihumbucker in the neck.
* Primary 3 way toggle with an additional 3-tone miniswitch for the Manlius that gives parallel mode, serial mode and single coil mode SO I have 7 tone options total.
* Schaller chromed brass roller bridge
* Chrome dome volume and tone knobs
As for tone . . . I find it difficult to describe . .. all I can say is that it is incredible. As Chris said after playing it for 3 hours one night . . . . " It wails, moans, whispers and screams with the best of 'em." I could not agree more!
I play mostly blues through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue and a Fulltone Fat Boost and Barber Tone Pump for overdrive. I am strictly a hobbyist who plays at low volume, but even though I don't play out, I do know tone. Over the past decade or so I have owned guitars made by Anderson, Suhr, Tyler, Parker, Rickenbacker Fender and Gibson plus a custom built guitar by Tim Diebert (Timtone). None of them match up to my Cocobolo Bill. I am afraid that my other current electrics - a Fender Tele '52 Reissue and a Heritage 555 - will be gathering dust, even though I love both of them.
And by the way . . . the cost was less than $2000 with a case and S&H. Don't know how they do it, but I would urge any of you who want an incredible guitar and a thoroughly enjoyable buying experience to grab one of these before Rich and Chris come to their senses.
THANK YOU RICH AND CHRIS - YOU ARE THE BEST!!!
Bill Chodoff
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/dabluzeguy/Cocobolo/cocofine5.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/dabluzeguy/Cocobolo/cocofine5.jpg
Before I describe it in detail, I want to comment on the experience of buying a guitar from Rich and Chris Rice. Over the course of several weeks Rich and I exchanged many emails and a bunch of phone calls. I have been playing guitar for over 40 years and this was BY FAR the most enjoyable buying experience I have ever had. Rich was accomodating, kind, obviously passionate about guitars; we became friends by the time the process was finished. Both he and Chris are obsessive about quality and detail; I will never buy another electric guitar from anyone but Rich and Chris!
Now on to "Cocobolo Bill" (You can view it under this title on their web site: www.RiceCustomGuitars.com (http://www.RiceCustomGuitars.com)).
SPECS:
* Solid Alder body with a gorgeous 1/8" cocobolo top hand finished with a meticulous nitrocellulose lacquer and flame maple binding.
* Beautiful birdseye maple neck and fretboard with a thick C carve, 1.75" nut width, camel bone nut, abalone dots and Gotoh staggered tuners. The neck feels even better than it looks (if that is possible).
* Pickups - Manlius humbucker in the bridge and an AllParts minihumbucker in the neck.
* Primary 3 way toggle with an additional 3-tone miniswitch for the Manlius that gives parallel mode, serial mode and single coil mode SO I have 7 tone options total.
* Schaller chromed brass roller bridge
* Chrome dome volume and tone knobs
As for tone . . . I find it difficult to describe . .. all I can say is that it is incredible. As Chris said after playing it for 3 hours one night . . . . " It wails, moans, whispers and screams with the best of 'em." I could not agree more!
I play mostly blues through a Fender '65 Deluxe Reverb Reissue and a Fulltone Fat Boost and Barber Tone Pump for overdrive. I am strictly a hobbyist who plays at low volume, but even though I don't play out, I do know tone. Over the past decade or so I have owned guitars made by Anderson, Suhr, Tyler, Parker, Rickenbacker Fender and Gibson plus a custom built guitar by Tim Diebert (Timtone). None of them match up to my Cocobolo Bill. I am afraid that my other current electrics - a Fender Tele '52 Reissue and a Heritage 555 - will be gathering dust, even though I love both of them.
And by the way . . . the cost was less than $2000 with a case and S&H. Don't know how they do it, but I would urge any of you who want an incredible guitar and a thoroughly enjoyable buying experience to grab one of these before Rich and Chris come to their senses.
THANK YOU RICH AND CHRIS - YOU ARE THE BEST!!!
Bill Chodoff
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/dabluzeguy/Cocobolo/cocofine5.jpg
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y168/dabluzeguy/Cocobolo/cocofine5.jpg