Soloway - T27 (The Blue Moto Custom) Review and soundclip

[abergdahl]

Ok so now I have had time to play a bit with "the Blue Moto Monster" and I'm very satisfied. For me it is very close to the perfect Tele. Bright, Twangy and BIG sounding. The looks are amazing, as you have already seen. I was a bit afraid that the bridge (Dimarzio area T) would be to polite, not so - it screams, in a good way. The Vintage Vibe neck pickup sound HUGE and strong, the middle position is the best i have played, a lot of sparkle. As I am a tone control skeptic BUT I do like a tone control on a Tele, Jim put in a miniswitch to bypass tone. GREAT idea, now i can set tone for a slight roll of the get a fat bridge sound and by bass the tone with a flick to get into Roy Buchanan/Danny Gatton scream.
One negative points, if you are into behind the nut bends on the G string you need to take off the trussrod cover or bend to the side but that is the only thing that could be improved as far as I'm concerned.
It was a pleasure working with Jim on this, the crazy MOTO idea really turned out well.

I did a short clip, going from neck to middle position (tone bypass) to bridge with a slight treble roll off (just a couple of seconds) and then i bypass tone to prove that this guitar can scream like a good Tele should.
SOUND CLIP (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=60485&songID=6450766)
Naturally i took some pictures BUT the weather is not great and the lacquer is TO good it is like a mirror. But i got the obligatory sky pic:
http://gallery-esthetica.com/guitar/T27sky.jpg

And one of the whole guitar:
http://gallery-esthetica.com/guitar/T27whole.jpg

And here's Jim's clip and pics (http://www.jimsoloway.com/CompletedSwans/H202BlueMoto/GalleryH202.htm)

[TaronKeim]

Sounds great Anders, looks stunning as well. Great playing!

I've been lusting for one of these ever since Jim put the first pictures up of the T-27 proto.

Surf green, one ply cream binding, tortoise pickguard, Lollar Imperial in the neck, Lollar Special in the bridge, Korina body, Maple neck...

You can't just own one Swan, it is true!

_TJK*

[abergdahl]

Thanks, well I have 4 Soloways now....:warning
and here is another clip. Just bridge pickup this time, first with a bit of tone roll off, then with tone bypass. You will NEVER hear Jim play like THIS (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=60485&songID=6451065) :eek:

[MrMunky]

Sweet!

[Jim Soloway]

Those sound great Anders. Some seriously aggressive Tele tones and you're right of course. You';ll probably never hear anything like that coming off my hands anytime soon. :)

[lazymonday]

Sick sounds from both camps.

Dang I love blue guitars, wish there were more of them out there!

Oh was the serial number H202 intended? If not that's kind of a cool serial for a blue guitar.

[edwarddavis]

That is one cool looking guitar that must rock, Put three mini hums in it and a rose wood board and I might have to go to Sweden to try it then Portland to place a order . Very nice playing too!!!!!. enjoy it, great guy and great guitars .

[oscar100]

cool o ronney

id lik eot try a soloway but dont see em in teh uk

[abergdahl]

cool o ronney

id lik eot try a soloway but dont see em in teh uk
Well if you ever come to Sweden, which doesn't seem THAT unlikely ;)
In the summer I'm quite often in Skinnskatteberg/Fagersta which is close to Dalarna otherwise I'm in Stockholm. Then you can try Chapins and and Ian Anderson as well and my Cougar amps.

Thanks for the kind comment, it is an amazing guitar but then all my Soloways are in different ways. I was concerned that the bridge pickup would be to polite, not so it gives all twang and beefy blues tone i could which for. Thanks for yet another great guitar Jim :).

[Shadscbr]

I love the guitar...Fantastic Playing! :)

Shad

[TaronKeim]

cool o ronney

id lik eot try a soloway but dont see em in teh uk

Contact Jim about the "demo" Swan they have floatin' around Europe, I'm sure it could make a stop by your place at some point-and-time!

_TJK*

[Kalalau Hiker]

sounds great - nice lips!
and of course looks stunning - I love blue guitars!

btw - for those interested - I just google found that there is a whole book on Blue Guitars!
http://kenvose.com/blueguitar.html
http://kenvose.com/blueguitar.jpg

here's a nice one!
http://www.acguitar.com/issues/ag96/Daquisto.jpg

[abergdahl]

Thanks all, the Chinery collection is an inspiration. I wish i had that type of budget :).
I spent the weekend in the country cottage alone with the guitar and a great Mystique/Tommy Cougar amp and, of course, did a new CLIP. (http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=60485&songID=6457114)
This more of the early D-style tone that can be heard in Jackson Browne recordings. Bright and clear not piercing, its the bridge pickup with tone bypassed.
The amp is single channel, no frills amp with some ODS inspiration.

[abergdahl]

So is the tone bypass different sounding than just tone all the way open?
More agressive?
Not really, but it is very convenient to be able to "pre set" tone.

[Fingers]

Your playing is a pleasure to listen to.

And Soloway guitars are always to pleasure to look at. Might have to check into a touring loaner to see one in person (& see if my wee hands can deal with the longer neck).