Shane S
10-05-2009, 09:20 AM
I wanted to share my newest Briggs Reserve Stock Classic that I took possession of a few months ago along with its older sister that I have been fortunate enough to own for two years now (you can read all about it here):
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=262542&highlight=Reserve+Stock (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=262542&highlight=Reserve+Stock)
A little history before we dive into the review. I received my first Classic (# 7) from Jack in June 2007. I liked that guitar so much I order my second one in September of 2007. The guitar arrived April of 2009 – 19 months from order to delivery. My idea for both of these guitars was to have the same specs build wise but feature mahogany for the back and neck on one and korina on the back and neck of the other. As to be expected, Jack’s work is top notch. I forget sometimes how spoiled I am to have so many fine instruments (or maybe it is my priorities are screwed up =). Both of my Briggs are on par with everything else I own (Collings, Grosh, Gustavsson, Thorn, ect.) The specs are as follows:
1-Pc Red Maple Top AD - RSP
1-Pc Brazilian Rosewood FB - RSP
1-PC Korina Body - Solid
1-PC Korina Neck
Ebony rear headplate/heelplate
MOP Trapezoid Inlays
24.625" Scale
Neck Carve: Colossal (1 1/32” @ the 1st fret , 1 1/16” @ the 12th fret)
Frets: Stainless Steel frets
Controls: 3-way/vol/vol/tone/slimfat
Bridge: Pigtail ABR (Zinc) & Stoptail (Aluminum) Studs (Steel)
Tuners: Tonepro Kluson Vintage Tuners
Nickel Hardware Finish Top: Lemon Drop burst
Finish Back: Aged Kornia Natural Tint -Nitro
Pickups: Wolftone Legends
Overall Weight: 8.3 lbs
Both of these guitars are from Jack’s Reserve Stock program that features Jack’s finest air dried materials – some as much as a 100 years. The finish was inspired by TGP member Dwes’ JG Bluesmaster lemon drop color. As I said above, the fit and finish work is second to no one. Both guitars feature Pigtail hardware (RIP Steve Rowen) and Tonepros Kluson tuners. An interesting side note. I had purchased an Aluminum Pigtail APR-1 for this guitar after speaking with Steve @ Pigtail a few years ago. When Jack strung up the guitar he noted a loss of low end. I was looking for a more balanced tone so I ended up ordering another APR-1 but this time in zinc. I am very pleased with the results. I am really happy I listen to what Jack had to say. I know my tone is in good hands when Jack is building me a guitar!
I can sum up this guitar with one word – versatility! This guitar has more shades of tone than anything else I own. The Wolftone Legends are a perfect match to this instrument. They have the right amount of push (output) for me. With the volume control on 10 the single high strings are super fat sounding – like a Les Paul. I think the neck is contributing to this. Yet, it still has the clarity that a double cut guitar will give vs. a singlecut instrument. Things get very interesting when you combine the slimfat control. Jack and I both agreed that you could “tune” the instrument to the room that you are playing. For example, if you are playing a rather dead sounding room you can use the slim fat control to dial one of the coils down and make it cut through the mix. It does this very well.
But what completely knocks me out is playing through my 65amps Royal Albert into my 65amps 4x12 cab. The RA is a single channel non-master volume amplifier. With the Classic and the slimfat control I can turn the amp into a channel switcher without the use of pedals. Here is what I do: The RA’s volume is set on 6 with the boost on – this means it is pretty damn loud with lots of gain. The RA is a non-master volume amp and relies on power section to produce distortion. By dialing the slimfat down to “5” and setting the bridge pickup volume on “10” and the neck pickup volume at “2.5”. Tone was a “10”. In this setting you had a channel switching amplifier at your finger tips simply changing pickup positions. In the neck position the guitar sounded like an acoustic guitar – very clean and chimey. Kick the toggle switch over to the bridge pickup and you have an awesome rock tone out of the instrument. My first Briggs with Rolph Pretenders (#7) does not accomplish the same effect as the #13 with the Wolfetones. The Pretenders are lower output and clearer sounding than the Legends. Also, the mahogany guitar lends itself towards an overall darker tone than the korina Classic. But the korina in this case is brighter but sounds heavier (thicker) than # 7. I think the heavier overall weight maybe playing a factor into this as well as the pickups. I have owned several korina guitars now and I find the wood to not be very tonally consistent. It can have either a very big fat sound to a very bright and airy tone that has no bottom end. #13 falls in the big open sound category. I am very pleased with the way both of these guitars turned out. Thank you Jack!
Now I need to start saving for Briggs # 3 – I am dreaming of an Apollo with Dom Ramos pickups!
And now for some photos:
#7 is on the left and # 13 is on the right.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444301.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444314.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444307.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444321.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444318.jpg
http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=262542&highlight=Reserve+Stock (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/showthread.php?t=262542&highlight=Reserve+Stock)
A little history before we dive into the review. I received my first Classic (# 7) from Jack in June 2007. I liked that guitar so much I order my second one in September of 2007. The guitar arrived April of 2009 – 19 months from order to delivery. My idea for both of these guitars was to have the same specs build wise but feature mahogany for the back and neck on one and korina on the back and neck of the other. As to be expected, Jack’s work is top notch. I forget sometimes how spoiled I am to have so many fine instruments (or maybe it is my priorities are screwed up =). Both of my Briggs are on par with everything else I own (Collings, Grosh, Gustavsson, Thorn, ect.) The specs are as follows:
1-Pc Red Maple Top AD - RSP
1-Pc Brazilian Rosewood FB - RSP
1-PC Korina Body - Solid
1-PC Korina Neck
Ebony rear headplate/heelplate
MOP Trapezoid Inlays
24.625" Scale
Neck Carve: Colossal (1 1/32” @ the 1st fret , 1 1/16” @ the 12th fret)
Frets: Stainless Steel frets
Controls: 3-way/vol/vol/tone/slimfat
Bridge: Pigtail ABR (Zinc) & Stoptail (Aluminum) Studs (Steel)
Tuners: Tonepro Kluson Vintage Tuners
Nickel Hardware Finish Top: Lemon Drop burst
Finish Back: Aged Kornia Natural Tint -Nitro
Pickups: Wolftone Legends
Overall Weight: 8.3 lbs
Both of these guitars are from Jack’s Reserve Stock program that features Jack’s finest air dried materials – some as much as a 100 years. The finish was inspired by TGP member Dwes’ JG Bluesmaster lemon drop color. As I said above, the fit and finish work is second to no one. Both guitars feature Pigtail hardware (RIP Steve Rowen) and Tonepros Kluson tuners. An interesting side note. I had purchased an Aluminum Pigtail APR-1 for this guitar after speaking with Steve @ Pigtail a few years ago. When Jack strung up the guitar he noted a loss of low end. I was looking for a more balanced tone so I ended up ordering another APR-1 but this time in zinc. I am very pleased with the results. I am really happy I listen to what Jack had to say. I know my tone is in good hands when Jack is building me a guitar!
I can sum up this guitar with one word – versatility! This guitar has more shades of tone than anything else I own. The Wolftone Legends are a perfect match to this instrument. They have the right amount of push (output) for me. With the volume control on 10 the single high strings are super fat sounding – like a Les Paul. I think the neck is contributing to this. Yet, it still has the clarity that a double cut guitar will give vs. a singlecut instrument. Things get very interesting when you combine the slimfat control. Jack and I both agreed that you could “tune” the instrument to the room that you are playing. For example, if you are playing a rather dead sounding room you can use the slim fat control to dial one of the coils down and make it cut through the mix. It does this very well.
But what completely knocks me out is playing through my 65amps Royal Albert into my 65amps 4x12 cab. The RA is a single channel non-master volume amplifier. With the Classic and the slimfat control I can turn the amp into a channel switcher without the use of pedals. Here is what I do: The RA’s volume is set on 6 with the boost on – this means it is pretty damn loud with lots of gain. The RA is a non-master volume amp and relies on power section to produce distortion. By dialing the slimfat down to “5” and setting the bridge pickup volume on “10” and the neck pickup volume at “2.5”. Tone was a “10”. In this setting you had a channel switching amplifier at your finger tips simply changing pickup positions. In the neck position the guitar sounded like an acoustic guitar – very clean and chimey. Kick the toggle switch over to the bridge pickup and you have an awesome rock tone out of the instrument. My first Briggs with Rolph Pretenders (#7) does not accomplish the same effect as the #13 with the Wolfetones. The Pretenders are lower output and clearer sounding than the Legends. Also, the mahogany guitar lends itself towards an overall darker tone than the korina Classic. But the korina in this case is brighter but sounds heavier (thicker) than # 7. I think the heavier overall weight maybe playing a factor into this as well as the pickups. I have owned several korina guitars now and I find the wood to not be very tonally consistent. It can have either a very big fat sound to a very bright and airy tone that has no bottom end. #13 falls in the big open sound category. I am very pleased with the way both of these guitars turned out. Thank you Jack!
Now I need to start saving for Briggs # 3 – I am dreaming of an Apollo with Dom Ramos pickups!
And now for some photos:
#7 is on the left and # 13 is on the right.
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444301.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444314.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444307.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444321.jpg
http://pic20.picturetrail.com/VOL69/5571492/22587440/375444318.jpg