Gustavsson and Stevens Updated Tone Report

[slopeshoulder]

So what DO Stevens weigh?
The ONE solid Classic (335 style) I played was a heavy beast, but might have been usual as it was large and not chambered AFAIK.
Shall we define weight issue?

[matte]

my 7 string explorer weighed under 8 lb. my ljs and classics have weighed in from 8.2-9.4 lb.

Originally Posted by slopeshoulder

So what DO Stevens weigh?
The ONE solid Classic (335 style) I played was a heavy beast, but might have been usual as it was large and not chambered AFAIK.
Shall we define weight issue?

[ultra]

Originally Posted by slopeshoulder

So what DO Stevens weigh?
The ONE solid Classic (335 style) I played was a heavy beast, but might have been usual as it was large and not chambered AFAIK.
Shall we define weight issue?

All Stevens Classics and Neo Classics are chambered.

My korina Classic weighs 9.9lbs and my Neo Classic weighs 8.5lbs.

There is quite a lot less wood in the Neo because it has a flat back whereas the Classic has a carved back. The Classic is so well balanced, it doesn't feel at all like 9.9lbs

[Tone Disciple]

Originally Posted by slopeshoulder

So what DO Stevens weigh?

I am on the road now returning Wednesday. I will weigh my Stevens then, but my Gustavsson weighs 8.3 lbs. and the Stevens is in that range. It is not as heavy as my PRS Modern Eagle, but does weigh a bit more than my Collings I-35 and the PRS Semi-Hollow Cu22. Note the body contour cutouts in the original photos. That plus the chambering reduces the weight and makes it a very comfortable piece to play when standing.

[slopeshoulder]

All that sounds about right and reasonable to me.

[tsar nicholas]

this thread is inspirational

[FlamingTop]

My next guitar purchase form a small company luthier will be a Stevens... I promise!

[will richardson]

Although I will soon experience Skyway Vibrato via Stevens Classic, I can truthfully say, a Stevens with Holmes (as well as other great pickups) w/splitters (I prefer unpotted) is a palette of tones from the guitar control panel itself, with one setting on the amp.

I also believe that a Man Made vibrato adds to the sparkle and the sound chambers add to richness and complexity. You can actully hear what I'm submitting (jump in Matte and/or Ultra ot LIG). Notwithstanding, a Stevens with Stop or Pigtail Stop, no chambering, and without splitters, gives the warmth of a Gibson with much of the Twang, Spank, and Chime associated with the other of the Big Two. Michaels' guitars are always touch/technique/style sensitive, much like what you hear normally associated with the properties of amps and pedals. The clarity of the Stevens out performs anything I have thus far heard (not speaking for others here mind you).

Hopefully Friend Sam will assist in providing some recent sound bytes as well as some from the 90's. I guess he has to cut the length down, since the amount of memory and Internet freeway jam of streaming are issues.

[ultra]

What Will R says is correct. I come from a High Fidelity background where one aspires to getting everything that is on the recording..... OUT .... with little or no coloration. I want to hear every nuance, every harmonic ..... everything that is in there has to be brought to my ears.

This is what I hope for in a guitar and, to date, only my Stevens have been able to give me everything.

This is not to say that a Stevens is HiFi and anyway sterile but it is to say that whatever I put in (as a player) comes out. There is obvious some coloration due to the wood used (korina>mahog>alder) but the notes are not constrained and the palette is broad and complex.

If I want to get a certain sound out of my Stevens, I usually can with the aid of effects or amps ............ but it is still complex and three dimensional in a Stevens way.

With my Stevens, I wasn't looking to replicate a Les Paul or ES335 or Strat but I wanted something unique that still got me in the ballpark of the above if needed.

Stevens gets me my sound.

[matte]

a little quick and dirty lj7 action.
lj(ramos neck pickup)vht ultra lead>bogner überkab.
http://m.soundcloud.com/matteh/q-d-test-tone-solo-bit-from

[ultra]

Originally Posted by matte

a little quick and dirty lj7 action.
lj(ramos neck pickup)vht ultra lead>bogner überkab.
http://m.soundcloud.com/matteh/q-d-test-tone-solo-bit-from

Nicely done Matte. Sure shows that the LJ is something special (let alone your playing which is never less than inspiring)

[Tone Disciple]

Amazing Matte. Who is that drummer? Great mix.

[matte]

marco minnemann.

Originally Posted by Tone Disciple

Who is that drummer?

[Tone Disciple]

Originally Posted by matte

marco minnemann.

Pretty darn good too...

[Tone Disciple]

I weighed my LJ and it comes in at 8.4 lbs for those that wanted to know. But there is another factor to consider in this.

The way Michael contours the back of the body on the LJ's make them very comfortable to hold and play whether sitting or standing. I was noticing this while playing some of my guitars today.

Many of my other high end guitars do not have this feature and while they may weigh a little more or a little less the comfort factor does not depend solely on weight. The contours Michael puts in the guitar for playing comfort are just another aspect of his well thought out designs.