Flamey Redwood and Tonal Heaven: Chapin arrives

Discussion in 'The Small Company Luthiers' started by Testudo, Jun 17, 2005.

  1. Jun 17, 2005 #1
    Testudo

    Testudo Member

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    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    Same report as on BaM, just spreading the joy.

    It's a cliche by now, but the pics don't do it justice.

    Specs:
    Redwood top, ash back
    Mahogany neck w/ blackwood board.
    Powertron in bridge pos., TVTron in neck
    3-way blade switch, 3-way toggle for series, tapped, and parallel.

    This is one killer guitar. In full humbucking mode it is very Les Paulish, especially with the tone rolled back a bit. With the tone on full it gets more gretsch-like.
    Tapped it does bright, aggressive Tele sounds, even sounding vaguely Strattish, and parallel covers the mellower aspects of a Tele.
    All that "Tele" stuff I count as a bonus. I wanted a killer humbucking guitar, and figured we might as well do coil-tapping.
    As with everything Bill makes, you get useful sounds with the volume and tone in all positions. Tone at zero in humbucking mode, you can do that sustainy cello-like tone that Page did occasionally and Fripp did all the time.
    Roll back the tone a bit in HB mode for LP fatness, then switch to tap and bring the tone to full - no loss of signal.
    The bridge pickup is set slightly hotter than the neck in humbucking mode, so that they equal out in tapped and parallel.
    So many more tonal possibilities I can't remember tham all.

    Full tone report later - this is just initial impressions from the dropoff last night.
     
    Testudo, Jun 17, 2005
    Testudo, Jun 17, 2005
    #1
  2. Jun 17, 2005 #2
    bluestein

    bluestein Member

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    Love the shades!

    :)
     
    bluestein, Jun 17, 2005
    bluestein, Jun 17, 2005
    #2
  3. Jun 17, 2005 #3
    hawkeyeinexile

    hawkeyeinexile Silver Supporting Member

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    congrats, PJ, and excellent choice of features.

    i think you'll find, as you compare to LPs & teles & gretsches plus plug into different amps, that the guitar exhibits an increasingly unique quality, id'ing it as a Chapin. a matter of clarity mostly, to my ear.

    enjoy,
    :cool:
     
    hawkeyeinexile, Jun 17, 2005
    hawkeyeinexile, Jun 17, 2005
    #3
  4. Jun 17, 2005 #4
    Testudo

    Testudo Member

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    Absolutely. Tonal comparisons are gross generalizations only.:D It's a lot more than a Tele/LP/Gretsch/Strat-in-one.
     
    Testudo, Jun 17, 2005
    Testudo, Jun 17, 2005
    #4
  5. Jun 17, 2005 #5
    hawkeyeinexile

    hawkeyeinexile Silver Supporting Member

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    and how about that blackwood 'board? w/mahogany that neck must be a tone engine. what's its profile?

    :cool:
     
    hawkeyeinexile, Jun 17, 2005
    hawkeyeinexile, Jun 17, 2005
    #5
  6. Jun 17, 2005 #6
    58gasman

    58gasman Member

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    Congrats on the new Chapin.

    One aspect of all Chapins is the versatility that they exhibit. His T-birds or Stratahoulas will give you the basic sounds of teles and strats but depending on you amp and pedal setups you will find sounds that go well beyond what a Typical Fender is capable of.

    Beautiful Guitar.. enjoy.

    Craig
     
    58gasman, Jun 17, 2005
    58gasman, Jun 17, 2005
    #6
  7. Jun 17, 2005 #7
    58gasman

    58gasman Member

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    Not trying to derail this thread but any pictures of the Devil Dog in progress??;) :)
     
    58gasman, Jun 17, 2005
    58gasman, Jun 17, 2005
    #7
  8. Jun 17, 2005 #8
    cnardone

    cnardone Member

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    beautifully guitar. i wonder if that is the same piece oe Redwood as mine. That guitar is going to treat you really well for a long time. Congratualtions. Enjoy her for a long time.

    cmn
     
    cnardone, Jun 17, 2005
    cnardone, Jun 17, 2005
    #8
  9. Jun 17, 2005 #9
    abergdahl

    abergdahl Member

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    WOW .. Really cool looking and i suspect it sounds even better.

    It makes me want my next Chapin even more...
     
    abergdahl, Jun 17, 2005
    abergdahl, Jun 17, 2005
    #9
  10. Jun 17, 2005 #10
    Bonedance

    Bonedance Member

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    That is a beautiful guitar! Classy, understated elegance. The Baby Grand bridge looks very sweet and everything seems to work in harmony. Congrats!
     
    Bonedance, Jun 17, 2005
    Bonedance, Jun 17, 2005
    #10
  11. Jun 17, 2005 #11
    Testudo

    Testudo Member

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    What's its profile? I was in Bill's shop, picked it up, said "This is an incredible neck. I want it." That's as specific as I can get. :p

    It probably was. Pictures of your guitar kept me going through many a cold and lonely night.
     
    Testudo, Jun 17, 2005
    Testudo, Jun 17, 2005
    #11
  12. Jun 17, 2005 #12
    hawkeyeinexile

    hawkeyeinexile Silver Supporting Member

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    just heard from Bill, it's ".860-ish, chunky C-to-D style"

    yowzah

    :cool:
     
    hawkeyeinexile, Jun 17, 2005
    hawkeyeinexile, Jun 17, 2005
    #12
  13. Jun 17, 2005 #13
    edgarallanpoe

    edgarallanpoe Member

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    Amen brother...Redwood is the shiznits. I have been getting out of the maple tops because they always seem to make the guitar overly harsh. However...I love the look. When I heard about the redwood, I was intrigued. Well..I am a convert. Redwood sounds amazing...

    Mine is a Nik Huber Redwood Dolphin..the one on the far right.

    One piece exceptional Redwood top
    Korina Body and neck
    Brazillian board
    Body is chambered

    [​IMG]
     
    edgarallanpoe, Jun 17, 2005
    edgarallanpoe, Jun 17, 2005
    #13
  14. Jun 17, 2005 #14
    decay-o-caster

    decay-o-caster Member

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    Peter - so cool! Congrats, bro! :)
     
    decay-o-caster, Jun 17, 2005
    decay-o-caster, Jun 17, 2005
    #14
  15. Jun 17, 2005 #15
    big mike

    big mike Plexi Loving Admin Staff Member

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    Oh yeah!!!:dude
     
    big mike, Jun 17, 2005
    big mike, Jun 17, 2005
    #15
  16. Jun 17, 2005 #16
    Amitar

    Amitar Member

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    Congrats Testudo,
    Great looking guitar. I can imagine how great it sounds from your description and knowing how Chapin's sound. Gotta love the Hawk body. Have fun.
     
    Amitar, Jun 17, 2005
    Amitar, Jun 17, 2005
    #16

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