BadgerDave

Maybe I'm out of touch, but what has Skynard done since '77? I realize that they are still together (sort of), but when did they last get any radio airplay or sell a significant number of units of post Ronnie Van Zant material? I'd put them in the same league as Hall & Oates. Still around, but playing small venues or warming up for other acts and living off old songs and royalties. I suspect that part of my opinion may be based on where I live. Here in Minnesota, Skynard would likely be booked as a weekday State Fair headliner or into a 2500 seat arena. I suspect they could draw a bigger crowd in southern states. I should also mention that I'm not a fan, though I will say that "Tuesday's Gone" is brilliantly written and performed.

Top-of-the-head US bands I'd rank above Skynard: In addition to those already mentioned: Beach Boys Grateful Dead Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers The Cars Talking Heads Alice Cooper REM

17 degree headstock pitch, TonePros

No offense intended, Matt. IMO, you're going to have a hard time finding people willing to lay out $2,000 - $4,000 for a guitar as radical as the T-bolt. To me, it doesn't look at all ergonomic, particularly with that upper horn strap button flying out above the middle of the fretboard. Just my opinion.

Why? It's already been done:

I found that trip to be very restful, particulary the ride home. This sounds like a "must do" event. Do we all get access to the VIP Lounge?

I had a chance to play the first one to arrive at Dave's for a few minutes at moderate volume. I was very impressed with the neck carve, which was moderately thick, with a very "Gibsonish" taper from heel to nut. Probably the most comfortable neck I've played in terms of feeling "right" immediately. The guitar had a very stong acoustic sound, lots of sustain and body/neck resonance. At low volumes, the pickups sounded very even, clear and "woody". I suspect these are stock or slightly modified Duncan 59's, my favorite of Seymour's designs. The top on this particular guitar was less than stunning, but it looks like the subsequent TTs to arive at Dave's are much better. I liked the light weight and the feel of the thinner body. IMO, the ergonomics of the TT are better than an L.P. This may sound petty, but one thing that prevents me from buying a TT is the Victory inlays. I'm not a fan of this design and, IMO, they look particularly inappropriate on this model. Crowns would be much more in line with the "classic" look of the TT. To me, the victories give it an over-the-top import vibe.

I saw in another post that some of you have shipped guitars between the US and Europe for under $150.00. FedEx is quoting $250 - $280 for their economy air service (around 5 business days) from Minnesota to the UK, including insurance. I tend to use FedEx because UPS has broken two guitars and one amp that I've entrusted to their "care", and USPS doesn't offer any real tracking capability. Anyone have any advice on a less expensive, reliable way to get a guitar safely to Europe?

The triple threat was tagged at $2,750 at Dave's store in LaCrosse. Street price on a Studio Custom with a comparable top is around $2,500. The triple threat price seems pretty reasonable to me.

I don't understand what the fuss is about. This looks like a once-in-a-lifetime guitar for the lefties. Why jump all over the guy for bringing it to your attention?

Originally owned by Lew (of tin foil hat fame) so it has some genuine HFC history. It's a very nice GT. I sold it, along with my goldtop Newport, to finance my custom order gold Monaco. The Fralin p-90s sound amazing in that guitar.

So, How's the bike? All kidding aside, get well quick. Best wishes from the Minneapolis contingent.

Those of you who wear extended-wear contact lenses can relate to this. I once got up in the middle of the night and mistook a bottle of OXY 10 zit cream for eye drops. The bottles are shaped almost identically. Luckily, most of the zit cream landed on the contact lens surface and I was able to avoid permanent damage by holding my eye under a running faucet for about 20 minutes. Greg's right - pay attention!

Darc, You're right. I wouldn't mind if it were just a few e-mails, but it seems like every time I've listed a guitar recently I've been bombarded with: 1) the "How Much" question; 2) various Indonesian/Rusian/Nigerian deposit and refund scams; and 3) requests for information that clearly appears (often in bold) in the listing. I do not end auctions early and state that policy in the listing. I'll usually respond to the "How Much?" e-mail with a figure that is at least double my estimate of the final auction value. This prompts some entertaining responses. The scammers get a message letting them know that I've forwarded their poorly spelled messages to the FBI. I prepare a standard response for the other inquiries that allows me to quickly cut and paste the info they ask for. I'm surprised by how often one of these initially irritating emails comes from the eventual top bidder. I've learned to bite my tounge and respond quickly and politely. I love eBay. With all of its faults, it has changed the way consumers buy and sell broad catagories of merchandise. I've been able to buy and play dozens of guitars, amps and effects, keeping the ones I love and flipping the rest back into circulation without losing (and often profiting) on the transactions.

Trans red looks fantastic over spruce.

Welcome to the purple Hamer club, Mark. It was getting lonely with just me and Stonge hanging around the clubhouse. I'm looking forward to seeing more of that (Sunburst?). Hopefully, it will be a sunny morning in Lemoyne.

If that's true, then: John Mayer = suckage light

Quick clarification on the TonePros modification: You need the narrow post TOM style bridge and metric posts for the tailpiece studs. I never use the TonePros supplied bridge posts, but I seem to recall that metric bridge posts will not fit the Hamer bridge ferrules. The bridge supplied with the TonePros metric set will, however, fit perfectly on the stock Hamer bridge posts. Good info and insight re: testing pickups through a Mesa boogie amp. That makes sense.

Mike, I think your comments are spot on. See my post titled "not for the squeamish" for my solution to the Monaco pickup issue. I couldn't agree more about the inappropriateness of the Duncan Custom and Custom-Custom stock pickups on this guitar. They may work on a shredder, but are just wrong on the Monaco. My solution is a set of Harmonic Design Classics. I also installed a TonePros bridge and locking studs and replaced the tailpiece with a lightweight aluminum one. Oh, one more mod - the metal tuning buttons have been replaced with lighter ebony versions. As for the Jr., mine sports a VooDoo P-90 and a pigtail stopbar. I don't necessarily hate Duncan pickups, though most of his "hot" models sound harsh and unfocused to me. On the other hand, I have Seths and '59s in a couple of guitars and they sound great.