The Shark Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 Many of you know that I acquired Bubs Ultimate a few months ago. We came to terms and he'll be enjoying a custom Shishkov sometime soon. Everyone knows the body shape doesn't appeal to all players. I think the neck and the body shape didn't really speak to Bubs. He's after a bigger fish. Frankly, I'm in for another too. Thanks to him and that being said; I've been playing #0020 for more than a month. When I received it, I found the pickups to be too close to the strings. Guitars with chambered bodies have an inherent midrange that requires a little tuning to get right. Usually, I find the pickups moved away from the strings reduces the gain of the pickups, but more importantly aligns the midrange in a semi-hollow guitar. I'm not saying #0020 sounded like a 335, but it sounded like a 335. Lowering the pickups to the height of the rings made an amazing transformation. Josh's pickups are very good. Simply, my lowering the pickups dialed this guitar into Les Paul range and I love it. No matter what I say about #0045, this guitar is a keeper. I'm blessed. I'm not, however, blessed with camera skills. I have a Nikon 4300 and no manual. I just snap pics. Sorry. Here's #0020... Ultimate #0045 arrived today. I opened the case at my office. The first thing I noticed was that the headstock showed the grain of the headstock much more than #0020. Cool and different. Solid black from ten feet away and translucent beautiful grain up close. The fingerboard is fantastic, as those of you know from preliminary pics. The guitar is really a unique color and "beautiful" doesn't really cover it. The tint of the body reminds me of early eighties 335's I've known and loved. The binding is not as yellow and that's a cool thing. The top is really "sneaky". At every angle, it changes. I really love the ABR-1 bridge. The guitar is resonant and rings a little different than #0020. I notice that the pickups are even with the mounting rings. I'm happy that they are both different. I'd say that #0045 is warmer. Not sure why, but I'm sure that's the main difference in tone. It could be the Creamtone bridge and tailpiece. It could be the Klusons. It could be anything. I know this may all sound contrived, but I've had a good bit of time with #0020 and these are my first impressions of #0045. I'm blessed to own them. Here's my less than adequate pics of #0045...
mc2 Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 Shark..... Very nice. Hey, any way you could post a pic of your #0045 with your original Kubicki ? I've been thinking of those as a pair ever since your mentioned you had ordered an Ultimate.
bubs_42 Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 Congratulations, they are both gorgeous. I do think it 0020 sounded like a 335 win I had it, and I loved the sound of it. Now thanks to you I have the opportunity to have my "Ultimate" Shishkov.
The Shark Posted June 4, 2016 Author Posted June 4, 2016 15 minutes ago, bubs_42 said: Congratulations, they are both gorgeous. I do think it 0020 sounded like a 335 win I had it, and I loved the sound of it. Now thanks to you I have the opportunity to have my "Ultimate" Shishkov. I think we're both going to have a great time watching the new Shishkov builds, Shawn. Thanks again.
The Shark Posted June 4, 2016 Author Posted June 4, 2016 5 hours ago, mc2 said: Shark..... Very nice. Hey, any way you could post a pic of your #0045 with your original Kubicki ? I've been thinking of those as a pair ever since your mentioned you had ordered an Ultimate. Very similar finish. I'll dig out the Kubicki in the next few days.
veatch Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 9 hours ago, 0054 said: From all of us at the Hamer forum. Bleep you shark on having the first Shishkov Harem!!! You need three for a harem. Two is just a "three way"... Not that there is anything wrong with that. :)
gorch Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 Thats pretty much a concentration of excellence. Congrats!
DaveL Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 That looks awesome! this is one of my faves so far... one question, do you mean ABR-1 as in the posts directly sunk into the body, or an ABR style bridge screwed into Nashville body inserts... can't tell from the pic.
The Shark Posted June 4, 2016 Author Posted June 4, 2016 8 minutes ago, DaveL said: That looks awesome! this is one of my faves so far... one question, do you mean ABR-1 as in the posts directly sunk into the body, or an ABR style bridge screwed into Nashville body inserts... can't tell from the pic. It's an ABR-1 style bridge with Nashville inserts. The best of both worlds!
velorush Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 Congratulations! Both incredible guitars! And may I further congratulate you by providing you with a Nikon 4300 Manual?
Northfield Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 Glad it got there safely. They all do seem to have their own unique "voice" - it's been cool testing them before they head out. I had some decent light and took a couple quick pictures before it headed out
atomicwash Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 That is FANTASTIC! Love the 45 top. Where do you get the Dunlop buttons without the strap connector? Dan
cmatthes Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 31 minutes ago, atomicwash said: Where do you get the Dunlop buttons without the strap connector? Dan ALLPARTS, several other parts outlets sell just the buttons for around $5.00 a pair.
mrjamiam Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 Gorgeous wood on 0045! Congrats and enjoy them both.
Jakeboy Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 Damn, dude....just damn! Those are both beautiful. I have the Shlabotnik sisters dialed up fairly high on 0006 and I do love the way it sounds. That said, you have made me curious so I will lower them as you have done and see if I dig it better. She doesn't sound like a 335 to my ears now, but I gotta know if it is even possible to make it sound better....other than having you guys play it and not me. That will not happen BTW, unless we are at a jam. 0006 is perfect and will never be sold. Congrats on both. Rock them hard,
BubbaVO Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 Awesome pair... i usually reserve such praise for other threads. But it's really appropriate here. congrats!
The Shark Posted June 4, 2016 Author Posted June 4, 2016 I've found that pickup adjustment is a critical tone variable with nearly every guitar I've ever owned. Some pickups just sound like shit, no matter what guitar or how they're adjusted. Schaller and Bartolini come to mind.
bubs_42 Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 55 minutes ago, The Shark said: I've found that pickup adjustment is a critical tone variable with nearly every guitar I've ever owned. Some pickups just sound like shit, no matter what guitar or how they're adjusted. Schaller and Bartolini come to mind. And sometimes no matter how good the pups are they may not be a good match for the guitar.
Jakeboy Posted June 4, 2016 Posted June 4, 2016 2 hours ago, The Shark said: I've found that pickup adjustment is a critical tone variable with nearly every guitar I've ever owned. Some pickups just sound like shit, no matter what guitar or how they're adjusted. Schaller and Bartolini come to mind. Agree 100%
The Shark Posted June 4, 2016 Author Posted June 4, 2016 5 hours ago, velorush said: Congratulations! Both incredible guitars! And may I further congratulate you by providing you with a Nikon 4300 Manual? As I've aged, I'm less likely to spend time mastering the finer points of my iPhone let alone some camera that takes good enough pics without me knowing how. Thanks though. I'm just a hopeless curmudgeon.
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