Humbuckers and Body Shapes

[Danger Mouse]

Flame maple, burst, low-gain at the subtle rotation of a volume knob...what more could you want?

Fat, old, grey haired fart slinging that.... there's enough humiliation in my life already.
I really like Explorers, but even the people who love me agree I look ridiculous wearing one.

Ha that is a good point... there's a fine line between growing old disgracefully and just looking like a fecking idiot

[Slowy]

Fat, old, grey haired fart slinging that.... there's enough humiliation in my life already.
I really like Explorers, but even the people who love me agree I look ridiculous wearing one.

Didn't bother this guy...

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8j3NUzPBw4[/youtube]

Black guys are born with bonus cool points.

[bender]

Also with the JM/Jag I don't like the trem (personal preference) but the guitar just looks wrong without it..

Wash your mouth out! They're a glorious thing!

[bender]

One of these shapes made out of Korina would be pretty ace:

[Vince]

Is that the middle-age-spreadcaster model, is it? seriously, I don't like them, they're too bulbous.

Then again, this thread is not about me.

[jimi]

Also with the JM/Jag I don't like the trem (personal preference) but the guitar just looks wrong without it..

Wash your mouth out! They're a glorious thing!

Actually there is one thing I like about the JM trem that many other trems don't have - you can lock it (and remove the arm and throw it away).

The only thing Trems seem to do on my guitars is make them go out of tune.

[kdawg2a]

I can't help but think how good a telecaster is a a platform for this kind of thing. They seem to lend themselves well to pick up mods and wood choices and they are very easy to work with. You already like the scale length and they're very easy to build.

[Slowy]

I can't help but think how good a telecaster is a a platform for this kind of thing. They seem to lend themselves well to pick up mods and wood choices and they are very easy to work with. You already like the scale length and they're very easy to build.

True that. I think the Jazzmaster thing has to do with having Strats and Teles and wanting the whole set

[Slowy]

Is that the middle-age-spreadcaster model, is it? seriously, I don't like them, they're too bulbous.

Then again, this thread is not about me.

Middleage Spreadcaster.

I love it! Can I have that? Pleeeease?

[bender]

Is that the middle-age-spreadcaster model, is it? seriously, I don't like them, they're too bulbous.

Then again, this thread is not about me.

If you saw that top one in the flesh, you wouldn't think that. They're tiny.

[HackSaw]

I wish you'd stop posting Reverends Ben, it keeps reminding me how much I want this that is on special at RS..

[StrummersOfThunder]

Also with the JM/Jag I don't like the trem (personal preference) but the guitar just looks wrong without it..

Wash your mouth out! They're a glorious thing!

Actually there is one thing I like about the JM trem that many other trems don't have - you can lock it (and remove the arm and throw it away).

The only thing Trems seem to do on my guitars is make them go out of tune.

The JM/jag trem properly set up is seldom the cause of tuning issues. More often it is the nut. Or the nut playing it.
One of Leo's finest inventions that trem.

[Starfire]

I wish you'd stop posting Reverends Ben, it keeps reminding me how much I want this that is on special at RS..

I'm becoming increasingly fond of this one:

[StrummersOfThunder]

I wish you'd stop posting Reverends Ben, it keeps reminding me how much I want this that is on special at RS..

I'm becoming increasingly fond of this one:

Oh Lordy. That is nice.

[handsoffmatt]

Going back to the OP's question.

EVERYTHING makes a difference to a guitar's tone and/or tactility. Size, shape, body wood type, body thickness, tuners, bridge, neck size, neck wood, fretboard wood, fret material, nut material, setup, pickups.......everything.

By far the biggest tonal factor is the pickups. After that you are looking at varying degrees of subtle differences for all of the above factors. I would put body size/thickness and body wood type as being some of the more major factors in that list, but we're still not talking a tone change as much as changing pickups. This is where we start talking more about the playing tactility - which will be significantly altered by body size/shape/wood type.

That's why getting a custom guitar built (or buying a guitar without playing it first) can be a bit of a crap shoot unless you know what you're talking about or exactly what you like.

The good news is that there are no rules of what is "better" or "worse". Only what you like. That gives you a great reason to go down to a music store and play a bunch of guitars so you can figure out what works for YOU.