The Watering Hole

I picked this up last weekend, some of yooze saw it on the fb Bertcave page but I thought I'd post it here as well since now I have a short clip of it. Nothing special for the clip, used the same track I tossed together for the 5150III/Quick Rod test, just layed down a new take over that with this guitar.

Anyway, the guitar is pretty sweet! These are fairly rare, only made in 95/96 from what I gather. US Charvel San Dimas IIIw. Mahogany body/maple top, Birdseye maple neck, Pau Ferro fretboard, EMG pickups, Sperzel Locking Tuners and a Wilkinson Tremelo. Couple of things I'm blown away by (because I've never been a fan of them)...the locking tuners - can't say enough good things about them, what a surprise! Not really into non double locking trems, skeptical they stay in tune but shit, these bad boys really work, dive bombs and all, lol! Also, the EMG pups - again, major surprise, they sound great, and they really clean up when rolled back (this is where I figured they would suck). There's a nifty little toggle switch that splits the neck and middle pickups (which are actually humbuckers via stacking) so they can work either way, humbucking or single.

Lead Test Clip / save as

Sweet dude!!  One thing that sweetens the cleans even more with EMG's is what is called the 18volt mod.  Basically adding another battery into the power chain.  Cleans are much better with that.  

Nice looking guitar, good luck with it

looks cool!

I don't know if it's the guitar or the guitarist..anyway sounds GREAT !! Congrats for the new "toy" ! ;)

Dearthian: — Aug 21, 2011Sweet dude!!  One thing that sweetens the cleans even more with EMG's is what is called the 18volt mod.  Basically adding another battery into the power chain. Cleans are much better with that.  

Thanks for the tip. I kinda favor my Ibanez for cleans anyway so it's not an issue! I really don't know jack about EMG's though, not even a clue as to the model types this guitar has. I guess in time I'll figure it out.

Thanks, dbm, sheep!  :)

Lwb — Aug 21, 2011I don't know if it's the guitar or the guitarist..anyway sounds GREAT !! Congrats for the new "toy" ! ;)

Thanks! I think we can chalk it up to the ole cliche, good tone inspires better playing!  ;)

Sa-weeet!  Looks lovely - congrats. :)

Looks cool and sounds good!!  Congrats on the new guitar.

Thanks Voxman, Howie!  :D

The playing in the clip is pretty lame IMO, definitely uninspired, cliched shit (really, it is), but I just needed a reference clip for the tones - and now that I'm happy with that, I can redo this idea and actually spend some time coming up with something better (I hope).

It's a real looker--the bursts on Charvels are always much nicer than standard Jacksons.

I have to say Wilkinson makes my favorite trems, I've got 4 of them now, all 4 different models, and each one a winner.  Combined with locking tuners and a graphtech nut they are easily as stable as a locked floyd, and way more solid feeling on things like palm mutes.  The Sperzels are also real winners (especially because you can buy them in literally hundreds of color combinations), though once you've tried the Planet Waves tuners you may never go back--string changes on those things fly by, and you never have to cut a string again...

though once you've tried the Planet Waves tuners you may never go back--string changes on those things fly by, and you never have to cut a string again...

yes! could not agree more, I love them.

Looks great, sounds great.