Cogswell
The Duke of Dumbassery
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2002
- Messages
- 15,717
OMG PRS LOL
Gibson took his signature guitar and turned it into the Axcess, he was not happy about it. Check out the first five minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If9XahzlkSk
Gibson took his signature guitar and turned it into the Axcess, he was not happy about it. Check out the first five minutes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=If9XahzlkSk
I'm sure Neal had his reasons for the divorce from Gibson but there are a couple of cheap shots in his clip. I met Neal once at the old building. He was cool. We built the run in the new Custom Shop building. I really don't think he had to tell us how to put a Floyd on or how shape the neck Aria style. Matt Klein is a monster engineer and guitar builder and doesn't need an education from anyone. No disrespect to Neal. Just telling the truth.
Neal's guitars were true prototypes. Most prototypes from Gibson are just another guitar that they write prototype on. I had my tiny part in this guitar. I cut the diamond inlays out of single large blocks of pearl. They are not 3 pieces as they appear. Once inlaid into the board I had to mask off the majority of the inlay except the parts that you see as black. We had a bead blaster set-up and I used that to cut the slots deep enough to fill with black tinted epoxy. How's that for not being cost effective?! They eventually had the pearl cut into diamonds but I had to still bead blast every single board in the run. I do not miss that part of the gig.
The Japanese loved the idea of the model and had similar Floyd'd scarfed guitars built with more of a traditional Les Paul knob layout and two humbuckers. I think one of those may've trickled into Alex Lifeson's hands. That's what ultimately led to the Axcess.
I don't think Neal comes off very well in that interview. I would be surprised too if a lot of the credit that Neal feels he is owed for the design really doesn't belong to Gary Brawer.
Good point. We got part of the circuitry from Gary. By the way, I'm not suggesting Gibson designed the guitar in isolation. I'm just saying Gibson knows about neck pitch and how to sculpt a heel! I'll give Neal a free pass on the interview. He is proud but deservedly so.
Chris, thanks for the pat on my back. Schon took an idea that Keith Medley had and started talking to Custom Shop as if it was his idea. I hand shaped each and every one of those guitars with a spokeshave and fish tail gouges. I think there were at least 25.I'm sure Neal had his reasons for the divorce from Gibson but there are a couple of cheap shots in his clip. I met Neal once at the old building. He was cool. We built the run in the new Custom Shop building. I really don't think he had to tell us how to put a Floyd on or how shape the neck Aria style. Matt Klein is a monster engineer and guitar builder and doesn't need an education from anyone. No disrespect to Neal. Just telling the truth.
Neal's guitars were true prototypes. Most prototypes from Gibson are just another guitar that they write prototype on. I had my tiny part in this guitar. I cut the diamond inlays out of single large blocks of pearl. They are not 3 pieces as they appear. Once inlaid into the board I had to mask off the majority of the inlay except the parts that you see as black. We had a bead blaster set-up and I used that to cut the slots deep enough to fill with black tinted epoxy. How's that for not being cost effective?! They eventually had the pearl cut into diamonds but I had to still bead blast every single board in the run. I do not miss that part of the gig.
The Japanese loved the idea of the model and had similar Floyd'd scarfed guitars built with more of a traditional Les Paul knob layout and two humbuckers. I think one of those may've trickled into Alex Lifeson's hands. That's what ultimately led to the Axcess.
Chris, thanks for the pat on my back. Schon took an idea that Keith Medley had and started talking to Custom Shop as if it was his idea. I hand shaped each and every one of those guitars with a spokeshave and fish tail gouges. I think there were at least 25.
I remember a publicity photo from when he was in Santana with an Olympic White Stratocaster and I remember really liking the Strat as it reminded me of Jimi Hendrix Woodstock Stratocaster .Neal Schon has always played (and continues to play) Gibson guitars. His first guitar was an ES 335, and he used that when he and Gregg Rolie played in Santana. But by the time Journey put out Infinity, he was using a Les Paul. As we all know, he also played a Strat (it was known as the 'Lights' Strat because it was used on such song) as well as Paul Reed Smith stuff.
Neal Schon is one guitarist I always felt helped pave way for jazz-rock. As a matter of fact, Steve Lukather has listed Neal Schon as an influence.