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Bought my first CC; a #14 Waddy Wachtel

LeonC

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
799
I've been interested in one of the '60 models because I slightly prefer that carve and found a #14 here on Craigslist. Went and tried it out and wound up buying it. It's funny...it looks old but still feels a bit "newer" than it does old...but it's still nice having one that doesn't feel brand new. I liked several things about this model. The Bigsby is a cool option, IMO, I'm diggin it so far...but the fact that the model also comes with a stop tail and posts (and the stud wells) making it potentially "convertible" was an extra plus.

This particular guitar was quite light too...8.36 lbs with the Bigsby. It plays quite well and the pickups, to my surprised, compared very nicely to the PAFs on my '61 335 which I brought with me for comparison.

These aren't my favorite frets...but they have been pretty easy to get used to so far. I do think they could be better crowned and there were a few sharp ones on the treble side of the neck. I'll probably take this to my tech and have him tweak them a bit to me liking.

I have to say, I'm really impressed with the sound! I got to play at performance volume yesterday and the guitar performed very well. The neck pickup was particularly impressive to me. It really had the clear, vocal quality, reminiscent of single coil pickups. The bridge is bright and clear. Together it's easy to approximate that great, funkity, plunkety tone I associate with Dickie Betts's sound. Really, I'm impressed so far.

I did have to replace the strap buttons; straps just don't stay on the old Gibson-style buttons very well. Fortunately, I had some old Dunlop straplocks that I bought back when they first came out..must have been late 70s / early 80s...they have the same basic shape, they look old, lol, and they're gonna make it a lot safer to play.

The routing of the control cavity is pretty shabby looking. I have to say I was a little disappointed that they appeared to take no more care with this than on some of their notably cheaper models. That said, I like the taper and feel of the pots (seems pretty quick, much like the orig pots in my 335) and they sound great too.

I'll try to get some clips up later.

http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103257.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103317.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103442.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103400.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180420_212227.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180420_195736.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103333.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180420_211339.jpg
 

Attachments

  • 20180421_103257.jpg
    20180421_103257.jpg
    51.1 KB · Views: 26

Mark Kane

All Access/Backstage Pass
Joined
Jul 18, 2001
Messages
5,742
I've been interested in one of the '60 models because I slightly prefer that carve and found a #14 here on Craigslist. Went and tried it out and wound up buying it. It's funny...it looks old but still feels a bit "newer" than it does old...but it's still nice having one that doesn't feel brand new. I liked several things about this model. The Bigsby is a cool option, IMO, I'm diggin it so far...but the fact that the model also comes with a stop tail and posts (and the stud wells) making it potentially "convertible" was an extra plus.

This particular guitar was quite light too...8.36 lbs with the Bigsby. It plays quite well and the pickups, to my surprised, compared very nicely to the PAFs on my '61 335 which I brought with me for comparison.

These aren't my favorite frets...but they have been pretty easy to get used to so far. I do think they could be better crowned and there were a few sharp ones on the treble side of the neck. I'll probably take this to my tech and have him tweak them a bit to me liking.



I have to say, I'm really impressed with the sound! I got to play at performance volume yesterday and the guitar performed very well. The neck pickup was particularly impressive to me. It really had the clear, vocal quality, reminiscent of single coil pickups. The bridge is bright and clear. Together it's easy to approximate that great, funkity, plunkety tone I associate with Dickie Betts's sound. Really, I'm impressed so far.

I did have to replace the strap buttons; straps just don't stay on the old Gibson-style buttons very well. Fortunately, I had some old Dunlop straplocks that I bought back when they first came out..must have been late 70s / early 80s...they have the same basic shape, they look old, lol, and they're gonna make it a lot safer to play.

The routing of the control cavity is pretty shabby looking. I have to say I was a little disappointed that they appeared to take no more care with this than on some of their notably cheaper models. That said, I like the taper and feel of the pots (seems pretty quick, much like the orig pots in my 335) and they sound great too.

I'll try to get some clips up later.

http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103257.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103317.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103442.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103400.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180420_212227.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180420_195736.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180421_103333.jpg
http://www.chalnick.org/LeonsGear/Gibson_CC14_36/20180420_211339.jpg


Looks great Dude!! Lose the bigsby and you'll be under 8 Lbs. Or not! Great guitar!
 

renderit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 19, 2009
Messages
10,951
Very nice! Looks like my 2013 R9 'cept for the Biggysbee!!
 

LeonC

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 30, 2002
Messages
799
Well I've gigged it a few times now and I think it's just a great guitar! I got a couple of sharp fret edges filed and smoothed out nicely and it's just a pleasure to play now. The smaller frets don't interfere or bother me in the least. Did the first gig with the Bigsby on it. Played on the roof of PetCo Park in San Diego!! That was crazy and pretty cool too.

http://www.chalnick.org/g/BlueRevisionsPetCoPark_sm.jpg

For the second gig I decided to put the stop tail on and see if I preferred it that way...I do!

I also just added the Metropoulos Zero Loss FX Loop to my home-made 1987. Here's a clip demoing both that and the CC.

 

Attachments

  • BlueRevisionsPetCoPark.jpg
    BlueRevisionsPetCoPark.jpg
    51.9 KB · Views: 10

Pellman73

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 9, 2016
Messages
1,762
Well I've gigged it a few times now and I think it's just a great guitar! I got a couple of sharp fret edges filed and smoothed out nicely and it's just a pleasure to play now. The smaller frets don't interfere or bother me in the least. Did the first gig with the Bigsby on it. Played on the roof of PetCo Park in San Diego!! That was crazy and pretty cool too.

http://www.chalnick.org/g/BlueRevisionsPetCoPark_sm.jpg

For the second gig I decided to put the stop tail on and see if I preferred it that way...I do!

I also just added the Metropoulos Zero Loss FX Loop to my home-made 1987. Here's a clip demoing both that and the CC.


Cool demo man! Nice playing
 
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