Alex Chase AC-450

Beautiful Quilt Maple Top in
a Green to Yellow Burst

Alex Chase AC-450
Headstock with its signature Striking Cobra (with piano keys for its breast) inlay in multi-hued Abalone.

Alex Chase AC-450
Specifications:

• Mahogany Body
• w/ Quilt Maple Top
• Mahogany Set Neck
• Rosewood Fretboard
• Abalone Inlays
• Enclosed Tuners
• 24.75" Scale
• Pickups - unknown
• 3-Way Toggle
• Tunable bridge
• Hard tail
• 1x Volume / 1x Tone

How much does the AC-450 weigh? A mere 6.5 lbs.

I take this guitar everywhere
it is just a blast to play!

Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II

Beautiful Quilt Maple Midnight Ebony Finish

An elegantly stated Ultra II Headstock.

The discrete placement of the special NanoMAG Samarium/Cobalt pickup.

Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II Specifications:

• Body: Mahogany, strategically chambered
• Top: Quilted maple
• Binding: Body, Neck
• Neck: Mahogany SlimTaper, satin finish
• Neck Joint: Set (Glued-In)
• Truss Rod: double-action,
  2-way
• Fingerboard: Rosewood
• Frets: 22 medium jumbo
• Scale Length: 24-3/4"
• Fingerboard Radius: 12"
• Nut Width: 1.65"
• Hardware: Gold
• Neck Pickup: Alnico Classic
• NanoMag Low-impedance
• Bridge Pickup: Alnico Classic Plus
• Bridge: LockTone Tune-O-Matic
• Tailpiece: LockTone Stopbar
• Tuners: Grover, diecast
• Outputs: 1/4" Mono, 1/4" Stereo

Front Controls:

• Neck Humbucker Master Volume
• Bridge Humbucker Master Volume
• Master Tone
• NanoMAG Master Volume
• 3-way Toggle (Humbuckers)

Rear Controls:

• NanoMAG Treble
• NanoMAG Bass
• NanoMAG Gain
• Power: 9V battery
• Warranty: Limited Lifetime

How much does the Les Paul Ultra II weigh? Just about
7 3/4 lbs.

2008 Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II

A Genuine Les Paul Guitar that also performs as an acoustic for under $1,000

There's just no other way to describe it, the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II is an exceptional, high quality instrument. After all it 'is' a Gibson, just with their Epiphone brand on the headstock. The Ultra II is made in their plant in Korea, and as you may know, the Korean made guitars have earned a solid reputation for great quality.

The minute you pick up the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II you can
literally feel that quality. And you can certainly see the fit and finish which is nothing short of 'excellent.' The Ultra II has plenty of eye appeal too . . . I had a very difficult time deciding between the Midnight Ebony quilt top and the Faded Cherry quilt top, both are incredible!

Snob appeal aside for a few seconds, make no mistake this is a
Genuine Les Paul. I've owned and played numerous Gibson LPs and the Ultra II is right up there with its brethren on over all quality, handling and feel, playability, and most important of all the sound. Also, since it has a chambered body it is lighter in weight then a standard or Custom Les Paul.

Speaking of sound, the coolest thing about the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II is that it is a 'hybrid' and comes equipped with technology that utilizes its chambered body to allow it to sound like an acoustic guitar.

A very discrete fingerboard mounted NanoMAG Samarium Cobalt pickup and its special electronics, produce accurate shimmering acoustic tones with ultra-wide dynamic range. You also have the ability to blend the acoustic and electric output for a totally unique sound.

The NanoMag pickup is cleverly placed beteen the neck pickup and the fingerboard. Unless you look real close it just looks like another fret.

The average advertised street price for the Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II is $799 (List Price of $1,332).

Best feature:

The most amazing thing about this guitar is the NanoMag technology which gives you the ability to switch back and forth (with an A-B footswitch) between acoustic and electric voicing. It also allows you to create an entirely unique sound by combining the two. I've certainly enjoyed this feature!

Playing it:

The Epiphone Les Paul Ultra II is an awesome professional grade instrument . . . just like any Gibson branded version. It's reduced weight is also a bit kinder to your shoulder the the usual LP, weighing in at just slightly under 7 3/4 lbs.

Now the nice sculpted and chambered body do come with a little bit of a balance challenge. The guitar tends to be a wee bit neck
heavy and tends to nose dive when you let go of the neck. One solution I've found is a good quality wide strap to neutralize the effect.

The neck is exceptional! It is a bit thicker then most, but it is as smooth as glass with a special satin finish on the back that allows you to work the neck effortlessly at just about as fast as you can go. In short this is a top notch player.

Sound:

Classic Les Paul with the added shimmering acoustic tones of the NanoMag technology.

Fender Telecaster Highway One

An amazing guitar! A very affordable American made Telecaster

A superb Fender guitar of very high quality! This Tele is an absolute blast to play. Its simplicity (2 pickups, 2 knobs and a switch), and its understated eye appeal, comfortable weight, and good balance have earned it a spot among my favorite players.

There is just something about the feel of an American made
Telecaster that makes them stand out. Rather hard to describe actually, but I think the term might be "finished." This guitar just feels very well finished and carefully set-up.

I've done nothing to this guitar except unpack it and tune it!
Perfect string height and action all up and down the neck and
perfect intonation.

The Highway One is available in Transparent Wine Red (my choice), Honey Blond, Flat Black, Daphne Blue, and 3-Tone Sunburst. The satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish really set's the Highway One Telecaster apart . . . it's just cool! It has that elegant vintage look that is missing in high gloss finishes.

Some criticize the thin nitrocellulose lacquer finishes on the
Highway One. They claim it wears off quickly but I see this one of two ways. Take care of the guitar with reasonable care and some wax now and then, or consider it will just help it age and 'relic out' naturally over time. (Hey, don't some people pay extra money for that relic effect?)

In fact, due to the vintage styling (the bridge saddles, tuners, and
pickups) I've added a (genuine) Fender chrome bridge cover, a.k.a. "Ashtray" and it looks amazing. Why most players deiced to take these off of their old Tele's is beyond me! They are just too cool! Not to mention that they provide a great hand rest (or playing bridge) to keep the heal of your hand off of the strings.

Everything about this Telecaster is just plain "cool!" The quality is "Top Drawer" and the looks are "Classic Tele." As I've already
mentioned this is one of the most affordable American made Telecasters available. The one I have retailed for $749.99

Best features:

In my opinion, there are two things about "The Highway One" that are noteworthy. The first would be the Greasebucket tone circuit
which gives the guitar a throatier voice (IMHO). And second, the Alnico III pickups! Combine those two features and wow!

The Highway One has a clear crisp twang to it! A great package
for Rock or Country and add in a bit of distortion and this thing cooks!

Playing it:

This guitar is a real player! I'm lovin' the jumbo frets on this instrument. Great for lead riffs and anything you can throw at it. There is nothing else to say except that the Highway One Telecaster is just one "way-fun" guitar to play!

Sound:

This guitar produces a superb tonal range. From bright and clear with that signature Telecaster 'twang' (when you want it) to some seriously hot blues or Southern Rock. The combination of the super hot Alnico III pickups and the Greasebucket tone circuit are nothing short of awesome.

The 'Greasebucket' circuit is a great audio technology feature in that "turns down the highs, without adding or increasing the bass." And as near as I can tell it does exactly what it says!

Hagstrom Ultra Swede

Hagstrom Ultra Swede Specifications:

• • Basswood Body w/ Quilt Maple Top
  • UltraLux Maple Set Neck
  • Resinator Fretboard
  • Abalone and Pearl Shell Inlays
  • H-Expander Truss Rod
  • Hagstrom 15:1 Die Cast Tuners
  • 24.75" Scale
  • 2x Hagstrom Custom 58 Humbuckers
  • 3-Way Toggle
  • Long Travel Tune-O-Matic with Hagstrom Stop Tail Piece
  • 6 Individual Brass String Blocks
  • 1x Volume / 1x Tone / Mini-Toggle Coil Tap Switch
  • How much does the Ultra Swede weigh? 7.5 lbs.
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2008 Hagstrom Ultra Swede

One word . . . Awesome!

This is one guitar that is sure to 'speak to you.' The Hagstrom Ultra Swede is an exceptional instrument by all measures . . . eye appeal, fit and finish, appointments and features and of course sound. You are not likely to find a guitar of this outstanding quality at any where near the Ultra Swede's average market price.
(List $725 average street price $495)

This is one sweet high-end player at a bargain price! In addition to the beautiful quilt Maple top, the neck and body are fully bound and abalone and pearl shell inlay tastefully adorn the instrument. In my opinion, the headstock is particularly cool too!

Best feature:

The most amazing thing about this guitar is the UltraLux neck, which is quite possibly one of the slimmest necks in the guitar universe. Now I realize the neck shape is always a player's personal preference, but speed, playability, and accuracy are greatly enhanced with this neck. While it doesn't feel like a
"Metal Style" neck, I'd say shredders owe it to themselves to just check it out!

Playing it:

The Ultra Swede is very easy of the shoulder weighing in at just
slightly under 7 1/2 lbs. Great balance too, it doesn't dive when you let go of the neck. It has decently large strap lugs, which
makes getting the strap on a bit of a chore . . . but then that is a 'good thing!'

Placement of the controls are 'just right.' The volume control is just close enough to reach with the pinky (while playing) but far enough out of the way that you don't bump it when strumming. I do really . . . really like the 'tap switch' that sits between the
volume and tone knobs. It allows you to crank up the gain for a more aggressive edge.

Sound:

The Ultra Swede produces some incredible tonal range. You can get a Les Paul sound, you can get a pristine Tele sound or you can bathe in the incredible Hagstrom Ultra Swede sound. From the minute I picked it up, it was pure and simple unbridled love!