I tried a China made Hagstrom Viking reissue the other day and who needs a 335 or I-35? For $400 the Viking rules!

My first electric cost $400, too. It was a '62 Les Paul sunburst, purchased in 1972 at Leo's in Oakland. The Vikings did rule, for a while. Interesting funerals, too.

quote:

Originally posted by sonoman:
It was a '62 Les Paul sunburst, purchased in 1972 at Leo's in Oakland.

Are you sure it was a '62? The only LPs being made then were the SG body style, and they didn't make 'em in sunburst.

I was whatever the last year was they made the single cut, real Les Paul, not that SG clone that Les disowned. I sold the guitar in 1975, after the birth of our second daughter made it clear that family, not rock n roll, was gonna be first. We used the money to buy an oak dining table that we raised our four kids around for over twenty years. Best guitar sale I ever made. Best life choice, too.

Ahh... 1960... a real 'burst. That guitar would buy you a pretty nice HOUSE nowadays!

Anybody pay attention to what violinists, cellists, bassists are paying for a top notch instrument these days? If you are going to play one instrument, and it is going to be your soul mate, I still think guitarists get a deal.

On the other hand, if you buy one instrument when you want to be B.B., and then another when you want to be Kottke, and another when you want to be Jimi, then cost is likely an issue. Unfortunately, I've been in this category most of my life. Sure is fun though -- I think I can squeak another 60K miles out of my car and buy that OM.

The people on this forum have provided such thoughtful responses to my questions that I just wanted to say thanks and let everyone know that my I-35 Deluxe (Tobacco Sunburst) arrived yesterday from The Twelfth Fret in Toronto. Not bad considering that I ordered it May 29th and was told it would take about ten months. Words cannot describe how beautiful this thing is!

I can give you a preliminary sound report, but bear in mind it's coming from a relative novice. I play mostly through a Tweed Champ reproduction, made by Ludovic Pierson in Flagstaff, Arizona, and a Tweed Deluxe reproduction made by Keith McNeil in Calgary, Alberta. I rarely use effects because, if I want distortion, these amps do it well naturally when cranked just a bit.

I messed around for about three hours yesterday, was almost late for the class I teach, and went through, among others, Roy Orbison's "Oh Pretty Woman", Neil Young's "After the Garden is Gone", part of B.B. King's "Please Love Me", The Wilbury's "Handle with Care", a couple of Jazz standards ("Autumn Leaves" and "Blue Bossa") and well, you get the picture. The tone of the I-35 is deep, rich, and smooth. Add some treble and use the bridge pickup or middle position, and there's a authoritative bite. But the thing that struck me the most is the sustain combined with notes of chords that ring out individually with such definition. I can't really imagine a type of music that couldn't be handled with the I-35. As for feel, the neck is dead on. It's got the girth that I think works well with this type of guitar. The action is medium or medium-low, and I'm definitely going to stick with the 11s.

Pleased as punch. I suppose I'll be putting one or two of my Godin electrics up for sale.

Hello,

I am a brand new forum user, but have had two Collings acoustics (a 2004 Winfield E.I. Rosewood) and a 2006 D-1A custom western burst.

I am about to die to buy an electric (likely the I-35). I think there was someone on this string named sonoman who was talking about selling his. Sonoman, are you out there and if so, you still trying to sell it?

Thanks.

I am "out there" in more ways than one, but the I-35 deluxe sold two or three months back, in less than a week after I offered it. Tax thuggery beat me to a pulp. If you can find one, buy it. It was the best electric I've played in 42 years at this. thanks tom

There is a brand new I-35 being offered on the Gear Page (www.thegearpage.net) for approx. $4400 (which is a steal). I have no affiliation with the seller.

Thanks for the input. I have seen that I-35 for sale on Ebay and it's currently up on it's second round on Ebay. Nobody's bidding on it.

It is a steal indeed, I just wish it was not that red finish. I am looking for the Iced Tea or somehthing comparable, OR that natural blonde, which I think is just beautiful.

4400 makes me suspicious. But who knows what lurks in the heart of the GAS afflicted? There's a new iced tea burst at TME that would make grown men weep, but it ain't 44. 61, and I don' know if that's before discount. It should be. Don't look if you have your credit card with you.