New to guitar! Help me find one!

Din of Win · Post by **Din of Win** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 2:38 pm

Hey all!

This is my first post!

I've been a bassist for quite a long time. But recently, it's been hard to find like-minded guitarists for some stuff i've been writing... so i thought... I may as well just do it myself!!

So, a couple years ago, i bought 2 cheap guitars... a Peavey Reactor (tele copy) and an SX SJM-62 (Jazzmaster copy)... but, my whole world changed when last fall i played my friend's 90's RI Mustang. I love the feel of the shorter neck!

So, with that lovely time of year called 'Tax Season' here, i have some extra $$$ and i want to get my own short scale!!

Now, while i DO have some $$$, i'm by NO means a gig-ing guitarist, so i don't want to invest a TON. I'd love to keep things around $250... so here are the guitars i'm looking at (i'm not even 100% sure that they're all short scales):

-Squier CV Duo-Sonic
-Squier VM Jaguar
-(used)Squier Cyclone
-(used)Fender Blacktop Jaguar
-(used)Peavey T-15
-(used)Peavey T-30

I am a HUGE fan of US made Peaveys from the 70's and 80's, what are your thoughts on the two i mentioned? Are there any other Peavey short scales? Anything else in GENERAL i can keep my eyes out for?

Other idea... I really like the idea of this SX guitar:

Is it as simple as slapping on a short scale neck (Squier duo-sonic/allparts/warmoth) and calling it a day?

Thanks!!

DanHeron · Post by **DanHeron** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:38 pm

Is it as simple as slapping on a short scale neck (Squier duo-sonic/allparts/warmoth) and calling it a day?

Assuming thats a 25.5" scale...no. The scale is measured from the nut to the bridge, so the length of the space on the body between the end of the neck and the bridge matters as well. You would need to move the bridge to intonate with the new scale neck.

Din of Win · Post by **Din of Win** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:40 pm

DanHeron wrote:
Is it as simple as slapping on a short scale neck (Squier duo-sonic/allparts/warmoth) and calling it a day?
Assuming thats a 25.5" scale...no. The scale is measured from the nut to the bridge, so the length of the space on the body between the end of the neck and the bridge matters as well. You would need to move the bridge to intonate with the new scale neck.

Ah, that's kinda what i figgured. Thanks!

George · Post by **George** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:42 pm

I don't think you could go far wrong with a used CV Duo Sonic to be honest as there's a lot on the market. Cyclones are rare-ish and 24.75" not 24", and the Blacktops are quite new so might be hard to pin down used. Or just reel in a bit extra cash and get the Mustang which is what you really want

EDIT: This is partly conjecture me thinking I know about the American market. I'm imagining it's a macrocosm of the UK.

endsjustifymeans · Post by **endsjustifymeans** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 3:58 pm

There are a number of shortscales on the rondo site.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 4:30 pm

I'm pretty sure all the rondo guitars are conversion necks. that's what I've heard but I've never got the chance to get one in my hands, so I can't be 100%. A CV duo neck/jagmaster neck will work on an SX guitar. It will probably need a little neck shim and you'd have to deal with the fact that both of those necks are strat neck style butts. So, you couldn't do that with one of their shortscale teles. Warmoth also sells a conversion neck to take 25.5 to a 24.75. So you take a standard Fender scale to a standard Gibson.

so there are a lot of different options, you just have to be sort of creative.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 8:43 pm

Don't you post on Talkbass and don't you have shortscale basses?

I think of your choices I like the VM Jag best, as it is widely available, easily modified, and has a 22-fret neck.

sholkham · Post by **sholkham** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 9:55 pm

I've got the CV duo-sonic and I highly recommend it. You might want to try one in person to see if you like the neck though, not a huge hassle as a lot of shops seem to stock them.

Berto · Post by **Berto** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 10:43 pm

i'm in the same situation as you din. I have a peavey t-30 and i absolutely love it!! One thing i did notice is that it would go out of tune really fast sometimes and other times not. The intonation was also good sometimes and dreadful other times. i finally fixed this problem by shiving the neck. the neck adjustment on the neck plate is just a screw that goes in and out, so the neck still has some play over that pivot point. if you get one, definately shiv the neck. The guitar is perfectly intonated and holds tune forever now

Din of Win · Post by **Din of Win** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:20 pm

honeyiscool wrote:Don't you post on Talkbass and don't you have shortscale basses?

I think of your choices I like the VM Jag best, as it is widely available, easily modified, and has a 22-fret neck.

Oh, hey dude!!

Yes, i love my franken-bronco and vista musicmaster, and i'm THINKING about jumping the gun on an SX shorty jag bass!!

I do love Squiers in general. I like tweaking things... IF they need it. Haha, half the time, the basses/guitars are fine as-is after a good set-up.

I played around with my 2 guitars a bunch last night, and the more i did, the more i was leaning twards something with an HH set-up like the VM Jag, Jagmaster, Blacktop Jag, or a Toronado (which i JUST missed for $350 on the local craigslist). In a perfect world, i'd have the $$$ to snag up a vista Supersonic. But i also like the H/Sc set-up, like a cyclone or venus...

I think i'm gonna go to the local GC and try some stuff out this weekend.... unfortunately, things like Vista Squiers (which i REALLY like) are neigh-impossible to try-before-you-buy :/

@Berto: Great to see some Peavey love!!! I actually JUST found out that the T-30 was a shortscale. Till a few weeks ago, i thought that the T-15 was the only one. I'd love a T-60, but they're just so unruly big...

I have a couple more questions:

-How rare IS a Squier Vista Supersonic?
-I've been lusting after an Epiphone Coronet 90's RI as well... anyone know what scale they were?
-Are there any good SX Short Scale models 'yall might reccomend?

Thanks again!! This forum is awesome!

Ankhanu · Post by **Ankhanu** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 1:39 pm

Din of Win wrote:I have a couple more questions:

-How rare IS a Squier Vista Supersonic?
-I've been lusting after an Epiphone Coronet 90's RI as well... anyone know what scale they were?
-Are there any good SX Short Scale models 'yall might reccomend?

I'm not really sure about the Vista Supersonic... but if you keep your eyes open on eBay, they do appear.
The Coronet is, IIRC, standard Gibson scale (24 3/4"). Gibson/Epiphone doesn't stray from this scale terribly often.
There are a couple threads about various SX shorties on the forum. I can't recall which have been really popular though. I think the general consensus has been that they're pretty much all decent value for the money and choice comes down to your personal aesthetics.

Din of Win wrote:Thanks again!! This forum is awesome!

This forum is pretty awesome

It's an interesting mix of super helpful and down right bastardly sarcasm

At the end of the day though, people here seem to bend over backwards to help.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:01 pm

I bet if you went to your local music store or guitar center, you'd find several new guitars.

jim93 · Post by **jim93** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 4:57 pm

I played a vm jag at guitar center. They are pretty good and are reasonably priced. If you checked used gear on guitarcenter.com you also see returned vm jags for 199 too

AaronGuitarDude · Post by **AaronGuitarDude** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 5:39 pm

CV Duo Sonic, if I am new to gitar

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 6:36 pm

I've always found it difficult to resist tinkering with a humbucker-equipped guitar. I don't really like the sound of humbuckers, but once you start customizing, it's easy to find something useful.

Asher · Post by **Asher** » Fri Mar 25, 2011 7:00 pm

I'm a big Peavey T series fan. Very twangy guitars. The 15 and 30 have fixed bridges, but one member here who had a T-15(?) said the intonation was perfect. Maybe he'll chime in... I really like the thin necks. Apparently they are more prone to warping, but I haven't had any trouble with mine.

Carl Perkins rocked a T-25 in that tv special.

Someone here said that that it was basically a T-60 with a 24.75" conversion neck.
[youtube][/youtube]

gaybear · Post by **gaybear** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 6:19 am

RE: peavey t-15
I LOVED my peavey t-15. of course it was my first electric, so it had that going for it. and after 12+ years it was relic'd by (HORROR OF HORRORS!) playing it alot.
the bridge sucked though. especially for intonation issues and other adjustments, in that it was one peice.
Otherwise, it was an extremely easy guitar to play. the pick ups were best for distortion. the action was easy as can be.

astrozombie · Post by **astrozombie** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 4:41 am

id go squier duo sonic or squier jag.

STRATONUCLEAR · Post by **STRATONUCLEAR** » Thu Mar 31, 2011 10:58 am

Very impressed with my Squire Duo Sonic to. When I need $ for projects I put it up for sale then play it a few timed and change my mind. It's a real struggle I tell you,
I NEED HELP ladys and gentlemans,
I need someone to set up a pick for me in the free fro line a life!