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<...>
Just wondering if its possible to get as good a guitar for $200 instead of paying say upwards of $2000 for one and then doing a blind test (playing from beind a curtain) for a layperson or even an intermediate guitarist, would they be able to tell the difference?
Probably not.
My LTD with the Mean 90s sounds great. I think expression trumps tone any day of the week (as long as the tone is in the ball park for the genre of music you are playing).
So why the gas? What am I getting for the $1500?
1) Light weight - 5 pounds, I'm tired of picking up and setting down an 8 pound guitar dozens of times per night (this is probably the number one factor)
2) Fishman pickup will allow me to sound acoustic
3) Vibrato (trem) bar that will work in lock, down or float and Sperzel locking tuners and a GraphTech nut that should help with the tuning stability
4) Versatility of sounds due to the pickup configuration
5) Good looks (many people listen with their eyes) - I wear black on stage, and the black guitar I'm currently playing is a bear to keep clean and doesn't show up well (it is show-biz after all)
6) Ease of playing (number 2 factor and related to item 1) - if the instrument is comfortable, it makes it easier for the musician to express himself/herself
BTW, this is the least expensive Dragonfly in the lineup. The economy comes from the satin finish and the bolt-on neck (so they say).
This seems to be the perfect guitar for the kind of music I'm doing, and unless it's involved in an unfortunate incident, it should be a gigging guitar for the rest of my life.
A workman needs good tools, but they don't necessarily have to be the best tools. I think this is a good compromise between the Jay Turser and PRS extremes.
I don't care what name is on the headstock. I'm not up there to impress other musicians. On the other hand, Parker has a reputation for excellent workmanship, and judging from my partner's PM10, that reputation is deserved.
Time will tell if I'm making the right decision or not.
Notes ♫
Last edited by Notes Norton; 11/17/10 10:59 AM.
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Well, Bob, if you get that Gospel Fakebook ready, youknow some of us are waiting for it so we can send you some $$  That is a beeyootiful axe.
Stan
Hi Stan -- we're working on it!!!
I have 29 other fake books, surely you can find at least one other to help little Bobby get his guitar 
Quote:
Bob, if I could afford it, I would probably buy them all, but alas.......
I'm not trying to be an instrument collector either, but I now have 4 horns and a Little Martin acoustic guitar. I had finally convinced myself to sell one of my trumpets but was glad I kept it because my other one had a valve problem which took a long time to fix. Sometimes we just can't part with our good friends.
stan
p.s. We took all of our 9 fake books to Office Depot and had them 3-hole punched and put in binders. This was not cheap, but they are a lot easier to handle now--especially the Broadway one.
Cornet Curmudgeon
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Guitarists, Saxophonists, Trumpeters, Pianists, whatever, we all have GAS.
I'm not overjoyed about the comb binding on the Broadway book either. A lot better than a glued in binding, but there are so many songs for that size binding. But there are a lot of great tunes in that book, from the old standards that have been jazzed up along the way to newer songs, some of which will become classics.
I have a 3 hole puncher that will do about a dozen pages at a time and I manually did one of the old "Real Books" that way. It was time consuming, but worth it.
When I was young and on the road, it wasn't common for people to have redundant instruments. The lead guitarist had an Epiphone Sheraton, the bassist a Fender P bass, I had my Selmer Mark VI tenor and the drummer had a set of Rogers drums. Later we picked up a keyboard player who had a Farfisa with Leslie at first, then a Hammond B3. We traveled the country without any spares. We didn't know anybody with spares either.
Funny how time changes.
Now I won't allow myself to not have at least one spare of everything important, and I have a few extra guitars hanging around the house.
I'm hoping the DragonFly will be my main guitar for years to come. I don't see what else I'll need, (but I won't sell my other guitars either). The only thing I will miss is the P90 sound, but if I want, I can always put a Duncan P-Rail in place of the Humbucker. But that would not be until the warranty expires or later.
I'll find out today if my local Ma and Pa music store can get one, if not, I'll go Internet shopping tomorrow.
I've obviously convinced myself to go for it.
Insights and incites by Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton  Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Heh, heh.
Every new guitar is "the one for years to come."
Until the next one, anyway...
Enjoy,
--Mac
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Quote:
Good luck with the guitar Notes. I know somebody who plays and has to buy expensive guitars. Its an interesting subject this.
Just wondering if its possible to get as good a guitar for $200 instead of paying say upwards of $2000 for one and then doing a blind test (playing from beind a curtain) for a layperson or even an intermediate guitarist, would they be able to tell the difference?
Well I bought a $109 SX Precision Bass that plays and sounds just as good as a real Fender for $1500. I did have to do some setup though. Shim neck back a hair, truss rod, intonation, string height. A lot of this was due to the fact I put beastly LaBella "Jameson" flats on it. I needed to get the action WAY down as the tension was killing my fingers.
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Well, last week when I called the first M&P store (my favorite) and spoke to the clerk (not the owner) he simply said, "No". The second store just called and said he tried but couldn't.
I have a gig today, so tomorrow I go Internet order.
Any suggestions of a good store? (Sweetwater is out, they don't have the natural color).
Is MF good? How about GC?
Thanks,
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Quote:
Heh, heh.
Every new guitar is "the one for years to come."
Until the next one, anyway...
Enjoy,
--Mac
Another "nasty" is innovation. My first trumpet didn't have a 3rd valve tuning slide. Now all of my horns have triggered slides. As you say Mac, these horns will last me for years to come.......or at least until the next "gotta have" or new innovation comes along. We do need to be nice though, and support Bob's many reasons to get this guitar. Hey, even I can relate to the weight factor.:).
Stan
Cornet Curmudgeon
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I've been very happy with MF.
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It's too bad my local stores can't get a Parker. I could drive to GC in West Palm Beach, but that's 60 miles away so the money won't stay in my community anyway. Plus the cost of fuel to get there and back. And there is no guarantee GC will have one in stock. We got rained out today  it's the problem with outdoor gigs. We have a deal with the yacht basin, if it rains, we don't play, and we don't get paid. It's the arrangement we agreed at the beginning. After all, they won't have any business in the rain. And it's a Thursday afternoon, so the chances of a one-nigher band getting booked every Thursday afternoon are slim to none, so in the long run we make out OK anyway. So there is some cash not going to the new axe (buy more disks <grin:wink>). Oh well. So I guess I'll go Internet order tomorrow morning before I re-load the car. This GAS thing shrinks the membranes in my wallet Perhaps I should have taken up harmonica instead of guitar --- nah! And thanks for supporting my many reasons for getting this guitar. Even my wife is agreeing (she is a guitarist too - and that's dangerous) Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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OK, pulled the trigger this morning. After doing the Musician's Friend on-line, 12 months same as cash credit card app on-line, I went to place the order. The web site didn't give me the free shipping option so I called and got a salesman. He gave me a better deal than the Internet advertised price, I added an Ultimate Support guitar stand, and the price is still less than the Internet advertised price for the guitar alone.
I'll post pictures and a review when it arrives.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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"Pluck Your Magic Twanger Froggy" er , Notes.
Wyndham
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Quote:
"Pluck Your Magic Twanger Froggy" er , Notes.
Wyndham
For those of you too young to know about very primitive TV show, check out:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYZazW9Ja1k
Kids were easily entertained in the 50's.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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<...>
So please, if everyone would just buy one of my Band-in-a-Box disks, I could make enough money to buy this puppy and I'll be soooooo happy. ;-)
Notes ♫
I said that with the smiley face for the humor. I didn't really expect you to help me buy my new guitar. It was just fun to say. However, if anyone actually did buy a disk for to help me out, I sincerely appreciate it.
Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Notes, I had forgotten that Andy Devine was the MC for that show, regression is great, maybe.
Wyndham
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Andy Devine surprised me as well. I was a little tot when that show aired, it was really pitched at my older sister's age, but I did remember the froggy puppet.
MF didn't send me a tracking number, so I suspect it won't be shipped until Monday :-(
They must be busy doing holiday things.
Too bad I couldn't find one locally, waiting after you pull the trigger makes the GAS even worse.
Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Correction: The guitar has been shipped. I was looking for something from Musician's Friend, instead I got something from "no reply" in my junk folder.
They shipped via USPS but USPS hasn't logged it in yet.
Notes
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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I'm pleased for you Bob. That really is a beautiful axe.
R.
"My primary musical instrument is the personal computer."
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Thanks.
I'm hoping it serves me well for many years to come.
Notes ♫
Bob "Notes" Norton Norton Music
https://www.nortonmusic.com
100% MIDI Super-Styles recorded by live, pro, studio musicians for a live groove
& Fake Disks for MIDI and/or RealTracks
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Congrats on your purchase Notes--looking forward to the review. Are you going to post a Video??
I'd be completely happy if I had just one more guitar.
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Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.
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