Author Archives: Guitar Gear

Charvel Pro-Mod Series Sunburst Ash

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Charvel Pro-Mod Series Ash
Charvel Pro-Mod San Dimas Ash

The Charvel Pro-Mod Series San Dimas sandblasted ash body is coupled with a bolt-on maple neck featuring a pair of graphite-reinforcement rods to resist bending and warping under environmental stresses. The Charvel Pro-Mod Series speed neck profile is designed for lightning fast playing and completely unhindered position shifts, while the comfortably rolled fingerboard edges provide the broken-in feel of an instrument with plenty of playing miles on it, and plenty more to go. Perfect for faster tempos, the 12″-16″ compound radius ebony fingerboard hosts 22 jumbo frets and white dot inlays. For regularly touring musicians, a heel-mount truss rod adjust thumbwheel is a must, allowing for quick and convenient neck relief tweaks.

This axe features an HH pickup configuration and comes loaded with DiMarzio® Super Distortion® DP100 bridge and DiMarzio PAF Pro® DP151 neck pickups. Explore this instrument’s versatile voice with a three-way pickup blade switch, tone control and a volume control that conceals a push/pull coil split for even more tonal variations on tap. With the Floyd Rose® 1000 Series double-locking tremolo bridge system, you can also dive to rumbling depths or add a well-placed rising harmonic without sacrificing your tuning.Destined for center stage­­, the Pro San Dimas Style 1 HH FR E Ash comes in a grain-filled shocking Neon Pink Ash finish with pink pickup bobbins, black hardware and a licensed Fender® Strat® headstock.

Engineered for exceptional performance, adaptable sound, and stunning aesthetics, Pro-Mod Series guitars are infused with the timeless playability and cutting-edge design features that have established Charvel as an iconic brand in high-performance guitars. Click the link below to discover more about the distinctive attributes of each of our Pro-Mod models.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos. Visit TexasRockGuitarist.com for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance.

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver

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The Boss BD-2 Blues Driver is known for its touch-sensitive response, it ranges from transparent boost to aggressive, rich distortion, popular across blues, rock, and indie genres. It features simple Gain, Tone, and Level controls, functioning with a 9V battery or AC adaptor. 

Boss BD-2 Blues Driver
When playing the blues or jamming your rock rig, the BD-2 gives a different overdriven flavor than every other sound on the block. You’ll definitely want to put the BD-2 Blues Driver into your signal chain.

The BD-2 simulates the sound of a vintage tube amplifier, giving you instant access to timeless tones. The BD-2 also responds to your playing dynamics, so you can pull out a range of tones to give each note the perfect flavor and feel. All in all, you’ll love the warm overdrive and emotive distortion the BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver adds to your rig.

Provides that classic tube amplifier “bluesy” essence

If you’re seeking that legendary blues tone, you understand it’s infused with warm overdrive for a smooth yet crunchy tonal mix. The BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver is crafted to produce precisely that sound. It’s akin to having a well-aged vintage tube amplifier in your setup, built to last — just like all BOSS pedals — and available at a significantly lower cost. Whether you’re performing blues or looking to add a unique overdriven character to your rock setup that stands out from other guitarists, incorporating the BD-2 Blues Driver into your signal chain is a must.

If you’re after that iconic blues sound, then you know it’s loaded with warm overdrive for a creamy yet crunchy tonal blend. And the BOSS BD-2 Blues Driver is designed to deliver just that sound. It’s like having a finely aged vintage tube amplifier in your rig that’s built tough

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos and covers guitar equipment, concert and music news. Visit the website for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance videos.

Gibson CF-100 Vintage Sunburst

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Gibson CF-100 Vintage Sunburst

The Gibson CF-100 Vintage Sunburst was an innovative design when Gibson offered it’s first flat-top cutaway instrument in 1950. Players touted the ease of playing provided by the Florentine cutaway and smaller body design and this Limited Edition remains true to its history. Featuring vintage style three-on-a-plate white button tuners, large trapezoid inlays, traditional tear drop pick guard, and open slotted belly-up bridge. Finished in Gibson’s famous Vintage Sunburst finish.

Gibson CF-100 Vintage Sunburst improved for 2016

  • Cutaway Design: Comfortable small body Florentine cutaway design.
  • Bridge: Rare belly up open slot bridge design.
  • Pickguard: Traditional tortoise tear drop pickguard.
  • Improved Feel: Fingerboard edge is softened to comfortably fit the contour of the player’s hand
  • Enhanced Finish: Finer grit sandpaper and polishing compounds for gloss finish.
  • Premium Setup: Utilizing state-of-the-art German engineered Plek technology to create the finest playing surface possible. Hand finished for the world’s finest feel and playability.
  • Smoother hand rubbed and oiled fingerboard and bridges: New penetrating and finishing oil last longer and maximizes woods natural vibrancy

The beautiful original Gibson CF-100 Vintage Sunburst guitar exhibits only minor wear after 75 years and is still in excellent playing condition. The original lacquer finish displays typical checking throughout, most prominently on the top, along with some light dings, dents, and scrapes. The back of the neck is very clean, showing only a few tiny dinks. The deep, rich sunburst top has hardly faded at all. There are small grain split repairs located between the bottom edge of the fingerboard and the sound hole rim, one on each side.

These repairs are neatly done and touched up, though they remain visible. The only modification to the instrument is the replacement of buttons on the original Kluson deluxe tuners; everything else is original. The neck has been reset very well, with a generally clean job that shows no major overspray, just some minor touch-ups and light chipping visible along the heel seam. Due to its deep treble-side cutaway and uneven heel block, this model presents a more challenging neck set than many others. The rosewood bridge and small maple bridge plate are original.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos. Visit TexasRockGuitarist.com for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance.

Pau Ferro Fender MIM Stratocaster Neck

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Pau Ferro Fender MIM Stratocaster Neck
The 2021 Pau Ferro Fender MIM Stratocaster Neck.

Authentic Pau Ferro Fender Stratocaster necks, produced in Mexico (MIM), are typically seen on Player and Standard series. These necks are designed with a 9.5″ radius fingerboard, a “Modern C” profile, and include 21-22 medium jumbo frets. They provide a smooth and durable playing experience, presenting a slightly brighter and snappier option compared to rosewood, often showcasing lighter color variations.

Pau Ferro Fender Features and Specifications:

  • Material: Maple neck with a Pau Ferro fingerboard providing a smooth, dense playing surface.
  • Profile: Comfortable “Modern C” shape suitable for most playing styles.
  • Radius: 9.5″ (241 mm) radius is standard, offering a modern feel for bending.
  • Frets: Typically 22 Medium Jumbo frets, though some older Standard models may have 21.
  • Finish: Satin urethane on the back for fast playability, with a gloss headstock face.
  • Nut: Pre-slotted synthetic bone nut for easier installation.
  • Origin: Crafted at the Ensenada, Mexico facility. 

A well-playing Fender Stratocaster neck that originated from a signature model. It features 22 frets, a 9.5-inch radius, and a Pau Ferro fretboard. While some Pau Ferro boards can feel somewhat rough, this one is smooth and silky to the touch. The truss rod is fully functional. Please refer to the last photo to see the most significant imperfection on the neck, where a previous owner appears to have removed a broken string tree screw. I never required that string tree, so I simply placed a piece of pickguard over the area. This is only adhered with gorilla mounting putty, making it easy to remove if desired. Additionally, the little E string was initially positioned too close to the edge of the fretboard, so I adjusted the nut slightly. Overall, the neck plays exceptionally well and is in very good condition aside from the noted issues.

John E. Davis is a Texas Rock Guitarist offering FREE guitar lessons videos and covers guitar equipment, concert and music news. Visit the website for information on Guitar Lessons, Guitar Repair and Live Music Performance videos.