英國雜誌/網站Guitar.com的Huw Price寫了一堆文章,我還沒消化完,先把目前看到的貼上來。 Les Paul篇: 首先、他是真的有彈過1960 Les Paul,所以不管他後面文章講得如何,至少比沒彈過的人要更有憑據: 這部影片的評測文章與細部照片: https://guitar.com/review/1960-gibson-les-paul-standard/ 以下評測沒有影片,所以只貼文章連結: 1956 Gibson Les Paul Custom: https://guitar.com/review/1956-gibson-les-paul-custom/ Gary Richrath’s 1959 Gibson Les Paul: https://guitar.com/review/vintage-review/1959-gibson-les-paul-reo-speedwagon-gary-richrath/ 1954 & 1957 Gibson Les Paul Goldtops https://guitar.com/review/vintage-bench-test-1954-1957-gibson-les-paul-goldtops/ 1965 Gibson ES-335 https://guitar.com/review/vintage-bench-test-1965-gibson-es-335/ 1969 Gibson Les Paul Custom https://guitar.com/review/1969-gibson-les-paul-custom/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 下面是他的文章,第一篇最重要、其他算補充教材~ The Ultimate Guide To Vintage Les Paul Tone https://guitar.com/guides/essential-guide/vintage-les-paul-tone-guide/ 25 ways to upgrade your Gibson Les Paul https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/25-les-paul-tips/ All About… Playing with PAFs https://guitar.com/guides/essential-guide/all-about-playing-with-pafs/ Eight best PAF pickups to buy in 2019 https://guitar.com/guides/buyers-guide/best-paf-pickups-humbucker/ 最後有一篇我要獨立出來講,因為這組PAF在他的評測裡拿了10分滿分,上面2019 Best PAF也有入榜, 無蓋一對185英鎊、有蓋205英鎊: House Of Tone Tru PAF Humbuckers Review https://guitar.com/review/house-of-tone-tru-paf-humbuckers/ 雖然我聽不出哪裡厲害...但人家好歹彈過真正的PAF... ================================================================ Strat篇: 奇怪的是他評過的Strat遠多於Les Paul跟Tele,但卻沒有留下任何一部Strat的影片...? 下面可以看到他幾乎把整個Vintage時期的Strat都彈過了,1963還彈了三把,要講Vintage Strat的音色該是如何、他應該算相當有份量。 1956 Fender Stratocaster https://guitar.com/review/vintage-bench-test-1956-fender-stratocaster/ 1957 Fender Stratocaster ‘Mary Kaye’ https://guitar.com/review/vintage-review/vintage-bench-test-1957-fender-stratocaster-mary-kaye/ 1961 and 1963 Fender Stratocasters https://guitar.com/review/vintage-review/pre-cbs-1961-1963-fender-stratocaster/ 1963 Fender Stratocaster https://guitar.com/review/vintage-bench-test-1963-fender-stratocaster/ 1963 Fender Stratocaster II https://guitar.com/review/1963-fender-stratocaster/ 1964 Fender Stratocaster https://guitar.com/review/vintage-bench-test-1964-strat/ 1970 Fender Stratocaster https://guitar.com/review/1970-stratocaster/ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 這次的Ultimate Guitde就有提到KILLER STRAT AMPS了~ The Ultimate Guide To Strat Tone https://guitar.com/guides/essential-guide/ultimate-guide-strat-tone/ 25 ways to upgrade your Fender Stratocaster https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/25-ways-to-upgrade-your-fender-stratocaster/ All About… Stratocaster Pickups https://guitar.com/guides/essential-guide/all-about-telecaster- neck-pickups/ Four best Stratocaster pickups https://guitar.com/guides/buyers-guide/best-stratocaster-pickups-single-coil/ ================================================================ Tele篇: 1950 Fender Broadcaster https://guitar.com/review/1950-broadcaster/ 1965 Fender Telecaster https://guitar.com/review/vintage-bench-test-1965-fender-telecaster/ 1967 Fender Custom Telecaster https://guitar.com/review/vintage-bench-test-1967-fender-custom-telecaster/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 他可能是Tele彈太少,所以Tele沒有Ultimate Guide? 25 Fender Telecaster tips, mods and upgrades https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/25-fender-telecaster-tips/ All About… Telecaster Neck Pickups https://guitar.com/guides/essential-guide/all-about-telecaster- neck-pickups/ All about… Telecaster Bridge Pickups https://guitar.com/guides/essential-guide/all-about-telecaster-bridge-pickups/
這樣的解讀是有風險的,你必須要注意他後面在講甚麼以及英國人的個性。 英國人龜毛、摳門又愛面子裝腔作勢,所以能花越少的錢越好, 他強調的是比起花大錢買琴,"相對"價格低很多的Vintage拾音器是一個比較輕易讓你有Vintage Tone的作法。 後面有提到"At the time of writing, there were three 1950s P-90s on Reverb for between £330 and £360 each.", 比起買甚麼吸吸系列、顯然買組Vintage拾音器要划算得多,而且炫耀起來比較厲害。 這把"複製琴"要三四千英鎊,厲害吧~ 這組拾音器是"真正的"Vintage,厲害吧~ 英國人會選後者...
所以我是覺得他通篇都談cap & pot values,saddle/tuners和pickups但是完全不談木材本身的差距有點避重就輕,因為這些全換掉也沒有換台amp來得區別大,而單就琴本身來說的話應該還是木材比較重要。 我去年買了兩支60年代的Melody Maker (一支60一支65) 發現當年的學生琴木材都好過現在custom shop,如果是當年的LP Standard估計還會更好一些?
...因為他開頭就說... We attempt to find out precisely what makes golden-era Les Pauls tick and explain how you too can taste the tone fantastic without breaking the bank. 後面也說了... But even if you are prepared to pay around £4,000 for a vintage set, you’d still have a grand or so’s worth of change to play with before you start getting into the price range of even the cheapest second-hand Collector’s Choice Gibsons. 即便花四千英鎊買一對Vintage PAF也比買二手吸吸系列便宜而且更方便炫耀... 會這麼說的理由我前面提過了:英國人龜毛、摳門又愛面子裝腔作勢。 木材當然是重要的,但文章的主軸應該是告訴你如何在"現有"前提下更接近Vintage。
Huw Price關於Vintage的文章大概先這樣,Les Paul / Strat / Tele都已全部整合在首樓。 題外話,Guitar.com有打分數的評測雖然是10分制,但實際上目前最低是6分,所以可以把他們評分制度看成5階段: 6 = 不要鬧了 7 = 不好 8 = 普通 9 = 好 (可能包含業配加成) 10 = 神 (可能包含作者個人喜好加成) 雖然每個作者喜好都不同,但他們在給分上還算節制,所以實際上拿到10分滿分的器材不多。 有趣的是基於英國人摳門的個性,拿到10分滿分的器材大多不是昂貴的器材, 這也代表他們評測器材時會去衡量器材在價格與性能上的平衡,不會一昧地給昂貴的器材高分。 另外關於Guitar.com這個網站,前身好像是紙本的The Guitar Magazine,但沒有查到相關資訊... 這不重要,重要的是他們隸屬於BandLab集團,BandLab老闆是新加坡的超級有錢人郭孟儒。 其父是世界最大棕櫚油公司CEO郭孔豐、伯公是全球百大富豪亞洲糖王郭鶴年。 Bandlab有名的事蹟還包括收購滾石雜誌、與Heritage Guitars合作、收購Cakewalk等。 關於Guitar.com若有不錯的文章我會集中貼在這裡。
下面是目前為止Guitar.com評測中拿到10分滿分的器材,我依照評測者來分類。 比較值得注目的器材是: Novo Guitars Serus T、 Swart Antares、 Supro 1812R Blues King 12。 Novo那把是Guitar.com從2013年開始寫評測以來唯一一把拿到滿分10分的電吉他,後兩者則是唯三拿到滿分的電吉他音箱。 Novo跟Supro是由Chris Vinnicombe評測,他彈過無數把五六十年代的電吉他與音箱,Guitar.com大多數的電吉他都是由他評測, 這樣一位經驗豐富的人會把滿分給Novo跟Supro實在很值得玩味。 Novo價格約2500美元、Supro為600美元,可見在這位資深評測者眼中好的器材不一定高價。 而Swart那台是由對Fender音箱很有研究的Huw Price評測,Guitar.com大多數的Boutique音箱--特別是Two Rock--評測都是他負責, 而他唯一一台滿分給了兩千美元不到的Swart Antares,對喜歡Fender amp tone的人是個不太傷荷包的選項~ Huw對Fender究竟多有研究可以看看這部Tweed影片,前半段是他講解錄音器材,可以看得出他非常講究: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chris Vinnicombe Novo Guitars Serus T https://guitar.com/review/novo-guitars-serus-t-review/ Supro 1812R Blues King 12 https://guitar.com/review/amplifier/supro-1812r-blues-king-12/ NEURAL DSP QUAD CORTEX https://guitar.com/review/effects-p...x-game-changing-guitar-product-of-the-decade/ Cillian Breathnach Black Mass 1312 V3 https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/black-mass-1312-v3-review/ Pro Co RAT 2 https://guitar.com/reviews/effects-pedal/classic-review-pro-co-rat-2/ Darran Charles Cort G300 Pro https://guitar.com/review/electric-...review-boutique-tones-specs-at-bargain-price/ Victory VX The Kraken MKII https://guitar.com/reviews/amplifier/the-big-review-victory-vx-the-kraken-mkii/ Ed Oleszko Tul Microphones G12 Retro https://guitar.com/review/accessories/tul-microphones-g12-retro/ Nordvang ’83 Drive V2.0 https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/nordvang-83-drive-v2-review/ MXR DUKE OF TONE https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/the-big-review-mxr-duke-of-tone/ Silktone Overdrive+ https://guitar.com/reviews/effects-pedal/hands-on-silktone-overdrive-plus-review/ Elliot Oakley Positive Grid Spark Live https://guitar.com/reviews/amplifier/the-big-review-positive-grid-spark-live/ Eric Dahl Strandberg Boden Essential 6 https://guitar.com/reviews/electric-guitar/hands-on-strandberg-boden-essential-6/ PRS SE NF3 https://guitar.com/reviews/electric-guitar/the-big-review-prs-se-nf3/ Gary Walker Strymon BigSky https://guitar.com/review/reverb-shootout/ Guitar.com Pedaltrain Nano+ https://guitar.com/review/pedaltrain-nano-review/ Huw Price Tyson Tone P90 SET 53-Wraptail https://guitar.com/review/review-tyson-tone-pickups/ House Of Tone Tru PAF Humbuckers https://guitar.com/review/house-of-tone-tru-paf-humbuckers/ Hudson Electronics Broadcast https://guitar.com/review/hudson-electronics-broadcast-sidecar-reviews/ Swart Antares https://guitar.com/review/swart-antares/ Fane Acoustics Ascension A60 https://guitar.com/review/fane-acoustics-ascension/ Wudtone CP Vintage Tremolo https://guitar.com/review/wudtone-cp-vintage-tremolo-review/ Atkin Guitars The Forty Three https://guitar.com/review/atkin-guitars-forty-three/ Martin 00-17S https://guitar.com/review/martin00-17sdc-18e/ Taylor Builder’s Edition K14ce with V-Class bracing https://guitar.com/review/taylor-koa-series-builders-edition-k14ce/ MusicNomad The Octopus https://guitar.com/review/accessories/musicnomad-the-octopus-grip-winder/ Jason Mays Strymon Cloudburst https://guitar.com/review/strymon-cloudburst-review/ PRS SE Hollowbody Piezo https://guitar.com/review/electric-guitar/the-big-review-prs-se-hollowbody-piezo/ 1981 Inventions LVL https://guitar.com/reviews/effects-pedal/1981-inventions-lvl-review/ Walrus Audio Slöer https://guitar.com/reviews/effects-pedal/walrus-audio-sloer-review/ PRS SE CE 24 Standard Satin https://guitar.com/reviews/electric-guitar/the-big-review-prs-se-ce-24-standard-satin/ Walrus Audio Fundamental Ambient https://guitar.com/reviews/effects-pedal/hands-on-walrus-audio-fundamental-ambient-review/ Michael Watts Martin D-41 https://guitar.com/review/martin-d-41-reimagined/ Walrus Audio Mako Series D1 https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/review-walrus-audio-mako-series-d1/ 1981 Inventions DRV https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/review-1981-inventions-drv/ Danelectro Back Talk Reverse Delay https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/review-danelectro-back-talk-reverse-delay-3699-fuzz/ Walrus Audio Julianna https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/walrus-audio-julianna-chorus/ BENSON GERMANIUM FUZZ https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/benson-germanium-fuzz-review-temperature-controlled/ BOURGEOIS LEGACY SERIES 000 DB SIGNATURE DELUXE https://guitar.com/review/acoustic-...rgeois-legacy-series-000-db-signature-deluxe/ B&G Helena P90 Bridge https://guitar.com/review/electric-guitar/bg-helena-p90-bridge-review/ Bourgeois Touchstone Vintage OM & Dreadnought https://guitar.com/reviews/acoustic...-bourgeois-touchstone-vintage-om-dreadnought/ Richard Purvis Dwarfcraft Eau Claire Thunder https://guitar.com/review/dwarfcraft-devices/ EarthQuaker Devices Westwood https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/earthquaker-devices-westwood/ ThorpyFX Field Marshal https://guitar.com/review/effects-pedal/review-thorpyfx-field-marshal-the-bunker/ REDBEARD ANGRY RHUBARB https://guitar.com/review/effects-p...rdrive-pedals-dont-get-much-better-than-this/ SILKTONE AMP KT66 https://guitar.com/review/amplifier/the-big-review-silktone-amp-kt66/
Huw Price有撰寫過類似話題: Do vintage electric guitars really sound better with age? https://guitar.com/features/opinion-analysis/do-vintage-electric-guitars-sound-better/ ========================================================= 這邊補上Huw Price的其他文章,如果各位想給自己的音箱加一個Spring Reverb,第一篇會是很好的指南: How to build your own spring reverb unit https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/build-tube-spring-reverb-unit-amplifier/ Five thinline semi-hollow tips, mods and upgrades https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/five-thinline-semi-hollow-tips-mods-and-upgrades/ 16 Gretsch upgrades, mods and tone tips https://guitar.com/guides/diy-workshop/20-gretsch-top-tips/ Eight best P-90 pickups to buy in 2019| https://guitar.com/guides/buyers-guide/best-p-90-pickups/ ========================================================= 題外(?)話,關於Guitar.com評分滿分的Supro 1812R,我留意到Demo影片的好壞會影響你能不能發現這台音箱真正的面貌... 如果先看下面Sweetwater的Demo、且又沒有看完Guitar.com的文章,你會完全不曉得為什麼Guitar.com要給滿分--至少我是這樣, 但英國佬的Demo就很清楚地告訴你這台音箱必須要搭配琴上的音量旋鈕才能發揮實力,簡單來說就是給上級者用的音箱, 再搭配Guitar.com的文章我就能完全了解這台的實力在哪裡。 好的Demo: 恐怖的Demo: 然後是Novo,我看了幾部影片就懂了為什麼它平均都可以拿到9分、甚至出了唯一一把滿分10分的琴, Novo的聲音很好、很開闊,重點是價錢不會太誇張, 但它不完全是傳統的Vintage Tone,如果用Hi-End Reissue的標準去期望Novo絕對會失望: 這個影片剛好就是搭Supro 1812R: 最後這個影片應該不是每個人都喜歡,但重點在他刷和弦的清晰度:
我個人是覺得可能是因為50-60年代木材資源充足好木頭隨便砍,尤其從當年的低端琴更可以見到端倪,1965年之前Melody Maker這種學生琴竟然都可以用1pc mahogany body + brazilian rosewood fretboard而且共振超強簡直是恐怖… 後來慢慢資源少了就很難再做到了,不過廠家也不太願意講這些就是了,不然reissue都沒意義了。當然現在的Gibson reissue如果在4kg以下通常還蠻不錯。
是Fijian mahogany,和Honduran mahogany是同一種植物Swietenia macrophylla (African mahogany完全是另一種植物),只是種植地區不一樣,斐濟是後來引進了這個品種。想到Suhr US$8000的琴是okoume我覺得Gibson已經算比較有良心哈哈哈。 指板的話03和18分別有BRW批次不過價格就…
啊啊、我忘記這件事了,之前有查到過但腦海一直停留在錯誤的舊資訊,大概是我對Gibson的偏見 (笑) 讓我忘記這件事~ 確實2011~2012開始慢慢引進、到2013年起就全面換成斐濟產了。 90年代的Historic Collection好像是Honduras。 不過50年代的Melody Maker可能是用African Mahogany (Khaya grandifoliola)沒錯...
被稱作African Mahogany的有木頭有廿多種,我猜應該不是每一種都有類似特徵? Gibson從1950年代開始就將Acajou d'Afrique(Khaya grandifoliola)以African Mahogany之名使用在低階琴上,Martin則用於中階琴。 此木的氣乾比重為0.72~0.8,硬度高、耐彎、耐扭、耐扯, 其音色硬要說的話大概介於真正的Mahogany與Maple中間,無論何種樂風都能適應。 Kiesel的Mahogany全部都是Honduras、看型號一千美元出頭就能買到全Honduras的琴,所以其實這個成本根本就不高...
Khaya grandifoliola確實就是深淺條紋非常明顯,反倒是okoume沒有那麼明顯… Carvin的Honduran mahogany是Fijian的可能性比較大,因為Honduras的現在已經比較難出口。話說回來4000人民幣的大陸琴 (Kimble) 也有Fijian mahogany的,然後紐西蘭一般用Fijian mahogany做房子的deck價格也不高,所以成本應該確實不高就是了,可能只是重量輕共振好的相對少。
官方宣稱是Honduras,括號裡的是產地不是名稱: https://www.kieselguitars.com/colorandwoodguide/ Genuine Mahogany (Honduras) Mahogany is standard on most Custom Shop carved top guitars, and has an inherent warm quality with accentuated low-midrange. Mahogany is also considered to be a classic tone wood. It is denser and heavier than Alder, but lighter than Maple. Mahogany along with our flamed or quilted maple tops, gives great sustain and warmth. Honduras Mahogany should not be confused with less expensive Philippine and African Sapele. Honduras Mahogany is reddish brown in color and looks great with all colors. Kiesel拿得到Honduras也不意外,從他們家的Koa源源不絕這件事來看就知道他們的木材供應商很夠力。