🚀 go-pugleaf

Well, I've saved my pennies and am starting to narrow the selctions down to
a few guitars. My problem is that I like them all, so I'd like to solicit
opinions. Please bear with me while I ramble about what I think I want.

I like the Fenders. I like the Strat sound, and the Tele looks. Has anyone
played the Tele with the humbucker? I've played a slim-necked Epiphone all my
life, but think it might be time to go to a 25.5 scale with a bit wider
neck. I've played Strats that I like, but am still a tad concerned if I'll
like the tighter radius down the road. What's the difference between the
Strat and Tele necks, besides the head? How does alder vs. ash affect the
sound? Can you get a rosewood fingerboard on the Tele?

I like the SG. I'll probably pass here because it's similar to what I have
now. I also prefer a translucent finish. It's a shame to have a beautiful
mahogany body and just paint it. Does Gibson offer translucent finishes on
the SG?

I really like the look and sound of the Les Pauls. I've got to nix this one
because I like to work the high frets, and I don't like the way the neck is
attached (clunky).

I've been looking at Carvins. I like the neck-through idea. You can get
either 24.75 or 25.5 scale necks, but only in the thinner Gibson width (1.65
at the nut, 2.22 at fret 24). Choose maple or koa. For bodies you choose
poplar or koa. A cool option is bookmatched flame maple top. Not only is it
beautiful, but I hope would brighten up a koa body neck combo, sort of Les
Paulish. Or a maple-neck/poplar-bout might be Strat-like. They offer several
varieties of pickup configuration, including active electronics. I'm not
sold on the actives, though. I think I prefer to keep the raw pickup sound
available, and have the preamps and such outboard.

I like the Fender and Carvin inline head designs, because a straight shot to
the tuners is just the *right* way to do it. I prefer the symmetry of the
Gibson three-on-a-side design for looks, but it just seems wrong. I've got
one and it's played fine for years, it just bugs me. Carvin used to offer a
three-on-a-side design that was a straight shot, but it's discontinued.
Jackson, I think, missed the boat with their inline headstock that doesn't
put the tuners in line with the strings. I'm sure they play fine, but it
would bug me.

-- 
Andy Funk
Megatek