First Pics! Xaviere XV-820 Tele Copy

[duhvoodooman]

As I suspected, when I got under the hood, the pots were 500K's rather than the 250K's I prefer with single coils. That accounted for the guitar sounding a little brittle on the top-end when the treble was rolled up. So I changed those to 250K's today, with one being a push-pull pot that I wired to put the two pickups in series. Thought the guitar sounded good before, but this is a noticeable improvement--a tad rounder and smoother sounding. Lots of punch, though, especially when the two p'ups are in series. I'll have to get a clip posted....

 

[oldguy]

I hope you do! I wanna hear that puppy!

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Ok, we have been patient. I wants me a proper review and some clips! I am really drooling over the 52 reissue looking one. The trans-ash honey they have listed is cool too, but with a rosewood fretboard, and I want maple like yours. And you have the darned thing in your avatar too! How do you like the neck? What do you think of the GFS tele pups?

 

[peachhead]

Yep, I'd love to hear that sucker. Give me something else to think about when I <ahem> win the raffle.

:thwap: :whatever:

 

[Brian Krashpad]

How did I miss a Tele thread for weeks?

D'oh!

Congrats!

Since I have a '52 RI, obviously I approve of your choice in color schemes.

 

[F_BSurfer]

I don't know if it holds true for the 820's or not but I have had three of the 870's and there was big difference in weight between them
The heaviest was the vintage cream that was stolen its weight was 9lbs 6 oz
The surf green that I gifted to my oldest daughter its weight is 7lbs 2oz
The 3 tone sunburst that I have now is right at 6lbs

 

[duhvoodooman]

Ok, we have been patient. I wants me a proper review and some clips! I am really drooling over the 52 reissue looking one. The trans-ash honey they have listed is cool too, but with a rosewood fretboard, and I want maple like yours. And you have the darned thing in your avatar too! How do you like the neck? What do you think of the GFS tele pups?

Nolo contendere, counselor. I am definitely remiss in not providing more information and a clip or two. I stand duly chastised. Will try to get something up in the next few days--certainly by the weekend.

I can tell you by way of "executive summary" that, while it has it's drawbacks (weighs a ton, as I previously mentioned, and the tuners could definitely be better), it's strengths far outweigh these minor faults and it's still just a SUPERB value at $179 + shipping. About the only people I would wave off the XV-820 ash body version would be those who play standing up for long periods and are either slight of frame or have back problems. The weight could be a real issue for those folks. Otherwise, GO FOR IT!! :AOK: :dude: :AOK:

 

[duhvoodooman]

I don't know if it holds true for the 820's or not but I have had three of the 870's and there was big difference in weight between them
The heaviest was the vintage cream that was stolen its weight was 9lbs 6 oz
The surf green that I gifted to my oldest daughter its weight is 7lbs 2oz
The 3 tone sunburst that I have now is right at 6lbs

The issue with the XV-820 I have is the ash body, I'm sure. The XV-870 Strat copy I have is a Poplar body, I believe, and it's a relatively light guitar.

 

[sunvalleylaw]

Thanks DVM! That gives me something to think about. You like the neck well enough then? And the pups? I will look forward to the clips. I am not shopping for a long while anyhow.

 

[Duff49]

Xavier tele

Vood,

That butterscotch looks cool and the color change at the splice gives it a character; the "mark of the craftsman", that makes things special.

Do you still have that Xavier tele? You changed the pots to two fifties. Did you do any other mods. I'd love to put a vintage humbucker in the neck on that, Keith Richards style like on my Peavey Generation EX Vintage. That makes a nice sounding tele. Is the body routed in the neck pup position for an HB?

How do you like the headstock shape? I imagine the SX headstock would take some getting used to as well. I like the Peavey one without any having to get used to it. My new Peavey Zodiac bass has the same Peavey style headstock as the Peavey tele's do and I like them. Cool P J bass as well; black body, red tortoise shell pickguard and rosewood board. Super great tone.

http://i367.photobucket.com/albums/oo120/Duff-B/P1010058.jpg
Duffy
Winfield, Pa.

From Lake George

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Duff, your Peavey Tele above reminds me of my Fender Tex-Mex:

 

[Duff49]

Telecasters

Krash,

Nice guitar. It is remarkable how similar they look. The Peavey is really well built, solid alder body, brass saddles, great stock pickups; the HB is vintage voiced and combines with the bridge well. It is an awesome sounding tele.

How does yours sound? Stock pups?

Duffy

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Yes, the Tex-Mex is stock. The neckbucker on it splits, so the switching is 5-way rather than 3-way. Lots of tones.

I got it used for $125 w/non-Fender gigbag.

 

[duhvoodooman]

I got it used for $125 w/non-Fender gigbag.

Man, I don't know how you do it, Krash. You've gotten some of the best guitar deals I've ever heard of.... :thwap: :AOK:

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Man, I don't know how you do it, Krash. You've gotten some of the best guitar deals I've ever heard of.... :thwap: :AOK:

That'un was a karmic tale worthy of "My Name is Earl."

Seller listed it for $300 in the local newspaper classifieds.When I got to his place to check it out, it only had 5 strings on it, and he said it was the similar, yet more expensive California Series Fat Tele. He'd sanded the "Made in Mexico" off the back of the headstock-- but not the serial number. Dumb-*ss. So it still had the NM serial number on the back, plus it didn't say "California Series" on the circular end of the front of the headstock.

So I knew that whatever it was, it was not what he represented it to be. And I walked.

I didn't throw out the ad with his phone number though.

I called the number a couple weeks later, and asked if it was still for sale. I said I'd take another look at it-- IF he had a FULL set of strings on it and something to play it through. While giving me directions to his new place, he then proceeded to tell me a woeful tale of his money problems and how his roommates had skipped out on the rent and what dire straits he was in as a result.

That last bit wasn't such a good idea. If you're going to try cheating me the first time you try selling something to me, it's better not to tell me how you're hurting for money when I offer to take a second look. Like I said, dumb-*ss.

So I got there, played it, and told him I already had a Tele and didn't need a second one, but I'd buy it for $125 cash, take it or leave it. He already knew I had no qualms about walking, so that was that.

One of my favorite gear deals evah. :AOK:

 

[Duff49]

Deal on Tele

I have learned that if you are patient you can find some awesome deals and great used deals as well.

If you are mono minded about getting just one specific guitar often you have to pay top dollar. I have done this often in the past. Lately I see awesome deals that get my attention and I try to get in on them and I have greatly enhanced my guitar and bass collection.

Plus I mod things.

My new Crate Palomino V32 two twelve in spkr replacement amp, B stock, replacing my not fixable new style V50; not anytime soon because the switching power supply fix won't be available for one to two months, plus installation time, plus who knows how the fix will hold up.

The switching power supplies are printed circuit boards with small components on them, not like conventional power supplies and they have not been proven effective in tube amps despite the aggressive advertising done by Crate with the new style V series already discontinued and being sold to us at the great close out prices; they work in solid state amps though.

Anyway I got the Palomino V32 yesterday with the plastic still on the metal plates. Noticed a bass resonance and saw light thru the back coming thru the right hand speaker near the perimeter: five or six inch tear with a couple perpendicular tears coming off the main tear. Pro tech ordered me a warranty replacement Celestion seventy eighty and advised me that I could mix wood glue with water fifty percent and dip strips of napkin in it and cover the big crack in the speaker, which I did, let it harden for a few hours and cured the glue with a paint stripping heat gun - hey I'm replacing the speaker anyway - and it worked great. A good trick to know if you need to do a quick fix on a ripped speaker on the run or on the road. Sounds adequate and works, but probably not exactly as designed naturally. Wanted a credit toward a Red Fang Eminence but Crate would only send a replacement stock speaker.

But anyway, those Peavey Generation EX tele type guitars are a great deal and sound great if you can still find one. Around here the residual stock is going back up and it's hard to find places with the low close out prices.

Even with the speaker, covered by warranty problem, can you believe I got a Crate Palomino V32 212 in even exchange for the blown up Crate new style V50 I paid 165 for with a coupon, out the door? I think this is a way better amp even with the paper machea speaker mod - ha ha, some mod eh?

Great deal on that Keith Richards style tele. Is that the version/model he plays or is his some special item?

Duffy
Winfield, Pa.