My guitar was done in about 4 weeks and shipped to my door in 5!!!! Luckily I registered for FedEx online updates. I got an email from them saying a package was on it's way to me from California. Then I checked the bank and saw a large Vader-sized withdrawal! The build was so quick, they didn't have time to tell me it was done!
Mike Jones put the rush (I'm assuming) on the build after some issues with my AM7 return - no big deals, just some delays. I thought that was pretty cool of him.
In all fairness, my past builds have all been around the normal time frames - two @ 9 weeks, one @ 10 weeks, and one 15 week.
This was one hell of a rush!
And now to stop those cowbells! More pictures will follow this weekend hopefully.
Photo issues - Kev was right - I had to shrink the photos down (new phone / better camera / files were too big), so I got pissed and I gave up on photobucket, and jumped over to Imgur. VERY special thanks to Coda and Spud for reaching out and offering any and all help to get some photos up here. It's greatly appreciated and you guys are just too cool. It was purely operator error on my part and I just need the time to get things all sorted out.
VSEVEN
Family Photos
The guitar arrived slightly out of tune, but very playable.
My first impressions:
MAN this thing is comfortable. The Aries body was cool, but this thing just feels amazing. Jeff really got this body RIGHT. Everything about the body just feels right. Its cool sitting down (that 2nd strap button is noticeable), hangs great on a strap. The way everything laid out made it automatic to switch back from 6 to 7. I was completely at ease.
The bridge seems cool enough. No sharp edges - you rest your hand there if you choose. Stiff tuning action, but not anything that felt off. I haven't touched the tuners since I tuned it up that first time.
I really am glad I went with the satin blue mist metallic - it just looks amazing on the Vader body. I must say, it seems a little darker than it appears online, but it doesn't disappoint. I haven't gotten to see it in the direct sunlight yet. I want to catch some metallic sparkle.
The paint job is solid - nothing caught my eye that would be off or sloppy.
The neck turned out pretty ridiculous!!!!!! I seem to have gotten some sort of mutant flamed walnut w/ a couple of tiny knotty beauty marks on the right side. Most impressive. The feel is great (like all of their standard necks) and the 20" radius is a simple transition from 14" and feels great with STF. Playing my nylon string a lot has gotten me used to the flat boards these days. Killer upper register access too. Grab up by the 22nd like it's nothing at all!
I'm not used to that little transition from the tung neck to the painted body, but it's really no big deal. You kind of feel that line. That was the first time I got that option on a neck through and I'm definitely glad I did.
Ebony board is none-more-black as requested and the Luminlay's color are a perfect match to the body color. Someone thought they were LEDs! It's funny, the staggered offset dots actually bug me on the finger board! I love the look, but it kind of distracted me when I was changing registers. Weird! That's way I opted of the offset dots on one side this time. I think it's a cool little detail.
So I opted out of the Lithiums and went back with the old D26s that I had before.
VERY VERY VERY happy I did! I got the opportunity to play with a bunch of friends yesterday and was able to get any and all sounds I needed out of them. Excellent bridge pup sounds, way better split sounds than I remember (maybe I'm just in love ATM), a very cool middle position, and god-like lead tones on the neck pup. Unreal.
Clean, dirty, DOWNRIGHT NASTY, and everything else. Rock/Blues/Metal -- no problem.
I couldn't get anything that good out of the Lithiums after days.
Definitely worth considering if you go with a seven string.
V7 + 5150 = BOOOOOOOOM!
The ultimate soft cases are pretty darn cool - love it! It's so TINY!! LOL
I hope it holds up over years! I don't see this guitar leaving.
It looks cool.
It's really comfortable.
Plays terrific.
Sounds amazing.
I could not be happier.
Additional thanks to:
Mike Jones for being helpful, cool, and getting things done
Coda for getting me all fired up for a V7 again
Bovine and X-mann for helping out with the whole process of trying to build a guitar, failing, and then doing it again!
Well said!
