GAS - SoCal pagan Gold

[Nybergh]

Hi folks!
I´ve GAS for a SoCal, but I´m a little bit worried about things I´ve read on the web about theFloyds and untidy fret work.
Opinions, please?

I haven´t been able to actually try one yet.

Also, which do you like the most, the San Dimas with Duncans or the SoCal with DiMarzios?

[Grandturk]

The Floyd is great and the fretwork is fine - its not Custom Shop level - which it shouldn't be for $1000.

I have had 0 (zero) issues with my SD1. Sounds great and plays great - the stock Floyd stayed in tune fine. The pickups are to taste - I never really got along with the Duncan 59 in the neck of ANY guitar. Also, I like a crispier bridge pickup - the JB to me is very low middy. Anyway - perfect opportunity for pics:

Stock:


Modded (chrome floyd, gold tuners and knob (relic'd), Dimarzio SD and PAF Pro):

[darrellm]

No issues with my So Cal at all - awesome guitar for the price, IMHO.

I tried the San Dimas and SoCal but preferred the Di Marzio's, just felt they were a bit brighter, more Strat-like, whereas the SDs were a bit more bassy, more into Gibson territory....and as I already have a Les Paul, I wanted something that sounded quite different.

Personal choice really, you need to try them both - I was originally set on an SD and there was nowhere local to try them here in the UK, fortunately I had a trip to the US and was able to try them out side-by-side, after which I changed my mind.

[Nybergh]

Thanks guys. Nice pics by the way. I like duncans but I think the SoCal looks better with its picguard. If I buy one I may throw in JB & Jazz eventually. Everybody seems to love the Tone Zone though.
I should buy one of each

[Newc]

For me, a Strat with a Floyd is for Iron Maiden, so the DiMarzio works great for me there

Actually I've not been a fan of DiMarzios through the years - I've tried Evos, SuperDs, and a Super3, but they all sounded like they were being choked.

However, the ToneZone I like. If you crank it up close to the strings it's like a Duncan Distortion with a bit more clarity, but if you lower it a bit you get those classic Duncan JB Thrash tones like on Holy Wars (which to me sound choked and nutless )

[Nybergh]

Actually these guitars remind me a bit of the Peavey Wolfgang Special. Y´know the stripped down, basic version of the Wolfgang.
Great neck on a slab of wood, floyd and good picups. No tone pot.
I love the Wolfgang.
Anybody that can compare them?

[dg]

Pretty different from a Wolfgang. Wider neck (1 11/16" at the nut vs 1 5/8"), doesn't have the asymmetrical neck backshape, alder body vs. basswood, full-floating trem vs. dive only. One of the EVH Art Series would be much closer on each of these points, but more expensive.

[Grandturk]

Peavy? Really? They make guitars?

[skintaster]

I own a So-Cal, and it's quickly become my favorite and most used guitar... Knocked all my Gibsons out of the water. It plays great and stays in tune fine. I tested it out with a SD-1 in the store (I had originally considered buying the SD) and liked the So-Cal just a little bit more. Both sounded great, I just preferred the tone on the So-Cal by a narrow margin.

If possible, you should try out both guitars, and see which you like more... Things like "sound" and "tone" preferences are completely subjective. They're both great guitars IMO.

[Nybergh]

Thanks people!

Actually, the bridge on the Wolfgang was dive only from the factory.

Would you say that the Duncan set on the SD has a more "warm" sound
than the Dimarzios?

[Newc]

I wouldn't say "warm" as much as I'd say "muffled". The JB doesn't seem to have as much top-end as the ToneZone. Comparing a SoCal directly to the SD1 on the same preamp patch, the SoCal has bite whereas the SD1 doesn't.

[beachjammer]

I love my Pagan Gold So-Cal! There's no issues with it whatsoever. The neck feels great, fretwork is great and dimarzios sound awesome!

[Nybergh]

Great!!
I´ll try to find to try one out time tomorrow.
I found a store with one in stock .
Girlfriend (no guitarfriend ) wants to go and look out some new furniture though. I´ll have tp play this like a russian chess master!:think:
How´s the gig-bag?

[Grandturk]

how´s the gig-bag?

p.o.s.

[beachjammer]

Well, I thought the gigbag was OK for what it is although I think they ought to come with a hardshell case. I bought one of the Musicians Friend tweed cases for mine for only $42 and it fits just fine in that.

Here's ya some pics :O)