Caparison guitars

[The Rossness]

I was finally able to play a Caparison. I tried the Dillinger, Applehorn, and TAT. The Dillinger was similar to an Ibanez (at least the neck profile) and wasn't really my thing. The applehorn sounded great, but the short scale isn't my thing either. The TAT (through and through) was another story though. I think it is better than any soloist I've ever played. The neck got really flat around the first 3 frets and got fatter as the frets got higher. It sounded amazing and played even better. Some people complain about the stock pups in Caparison guitars, but I didn't seem to have a problem with them. I played into an ENGL SE an it sounded killer. I also liked how the guitar had a push/ push knob for coil splitting the buckers'. It is much easier than a push/ pull.

Does anyone have experience with Caparison? Opinions?

[axmann]

I love the looks and specs of the TAT. Just no where to try one anywhere near close to me. I have heard they are beautifully made and sound incredible. I love that TAT special amber. I'd let a San Dimas go for one if it was what it looks to be.

[straycat]

The headstock kills it for me.

[Trem]

Wish the Horus was not a short scale, i'd love one except there's just something about all of them spec wise that throws it off for me, like you said the neck on the tat being flat then thicker - seems backwards like should be rounded or thicker on the lower frets then get flatter as you go up - weird stuff like that, knobs are in weird places, or no switches - push pots..lame.
Headstock kinda grows on you tho - well grew on me. It think it looks classy.

[DonP]

The headstock kills it for me.

Same here.

I'm happy with my Jacksons and Charvels for metal guitars.

[axmann]

I don't know, the headstock is ok with me. I just really liked the looks of the body lines and contours ,front and back, of the TAT amber. I'd just like to play one so I guess saying I'd let a bonafide great playing guitar go for one was a late Saturday night moronic statement.

[Misanthrope[ALWT]]

Ross, does the neck profile really go from slim to fat going UP the fretboard (fret 1 -> fret 24)? Or did you mean the opposite?

[The Rossness]

Ross, does the neck profile really go from slim to fat going UP the fretboard (fret 1 -> fret 24)? Or did you mean the opposite?

no. At the first 2 1/2 frets, it's thin and flat, like a classical guitar. then from about fret 3, the neck gets rounder and continues up the neck. It felt like a cross between a Charvel production SD and a Speed neck. It was extremely comfy.

[1994]

Good to hear that someone has experienced the range of Caparison guitars and very interesting to hear your comments. Does the 24.75 vs. 25.5 scale/length really make that much of a difference? When I go from an Ibanez RG/JEM to a Les Paul I do not attribute any differences in the neck (apart from shape, fret size, depth etc.) to the scale/length - does anyone know what effect it has on feel? The Horus crams 27 frets onto the shorter scale and this is the Caparison I would go for if I could find one to try!!!

[MetalHeadMat]

Does anybody have any pics? I'm falling in love with the TAT models and the Dellinger's.

[charvelguy]

http://www.caparison.jp/caparison-eng/e-products.html

[QuantumRider]

Kyowa Shokai, the trading company that used to sell Jacksons/Charvels in Japan and now distributes Caparison, filed for bankruptcy last week.

Don't know what's going to happen to the brands that they carry, but you may have to move quickly to get one just in case.

[Hellbat]

Is this something triggered by the tsunami or were they in trouble before all that happened?

[The Rossness]

Good to hear that someone has experienced the range of Caparison guitars and very interesting to hear your comments. Does the 24.75 vs. 25.5 scale/length really make that much of a difference? When I go from an Ibanez RG/JEM to a Les Paul I do not attribute any differences in the neck (apart from shape, fret size, depth etc.) to the scale/length - does anyone know what effect it has on feel? The Horus crams 27 frets onto the shorter scale and this is the Caparison I would go for if I could find one to try!!!

I always have a problem playing short scale guitars. There was a difference in feel when switching from the TAT to the Applehorn.

[QuantumRider]

Is this something triggered by the tsunami or were they in trouble before all that happened?

From what I understand, it had more to do with the downturn in the economy triggered by the collapse of Lehman Brothers.