Other favorite guitar makers besides J/C?

[Maiden89]

Jackson is my favorite brand (so far). For some reason lately though, I've been really checking out Caparison. I would like to check out one of their Horus models.

How do they play? I believe their a Japanese company, correct me if I'm wrong.

[VitaminG]

Well I will go with what my buddy says who actually worked at Gibson over any anecdotal situations just because so and so have not yet found a bad Gibby.

I tend to think someone who worked there especially in the pro shop would have utmost credibility.

nothing wrong with anecdotal evidence. These are owners & players, not someone saying "I tried one in Guitar Center once" or "This guy I know on the internet knows a guy who said...."

[xenophobe]

Jackson is my favorite brand (so far). For some reason lately though, I've been really checking out Caparison. I would like to check out one of their Horus models.

How do they play? I believe their a Japanese company, correct me if I'm wrong.

Japanese company founded by ex-Cushin Gakki employees, if I'm correct. From what I know about the earlier ones, they're very Jackson-ish.

[shredmonster]

Sounds like you just don't like vintage sized nuts?
Both the Hamer and the EBMM are 1 5/8. That may be the thing that kills it for you.

Me, I'm short and the vintage sizes are perfect.

Very simple - I know what is most comfortable for me to play after playing guitar my whole life and playing lots and lots of different ones.

My hands prefer certain measurements and shapes and I know what they are and I know what feels comfortable for me.

1-5/8" nuts, 24-3/4" scales and medium frets feel like I am playing a toy. It feels tiny and my fingers feel too cramped together.

If a guitar does not have a D shaped neck forget it. I vibrato the hell out of the strings and it is much easier for my hand to "grab" a string when I can get a hold of the shoulders on a D shaped neck. It reduces hand fatigue. Wizard necks are too thin etc....

I am a player not a collector. I judge a guitar by the way it feels and plays - and of course tone - but I am talking mechanics primarily here.

I am not the type of person to buy guitars just because I like the looks of them or because I want a V.

It took me years to find out what I like specifically and now I have everything custom made. I won't buy off the shelf anymore cause nothing is made to the exact specs that I want.

Objective for me is to maximize precision and minimize fatigue. It requires a certain shaped neck, jumbo frets etc... I also prefer carved top solid bodies because they get extra punch. So everything I get now is carve topped.

I just don't buy a guitar to have a guitar because it is a certain brand or look etc.... I buy a precision fit playing machine for lack of a better term - made to my specs that fit my hands the best. If I want a certain look I get it custom made with the neck that I like. To me the neck ie. playability - is the most important feature.

I run arppegios to the 24th fret all the time so I need good access not just for my pinky but for my whole hand to get up there. I play the 24th fret on the low E sometimes. Can you get your pinky on that note on your guitar ? I make sure I can on mine.

I need those notes at the 20th fret and above to ring out and sustain - so I get them scalloped. Just a couple of examples here. My point being the guitar fits me and the way I play. A Les Paul won't do it so I don't own one or any Gibbys, Fenders, Ibanez etc...

Sure owning a Vandenburg or Rand would be cool because they are great looking instruments but they don't fit me.

[vector]

nothing wrong with anecdotal evidence. These are owners & players, not someone saying "I tried one in Guitar Center once" or "This guy I know on the internet knows a guy who said...."

In the end, I go on my own experience(s). When your own experience is limited or non-existent, THEN it's time to consider anecdotal evidence and testimony by experts who have worked for the company are logical to refer to but it's hard to beat your own set of experiences (if they, in fact, exist) for guidance when making GAS decisions.

[toejam]

Japanese company founded by ex-Cushin Gakki employees, if I'm correct. From what I know about the earlier ones, they're very Jackson-ish.

Caparison are very Jackson-ish because they're founded by ex-Jackson employees. Didn't Jackson have their own factory in Japan?

[xenophobe]

Caparison are very Jackson-ish because they're founded by ex-Jackson employees. Didn't Jackson have their own factory in Japan?

Cushin Gakki was the Jackson factory in Japan.

[Maiden89]

I was checking out the Caparison Horus on their site. It's 24 3/4" scale guitar with 27 frets. All of my Jackson's are a 25 1/2" scale with 24 frets. Would the neck kind of feel crowded? I'm really digging the look of these guitars (for some reason), but I've never seen one in a guitar store to test out.

[toejam]

Cushin Gakki was the Jackson factory in Japan.

Ah, okay. I thought it was a different name for some reason.