Empire guitars

[jazzman]

Is it just me, or is the binding too much? I don't even mind the headstock. I think it looks pretty cool. I don't agree with binding being standard, but that's just me. Don't get me wrong, I still like a lot of guitars I see. I think I look at them every day. Especially this one.

http://www.gmwguitars.com/empire/emp018.JPG

[dinkyjacksonman]

Re: Empire guitars

Here is the new one Lee built.
I got these pics recently from him.
According to Lee, the neck is Solid pau ferro,the body is solid mahogany and the top is figured lace sheoak, which is
pretty rare.

[jazzman]

Re: Empire guitars

That one looks good. How much did he say that is?

[dinkyjacksonman]

Re: Empire guitars

I will send you the price by PM.
[img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[paddok]

Re: Empire guitars

I've seen the neck of that guitar in person. I thought the neck was snake wood or something like that.

[dinkyjacksonman]

Re: Empire guitars

Snakewood is the fingerboard.

[jazzman]

Re: Empire guitars

It is a good looking guitar.

[paddok]

Re: Empire guitars

That is the one, Snakewood finger board. That is what Lee seemed most impressed with. Snakewood apparently is piss rare.

[jazzman]

Re: Empire guitars

How does it sound? I don't care how rare any wood is. It needs to sound good. I wouldn't care if it's fukking plywood as long as it sounds good.

[Venomboy]

Re: Empire guitars

Empire Guitars play like a dream. Super low action. Perfect fit and finish.

[4koa]

Re: Empire guitars

i agree, the only thing i'm not crazy about the Empire guitars is that thick shell purfling/ binding.

i prefer the thinner stripes that Ron Thorn uses on his line guitars( got 2 of them )..only 1/16" wide and much more subtle.. ( i'm not sure if he still does but Ron use to do all the inlay work for Empire guitars.. wonder if they would do one with the thinner purfling??

[Soloist1]

Re: Empire guitars


Lee told me he stopped using Ron because he was to backed up with work and couldn't wait that long. Actually he just got my Beast back from the inlay people last week. They did the abalone binding and purfling for him because I sent shell blanks instead of purfling strips. He said he may have a pic out to me of it this week. So I guess I'll see soon what it looks like.

[4koa]

Re: Empire guitars

[ QUOTE ]

Lee told me he stopped using Ron because he was to backed up with work and couldn't wait that long. Actually he just got my Beast back from the inlay people last week. They did the abalone binding and purfling for him because I sent shell blanks instead of purfling strips. He said he may have a pic out to me of it this week. So I guess I'll see soon what it looks like.

[/ QUOTE ]


You could be right can't say for sure, but the paua purling on my thorn is pretty thin ( almost to the point where you don't notice it..

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/MOJO1/048_9.jpg

everything else you see around the edge is just the natural unstained wood binding

here's a shot of how small the purfling channel is before it is installed

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v53/MOJO1/048-5.jpg

[jazzman]

Re: Empire guitars

Now that's a nice piece of wood.

[Soloist1]

Re: Empire guitars

Wow that is thin. That must be a bitch to cut. Do you know if he used straight blanks or preformed strips? He'd still have to cut the strips thinner for that even if it was strips. The guy definitely does nice work. Probably the best in the business. I know he did that Medusa Empire for Lee. And that looks killer.