paulsmithiii's Reviews
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498
The Pros That Have Played These
You can't go wrong with a bass that has been used by the likes of Chris Squire, Geddy Lee and Paul McCartney. I love the neck width on this guitar. I have small hands and the playability is tremendous for me. The natural finish is beautiful and the guitar can have every kind of bass tone drawn out of it you like, from funk to heavy bottom! I love it!
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498
A Dream Machine
This Casino is a John Lennon tribute model bearing Lennon's original serial number 328323. It is one of only1965 made. I see why The Beatles loved this guitar so much and why Paul McCartney still plays his. It has fantastic tone and versatility.
498
Great Job!
My wife surprised me with this for my birthday! I'd never even seen one before. It is fantastic!! The neck detaches with the strings still connected and the whole thing stores in a carrying case/backpack that can fit in the airplane overhead. It's very easy to put together and take apart and the sound is amazing. I played on it for an hour before I looked it up on the website and realized it's also electric! We love to travel both with our RV and by air and this is just a perfect gift for me!
498
One of My Best Friends
I picked this little boy up in a Ukulele shop on Kauai several years ago. I'd always been aware of George Harrison's love of the Ukulele and I'd been a big fan of Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. The first time I played it it seemed like the instrument was teaching me what to do. It's a perfect match of simplicity and beauty. Kamaka is truly one of the best makes in the world and I'm so glad I went for it.
498
Bluesy and So Much More!
I originally opted for an Eastman T-186 mx for this style of guitar. Love the Eastman! What originally drew me to it was the thinner neck. However after spending more time on my Telecaster 50's re-issue and my Gibson Les Paul (both with pretty fat necks) I longed to have an actual ES-335. For a long time I've admired the ones that Carl Wilson played throughout his career with The Beach Boys. His were custom builds that i've never been able to find anywhere else. But mine shares that beautiful natural finish and delivers the great variation of tone that made it a favorite of Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson, Rusty Anderson and so many others. I'm extremely happy with this guitar and have named her Ollie after our sweet dog Olive that finally had to leave us after 14 years.
498
Super bluesy and much, much more!
I originally opted for an Eastman T-186 mx for this style of guitar. Love the Eastman! What originally drew me to it was the thinner neck. However after spending more time on my Telecaster 50's re-issue and my Gibson Les Paul (both with pretty fat necks) I longed to have an actual ES-335. For a long time I've admired the ones that Carl Wilson played throughout his career with The Beach Boys. His were custom builds that i've never been able to find anywhere else. But mine shares that beautiful natural finish and delivers the great variation of tone that made it a favorite of Eric Clapton, Eric Johnson and so many others. I'm extremely happy with this guitar and have named her Ollie after our sweet dog Olive that finally had to leave us after 14 years.
498
Classical Tone
I've always loved the sound of a classical guitar whether it was being played by Mexican Mariachi's or Mason Williams performing "Classical Gas". Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood recorded Blind Faith's iconic "Can't Find My Way Home" on classical acoustics and some 22 years later Clapton put the classical at the forefront once again with his ode to his late son Conor, "Tears In Heaven". My very first guitar was given me by my parents when I was 10 years old. In an attempt to steer me away from Rock n' Roll (didn't work) they gave me a junior-sized Favilla Classical acoustic. The guitar was lost through so many years and I would give anything to have it today. I had been playing an inexpensive Spanish guitar that my wife picked up for me on a vacation. The guitar sounded pretty good and I enjoyed it until it took a fall off a high shelf and went to pieces. I had been missing having a nylon string acoustic so I started looking online and remembered my Favilla. I found this 1969 Favilla C-8. It's a beautiful collector's item for a very reasonable price. Herk Favilla and his son Tom built some beautiful instruments until they ceased production in 1973. I'm very happy to have a Favilla in the family again.
498
A Mighty-mite
I picked this up as a practice amp when I'm out of town. It's surprisingly powerful and good sounding for a solid state amp. I pair it with my Hofner 500/1 Cavern Bass and it delivers well on the different nuances of tone I can get from the Hofner switching. Nice for the price!
498
Great Sound Samples
I've used this compact little powerhouse for over 20 years with a Fatar Studio 900 monitor. It's been a very satisfying machine for several piano, organ and strings sounds. This setup is great for someone with very little space. I'm currently playing it through a small Fender Rumble 15 Bass amp I also use for Bass recording and practice.
498
A Workhorse
I've used this keyboard for over 20 years to record and entertain. It's paired with a Kurzweil Micro Piano controller with many piano, organ and string samples. The keys are weighted nicely to give it an authentic feel to the hands. It has served me well.
498
A True Classic
The look, the tone, the twang! This version embodies what was born out of Leo Fender's concept Espquire. It is a beautiful reissue, authentic in every way. I'm attempting to learn some country picking but I also enjoy looking for that Roy Buchanan tone playing blues. When you look at the pedigree of players who have chosen this guitar at times over the years - Keith Richards, Eric Clapton, Roy B., Rick Vito, Vince Gill etc... you know you're in good company!
498
Country Soul
I was recently blown away by Ken Burns Documentary on Country Music. I love many different kinds of music and to me country is very closely intwined with The Blues. It is a true American invention born out of influences from the American Heartland, Ireland and other places. I marveled at film of Ricky Skaggs as a child playing Mandolin with Bill Monroe, Marty Stuart's fingers racing over the neck of his Mando playing with Lester Flat. It brought to mind John Sebastian's line from the Lovin' Spoonful's "Nashville Cats" - "been playin' since theys babies..." I've decided to pick it up and see how I do. This Ibanez is touted as a really nice beginner or intermediate player's Mandolin. The craftsmanship seems very nice for the price and the tone is beautiful.
498
Street Rod Strap
I matched this strap to my Rick Vito signature Reverend. I got it in Black and White to go with the Black and White Art Deco design of the guitar and they look great together! Sadly I don't believe these are available from Levy's anymore.
498
Super comfort
I chose this strap for my Les Paul. My LP is the heaviest guitar I own and the padding in this strap really comes into play for comfort. The construction and stitching is very well done and the brown/black two-tone is a nice accent to my LP Tea-burst.
498
Great Design
I use this strap on my Martin. It accents the colors of the guitar very well and is very comfortable. The leather is a nice grade which you would expect from Levy's (I have 3 of their other designs) and the stitching work is very nice.
498
A Classic Look
I use this strap on my Martin. It accents the colors of the guitar very well and is very comfortable. The leather is a nice grade which you would expect from Levy's (I have 3 of their other designs) and the stitching work is very nice.
498
Good Enough for Stephen Stills
I ordered these strings for my Martin. I like a lighter gauge string on an acoustic for finger-picking and improvised lead parts. The trick is to find a lighter gauge that doesn't lose the boost you get from a heavier gauge. There is always some trade-off. I decided to take after a guy I think is one of the best acoustic pickers in Rock music, Stephen Stills. I read that he uses these and so far I can see why.
498
A New Old Reliable
I really love these capos. I don't use a capo on very many tunes, mainly "Here Comes The Sun" but this is the best one I've ever owned. Mine has a blue mother-of-pearl face which further accents to look of my acoustics.
498
Good Performing Mic
I picked up two of these a while back while cobbling together a PA system for entertaining. I'm very pleased with them. They have great sensitivity and they're very rugged. I just think they look good too!
498
My Dream Acoustic
I've dreamed of having a high quality Martin Acoustic for most of my life. The projection and resonance of a fine Martin guitar is in a class by itself. These guitars in the D series have been used and are still used by the best in the business. I loved the details of Stephen Still's D-45. The tone he got from it just knocked me out. The same was true of David Crosby's. I loved to blend of John Lennon's and Paul McCartney's D-28s in Let It Be. This baby is everything I ever dreamed it would be. The tone with it's crisp highs and deep lows, it's projection and sustain make it incomparable!