vultures
Well-known member
I posted about my singlecut that I ordered from Balaguer, thought I'd post this one up here too. I don't really see their progress pics get posted outside of their FB group.
I ordered this last June and got it about a week or two ago. I've been too swamped with work to really post about it or dig into it, but tonight I got a lot of time to just sit and play it and I'm blown away. I was racking my brain for months about what kind of "Telecaster" to get. Grab a Fender off the wall, Fender CS, Kiesel, Suhr, Anderson, Aristides, Wirebird, the options are literally endless. I decided on the Balaguer for a few reasons. I love the take on the shape, spoke wheel truss rod, option for 24 frets (this is why I ultimately didn't order an Aristides T/0), it's modernized and the price. For the specs/options it's really hard to beat. Watching the build come along is a really cool part of the process.
Specs:
Alder Body - Flame Maple Top with cream binding
5 Piece Neck - 2 Roasted Maple & 2 Walnut Stringers
Roasted Birdseye Maple Fretboard
24 Stainless Steel Frets - 25.5" Scale with cream binding
Hipshot bridge
I've since swapped a Schaller Megaswitch in there with some Mojotone 500k pots, Vitamin T tone capacitor and a treble bleed circuit. This thing absolutely rips. I only really play death metal and I just really love the idea of a classy looking guitar like this playing some heavy riffage instead of just a straight black guitar. I had an ESP Page Hamilton that had an Alder body that I regret letting go, it sounded so friggin good. Now that I'm digging into this guitar, the tone is very similar. Very balanced and clear. No low end mud, no sharp or shrill high end. It feels just right. I've been an huge Mahogany/Maple top or even Basswood guy for years and years. I think I'm converting over to Alder bodied guitars from now on. This guitar blows away all my expectations.
Here's the mock up:
First pics I got. Body milled and routed. Neck milled, shaped and the back finished.
Second round of pics. Body finished and buffed out. Neck gloss taken down:
Finished Pics:
Pics when I got it home - I swapped the knobs
I ordered this last June and got it about a week or two ago. I've been too swamped with work to really post about it or dig into it, but tonight I got a lot of time to just sit and play it and I'm blown away. I was racking my brain for months about what kind of "Telecaster" to get. Grab a Fender off the wall, Fender CS, Kiesel, Suhr, Anderson, Aristides, Wirebird, the options are literally endless. I decided on the Balaguer for a few reasons. I love the take on the shape, spoke wheel truss rod, option for 24 frets (this is why I ultimately didn't order an Aristides T/0), it's modernized and the price. For the specs/options it's really hard to beat. Watching the build come along is a really cool part of the process.
Specs:
Alder Body - Flame Maple Top with cream binding
5 Piece Neck - 2 Roasted Maple & 2 Walnut Stringers
Roasted Birdseye Maple Fretboard
24 Stainless Steel Frets - 25.5" Scale with cream binding
Hipshot bridge
I've since swapped a Schaller Megaswitch in there with some Mojotone 500k pots, Vitamin T tone capacitor and a treble bleed circuit. This thing absolutely rips. I only really play death metal and I just really love the idea of a classy looking guitar like this playing some heavy riffage instead of just a straight black guitar. I had an ESP Page Hamilton that had an Alder body that I regret letting go, it sounded so friggin good. Now that I'm digging into this guitar, the tone is very similar. Very balanced and clear. No low end mud, no sharp or shrill high end. It feels just right. I've been an huge Mahogany/Maple top or even Basswood guy for years and years. I think I'm converting over to Alder bodied guitars from now on. This guitar blows away all my expectations.
Here's the mock up:
First pics I got. Body milled and routed. Neck milled, shaped and the back finished.
Second round of pics. Body finished and buffed out. Neck gloss taken down:
Finished Pics:
Pics when I got it home - I swapped the knobs
