A Query on all manner of "Alternative" body shapes.

[AGWAN]

"Agwan", I asked myself...  "just how can you pose this question without telling some ill defined rambling story?"

"I can't but I'll tell the least amount Possible before I get to my question"

So... here is the unavoidable story before the question.

    My first guitar was a B.C. Rich N.J Warlock (with widow headstock, of course). Now most all all of you Facepalmed at the mention of said guitar, and you have every right to do so.
IT IS A BAD GUITAR.

But Why did I buy it? Simple. I'm an Artist. And I don't mean that in the "it's all about the music brah" sense. I mean long before I fell In love with music. I fell in love with pencils, pens, paint and all manner of Visually Pleasing creation. I want things to look good. look Memorable.

So I bought the pointiest pointy-pointing guitar painted in the blackiest blackness that is black. I got the most Gol' Durn Obnoxious LOOK AT ME! guitar I could find.

And I freakin hated it. the Tremolo was undersprung. the Truss Rod seemed to not even be attached to the neck. the strings sit probably over a quarter inch off the FRETS  (which by the way seemed razor sharp at the edges) if not more. there is NO freaking tonality in the pick ups, just one bassy Crunch. or a shreikingly hollow clean.

Lets not even get into how the floppy neck was shaped like a Freaking brick. that alone meant even if all those other problems were fixed. I could not enjoy or play the guitar.

And lastly, I'm a lefty. it was not. Case Closed, this guitar is dead to me!

NOW...

Onto the Question!

B.C. Rich has left me with a phobia of Unique Guitars. but... the temptation remains. And the question I ask you is... how Playable are guitars like Icemans, Explorers and the Standard Gibson V?

Are these (particularly the Iceman) a bad idea for beginning guitarists? Or for Guitarists in general? should I just stick to the Boring Soloist style bodies? Or can they be a sane choice for someone who isn't really sure what he wants to be playing yet?

I apologize for telling my life story in order to Pose a question. I just Worry I'm getting into the same State of mine that got me this great big pointy black paperweight I'm looking at right now!

 

[oldmanatc]

I can see how making the argument that a flying V wouldn't be a good choice for a beginner, but only for the sake that its difficult to play sitting down. But to each his own. One of my favorite guitar makers driskillguitars.com makes an alternative shape (a little more traditional than those mentioned above). But he designed the body for weight balancing.

 

[tfarny]

The only differences between these body shapes and a nice comfy strat are: 1) playing sitting down. most of us do most of our practicing sitting down. If you don't mind always standing up, get a weird shape by all means. 2) Neck dive. This is mostly a function of the location of the upper strap button, and secondarily the relative weight of the body and neck. SGs are one of the most neck-divey guitars even though they have a comfy shape because of these issues. An iceman probably will never have this issue, a star, well that's maybe a big problem.

 

[Patrick]

playability also has a lot to do with the neck so as long as you get the right contour, fretboard radius,and nut width to fit your hand and playing style it will be much easier to play in comparison to your warlock

 

[AndyG]

Your story is funny, 'cause I bought a Warlock many years ago as well, and had some very similar problems with it!

As far as the "weird" guitars go, my favorite always as been the Explorer body style.  Especially the 24 3/4" scale ones.  I rarely play sitting down (and when I do it's a Strat-body), but standing up, the guitar just seems to "fit" once you have found the comfortable height.

I currently have an Ibanez Destroyer (24 3/4" scale) that I just love playing.  In the early 90's, I bought a used Gibson Explorer that I am still kicking myself for selling (school, needed money).  I also like the BC Rich Mockingbird bodystyle.  I've always wanted a Flying V, but just haven't gotten around to buying one yet.

 

[BigBeard]

How about a WGD?  They are what some people call a 'half-warlock'

And they are balanced and a big bodied guitar!!  Even if you aren't a deadhead, the shape is traditional, yet different!

I don't think I would have ever considered warmoth for guitar parts if they didn't offer this shape!!

I'm a lefty too and I feel your pain!

There is a lefty guitar forum too if you are interested it is:  http://forum.leftyguitartrader.com/index.php

 

[RU36]

The Z body is the best of both worlds.
No neck dive, its comfortable, and its still a little exotic.

The explorer is good too.

 

[Jet-Jaguar]

I've tried a normal, Epiphone explorer.  Didn't like the contact on my right forearm.

I got a musiclander body though, and really like it. I think it's more comfortable than a strat.

 

[tfarny]

Musiclanders must be shown! Lots of good pics please!  :icon_thumright:

 

[D-rock]

Unique shaped bodies are not a bad choice for a beginner. It all depends on the playability and feel of the guitar. if you have a shitty guitar with horrible action and has been set up all wrong, then it will be hard to learn and even less fun to play. A player loses their drive to play because they know that they have to play something that they don't even want to touch. There are occasions where a setup has really high action and the player wants to work and fight in order to play, i.e. Jack White. That is a preference for some people. Mainly it is about how you want your instrument to feel in your hand. you can have a crazy body and a crazy neck, but if it feels right for you then you will enjoy playing and progress your musical abilities.

Try your instrument out before you buy! Unless it is a custom build that you know will sound and feel amazing! (Warmoths) and be set up to your preferences.

If you want a unique body, then go for it, just make sure that it plays and feels how you want it too

hope this some what helped.

 

[Dan025]

well a giutar should have an upper horn to mount the strap to help with balance but with the right rear strap location you can get by, neckdive is a big consideration with the flying V, it can be played sitting down though, the rear cut out goes around your inner thigh. it give a "classical" style position which is good for technical playing but not always good if you want to play blues, that never stopped albert king though who played a right handed V strung righty upside down. i just feel that bluesy bends sound bluesy more naturally with the neck more level, but it may be how i learned to play, you can sound plenty bluesy in any position if you have a feel for it.

many alternative designs have contours in the right places and have no ballance issues take a common sense approach, look at it, does it look like something that will fit in your lap, is it a stylized example of classic guitar design or is it nothing but radical curves/angles/points that have no relevance to the human body?

 

[AGWAN]

I want to thank every one of you!

Again, this Forum has answered my questions quickly and helpfully!

 

[Strat Avenger]

The Iceman is pretty much the only non-traditional guitar shape that I like. Strats (or super-strats), Teles, and Les Pauls are the only shapes that matter to me.

 

[AGWAN]

yeah I'm in a similar boat... Icemans. LP's and Soloist style are the only ones I can stand!

 

[bbl4ck]

My first few guitars were strats. 
I just finished my V within the last year and had some challenges with it at first, even sitting down.
The saving grace for me was when I added the strap.  Once I started using a strap my whole V life changed.
I do wear it higher than I do my strat, but it just made all the difference in the world.  I use it even sitting down.
I have no neck dive problems at all.  It is just a matter of proper strap button placement.
Good luck &  :rock-on:

 

[AGWAN]

Anyone know if you can cut a Warlock from a standard Routed Blank?

 

[pabloman]

Abstract guitars are cool. Some just really don't make sense. I think you have already learned the important lesson of marrying form and function. Of all the abstract guitars out there there is one that should be avoided at all costs.................................................

 

[Cagey]

Ngaahhh! What did we tell you about visiting Bizarro World and bringing back mutant instruments?

 

[Mor Paul]

Abstract guitars are cool. Some just really don't make sense. I think you have already learned the important lesson of marrying form and function. Of all the abstract guitars out there there is one that should be avoided at all costs.................................................

Who let him in?

 

[pabloman]

I snuck in arty07: Besides I needed a place to go after I got kicked of tdpri.com :glasses9: