MichaelDean Posted February 16 Share Posted February 16 I've wanted a single cut guitar for a little while. Just fancied something with two humbuckers, a Gibson scale length and lots of knobs to twiddle. I decided to sell some pedals I wasn't using to fund it. I thought I'd try just trading them in at PMT first for one of their Antiquity guitars, but they gave me truly awful prices. So I went to eBay and made a lot more money than I expected! I've had my eye on the SC-550 II since it launched, but didn't think I'd have enough dosh to get one. I was wrong! I took delivery of one in Faded Tobacco Flame this afternoon. It s a lovely thing. Fretwork is great with stainless steel frets. Pickups are pretty decent. I've got it set up in drop C with the stock set of 10s, with very low action and no buzzing. The top is lovely - it doesn't have much 3d movement, but the figuring is really nice and even and it's pretty well bookmatched. Oh, and it weighs just over 3kg! I've been noodling around this evening in Reaper with a song idea and my GX-100, and I'm very happy overall. There are a few weird bits though. Since day one, people have been saying that the machine head keys are greenish, and the nut is white, which doesn't go with the cream binding. I wasn't sure if I entirely believed them. I should have. It's very odd overall. I've got some new tuners on order, and I think I can live with the white nut for now at least. The only properly bad bit that I've noticed is on the back, by the pickup selector cavity. A bit of paint has chipped off. I've messaged Thomann, so I'll see what they say. I'll probably end up sticking some nail varnish on it though. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rwillett Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 I love the front of it, but the paint work around that access port is rubbish. Looks like someone tried to do it with their teeth. I'm not even certain if that access hole is even round. I'd be embarrased if I'd printed that in draft mode on my printer. After saying that, the frontand the rest is gorgeous. Very jealous, Enjoy it. Rob 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelDean Posted February 17 Author Share Posted February 17 6 hours ago, rwillett said: I love the front of it, but the paint work around that access port is rubbish. Looks like someone tried to do it with their teeth. I'm not even certain if that access hole is even round. I'd be embarrased if I'd printed that in draft mode on my printer. After saying that, the frontand the rest is gorgeous. Very jealous, Enjoy it. Rob Yes, the routing there isn't great, but for £255 all in, I don't think perfect routing is guaranteed and I don't mind it where most people won't see it. The chipped paint is disappointing though. You don't expect that on a new instrument. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 17 Share Posted February 17 1 hour ago, MichaelDean said: The chipped paint is disappointing though. You don't expect that on a new instrument. Send Thomann an email with picture (if you haven’t already) and they’ll offer you a discount. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelDean Posted February 17 Author Share Posted February 17 48 minutes ago, ezbass said: Send Thomann an email with picture (if you haven’t already) and they’ll offer you a discount. I've filled in the form on their website. Not heard anything back yet. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelDean Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 So, they've offered me £25 off the purchase price. I think I'm ok with that. I did have a moment of panic: Did I really like it? Was it worth keeping? Yes is the answer. My HB tele is also great, but so different. The frets are a bit smaller, satin neck, longer scale length, heavier, etc. It's just been a bit of an adjustment period. The tuners are truly terrible though. They just won't stay in tune with llight noodling, let alone some heavier handed stuff. The sooner the new ones turn up the better. Not entirely sure I'm sold on the top hat knobs either. I've had speed knobs before and I think I much preferred them, so I'll keep an eye out for a gold/amber set. The feel of the guitar is really nice though. Well polished stainless steel frets are a wonderful thing! I also like the tones from the pickups and the pots are decent as well. They don't just go on/off, but could be a bit smoother in operation - hopefully they loosen up a bit with use. Plus it's a pretty looking thing! Even the pau ferro fretboard is a nice colour and doesn't feel too dry. I'll still give it some lemon oil when I change the tuners and strings. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 19 Share Posted February 19 1 hour ago, MichaelDean said: So, they've offered me £25 off the purchase price. I think I'm ok with that. It seems to be their standard, damage discount, amount (I received the same for my chipped bass headstock). It’s reasonable enough and certainly saves the agro of doing a return to the EU, plus instant mojo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelDean Posted February 19 Author Share Posted February 19 5 hours ago, ezbass said: It seems to be their standard, damage discount, amount (I received the same for my chipped bass headstock). It’s reasonable enough and certainly saves the agro of doing a return to the EU, plus instant mojo. Yeah, I've seen the long return process stories on here. Didn't fancy that and the bones are good. Plus, yeah, already had the first ding/bit of mojo. And I'll need to ream out the tuner holes for the tuners I've bought, so I can't be too precious about it! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted February 21 Share Posted February 21 They produce rather nice guitars for the money. I have an electroacoustic classical, a 5-string fretless electroacoustic bass, and a (now discontinued, I think) Dullahan: which did need a neck shim to sort the action out but was otherwise great. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelDean Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 New tuners fitted. I got some fake Hipshot style locking tuners from Aliexpress. They're great. I had to enlarge the holes to 10mm, which was easy enough. One of the old screw holes then lined up with the old tuners too. They'll be super convenient when I get some new strings to put on it. It was quite a stabby faff fitting the old, curled, strings on again. Might want to fill and re-drill for one of the holes as the tuner is slightly off centre. I'll see how much it bothers me! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newfoundfreedom Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 (edited) The guitarist in my band has a couple of these and they sound great. The tuners are green to replicate the original Gibson Les Paul tuners. I had the same on a Vintage brand Les Paul and didn't like them either. They just looked really cheap and tacky plastic to me. Edited February 26 by Newfoundfreedom 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MichaelDean Posted February 26 Author Share Posted February 26 @Newfoundfreedom, yes, I understand that the green is period correct on a reissue Les Paul. But when you're already not making a period correct guitar, with a different body shape, and you've got the green tuners, white nut and cream binding, I don't really think it makes a lot of sense. I know you're not arguing their point, but clearly Harley Benton disagree with me! 😂 It still feels like a lot of guitar for the money, and I kinda like doing mods 😅 Makes it feel a bit more mine. Plus, from a function point of view, these tuners are SO much better. I can play for 5 minutes and it isn't out of tune, and they do feel good quality. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ezbass Posted February 26 Share Posted February 26 6 minutes ago, MichaelDean said: I kinda like doing mods 😅 Makes it feel a bit more mine 👍 6 minutes ago, MichaelDean said: Plus, from a function point of view, these tuners are SO much better. They look better to me too and I normally like the plastic keystone tuners. Given that they're better at doing their job too is a win/win. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tauzero Posted February 27 Share Posted February 27 9 hours ago, MichaelDean said: It still feels like a lot of guitar for the money, and I kinda like doing mods 😅 Makes it feel a bit more mine. Plus, from a function point of view, these tuners are SO much better. I can play for 5 minutes and it isn't out of tune, and they do feel good quality. So the original tuners are more period correct in function as well as appearance then. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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