Fine alternatives, Grosh, Collings, Suhr, Anderson

FFTT · 24th January 2008, 03:46 PM

I've been looking at alternatives to the finer Fender and Gibson custom shop
offerings and have been quite impressed with the guitars available
from Grosh, Collings, Suhr and Anderson.

All of these builders have wonderful products, but I'm most impressed with
the Grosh and Collings guitars.

Just wondering if any of you have experience with these and how they stack up
to the vintage big logos.

octatonic · 24th January 2008, 04:51 PM

Can't help with the above options except for Suhr, which are great, but perhaps a bit expensive for me.
Here are some more options- all from Australian.

Grubisa- check out the Merlin- nice take on the LP

Gilet - Gerard only makes acoustics these days but his strats and teles can be found s/h.
Gerard does his own things with them- unusual woods or pickups, always stunning looking- I had an emerald green tele that was stolen ages ago. Was a sad day.

Kinman - Yes, the pickup manufacturer- my personal favourite.
I have two of his telecasters and they are my no1 and no2 guitars.
Chris makes some amazing guitars- real workhorses, gorgeous tone.
Good luck finding one though.

ewegogetemtiger · 24th January 2008, 06:31 PM

Obviously, it's hard to go wrong with any of those. I've played suhrs, andersons, and a handful of Grosh and they were all very impressive.
Another great alt. to the Fender custom shop are USA-made G&L guitars

really nice

FFTT · 25th January 2008, 03:50 AM

Just Wow! Grosh Set Neck Koa Semi-hollowbody.

As much as I like the one above, some of the more understated P-90
based guitars are just as cool.

Anderson Cobra Special

Collings 290

Uncle GroOve · 25th January 2008, 05:15 PM

Well put!

I'll start out by saying that many of the so called "alternatives" are actually crafted by fine craftsmen who are replicating the *finer points* of many well-known designs, or are evolving on decade old designs, trying - many times with good success - to create new benchmarks as far as tone and workmanship are concerned.

One case in point is the Collings I-35, which IMHO is an awesome guitar... great workmanship, sublime tone, primo electronics well matched to the whole project.
Expensive? maybe ...but a 60s original 335 sets you back 4 times as much, ahem...

The Grosh Strats are another case of a really well built S-evolution...tone and workmanship is utterly consistent (unlike most overhyped and overpriced "original" Custom Shop instruments). Same for Suhr, Tyler, Lentz and higher up - thelikes of GVGC and D'Pergo.
Sadly I haven't had a chance to try out the latter (maybe luckily - I'd probably NEED to haveat least one, LOL).

In Gibbo's field, IMHO both Hamer and Heritage do a fantastic job to match or improve the classic HB tone. Higher up the value scale you land in the territory of the Grosh Setneck, the Gustavsson Bluesmaster, Nik Huber Orca and Dolphin, Ruokangas Duke, Jack Briggs (Saturn, Apollo), Heatley, Thorn, etc....

IMHO, IME, YMMV, etc

Paul

FFTT · 27th January 2008, 01:28 PM

Speaking of the Anderson Cobra w 3-P-90s

Check out this beauty!

http://mojo.rymarc.net/photos/cobra/...php?directory=.

Wonderful clippage too!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2x9VYLzjAY

I would personally have ordered a two piece neck with rosewood or ebony fingerboard
for stability and the optional wammy, but still this is a very cool guitar
with amazing tone.

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24th January 2008, 03:46 PM	#1
FFTT Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 2,932	Fine alternatives, Grosh, Collings, Suhr, Anderson I've been looking at alternatives to the finer Fender and Gibson custom shop offerings and have been quite impressed with the guitars available from Grosh, Collings, Suhr and Anderson. All of these builders have wonderful products, but I'm most impressed with the Grosh and Collings guitars. Just wondering if any of you have experience with these and how they stack up to the vintage big logos. Attached Thumbnails __________________ Don't look at me in that tone of voice

24th January 2008, 04:51 PM	#2
octatonic Lives for gear Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: London Posts: 4,771	Can't help with the above options except for Suhr, which are great, but perhaps a bit expensive for me. Here are some more options- all from Australian. Grubisa- check out the Merlin- nice take on the LP Gilet - Gerard only makes acoustics these days but his strats and teles can be found s/h. Gerard does his own things with them- unusual woods or pickups, always stunning looking- I had an emerald green tele that was stolen ages ago. Was a sad day. Kinman - Yes, the pickup manufacturer- my personal favourite. I have two of his telecasters and they are my no1 and no2 guitars. Chris makes some amazing guitars- real workhorses, gorgeous tone. Good luck finding one though. __________________ Regards, Jim Richmond "I don't go to mythical places with strange men." Douglas Adams

25th January 2008, 03:50 AM	#4
FFTT Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 2,932	Just Wow! Grosh Set Neck Koa Semi-hollowbody. As much as I like the one above, some of the more understated P-90 based guitars are just as cool. Anderson Cobra Special Collings 290 __________________ Don't look at me in that tone of voice

25th January 2008, 05:15 PM	#5
Uncle GroOve Gear Head Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Southern Switzerland Posts: 58	Well put! I'll start out by saying that many of the so called "alternatives" are actually crafted by fine craftsmen who are replicating the finer points of many well-known designs, or are evolving on decade old designs, trying - many times with good success - to create new benchmarks as far as tone and workmanship are concerned. One case in point is the Collings I-35, which IMHO is an awesome guitar... great workmanship, sublime tone, primo electronics well matched to the whole project. Expensive? maybe ...but a 60s original 335 sets you back 4 times as much, ahem... The Grosh Strats are another case of a really well built S-evolution...tone and workmanship is utterly consistent (unlike most overhyped and overpriced "original" Custom Shop instruments). Same for Suhr, Tyler, Lentz and higher up - thelikes of GVGC and D'Pergo. Sadly I haven't had a chance to try out the latter (maybe luckily - I'd probably NEED to haveat least one, LOL). In Gibbo's field, IMHO both Hamer and Heritage do a fantastic job to match or improve the classic HB tone. Higher up the value scale you land in the territory of the Grosh Setneck, the Gustavsson Bluesmaster, Nik Huber Orca and Dolphin, Ruokangas Duke, Jack Briggs (Saturn, Apollo), Heatley, Thorn, etc.... IMHO, IME, YMMV, etc Paul __________________ ----------- Uncle GroOve Fine & Fonky Guitars For The Playing Collector. -----------

24th January 2008, 06:31 PM	#3
ewegogetemtiger Gear addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 340	Obviously, it's hard to go wrong with any of those. I've played suhrs, andersons, and a handful of Grosh and they were all very impressive. Another great alt. to the Fender custom shop are USA-made G&L guitars really nice

27th January 2008, 01:28 PM	#6
FFTT Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: A stoned throw from ground zero Posts: 2,932	Speaking of the Anderson Cobra w 3-P-90s Check out this beauty! http://mojo.rymarc.net/photos/cobra/...php?directory=. Wonderful clippage too! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M2x9VYLzjAY I would personally have ordered a two piece neck with rosewood or ebony fingerboard for stability and the optional wammy, but still this is a very cool guitar with amazing tone. __________________ Don't look at me in that tone of voice

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