Paul's Jim Dyson Guitar (slightly off topic)

[SPDC]

I'm clearing up a misonception in my last post. Jim emailed me this earlier today:

Glad you're hearing good things about my guitars. I gotta clear up a misconception though. Dipping my pickups in hot wax eliminates microphonic squeal, not hum. I eliminate hum in at least one selector position by reverse winding one of the pickups. You get single coil hum in all other positions, but you also get huge tone.

[Aemon]

I am the proud owner of one of Jim's guitar. Quite simply, they are world class. Jim invited me down to his place late last year and we spent a couple of hours talking all things music and guitars. Eventually I decided on a TV with a couple of pickup customisations. It should be noted he also makes the guitars to order, so is not stuck in any pattern and can build basically any guitar you desire.

We went a little crazy with the finish, deciding on a silver metallic flake finish with a mirror pickguard - a blinding combination under spotlights! The neck work is simply amazing. The way he has sculpted the neck from a combination of Vic ash and rosewood is marvellous, the jumbo frets add leniancy to your vibrato, and the abalone inlays were a nice-looking surprise.

But the tone. . .

I met with him to pick the guitar up but had to wait until home to plug it in. I was speechless. Having three pickups instead of the regular two, Jim installed a five-way selector. The start-style pickup and glisteningly clean and sharp - sublime tone. Combining it with the lipstick pickup gives u my favourite combination. The soapbar "Blues 90" pickup is also nice. I use it primarily for fingerpicked classical stuff with just a little treble boost and gain.

If you're in the market for a new guitar, you absolutely will not find a better sounding one (especially for this price). I've played about every kind of guitar you can imagine and I'd say this easily rivals a PRS for tone and sheer class.

I can get photos to you guys if you're interested, but you really need to hear one of his guitars or better yet, own one.

I cannot praise Jim's abilities enough.

[boogs]

How much did it cost dude (with that custom stuff, im just wondering)?

Also, why did you have to wait to plug it in? Hasn't Jim got any amps at his workshop?

[Aemon]

I met Jim in the city while he was on his way home from playing @ the Blues and Roots festival. He's got some great vintage amps @ his place (he works from home) that I played though.

Regarding price, you should talk to Jim about that. I had no problem with the prices charged and found them entirely reasonable. You should consider that he also includes a high quality case for the guitar (gives you a choice of two, in fact) in the price and that he will make the guitar to your exact specifications.

He was great to deal with, made me a beautiful sounding/looking instrument that I couldn't be happy with and I'd recommend him to anyone.

The other thing to note is that I bought the guitar primarily for rhythm but due to the array of tones I've started focussing on my lead playing aswell. Whether you play blues, metal, rock or jazz, his guitar will complement your playing.

Get the point? His work is THAT good.

[Jurds]

hey aemon,

Are you able to post any pics of this lovely sounding instrument?? Also, do you find that there are any feedback issues when using a bit of gain caused by the hollow body construction??

Cheers mate!

[Aemon]

I should be able to have some photos up this weekend.

Re. feedback, my distortion pedal is being re-wired right now so I haven't had much time to let loose, but I've used some amp distortion and it seemed to handle that fine. The guitars are SEMI-hollow body, and pickups are immaculate, so I can't imagine any problems.

I've used a Rickenbacker 12-string hollow body using amp distortion AND a Big Muff and it held up fine. I wouldn't expect anything less with Jim's. I'll get a definate answer this weekend, but if all else fails you can just switch to a combination of the strat pickup with another (Blues-90 or lipstick) to minimise the risk.

[boogs]

Aemon, we're desperate for some pics so we can see this sparkler!

[Aemon]

I'll have them next Saturday as my friend didn't bring his digi cam this weekend. He has an 8-track so I could upload some sound samples if you guys wanted. I'm a bit reticent to do so as they may not be of the best quality.

Coincidentally, the same friend and I are driving down to have Jim install a push/pull pot in the guitar this Wednesday.

[blake]

What rig are you running it through?

I'm tossing up whether to get Jim to build me one

[boogs]

push/pull pot?

[blake]

coil-splitting

[Aemon]

Rig wise, I use a Boss Tu-2 tuner, Ds-5 Delay (with tap pedal), Boss Tremelo, Electro Harmonix Big Muff and an Electro Harmonix Octave Multiplexor. I also use an eBow but that's a bit of a pain to use on the TV. I think they're best suited to guitars with Les Paul-style electronics (volume controls relative to pickups). It can be done, I just don't have as much control over the tone as I'd like.

I'm playing the guitar thru a bass amp right now (don't discount this until you try it) but sampled it with one of Vox's new amps the other day (with the digital modelling) and it really sang. This is next on my list of wants.

[boogs]

No piccies?

[boogs]

Going to visit Jim this sunday, I'll be hoping to be getting this made:




Pretty much the Tone Deluxe Standard, with the head of the Junior. Looks better imo

Normal pickup configuration, unless something else comes up that would better suit me. I dunno. I cant wait, road trip!

[Jurds]

Cool mate, please let us know how it goes!