THE ELECTRIC 1982 GUITAR

THE ELECTRIC 1982 GUITAR

FEATURES

Allen Hester

Guitar manufacturing and marketing is a big business. That’s obvious. More importantly, guitar playing is an art form that can enable even the poor and the blind to reach people across continents, and to touch each other minds across all barriers of distance, economics, race, religion, and even time itself. That’s a somewhat less obvious truth that often takes a back seat to the “bottom line” monetary considerations, both in the production of guitars and the performances in which guitars are used. What may not be obvious at all is that his remarkably supple and persuasive instrument we call the guitar is surrounded at once by thousands of years of tradition and the futuristic world of computers and electronics.

Involved in the world of the guitar are wood craftsmen who draw their knowledge from a deep well of tradition and accumulated knowledge drawn over centuries of man’s use of wood and hand-held tools. On the other side of the drawing board stand those who specialize in the most modern methods of computer-assisted research and development. In many cases, both the traditional and the futuristic qualities are combined in the same person.

The electronic industry stands at the crossroads of human experience, delicately balancing time-tested methods and techniques with the latest developments in electronics, metallurgy, physics, and an ever-changing business world. New knowledge is being gathered at a fantastic rate. Some would say that it is all, going too fast; for others, it is not fast enough. One thing is certain: nobody is allowed to stand still!

As players of an instrument, and as manufacturers of a product, those involved in the guitar have a responsibility: to go forward, and still be able to get back to basics. It may sound easy, but over the years several established companies have lost sight of what made them successful in the first place, and have floundered in the marketplace as they tried this new thing or that, all the time wondering why their sales were dropping. And new companies come into the market with a bang, touting their product as the most innovative thing since the invention of the wheel, only to go down in defeat a few months later, because all tradition was ignored. Somewhere between archaic ideas and foolhardy ventures is Common Sense, buoyed by experience, which enables manufacturers to incorporate new ideas into the traditional foundation with a certain degree of restraint and forethought. The guitar is not a perfect instrument, and as far as we know, it never has been. But that’s no excuse to build them less perfect, just for the sake of breaking the rules. After centuries of development and refinement, the guitar is still being created. What follows below is a report on that creative process: a look at The Electric Guitar... 1982.

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Note: Products are in alphabetical order by brand name. Some highly specialized and/or expensive instruments, as well as guitar synthesizers, have been omitted due to space limitations. Some manufacturers chose not reveal their new models at press time. A follow-up report on these new models will appear in the future issues of CREEM.

ARIA

Aria’s new PE-R80 is distinguished by a different method of joining the neck to the body; the three-piece maple neck is joined with glue, rather than bolts, to the top and middle pieces of the laminated body. The neck heel has been eliminated, and the cutaway on the treble side of the neck continues past the neck of and into the upper bout of the body, so the player’s hand can easily reach the highest fret. The fingerboard is made of rosewood, with cloud-shaped inlay work. The body is a multi-laminate of maple and mahogany. The PE-R80 has a brass stud tailpiece, six-way adjustable brass bridge, and a brass topnut. The wiring setup: two volume, two tone controls, three-way toggle, and two coil-tap switches. Pickups are either Aria’s own zebra-coil humbuckers or DiMarzio’s Dual Sound Humbucker. The coil tap switches allow either a series or parallel wiring mode on the pickups, for either a fat, high output sound or a more trebly, cleaner sound.

The PE-R80 has a couple of nice little extra touches that show some thought on the part of the designers: a slightly oversized strap button that keeps the strap on securely; knurled speed knobs, a shielded control cavity and pickup cavity to reduce noise. A relatively flat fingerboard radius and 22 jumbo frets make the neck feel more like the Gibson-style guitars, and this guitar is at least somewhat derived from the Les Paul. The Aria PE-R80 is easily recognizable by its headstock, which is smaller at the top than at the bottom, just the opposite of the “traditional” three-ona-side headstock.

B.C.RICH

Still on their feet after two recent robberies at the factory, B.C. Rich has several new things for ’82. The Mockingbird and Eagle guitars will be offered with a tremolo bridge and a 6-in-line headstock this year, and all models will have slightly thicker bodies. The deluxe model Rich Bich remains the same, except for the body width increase. Popular colors in the line are Rude Pink, UltraViolet, Candy Red and Blue-Green Pearl.

A new, less expensive line of guitars will be coming from Japan, under the name B.C. Rico. The Japanese-made Rico guitars, which will feature two humbuckers, two volume, two tone controls, and passive EQ, will retail for $599, as opposed to the current price of $1299 for the American-made Mockingbird or Eagle. The new models, which feature the B.C. Rich Tremolo, will cost an even 100 dollars more than the standard models. The USA-produced Rich guitars feature active equalization and an exceptionally wide tonal variation.

Also coming in ’82 is a mid-priced line, the B.C. Rich Series II, which is shaped like a Rich, but without all the frills. They will have a 24-fret neck-thru-body construction, dot inlaid fingerboard, passive equalization and, a Badass bridge. The Series II will retail for $999.

CHARVEL

Charvel had intended to introduce a new Randy Rhoads model this year, but the unfortunate accidental death of guitarist prompted Charvel to withhold the guitar, perhaps permanently. Charvel does have two new flame finishes this year, and a gun-shaped guitar, along with the vivid spider web and lightening bolt finishes that have been on the market since last year.

Since there is a recession on, more than one manufacturer is concerned with making a really affordable product, and Dean has a new low-priced instrument, the Dean Baby. The guitar has a two-piece body, a glued-in neck, a DiMarzio humbucking pickup and Schaller tuning machines. As the name suggests, the guitar is substantially smaller than the regular models; however, the neck has the same standard 24-3/4” scale. The Dean Baby is available on the V (a la flying V) dr the Z (as in Explorer) body styles, and have the same wing-shaped headstoek that distinguishes all Dean guitars. The Baby axes come in white, black, red, for a retail price of $599.

DIMARZIO

What began as a pickup manufacturing company has now grown into a company that sells necks, bodies, hardware, and electronics; solid-body electric guitars can be assembled from the ground up using only DiMarzio components. And, although pickups are still his biggest seller, Larry DiMarzio is offering a vintage Strat kit, a P-bass kit and an Esquire guitar kit, which will be shipped to dealers in single packages that will retail for slightly less than the total cost of all the parts if they were purchased separately.

There is at least one new body design in the works at DiMarzio; meanwhile the company is offering 1/4” flame' or burl maple tops on its Custom Tele and Custom Strat bodies, both of which are rear-routed so that they can be assembled without a pickguard. (The Esquire kit will be routed for two pickups, by the way, so that it can be converted to a Tele if the player wants it that way). Also, DiMarzio is introducing a guitar stand that is extremely rugged, and it, like all DiMarzio products, is made in America.

DEAN

ELECTRA

Electra has been undergoing extensive redesigning over the last 18 to 24 months, much of which was brought on by a changing economic climate that dictated a solid, affordable guitar be built. Electra designer Tom Presley has been striving for consistency in construction, and toward that end, all Electra guitars now have a 5-piece Canadian maple neck. The bodies are made of either ash or maple, with some models available in walnut. However, market studies done, by the company revealed that most players prefer the ash body because its weight is in between that of alder, which is a little too light, and maple, which can be too heavy.

Presley and guitarist Bobby Caldwell have been working on a new 335 shape which has a backing underneath the top of the guitar, thus eliminating the f-holes. The guitar has a new “heedless cutaway” design which, according to Presley, is a “bayonet-style mounting, or a horizontal dovetail joint that is reinforced by the string pull, rather than distributed by it. Today’s modern machinery makes the precise routing required for this type of joint possible.”

The Endorser guitar from Electra is a limited production instrument (only 600 will be built) built on the Les Paul style, with a double cutaway body. The tone controls will have pull-pots, but instead of using both for coil-tapping, one pot taps both pickup coils, and the other is a phase reversal switch. The maple-top guitar is finished in a Black Sunburst.

In upgrading the Electra line, a better quality machine head, similar to the Schaller head is shape, is being used. The die-cast Gotoh tuners carry a lifetime guarantee.

FENDER

Fender underwent a major overhaul last year, and much of the focus was on restoring some sense of the “old days” at Fender. Several vintage models were introduced, most visibly the Vintage Telecaster, and Fender execs lined up some heavy guitar players to endorse the new axe. The trend continues this year, with several “vintage” models in the offing. There will be a ’57 Strat with maple neck, a ’62 Strat with a rosewood neck, a ’57 Precision Bass, a ’62 Precision, and a ’62 Jazz Bass. They are built as near to original specs as possible, and due to this attention to detail, the guitars were introduced in January at the winter NAMM show in Anaheim, but they were just now (April ’82) being shipped to music stores, because some minor details had to be corrected to get back to “original.”

In addition to the new vintage models, Fender has two or three new models to add to the low-priced Bullet line; and the new Lead III. The Lead III has two humbucking pickups, with individually adjustable pole pieces—12 each—as well as coil-tap switching for tonal variation. The Bullet, the Bullet Deluxe, and the Lead III all have a 25 1/2-inch scale length.The Lead III is available with either maple or rosewood fingerboard. The double cutaway body is made of ash.

G&L MUSIC

Just in case you didn’t realize it, Leo Fender himself is still active in the music business, and his new company, G&L, makes a very fine instrument, both sixstring and bass guitars. The -Q&L guitar is the continuation of Mr. Fender’s thinking, which can be traced from the very beginnings of solid-body guitar design to the present day, through Fender Musical Instruments, then later through Music Man, and now through Q&L. (I feel certain that Leo is on a first name-basis with the Registrar of U.S. Patents by now!)

The outstanding feature on the G&L guitar is the vibrato bridge assembly, which is an improved vibrato bar that works on two hardened knife edge fulcrum points. The system has an inertia bar whose weight is mechanically multiplied for increased sustain * and which is centered by an adjustable screw cpunterpoise. And yep, it really works! The guitars stay in tune quite well under heavy vibrato use.

GIBSON

1982 marks the 30th anniversary of the Les Paul model guitar, and to commemorate the occasion, Gibson is offering a limited edition Gold-Top guitar, which will feature a mahogany body and an “old style dish top” maple top. The peghead is an SP-1 with a 17-degree head pitch, fitted to a 3-piece maple neck, with orsewood fingerboard, and a commemorative inlay at the 19th fret. Gibson will offer a one piece mahogany neck as an option for those who want to get even closer to the original design of the Les Paul. Instead of the old-style single-coil “soap-bar” pickups that were on the 1952 model, the 30th anniversary model will have Gibson’s “Pat. App. For” humbucking pickups. The gold finish is tinted to match the color of the original finish which was the first of its kind in 1952.

On the import side of the Gibson operation, the company is bringing back the old Epiphone thin-line hollow-body series: the Emperor, the Sheraton, the Riviera, and the Casino. Price range is from $579 to $989. The Emperor will be available in a full hollow-body depth of 3 3/4-inches as well as a thin-line 2 1/8-inch body depth.

The Sheraton model is a thin line double cutaway instrument built with an arched maple top, maple back and rims, mahogany/maple centerblock, and three-piece maple neck. Its body dimensions are a bit smaller than the Emperor, running 18 5/16” in length, 16” in width, and 1 3/4” in depth. The 22 fret, 24 3/4” scale length fingerboard is rosewood with pearl block inlays and a “Tree of Life” inlay in the peghead. The Sheraton’s hardware is gold-plated including the Frequensator tailpiece and Tune-O-Matic Bridge. Fullsize humbucking pickups are deployed on the Sheraton, instead of the “baby humbuckers” found on the old Americanmade instrument; otherwise the new guitar is a faithful reproduction of the original, with a slightly smaller width at the topnut.

GRETSCH

As of this writing, Gretsch is not producing any guitars due to an overstock in their dealer network. Research and’ development projects are underway, but the assembly line has temporarily halted due to market conditions.

GUILD

Guild is plunging into the rock ’n’ roll guitar market in a bold way with the introduction of their new X-79 electric guitar series. To say that this body design looks like rock ’n’ roll is understating the case; it is a really wild looking variation on the Explorer theme, with a body contour and headstock design all its own. The custom designed XR-7 pickups offer a versatility of humbucking or single coil sound; the SP-6 tailpiece is a stud type, quick-change model; speed knobs, deluxe tuning machines, and stainless steel strings are standard equipment. The X-79 is available in Candy Apple Red, White, Metallic Blue, Black, and Black Sparkle. Suggested list price of this wild child starts at $599.

Guild has something new for bass players this year, too: the SB-201 and SB-202 models were designed with the “out front” bass player in mind. Outstanding features include a body that’s exceptionally well balanced, a thin neck with almost guitar-like playing action, adjustable bridge, and deluxe tuning machines with a 22:1 gearratio.

The SB-202 features two Guild DP-8 bass pickups, a phase switch, pickup selector switch, two volume controls, and a master tone control. The SB-201 is a single pickup version with one volume, one tone control. Colors available are Candy Apple Red, Antique Sunburst, Blue, Black and White. Suggested retail prices are $600 for the SB-202 and $525 for the SB-201.

HAMER

The Cruisebass is Hamer’s first production bass in their eight year history. It is available in eight transparent and opaque finishes, and is made of mahogany. The set-in neck is resonant in tone, and the instrument has clear access to the highest (21st) fret. The Cruisebass sells for $850.

But the big news from Hamer is the addition of doubleneck guitars to their line. Jol Dantzig of Hamer said, “We will be offering the double necks in a unique variety of styles—6 and 12-string guitar, 6-string guitar and 4-string bass, 4 and 8-string bass, as well as 6-string guitar and 5-string bass or 5 and 8-string bass.” The first new double neck 6 and 12 string is Ipeing built for Steve Clark of Def Leppard, and the new 12-string bass is going to Jon Brant of Cheap Trick. Also, Hamer has some new colors this year, a hot pink and an unUsual white color that have yet to be officially named by the company. Dantzig is working with guitarist Andy Summers on some more new ideas to accompany the already existing Prototype guitar that the two designed last year.

HONDO

These import guitars have been upgraded somewhat, and three new body designs hae been added to the line, Schaller tuners are now standard on most models. Model H733 is an SG style guitar available in either metallic blue or metallic red; model H734 is the same thing with a tremolo bridge. There are some new Explorer-style bodies available with spider web finishes, flame finishes, and Van Halen style finishes. Model H760 is a Strat style set-in neck. There are three new 3/4-size bodies, H760 is a Strat style, H767 is a Flying V style, and H780 is the Explorer style. The popular “gun metal blue” finish is available on several models this year. Also, the Ch-3 Chiquita Travel Guitar is available in a metallic black finish. Two Les Paul style guitars with tremolo bridge will be offered in 1982.

IBANEZ

The MCI50 Musician Series guitar is now being offered in the new Polar White finish. It features neck through body construction, pull-pots on the volume controls for coil-tapping, and a three-way toggle switch that is positioned just in front of the treble volume control. Polar white is also available on the Artist Series AR-100, and the MC924 bass. The bass has a Super 40 and a Super 50 pickup, and the Ibanez EQ-B Tone System.

New in the Ibanez line this year is a small body semi-acoustic electric guitar, about the same size as the Ibanez Artist. The instrument is a double cutaway, with a body similar to a small ES-335. The popular' Blazer Series solid body guitars remain unchanged for ’82, with the exception of some new finishes, being offered.

KAMAN

Makers of the popular Ovation guitar, the Kaman Corporation has several new acoustic/electric models in the works, but a preview of the new instruments will have to wait until the company unveils the instruments at the summer NAMM show. No details were available at press time.

KRAMER

Kramer designers are sky-high on their new “Tru-Tone Tremolo,” which they claim is the most advanced tremolo bar on the market. The tremolo has a locking system to hold the strings in place, as well as a set of fine tuners on the back of the tremolo. It will be offered on the Pacer and Voyager series of wooden-neck guitars. Kramer also has another tremolo bar designed for Les Paul type guitars, which can be installed on the existing tailpiece studs. The Pacer is a Strat-style body with two humbuckers, brass and gold hardware, which sells for $599. The Voyager is a star-shaped body, same pickups and hardware, same price as the Pacer. All the guitars have 22-fret necks.

Also new from Kramer is the Pioneer Imperial bass, a P-bass style with one extra fret on the neck. Kramer designers took two J-style pickups and glued them together for the back pickup of the Pioneer Imperial, making it a humbucker with split-coil capacity. A P-bass style pickup is used in front. There are two volume controls, a tone control, and a three-way toggle and a splitter switch. The Pioneer Imperial is also a wooden neck model, with a maple neck and a poplar body, with all gold hardware. Finally, Kramer has added a brass replacement bridge for a Rickenbacker bass to their parts line.

MARTIN

Not a company known for their electric guitars, Martin nonetheless has a couple of instruments that are suited to rock. The E-18 is a multi-laminated maple and walnut guitar, with neck-thru-body construction, dual humbucking pickups, stud tailpiece, six-way adjustable bridge, and passive equalization: two volume, one tone controls, three-way toggle switch, phase reversal switch. The E-28 guitar is the much more sophisticated one, with an all-mahogany neck-thru-body construction, ebony fingerboard, and active electronics. Both guitars have three-on-a-side scrolled pegheads.

PEAVEY

The Peavey T-25 is a limited production instrument, which features a fingerboard made of Ebphenol, which has the look and feel of ebony. Also featured are two newly designed pickups for increased output, sustain, and tonal response. Tuning machines are 14:1 gear ratio, and the T-25 Special finish is ebony black, with a black/ white/Black pickguard.

Also brand new are the T-26 and the T-27, which are hybrid instrumehts which bear strong rememblance to the T-25, with the exception of the pickups and wiring circuits. On the T-26, three single-coil pickups are used in conjunction with a five-way Centralab switch. The humrrejection circuit is also used to cancel hum and noise when the pickup combinations of neck plus middle or middle plus bridge are being used; however, this does not preclude the classic “out-of-phase” sound that is so popular among guitarists.

The T-27 follows the same three pickup configuration as the T-26, including the hum rejection circuit, along with a super high output dual coil humbucker in the bridge position. This pickup has the patented Peavey dual/single coil circuit which allows operation of one or both coils, and, like the T-26, can produce all the desirable pickup combinations and tonalities via a five-way Centralab switch. The T-25 Special sells for $399.50; the T-26 goes for $324.50, and the T-27 sells for $344.50. Molded hardshell cases are included in the list price of each.

SCHECTER

Schecter was one of the first American companies to offer a wide variety of exotic hardwood bodies and necks; however, their continuing research has shown that players prefer the lighter bodies made of poplar and ash. So they are now offering poplar and ash bodies, with the option of an exotic hardwood laminated top. Thus the guitars have a distinct tone, yet are light enough to be comfortable to the player. For this year, Schecter will be offering a new 12-string neck, bridge assembly and body style, either in parts or as a finished guitar. The neck will resemble a Fender 12-string neck, but the body will be on the order of a Strat, to allow for Strat style pickups and electronics to be installed. Pickups will be available with 12 individually adjustable pole pieces, and the body will be available in all existing Schecter finishes. Company spokesperson Tom Anderson indicated that there may be some new pickups on the market later this summer, but no details are available yet.

TAXI

Taxi guitars are unique full scale travel guitars, yet they are only 32 1/2 inches long and weight a little over 5 pounds. They are for use as travel and practice guitars, but they have lately been popping up on concert stages because of their unique compact appearance. Available in one or two-pickup models, the Taxi guitars have a full 24 3/4-inch scale, 2 1/8-inch thck body, DiMarzio pickups with single, double or phased selection, Schaller bridge, Sperzel tuners, Bourns pots, maple body, boit-on maple neck and a 22 fret rosewood fingerboard.

The Taxi bass is equipped with a Model I DiMarzio pickup (single, double or phased) Schaller bridge, Sperzel tuners, and has a 24-fret, 30 1/2-inch scale. The guitars and basses are offered in over 12 colors including, Screamer Yellow, Roadster Red, Midnight Black and Blizzard White. Hard shell cases or gig bags are available.

WASHBURN

Washburn has a rather unusual idea at work in the new SBF-26, a solid body electric guitar. Sounds like a contradiction in terms, but the guitar was designed for the live performer who prefers the look and feel of the acoustic instrument, but the solid body design eliminates all feedback, even at high volume levels. The guitar has a rosewood fretboard with snowflake inlay, and a solid spruce top. A compensated bridge saddle is standard, and there are tone and volume controls located on the upper bout of the guitar, a la the Ovation or the Takamine.

YAMAHA

Three new solid body Yamaha guitars and three new basses are coming in 1982. The SC400 guitar has a mahogany (or mahogany and alder) body with an ash top and a mahogany neck, while the SC600 has a mahogany, ash, maple and alder body with a mahogany and maple neck. The SBG1000 guitar has a mahogany body, carved maple top, and a mahogany neck, with ivory color binding on the fingerboard and headstock and gold plated hardware. Rosewood fingerboards with acrylic dot style inlays are used on all three models.

The SC400 and SC600 each have three single-coil pickups with 5-way switches. The SC600 has tapped coil pickups, and the SGB1000 has pull-pots on its two humbuckers’ tone controls to allow single coil operation.

The BB1000S bass guitar has a 21-fret maple and mahogany neck that runs through the length of the body. The body is made of laminated alder, maple and mahogany. The BB1000S has a rosewood fingerboard, two double split pole pickups, and a three-position selector switch. The BB1200S has an extra added feature—an active 3-band equalizer which allows precise definition of tone on the instrument.