17 Jun That Perfect Couple – A Schaffer Replica Pedal & A Rock ‘n’ Roll Relics “Angus” Model (by Billy Rowe)
So,
after long months of silence (sorry!) I got to do two videos in a row.
And I would do far more if I had the time. Hopefully later. But I really – we really – wanted to get this out.
Great guitar, this Rock ‘n’ Roll Relics. Why, you ask? With all the vintage ones you have… here’s the answer.
I don’t like new, usually. New sounds like new. Plasticky, especially in the case of Gibson co. There are exceptions of course. Plus… expensive, especially if you go custom shop.
Well with Billy Rowe is not really the case. He gives you a guitar like the one you want, the way you want it. And it won’t neither look nor sound like it is new. It does feel and sound like vintage.
Can’t take my eyes off it either… nice to have in my hands and play some. Plays great. Not even plek’d! Just like it came to me from Billy, but set up by me (I like it super low action, just like I think Angus does and always did).
It was played on one of my three 1970s Marshall 2203s. I had them all brought back to original, stock sound (much better).
Settings were presence 0, bass 7, mids 3, treble 5, master volume 7 and pre-amp volume 4, until I brought it up to 7 for “Walk All Over You”. Then left it there for subsequent few riffs.
Microphone is the now trusty (and way cheaper) Peluso P67, and incredible clone of the Neumann U67. Really it’s got the same character of it!
To contact Billy,
http://www.rocknrollrelics.net/contact
Contact
If you have a comment or any questions related to our guitars please feel free to contact us by sending an email or call us. We aim to respond to email and phone requests within one business day
Email: info@rocknrollrelics.net
Phone: (415) 676-7696
Guillotine
Posted at 06:53h, 09 JulyAre Fil’s glasses supposed to act like Angus’ hat? You put them on and throw them right off 😛
Ant
Posted at 22:14h, 23 JuneJust got back from a weeks holiday (no proper internet) and another treat waiting for me once i got home
That guitar is killer the cutaways are just how i like them too! Nice deep n pointy, need to pre order that pedal 😛
Jthekid432
Posted at 07:46h, 18 JuneHey Fil how do we order one of these, by calling the number on the RnR website? Also I was looking at the Angus model, it seems you can order many pickup options, which ones did you get? and what do you recommend given the different magnet options etc….
SoloDallas
Posted at 13:57h, 18 JuneYes bro, anyway you like to order. Billy is all ears. He’s also reading here. You can call him up ( (415) 676-7696 ), write him at the site ( http://www.rocknrollrelics.net – info@rocknrollrelics.net ) or shout loud in here ( 😆 ). The first of these options you like the best
He put in for me David Allen P51, and I liked/like them much. On the hotter side – let me try and give you more specs maybe speaking with David if you want. There IS an incredible amount of superb pickups out there right now. Makers have never been more prolific.
I can and will recommend the options Billy chose for me at the time of making mine, which are a rather flat and wide fretboard, low action and the P51s. Keep in mind that you can have the guitar either red or black, both either with smaller or larger pick guard! This is a neat option. We could even switch back and forth between them, as Billy does NOT route (unless so asked) for a third, centre pickup. So you CAN remove the larger pickguard and add the smaller version (holes will be visible in upper area naturally, but with Angus and his guitars… scratches and holes were never a big deal 😆 ).
banane
Posted at 14:18h, 18 JuneFil, when you say “low action” (in general), how low is that actually in numbers? At the moment, I adjusted my string action height to a 2mm plektrum on the fretboard, which fits tight on the 1st fret and loose (about 3mm) on the last one. Is that low?
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:29h, 18 JuneHave no idea, would have to see it myself and most of all, feel it. While we could measure the height of the strings, there are several things that have to be felt – for me at least.
Usually it’s an overall thing.
What I would do is to lower them the most physically achievable. The most, really. Meaning that, the lower strings won’t buzz (too much) and the higher, thinner strings will still vibrate without stopping and causing that unbearable sound (when they are stopped) – it sounds a bit like “plink plink”. Sounds like shit and I can’t stand it.
It’s never only a thing of bridge lowering or raising, it does include the neck angle, which is why I almost don’t even keep the truss rod cover on (I re-set it frequently, because woods move in the environments I play in and because I stress my guitars pretty much by bending strings).
So it is a number of things altogether.
It DID happen that I had to change one bridge or two on specific guitars to make it work! Some bridges/saddles would work on a guitar and wouldn’t on another one (and we’re talking about SGs most of the time).
Guitars are artisan items. Made mostly by hand. Each one of them is different 😆
Jthekid432
Posted at 22:47h, 18 JuneYeah despite other elements which create good tone such as wood, age, amplifiers, and the SVD…. I still am a firm believer that pickups are the heart of the instrument. If you could get in contact with David and see what his specs are for his most popular PUs that would be great!
Also I definitely hear the P51s sound great. Personally i’m looking for Alnico 5, low gause, slightly hot (but not too hot), balanced, and most importantly clear PU that will allow the SVD rip into it once I get my pedal verison.
dash8311
Posted at 06:26h, 18 JuneI ordered my RnR Relics guitar last month and can’t wait for it to arrive – exactly copy of what you have there Fil. In fact, after speaking with you about it, I said to Billy “just send me what Fil has, I’m sure it’ll be great”
Enjoy your trip to Cali!
SoloDallas
Posted at 13:58h, 18 JuneWant to see you with yours when it gets to you!
dash8311
Posted at 17:16h, 18 JuneLooking forward to it with the TSR.
COD
Posted at 14:42h, 17 JuneEverything totally fine but how can this be Relic with a Nashville Tonepros?
Why didn’t he take a Callerham (best ever, if you ask me) or even a Tonepros AVR II if he wants to enhance it?
SoloDallas
Posted at 16:52h, 17 JuneNow this is a pretty good point. Have no idea. Might ask Billy personally. I’m sure there’s options, as I’m sure that he did everything for a reason (might be cost/function altogether). Want to ask or want me to?
COD
Posted at 17:19h, 17 JuneWould be more than interesting to me – if you have the chance, please ask him. I really tried a lot of bridges but this one would be the last for me to go. I think, it’s woeful enough that Gibson put them on VOS models or even a company like Hamer uses them. Surely it’s a better component than the standard Gibson models, since the TonePros are made of brass but what about the bushings? I redoweld mine with light quality mahogany and put a Callerham in instead – a world of difference!
BTW, I’d appreciate if you could test the Callerham Steel-Tailpiece in one of your Vintage SG’s for comparison.
If you go with an Alu-TP, you get a totally different sound than you get with a vibrola, but a steel TP fits perfectly for a SG in my opinion (material- and soundwise).
I’d really like to hear what you think and I personally have no chance to check it on a real Vintage SG (although I use it on a Historic LP and a 2009 SG Standard).
Best regards, Eric
COD
Posted at 07:55h, 18 JuneIt means ‘Callaham’ of course…
I must admit, that’s a bit embarrassing…yeah, these germans
SoloDallas
Posted at 14:03h, 18 JunePleasure Eric, and since I am typically jet lagged – as usual, it always gets me 😆 – in this wonderful 5:00 AM in San Diego, CA, let me post to you what Billy answered to your question.
COD: This is Billy’s own writing – just pasted into here. Pretty humble, laid back open minded guy. Just like we like ’em!
COD
Posted at 18:41h, 18 JuneVery interesting…thanks for asking, Fil.
So the name ‘Rock ‘N Roll Relics’ for me implies the demand of making a good instrument by maintaining the original specs as much as possible – but that may be a wrong association. Anyway, it’s fine if it’s changeable…
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:48h, 18 JunePleasure Eric.
Eric, these are NOT Replicas. These are not 1:1, identical ones. These are Billy’s fine interpretations of classic guitars. Headstock is even different if you noticed. Also other parts may differ slightly form the originals. While I am usually careful about this, with these specific instruments from Billy I couldn’t care less, because they feel like they have their own thing going. They’re not soul-less instruments, they have something going. So I don’t miss by the smallest bit the identical SG Standard neck joint, or the headstock, or other minor details. What I did want for sure was the body carvings – those I wanted them, and I wanted them badly (and I got them! – they’re not in the current Gibson fashion with SGs to do them shallow and horrible – they’re finely carved). So one really shouldn’t expect to get a REPLICA of a Gibson SG in the sense of identical in every respect. These are not. Which probably, makes me love’ em even a little bit more? You know where to find me when you need me,
Fil
COD
Posted at 19:23h, 18 JuneI completely understand what you mean. For sure it’s much more worth having an instrument with soul that fits as a whole than having one accurately vintage specced as the primary demand. But what the carvings are to you, that’s the nashville bushings to me. Too much metal and between the wood and the strings if you ask me ( I know, you didn’t 😉 )
Therefore I would’nt even consider using this bridge. The impression of a fuller sound can surely be caused by the Nashville’s higher mass and stability similary like if you use Grovers instead of Klusons. BTW, I use TonePros Klusons on my Gibsons and they’re a nice complement for the Callaham steel TP.
Best regards, E.
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:32h, 18 JunePS Eric, been willing to try one of those Callaham bridges for a while: will do for sure!
COD
Posted at 18:46h, 18 JuneCool, but please note that they also did a cold rolled steel Tailpiece – what do you use when you’re using Tailpieces on your SG’s? Alu or the zinc die cast ones?
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:50h, 18 JuneHave NO idea! 😆 No idea whatsoever of the material used in mine; will have to check
depuis1899
Posted at 09:24h, 17 JuneAmazing !
Thanks one more time for the settings
Fil if I had to ask you to compare your Angus Young SG ( Aged and Signed ) to this one, what would be your answer ?
SoloDallas
Posted at 12:37h, 17 JuneRnR Hands down.
I paid I think 9 THOUSANDs euro for the Gibson PIECE of CRAP ( 😆 ) and if you noticed, I don’t touch it. Super thin – unnatural – neck (probably really like Angus wanted it, but he’s what – 155 cm tall? ), ugly pickup at the bridge (excess of mids).
RNR Relics costs less than 1/3rd of that, playable out of the box, relic’d MORE credibly (!).
Want me to continue?
depuis1899
Posted at 20:06h, 17 Junenah, I’m good 😆
Ryley
Posted at 00:53h, 17 JuneFil, ever tried a custom shop VOS les paul? like the newer ones? 2012?
SoloDallas
Posted at 00:59h, 17 JuneI have had many, and currently have two
Ryley
Posted at 01:15h, 17 JuneI recently got to try a ’58 reissue vos from this year and was blown away, they are soo expensive but I would buy one lol. I also had no idea the amount of difference the 50s wiring would make in the sound. I own a 2012 Gibson lp traditional and will for sure convert to 50s wiring without a doubt!
SoloDallas
Posted at 18:40h, 18 JuneSome are excellent and some are not. It’s the same surprising thing with each and every one of them out there, new or old. With the older guitar there’s the hope that it having been played much, it has smoothed out in several spots, and the woods have too. For a LP, I can’t go without 50s wiring!
Ryley
Posted at 18:47h, 18 JuneThanks for the reply Fil! Thats why i was so blown away but this custom shop LP, it really felt like a guitar that had been played, broken in. It could have also been the fact that i’m only 20 and its the most expensive guitar I’ve gotten to play thus far so my mind could just be playing tricks lol xD