There are almost 335 timestamps this week: 00:00 Hello! 00:18 Introduction to the Vintage VSA500B 02:01 Specs and info 04:04 Today’s rig and plan Clean Sounds 05:05 Clean tone reference chords on all pickup settings 05:21 Country ballad arpeggios 05:35 Country lead sound 05:41 Country strummed chords 06:02 Blues progression 06:15 Neo soul pop riff 06:28 Funk rhythms 06:42 Grunge pop droning chords 07:01 Cowboy chords/tone control test 08:02 Ascending droning indie chords Clean Sounds with added reverb: Bigsby testing! 08:16 Soul pop riff 08:32 Duane Eddy riff 08:47 Atmospheric indie pop riff 09:03 Bigsby w/harmonics 09:25 Modern blues riff 09:44 Single string Bigsby bends Overdriven Sounds 10:06 Kings Of Leon inspired riff 10:12 Fat indie rock rhythm chords 10:44 Garage rock riff 11:00 Droning indie open string riff 11:12 Southern rock picked arpeggios 11:23 Upbeat indie barre chords 11:47 Volume control roll off test 12:09 Anthemic indie riff 12:24 Choppy barre chords 12:33 Stadium filling indie pop chords 12:54 Indie octave chords 13:12 Edgy indie barre chords 13:26 AC/DC inspired riff 13:42 Driving rock riff 13:56 Airbourne inspired rock riff 14:08 Hendrix inspired riff 14:26 Groovy classic rock riff 14:44 Quacky rock riff 14:54 Van Halen inspired rock riff Higher gain drive sounds 15:12 Classic hard rock riff 15:29 80s rock riff 15:51 ZZ Top inspired riff 16:02 Glam rock riff 16:23 Alternative rock riff 16:47 Green Day inspired punk rock riff 17:01 Pop punk melodic lead riff 17:17 Pop punk riff 17:30 Punk rock power chords 17:57 Modern pop metal riff 18:07 Progressive rock riff (Drop D tuning) 18:23 Modern rock palm-muted chords (Drop D) 18:47 Rage Against The Machine inspired groovy riff (Drop D) Heavy Distortion sounds (all in Drop D) 19:04 Metal chugging riff 19:20 Mastodon inspired metal riff with country twang 19:33 Hardcore punk riff 19:47 Heavy metal lead sound 20:03 Rammstein inspired industrial metal riff 20:17 More hardcore punk 20:31 Classic heavy metal/sludge riff 21:12 My thoughts 21:42 First impressions and looks 22:07 Weight and balance 22:43 Build quality and hardware 23:30 Playability and neck 24:21 Sounds and pickups discussion 27:14 Bigsby discussion 28:14 What other similar guitars are out there? 29:44 My conclusions on the Vintage VSA500 and why you should buy it
The pickups on the guitar were voiced by Seth Lover who was hired to come up with just what you hear. A PAF that covered all the bases. Seth was in 80's when he did the design so these PU's are not some hot new design. According to Seth they sound like his favorites that Gibson approved of in 1955 but never stayed with as they Gibson varied the parts because of the companies constant changing of suppliers simply to get the cheapest price. I was introduced to Seth in I believe NAMM '83 by Trev Wilkinson :-). I was a product specialist for Ibanez at that time. Back then pre-www it was very easy to meet designers as in general no one was interested. I met a lot of men who were involved with making Gibson proto types over a coffee at NAMM. I did indeed take notes but I was robbed by pro B&E guys in 2006 who literally emptied my home and took everything. I am sure they had no value to the thieves and were tossed. As Joni Mitchel sang "You don't know what you got til its gone." Oh well I turned 77 two days ago. Still playing several hours every day so I have no complaints, 🙂 THANX big time for the video.
Yeah, that's a great story despite the thievery! Trev told me lots of Seth stories over the years, so this actually doesn't surprise me too much at all to hear. These pickups really do sound fantastic, and now I get why. And these days if Seth were around you know he'd be absolutely mobbed at places like NAMM! The industry has changed a lot in that respect. I'm flying out to NAMM in a couple of weeks myself - see you if you're there! Happy birthday and keep on making music, there's nothing like it whether you're 7 or 77 :)
@@RichWordsMusic They sound even BETTER if you take those crappy covers off them! Many of those cheaper pick up brands that cover them use really piss poor metal like pressed steel or zinc, or low grade pot brass which dulls the pick up right down! Just did this last week to the Artist Bullbuckers in my Artist LP style guitar! It has opened them RIGHT up, (pun unintentional! ) More dynamic and better clarity and treble response! Artist pick ups had thin gauge brass shells over them!
Thanks a lot! I try and play all the styles I personally enjoy, so I'm glad that works for you :) There's basically going to be a riff in there for every taste, I guess ;) Cheers and rock on!
Perfect Review! After watching your review, I know I picked the best guitar. I bought mine last year for around $300, sold at a lower price in Brazil. It's a VSA500HB.
This guitar is nice. It has a special character and is something unique. I tryed out a similar guitar and it was great for blues and blues-rock. This kind of guitar is definitely something that had to be in my collection... But first I have to save my money for some dream guitars... 😉 That was another great video! Thanks for the information.
Thanks Robert! Yes, I totally agree... and I think every guitar collection has space for something big and different and interesting like this VSA 500. Something like a Gretsch would also fill that gap nicely, I guess. They make you play differently, which I really enjoy, and the Bigsby is a cool novelty for me still ;) Plus this one sounds HUGE - which makes sense! Hope you manage to try a few like this soon and then maybe later odd the dream one to your collection :)
Very nice video, great sound and good guitar brand, the color of the guitar is very nice. Looks a bit like my Gretsch. I have an SG model from this manufacturer with 3 HB Vintage, about VS63 Cherry Red (probably). Warm regards, Pavel CZ.👍👍👍
Yep, Vintage Guitars are too underrated in my opinion! They really do make some great stuff, and this VSA500B is fantastic. I love the looks and color too - it is very Gretschy! Cheers and rock on Pavel :)
'Copyright'? Really? There are so MANY 335 alikes that mimic the original from the Big G, apart from the headstock shape! I have a Tanglewood that apes the 335 very closely. Then you have Epiphone's various models, High enders like Collings etc that use the exact same shape! I think Trev just wanted something a little different than the same ole' same ole'! Sound micky mouse just the same Rick! HNY too! \m/
Happy new year to you, good sir! Copyright was the wrong word, actually... it should be trademark. Shouldn't it? I dunno. And yes, plenty of guitars kind of look like Gibsons, you're right. Same with Fender, apart from the headstock. Epiphone can do what they want - right down to the headstock now ;) - but not the others. Not sure I want to say more here. Next time we meet ask me for info ;) As you say though, they all sound the same at the end of the day ;)
You know what, it's definitely got a bit of the Grohl feel to it. If they'd done diamond f-holes it'd have been super close. Possibly too close for comfort ;)
