tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8784545.post-29026463563358088422008-05-06T18:05:00.000-04:002008-05-06T18:05:00.000-04:00I had the same concerns, even though I had played a Bruce Wei Les Paul 12-string lookalike and it was beautiful. <BR/><BR/>Eventually I bought a sunburst ES-335 style semi-hollowbody with amazing inlay work on the fretboard, front, back and headstock. For an extra $15 I had Bruce add an inlayed truss rod cover with my name on it (narcissism has it's place, you know). The guitar is beautiful and I paid about $350 USD. <BR/><BR/>Upon receipt I immediately took it to my guitar techs in Chicago and together we analyzed what it would take to bring the guitar up to snuff for professional gigging. <BR/><BR/>Here's what they did: <BR/>1) they removed frets, smoothed out fretboard and did a complete new fret job. 2) They added a Buzz Feiten tuning system. 3) They replaced the pickups with Seymour Duncan PAF-style pickups. 4) They checked the intonation (which was fine as is) and did a setup. 5) I also had them change the volume and tone knobs (just the knobs, not the switches) to amber colored vintage Gibson style knobs which match the knobs on a circa 1950's sunburst ES-335. (I bought the knobs online at All Parts for a few bucks.)<BR/><BR/>The total cost of these changes was about $700. <BR/><BR/>The guitar sounds and plays extremely well and it is absolutely gorgeous to look at. I don't use it regularly due to its beauty, which I don't want to spoil, but I use it for recording and at special gigs where image matters.<BR/><BR/>I think, all said and done, that this was a very good deal and it is quite fun to have such a beauty in my collection.Lee Barriehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09687147417872591094noreply@blogger.com