After a few weeks with my 2001 Eagle Classic

[tsp17]

Liked it straight away, super playable/comfortable, neck profile suits me, very aesthetic without being flashy, love the neck pickup only vibe/look, but something was not quite right to my ear.  Tried it with multiple amps, but couldn’t get what i was seeking.    Decided to swap the Schaller Golden 50’s for a Benedetto B-6 (one of my all time favorite pickups)….still not feeling the love after much amp switching, new strings, etc. 

Then i started fiddling with my amp settings and BINGO!!!!

On all my other guitars I have always used fairly scooped EQ.   With this one, boosting the mids to about 2:00-3:00 was magic.  That plus a little delay effect and: Eureka, i found it!

Tight while still organic. A little more acoustic sounding than my two pickup archtops, which is part of what i was after.  Volume control bump gives it a little more electric sound.  Very versatile for what my band does.  Real Book ballads to boss nova to full electric modal jazz jam tunes. It came with some Doug’s plugs so feedback should not be an issue. The plugs alter the sound a little, but not dramatically.  Still sound like the same guitar.  A little less acoustic sound.

Getting closer to roughly the late  60’s/early 70’s (pre-pop era) Benson tone that i am looking for.   Check it out.  Links:   George Benson Thunder Walk on Giblets and Gravy  Billie’s Bounce  Body Talk .  

I just ordered an open box ($200 discount)  Henriksen Bud 10 (solid state, 20 lbs - good for the portability and the 65 year old back, two independent channels, super clean) that is voiced a little between a fender sound and a polytone sound. Cabinet built for feedback resistance.  We’ll see how that goes. I’ll probably use it on the gig Friday 2/13.  Will report back. 

Overall - after a couple of weeks thinking i might have made a purchase mistake and would have to sell it, I’ve found a great vibe with this guitar.  Will update this thread after gig on Friday, or perhaps sooner after the Bud 10 delivery scheduled for today.  Should be a fun pre-super bowl day exploring what the combination of Eagle Classic-Henriksen Bud 10 can do.