Brian Moore Guitars C-55P

I got this at a Daddy's Junkie Music store of all places. On the back of the headstock it says Brewster, NY '99. 22 frets. It has a spalted maple top (not very figured at all) and a mahogany body. Maple neck with rosewood fingerboard w/abolone inlay dots. Non-matching sculpted headstock. Sperzel tuners, Wilkinson standard vibrato w/RMC Piezo (which will only activate if you use a Y cable OR by plugging in your cable 'half way' if you are lazy). Chrome hardware, 5-way switch (mega E style Megaswitch), Volume knob, tone knob (that is a push/pull that acts as a bridge engage NOT coil splitting - but it seems to do nothing so I don't even know if it works) and Piezo volume knob. Seymour Duncan JB and Alnico II pickups. Came with a hardshell case.

I play basically jazz and rock. I own a single beat up CARR Slant 6v 1x12 (which I bought at a tag sale and is the best find I have ever found in my entire life) and I found that the 5 way switch was noisy. I lubed it up and after a day the static went away. This guitar sounds pretty incredible. The neck position especially sounds soooooo warm, a very good jazz tone. Bridge position also has a lot of bite when used with distortion. Can go to death metal land if that is what you desire (not me). In between you can get some real twangy to ultra clear as glass crisp tones! Very impressive. The piezo sounds awesome also. Can't even describe it. These tones are of course being helped by the CARR (did I say I bought this at a tag sale for $300!?!!!?!?!?!!)

I got this used at Daddy's and the set up was done by some pro. I don't know. But the action was perfect. It was even in tune when I tried it out at the store! Neck was straight, P/U's adjusted perfectly! Top wasn't that spectacular. Its spalted maple but I always have seen "extreame" looking spalt on custom guitars. This one was very mild but can't complain. Ok now for the bad. The body has been nicked up. There were nicks here and there all over he body. There were a lot of scratches on the back of the guitar as well. Neck enamel was chipping away (the guy probably wore rings) Frets were worn out from 1-5 but the guitar still worked. Notes were in tune and it didn't affect the playing (yet). If i plan to keep this guitar it will need a grind and polish. Whoever owned this played the hell out of it!

Well the frets are worn out so I'm unsure how much playtime this guitar got. But seeing its made in 1999 I think it lasted about the right time frame with HEAVY use. Hardware looks new still. Finish, nicks and scratches all over the place so I would have to say the previous owner must have dropped it a few times and banged it here and there. But it still looks pretty good. Electronics work fine and sound awesome. I'd say this guitar got its abuse and use for the past 7 years and held up well!

I called Brian Moore Custom shop and gave them the serial #. They were able to tell me everything about the guitar and where it went! I found out this guitar was made for a guy in a CT metal jazz band red tide back then and it was actually a "mistake" guitar. I don't know but now that I look at the finish I see some errors. I guess it was sold at a discount back then. They were VERY responsive to my questions and I was shocked they told me the history of the guitar.

I've been playing for a while now and own a Terry McInturff custom Zodiac guitar that I adore. Not a single scratch on the thing. I use to play in a jazz fusion band but as age gets to you I quit the band. If it were stolen I wouldn't lose any sleep. I'd get a different guitar. If the frets on this guitar were in better shape I think I would love it more but since it would need a grind and polish it kinda turns me off. This was a "steal" according to my buddies as the guitar goes for a ton more brand new. But again, the guitar shows wear and tear big time so maybe I did not get a good deal. I love the tones this thing can make. The spalted maple is a nice touch but I wish it was more extreame looking. I guess this guitar was a "special deal" even back in 1999 for that guy in that band.

2000 or so model. Tobacco Sunburst, dual humbuckers, quilt top with the Midi option. Push/pull for lots of pickup configs.

This is a serious guitar. The bridge pickup has serious honk and bite clean, and sounds great overdriven. The neck pickup is stunning clean. The tone knob pulls up for different pickup configurations. It's subtle at first but really makes a difference - especially on the neck. (changes the phase or something). The in-between pickup selections are interesting, but I don't use them that often. Some have claimed it 'has no soul', but I'm not smart enough to know what that means.

You have to be careful. I've played a couple of these and sometimes there are subtle problems with the neck. I bought mine used and didn't realize until I tried to get it set up and they said there was a slight twist in the neck so it won't be totally clean all over. It's still good, but this quality guitar should suffer from these problems. Also the volume knob fell off (which doesn't bother me b/c I find they get in the way). The finish otherwise is beautiful, very durable - you'd have to take a screwdriver to it to have an effect (I speak from experience). I would give this a lower rating if it wasn't for the fact that the guitar is so dang LIGHT. A real pleasure to play for extended periods.

they're pretty responsive, which is unusual. Ultimately I don't know how helpful they end up being (several experiences)

Been playing for 15 years. I like this guitar but wish the neck didn't have any problems. Still, it's great to play, sounds wonderful and does so many things it keeps me interested. The piezo is nice but don't use it so much. The Midi is fantastic b/c I have a Roland Gr-33 so really, I could just stay home all day. I also have a G&L Comanche which is a great guitar - especially for recording but I find myself playing this more.

2003 and 2004 models.Both have two Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro humbuckers in the neck position and Semour Duncan JB's in the bridge.They also have Wilkenson tremolos with piezo's in the saddles as well as a stereo output which splits the magnetic pickup's from the piezo's.Both are "STRAT" style with bolt on maple neck's with rosewood fingerboards and Sperzel locking tuners.Electronics are single volume control and single tone contol with "PULL" pot to add additional sounds.2003 body is Zybra wood with a cherry shade finish over Mahogany with black chrome hardware.2004 body is Spalted Maple over Mahogany with chrome hardware.Both came with black Tolex hard shell covered case's.Also the phone jack's are "Frenched" into to guitar's body from the rear(a nice touch).

My amplification is Mesa LoneStar 212 and Rivera TBR-1M.From Jazz,Funk,Rock,any style,the C55p has a tone that works.From brite and clear to jazzy and smokey.Full and rich or light and thin,The guitar does'nt sound like a Gibson,nor does it sound like a Fender.The distorted sounds are strong with articulation.If you are a mature player seeking your own unique signature sound, this an instrument you should try.The finest instruments i've ever played!

Fit and finish were of keeping with guitars in this price range.Both are bookmatched,however a flaw can be seen in the Zybra wood model at a certain angle.Setup was good,but setup's are unique to the player.Pickup ajustment was fine as well.

These are well built,well designed instruments and should last!

After talking with a rep a Brian Moore,the 2004 C55p was made just for me.They also replaced a lost tremolo arm for no charge!

I've been playing 27yrs.If stolen i would buy Brian Moore guitars again.I've played mostly Anderson's,Fenders,and Modulus guitars.Nothing has suited me better personally then Brain Moore's"

1998 U.S. handmade (last time I checked they had only 13 employees!),
Lacewood top over mahogany double-cutaway body. Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro neck humbucker, Seymour Duncan JB bridge humbucker. Wilkerson trem. bridge. 5 way switch with pull-pot on tone control. 2 volume knobs: one for magnetic and one for piezo. One tone knob. Bolt on maple neck with 15'radius rosewood neck (Best neck I own). Sperzel locking tuners.
Split cable included: one amp magnetic pickup, one amp piezo (standard cable yields magnetic pickups only.) Black tolex HSC.

I've owned 13 electric's in the past 4 years: Carvin, Fenders, Gibsons, Godin, Guilds, Modulus, PRS and Brian Moore. I kept only four. Playing (poorly) mostly blues ans blues-based rock. Fender tube amps with various overdrives and ocasional analog delay. This is the best sounding bolt neck I've owned. Alnico Pro is warm in neck and JB snaps and growls in bridge. Single coils sounds have snap and clarity. Better sound than my PRS CE 24 (bolt-on, wide-thin neck). Maple necks seems to be brighter, getting rid of the "mud" of some mahogany necked, humbucking guitars. Bottom line: IF you want humbucking growl with snap and clarity try a mahogany bodied/maple neck guitar. Brian Moore may not have the vintage appeal many bluesmen crave, but it sure has good tone. Try the piezo on a slightly lower volume clean amp and the magnetic pickup on a overdriven amp for both growl and clarity.

Lacewood top is unusual and beautiful in a redburst finish. Slight finish flaws in top, only seen when guitar is viewed at angles in perfect light. Finish should be perfect in any guitar that list for over $2000! Hardware is perfect and works first rate. I always check/change setup so all my guitars are (nearly) the same.

This guitar will probably outlast me. I use but don't abuse my guitars.

Other than a couple or e-mails to ask questions, I've had no dealings with them.

I'm 45, played in my high school and college years, then took a 20 year break! Picked the guitar back up in late 90's - still great fun!
Is there a perfect guitar? I doubt it, but it's fun searching! Along the way you find guitars that make you smile more than others and this Brian Moore is one of those guitars. I also own a C45.

This is my first HC review. I won't review guitars I didn't keep, only the good ones!

Mine is a Green flamed C-55P made in Brewster, NY. in 98. What will hit you in playing this guitar for the first time- is that because of the perfect geometry of the neck and location of controls..etc, you can play all your licks without a hitch..right off the line. It is more like a orchestral grade instrument, while ALL the others are high-school band instruments. The 5 way switch with the phase-reverser make the twin Seymore's make any sound imaginable.

I like clear tone. You can always add the effects, but without the capability of making wide-timbre clean tone to begin with, you will never be able to re-create that if it ain't there to begin with.
The C-55P is amazing. With the ability to blend in a little piezo "sheen" over the top of the magnetic pickups, the resulting timbre has an extremely wide and rich sound. The piezo's by themselves are pretty thin...I never use them alone, but ALWAYS add them a little.

The guitar was shipped from a shop in North Carolina and came in perfect. The finish was perfect. The fit of every joint was perfect.
Nothing is oxidizing after 2 years. The case is totally top shelf.

If I only had one guitar, this would be it. It very nearly replaces every other guitar I have. It is totally solid, and not too heavy.

Although I have had no problems at all, the company has contacted me several times to follow up on the instrument.

I've been playing for 38 years and have played every brand and almost every model available. I play Rock,blues,latin and brasilian.I own 7 other guitars covering most all design philosophys. Some brands come somewhat close (PRS), but none excell the BMC.
For comfort, sound, neck geometry, build quality and look- it is Brian Moore. I have this guitar seperate from the others..which are basically decoys if I get ripped off! I always feel like I need another one in case they become unavailable..because everything else is less...I'm totally spoiled.

My C55P is a late 1999 model, made in the USA of course. 22 frets, a great quilt top over mahogany body. It has the optional Piezo pickup (which is fantastic)and 2 Seymour Duncan humbucker's and a 5 way switch, 1 vol, 1 tone and 1 vol. for the Piezo pickup. Has a Wilkinson Trem, Spezel Tuners etc.. The C55P has the most wonderful neck I have ever played. not too small or large..

The C55p has 7 different pickup selections, which can get you most of the tones needed. The C55P has a medium tone to it very nice smooth, not sterile like a PRS or Anderson I use this guitar mainly in Studio's and I use many preamps /effects and a Rivera combo. I wish I could get a better Quack sound out of it. but without a pickguard that would be hard.

Perfect!! nothing I had to adjust

I have not had it very long, but it looks and feels like it could handle daily gigging

It has a 5 year warrenty, have not needed to contact Moore yet

I have been playing around 20 years. I have owned just about everything out there!! this year alone I think I went through about 30 guitars.. no kidding, The C55p is Simply the best guitar I have ever owned! The neck has a great worn-in feeling to it, and the action is low with NO buzz.. and it sounds great, What Moore(HAHA) could you ask for.. I also just bought a Brian Moore MC/1 which should arrive in a day or so