Product: Chandler Custom Doubleneck
Price Paid: US N/A
Submitted
08/26/2000
at
12:00am
by
Aaron Pico
Email: aaron-pico<at>webtv dot net
Features
:
10
12/6 combo, swamp ash body, birdseye maple necks, ebony fretboards, vintage style tuners, string through body style, clear vintage amber/yellow high gloss custom laquer finish over natural woodgrain.
Pickups-12 string: Chandler Super 60s single coils (custom wound by Adrian Chandler) in Strat configuration.
Pickups-6 string: Neck-Duncan '59 humbucker, Bridge-Duncan JB model humbucker.
Controls: A 5 way pickup selector for 12 string, a 3 way neck select switch (12 string/both/6 string), a 3 way pickup select for 6 string and one volume control with a push/pull coil tap for the humbuckers.
I opted to skip the tone pot since I always run it wide open.
Sound
:
10
I'm a freak about my tone.
My rig consists of two Laney VC30-210 combos, each with a 1x12 extension cab. I'm running these in stereo utilizing a Sony DPS V-55 Effects processor in their effects loop. From my guitar(s) I go into an Ibanez Tube King (sometimes Two), then into a Boss volume pedal, through an A/B/Y box then into the amp's inputs.
Just for the record, I tried out the Ernie Ball volume pedal (because it was supposedly the best available), No good! Major signal loading. Then tried a Morely volume pedal that would split the signal and buffer it. It loaded the signal also.
The Boss volume pedal has NO audible signal degradation and is the best I've heard yet!
Anyway, back to the guitar.
When I first picked up the guitar it had some kind of hot rails style pickups on the 12 string neck and they ended up being way too hot, so I talked to Paul Chandler and we decided to try the easiest thing which was to disconnect one coil of each pickup- essentially turning them into single coils. Still, they were too hot and lacked the articulation and clarity of the Duncans on the 6 string side.
I was getting pretty bummed out worrying about it because who the hell wants to change the pickups 4 or 5 times to find the right set & sound? Especially on a doubleneck with pickguard mounted pickups. Believe me, that's a LOT of string winding & unwinding.
I decided to take a chance with a set of Adrian Chandler's Super 60s because I use them on another Chandler Strat style (Spitfire?) guitar that I have and was happy with the sound.
That was all it took! The Super 60s are freakin' perfect for electric 12 string!
I don't want to go on here, but his guitar kicks ass! (sorry mom).
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
The original setup on this guitar was very nice.
The neck on the 12 string side bowed ever so slightly after a few days, which happens when you put 12 strings of tension on a brand new guitar neck. Paul warned me that this might happen just for that reason, but I like to use ultra light custom sets of strings on a twelver so I tried restringing first and that did the trick. The neck is so sweet! It plays better than most six strings I've played.
The fretwork is superb.
The best way I can describe it is this: Bonnie Raitt once said "playing this guitar is like the smell of bacon fryin'."
The finish on the guitar is world class. Awesome lacquer vintage yellow over natural Swamp ash grain.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Both my Chandler guitars will probably go to my kids when I'm gone!
Customer Support
:
10
I can tend to be a major pain in the ass when I'm having something like a guitar made for me. I tend to obsess.
The people at Chandler are great, but they're also very busy. Customer service is excellent, just be patient. These guys work hard and they do all that they can to take care of their customers. Just don't be a dumbass and expect that it's like ordering fast food.
Overall Rating
:
10
These guitars just feel right.
Just ask Joe Perry, Steven Tyler, Rick Nielson, Duke Robillard, Chris Isaak, John Entwistle, Tom Peterson,
...and the list goes on...
