Guitar timeline

Note: this page is a perpetual work in progress and is updated frequently. Check back often for updates. Last updated 21 January 2014 08 February 2025.

This may or may not be a definitive guide to the electric guitars I’ve owned over the years. Eagle-eyed readers will spot a trend over the years and also a seismic shift at the end of the millenium. Perhaps seismic shift is a little strong but what you will notice is that, having started out as a Strat then Tele guy, I’m firmly in the LP style, twin humbucker camp and have been since 2000, the year I bought my first Les Paul.

Having said that, as can be seen in my Gear Wishlist posts for 2013 and 2014, some other styles of guitar are creeping into range of my GAS radar.

I suppose the thing is, it’s not the tool so much, it’s how you use it. And how you use it depends so much on what the guitar gives you – not just in playability and technical stuff like that – but in vibe, feel, mojo, call it what you will… Currently, the Les Paul mojo is with me, but who knows what the future will bring.

What I look for in a guitar

I hate to be shallow but looks play a part. Any guitarist who says otherwise is lying, LOL. I want the guitar to look gorgeous, look fantastic on the strap, and make me feel good. Of course, playability and quality of finsh and manufacture are important, especially the neck size which is something I seem to be especially sensitive to, but it has to have mojo, that indefinable thing that all guitarists (perhaps all musicians) need to feel in their instrument. What is mojo? Too difficult to explain, like love, you just know when you have it kind of thing.

I’m a fan of humbuckers (though I have a soft spot for the wonderful single coils on G&L ASATs) and really like actives, specifically EMGs. That’s a subject for several articles, I guess, as the active vs passive pickup camps can get quite polarised. I just find that EMGs give a clarity with high gain sounds that sits beautifully in a mix (live or recording) and cuts through in a nice way. The fact they are noiseless and easy to fit/change are additional bonuses.

Looking for my guitar amps? Check out the Amp timeline page.

In reverse chronological order, ie most recent at the top:

Fender Jim Root Telecaster

Another one feeding my Tele appetite. I do find the single volume control a bit limiting, but as I’m using this most of the time for metal, it’s not a problem.

Usually tuned to D Standard or Drop C with 54-11 or 52-11 strings.

Purchased: Musix.ch 20 November 2014
Sold: –

Schecter PT WHT

Although I am a pretty much dyed in the wool LP fan, I do have a soft spot for Teles. I was looking for something different, fairly basic and no nonsense, and this guitar certainly fits the bill. The neck is very nice and the overall build quality, including frets, is excellent.

The pickups are not bad at all and have quite a bit of punch to them. I did consider swapping them out, but decided in the end to leave them in, as I think they contribute strongly to the overall character of the guitar. I use this guitar for cleaner sounds, edge of break-up and into classic rock crunch. Not so convinced by the high gain sounds, but I have other guitars that cover those bases.

Usually strung with 46-10s, tuned to E Standard or Drop D.

Purchased: Musix.ch 20 November 2014
Sold: –

Manson MA-2 Custom

• Fernandes FSK 401 sustainer system
• Built-in Fuzz circuit
• Locking tuners (with upgraded buttons)

Tune to E Standard.

Purchased: Manson Guitar Works Late 2014
Sold: –

PRS SE Dave Navarro – SOLD

I’ve been lusting after one of these for quite a while – even though it’s a PRS and I’ve never really connected with any PRS in the past. Apart from its stunningly clean and simple good looks, it has a Wide Thin neck profile which – hopefully – I will find much more “me” than the Wide Fat PRS necks I’ve played in the past.

After owning it a few months, I just did not gel with the guitar. I think this is my last PRS adventure as I really do not like their neck profiles. Sold the guitar to a private buyer.

Purchased: Musix.ch, 13 January 2014
Sold: Yes, to a private buyer, probably in around 2015 or early 2016
Gigged: Never
Rehearsals: Never

Gibson Billy Morrison Signature Les Paul

More details coming soon. In the meantime here’s the lowdown from the Gibson site: Gibson Billy Morrison Signature Les Paul.

Purchased: Leadmusic
Sold: –
Gigged: All gigs 2013 – 2015
Rehearsals: From June 2013

ESP Eclipse II AHB (Aged Honey Burst) – SOLD

Read article about my ESP Eclipse II AHB (Aged Honey Burst)

I think the ESP Eclipse bug had bitten. Gorgeous faded honey burst finish, amazing neck and playability and great sounding passive pickups. This is an Eclipse II, meaning that the body shape, specifically the lower horn, is slightly different compared to the Eclipse I, and has only 3 controls rather than 4.

Purchased: Leadmusic, 30 Apr 2011
Sold: Sold in early 2013.
Gigged: No (though it has been taken as a backup to a few gigs)
Rehearsals: One Phazy rehearsal in December 2012.

Gibson Les Paul Slash Appetite – SOLD

Read about my Gibson Les Paul Slash Appetite

Limited edition of 600 1200 examples worldwide. This is the “Standard” version, not to be confused with the high-end, mega-bucks VOS version released at the same time (2010). Read more about my Gibson Slash Appetite Les Paul.
Purchased: Musix.ch, 13 Jan 2011
Sold: July 2013
Gigged: No
Rehearsals: No

Gibson Les Paul 2008 – SOLD

Purchased: Wildwood Guitars (USA import, 2009?)
Sold: Yes, but I can’t remember the details.
Gigged: Yes, Cochon Concert and one BAG jam night
Rehearsals: Yes

ESP Eclipse I CTM

Stock image. I really should get some photos up of my Eclipse.

This guitar is such a joy to play. It rocks – the heavier the better.

Eclipse 1’s are rare these days as they have been out of production since the Gibson lawsuit in around 2007 or so. ESP subsequently came out with the Eclipse II, which has a slightly less-LP body shape and a 3 control layout (2 vols, 1 tone).

Purchased: Leadmusic, 27 Dec 2008
Sold: –
Gigged: Yes, every public gig since purchase except for the Cochon Concert, up until the arrival of the Billy Morrison LP.
Rehearsals: Yes. This was my current #1 guitar with the PhazyLuckers until the arrival of the Billy Morrison LP.

Vintage V100MRPGM

Purchased: Guitar Bitz UK, 27 Dec 2007
Sold:
Gigged: Yes, the inaugural BAG jam night plus some private parties
Rehearsals: Yes, during PhazyLuckers “mark 1”, ie before Roxy joined the band

PRS Singlecut – SOLD

A nice guitar, with a full and convincing single cut sound, but the neck always felt a touch too big. I think I may have part exchanged it for the ESP Eclipse.

Purchased: Boullard Musique, 12 Feb 2005
Sold: Yes. Part exchnaged for ESP Eclipse, perhaps? I can’t remember now.
Gigged: No
Rehearsals: Yes, plus many AMR atelier sessions

Gibson Les Paul R7 Historic Aged Tom Murphy – SOLD

Purchased in Mar 2005. Read more about my Gibson Les Paul R7 Historic Aged Tom Murphy.
Purchased: Charlie Chandlers Guitar Experience
Sold:
Gigged: No
Rehearsals: No

Fender Telecaster FMT

Purchased: Chandlers Guitars, 31 Dec 2003
Sold:
Gigged: No
Rehearsals: No

DeArmond M-75 – SOLD

Actual guitar.

Maybe purchased in 2001 or 2002. Sold to a private buyer in early 2004 as part of my gear clear-out prior to moving to Switzerland. Read more about my DeArmond M-75
Purchased: Chandlers Guitars (possibly)
Sold: Early 2004
Gigged: No
Rehearsals: No. Maybe once, at a Transtone rehearsal.

Gibson Les Paul Classic

Actual guitar.

I have a very soft spot for this guitar though, to be frank, it is not the best LP I’ve ever played. Take a look here to see the transformation of this guitar from classic rock to modern rock/metal machine. This purchase signifies the “seismic shift” mentioned at the top of this page, the shift being me switching allegation from Fender S-type and T-type guitars to Les paul / twin humbucker / single cut guitars. Really, this was a big change: different sound, completely different playability, etc, due to the bound neck, slightly shorter scale, and a heavier instrument. The latter point should not be underestimated. My LP Classic is not weight-relieved and, these days (thanks to my bones getting older), playing this guitar for much more than an hour at a stretch brings out the shoulder ache. Interestingly, this guitar is the one I’ve owned for the longest period (more than 13 years now), and although there have been periods when it never got out of the case, for example when I was using the PRS or ESP Eclipse, I keep coming back to it and enjoy playing it. Now that it is sporting EMG active pickups, I generally use it as my late-night “home practice” guitar via a Vox Tonelab LE and headphones. There is also something about the colour of these older goldtops that I adore. Yes, it has a few scratches and dings here and there (inevitable after 13 years of ownership and 4 years of regular rehearsal and live use), but the color is amazing.
Purchased: Guitar Village, 31 Dec 1999
Sold: –
Gigged: Yes (Transtone, PhazyLuckers “mark 1”)
Rehearsals: Yes
Articles about this guitar:
Les Paul Classic – Pimping my ride
Gotoh Magnum Lock Kluson-style tuners for Les Paul

G&L ASAT Custom

Ordered in May 1997 from Chandlers Guitars for GBP 1249, against a part exchange of the DC-5 for GBP 700.00. Custom order: ASAT Special Body, Alder, solid black finish, black hardware, silver machine heads (actually delivered with black tuners), black 3-ply scratchplate, 2 x Seymour Duncan pickups, G&L No.1 maple/rosewood neck. Guitar was eventually delivered on 1 Oct 1997.
Purchased: Chandlers Guitars, 1 Oct 1997
Sold: –
Gigged: Yes (Cage)
Rehearsals: Yes

G&L ASAT – GONE

Purchased: Chandlers Guitars, 1 Apr 1995
Sold: Given to my daughter, 2010.
Gigged: Yes (Cage)
Rehearsals: Yes

Fender Stratocaster MIJ – SOLD

Purchased: Kingfisher Music, 1986
Sold: 2001 / 2002? Sold to a private buyer.
Gigged: Yes (Persuasion)
Rehearsals: Yes

Ibanez Roadstar II RS135 – SOLD

Note: This isn’t my guitar – it’s just a photo of the same model I found online. Mine was exactly like the white one.
Purchased: 1984? (Could have been late 1983)
Sold: Not sure. Perhaps a few years after I had purchased the Strat, as I recall having two guitars for a period in the 80’s, maybe even into the early 90’s. Memory, eh?
Gigged: Yes (Television Skies)
Rehearsals: Yes

Westbury Standard – SOLD

Note: This isn’t my guitar – it’s just a photo of the same model I found online.
Purchased: 1981?
Sold: I think I sold this to someone during my final year at University – though I really can’t remember.
Gigged: Yes (UC4)
Rehearsals: Yes