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Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | "The serpent beguiled me, and I ate", said Eve when asked why she ate of the forbidden fruit.
I've wanted one of these for 25 years. Now I have one.
My serpent...
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Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | 
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | 
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Posts: 4619
Location: SoCal | Very "purdy"...enjoy! |
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Location: NJ | nice.
cngrts! |
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Damon ,
If I send ya one of my turds would ya make it into a Mona Lisa? You're unreal!
Congrats on your new adoptee! You're really on a roll...  |
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October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | very nice, nomad! took ya' 25 years, huh? i'd never heard of one until joining this forum but i have never been much of an electric guitar player either. i've got one just like yours. here's a funky little clip i made right after getting it. |
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Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Day-um, ya'll make me feel soooo insecure!
But don't stop. I love being 'trampled'...
Hellava track! |
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Location: Vernon CT | That's gorgeous!!!! Congrats, you"snake" you! :D |
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Location: south east Michigan | nice guitar...
nice pics |
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Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | Very Nice! Cool Burst! |
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Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Beautiful, If I played electric, that would be the one to have. |
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Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | Ditto. I'm filling in for the reg. guitar player at church tomorrow and I'm playing mine (just like the above) and not the Deacon. I love the deke, but the Viper is so easy to play. Every now and then I get to thinking that I could trade the Deacon for an Adamas or Thunderhead or something. It's more a collector's piece to me since I got the Viper. |
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Posts: 33
Location: Bay Area, N, California | Very nice... makes me want to trade my custom telecaster for one.
LM |
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December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Laura,
Just keep the Tele and get a Viper!
Big D - that is beautiful. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | Laura, I'm no fan of Fenders, but Teles are OK in my book, keep it!
Thanks all. I had a bunch of fun with it last night. To save some time, and because I'm basically a lazy ass, I'll paste my mini-review from the Peavey forum. They were all quite enamored with it.
(also answering questions that were brought up)
copied and pasted from T-60 site:
The screw is for changing the angle of the bridge, a thing that never really needs to be touched, and a feature that went away with the newer bridge (see newer bridges on past posts of the UKII and PF-22).
Yeah, it has been played, but not much. There's hardly any wear on the frets (and STELLAR fretwork BTW). There are a few nicks and dings, but mostly on the back side edge. Nothing major at all. The detail (I always called it a mustache) at the end of the fretboard is identical to my UKII and the PF-22, but maple instead of Ebony. They had this on most the electrics (Tornados too, but not on my '67, too early). It's also the same design on the end of the Custom Legend acoustics.
I never really had a desire for bursts before, weird that I seem to be getting nothing but bursts these days. Tastes change.
So, my review in a nutshell, plays like a T-60, sounds like a Tele. The thing plays amazing, I really like the fretboard (it is a separate piece from the neck). The BIG ASS knobs are great! 1 tone, 1 volume, and GO! I've always liked 2 volumes at least on a guitar, but these knobs are so easy to work with, adjustments are easy on the fly.
This guitar will never approach what my UKII can do, but it has a unique sound that's all it's own. Very twangy and tele like.
2 thumbs up. [:Y:] [:Y:] |
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March 2007
Posts: 843
Location: CA | Your taste in guitars may only be surpassed by your expertise with a camera. You're the first one who has triggered some primal thought in my brain which for the first time said, "you know, those old Vipers aren't THAT bad looking." Before this post, I always thought they looked a bit like embryonic Gibson Les Pauls or SGs that hatched out of the egg a few months too soon. Now, you know, they do kinda have an almost-cool look of their own . . . |
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Location: Boise, Idaho | That is one of the nicest Vipers I've seen. The only downside to your photography is that, if the guitar had any flaws, they'd show up. This one is in great shape. |
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Location: 6 String Ranch | That's a very nice and early one |
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Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | I always thought the Gibson Marauder was similar.
Looks aside, I think it's closer to a Tele. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | Randy, that sounds like the same diddy you did with the Tak. Nice
Yeah, 25 years. I bought the Preacher in '83, then shortly thereafter traded them back with some $ for the UKII. They never had the Viper at the store, but they had the brochures, then as we all know, they went away. I 've never had the chance to play one... till now. :D |
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December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Damon ,
Do you use a diffuser on your flash? Or do you adjust the 'temp'? Your interior pics always seem to have that warm/rich touch to 'em. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | Originally posted by Mauvais Beal:
That's a very nice and early one It is an early one it seems. First year of production maybe?
Didn't know until it showed up.
At first I was actually a bit bummed as I have the newer schaller bridges (they were made by schaller, right?) on the UKII and PF-22.
Now I've decided variety is good. I do a bunch of palm muting when I play, and this tailpiece assembly has a nice feel under the back side of my palm. It's like there's nothing but saddles there. The newer ones felt fine too, but you had the big slotted bolt screw head and the big chunk of metal housing that you could feel there too. Makes no difference really in playability, just feels a bit different.
I've been playing it all day, and all of last night. I did just spend the last 30 minutes on the Tornado though.
Beal, the UKII is still the best one ever. (reach that arm around again there buddy!) |
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Posts: 14127
Location: 6 String Ranch | Glad you like it, I pulled my shoulder out last time so I'll pass on that this time!
I think the earliest Vipers didn't have the name on the p/g. Then like yours, then the swirch was moved, then the bridges changed etc...
The bridge has adjustment whereas the Schallers don't, for what it's worth. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | I read it was the other way around, and that it was the later ones that the name was missing from the pickguard. I don't care really.
I didn't know the switch was moved. Now I need to find a picture of one.
As for the bridge angle adjustment screw, I have yet to find out how that might benefit me. I haven't tinkered with it yet. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | From Paul's UK site:
"It was fitted with a pair of single coil pickups, with single volume and tone controls, and a three way selector switch.. [choice of bridge, neck or both pickups.] The neck pickup was set at an angle It had a large pickguard, which included these controls, and earlier models had the name Viper engraved on it."
Doesn't really matter honestly. I bought it not knowing it's vintage.
I see why the switch was moved though. I keep knocking it. |
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September 2006
Posts: 10777
Location: Keepin' It Weird in Portland, OR | That IS a real purdy guitar... Thanx Damon, that might cure My Viper GAS for awhile!
I keep seeing Viper's, and I keep considering putting a Snipe in on one! 
Then I look at the solid-body Washburn sitting on the stand that I rarely play...
Eventually I will get one... Just like that one I hope! |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | Trade the strat and Delta in for a Viper and Tornado. I bet you they'll get played more.
Just pretend the model ends with a T ;) |
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November 2007
Posts: 125
Location: UK | Sweet guitar. Difficult to tell from the photos [great photos] but the body does look to be slab, as a tele, rather than later one that were more contoured, as a strat. I also thought that it was the earlier guards had the name.
Any way, whatever, it's a beaut of a guitar in great condition. Plays as well as it looks.
Great aquisition. |
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December 2006
Posts: 6995
Location: Jet City | It's a slab, plays great, and I'm VERY happy with it.
Funny though, I was drawn to the Tornado all weekend. |
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"The serpent beguiled me, and I ate"...