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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Would someone please clue me in as to the +s and -s of a single pup Ultra GS? Also, a realistic price range would be appreciated.
I did a search here and elsewhere but not much info available, ergo the post... |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | Neg:
Plywood body
Simple finish (no wood)
proprietary parts (non interchangable or upgradable)
Mediocre sound
Plus:
Dependable for price level
available for under $300
Not known to exist by most others |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Thanx Woody! 
I just noticed your 'solid body' link in your sig line. DOH... |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I don't think I'd pay much over $100 for an Ultra GS 1, but I'm cheap. Probably the most valuable part on a II or III would be the Kahler Flyer bridge. I don't know if any of the GS Is came with them.
I can't judge the quality of the sound on any electric. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | Mine are all different.
The GS1 has the Korean (I think) trem bridge, GS2 Kahler Flyer and GS3 the fulcrum type.
The GS1 is very simple but to me nice to play.
I agree with Mark I think $100/$150.
AJ |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I'm sorry but I have to disagree with a few points here.
- Plywood body... so what. It's solid with a nice paint job, and not all were plywood.
- Dimarzio pickups or pickup in this case.
- And either a Kahler Flyer or Wilkinson style (I think Schaller) fulcrum that is better quality than on any strat JMHO.
- Schaller tuners.
- The bodies and necks were made in Korea, but they were assembled in Moosup Connecticut.
No particular proprietary parts that I know of, except they used an odd 5-position switch on the GS3's.
I guess it's good that people don't realize the value of these guitars and you can get them for between 100-300, but I have seen them sell higher to people that appreciate a good, reliable guitar. The parts are easily worth more than $300.
As to the original question.. the only weak point in the 16 (last count) GS's I have, is the wood used on the neck. If the neck is straight now, it will remain that way, but they were inconsistant. Warped necks were really the only downside I have seen in any of them, and only a few at that.
So bottom line. An Assembled in the USA Guitar made with Dimarzio pickups, Schaller and Kahler hardware with a more interesting body than most any of the other Strat clones out there then or now.
FWIW I have stripped two over the years only to find solid wood bodies, NOT plywood, and I have one in a burst finish, and I have seen a natural.
So plywood, was not the 100% rule.
You can check out the configurations on my collection site, but essentially they came in 1, 2 and 3 pickups (GS1, GS2, and GS3) and any of them could have a Kahler Flyer or Wilkenson bridge.
In the last year or so of production, some of the single pickup models got a Korean Kahler-like bridge. It's actually a pretty nice bridge that in some ways is better than the flyer, but not as good as a Kahler Pro.
And.. almost forgot.. most importantly, they came with really cool cases.
One thing I'm not sure of is on the GS1 is the single pickup. The single Dimarzio Humbucker I have seen them with the SIngle DS pickup, but also with an X2N. I thought initially the X2N was a mod someone made, but then I found two others I had, had X2N's on them. The GS1 is a pure heavy rock guitar. A humbucker with a volume control. What more do ya need. Simple and to the point. |
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Joined:
November 2007
Posts: 125
Location: UK | Miles has it there.....
Very much undervalued instruments, it has to be a very special one to reach $100 on ebay. A case where the parts are worth more than a functioning instrument in prime condition. I've had a few and enjoyed them all, I recall a particularly cream GS3 that was a beauty.... |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | Very simply, if you wanted to build one, or something very similar.. these prices are average. You might pay a little more for one part, a little less for another...
Body $75.00
Neck $75.00
Pickguard $50.00
Pickups $100 (gs3)
Kahler $100.00
Tuners $50
We're up to $450 and haven't even assembled it, got a nut, screws, switches or a case yet.
Yeah, I'd say they are undervalued just a little. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I sit corrected and will do my pennance at the OFC Gathering, i.e. wash dishes, pick up beer cans and separate the US from the Canadian, etc.
Just don't let everyone else know about these treasures... |
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Joined:
December 2006
Posts: 6268
Location: Florida Central Gulf Coast | Miles, ,
WOW, excellent write up! Thanx! |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | I forgot that there were a couple of really nice ones on ebay that went for $300 to $500 recently. One had a fancy pickguard and I think both had the stock cases. Very good condition models still bring some decent money. Neither of mine are in great shape and neither had the cases.
I was surprised when Mike said they were plywood, since I've had the neck off the GS2 and the guts out of the GS3 and I thought both were solid, but I wasn't really checking. |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13997
Location: Upper Left USA | I chose speed over accuracy. Sometimes it brings out right answers... :rolleyes: |
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Joined:
December 2001
Posts: 7247
Location: The Great Pacific Northwest | I don't want to mislead, some ARE indeed plywood. Some aren't.
I think some of the negative opinion at the time came from their weight and inconsistency. It was bad enough that everyone had a Strat clone, but these models should have flown, and indeed it seems there are a lot out there.
But now it's 20 years later. If you find a nice one, if they hadn't had any issues yet, they probably won't.
My favorite is a GS3 I have in white. I upgraded the Kahler Flyer to a Kahler Pro and it's a fantastic guitar. |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | My first GS came from Paul UK.
The Blue GS1 pictured on his Ovation UK website is mine.
AJ |
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Joined:
June 2007
Posts: 3084
Location: Brisbane Australia | An interesting thing to note if you visit his site and check out the GS specs.
Here
That the list price of a GS3 was $470 and the Ultra GP was $390.
Look at the price difference now!!! :eek:
AJ |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12761
Location: Boise, Idaho | Shows you what a little hype will do. |
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? for 'O' Solid Body Xperts...