Treading Dangerous Waters

[MarcWink]

Well, I’m out of work on emergency medical leave for a bit following an unexpected surgical procedure on Friday. All is well with my health now, just in the recovery period, but of course, the GAS has struck! I’m now debating whether I want to pull the trigger on an S2 594 SC, an S2 Custom 24-08, or a swamp ash CE-24-08. While I really dig the look of the CE-24-08 in Red Apple and Metallic Midnight, I’ve got the same exact electronics layout with my 35th Anniversary Custom 24. I’ve always been intrigued by the TCI pickups that now come in the S2 24-08, and I regret parting ways with my previous S2 594 SC that I had upgraded to 58/15LT TCI and core pots and selector. It’s a tough choice, but a good one to have. For what it’s worth, there are no dealers near me that have any of the models I’m eyeballing in stock, so this will be yet another Sweetwater order

 

[dmatthews]

Shopping is fun!
Hope your rehab goes well and quickly!

 

[sergiodeblanc]

Spend it before those medical bills suck it all up.

 

[MarcWink]

Spend it before those medical bills suck it all up.

Happily I have awesome insurance through work...being a government employee does have some perks. As for the fiddles, I think I'm leaning more into an S2 24-08 or S2 594 SC.

 

[DISTORT6]

Well, it sure wasn’t a G.A.S.ectomy
Feel better!

 

[bodia]

Here's to a speedy recovery and some good shoppin!

 

[Headset]

Hope you heal up quickly! I’d go for the S2 594 or swamp ash ce-24 in metallic midnight.

 

[Moondog Wily]

Best wishes on a quick recovery! As for the waters you are swimming in, I am not a lifeguard but I do play one on TV, so my advice is to get one of each that you are considering and return the ones you don't like ;~))

 

[MarcWink]

Best wishes on a quick recovery! As for the waters you are swimming in, I am not a lifeguard but I do play one on TV, so my advice is to get one of each that you are considering and return the ones you don't like ;~))

That’s a lot of boxes to try to hide from the household CFO

 

[aamefford]

Depending on the surgery, the gas usually abates in a couple days. As for your decision tree, I like S2’s and double cut guitars.

 

[Glide-bpm]

Prayers for a speedy recovery and great shopping!

 

[MarcWink]

And now after browsing reverb and Sweetwater, the NF 53 has entered the fray. It definitely looks like an interesting instrument that would for sure do things tone wise that none of my other fiddles do.

 

[gush]

Spend it before those medical bills suck it all up.

Or wait till disability insurance decides to stop jacking you around and actually send you a check which will take weeks.

 

[RedGuitars]

I have a 35th 24 and a bolt on CE Swampie won’t duplicate that. Go for it. The 35th (Siggy Ltd) switching is the best since McSwitching.

 

[MarcWink]

I have a 35th 24 and a bolt on CE Swampie won’t duplicate that. Go for it. The 35th (Siggy Ltd) switching is the best since McSwitching.

I know that the CE swampie will be a little brighter/snappier sounding, but I’m still concerned that the overall tone with the 85/15 TCI pickups will be super similar to my 10th anniversary S2 Custom 24 and my 35th 24 Core. I suppose I could always swap the pickups given the price point of the CE…and I do really dig the Midnight Metallic finish on the open grain ash body…and I’ve never had a fiddle with an ash body before.

 

[MarcWink]

And over a month later, I’m still on the fence about what to do…and one a couple other things have popped onto my radar screen, namely a Fiore, NF 53, and American Ultra II HSS Strat. Then again, I could always get the CE 24-08 Swampie and swap the 85/15 for an \m/ bridge and 57/08 neck though I’m not sure whether those pickups would work with the 24-08 wiring .

 

[Headset]

I have a Fiore and think it’s a great compliment to my custom 24. If you want a floating two point bridge, maple fretboard, single coils, etc. I would definitely recommend checking one out

 

[watelessness]

phew. glad you're not looking at the one i want.

 

[MarcWink]

I have a Fiore and think it’s a great compliment to my custom 24. If you want a floating two point bridge, maple fretboard, single coils, etc. I would definitely recommend checking one out

Are the saddle height adjustment grub screws on the Fiore as nasty as they are on Vintage spec Strats if you're someone that does a lot of palm muting (like me)?

 

[Alnus Rubra]

Are the saddle height adjustment grub screws on the Fiore as nasty as they are on Vintage spec Strats if you're someone that does a lot of palm muting (like me)?

I’ll let you decide -