Leaderboard

I purchased a ZAD900CE OM back in February. Well, my ZAD900CEOM 50th Anniversary edition arrived a week later. I opened the case with anticipation, knowing how online guitar purchases can sometimes be disappointing. But I had high hopes for this one, based on the advertising, articles, and testimonials. Before even taking it out of the case, I strummed across the strings, and wow! Even surrounded by the damping of the case, it sounded incredible! I've owned a Martin HD-35 in the past, and I have to say, in my opinion, this matches or even exceeds that guitar! I've always loved a deeper response, which was why I went for the 35. This guitar not only has that lower response, but it's also a powerhouse! It's absolutely beautiful, and I couldn't be more pleased. The playability is outstanding, and it's easy on my older finger joints. I’m amazed at how slick, smooth, and fast the neck is. Can you tell I’m excited? You need to get this guitar in the hands of some bluegrass pickers! This will be my keeper, my ‘legacy’ guitar.Moreover, the built-in electronics the Aura system delivers a clear, natural amplified sound, making it perfect for both practice and performance. I have received numerous compliments on the guitar's appearance and sound at gigs. It's a candy for the eyes! Thank you so much, Zager, for creating such a wonderful instrument! It has truly enhanced my playing experience.

All valid reasons for wanting small and portable, I have been through this exact process (except for the storage space issue) but you will have to accept the compromise: If you want the compact shape for easy storing and carrying then the Ibanez is out, it is a full size standard guitar. If the Ibanez is acceptable due to it's increased playability, which I wholeheartedly agree with, then you can choose any standard size model. Sitting and playing on the sofa will be much nicer than on the travel guitar. I also have back issues so I have moved back to guitar from bass. I went round loads of the shops with a set of scales to find the lightest I could. Different guitars in the same model range weight surprisingly different. Ended up with a Squier telecaster at 3kg. In the end I just built my own Esquire guitar out of the parts using an even lighter body from eBay (made out of paulownia) and stripped the parts off my Squier. Weights just under 2.3 kg. You could do the same and literally chop off the cutaways, or drill holes through it etc to save more weight as well as using lightweight tuners and hardware and discarding superfluous extras. I have also played gigs seated on a bar stool to relieve pressure on my back - I felt a bit silly but no one commented. If weight is the main requirement for a new guitar then the traveller skeleton type guitars are possibly the best option, but none have the pickup requirement you need. What about something even more cut back like the Aria Sinsonido or Yamaha Silent guitar type thing? Or maybe a Danelectro? My Vintage ZIP les paul juniors are a completely hollow sandwich in the Danelectro style and weight less than 2.5kg. A decent gig bag with shoulder straps is really convenient to travel with in city centre and spread most of the weight across the shoulders so I don't think standard size is an issue. The Donner model you indicate also doesn't have a neck pickup, it has a strat type middle pickup and a bridge humbucker which still won't give you the sound of a neck humbucker. You could always add another pickup in the neck on any of the models but it would add weight. Plus (and not wanting to start any argument...) How much would you actually use 2 pickups? You can do a lot with just the tone knob or EQ on amp or an EQ pedal. I never have a problem getting a fatter clean sound or a spiky lead sound using presets on my multi effects with just one pickup on my tele. As you will know from your jazz bass, balancing pickup outputs is an art and often the EQ setting that sound good on one pickup sound terrible with the other. I would suspect that many people find one general sound and stick with that, just changing it up with the controls on the guitar (like I do) or by using EQ, pedals or presets. Ultimately, it would be up to you to consider which compromise you are willing to accept or not.

an amp modeller, not a guitar modeller - I would need a neck pickup for exactly the same reason that someone playing into an amp might want one. The ability to switch pickups would be a big plus within the duo too, for moving between rhythm picking parts and solos or leads

The primary reasons for going for a compact option are: - I live in a limited space which already houses a number of instruments, and I want something I can easily store away. - I want something I can happily sit and pluck away at on the sofa without having to weild around a big heavy body. - I want something lightweight for longer standing gigs as I play a LOT on my jazz bass and it takes a real toll on my back. - I live in a city centre, and while I do drive, many of my gigs will be me walking to the venue or travelling by tram with my guitar, modeller, mic and stand plus cables, so a smaller and/or lighter unit is a benefit. I'd considered the blackstar but no neck pickup is a no go for the sounds I want unfortunately. Funny you mention a strat - my MIM was a brill guitar which I unfortunately had to sell a while ago to fund a house move, but I want something now with humbuckers ideally. The locking tuners thing certainly isnt a must for me, it's just a preference as I end up restringing on the move a lot, and across all my instruments it becomes tedious far too easily. The difference in playability with a compact guitar is my biggest fear, which was why the Ibanez stood out to me.

I don't know the song concerned (and I'm a drummer, so...), but I tried this and barre the 12fret 'G' and 'B' strings, so never get an open 'G'. I used only upstrokes (no pick; I never knew how to use 'em...), and use the Ring finger to alternate between the B-15 and the G-14. I can't get stupid fast (did I say that I'm a drummer..?, but it sounds clean to me. Not sure if this helps at all.