any audiophile guitarists out there?

I never used pedals until the Line six M-13 came out. The overdrive is still crap.... but the chorus and delay are surprisingly decent. Keep in mind this is over a heavily overdriven Bogner amp so.... YMMV.

I mostly use a Rivera Clubster, which sounds pretty decent, is very versatile, includes user friendly footswitching, and was reasonably inexpensive on the used market.

My main guitars are an inexpensive, entry level US Tele fitted with Joe Barden's "Danny Gatton" Pickups, a Veillettte Elan (a great piezo set-up), a Rick Turner Model One (the Lindsey Buckingham guitar with piezo, active electonics, one rotating magnetic pup at the neck), A Henman Bevelaqua S-1 (bolt neck, long scale, twin humbucker mashup with killer WCRs), and a half dozen or so archtops of varying design.

Pedals are like Capitalism. They suck, but they're better than anything else. Sometime you need that trem, or chorus...

Marty

BTW,

I agree that the Swart amps are great. When I decide to invest a few bucks in an amp, there's a great chance that Swart's the way I'll go.

Marty

Marty,

That S-1 is expensive. I have a PRS McRosey on hold.

Tabl,

Like the Turner, it's among the more expensive solid body guitars out there, but both are really unique instruments. OTOH, I have a neighbor with a Teuffel, and the price tag on that thing makes the H-B and Turner look like budget models. Also, I bought the Turner used and the S-1 was a demo, so I didn't take the full hit on either. No regrets on either purchase and I would definitely buy both again if I had to.

PRS also makes also a great instrument and, alas, some at the higher end of their line have a pretty stiff price tag, too. A colleague of mine has a bunch of 'em and he just keeps going back for more. In fact, he recently invited me to their annual September bash in Maryland (IIRC) where a bunch of high profile PRS players - including Carlos Santana - have been known to drop by. Not sure if I can make it yet, but I hope to.

The PRS stuff is certainly beautiful looking.and I'd love a chance to really get to know the guitars. Even though my own experience is minimal, I'm pretty sure you'll dig yours. Congrats on the new addition.

Marty

PS Don't even think about looking at archtops. Those are in a different neighborhood altogether.