ErnestHernandez
Joined: Jun 16, 2008
Posts: 597
The Alamo City, TX
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Posted on Jul 20 2008 10:12 AM
Okay, I've read past posts on this forum regarding DiPinto guitars...how about an update.
Who on this board is actively using one in a surf band? Which model?
What do you like or don't like about the guitars.
I am currently trying to connect with a G4 and will post some of my takes after I get some of your takes.
— https://kingpelican.bandcamp.com/
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RumorsofsurF
Joined: Mar 10, 2007
Posts: 286
Margaritaville, OR
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Posted on Jul 20 2008 01:55 PM
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EricB
Joined: Dec 16, 2007
Posts: 193
Newport, RI
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Posted on Jul 20 2008 04:55 PM
While not purely surf, the band I'm in now does a few instrumental surf originals and covers. I've got 3 Mach IV's, one of which has DiPinto's "surf" tremolo (basically a Jag/Jazz type without the lock button) and coil tapping on the bridge humbucker (not an honest to goodness humbucker, rather, it's two seperately wired single coils right next to each other).
With the coil tap activated and strung with flats, it definately gets a good "surf' sound through my Dual Showman and reverb unit. There's some minor cosmetic issues regarding a couple of small areas on the back of the guitar where the gold flake in the finish doesn't look evenly distributed, but I like the sound and feel of the guitar a lot. The tremolo feels a bit stiffer than the tremolo on my Jaguar, but I'd imagine switching the spring would take care of that. For songs where there's double picking like crazy, it feels more solid to me playing it on the DiPinto than the Jag for some reason.
That's my 2 cents. When I think about it, probably half of my small number of posts on here are talking about my DiPintos, so I might be a bit favorably biased. I really like those guitars.
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Bustercat
Joined: Apr 19, 2008
Posts: 120
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Posted on Jul 20 2008 06:01 PM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZTWvAMIRq0
They don't seem fragile.
How does the tuning hold up after trem use?
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groucho26
Joined: Jan 23, 2007
Posts: 111
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Posted on Jul 20 2008 09:03 PM
Bustercat - I LOVE your avatar - is that really Moe Howard?!
I will once again stand up for DiPinto guitars - I have had a Los Straitjackets Galaxie 4 model for the past 2 years, and still very much like it - it has some sounds that I cannot duplicate with my other guitars (a thin-skin 07 Fender JM and a Tokai reissue Hummingbird). I have had no problems with dependability or quality - I will admit that I have not used it heavily, as I do not play in a band currently. As pointed out, they do seem to do pretty well for LS live on stage - BTW be sure to check out their live show on DVD; it's very cool.
I especially like the individual switches ("buttons") for each of the four pickups on this guitar - it is very convenient for a number of cool sounds. I normally use the 1 and 4 combination, but noticed on the LS DVD that Danny Amis uses the 2 & 3 combo most often, so I'm looking forward to experimenting more there. 
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groucho26
Joined: Jan 23, 2007
Posts: 111
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Posted on Jul 20 2008 09:06 PM
I should add since Bustercat brought it up - the trem works just as well as any other Fender JM/Jag type I have used - the guitar stays in tune quite well when the strings are broken in. 
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Bustercat
Joined: Apr 19, 2008
Posts: 120
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Posted on Jul 20 2008 09:37 PM
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seafoam_johnny
Joined: Jul 27, 2007
Posts: 1099
4 faces. (Where the buffalo roam)
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Posted on Jul 20 2008 09:42 PM
Bustercat
it is indeed moe!
image
Thanks for the new desktop Buster. Love it!! 
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P2gee
Joined: Jul 05, 2006
Posts: 264
Waco Texas
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Posted on Jul 20 2008 10:55 PM
I finally acquired me a Galaxie IV about 4 months ago. Some folks on this forum seem to bag on them quite a bit, but I feel it is a pretty decent guitar for 5 bills. Pretty cool and unique sounding all PU settings with very good
hardware and finish. It did tend to go out of tune pretty easy when I first got it, especially when givin it the whammy. Now after playing for it about 4 months it seem to have settle in a bit and hold it's tune well no matter what I do. Once again ,for the bucks, pretty hard to beat IMHO.
— 2012-2013: FILTHY POLAROIDS
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marquee6
Joined: Feb 10, 2008
Posts: 109
West Los Angeles
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Posted on Jul 21 2008 12:24 AM
I ordered a Galaxie 4 in the Pink glitter, I can't wait to get it. It could very well be here when I get home from work later today. Has any body seen the pink glitter in real life? I chose that color cuz it lookes like the same color of Banana seat I had on my bike when i was a kid in the 70's. The seat was more of a purple than pink, I suppose I will find out soon enough.
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groucho26
Joined: Jan 23, 2007
Posts: 111
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Posted on Jul 21 2008 06:43 PM
I notice that Moe uses the "Normal" channel on his DR - ironic, doncha think?
It's also cool that someone actually thought to plug in the guitars - not the usual MO for publicity photos like this one.
marquee6 - be sure to post a pic of your pink glitter Galaxie!
groucho26
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tommyalvarado
Joined: Jan 03, 2008
Posts: 512
Delaware, USA
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Posted on Jul 21 2008 09:05 PM
I've never owned a DiPinto, but I've played a bunch of them at DiPinto's store in Philadelphia, and they seem to be fine instruments, in my opinion. Fit and finish on the ones I've seen have been very good, maybe a few "glitter voids" here and there, but still very nice.
I've also noticed that the ones I've played (all Galaxie models) are all set up very nicely "out of the box". Is that because they're being sold through the owner's own outlet? Maybe, but I'd like to think they all come out of the box ready to play. And they sound good, too. They use imported parts, but I've bought some of the pickups directly from Chris for some of my Vox projects, and I've been extremely happy with them.
If I were in the market for a new, non-traditional surf guitar, DiPinto would certainly be among the top few on my list.
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Abe
Joined: Mar 12, 2008
Posts: 1237
Bay Area
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Posted on Jul 21 2008 09:09 PM
Bustercat
it is indeed moe!
image
Cool Indeed! I like that kit.
— The Deadbeats
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IvanP
Joined: Feb 27, 2006
Posts: 10331
southern Michigan
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Posted on Jul 21 2008 09:38 PM
Bustercat
it is indeed moe!
image
Did you notice that this DR doesn't have a logo and the grille cloth looks gray rather than silver sparkle? It must be one of the very earliest blackface models, maybe even a prototype.
Ivan
— Ivan
Lords of Atlantis on Facebook
The Madeira Official Website
The Madeira on Facebook
The Blair-Pongracic Band on Facebook
The Space Cossacks on Facebook
The Madeira Channel on YouTube
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EricB
Joined: Dec 16, 2007
Posts: 193
Newport, RI
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Posted on Jul 21 2008 11:08 PM
Bustercat
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZTWvAMIRq0They don't seem fragile.
How does the tuning hold up after trem use?
Every bit as well as it does on my CIJ jag, which is to say, just fine. I should note that the bridge requires less fussing with than the jag/jazzy style, it's one of those tun-o-matic style ones with rollers that the strings go over, so you can't adjust the height of the individual saddles. As someone with Mustang saddles on his Jaguar, this doesn't bother me on the DiPinto.
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badash
Joined: Aug 18, 2006
Posts: 1732
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Posted on Jul 22 2008 11:01 AM
Bustercat
it is indeed moe!
image
Poor Larry. Even with guitars he gets the short end of the stick...
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big_papu
Joined: May 17, 2006
Posts: 657
Buenos Aires
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Posted on Jul 22 2008 12:19 PM
badash
Bustercat
it is indeed moe!
image
Poor Larry. Even with guitars he gets the short end of the stick...
jajajajajajajajajajajajajaja
you are right !! 
— El Papu & los Fantasticos Reverberantes
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gusto
Joined: Sep 22, 2006
Posts: 234
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Posted on Jul 25 2008 02:52 AM
I just got back from The Los Straightjackets show (with Big Sandy), what a performance. Anyway talked a bit about gear with Daddy and his Squire that was on ebay. His DePinto sold me, im buying one next week, Eddie Angel was getting some really weird sounds with those switches.
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Mrgreen
Joined: Jun 20, 2007
Posts: 351
Toronto, ON
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Posted on Jul 26 2008 02:43 PM
Whoa they suddenly cost like $200 more on the DiPinto website, what happened?
EDIT: Ah I see, that's the list price but the normal price on any online DiPinto dealer is still about $565.
— Augusto Vite
www.facebook.com/carne.y.cosas
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Richard
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Posts: 1683
Georgia
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Posted on Jul 28 2008 05:22 PM
I had a Mach IV and liked it quite a bit, but it had no trem. The "double-single" in the bridge was pretty rough sounding compared to a Fender single coil in my opinion. I decided it was one more guitar than I could use and sold it, but if I could conjure up a reason I'd buy another one.
— The Mystery Men?
El Capitan and The Reluctant Sadists
SSS Agent #31
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