@@ethanewing263 I got gold knobs, switch bezel, and jack on a headless model. But it is way more than that, these guys all play and are very knowledgeable, so you tell them what you are looking for and they can work with you to make sure they order what you really want. A lot of the regret I see comes from people assuming how something would work or look like, and when they get it, they come online to bitch and whine. Since working with Chris, both my axes were exactly what I wanted, and I am still extremely happy with them. One of them is my daily goto, even though she is also my studio queen.
Kiesel DC700 review. I own a second hand DC700, built 2019. It is my first and only Kiesel. Overall it is a good guitar but there are certain things that made me decide not to order a DC700 new built. First briefly the specs: - Neckthrough ash body with flamed maple top - 5 piece maple neck with two black limba stripes - Thinner neck profile - 25.5 inch - Flamed maple fretboard - 20 inch fretboard radius - Jumbo stainless steel frets - Hipshot trem - No toneknob, 1 volume, 5-way switch - 9-54 set strings, standard tuning B-E Then here my (short) review: Main pro’s: - It is a resonant guitar with a pleasant sound - Tonewoods are good quality - Very smooth neck - No string trees needed - Fretwork seems good - Bright luminlay side dots - Good balance, no neckdive - Nut has a good cut - Firm amd straight pickup installment - Copper shieldings - Built-in threads for electronic cover plate screws. - Electronic cover plate is built inside of the body and not on top of the body giving it a flat surface with the body. Main con’s: - The guitar has too much fretbuzz for my liking. My Ibanez Iron Label 7-string made in Indonesia that I sold had less buzz. It could be that the first owner of my Kiesel didn’t had these issues, because he got the guitar brand new straight from the Kiesel factory with their factory setup. Maybe the problems started along the way. Perhaps the previous owner did not took care of it? I did my best to give the guitar its best setup but still a bit buzzy - The neckwidth is wider than the standard 1.889inch/48mm. It is 1.91inch/48,5mm. That difference might not be a big deal on a 6-string, but on a 7-string… yeah, it makes a difference! Especially with a flatter radius and jumbo frets. Before I got this guitar I tried to find information about the nut width but nothing can be found on their website when it comes to 7-string nut width. Also I asked Jeff Kiesel one time in his livestream and surprisingly enough he did not the nut width by heart. I wished Kiesel would present all the information on their website. - Body is quite big - Playability is not that better than my Ibanez Iron Label 7-string, made in Indonesia. That took me a bit by suprise because you hear these laudable stories that Kiesel plays super comfortable and better than any other guitar. You have to take that story with a grain of salt. - The whammy bar is heavy and very sensitive. The moment you grab it the tone immidiately goes out of pitch. Also very hard to make subtle vibrations. The Ibanez Edge trems are much better giving you much more control. - The whammy bar is very high off the body, like a miles away - The trem block inside the body has 6 holes, to put in the spring ends, instead of 5. This gives an unbalance by default in setting up the springs. - No built-in threads for the tremolo cover plate screws. - The tremolo cover plate is mounted on top of the body instead of inside the body like the electronic cavity cover. I see no valid reason why they do this. It will not touch the springs if you built it right so that cannot be the reason. - the opening of the truss rod is wide in the upper half and normal in the lower. This is very inconvenient if you want to insert the key to adjust your truss rod. Last is that the locking tuners are okay but I prefer the Gotoh lockers that Ibanez uses. They are lighter and also the tuner pins cannot come of. Conclusion is that I will not buy a DC again. Maybe an Aries? Then I hope the nut width is 1.889 inch. Also I’d like to have the option to choose a 25 inch scale length and that is currently unavailable.
Body being big is such a dealbreaker for the DC imo. Like it's the Ibanez body is much better when you sit down while the DC feels full sized like a Fender Strat but with longer horns.
@@MaestroJericho thanks for reading my post, Jericho. Yes, you’re absolutely right. It also automatically makes the guitar heavier. A big body only makes sense if you’re a big guy a la Zakk Wylde, but for normal mortals we prefer a smaller size a la Nuno Bettencourt Washburn or Ibanez RG
Bolt-on neck-through you know what man I have a Les Paul Modern with the scooped back and without it I don't think I can easily solo because my hands are not that big. Depends on the guitar but I like the feel of neck-through.
I had some minor regrets on my first Kiesel build but none of them are deal breakers. I ordered a satin finish on my solid 1 piece Black limba body, a trem for the headless and medium jumbo frets. The guitar is still amazing so I'm not too bummed but i just placed a order for a new guitar. Tung oil finish this time so the wood will pop, Jumbo frets and no trem. Its tough to choose sometimes.
@@michaelask9018 the Black limba body is incredible. I have it on both my Kiesel's. Neck for both is a 5 piece walnut & purple heart. highly recommend.
That thing about satin being a missed opportunity on that awesome top is the exact same thing I thought the first time you showed this guitar on a video. I feel the same, nothing beats gloss with highly figured tops.
Opinion, but nothing beats a gloss finish in general. I see satin finishes wearing out very quickly. I don't see why anybody would want one but again to each their own
@@beefnacos6258 I have a Carvin from around 2010 that has satin finish on it, still looks great. But I also have an Ibanez HR Geiger RG that the satin has turned glossy everywhere my hands touch it. The Carvin gets considerably more play time. So I would say it depends on what exact finish is used for the clear coat, a tougher finish will hold up better. The major appeal for me is that it doesn't show fingerprints nearly as bad as gloss. So with that in mind my vote is if it's a dark color over figured wood, go gloss, if it's a dark color painted finish, go satin, light colors can go either way.
Team bolt-on here... Throughout the years I've dealt with snapped headstocks, twisted necks and tapped out truss rods... When that happens with a neck-thru, your options become very limited if you want to save the guitar.
Great playing and informative vid, Thomas! I agree with you in that Kiesel is the way to go for "made to order guitars"! You asked for opinions...so here goes: If you run a "Floyd"--and Kiesel offers the German unit--you won't have a problem with string resonance in "hi-gain". To my eye, the problem with your finish is the translucent color the top is covered with--just too DARK! Bolt-ons RULE!! Sustain and "Snap" properly balanced! Live and Learn...
I’m a total medium jumbo fret guy…I cannot play a guitar if the frets feel like I’m sliding over railroad tracks…fender med jumbo are perfect for me…it’s quite funny how we all have different likes and dislikes…rock on my man 😎
Speaking purely in terms of design: I love the look of neck-through guitars finished entirely in a solid color, including the neck. It gives the illusion that the whole guitar is one continuous piece of wood. Of course then you have the problem of a (usually) glossy neck. Otherwise you have that artificial border painted between the neck and body, which ruins the continuous look. I'd rather just have a bolt-on with an actual natural border between colors.
my mantra is it's not cheating if it sounds good. Everything is a tool. Same philosophy applies to fret wraps, as it does for picks, capo or anything else that helps you play better like strap or footstand. Nothing is cheating guitar is not a competition with rules.
Absolutely. I got a Schecter C-1 FR Platinum that has a beautiful top, blood red color...dull satin finish. I taped off the pick-ups/rings, took the trem/knobs off then I got out a drill, used some car polishing pads I got off of Amazon and Meguiar's Ultimate compound to work the satin into a gloss, and then finished with the polish. You can make it more or less glossy with more or less polishing, but it shines right up. An hour or two and you've got a new, glossy finish!
I’m firmly on team Bolt-On too. Neckthru guitars feel really stiff to me for some reason. Maybe it’s the neck angle, or rather the lack of neck angle that bugs me. I could also be team set-neck, because I really like a set-neck. The only Carvin (Kiesel, for us old guys) is a CT4C from about 2008. Love that guitar.
I didn't recognize you with the short hair and now that you are a grown up. I started playing hair guitar in 1985 when I was 15. Big Vai fan and saw your electronic presser for Bad4Good. I was pretty amazed to see such young guys sounding so tight. Haven't looked yet, but if you don't have it on your channel, you should get it. Nineteen and Nothin' great about a heartbreak were excellent. 2 👍👍 to you guys.
That clean tone low E string was hitting so hard 😍 bass for days lol. Black & Gold Delos is my favorite of yours. Loving these video's. Hope when your done going through your collection you continue the series with other guitars.
i prefer neck thrue for the style but the problem is if you break the neck it may be dificult to repair the guitar then with a bolt on guitar you can just change the neck and dont have to buy a new guitar
In theory a neckthrough can break, but how many times does it really occur? I think we don’t have to be too worried about that. Many bolt ons can break too, all depending on how the neck is built and the way you treat it
In theory a neckthrough can break, but how many times does it really occur? I think we don’t have to be too worried about that. Many bolt ons can break too, all depending on how the neck is built and the way you treat it
Send it to a pro and have it sanded and re-cleared with gloss. I have many weeks left waiting for my Kiesel. I went satin solid black w/ Jumbo frets. I was going crazy trying to pick a top and color so I went with a nice subdued look. I considered the med jumbos as well but didn't want to risk it and hearing your thoughts on them makes me happy I chose the jumbos. I'll go nuts next time with the finish. I've never had anything but flamed so thinking a nice quilt next time.
Yes Thomas I agree, no matte finish, and it's got to be a bolt on. I played neck through for over 30 and just a few years ago realized that bolt on is where it as far as playability and feel. And it's difficult to go back to medium jumbo once you have played jumbo.
Is there a reason people don't just use black foam pads under the stings at the headstock and under the springs in the trem? That's what I do and I have no need for my fret wrap anymore. The wrap still helps with sloppy playing tho but it covers the first fret and that bugs me.
What many people say about neck-thru is that they “have more sustain.” Ola England made a video on it testing it for that theory and any other possible differences. So, in HIS test, the bolt on actually sustained longer if I remember correctly. In my own preference, I usually go neck-thru if I want something for easier access on the heel for leads. However if I’m getting a guitar for rhythm like a 7 or 8 string, I tend to just go bolt on. Since it’s a cheaper option and I don’t spend as much time on the high notes as I do on lower in extended range guitars. Also, a neck-thru is usually much heavier.
Okay, but did Ola also leveled the same pickup height? Also did both guitars had the same string action, neck relief? Personally I don’t believe you can say by default that neckthrough or bolt-ons have more sustain. Same with weight of tonewoods, but that’s another but very interesting story as well. E.g. ash is a lightweight but many times ash can be heavy too. Same for basswood or poplar. And that also can affect the sustain even if both guitars are cut out of the same tree
@@chocolatecookie8571 you need to look up the video for yourself buddy I saw it months ago and am only referring to it. Not using it as a statement, just a reference. They were both Solar guitars same model, same pickups, the only difference was neck type. But again, you have to ask those questions on that video or Ola directly. All I can do is point reference.
@@chocolatecookie8571 and on the weight note, only thing I can say is I own an LTD Javier Reyes 208 bolt on mahogany. My buddy just bought the same guitar but the 608 model. Same woods but neck thru construction. Much much considerably heavier. That’s the only thing I’m basing my opinions off of. My personal experiences. Sure you can have many many more variables and in the end, for me it all just comes down to the heel is much more accessible on neck thru compared to bolt on depending on the joint.
It's funny, I also feel like I tend towards team bolt on, but every time I play a good neck through, I wonder why that is...🤔 I also have a guitar with a figured maple top with a satin finish, I totally thought it was going to be awesome, but every time I look at it I wish it looked crystal clear like lake ice instead of being somewhat hazy.
Awesome video Thomas! Hutch was using a fret warp on the 2nd fret on today's morning session stream.. lol.. Years ago i sometimes used to tie a sock around the neck to avoid those noises and to prevent open strings from ringing.. (Before the fret warp invention) But i found it also removed some of the over/undertones or whatever its called, and it made it sound a bit more sterile.. I dont think Blackmore or EVH used it, and i think not using it gives the player a more raw and human sound. But then again for someone like MAB and his double guitar, some sort of fret dampening is a must.
Actually prefer neck through. You can get a deeper cut on the top bout . I actually use the the upper range of the guitar in that area . Not quite as easy with bolt on style . However easier to deal with tragedy with a bolt on . Snappier too I believe.
Playing wise, as long as I can get high fret access, neck through or bolt on, I can play them back to back. Preferably? I’d go with bolt on because if it gets severely damaged, you might as well buy a new guitar after the price you’d pay for a good luthier and even then, it’s still limited. Besides that, great playing. I love my Kiesel 9 string. *Pinches sphenoid sinus for the playing a bass jokes, etc.*
I too, typically prefer bolt on necks for the purpose of modularity. I have one set neck electric (my PRS), but I've never owned a neck-through instrument. The idea of it does very much feel like trapeze act without a net. I've played a few, and they've typically very comfortable because the neck joint is no longer an issue. That's about the only, truly, measurable advantage they have over their counterparts. Not sure if I believe the hype about the sustain or total advantages it's claim to have. As far as the satin finish, I would've gone with a brighter color to get more contrast in the stains. The color you chose was still cool, but if you want the fame to really pop...
Team bolt on all the way they just feel snappier and more resonant. I know those terms can be just stupid buzz words that dont really mean much but having the neck through be that big mass of wood just feels deader in my hands. When plugging it in and putting a bunch of distortion on they both sound the same but in the room the feel and sound is definitely different.
I can tell you right now that the average player will absolutely choose a neck through over a bolt on any day. Feel free to jump in anybody? Every time I see threads or post everybody is talking about neck through guitars. Personally for me every single guitar I own is bolt on, so you know what I prefer.
I'm totally with you on the bolt on necks. I have neck throughs, set necks and of course bolt on's and I prefer the bolt on's. And yes.. I completely agree with you on the gloss. Right when i started watching this and saw this guitar, I literally said out loud.. man you know how awesome that flame top would look it was gloss and not satin.. Satin is cooler w solid colors, but even then I'm still a Gloss dude..
I should probly watch the whole vid first...🤣 but, is that the fishman triple play? I want to see YOU demo some things that can do. Team neck-thru here 🙋♂️ I THINK I notice more sustain. 🤷♂️ Also feel it gives a more expensive vibe. 🤔🤣 Not a make or break aspect though.
@@McRocklin I think it's one of those things where I have to play it to know how I feel about it. It certainly sounds awesome and looks good. I also have a preference for bolt on guitars as well. I started on one too & it's still my go to type of guitar.
My first Kiesel was a CL7 built for and owned by Chris Lechtford, the artist the model was named after. I regret selling it, but I absolutely love my Zeus M8.
@@McRocklin yessir. I use it in my band’s music video. Well built instrument that has traveled the world and literally been with me through life and death situations. ruclips.net/video/Rm1hka8mjfo/видео.html&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE
It's funny because I feel the exact opposite way you do about bolt on versus neck through for practically the same reasons. It's just what I'm used to, and there doesn't seem to be any distinct advantage for one versus the other. I personally like neck through because of the incredibly smooth transition from neck to body, but I get that bolt on has advantages like being able to change the neck, and also maintaining a thinner profile closer to the body. I think it's obvious there's no clear winner and it pretty much just boils down to personal preference
I choose bolt on every time but I cannot argue with how smooth the transitioning from the neck to the body is. I totally see how people prefer that. Rock on!
Neck throughs are much fuller in sound and tend to be a little warmer with added sustain and tend to eliminate the higher annoying frequencies.After playing a neck through and then returning to a bolt on the difference is huge.I prefer a neck through but I do enjoy my bolt ons as well.
Not with you on that mate!!,...... I ask why not a neck thru? I love the sustain and solid feel of the whole guitar. it really feels like I feel more of the guitar through my body. I have three that are neck through and two set necks, not a single bolt on , just an interesting thing I realized., Makes me wonder why Steve Vai uses bolt on's, neck changeability I suspect??
@@McRocklin bruh look this dude tryna scam me on here even when you directly replied to me before him 😂🤣😂🤣 gotta love youtube. Also Sir rock, you ever play Caparison?
I regret selling an early 90s Carvin DC727 7 string I bought used in 2006... tung oil Walnut body and one piece walnut neck, carvin active pickups, floyd rose, ebony fingerboard on quite a large neck profile. Unique sounding guitar...
Neck-through sustains more, but I find too much sustain to be problematic, actually. For a lot of songs, you want the note to naturally decay in a relatively normal amount of time. If you have a guitar with crazy long sustain, you just can't play that stuff. I have an Ibanez with a 59/JB combo and it had this problem, so I lowered the pickups quite a lot and added relief to the neck. Now it sounds a lot closer to a Gibson than the hot rod I had originally intended it to be. I originally tried just turning down the volume and that did help the note decay a little sooner, but it didn't sound good/right, so I lowered the pickups and added relief. It sounds better overall, anyway, and the relief is still incredibly low/flat. The guy who had this guitar before me was using NYXL 9s downtuned to D to play Alice In Chains, he said. I have no idea how he even played it. The strings were like flubber when I got it. He must have had the lightest touch ever.
Sustain is a balance thing for me, I don’t always want the longest sustaining guitar as lot of playing is very snappy, and percussive. So bolt on just works better for me. And it has more than enough sustain 👍🏻
Bolt on fan here. I have bolt ons that give me sustain for days. Also for me they seem to have more attack. The modern player would disagree though as most people seem to like satin finishes and through necks which I like neither
I love DCs but they don't suit me as much as the other shapes because I feel like the body's wider and I'm a short dude lol. I was shocked how much more an Aries suits me more due to the size of the body.
I agree. I have a DC and it’s quite big. Luckily I bought it second hand. That was my plan so I can try it out without losing the bank. Aries is a little smaller and lighter also
Im not a fan of neck through. Sure it looks slick and feels great. But if you like chunky rhythms bolt on just sounds better to my ears. Ive owned over 20 carvin guitars before becoming kiesel. I have an aries bolt on coming. Cant wait to be back in the family. great DC either way.
Huge fan of satin finishes, especially on the back of the neck. 😎 I've been known to take steel wool to glossy guitar necks, they play so much better after...
@@McRocklin You mean the Aries Titanium? I was kind of doubting that model because it has a 'sharp' bevel edge as opposed to a smooth transition, but your answer clarifies it for me. I will go with the Aries. Many thanks for your reply.
You’re honestly so underrated. I genuinely believe that you are one of the greatest guitarist of all time man!!! ❤️🤯 I’m happy we have you on here man!
@@rickdeckard1075 I was thinking underrated meant that they should be recognized by more people? That’s all I was trying to say. As you can tell, this is what I was trying to refer to when saying he is underrated. Why couldn’t you just tell me that what I said was incorrect and then agree with me that McRocklin should definitely have a bigger following than he currently has? Edit: What I said makes sense. I’ve looked it up. His subscriber count has a direct correlation to him being underrated to me. In my personal opinion he is underrated. The man should have millions!
![KSI - Thick Of It (feat. Trippie Redd) [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/At8v_Yc044Y/mqdefault.jpg)
Get your free School Of McRock toolkit schoolofmcrock.com
You can definitely have any luthier polish it to gloss and do a re-fret
I just love listening to what you create with a guitar. You, sir, are amazing. Thank you for what you give to anyone who will listen.
Hey Ed, wow thank you!! Appreciate it.
My biggest regret on my first Kiesel (DC600H), was not using a salesman. Shoutout to Chris Hong, for making my following two axes, they are amazing.
why? what do they offer if u aren't wanted a wood or finish not listed on the builder?
@@ethanewing263 I got gold knobs, switch bezel, and jack on a headless model. But it is way more than that, these guys all play and are very knowledgeable, so you tell them what you are looking for and they can work with you to make sure they order what you really want. A lot of the regret I see comes from people assuming how something would work or look like, and when they get it, they come online to bitch and whine. Since working with Chris, both my axes were exactly what I wanted, and I am still extremely happy with them. One of them is my daily goto, even though she is also my studio queen.
Ayee i had Chirs too! He helped me with some custom stuff too.
Kiesel DC700 review.
I own a second hand DC700, built 2019. It is my first and only Kiesel. Overall it is a good guitar but there are certain things that made me decide not to order a DC700 new built.
First briefly the specs:
- Neckthrough ash body with flamed maple top
- 5 piece maple neck with two black limba stripes
- Thinner neck profile
- 25.5 inch
- Flamed maple fretboard
- 20 inch fretboard radius
- Jumbo stainless steel frets
- Hipshot trem
- No toneknob, 1 volume, 5-way switch
- 9-54 set strings, standard tuning B-E
Then here my (short) review:
Main pro’s:
- It is a resonant guitar with a pleasant sound
- Tonewoods are good quality
- Very smooth neck
- No string trees needed
- Fretwork seems good
- Bright luminlay side dots
- Good balance, no neckdive
- Nut has a good cut
- Firm amd straight pickup installment
- Copper shieldings
- Built-in threads for electronic cover plate screws.
- Electronic cover plate is built inside of the body and not on top of the body giving it a flat surface with the body.
Main con’s:
- The guitar has too much fretbuzz for my liking. My Ibanez Iron Label 7-string made in Indonesia that I sold had less buzz. It could be that the first owner of my Kiesel didn’t had these issues, because he got the guitar brand new straight from the Kiesel factory with their factory setup. Maybe the problems started along the way. Perhaps the previous owner did not took care of it? I did my best to give the guitar its best setup but still a bit buzzy
- The neckwidth is wider than the standard 1.889inch/48mm. It is 1.91inch/48,5mm. That difference might not be a big deal on a 6-string, but on a 7-string… yeah, it makes a difference! Especially with a flatter radius and jumbo frets. Before I got this guitar I tried to find information about the nut width but nothing can be found on their website when it comes to 7-string nut width. Also I asked Jeff Kiesel one time in his livestream and surprisingly enough he did not the nut width by heart. I wished Kiesel would present all the information on their website.
- Body is quite big
- Playability is not that better than my Ibanez Iron Label 7-string, made in Indonesia. That took me a bit by suprise because you hear these laudable stories that Kiesel plays super comfortable and better than any other guitar. You have to take that story with a grain of salt.
- The whammy bar is heavy and very sensitive. The moment you grab it the tone immidiately goes out of pitch. Also very hard to make subtle vibrations. The Ibanez Edge trems are much better giving you much more control.
- The whammy bar is very high off the body, like a miles away
- The trem block inside the body has 6 holes, to put in the spring ends, instead of 5. This gives an unbalance by default in setting up the springs.
- No built-in threads for the tremolo cover plate screws.
- The tremolo cover plate is mounted on top of the body instead of inside the body like the electronic cavity cover. I see no valid reason why they do this. It will not touch the springs if you built it right so that cannot be the reason.
- the opening of the truss rod is wide in the upper half and normal in the lower. This is very inconvenient if you want to insert the key to adjust your truss rod.
Last is that the locking tuners are okay but I prefer the Gotoh lockers that Ibanez uses. They are lighter and also the tuner pins cannot come of.
Conclusion is that I will not buy a DC again. Maybe an Aries? Then I hope the nut width is 1.889 inch. Also I’d like to have the option to choose a 25 inch scale length and that is currently unavailable.
Body being big is such a dealbreaker for the DC imo. Like it's the Ibanez body is much better when you sit down while the DC feels full sized like a Fender Strat but with longer horns.
@@MaestroJericho thanks for reading my post, Jericho. Yes, you’re absolutely right. It also automatically makes the guitar heavier. A big body only makes sense if you’re a big guy a la Zakk Wylde, but for normal mortals we prefer a smaller size a la Nuno Bettencourt Washburn or Ibanez RG
I think that guitar looks awesome even with a satin finish.
🙌🏻
It does look good though I agree
Bolt-on neck-through you know what man I have a Les Paul Modern with the scooped back and without it I don't think I can easily solo because my hands are not that big. Depends on the guitar but I like the feel of neck-through.
I prefer neck through, but that is mostly nice when you are north of fret 22. But that is a personal thing, I guess.
Totally prefer the neck-through access as well.
You can turn a satin finish into a gloss finish pretty easily. How they colored it might also play a role in hiding the figuring.
I had some minor regrets on my first Kiesel build but none of them are deal breakers.
I ordered a satin finish on my solid 1 piece Black limba body, a trem for the headless and medium jumbo frets. The guitar is still amazing so I'm not too bummed but i just placed a order for a new guitar. Tung oil finish this time so the wood will pop, Jumbo frets and no trem.
Its tough to choose sometimes.
Considering the black limba body and neck. How do you find it works for you?
@@michaelask9018 the Black limba body is incredible. I have it on both my Kiesel's. Neck for both is a 5 piece walnut & purple heart. highly recommend.
Lol don’t upset the fret wrap police!!!
😆😆😆 I just had to haha
That thing about satin being a missed opportunity on that awesome top is the exact same thing I thought the first time you showed this guitar on a video. I feel the same, nothing beats gloss with highly figured tops.
Yeah, I still dig it. But totally get that.
Opinion, but nothing beats a gloss finish in general. I see satin finishes wearing out very quickly. I don't see why anybody would want one but again to each their own
@@beefnacos6258 I have a Carvin from around 2010 that has satin finish on it, still looks great. But I also have an Ibanez HR Geiger RG that the satin has turned glossy everywhere my hands touch it. The Carvin gets considerably more play time. So I would say it depends on what exact finish is used for the clear coat, a tougher finish will hold up better. The major appeal for me is that it doesn't show fingerprints nearly as bad as gloss. So with that in mind my vote is if it's a dark color over figured wood, go gloss, if it's a dark color painted finish, go satin, light colors can go either way.
Both my guitars are bolt-ons, I'd like to have a neck-through too
Team bolt-on here... Throughout the years I've dealt with snapped headstocks, twisted necks and tapped out truss rods... When that happens with a neck-thru, your options become very limited if you want to save the guitar.
This is true.
Bolt-ons sound better IMO, check Ola Englund's video.
Regrets at 08:45
Great playing and informative vid, Thomas! I agree with you in that Kiesel is the way to go for "made to order guitars"! You asked for opinions...so here goes: If you run a "Floyd"--and Kiesel offers the German unit--you won't have a problem with string resonance in "hi-gain". To my eye, the problem with your finish is the translucent color the top is covered with--just too DARK! Bolt-ons RULE!! Sustain and "Snap" properly balanced! Live and Learn...
👍🏻👍🏻
i love that satin finish, for me its perfect for that wine colour.
Cool thanks!
In the beginning was like you wanted to crush this Kiesel DC-600. Hopefully the poor guitar endured your abuse :-P. Awesome video Thomas!!!!!
Haha cheers!
Team neck through.
Simple, no fitment issues, usually stronger necks, no seams, everything you need, nothing you don’t.
I’m a total medium jumbo fret guy…I cannot play a guitar if the frets feel like I’m sliding over railroad tracks…fender med jumbo are perfect for me…it’s quite funny how we all have different likes and dislikes…rock on my man 😎
Guitars are like women, we men have different tastes 😁
😆🙌🏻
i think the satin looks way better then gloss almost all my guitars are satin
Maybe I need more comments like this. Thank you mate, appreciate it
I definitely prefer neck through because I have smaller hands and can't really play comfortably up high with a bolt on.
What is that metal doohickey in front of the bridge?
That's exactly what I was wondering.
It's a mount for a guitar synth pickup with the pickup itself taen off..
@@zakblackhawk204 at first glance I thought there was a synth pickup - but then I didn't see it. Makes sense - thanks.
Yeah, can confirm it’s a TriplePlay bracket.
@@McRocklin cool thanks! I'm curious- what effect are you using from 0:10 - 0:20? Sounds like some type of slicer/pitch shifter combination.
Speaking purely in terms of design: I love the look of neck-through guitars finished entirely in a solid color, including the neck. It gives the illusion that the whole guitar is one continuous piece of wood. Of course then you have the problem of a (usually) glossy neck. Otherwise you have that artificial border painted between the neck and body, which ruins the continuous look. I'd rather just have a bolt-on with an actual natural border between colors.
bruh what rock are you living under? most neck through guitars have a satin finish.
my mantra is it's not cheating if it sounds good. Everything is a tool. Same philosophy applies to fret wraps, as it does for picks, capo or anything else that helps you play better like strap or footstand. Nothing is cheating guitar is not a competition with rules.
You need to tape it off with painters tape and just gloss the top and leave the rest of the body satin…will look amazing
Absolutely. I got a Schecter C-1 FR Platinum that has a beautiful top, blood red color...dull satin finish. I taped off the pick-ups/rings, took the trem/knobs off then I got out a drill, used some car polishing pads I got off of Amazon and Meguiar's Ultimate compound to work the satin into a gloss, and then finished with the polish. You can make it more or less glossy with more or less polishing, but it shines right up. An hour or two and you've got a new, glossy finish!
That guitar is Beautiful, I would look into a good color sand and buff if you want the gloss on it, That maybe be a inexpensive option.
I've seen a ton of people using little foam wedges or electrical tape to defeat that sympathetic resonance on hard tail or non-locking trem guitars.
I’m firmly on team Bolt-On too. Neckthru guitars feel really stiff to me for some reason. Maybe it’s the neck angle, or rather the lack of neck angle that bugs me. I could also be team set-neck, because I really like a set-neck. The only Carvin (Kiesel, for us old guys) is a CT4C from about 2008. Love that guitar.
I’ve got the contour 66 bolt last year they were carvin still plays great
I didn't recognize you with the short hair and now that you are a grown up. I started playing hair guitar in 1985 when I was 15. Big Vai fan and saw your electronic presser for Bad4Good. I was pretty amazed to see such young guys sounding so tight. Haven't looked yet, but if you don't have it on your channel, you should get it. Nineteen and Nothin' great about a heartbreak were excellent. 2 👍👍 to you guys.
Hey thanks for stopping by! B4G was some good times haha, enjoy the rest of your weekend : )
Team bolt-on. All neckthrus I’ve played have had a dead feel to them. I love set necks over neckthrus as well.
That clean tone low E string was hitting so hard 😍 bass for days lol. Black & Gold Delos is my favorite of yours. Loving these video's. Hope when your done going through your collection you continue the series with other guitars.
Thank you! : )
Wow man, your playing is excellent. Love the guitar too, thanks for the post.
i prefer neck thrue for the style but the problem is if you break the neck it may be dificult to repair the guitar then with a bolt on guitar you can just change the neck and dont have to buy a new guitar
Yeah. I have a bit of a past when it comes to necks lol. To be fair, I’m very kind to my guitars these days.
In theory a neckthrough can break, but how many times does it really occur? I think we don’t have to be too worried about that. Many bolt ons can break too, all depending on how the neck is built and the way you treat it
In theory a neckthrough can break, but how many times does it really occur? I think we don’t have to be too worried about that. Many bolt ons can break too, all depending on how the neck is built and the way you treat it
In my honest opinion....I think in that color combo and wood top the satin really looks rad. I like it a lot.
Send it to a pro and have it sanded and re-cleared with gloss.
I have many weeks left waiting for my Kiesel. I went satin solid black w/ Jumbo frets. I was going crazy trying to pick a top and color so I went with a nice subdued look. I considered the med jumbos as well but didn't want to risk it and hearing your thoughts on them makes me happy I chose the jumbos. I'll go nuts next time with the finish. I've never had anything but flamed so thinking a nice quilt next time.
Yes Thomas I agree, no matte finish, and it's got to be a bolt on. I played neck through for over 30 and just a few years ago realized that bolt on is where it as far as playability and feel. And it's difficult to go back to medium jumbo once you have played jumbo.
💯
Curious how so? Always wanted a neck thru due to upper fret Access
Is there a reason people don't just use black foam pads under the stings at the headstock and under the springs in the trem? That's what I do and I have no need for my fret wrap anymore. The wrap still helps with sloppy playing tho but it covers the first fret and that bugs me.
What many people say about neck-thru is that they “have more sustain.” Ola England made a video on it testing it for that theory and any other possible differences. So, in HIS test, the bolt on actually sustained longer if I remember correctly. In my own preference, I usually go neck-thru if I want something for easier access on the heel for leads. However if I’m getting a guitar for rhythm like a 7 or 8 string, I tend to just go bolt on. Since it’s a cheaper option and I don’t spend as much time on the high notes as I do on lower in extended range guitars. Also, a neck-thru is usually much heavier.
Haha nice one Ola! Interesting about the wait, thanks for your comment.
Okay, but did Ola also leveled the same pickup height? Also did both guitars had the same string action, neck relief?
Personally I don’t believe you can say by default that neckthrough or bolt-ons have more sustain. Same with weight of tonewoods, but that’s another but very interesting story as well. E.g. ash is a lightweight but many times ash can be heavy too. Same for basswood or poplar. And that also can affect the sustain even if both guitars are cut out of the same tree
@@chocolatecookie8571 you need to look up the video for yourself buddy I saw it months ago and am only referring to it. Not using it as a statement, just a reference. They were both Solar guitars same model, same pickups, the only difference was neck type. But again, you have to ask those questions on that video or Ola directly. All I can do is point reference.
@@chocolatecookie8571 and on the weight note, only thing I can say is I own an LTD Javier Reyes 208 bolt on mahogany. My buddy just bought the same guitar but the 608 model. Same woods but neck thru construction. Much much considerably heavier. That’s the only thing I’m basing my opinions off of. My personal experiences. Sure you can have many many more variables and in the end, for me it all just comes down to the heel is much more accessible on neck thru compared to bolt on depending on the joint.
@@killthekaiju9219 yes, neckthroughs normally are heavier
It's funny, I also feel like I tend towards team bolt on, but every time I play a good neck through, I wonder why that is...🤔
I also have a guitar with a figured maple top with a satin finish, I totally thought it was going to be awesome, but every time I look at it I wish it looked crystal clear like lake ice instead of being somewhat hazy.
Awesome video Thomas! Hutch was using a fret warp on the 2nd fret on today's morning session stream.. lol.. Years ago i sometimes used to tie a sock around the neck to avoid those noises and to prevent open strings from ringing.. (Before the fret warp invention) But i found it also removed some of the over/undertones or whatever its called, and it made it sound a bit more sterile.. I dont think Blackmore or EVH used it, and i think not using it gives the player a more raw and human sound. But then again for someone like MAB and his double guitar, some sort of fret dampening is a must.
2nd fret you say… I’ll have to call him out in this now thanks for the ammunition mate!! 😆
Actually prefer neck through. You can get a deeper cut on the top bout . I actually use the the upper range of the guitar in that area . Not quite as easy with bolt on style . However easier to deal with tragedy with a bolt on . Snappier too I believe.
I love a little snap in my playing 😎🤕
Man I remember when you were 3 or 4 years old on American morning tv as vais kid you still fucking rock cheers
Playing wise, as long as I can get high fret access, neck through or bolt on, I can play them back to back. Preferably? I’d go with bolt on because if it gets severely damaged, you might as well buy a new guitar after the price you’d pay for a good luthier and even then, it’s still limited. Besides that, great playing. I love my Kiesel 9 string. *Pinches sphenoid sinus for the playing a bass jokes, etc.*
I too, typically prefer bolt on necks for the purpose of modularity. I have one set neck electric (my PRS), but I've never owned a neck-through instrument. The idea of it does very much feel like trapeze act without a net. I've played a few, and they've typically very comfortable because the neck joint is no longer an issue. That's about the only, truly, measurable advantage they have over their counterparts. Not sure if I believe the hype about the sustain or total advantages it's claim to have.
As far as the satin finish, I would've gone with a brighter color to get more contrast in the stains. The color you chose was still cool, but if you want the fame to really pop...
Bolt on for sure. Neck throughs, like you said, can look really good with no effort though. Some bolt on look better than that in my opinion though.
I really enjoy your videos man🫡😁
Check out the Jimmy Clip! It stops the overtones from ringing. You clip it on the strings past the nut.
Beautiful clean tone, did not see that coming
Thanks buddy.
There was a used Keisel dc600 for $2999 at my local guitar center. I tried it. And wasnt impressed.
Quad tracking is why you have both a Bolt on and a Neck thru.
You can definitely get a refret to jumbo.
What's the difference between the DC600 and an Aries with no bevel ?
Hmmmm maybe the neck through part. I’m not 💯 sure.
The Aries body is a little bit smaller and thinner, even without the bevels. Also the shape is a tiny different
Team bolt on all the way they just feel snappier and more resonant. I know those terms can be just stupid buzz words that dont really mean much but having the neck through be that big mass of wood just feels deader in my hands. When plugging it in and putting a bunch of distortion on they both sound the same but in the room the feel and sound is definitely different.
Agreed neck-thru to me kinda feel "deader" and more pickup dependent.
Strange, my neck-throughs are definitely snappier and tighter while bolt-ons feel soggier.
satin looks way better than gloss to me. only problem is that it can shine
Why is it when RUclipsrs say 'So let's dive right into into it' they actually do the exact opposite??
Let’s get right into it.
Team bolt-on, baby! That string resonating is wild. Seems like a defect? Wonder if it's something in the nut?
It’s the super tight tone, it’s not as bad with a regular overdriven tone. Yeah I’m with you on the bolt ok necks!! 🙌🏻
Awesome!!
I love my DC600 so I’m very interested to see what this video entails haha🤘🏼
🤓
I can tell you right now that the average player will absolutely choose a neck through over a bolt on any day. Feel free to jump in anybody? Every time I see threads or post everybody is talking about neck through guitars. Personally for me every single guitar I own is bolt on, so you know what I prefer.
Bolt on ftw!
I disagree. To each their own. Bolt on for me goes without saying
I'm totally with you on the bolt on necks. I have neck throughs, set necks and of course bolt on's and I prefer the bolt on's. And yes.. I completely agree with you on the gloss. Right when i started watching this and saw this guitar, I literally said out loud.. man you know how awesome that flame top would look it was gloss and not satin.. Satin is cooler w solid colors, but even then I'm still a Gloss dude..
You live and learn eh 😬👊🏻
I have to disagree on the finish. That satin looks killer on that guitar. I’d be thrilled to buy it from you. I also like the med-jumbo.
i feel like i've heard a lot of people switch the voices around from stock.
That is a SICK finish
Cheers!
I should probly watch the whole vid first...🤣 but, is that the fishman triple play? I want to see YOU demo some things that can do.
Team neck-thru here 🙋♂️ I THINK I notice more sustain. 🤷♂️ Also feel it gives a more expensive vibe. 🤔🤣 Not a make or break aspect though.
It is a TriplePlay bracket yes! I’ll drop a new demo with that soon! 🙌🏻
@@McRocklin Hell ya! Thanks Thomas! 🤗
Bolt, glued, neck thru, different axes require different neck and body styles..
Are the Tuning keys staggered 🤔
It’s 3 and 3?
Insane playing-- awesome 👍
I'm up in the air on that model.
I like it, I’m definitely more at home on headless, but also looking to getting an Aries model.
@@McRocklin I think it's one of those things where I have to play it to know how I feel about it. It certainly sounds awesome and looks good. I also have a preference for bolt on guitars as well. I started on one too & it's still my go to type of guitar.
My first Kiesel was a CL7 built for and owned by Chris Lechtford, the artist the model was named after. I regret selling it, but I absolutely love my Zeus M8.
Bad ass, I was thinking of a 7 or 8 string Zeus! Is yours multiscale?
@@McRocklin yessir. I use it in my band’s music video. Well built instrument that has traveled the world and literally been with me through life and death situations.
ruclips.net/video/Rm1hka8mjfo/видео.html&si=EnSIkaIECMiOmarE
That's not Mahogany in the neck, that's bloodwood. It's a Walnut/Bloodwood neck.
Weird. When I spoke with Jeff, that’s not what he said 🤷🏻♂️😆
It's funny because I feel the exact opposite way you do about bolt on versus neck through for practically the same reasons. It's just what I'm used to, and there doesn't seem to be any distinct advantage for one versus the other. I personally like neck through because of the incredibly smooth transition from neck to body, but I get that bolt on has advantages like being able to change the neck, and also maintaining a thinner profile closer to the body.
I think it's obvious there's no clear winner and it pretty much just boils down to personal preference
I choose bolt on every time but I cannot argue with how smooth the transitioning from the neck to the body is. I totally see how people prefer that. Rock on!
🌟
For sure.
Neck throughs are much fuller in sound and tend to be a little warmer with added sustain and tend to eliminate the higher annoying frequencies.After playing a neck through and then returning to a bolt on the difference is huge.I prefer a neck through but I do enjoy my bolt ons as well.
For me it's all about access. Other differences are negligible but high fret access is important in my book.
Do you like the sound of the bolt on over the neck through? You don't really say why you prefer the bolt on, other than you grew up with them.
I prefer everything about them really, the sound, feel and safety of being to replace a neck lol. Cheers
That's a good one. I agree gloss would have looked even better. I love neck-thru myself, just so much more comfort there. What did this one run you?
Not with you on that mate!!,...... I ask why not a neck thru? I love the sustain and solid feel of the whole guitar. it really feels like I feel more of the guitar through my body. I have three that are neck through and two set necks, not a single bolt on , just an interesting thing I realized., Makes me wonder why Steve Vai uses bolt on's, neck changeability I suspect??
Because he also knows neck through guitars are bad. 😆 j/k whatever works for you mate 👍🏻
@@McRocklin Your bloody well right!! ;-)
6:32 XD dude, wtf, mind blowing riff
I have a 2006 Carvin 747 with double pole pickups. It would be sacrelige to change them out in my opinion.
the pop in that top + subtly in satin I think actually enhances the look sir.
Thank you! : )
@@McRocklin bruh look this dude tryna scam me on here even when you directly replied to me before him 😂🤣😂🤣 gotta love youtube.
Also Sir rock, you ever play Caparison?
Removed him thanks for letting me know.
My DC600 regret is that I don’t own one.
I love how it looks though
I regret selling an early 90s Carvin DC727 7 string I bought used in 2006... tung oil Walnut body and one piece walnut neck, carvin active pickups, floyd rose, ebony fingerboard on quite a large neck profile. Unique sounding guitar...
😱🤯
Team neck through all the way but I do love my Wolfgangs
Also if you've never had a satin, get ready for the shiny spots where you make contact. #Alwaysgloss
🙌🏻
Just polish the satin to a gloss. There's that problem fixed.
Much better build than most Kiesels...most of them are garish as hell.
I love my DC600! I just wish it had some McRocklin pups! What is your opiinion on the sustain of the neck through opposed to a bolt-on?
Neck-through sustains more, but I find too much sustain to be problematic, actually. For a lot of songs, you want the note to naturally decay in a relatively normal amount of time. If you have a guitar with crazy long sustain, you just can't play that stuff. I have an Ibanez with a 59/JB combo and it had this problem, so I lowered the pickups quite a lot and added relief to the neck. Now it sounds a lot closer to a Gibson than the hot rod I had originally intended it to be. I originally tried just turning down the volume and that did help the note decay a little sooner, but it didn't sound good/right, so I lowered the pickups and added relief. It sounds better overall, anyway, and the relief is still incredibly low/flat. The guy who had this guitar before me was using NYXL 9s downtuned to D to play Alice In Chains, he said. I have no idea how he even played it. The strings were like flubber when I got it. He must have had the lightest touch ever.
Sustain is a balance thing for me, I don’t always want the longest sustaining guitar as lot of playing is very snappy, and percussive. So bolt on just works better for me. And it has more than enough sustain 👍🏻
Bolt on fan here. I have bolt ons that give me sustain for days. Also for me they seem to have more attack. The modern player would disagree though as most people seem to like satin finishes and through necks which I like neither
These Kiesels always wind up at Guitar Center used in 6 months
YES I dig this Kiesel. What is the color?
Thanks! Simply Red.
I love DCs but they don't suit me as much as the other shapes because I feel like the body's wider and I'm a short dude lol. I was shocked how much more an Aries suits me more due to the size of the body.
I agree. I have a DC and it’s quite big. Luckily I bought it second hand. That was my plan so I can try it out without losing the bank. Aries is a little smaller and lighter also
Im not a fan of neck through. Sure it looks slick and feels great. But if you like chunky rhythms bolt on just sounds better to my ears. Ive owned over 20 carvin guitars before becoming kiesel. I have an aries bolt on coming. Cant wait to be back in the family. great DC either way.
Yeah I prefer bolt on too, congrats on the new guitar!
Huge fan of satin finishes, especially on the back of the neck. 😎 I've been known to take steel wool to glossy guitar necks, they play so much better after...
Niiiiice.
Necks for sure. Glossy is awful on the back of the neck. I use the green side of a scrubby sponge to take that crap off. Voila!
The forearm contour looks very minimal on the DC model. How do you like it? Is it enough slant for comfortable playing?
I probably slightly prefer the heavier bevel on the latest guitar, have you see my new blue guitar??? That’s very comfortable to play.
@@McRocklin You mean the Aries Titanium? I was kind of doubting that model because it has a 'sharp' bevel edge as opposed to a smooth transition, but your answer clarifies it for me. I will go with the Aries. Many thanks for your reply.
Why not send it back and ask them to buff it to a shiny finish. (I’m sure it can be done)
Interesting, might check that out thanks.
Did exactly the same wiring mod to mine. Much better!
🤟🏻🤟🏻
bro how do i get a finish like that with the 2 colora
The satin finish looks great! Which color is that?
Cheers. I think it’s their default Red.
You’re honestly so underrated. I genuinely believe that you are one of the greatest guitarist of all time man!!! ❤️🤯 I’m happy we have you on here man!
underrated by who, specifically?
@@rickdeckard1075 He should be known just as much, if not more than Vai.
@@JunoWho2 that is a different statement. again, underrated by who?
@@rickdeckard1075 I was thinking underrated meant that they should be recognized by more people? That’s all I was trying to say. As you can tell, this is what I was trying to refer to when saying he is underrated.
Why couldn’t you just tell me that what I said was incorrect and then agree with me that McRocklin should definitely have a bigger following than he currently has?
Edit: What I said makes sense. I’ve looked it up. His subscriber count has a direct correlation to him being underrated to me. In my personal opinion he is underrated. The man should have millions!
yes call those fret wrap cheaters out!
😆😆
What pedal does the effect @ 0:13 ?
ruclips.net/video/0n_o0pdzlFM/видео.html
Probably the same as broken down in that video 👍🏻
I love bolt ons. Found some great bolt ons on the hub
😳