LTD Viper 1000 preliminary report

Been awhile since i had the clean mounts..which i prefer, but you can put the spring assembly backwards to be able to adjust the height on a clean mount without doing the rings
Good info, didn't know that. Thanks Smash. Hope you are well bro.
 
They’re night and day difference from an SG. Heavier, different balance, thicker. An SG is like a toy in comparison.
Agreed. SG's are nice but I was looking for something a little different and the Viper definitely delivers. I can see why metal guys love them but it's gonna make a sweet blues machine too.
 
I am a fucking disaster of testosterone and thickheadedness. Aside from that, i am killing it. Hope you got shit goin your way also
Everything is going well here. I can't really complain about anything. I am definitely a disaster of thickheadedness though. It takes me like 90 minutes to figure stuff out that everyone else gets in a few seconds. My brain is moving a little slower these days I guess.... :LOL:
 
Congrats on the new axe! I wasn't expecting that direction based on the last thread but I guess they're related. I've never tried a viper but I agree about not preferring the SG body profile and weight. And I dig the clean mounts. Hope you can figure figure out adjustability without resorting to rings.
 
Congrats on the new axe! I wasn't expecting that direction based on the last thread but I guess they're related. I've never tried a viper but I agree about not preferring the SG body profile and weight. And I dig the clean mounts. Hope you can figure figure out adjustability without resorting to rings.
I've played SG's before. They are nice. Though this kind of has that same general shape, it's more like tele/strat thickness so it's different. It kind of has the top end of a SG or strat/tele, a bit more bite and pluckiness maybe, but the low end is like a LP, powerful. Not quite the treble string sustain of an LP but not as short as a strat or tele would be. It's a nice compromise. And well executed. The stable 3 piece neck, Gibson scale, ebony board, tone pros bridge and stainless frets are stuff that are big selling points to me. I was looking for something that put me at odds with my local blues police. I probably have a warrant out for my arrest now. :LOL:
 
I've played SG's before. They are nice. Though this kind of has that same general shape, it's more like tele/strat thickness so it's different. It kind of has the top end of a SG or strat/tele, a bit more bite and pluckiness maybe, but the low end is like a LP, powerful. Not quite the treble string sustain of an LP but not as short as a strat or tele would be. It's a nice compromise. And well executed. The stable 3 piece neck, Gibson scale, ebony board, tone pros bridge and stainless frets are stuff that are big selling points to me. I was looking for something that put me at odds with my local blues police. I probably have a warrant out for my arrest now. :LOL:
If a guitar has any neck dive I’m immediately turned off. I just can’t. My SG dives, my jr. dives, and my Viper is right on the edge of diving.
 
I've played SG's before. They are nice. Though this kind of has that same general shape, it's more like tele/strat thickness so it's different. It kind of has the top end of a SG or strat/tele, a bit more bite and pluckiness maybe, but the low end is like a LP, powerful. Not quite the treble string sustain of an LP but not as short as a strat or tele would be. It's a nice compromise. And well executed. The stable 3 piece neck, Gibson scale, ebony board, tone pros bridge and stainless frets are stuff that are big selling points to me. I was looking for something that put me at odds with my local blues police. I probably have a warrant out for my arrest now. :LOL:
I'm interested in checking one out. I have always liked the SG shape but not the thin body. As for the naysayers:

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If a guitar has any neck dive I’m immediately turned off. I just can’t. My SG dives, my jr. dives, and my Viper is right on the edge of diving.
As is mine, it starts to dive very slightly but then stops once it's horizontal. It's still a little unsettling. I made the mistake of letting an otherwise killer guitar that had really bad neck dive go once. I put lighter tuners and heavier metal knobs on, no dice. I should've just thrown a bigsby on there for a counterweight but that was about 2/3rds of what the guitar cost me. After owning a bigsby equipped axe I realize I shouldn't have let it go cause bigsby b7=easy string tension. If it becomes an issue here I will do what it takes to get rid of it cause the guitar is awesome. I don't think it'll need a bigsby but a gold B5 horseshoe would be cool nonetheless.

I'm interested in checking one out. I have always liked the SG shape but not the thin body. As for the naysayers:
None of the big box stores had one in stock from Austin to San Antonio so I had to roll the dice. Lot's of EC1000's but no Vipers. I've had good luck buying guitars sight unseen for the most part. I can't imagine not being able to find one to try in your general area. IME the stores have more inventory up there. Then again Mars music is no longer, that store was mind-blowing, and it's been 20+ years since I've been up in your area so maybe things changed. Might pay to check GC website local inventory or make a few calls beforehand.
 
As is mine, it starts to dive very slightly but then stops once it's horizontal. It's still a little unsettling. I made the mistake of letting an otherwise killer guitar that had really bad neck dive go once. I put lighter tuners and heavier metal knobs on, no dice. I should've just thrown a bigsby on there for a counterweight but that was about 2/3rds of what the guitar cost me. After owning a bigsby equipped axe I realize I shouldn't have let it go cause bigsby b7=easy string tension. If it becomes an issue here I will do what it takes to get rid of it cause the guitar is awesome. I don't think it'll need a bigsby but a gold B5 horseshoe would be cool nonetheless.


None of the big box stores had one in stock from Austin to San Antonio so I had to roll the dice. Lot's of EC1000's but no Vipers. I've had good luck buying guitars sight unseen for the most part. I can't imagine not being able to find one to try in your general area. IME the stores have more inventory up there. Then again Mars music is no longer, that store was mind-blowing, and it's been 20+ years since I've been up in your area so maybe things changed. Might pay to check GC website local inventory or make a few calls beforehand.
I have thought of sewing a small leather pouch with strap button slit, that I can fill with fishing weights and attach to the lower strap button as ballast.
 
I have thought of sewing a small leather pouch with strap button slit, that I can fill with fishing weights and attach to the lower strap button as ballast.
You could always get some tape weights and put them in the control cavity. I have a 100lbs of lead left from my bullet casting days. I could probably figure out a mold and cast a small insert, drill it, and mount it in there. I'd probably just get a bigsby before I went to all that trouble. Massive hunks of gold hardware are awesome.
 
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