M-3 California : Getting Back On Track

[Brinkman]

Matt,

That guitar is stunning. While the 3-pickup arrangement is not my thing, the Ventures shape and combo f-hole certainly is. So great.

[Strat-o-rama]

It's a real beauty, Matt.
Hollow body--decent weight reduction?

[Veenture]

:shock: .......mama.......

Yeah, me too!
Congrats Matt and Dad and Mel. M-3 fer sure... Mean Muscle Machine.

[MWaldorf]

Well, I've had the chance to pull the guitar in now, and let me say "HOLY MOSES!!!!"

Seriously, it plays like a dream - it's got the thin neck and speed frets of a vintage Mosrite, at my request. It's light at roughly 8.75lbs - the same as my '66 Ventures model, with one less pickup and an aluminum Moseley tailpiece instead of the brass Vibramute this one it currently sporting (it'll get a proper M3 vibrato when they're ready). The action is so low it practically plays itself. The whole vibe of the guitar is like a finely tuned sports car - not so flashy as a Ferrari, more like a Lambo Miura.

As for the sound - well, let's just say that the M3 boys have been busy with their research since I got my first set of Dual Tone pickups two years ago. The new ones are more, well, "alive" sounding - they've got a bit more top end sparkle than the old ones, without losing the beefy midrange that's so great about Mosrite style pickups. Coupled with the semi hollow body, it's a potent combo.

Speaking of combo, this isn't completely hollow like the Combo model - it's solid down the center with chambers on the sides, like a thinline Telecaster.

There isn't an "official" name for the guitar, though through development we've been calling it "MMIII" or the "Meshugga Model III" as sort of a play on the Ventures Model I, II, V designations on the Mosrites. What, III wasn't good enough? Well, now it is. But I imagine they'll come up with a proper name for the model as I expect I can't be the only one who'd want one.

I'd like to thank Matt and his dad Sonny for all the hard work bringing this idea to fruition, and, amazingly, getting it done in time for the MBP tour on such short notice.

[JimPage]

Hey, Mel--

Good report; thanks!

>>Speaking of combo, this isn't completely hollow like the Combo model -
>>it's solid down the center with chambers on the sides, like a thinline Telecaster.

That's a nice approach, I think. I believe my old '60s Epiphone Rivoli bass was made that way, and I liked that bass a lot.

--Jim

[jfine]

From one Jewboy to another, Mel--l'chayim!! (For the goyim, that's "congratulations"--actually, it translates as "to life", but it's used in all sorts of positive connotations--weddings, Bar/Bat Mitzvahs, new guitars...) That thing is too cool--I want one!

[raygun85]

New Guitar Day...

[dubtrub]

Wow! That guitar must be somethin' special. Looks like Mel shaved and put on a nice shirt just to go pick it up.

[Monaco62]

Very, very cool guitar, Mel --

[olrocknroller]

Mmmm. Me like tri-power pups!