Xavier LP

Ok took delivery last week of a Xavier LP. Cherry burst etc.etc. Put new strings on it today and figured I would check out the neck pocket to tenon fit. I have seen some that weren't so great. But this one is as good as I have ever seen on a set neck guitar. So here ya go. thanks

Nice!

What are your thoughts about the tone of those P.A.F. style humbuckers? I'm gassing for the Xaviere Jazzmaster copy which I believe has the same pickups, so just looking for opinions.

Well I like'em. Just good sounding musical pups that can be nice and clear or dirtied up with some overdrive/gain etc.etc. Very articulate. thanks

Looks like the tenon is off-center in relation to the neck and fretboard. I wonder why. Must be some practical reason.

Geez I don't know but it might be the angle of the camera, ya think? thanks

Nah, not the camera angle. The camera's almost directly over the guitar.

I wonder if Gibson has a patent on its neck joint, and whoever makes Xaviere guitars does the joint off-center just to make it different from Gibson's. It could fall in the same category as making the cutaway shape and headstock slightly different.

Beats me, I was enamoured with how tight the tenon is I wasn't really looking at the centering issue til you mentioned it. I wrote GFS about there take on it. Doesn't seem to have any affect as to playing or tone either. Could be the manufacturers way of getting around patent stuff but truthfully I don't think they would carry it down to that but who knows. I don't really have another LP style to compare it to. I can't for the life of remember what my Epi's have looked like other than all 3 had gaps between the neck tenon and the body, one in particular was about 3/8" of an inch but didn't seem to bother much on the guitar for tone or anything like sustain. Waiting to hear back from GFS. thanks

Even if Gibson did have a patent on their neck joint it's long since expired. Also, you can't patent something that's not new.

Nah, not the camera angle. The camera's almost directly over the guitar.

I wonder if Gibson has a patent on its neck joint, and whoever makes Xaviere guitars does the joint off-center just to make it different from Gibson's. It could fall in the same category as making the cutaway shape and headstock slightly different.

I've seen Epiphones like that, and the kit guitars from Bulldog Bodies had an offset tenon like that for a while, too.

No idea what in the world it does or doesn't do, though.

- D

My Epi had the same offset tenon that the Xavier has.

No experience with LPs or their clones to speak of, but I bet it has to do with the cutaway. If the tenon were centered there wouldn't be enough wood around it on the treble side.

Sweet looking guitar. Xavieres are a great value.

No experience with LPs or their clones to speak of, but I bet it has to do with the cutaway. If the tenon were centered there wouldn't be enough wood around it on the treble side.

I think so too, same thing goes for some set-neck Teles

If the tenon were centered there wouldn't be enough wood around it on the treble side.


That's what I was thinking. It would probably only matter cosmetically, since the whole mess is glued up into a single piece, but it would look kinda crappy in the cutaway.

No experience with LPs or their clones to speak of, but I bet it has to do with the cutaway. If the tenon were centered there wouldn't be enough wood around it on the treble side.
By jove, I'll bet that's it!

That does look like a good fit on the Xaviere. Looks like it would stay in place without glue ('til you strung up the guitar, anyhow). Nice.

My XV-550 is the same way:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g179/nadzab/Xaviere%20XV-550/Cavity.jpg

Wow, that's pretty well crafted. I've been debating on whether or not I should buy one of these.

My only reason for not having one right now is my stupid eye for design yelling at my reasoning about how ugly the headstocks on their LP copies are :(

Wow, that's pretty well crafted. I've been debating on whether or not I should buy one of these.

My only reason for not having one right now is my stupid eye for design yelling at my reasoning about how ugly the headstocks on their LP copies are :(

For what it's worth, you might want to check out the review I posted at the MLP forum:

http://www.mylespaul.com/forums/other-les-pauls/82517-xaviere-xv-550-review-long-lots-pics.html

I've bought two Xaviere f-hole types, and I definitely do not consider them out-of-the-box players. With a little elbow grease, however, they can be turned into real gems.

Years ago I got a factory 2nd XV 900, one of the very last samples from the 1st run with the "mirror Zemaitis-sque" headstock.

Out of the box, apart from the wiring problem that made the guitar a "2nd" (very easily fixable) I had to ask the luthier fix two raising frets, and have a fret dressing, nut filing, etc.

After that, I discovered that the guitar had a double action truss rod (sooooo coooool). Pick up's are aggressive, body is very well assembled (not a drop of extra-glue inside), nice triple binding everywhere. I know more recent models are single-bound around the fingerboard. The neck is almost identical to a '68 ES335 I had the pleasure to handle for a few minutes (that was Matt Steven's, anybody knows this great new talent?), glossy finish apart.

I had to change just only the stock good-looking tulip tuners, that unfortunately were really crappy. After mounting a set of Gotoh's (I had to buy also a set of conversion bushings, as those headstock holes were 10.5 mm wide) the guitar works perfectly. Now - I play jazz - it's got a set of D'Addario 1/2Rounds 0.12-0.52" on, and is a dream to play, with a very low action thanks to a pro fret dressing.

I never inspected the inside to see the tenon (is there one in the "335" guitars? I guess there is)

I've thought about them too...but I also can't get past the headstock. I'm a fan of GFS pickups though...

I'm with Zinky. I love the looks and prices but I can't get past that funky lookin headstock they put on their "gibson" style guitars. reminds me of the headstock of an Ovation celebrity. just terrible looking. that being said, I ordered a blem model two days ago. a maple top tele with a rosewood neck. judging from your photos, quality is good, so I'm getting excited waiting for the UPS man. good luck with your instruments.

65627

The Xavier I bought a few months ago on blem, great guitar for the money, the pups are sweet out of the box too.

65627

The Xavier I bought a few months ago on blem, great guitar for the money, the pups are sweet out of the box too.

what is that tremolo arm, how does it work, how well does it work?

what is that tremolo arm, how does it work, how well does it work?

That is this: http://store.guitarfetish.com/vistsumowhba.html

It works great, very smooth, and stays in tune great. I want to get a heavier spring for it though, its just a bit too flimsy for me.

My XV-550 is the same way:

http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g179/nadzab/Xaviere%20XV-550/Cavity.jpg

Wow... is that a real maple cap?? Sure looks like it!

http://www.marcondo.com/marcondo/guitar/tenon.jpg

Here is the Gibson long tenon as compared to the regular one

http://www.marcondo.com/marcondo/guitar/tenon.jpg

Here is the Gibson long tenon as compared to the regular one


http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/Gibson_Tim/tenonslpfjpeg.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t311/dzrice/Long_VS_Short_Tenon.jpg

http://i249.photobucket.com/albums/gg225/Gibson_Tim/tenonslpfjpeg.jpg

http://i163.photobucket.com/albums/t311/dzrice/Long_VS_Short_Tenon.jpg

There's been much stated about long neck tenons and affect on tone. I just don't buy it. Long, short, whatever... I've owned 80s/90s LPs that played and sounded as good or better than the one 1959 I've ever played.

What Ive found the actual sound isnt that much difference but the sustain is better on long tenon ones.

This is one of those things you cant hear the difference on a recording but can hear a slight difference at bedroom volumes.

Its not like you can hear a recording and say oh ya thats a long tenon LP just like a million other things we hear that cant be reproduced in a recording.

This is a guy's sig.


"Long tenon, short tenon, it doesn't really matter once the drummer comes in." -