The other way

I'm really, really glad I bought this. It's not an easy purchase, lots of snooping around the net, trawling through Japanese websites & finally finding it. The info was relayed to the good people at Davis GMC (thanks, Joe/ Janet!) & it finally touched down like more than 2 months later. Why Davis? Because they have an excellent relationship with ESP & that's why we see selected Edwards model making it here. In my case, this is the 3rd 'special order' involving the Edwards brand & it went as smooth as my other 2 orders. It's only the waiting that kills.

Recently, it had its 5-way selector replaced- corroded + no notching in any positions.

While I was at it, got Beez to replace the default cap to the Emerson you see above. I only bought it because it's on sale. ESP pots by default.

3 x single coil cavities.

Anyway, the pickups on board are Seymour Duncan's SSl-1s by default, very normal but sounding extra special in this guitar. The bridge pickup there has some mojo going namely due to its reverse tilt. Well, if this was meant for a lefty, that would have been a normal tilt. When my playing runs into a black hole, totally lost, uninspiring, dead, chances are, I'll give this guitar a go; it's just very inspiring. 

I know what you're thinking- I'm actually trying to re-create that Hendrix magic down to the quirks but hey, I'm not a Hendrix fan, will never be one. I dislike his playing & might be the very few guitar dweebs out there who might be behaving this strangely. Well, that's how it is. One thing for sure, this guitar taught me to deal with limitations & discomfort, focus on the good tones & feel instead. FYI, it's an Edwards E-SE-125M/RB.

SSL1s

I keep forgetting my Edwards E-SE-125M/RB also features the Seymour Duncan SSL-1s aka the California 50s set. Another awesome performance here despite the bridge pickup being slanted the other way as depicted. 

Sweet driving

I think I've been spending too much time with the John Page guitar. When I played my Edwards, there's this sudden jump in tone 'goodness'. However, my ears are actually attuned to Seymour Duncan pickups. I hear more clarity, I hear more top end definition, I hear a great chemistry with mild drive. I'm actually hearing what I wanted to hear & those are found in the Seymour Duncans. OK so the Seymour Duncans win. I'm re-thinking some options. Hmmm...

This Edwards Strat-type guitar looks rather tormenting when it comes to playability & orientation but  I'm adapting well to it except for volume changes & pickup selection- my right hand tend to move down in search of knobs & selector. I'm loving this one, regardless of the quirky manifestation.

Reverse logic

Birthday present, yes! You know, that Hendrix Strat got me thinking; what is it like to struggle in someone else's world & still be on top of the game? On that note, I trawled cyberspace in search of an equivalent to embrace the spirit of adversity. The guitar here is an Edwards E-SE-125M/RB. It's one of those models not listed in their catalogues but offered to the domestic Japanese market (there are others to be discovered if you are enterprising in your search). Despite being very lefty in its incarnation, the guitar in question is a righty; the strap button there is a dead giveaway. I'll share some other quirks as we move along :-)

What I like about this guitar is its trio of Seymour Duncan single coils; no frills, just that Seymour Duncan kick in the teeth but in a vintage manifestation.

But then again, it's not my birthday.