Intersting visit to a guitar shop today.

[SamBooka]

Was at a local guitar shop today since I noticed last week they had a couple fo Peerless guitars in stock ( I am in Montreal, deep dark blackhole of guitardom)

One was a solide top with an ebony fingerboard. I dont remember models but I think it was in the 1800$ range. Total dud. When I play with my fingers my thumb was brushing against the edge of the fingerboard around the 18th fret and getting caught on the fret ends (poor fret dressing). Gaps between the wood and the binding (rough binding as well on the FB). Very unimpressive.

The second peerless was laminate and was is the 1100$ range. Looked identical except for the rosewood FB. A much more lively guitar. QC was a little better but not a huge difference between the other. (if I had to choose blindfolded i would have taken the laminate) BUT I dont have to choose.. because....

I have a 96 Epi Emp Reg from the Peerless factory (if I read the SN# correctly). The lam and my emp reg lam sound VERY similar. Mine has a slightly slimmer neck profile (which I am not crazy about). The peerless has nicer grover Imp.s Fit and finish is a little nice on mine but I have see other EmpReg's on par with the Peerless.

What I am trying to say (not really for anyone here, more for the people who will google this 50 years from now), my 96 empreg and a new peerless model something or another are "almost" the same damn guitar. If you have to choose between the two listen to your wallet first. All other things being equal listen to your heart.- Roxette

My appologies for the long rant

[Jazzman301]

I got my Peerless Monarch with a routed set humbucker from Lou over at guitarsnjazz. It came nicely setup with no frett issues at all. Now Lou might be addressing those kind of issues before he puts them on display or ships them out the door. I can say that my Monarch was fantastic right out of the case. My luthier Trevor Healy said it had a great fit and finish all around.

It sounds like you were playing a Cremona(17" solid carved top all maple with ebony fingerboard and a set humbucker) and the other sounds like my Monarch(the standard is a floating mini humbucker rosewood fingerboard with a laminated spruce top and maple back and sides.) There are some great youtube videos of both of these guitars. Matt Otten plays a standard Monarch through a ZT club(amoungst other amps) and Dwight Love plays a Cremona in a real Wes style. Dwight really captures the Wes sound to a T.

'Mike