Painter P-16

**3625** · 04-13-2014, 03:32 AM

This is a very fine instrument - immaculate craftsmanship, plays and sounds great, light as a feather and so comfortable on account of the 2.5 inch body depth. The plan is that this will be my no.1 for a long time. Bought it from forum member Philco who generously upgraded the bridge (Sadowsky), + tailpiece and provided a choice of 3 pickups - I chose the original Biltoft hb which is fantastic.

Through my Roland jazz chorus it has a woody, acoustic like response - very little sustain (which I like), and great balance across all notes (no unwanted overtones jumping out). A bit like Julian Lage's sound with his Manzer to give you an idea - modern yet natural. Today I tried it through a Blues Jr and was surprised to find that you can get a more traditional 50's laminate sound as well.

Great Guitar.

**AlohaJoe** · 04-13-2014, 04:29 AM

Congratulations, it's beautiful. I've only played one Painter but it was exceptional.

**IbanezAS100** · 04-13-2014, 05:20 AM

Congrats!

Enjoy in good health and let us hear some clips when you get the chance.

**3625** · 04-13-2014, 05:29 AM

Originally Posted by IbanezAS100

Congrats!

Enjoy in good health and let us hear some clips when you get the chance.

I look forward to doing some recordings - probably mid-year when I'm on holidays from university. Hopefully sooner, Cheers.

**oldane** · 04-13-2014, 06:03 AM

Congrats. I'm sure you'll like it.

I ordered the guitar Tom Painter build immediately before this one. Mine is a 17" P-350 with slightly customized specs (2½" depth, 1.75" fretboard, 25.5" scale, PU moved ½" closer to the neck). I have a Biltoft HCC in mine. I too replaced the bridge saddle with one with compensation (I had Irish luthier John Moriarty make me one). The original gold speed knobs looks great on this instrument, but I found it hard to se where the setting were at, so I replaced them with black chicken head knobs - not so pretty but very funtional. I can see that Phil also replaced the knobs on this. I can add that now - 2½ years after I recieved the guitar from Tom - it's still rock solid and structurally stable. No laquer cracks, no moving wood. I do adjust the truss rod slightly every spring and autumn due to seasonal humidity changes.

Mine also plays and sounds great amplified, and I have really bonded with it.

It's a shame Tom Painter doesn't make guitars anymore.

**Philco** · 04-13-2014, 08:11 AM

I'm so glad this instrument has found a good home. It's going to open up as it ages.

Actually Oldane the knobs are original. They are ebony…..from memory and quite hard to remove!
It is an extremely comfortable guitar to play indeed.
It is a shame that Tom isn't building guitars anymore. He made one of the most comfortable feeling necks I've ever played. That is one beautiful slab of ebony!

I hope it is your companion for many years to come 3625.

**M-ster** · 04-13-2014, 08:34 AM

Beautiful!

**50Hz** · 04-13-2014, 09:41 AM

So jelly, congrats.

**Jazz_175** · 04-13-2014, 09:51 AM

Very nice!

Hey Philco, you let it go but you should still have your more recent acquisition. How's going with that?

**pubylakeg** · 04-13-2014, 10:04 AM

Beautiful guitar. As you say "modern yet natural".

**Philco** · 04-13-2014, 10:07 AM

Originally Posted by Jazz_175

Very nice!

Hey Philco, you let it go but you should still have your more recent acquisition. How's going with that?

Well this is 3625's thread so let's keep the light on that

Do you mean the Collings Eastside Deluxe? It's a love thing, pure and simple!

**jads57** · 04-13-2014, 10:48 AM

Very nice looking guitar! What's the scale lenth and the neck shape like? Thanks!

**3625** · 04-13-2014, 08:12 PM

Originally Posted by jads57

Very nice looking guitar! What's the scale lenth and the neck shape like? Thanks!

It's a 24 3/4 scale and the neck profile is similar to a 175 but not too chunky - I'd say on the thin to chunky spectrum it sits as a medium.

**Jabberwocky** · 04-14-2014, 05:52 AM

Originally Posted by Philco

Well this is 3625's thread so let's keep the light on that

Do you mean the Collings Eastside Deluxe? It's a love thing, pure and simple!

Tell them about your OTHER Collings...in your own thread.

**hans halmackenreuter** · 04-14-2014, 09:29 AM

Beautiful! I like the fretboard!

Congrats!

**mr. beaumont** · 04-14-2014, 10:20 AM

That's pretty much perfect in my book. Damn!

**2bornot2bop** · 04-14-2014, 02:50 PM

The shading is off the charts. Who wouldn't buy that archtop?!

Congrats on your rare find!

**bmw2002** · 04-14-2014, 03:03 PM

That is indeed a beautiful guitar. I own the 2009 Painter P-175 that Jack Zucker can be seen demo'ing in a few youtube videos. It really is too bad Tom Painter is out of the business; hopefully that's only temporary.

Question for Philco or the OP. How hard was it to upgrade the tailpiece? Were you able to source a stock replacement and did it require any drilling to install?

Thanks for any info, and congratulations on a great guitar.

Michael

**Philco** · 04-14-2014, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by bmw2002

That is indeed a beautiful guitar. I own the 2009 Painter P-175 that Jack Zucker can be seen demo'ing in a few youtube videos. It really is too bad Tom Painter is out of the business; hopefully that's only temporary.

Question for Philco or the OP. How hard was it to upgrade the tailpiece? Were you able to source a stock replacement and did it require any drilling to install?

Thanks for any info, and congratulations on a great guitar.

Michael

I bought he tailpiece from Ebay. It seemed to be exactly the same as the one on my 175….but that's not original either.
It had some weight to it and the slots work perfectly.
I recently bought…and paid a premium price for…another tailpiece for my 1952 175. It's one of those "aged" ones from Archtop.com.
Just suits the old 175 better than a shiny new one.
Well it seems like the same tailpiece to me that I got for the Painter but just tarnished a bit.

From memory there was drilling required. The old holes didn't quite match up. I had my guitar repairer do it as I'm incompetent when it comes to hand tools.

**Philco** · 04-14-2014, 10:32 PM

Some more shots of the Painter...

Painter P-16-img_0167-jpg

**mangotango** · 04-15-2014, 06:09 AM

Wow.

That's it, just "Wow". No other comment required.

**Jehu** · 04-15-2014, 06:28 AM

Why did Tom Painter stop building?

**bmw2002** · 04-15-2014, 08:47 AM

Originally Posted by Philco

I bought he tailpiece from Ebay. It seemed to be exactly the same as the one on my 175….but that's not original either.
It had some weight to it and the slots work perfectly.
I recently bought…and paid a premium price for…another tailpiece for my 1952 175. It's one of those "aged" ones from Archtop.com.
Just suits the old 175 better than a shiny new one.
Well it seems like the same tailpiece to me that I got for the Painter but just tarnished a bit.

From memory there was drilling required. The old holes didn't quite match up. I had my guitar repairer do it as I'm incompetent when it comes to hand tools.

Thank you, Philco.

**Hammertone** · 04-15-2014, 10:46 PM

Phil:
Just so you know, the "non-original" tailpiece you got on your ES-175 is an original Gibson part, made for a Gibson ES-175T. It's a high-quality American-made piece of gear from between 1976-1979.

**Philco** · 04-15-2014, 10:51 PM

Originally Posted by Hammertone

Phil:
Just so you know, the "non-original" tailpiece you got on your ES-175 is an original Gibson part, made for a Gibson ES-175T. It's a high-quality American-made piece of gear from between 1976-1979.

Thanks for the info Hammertone. I should retrieve it from wherever I "stored" it then…….hmmm.

By the way my good man you cost me a lot of money by convincing me to hang on to the 175.

I blame you for me being able to still enjoy that fine instrument.
Damn you and your common sense!