Hi Bernie- I love this thread. Here's a description from a few months ago....
Custom Campy Pick Ups that are wound to my own preference and taste
Lipless plate - no annoying lip that formally forced me set my action too high to clear the lip for no lip obstruction picking. It's a great feature and I feel my right hand technique has improved because of it.
Hand stained "Sunburst" effect on the fingerboard
late '67 TELE wiring (and a rant) The wiring I prefer has no bells and whistles and allows the player to manually dial in treble (and volume). I don't know what other models and years employ and as I stated, the wiring I prefer is called "Late '67 TELE wiring". This leads me to believe that this Tele wiring combo started in "late 67" My belief is that this "Late '67 TELE wiring " is no longer "stock"... either way, check your wiring people. I think this "tone boost" feature is a real hindrance to personal tone choices and guitar control (in my humble opinion) To eliminate the "tone boost," one need only to clip the .01 capacitor that connects the first and second lug on the volume pot of a "standard" Tele.
reverse polarity pick ups - for middle pick up refuge in buzzy/no grounding environments
Feb. 2010 order here also. I have been having a conversation with Jim about it since 2008, when it looked like it actually might happen. So one more month, that's good news! I couldn't get one locally, so shipping's going to add a little more time once it's delivered to the dealer. I already asked the dealer if it would be possible for Fender to send it to me if I prepaid (the dealer) , but the answer I got was "Fender does not ship direct to customers no matter what." I figured that would be the answer before I asked, but I figured wtf, I'll ask anyway lol. Anyway, I'm stoked, I hope the March eta is real!
Jim - what does "Smooth, straight end of neck" mean? Are you talking about there the back of the neck transitions into the back of the headstock?
Is the bridge plate a Glendale, or is Fender making them in-house? ...
In house
There will be a listing for the Campy guitar on the Fender Custom Shop website up shortly. Yesterday Mike Eldred informed me they were taking brand new photo's of Campy guitars.... I assume it will have more info
At this point I've received countless Google alerts with folks selling the Campy Sig but the Music Zoo is the only one I kept and used.
Can you tell me more about this beautiful lady ? Maybe if you know the difference between the original and the sig guitar, it would be very nice. What is the neck profile (v;c...), radius, alnico magnet pickups (2;5...),pots, the weight ?... I read on this page that Jim used the late 67 wiring, i'm not sure to understand, it's simply a treble bleed? In other words,when i turn the volume pot the treble are always the same?
ps: i'm really sorry for my bad english, i swear that i do my best:( glad to be here guys!
Hi there....Here are the specs from Fender. All of the other specs will be available on the Fender Custom Shop Website next week Mike Eldred said so himself. Additionaly here are un-official detail.... VERY LIGHT NECK VERY PLAYABLE STOCK POTS LATE '67 WIRING
Hi Dana. The neck profile is modeled after Jim's famous '59 and incorporates Jim's comfort preferances now. It is more of 'C' shape that is a little bit rounder and fuller but not super deep at all. I wouldn't call it a 'U' type shape. I hope that's helpful. All the best.
Congratulations. Thats VERY exciting. Truly one of the Lucky 50....you're gonna love it. I can't wait to hear what you think....and I know Jim can't either.
Here's a question - I noticed on the Fender CS website that the Campy Signature Tele comes strung with 10s. I thought Jim was a .009 - .042 kinda guy. The D'Addario website says he uses a 10-46 set (among other heavier gauge sets), and JC's website says he uses a 9- 42 set ("I've used .010's and felt that the sound was too bright.") Are the pickups on the Sig guitar dark enough to temper the "brightness" of a .10 set? Or does Fender pretty much send everything out with 10s?
Good question. You're right Jim is a .009-.042 Kinda guy. Fender just sends everything (Strats/Teles) out with 10s to the best of my knowledge. The pickups will be dark enough to compensate for 10s. The two guages should only make the SLIGHTEST differance and maybe even none depending on playing style and technique ......in my humble opinion.
On another note. I would probably use .009s on a campy Sig. Tele. Because of the awesome quality of the guitar .009s don't feel thin or too slinky because the guitar is SO resonant. On other guitars .009s can seem a little flimsy but NOT AT ALL with the Campy Sig. because the guitar has that 'alive' kind of feeling. Of course also just my opinion.
That being said the Campy Sig. will be a great platform for any string guage because it was developed from the ground up to be of the highest quality. Thanks for the question.
Also, I was surprised when I saw that the neck has a 7.25 fretboard radius. The guys at the Music Zoo told me it was 9.5. With all the string bending Jim does, I thought he would have preferred a flatter fretboard radius.
I saw a production Campilongo Signature last night. It was the first production model I've seen. A great guy (a big fan, he had me sign the guitar with an orange pen) named Armin purchased a Campy that day from the Music Zoo... He said Music Zoo had 3....
Anyway, it's perfect. I didn't plug it in but it was TOTALLY consistent with what I have. The feel of the neck was really comfortable too. I was very, very happy.
congrats Jim on the sig model , how does it feel to have "your" own guitar used as a template , must be awesome to know your sound and style is so respected by so many of us players , and now to finally see the result of the production line and all that work leading up to it ?
Jim your music has truly touched many of us , keep the cd's coming
So glad that Campy Models are starting to get into peoples hands. I've been getting a lot of questions regarding individual parts from the Campy Model. There are NO Individual parts available for purchase.
Mine's due to arrive on Saturday. Built in California, sent to NYC, then sent back to California. Mine might qualify as the most well-traveled JC Sig. lol - hoping this week goes by fast!
Comments
Custom Campy Pick Ups that are wound to my own preference and taste
Lipless plate - no annoying lip that formally forced me set my action too high to clear the lip for no lip obstruction picking. It's a great feature and I feel my right hand technique has improved because of it.
Hand stained "Sunburst" effect on the fingerboard
late '67 TELE wiring (and a rant)
The wiring I prefer has no bells and whistles and allows the player to manually dial in treble (and volume). I don't know what other models and years employ and as I stated, the wiring I prefer is called "Late '67 TELE wiring". This leads me to believe that this Tele wiring combo started in "late 67" My belief is that this "Late '67 TELE wiring " is no longer "stock"... either way, check your wiring people. I think this "tone boost" feature is a real hindrance to personal tone choices and guitar control (in my humble opinion) To eliminate the "tone boost," one need only to clip the .01 capacitor that connects the first and second lug on the volume pot of a "standard" Tele.
reverse polarity pick ups - for middle pick up refuge in buzzy/no grounding environments
Big ol' Jumbo frets
tall "top hat" toggle for easy switching
Smooth, straight end of neck, big dip in the dish
loose feel potentiometers with '63 style knobs
Sean
Jim-how does your prototype feel in comparison to your original now that you have had time with it ?
John Casado
Jim - what does "Smooth, straight end of neck" mean? Are you talking about there the back of the neck transitions into the back of the headstock?
-Bernie
Jim - what does "Smooth, straight end of neck" mean? Are you talking about there the back of the neck transitions into the back of the headstock?
Exactly.
Jim-how does your prototype feel in comparison to your original now that you have had time with it ?
John Casado
The Campy is easier to play.
Can't wait!
In house
There will be a listing for the Campy guitar on the Fender Custom Shop website up shortly. Yesterday Mike Eldred informed me they were taking brand new photo's of Campy guitars.... I assume it will have more info
At this point I've received countless Google alerts with folks selling the Campy Sig but the Music Zoo is the only one I kept and used.
http://jimcampilongo.com/about/signature_tele.php
Matt Umanov is selling Campy's too ...
http://www.umanovguitars.com/
Thanks -Jim
Can you tell me more about this beautiful lady ? Maybe if you know the difference between the original and the sig guitar, it would be very nice.
What is the neck profile (v;c...), radius, alnico magnet pickups (2;5...),pots, the weight ?...
I read on this page that Jim used the late 67 wiring, i'm not sure to understand, it's simply a treble bleed? In other words,when i turn the volume pot the treble are always the same?
ps: i'm really sorry for my bad english, i swear that i do my best:( glad to be here guys!
VERY LIGHT
NECK VERY PLAYABLE
STOCK POTS
LATE '67 WIRING
-Will
Congratulations. Thats VERY exciting. Truly one of the Lucky 50....you're gonna love it. I can't wait to hear what you think....and I know Jim can't either.
http://www.fendercustomshop.com/index.php/limited-editions/specs/jim_campilongo_telecaster/
Good question. You're right Jim is a .009-.042 Kinda guy. Fender just sends everything (Strats/Teles) out with 10s to the best of my knowledge. The pickups will be dark enough to compensate for 10s. The two guages should only make the SLIGHTEST differance and maybe even none depending on playing style and technique ......in my humble opinion.
On another note. I would probably use .009s on a campy Sig. Tele. Because of the awesome quality of the guitar .009s don't feel thin or too slinky because the guitar is SO resonant. On other guitars .009s can seem a little flimsy but NOT AT ALL with the Campy Sig. because the guitar has that 'alive' kind of feeling. Of course also just my opinion.
That being said the Campy Sig. will be a great platform for any string guage because it was developed from the ground up to be of the highest quality. Thanks for the question.
-Will
-Bernie
Anyway, it's perfect. I didn't plug it in but it was TOTALLY consistent with what I have. The feel of the neck was really comfortable too. I was very, very happy.
Jim your music has truly touched many of us , keep the cd's coming
peace and light
Keira