guitar knowledge or forum

[forunna]

Hey there,
I have jsut bought an electric guitar on a whim.
Dont know anything about them. Cant play any instrument.
I have dug out my daughters learn to play book.
I cant find any info on my guitar on the web appart from a couple of brief mentions on a reiew site. They seem to all say good things about it but most mention that its pretty rare.
Do any of you guys know of any good forums, like this one, for guitars?
Its a Pearl Export Custom. From my surfing it seems to be a Les Paul copy from Japan in the late 70s. Has two pointy bits at the front not one. It appears to be in very good condition visually to my untrained eye. Electrics seem a bit hit n miss though it does work.
The head has Pearl guitar company printed on it and there is a serial number on the back.
I dont care what its worth (only paid 40 bucks including the amp) I just like to know about it.
Can anyone help?

[Mike Wingate]

Can you post a picture and the serial number.

[scruffydoo]

electric guitars a superb hobby, hope you stick with it, but once you start playing properly be prepared to get your wallet hammered, there's always a new piece of gear that you must have.

the most common intermitant electrical fault is a duff connection on the jack plug where you plug in your cable in, so that's a good starting point to look. Don't know much about Pearl but Japanese Les Paul's are often decent quality so you may have struck lucky there.

[forunna]

OK, pictures enclosed and I have played with the jack, doesnt seem to be a problem.
its the switches that seem to be hit and miss.
I mates daughter has offered to have a look at it for me.Apperantly she has been playing for a while and has a few guitars.
Still want to know as much as I can about the guitar.

[Andrew_B]

theres an instrument section on this forum where myself and some other guys build guitars

that is a nice guitar you have there...
kind of a gibson melody maker shape,

looks like it has your ussual lespaul electronics (a volume and tone pot for each pickup, 3 way toggle switch)

but it looks like there is a mini toggle switch there...
probably to coil tap the bridge pickup...

after 30so years you can imagine how man times those pots have been turned, and how many times those switches have been switched.....
the amount of dirt and grime thats worked its way in there over the years....
ofcourse there will be some issues
50 or 60bux should be all it would cost for a guitar tech to get it playing decent....

these old jap guitars are becoming quite sort after at the moment....


this ebay seller has a couple of pearl guitars.... nice too

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/80s-PEARL-EXPO...%3D9%26ps%3D63


http://phorums.com.au/showthread.php?t=192458


Ibanez Collectors World: The Pearl Guitar Company - anyone know about these guitars?


Pearl Export Custom: Harmony Central User Reviews


Pearl Guitar Company Export Custom for sale - TradeMe.co.nz - New Zealand


Pearl Export Custom Les Paul Copy [Archive] - The Gear Page

[forunna]

thanks Andrew,
Not quite up to building one yet.
I appear to have scored quite a bargain going by those for-sales and other comments.
I have been thinking of using some electrical spray cleaner I have heard about for the pots.

[Andrew_B]

i believe the spray wont do alot, will just cause any gunk inside the pots to moisten and move around

worth a try i guess

[Mike Wingate]

I had a Pearl catalog a few years back from a LGS. The guitars were mostly Gibson copies, all with a painted finish and over elaborate binding. They don't seem to be available in the U.K.

[forunna]

Had?
would be interesting to find out any info on the guitar if you still had it.
I have restrung it back to right handed with new strings and tuned it with an electronic tuner.
Can almost play mary had a little lamb

[Mike Wingate]

I have a wife and 1 magazine rack. When it is full it gets sorted out. Had!