The reissue nobody knew was a reissue, Epiphone Genesis
This was a top tier model electric Epiphone was making in the early 2010s, and it's still great.
You know how I just mentioned the Epiphone SC from the '70s? The Genesis was also from the '70s too. You didn't know that? Neither did I until I looked up information on this guitar.
What I'm specifically talking about here is the reissue Genesis from the early 2010s. The models were Genesis Deluxe, Genesis Deluxe Pro and Genesis Custom.
I have fuzzy memories of this guitar - the reissue, that is - back when it was new. It was just kinda... there. In reality, this guitar offered a lot of bang for the buck and still does.
Specifically talking about the Pro model:
Body and 24.75" scale set neck (yes, set neck) are both mahogany, and the body has a maple cap. Nice trapezoid inlays, real rosewood fingerboard in a nice color, and it even has real Grover tuners on the headstock.
Binding on body and neck? Yes, indeed. The headstock has no binding, but that's okay.
The pickups are ProBucker-2 (neck) and ProBucker-3 (bridge), and they are Epiphone designed pickups, meaning not Gibson.
Push-pull electronics? Yes! Both pickups can be tapped. It came like that from the factory.
Originally, the Pro model sold for $500 new. It hasn't appreciated much in value since it was new for three reasons. Too young to still have any high collector value, it's a reissue, it's a model most people totally forgot about...
...meaning this is one seriously good "workhorse" guitar. Genuinely good build, genuinely good parts, and great for studio or gigging. You get all the best stuff Epiphone had to offer in the early 2010s without the high price tag.
One last note: Yes, the poker chip for the pickup selector switch is sideways on purpose, and that is how the guitar was delivered originally.
Is there a modern new equivalent of this guitar?
Yes. See the Gretsch Double Jet. You'll see that Epiphone took a lot of inspiration from that guitar to make the Genesis.
Setting up a Garmin nuvi 660 in 2022
I bought a Garmin nuvi 660, and wow did I learn some eye-opening things by actually getting one of these.
Before getting into that, this is how to set one of these things up:
- Understand that the maximum map file size allowed on either the 660 itself or any memory card (up to 32GB) can be 2GB maximum.
- Understand the 660 will only recognize two map file images. The first is gmapprom.img which MUST reside within the Garmin folder on the nuvi itself, and the second is gmapsupp.img which MUST reside within the Garmin folder on the memory card.
- Understand the 660 never had lifetime maps, so you have three options here. Either a) pay Garmin for maps and then use MapSource or MapInstall from BaseCamp to specifically create under-2GB map images for the nuvi and its memory card, b) use one or two (your choice) OpenStreetMap map images from OpenMapChest, or c) use the full United States BaseCamp map image from OpenMapChest and create your own under-2GB map images using MapSource or BaseCamp to send to the 660 and its memory card.
- Understand that for full screen brightness, the power cradle must be used. Powering it from the mini USB port on the side does not get the screen to full brightness.
It is not easy getting a 660 all set up and working.
However, once it is working, it is a genuine joy to use.
Back in 2006, the 660 sold for over $800. Yes, it was grossly overpriced in '06, especially considering the 360, a 3.5" model, was under $400 at the same time the 660 was being sold. In '06, a $400 price tag was normal for a GPS back then.
The 660 was not the top model as there were two others. The 670 had transatlantic maps, and the 680 featured an optional Microsoft MSN service (which was not free) to provide additional local travel info such as gas prices and weather. The MSN service has been discontinued for a long time now.
All three 600 series models had Bluetooth, an FM transmitter to transmit the audio to your car stereo if so desired, MP3 player, and Audible audiobooks. Traffic reporting was also available via a GTM20 or GTM21. You can still source a "lifetime traffic" version of one of those on eBay, however, it only works if you have Garmin-issued maps loaded on the nuvi. If it's OpenStreetMap, the traffic reporting doesn't work.
When used strictly as a navigator (meaning no Bluetooth and no traffic reporting), the 660 still works great even today.
The matte screen it uses is super-bright, back when Garmin actually gave a crap about putting in decent screens in their automotive models. It may be only 4.3", but oh yes, very bright and can be read in daylight without a problem.
Nearly every font displayed on the 660 is big and easy-to-read. Yes, there is a decidedly mid-2000s look to the UI (the PDA and Windows XP influence of the era is obvious), but the low-res screen and big fonts allow for better legibility compared to any smartphone and most infotainment systems.
The ability to send the audio out from the 660 via 3.5mm cable or FM transmitter to a radio frequency is amazing. And the fact you can load up MP3s on the memory card (all you have to do is create a folder called MP3 and drop the .mp3 files there) where you can use the 660 as the navigator and the music player seamlessly?
Very good stuff.
Because this is an early Garmin navigator, it is 100% nag-free. The only thing that could qualify as a nag is one agreement prompt on boot - but that's it.
A bit of a chore to get working, but once you do...
...it's great. Truly.
It is easier to get a nuvi 50LM up and running. No question about that. Getting a 660 working in 2022 does require some rather nerdy procedures just to make it work.
However, what the 660 has shown me is that in the end, it's all about the map data. If the maps are current, that's all that matters. The 660 is dinosaur-era as far as tech is concerned, but with modern maps, it not only works but works very nicely.
Using a 660 (or 50LM for that matter) also just goes to prove that simple navigation totally works.
More Japan weirdness, Epiphone SC-550
An Epiphone made in Japan with a German carve, scroll and a 24-fret 25.5" scale neck? Oh yes, this happened.
Odds are you have never seen one of these in person, and that's because this guitar was made in the 1970s for just four years, 1976 to 1979. It is Epiphone branded, but the Japanese company who built the guitar was the Matsumoku company. In addition to some Epiphone guitars, they also made guitars for several other brands. Some examples are the Aria Pro II TS-600, a whole bunch of Greco guitars, some Vantage, some Washburn and several others. Matsumoku was a busy company back in the day with their woodworking...
...but this Epiphone really stands out. You want bold and different? You want an SC-550.
The design is the first thing you see, so let's talk about that first.
It does look like a guitar that would fit perfectly within an orchestra setting or Renaissance Fair, and has that "before 20th century" feel, so to speak. The skinny headstock, while looking slightly weird, does complement that top horn. The gold plated hardware does work well with the natural finish, where you can see wood grain easily. The fingerboard is dark and the block inlays offer some very nice contrast.
And the scroll. Yeah, that thing. Said honestly, it doesn't look garish. I sort of like it, but am certainly not in love with it.
The best compliment I can give to this guitar is that it absolutely does not look like it came out of the 1970s, even though it absolutely did.
Nothing about this Epiphone says "I'm from the '70s" at all, which is a very good thing. Does that make the design timeless?
Concerning the color options, the only two available were Natural and Ebony. I think Natural is the better choice.
Supposedly, there was an original option where certain models have Gibson humbuckers in them. The only way to know that for sure by model name is if it had -G at the end. Natural had a model name of SC-550N-G, and Ebony was SC-550B-G. Did that make any difference at all in the tone? No idea. But it's probably true those are the most prized models given the Gibson humbuckers used were quite upscale (they had gold plated pole pieces and were copper-wrapped, very highfalutin stuff!)
What does "SC" mean in the model name? Scroll, of course.
Does anybody make an electric guitar with a scroll now? No, or at least not that I've seen. But if you like the weirder stuff, the go-to guitar is usually Schecter Synyster Gates, as that's a big, swoopy weird one for sure.
The Blacktop Stratocaster Fender got right, FSR Mahogany HH
Blacktop Stratocaster. Remember that one? Probably. Remember the FSR Mahogany version? No? It exists, and it's cool.
Blacktop by Fender came in three flavors. Stratocaster HH, Telecaster HH and Jaguar HH. Look at any of those and you'll think, "Meh. They're okay."
But then there's the Fender FSR Mahogany Blacktop Stratocaster. Okay, this is better.
The two colors available are Black with gold hardware, and Crimson Red with chrome hardware.
As far as I can tell, Black versions get the rosewood fingerboard and Crimson Red ones get pau ferro. Both, as it states in the name of the model, do feature a mahogany body instead of alder.
Both models are literally the only Blacktops I've ever seen where I've said to myself, "Yeah, I like that. These look right."
What makes the two FSR versions look better? They just look meaner, which was part of the whole point of the Blacktop series to begin with. A lot of that has to do with the black headstock and black pick guard on both of them. Both of these things suit the overall look of the guitar so much better compared to the standard Blacktop.
Oh, and yes, the headstock does in fact have "STRATOCASTER" on it, but it's black like the headstock is so you can barely see it. That's weird, but it also adds to the meaner, menacing look of the guitar.
I never liked the Blacktop, but I like these. Fender should have made them all look like this to begin with.
Is there a modern version made new?
Fender doesn't at the time I write this, but Squier definitely does. See the Squier Contemporary Stratocaster HH.
Jackson JS11 Dinky, the ultimate project guitar?
When it comes to ready-to-mod guitars, it doesn't get much better than this.
Some guitars you buy just to mod, and the best kind have three things going for them:
1. Must be new. When the guitar is new, that means no unexpected age related problems (such as old warped/cracked plastics).
2. Must be cheap. Money will be spent on other things (pickups, potentiometers, nut, tuners, etc.), so the initial cost must be as low as possible.
3. Must be easy to work on. The guitar has to be as anti-complicated as possible so you can get your mods done quick and easy.
The Jackson JS11 Dinky is cheap (as in well-under-$200 cheap), it can be bought new at the time I write this, and it's easy to work on. On the top of the guitar, the pickups are easy to unmount. On the back, all it takes is loosening 4 screws to get to all the control electronics. The guitar also has a Strat style tremolo system with easy access from the rear. Also note that each tuner is held in by a single screw on the back of the headstock.
When you want new, cheap and easy to work on, Jackson JS11 Dinky is a very simple build that you can mod yourself with hardly any fuss at all.
You'll see listings for this guitar in blue, black, white and red. They all have a dark fingerboard with dot inlays.
Is the Jackson easier to work on than a Strat? Yes. Cheap Strats don't feature single-screw tuners, the pickups are mounted within the pick guard, and getting that guard off usually requires loosening 10 screws just to get to the electronics. You will have a much easier time modding the Jackson.
On a final note, if you want something slightly better within the Jackson brand, see the JS22 Dinky. That one has a 24-fret neck, arched top, shark fin fretboard inlays, and natural is a finish option for those that like the woody look. You'll spend about $50 more for this guitar over the JS11, and it's just as moddable.