Tell me MY Machete

[Chris Wolf]

I got the sister of the Japanese guys guitar on Ebay a month ago . . dope flame maple front wings . . alleged to be signed by "J." from White Zombie, looks real enough and he played one so its possible. The Robin case says "MACLEAN" on it in band-stencil spray paint. SN: 901055.

Seen in some pics with a Trans-Green '94 Medley II.


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[Chuck's Guitar Shop]

Those era Machete's are AWESOME...

I bought a Machete brand new back then over a PRS I was also looking at ...

The Machete was a much hotter sounding, More
modern feeling guitar in a time when Guitar
playing had really been pushed to the extreme.

I felt this was the natural evolution of pushing building materials
& innovation to the extreme in favour of the PRS being a more vintage feeling guitar.
Forging ahead where no man ... well uh...

http://robinlovers.com/discus/clipart/happy.gif

Had a couple Hamer Prototypes back then too...
The Robin's were it though ... The Pinacle
& I was looking to push the Guitar envelope further ...
after I got mine I dove into one of the Paganinni
Caprices 14 hrs. a day for about 5 days
straight ... my hand swelled up like a balloon & I
couldn't play at all for two weeks... they warn
you about overexuberence on the manuscript...

That's what kind of committment these guitars mean to me still.
Playing until your fingers bleed as being a WAY OF LIFE...

It would be nice if excellence of execution became more mainstream again.
These are THE TOOLS.

What a beauty.

[Dave Wintz]

Cameron McClean did alot of photography for us in the 90's. That guitars was made for him I believe.

Dave Wintz/Robin

[Chris Wolf]

Wow . . I didn't experience that same bloody fingers Paganini syndrome . . probably because . . . . I SUCK!!!! Unfortunately my taste in guitars far outweighs my skill . . but I still have LOTS OF FUN! and thats what its all about for me.

I have all the major manufacturers, none of them impress me too much including a 79 Srat, a 94 Strat, a 96 PRS Custom 22 10-top, a 2001 Gibson '54 Historic Black Beauty, and an Ibanez JEM 77FP. The only one I wouldn't part with in a heartbeat is the JEM, just because I bought it in the 80's so it has sentimental value.

The guitars I love and hold in the highest regard are my '86 Jackson Soloist from San Dimas, it was my first guitar and its plays like a dream. I bought it new out of the window on 48th street in NYC in 1986. These two Robins are awesome also. I also love my '78 BC Rich Koa Mockingbird. I am taking it to Neal Moser in around a month for a restoration and to pick up something else he made for me. I have also been to Mike Shannon's house and have a guitar he made. The Master Craftsmen are some of the nicest and most amazing people on the planet.

Dave Wintz - thank you for the insight as to the likely origin of this Machete . . and thanks for making such AWESOME guitars . . I knew there had to be something to the Robin Guitar, as J. plays them and I think Dime had some too . . I never saw one closer than from front row until I bought the Machete on Ebay a month ago, and I'm glad my instinct was right.

I went to NAMM today . . I didn't see a Robin exhibit listed . . I was disappointed, maybe I just missed it though.

[Chuck's Guitar Shop]

NAMM SHOW!!

I'm sure you're having a ball... I haven't been
to a NAMM show in about 5 years... I had gone
every year prior for about 5 years straight.
I'm not sure what Dave or Robin Guitars do at the shows..
Sure is a Rush meeting all those people even if the food does kinda suck.

You've got quite a stable of great guitars there Chris. I've been more traditional since I've fattened up over the years & now I had Robin Build me a Savoy...
I have two Savoys & an Avalon
& a couple others ... mostly more traditional.
Now I'm Built for Comfort not for Speed.
I like the Singing Sustain from
these body types & I'm just too lazy to deal with
a tremolo much anymore. I still think Robin's are the best.
If you decide to sell that thing please let me know though.
I do scrape this couch off my butt every now & then ...

Back when I bought my Machete my jamming Buddy
played an Early Jackson with Bela Lugosi as Dracula on the front ...
Man he was great at those 3 octave sweep picking runs like Racer X was doing.
He came from a Band called Brother's Grimm out of
Cincinatti ... whew ... his big claim to fame was
outselling David Chastain there on a couple occassions ...
They were all Monsters & it was a real privelage.

That was a great time in my life for sure...

Quit your job, dump the Babe,
Drive to LA & JAM all day!!!

Hope your having a good time at Namm.

[Chris Wolf]

Hey Guys - I brought this in to Grant Guitars today to have the tremolo-lock thing removed - I hate it. So anyway, the listing when I bought this axe said Gibson pickups, which Joel Grant said seemed correct when he inspected it. I don't particularly care for too much, I think this guitar needs to sound more like it looks if that makes any sense. Question is, what is stock for this? Rio Grandes or Duncans? Any suggestions - especially from El Presidente or other Staff!

Thanks;

Wolfie

[BCRGreg]

Just get Rio Grandes and love life.

[Ken Jones]

Originally would've had Duncans. Not sure which model.

[DCWalters]

Go with the Rios, you will be happy with them.

[Chris Wolf]

Which Rios you guys?!? Crunchbox or Muy Grande? or Something else?

[DCWalters]

Rio Grande Barbeque & Genuine Texas Humbucking pickups are my personal favorites. It all depends what your style of music is (I guess). Go to the Rio grande website and check out the sound clips, this is not always an exact indication of what sound you are going to get but at least it gives you an idea.

[Chris Baker]

I have the Muy Grande/Tallboy combo in my '04 Machete, and I can't imagine anything else being better. They make Duncans sound weak...

[Chris Wolf]

OK thanks for the info so far - which brings me to question #2:

Whats F-Spacing & G-Spacing? Is that why the strings & magnets don;t line up on some of my guitars? And if so, whats the right spacing for a Machete?

Thanks again;

Wolfie

[Brian Presley]

F should be for "Floyd Rose" style locking trems.

[Kizanski]

I believe F & G are for Fender and Gibson spacing, respectfully.

[Brian Presley]

That would make sense. Which one is the better choice for my RH-2 with a Floyd Rose? I'm currently using the Duncan JB model in Trembucker spacing (bridge) and a Jazz (neck)-both humbuckers. Playing everything from Jazz to Modern Metal (not much Country-Western). I like the flexibility of having split and parallel sounds too.
Are the Rio's really that nice? Thinking I owe it to the family to give one a try. A Muy Grande perhaps?

[jam]

that was my dad's machete!!!, i was there when he sprayed the case, my cases all say Maclean too!!!!

i wondered what happened to it?!!
you should know,
it was played by a serious player, and held in high regard!!!

good to see it again!!!

kudos!!!