mlivingstone
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- Jan 5, 2006
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Hi All
Thought I'd give a few initial subjective impressions of how my new LS150 compares to the LS65 after the benefit of all of 20 something hours :wink. Differences in specs have been well documented in previous posts.
Some photos attached below of the LS150 and new friends (front row L to R - Yamaha MSG; LS150; LS65 : back row - various Fendery things).
Build and appearance
Both Love Rocks are violin finish. The LS65 is a plain top; the LS150 flame). The red is more pronounced in the LS65. Finish is applied thinly and evenly on both. The obvious visual difference is the LS150s lack of scratchplate. I prefer with scratchplate but I'm a little cackhanded!
Weight is very similar with the LS150 perhaps a tiny bit heavier but nothing in it. The 150 fingerboard is a much darker, denser grained and consistently coloured piece of Rosewood/Jacaranda although this may lighten with use. The pearloid inlays appear to be 'a better class of pearloid' if possible. They have a slightly yellowed aged look which adds to the vintage vibe. The LS150 neck angle appears to be steeper. On first use this seemed extremely odd and looking down on the neck joint it looked to me as if it had a tapered heel - just an optical illusion. Compared to the 65 the 150's bridge and tailpiece (and pups) are set much higher presumably to accommodate the steeper neck angle. Action on both LS's is pretty similar. The resulting feel however is quite different and the LS150 seems to hug the body more than any other set neck I've tried. A quick peek inside the controls coverplate reveals vintage spec components with braided wiring (and a very different smell due to the nitro?).
Sounds
Haven't tried recording or through an amp yet but have played through a modeller (Korg AX100g) and a Hughes and Kettner Tubeman recording preamp. Compared to the LS65 I can honestly say the differences are not pronounced. The LS65 is a little brigher on the bridge pup (although the 150 needs a string change) but conversely the LS150s neck pup has better clarity and less 'fluff' than the 65. Output levels are similar. On balance I would say the 150 sounds a little more complex, airy and woody compared to the 65 with the 65 having more of a 'ceramic' character compared to the 150's alnico - despite them both being PAFs if you know what I mean. This of course could be a case of psychoacoustics expecting the 150 to be more 'complex'. Compared to my other set neck - the Yamaha MSG; the MSG has a slightly higher output and to my ears a slightly better and more versatile tone than both Toks however differences are marginal and all three are great sounding guitars.
Feel
This is where I found the greatest differences. My Yam MSG has a pronounced wide slim shallow C neck If I understand the terminology correctly (apparently modelled on a 60's 335). The LS65 feels to me like a medium/fat C to D shape. The LS150 feels a little heftier but surprise surprise just seems to disappear!. Combine this with the 'body hugging' feel and the 150 is easily one of the most comfortable guitars I've ever played. In fact it feels like and old friend I've been playing for a decade.
This is no hyperbole - I rarely get this feel from any guitar. Out of my current crop the only ones that feel like old shoes are my 80s Jap squier strat which I played exclusively for 12 years or so after having to sell my Fenders and my Tok tele; and now the 150. In contrast my US deluxe strat is a beautiful guitar with one of the most comfortable necks I've ever played - but it just doesn't feel right!
Apologies for the length of this post. In summary as you can tell I'm v happy with my new LS150. For very subjective reasons it just seems to suit me and in no way is the LS75 inferior or overshadowed - just different. Other's may prefer the 65.
Cheers
Mark L
Thought I'd give a few initial subjective impressions of how my new LS150 compares to the LS65 after the benefit of all of 20 something hours :wink. Differences in specs have been well documented in previous posts.
Some photos attached below of the LS150 and new friends (front row L to R - Yamaha MSG; LS150; LS65 : back row - various Fendery things).
Build and appearance
Both Love Rocks are violin finish. The LS65 is a plain top; the LS150 flame). The red is more pronounced in the LS65. Finish is applied thinly and evenly on both. The obvious visual difference is the LS150s lack of scratchplate. I prefer with scratchplate but I'm a little cackhanded!
Weight is very similar with the LS150 perhaps a tiny bit heavier but nothing in it. The 150 fingerboard is a much darker, denser grained and consistently coloured piece of Rosewood/Jacaranda although this may lighten with use. The pearloid inlays appear to be 'a better class of pearloid' if possible. They have a slightly yellowed aged look which adds to the vintage vibe. The LS150 neck angle appears to be steeper. On first use this seemed extremely odd and looking down on the neck joint it looked to me as if it had a tapered heel - just an optical illusion. Compared to the 65 the 150's bridge and tailpiece (and pups) are set much higher presumably to accommodate the steeper neck angle. Action on both LS's is pretty similar. The resulting feel however is quite different and the LS150 seems to hug the body more than any other set neck I've tried. A quick peek inside the controls coverplate reveals vintage spec components with braided wiring (and a very different smell due to the nitro?).
Sounds
Haven't tried recording or through an amp yet but have played through a modeller (Korg AX100g) and a Hughes and Kettner Tubeman recording preamp. Compared to the LS65 I can honestly say the differences are not pronounced. The LS65 is a little brigher on the bridge pup (although the 150 needs a string change) but conversely the LS150s neck pup has better clarity and less 'fluff' than the 65. Output levels are similar. On balance I would say the 150 sounds a little more complex, airy and woody compared to the 65 with the 65 having more of a 'ceramic' character compared to the 150's alnico - despite them both being PAFs if you know what I mean. This of course could be a case of psychoacoustics expecting the 150 to be more 'complex'. Compared to my other set neck - the Yamaha MSG; the MSG has a slightly higher output and to my ears a slightly better and more versatile tone than both Toks however differences are marginal and all three are great sounding guitars.
Feel
This is where I found the greatest differences. My Yam MSG has a pronounced wide slim shallow C neck If I understand the terminology correctly (apparently modelled on a 60's 335). The LS65 feels to me like a medium/fat C to D shape. The LS150 feels a little heftier but surprise surprise just seems to disappear!. Combine this with the 'body hugging' feel and the 150 is easily one of the most comfortable guitars I've ever played. In fact it feels like and old friend I've been playing for a decade.
This is no hyperbole - I rarely get this feel from any guitar. Out of my current crop the only ones that feel like old shoes are my 80s Jap squier strat which I played exclusively for 12 years or so after having to sell my Fenders and my Tok tele; and now the 150. In contrast my US deluxe strat is a beautiful guitar with one of the most comfortable necks I've ever played - but it just doesn't feel right!
Apologies for the length of this post. In summary as you can tell I'm v happy with my new LS150. For very subjective reasons it just seems to suit me and in no way is the LS75 inferior or overshadowed - just different. Other's may prefer the 65.
Cheers
Mark L
