NGD: Chapman ML3 Traditional Semi Hollow

RandallFlagg

Ideally I wanted a Friedman Vintage T with P90s but don't have the budget it for it...

So I bought this Chapman ML3 Traditional Semi Hollow last week, it's place is backup to my Gibson Custom Shop Goldtop Les Paul with P90s.

I like it. The stainless steel fretwork is outstanding, highly polished and perfectly level and very well dressed, reminds me of a Fender American Deluxe Strat I owned years ago that had extra detailing attention to the fretwork. The satin finish on the roasted maple neck front and back feels superb and is very silky to play. The neck is wider than the Gibson but fairly chunky, it reminds me a of the Fender Custom Shop 10/56 carve, it's in that zone.

The P90 pickups are hotter than the Gibson P90s in my Goldtop, they measure 8.8K where the Gibson are 7.8K. They sound very good and the video below is a very accurate representation of how they sound.

The bridge pickup doesn't quite sit horizontally with the body top which bugs me slightly, I need to remove and play with the foam or whatever is underneath pushing it up against the screws to adjust it...a bit OCD, I know.

The body is light and a nice honey flame colour but the production model lacks the red flame edge sunburst hue of the prototype Rob Chapman has in the vid, which is a shame as I think it looks a little better.

The locking tuners are really good quality and tuning is very stable, the reverse headstock doesn't annoy me like I thought it might and from the players point of view is soon adjusted to.

The only niggles and things that give away that it's a mass Asian build are the saddle height screws are all the same height so the outer saddle screws are quite exposed and sharp on the palm. The volume knob is quite close to the strings and I catch it when playing, and the knobs are knurled with indentations and the top rim is quite sharp, I would prefer regular speed knobs, plus the tone pot sounds like linear taper to me and only starts to work when dialled down to about 5, I would prefer a volume taper pot with tone roll most at the top end from 10-6. Also, the nut edges are a little sharp and could do with filing off for comfort. All in all pretty minor niggles.

I'm pretty pleased with it, and it does sound good, I don't love it yet, but may grow to the more I hear it as it does sound damn good, in fact with the higher output pickups the overdriven sounds are immediately more satisfying that the Les Paul which takes a bit more dialling in and a bit more preamp gain to reach the same level of overdrive.

Pics:











https://youtu.be/g6-lbepTsrk

RandallFlagg

Do I need to wear long cargo shorts, get some 'tats, become a vegetarian and call everyone "dude" now?

Funkfingers

Nah. That's kid's stuff.

Musicman20

That is their best model imo. 

KrisGee

RandallFlagg said:

The body is light and a nice honey flame colour but the production model lacks the red flame edge sunburst hue of the prototype Rob Chapman has in the vid, which is a shame as I think it looks a little better.

Actualy I think yours looks better, more natural. Nice guitar anyway, can see from the pics the quality is there.
Still can't get over the reverse headstock on these, although it doesn't look as bad as reversed prs headstock on the silver sky Enjoy!

notanon

Happy NGD! Hope it inspires creative tones, enjoy :-) 

Blaendulais

The path to the dark side is complete.   Chapman is your father.  

RandallFlagg

Blaendulais said:

The path to the dark side is complete.   Chapman is your father.  

Zoinks!

Fifty9

Nice guitar. This is the only Chapman that has appealed to me & even then I'm not that keen on the colour or reverse headstock but I do think they are really maximising the quality now available from asia. Kudos to them for that. 

zepp76

Not a guitar related question I know but what's the story behind the cricket ball and ashes trophy replica? Do you play?

RandallFlagg

zepp76 said:

Not a guitar related question I know but what's the story behind the cricket ball and ashes trophy replica? Do you play?

I love England Test cricket, especially the home Ashes, I don't play but am a keen armchair fan and like collecting uniquely English things such as the Duke & Son ball. The replica Urn is from Australia though as Cricket Australia are the only official retailer!

There is nothing finer that a warm sunny day on the freshly mown lawn with Test Match Special on the Dab radio as the BBQ sizzles, with a cider in hand to the sound of distant lawnmowers and small planes flying over and a gently breeze rustling the leaves in the trees.

I've got tickets for a day at The Ashes this summer as well, not been before so I'm looking forward to that, just hoping for a dry day.

grungebob

When I read your opening post requirements I immediately thought of the fender Jim Adkins model.  The chapman looks nice though. 

zepp76

RandallFlagg said:

zepp76 said:

Not a guitar related question I know but what's the story behind the cricket ball and ashes trophy replica? Do you play?

I love England Test cricket, especially the home Ashes, I don't play but am a keen armchair fan and like collecting uniquely English things such as the Duke & Son ball. The replica Urn is from Australia though as Cricket Australia are the only official retailer!

There is nothing finer that a warm sunny day on the freshly mown lawn with Test Match Special on the Dab radio as the BBQ sizzles, with a cider in hand to the sound of distant lawnmowers and small planes flying over and a gently breeze rustling the leaves in the trees.

I've got tickets for a day at The Ashes this summer as well, not been before so I'm looking forward to that, just hoping for a dry day.

That sounds great, before my spinal operation myself and two friends would go down to the local cricket grounds and play, one wicket keeper a batsman and bowler. We'd take bottles of red wine with us and some naughty cigarettes and have a great time knocking a ball about, great times.

Arktik83

That looks nice tbh, the natural finish is growing on me.  Nice score, Happy NGD!

darthed1981

Happy NGD.

I like Chapman guitars, my next guitar purchase will almost certainly be some kind of Chapman.

munckee

zepp76 said:

RandallFlagg said:

zepp76 said:

Not a guitar related question I know but what's the story behind the cricket ball and ashes trophy replica? Do you play?

I love England Test cricket, especially the home Ashes, I don't play but am a keen armchair fan and like collecting uniquely English things such as the Duke & Son ball. The replica Urn is from Australia though as Cricket Australia are the only official retailer!

There is nothing finer that a warm sunny day on the freshly mown lawn with Test Match Special on the Dab radio as the BBQ sizzles, with a cider in hand to the sound of distant lawnmowers and small planes flying over and a gently breeze rustling the leaves in the trees.

I've got tickets for a day at The Ashes this summer as well, not been before so I'm looking forward to that, just hoping for a dry day.

That sounds great, before my spinal operation myself and two friends would go down to the local cricket grounds and play, one wicket keeper a batsman and bowler. We'd take bottles of red wine with us and some naughty cigarettes and have a great time knocking a ball about, great times.

Jumpers for stumps...

I quite like cricket, went to the Oval on a corporate day a couple of years ago, was a great day.  Done a few 20/20s at the Rose Bowl near Zepp.

The semi hollow is the nicest Chapman I've seen I think.  Probably still not for me but looks good.

Sassafras

The size and position of the volume knob looks, shall we say, ill conceived?

RandallFlagg

Sassafras said:

The size and position of the volume knob looks, shall we say, ill conceived?

It's actually not as close as a Strat to be fair, the only issue I have with it is the indentations of the speed knob, I would prefer a smooth one.

Xandoor

The Chapman can of worms has been opened once more...

Seriously thought that looks really nice, you could probably replace the knobs if you like, might change the look rather a lot though. up to you, man. 

Happy NGD

mbe

Happy NGD

I must admit it's grown on me more since I looked at it this morning. I think the rim burst is actually nicer than the prototype in the video.

LuttiS

That looks great. I've only had good experiences with Chapman's, that one's been on the list for a while. Hope you enjoy!