
Benefiting from the ignorance of others.
So I cracked open the back of the Talman to look at the input. Everything is wired fine, so I tried plugging it in. Sure enough, the guitar works just fine

.
Pretty glad I talked him down $50 because I would have to do work to get it functioning again.
This things sounds like pure rawk. I figured I was going to gut the electronics and everything, but the 'buckers in there actually sound pretty good. The strings are completely fucking dead, so I am excited to hear how it sounds with a new set slapped on there.
It is pretty damn quiet too.
This is the thinnest semi-hollow I have played, and has been my favorite. It has me seriously considering a thinline tele.