Are you looking for the Sam Ash Electric Guitar? If so, you’ve come to the right place.
Choosing the Sam Ash Electric Guitar can be difficult as there are so many considerations, such as Fender, Gibson, Ibanez, Epiphone, Jackson, ESP, Schecter Guitar Research. We have done a lot of research to find the top 20 Sam Ash Electric Guitar available.
The average cost is $1002.27. Sold comparable range in price from a low of $164.99 to a high of $2799.00.
Based on the research we did, we think Fender Player Telecaster , Pau Ferro Fingerboard, Polar White is the best overall. Read on for the rest of the great options and our buying guide, where you can find all the information you need to know before making an informed purchase.
20 Best Selling Sam Ash Electric Guitar (20 Sellers)
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Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- Like new condition.
- Angled switch control plate with the volume and tone controls moved back, for improved functionality.
- All us electrical components hand-wired.
$879.99
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- Winning formula.
- The neck plays home to a pau ferro fingerboard complete with 22 medium-jumbo frets and positional dot inlays.
- Sound control.
$2144.00
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- A classic, reborn in a beautiful faded finish
- Body styles
- Body material
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Lightweight . Well made . Durable
Features:
- The epiphone sg standard from the new inspired by gibson collection, recreates the legendary 1960s classic that powered
- The guitar that powered the first generation of hard rock
- Sg standard specifications
$2129.00
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Heavy
Features:
- A truly fantastic guitar that has to have a new home.
- I have loved playing this guitar over the past year or so, but needs must and it has to go.
- You can hear how it sounds if you drop me a message 🙂 happy to send audio and video recordings.
$2799.00
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- This item is in very good condition.
- This item has been tested and is 100% functional.
- Please message us with any questions.
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Durable . Well made . Lightweight
Features:
- Vintage 50's les paul guitar in mahogany
- With the world famous "probucker" humbucker system
- Classic warm '50s les paul sound secured with original design and components
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- Slash-designed les paul special-ii in classic pitch black finish
- 15-watt slash “snakepit” amp
- Premium gig bag
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Lightweight
Features:
- Alder body with gloss finish
- Three players of stratocaster single-coil pickups
- Modern shaped "c" profile handle
$219.00
4.5
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Well made . Lacks durability . Weight
Features:
- Clip-on headstock chromatic tuner
- 10-foot instrument cable
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durability . Weight
Features:
- Classic les paul style in an affordable package, lightweight mahogany body yields no-frills great tone
- Alnico classic (neck) and alnico classic plus (bridge) humbucking pickups; push-pull volume pots activate coil splitting
- Slimtaper "d" neck profile is extremely comfortable and easy to play
Reviewers Noted:
Sound quality . Lightweight . Attractive . Well made . Durability
Features:
- Budget-friendly electric guitar in high quality
- Stylish blue design
- Excellent sound
$1599.00
4.6
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Lightweight . Durability . Well made
Features:
- Gibson sg special vintage cherry electric guitar.
- The sg special returns to the classic design that made it relevant, played, and loved — shaping sound across generations and genres of music.
- P-90 single coil pickup.
$199.00
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Lightweight . Well made . Durable
Features:
- Classic sg style with five vintage worn color finishes
- Open humbuckers with ceramic magnets
- Epiphone premium machine heads
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Attractive . Durable . Well made . Lightweight
Features:
- Selling my left handed esp ltd ec 1000, purchased in august 2021 to fund a new purchase.
- Perfectly set up, very easy to play.
- Comes with unbranded soft case.
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durability . Lightweight
Features:
- As new
- Perfect new condition
- Plays and sounds as she should
Reviewers Noted:
Good sound quality . Well made . Attractive . Durable . Lightweight
Features:
- Beautiful select top.
- Three pu w/5 way switch.
- Tremolo bridge.
$1695.00
4.8
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Durable . Weight
Features:
- Accessories: please confirm the picture.
- Please note!
- Not all of the it…
$1063.86
4.7
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Durable . Lightweight . Well made
Features:
- Iconic jackson dinky ash body with deep cutaways provides fantastic access to the entire fretboard
- Caramelized maple speed neck is fast and stable
- Heel-mounted spoke wheel facilitates speedy truss rod adjustments
$1299.00
4.4
Reviewers Noted:
Attractive . Good sound quality . Well made . Weight . Durable
Features:
- Made in america
- 490r & t pickups
- Mahogany body with maple top
1. Fender Player Telecaster , Pau Ferro Fingerboard, Polar White
Product Details:
Real deal sound bold, innovative and rugged, the player telecaster is pure fender, through and through. the feel, the style and, most importantly, the soundtheyre all there, waiting for you to make them whisper or wail for your music. versatile enough to handle almost anything you can create and durable enough to survive any gig, this workhorse is a trusty sidekick for your musical vision. player series pickups designed for authentic fender tonewith a bit of an edgethe player series pickups keep a foot in the past while looking to the future. block-steel bridge saddles this string-through-body telecaster bridge features block-steel saddles to add a bit of zing to your tone. modern c neck profile this neck is designed for comfort and performance, with a modern c-shaped profile and a smooth back finishideal for almost any playing style. 22 frets adding another fret lets you bend the highest d up to an e, giving you access to four octaves of musical possibilities. more traditional body radii the player telecaster body is hand-shaped to original specifications. f-stamped neck plate each player telecaster includes an f-stamped neck plate, leaving no doubt as to the instruments pedigree.
Specifications:
Body shape | Single cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Body wood | Alder |
Body finish | Gloss Polyester |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | C modern |
Neck wood | Maple |
Joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 25.5" |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Satin Urethane |
Radius | 9.5" |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Dot |
Nut width | 1.65" (42 mm) |
Configuration | SS |
Neck | Alnico single-coil |
Bridge | Alnico single-coil |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Series |
Piezo | No |
Active EQ | No |
Control layout | Master volume, tone 1, tone 2 |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Coil tap or split | Coil split |
Kill switch | No |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | 6-block steel saddle Tele |
Tailpiece | String thru body |
Tuning machines | Die-cast sealed |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | Mexico |
Reviews:
I got this guitar on September 14th, 2021, and have had some minor issues with it. When I receive this guitar, it was perfect. Not a single case of fret buzz, the nut was perfect, and it was an all around great guitar. However, after about a month. I realized the tuners were a bit out of wack. I would be a bit flat, and turn the tuning peg over and over and over, only to not tighten the string at all. Then when I finally did one last turn, I'd be sharp by a whole note! Whatever, just replace the tuners. I had been putting that off. The next issue was a bit weird. I play really hard, and over time, the bridge pins were starting to get loose, and eventually a whole screw came out, and I had to take the guitar to a tech. I know this is probably user error, but still. I eventually just decided to turn it into a Jonny Greenwood tele, with lace sensors, a kill switch, and all. And let me tell you, this guitar is perfect now. The neck is (and always was) exactly what I was looking for. It's a bit thinner that my Squier Affinity Strat, but I like a thinner neck. Bottom line, I would recommend this guitar if your okay with getting new tuners. No one else I know has had problem with the bridge, so consider that. (P.S. I forgot to say that the stock pickups are amazing! I almost just kept them, they sound really good)Cory
As attested to by all the reviews on the Capri Orange MX Player Tele, it is a great playing guitar in its original factory form. However, I chose this guitar as the platform for Sweetwater to custom mod. In collusion with friend and Sales Engineer Jeff Jent, we determined the component upgrades of choice for the project. The oem wiring harness was replaced with the Emerson 4way switch Tele wiring harness. The additional switch position allows for the pups to play in series. The oem pups were replaced with Fender Custom Shop Twisted Tele pups. All this modification under the hood was covered up by a Fender black pearloid moto pickguard. The oem string guide was replaced with the Fender American Standard string guide. The oem control plate and knobs were kept as was the oem bridge with box saddles. I prefer the 6 box saddles bridge to the 3 saddles bridge – just a personal choice. Upon receipt of the Tele, from my personal parts box I installed Fender all short post locking tuners and Fender locking strap buttons. Since the MX Player Tele doesn't come with either a case or gig bag, I had the guitar shipped in a new Fender Elite hard case. I provided Jeff with my preferred set-up specs by the numbers and he forwarded those to the guitar technician for the final modified product set-up. Guitar technician Brandon Harper did exemplary work in putting the mod guitar together and tech supervisor Marty Flaley verified the completed modifications "nailed" by Brandon. If you desire modifications on a new guitar, don't be hesitant to turn the Sweetwater guitar technicians loose on your vision project. The techs know their trade. But in full disclosure, modified guitars are non returnable so be sure of the modifications you desire. The standard Sweetwater warranty is in place though. All of these details can be gone over with your Sales Engineer to be certain, just in case I have misspoken the rules of engagement. Thanks to Brandon for his tech expertise and Marty for the oversight (prior to his promotion, Marty was my tech of choice for set-ups on new guitar purchases). Can't say enough about my excellent relationship with my Sales Engineer Jeff Jent. He knows his gear! If you don't have an assigned Sales Engineer, call Sweetwater and ask for Jeff. If you are ever on the Sweetwater campus, ask to personally meet your Sales Engineer and guitar tech. I've had that pleasure and glad to call them friends. OH, and what about the orange Tele? It feels, handles and plays great. It is on par with my Elite and Ultra Teles (except slightly less expensive) as a fine crafted guitar. If you have ever wanted to do a mod guitar, pick any platform and turn the guitar techs loose. My new Tele is a Sweetwater Custom Mod!
This is a really great deal. Unless you get lucky on Reverb or whatever you won't find a deal like this anywhere else. And let's face it–you need a Telecaster! It's as basic as a Stratocaster. Even more so. It's so versatile and has a bright (but not too bright) sound. It's HIGHLY customizable. The shape of the neck is very comfortable for both rhythm and lead play. I'd even go so far as to tell you to make this your kids' (or YOUR) first guitar. For one thing, it's a Fender. The build quality is rock solid. It's really designed to be a lifetime instrument. Cons–really just the shade of the neck itself. It's a little pale. But that's just me. Not only that, but later on you can purchase another Fender neck and just replace it. (It's easy.) Don't let this absolute steal for a real Fender Tele get away from you. You'll thank me.
2. Fender Player Jazzmaster (Pau Ferro/polar White)
Product Details:
With a fat, thick sound all its own and sleek, elegant style, the player jazzmaster stands out under the spotlight. it's an inspiring instrument with a flexible, authentic fender tone and voice that works with any kind of music. the jazzmaster keeps turning up in the hands of musical visionaries and rebels; it's the ideal foundation for your sound. rugged, raw and powerful, this guitar is ready to throw down. respecting fender heritage while maintaining innovative spirit, the pair of player series humbucking pickups sound huge and warmit's authentic fender tone with a modern edge. for even more tone-shaping included a push/pull potentiometer to split the coils of the bridge pickup, unlocking authentic fender single-coil sound. the "modern c"-shaped maple neck's comfortable contours and smooth finish are ideal for almost any playing style. by adding a 22nd medium jumbo fret to the contemporary 9.5"-radius fingerboard made it easier to express yourself musically. the six-saddle, vintage-style adjustable bridge sports a floating tremolo tailpiece and screw-in arm, perfect for adding an extra bit of personal expression to your sound. other features include master volume and tone controls, a 5-way pickup switch, 3-ply pickguard, synthetic bone nut, dual-wing string tree, sealed tuning machines and four-bolt "f"-stamped neck plate that marks this instrument as the real dealas fender as it gets.
Specifications:
Body shape | Double-cutaway offset |
Body type | Solid body |
Body wood | Alder |
Body finish | Gloss |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | C modern |
Neck wood | Maple |
Joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 25.5" |
Truss rod | Dual-action |
Neck finish | Satin |
Radius | 9.5" |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Dot |
Configuration | HH |
Neck | Player Series humbucker Alnico |
Bridge | Player Series humbucker Alnico |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Parallel |
Piezo | No |
Active EQ | No |
Control layout | Master volume, tone |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Coil tap or split | No |
Kill switch | No |
Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
Bridge design | Vintage-style |
Tailpiece | Vintage Style Floating Tremolo |
Tuning machines | Die-cast sealed |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | Mexico |
Reviews:
Great buying experience! CME does a tremendous job checking the guitar over and making sure it’s totally right. This Fender short run exclusive was exactly what I was looking for! It does what a Jazzmaster is supposed to do … once you take the time to dial in your setup! The setup is a bit tricky for sure because everything has to be balanced and intonated just so to prevent the strings from buzzing on the adjustment screws OR on the bridge itself. It also helps to have the absolute tiniest amount of relief possible in the neck and to raise the bridge and angle it to the sweet spot for ideal string vibration and a high enough break angle to anchor the strings within the slots. Once you do these things and set the pickup height, the guitar truly sings, rocks, plays great, and stays completely in tune, even with serious tremolo arm use! My pickups are set to spec: 3.5 mm on the bass side and 3.2 mm on the treble side. If you aren’t comfortable doing a detailed setup, be prepared to locate a professional. I have set up MANY Fenders so I was able to do it myself in a couple hours of tinkering. The 65 pickups sound amazing! Cleans are shimmery and huge. Dirty sounds are fat and ringing. Perfect for indie and shoegaze styles. You can also roll off the tone for a darker, blues or jazz lead tone and, unlike the original jazzmaster bridge, the strings will stay PUT and allow you to pick hard and bend as much as you like even with 9 gauge. No need for a rhythm circuit in my opinion. This wiring setup keeps it simple, lowers the cost, and still gives you the full Jazzmaster experience. Buy one before they are gone! Love it!Joseph
Mine arrived looking beautiful but had a lot of hum/noise and I figured it had something to do with the pickups or 1 meg pots. I opened it up to shield it and the bridge ground wire was never soldered to the ground wire on the pot. After soldering it I plugged it back in and it was silent. I went from thinking it was ok to being my favorite guitar at the moment. This guitar looks, sounds and plays great and its priced very low too. It nails that classic Jazzmaster tone and does what a Jazzmaster should do. Before you jump into the Jazzmaster pool understand that these guitars require tinkering with. Saddle rattle can be fixed by adjusting the screws on the saddles. They tend to loosen and tighten when changing strings and if they're even slightly uneven they will rattle. Another way to fix this is to shim the neck so there's a slight backbow to it like a Les Paul. This will increase the break angle and put more pressure on the bridge preventing rattle. Using 11's or 12's helps too but the nut on these ones is perfect for 10-46. The 4th position is actually very usable and I find myself using this position more than I thought I would. This is a great guitar at a great price and CME is the gold standard in online purchases. Besides the ground wire mine came set up perfectly and almost in tune. The ground wire was never even tinned so I know it was never attached but again, it took me 5 minutes and 0 dollars to fix. I'm sure had I complained they would have fixed it for me. I bought the Silver Blue Metallic. The Shell Pink was definitely my favorite color but I wasn't secure enough to buy a pink guitar.john g.
I just received this guitar today. There is a lot of negative talk about the noiseless pickups, but it sounds phenomenal to me. Many complaints include that it sounds too "dark", but it sounds terrific through my 1966 Bassman. There is a tremendous range of fantastic tones that are possible with this guitar, but it is definitely not for metal. It gets a great tone for classic rock, alt rock/indie, jazz, funk, and stoner rock. I've gotten a great Gilmour tone to Hendrix to QOTSA, and it honestly doesn't take long to learn the guitar's wide tonal capabilities. The neck plays so well that I found myself inspired to get into new sonic territories and genres. I own a lot of guitars, and this is my favorite one currently. It's my pick over my Les Paul Traditional, Telecaster, Ibanez S Premium, and the others. Do yourself a fiver and try it out with an open mind. Don't listen to the naysayers. This thing rocks!The Hammer
3. Gibson Les Paul Standard '50s Faded Electric Guitar – Vintage Honey Burst
Product Details:
The new les paultm standard 50s faded returns to the classic design that made it relevant, played, and loved — shaping sound across generations and genres of music. it pays tribute to gibson's golden era of innovation and brings authenticity back to life. the les paul standard 50s features a satin nitrocellulose lacquer finish that gives it the look and feel of a long-treasured musical companion. it has a solid mahogany body with an aa figured maple top and a rounded 50s-style mahogany neck with a rosewood fingerboard and trapezoid inlays. it's equipped with an abr-1 tune-o-matictm bridge, an aluminum stop bar tailpiece, vintage deluxe tuners with keystone buttons, and gold top hat knobs with dial pointers. the open-coil burstbuckertm 1 and burstbucker 2 pickups are hand-wired to audio taper potentiometers and orange drop capacitors.
Specifications:
Body type | Single cutaway |
Top wood | AA figured maple |
Body wood | Mahogany |
Body finish | Satin nitrocellulose lacquer |
Neck shape | Vintage '50s |
Neck wood | Mahogany |
Scale length | 24.75" |
Neck finish | Satin nitrocellulose lacquer |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Acrylic trapezoid |
Nut width/material | 1.69" (43 mm) Graph Tech |
Configuration | HH |
Neck | Proprietary humbucker |
Bridge | Proprietary humbucker |
Control layout | Volume 1, Volume 2, Tone 1, Tone 2 |
Special electronics | Hand-wired with Orange Drop capacitors |
Bridge type | Fixed bridge |
Bridge design | ABR-1 Tune-O-Matic |
Tailpiece | Aluminum stopbar |
Tuning machines | Vintage Deluxe with keystone buttons |
Number of strings | 6 string |
Orientation | Right-handed |
Reviews:
Picked up a 2019, same exact model about a month ago. Quality and build is superb, the carved top has even more flame than I expected. I wanted an "understated" look, and it's perfect. Flame changes with light. The nitro finish is buffed like new, unlike the VOS models, and the natural dye on the back and neck is rich and deep. Instrument is plek'd, action and intonation are flawless. The CustomBucker pickups are all the rage, you can only get them on a new instrument, and are supposed to be the best PAF repro so far. I'm still trying to decide if I like them, my ears say that the 60s have more natural midrange than 59s, but I can eq it out on my amps. They also seem to be unpotted. I'm really inspired by the sound and feel of the '60 LP, the looks and quality are just icing.Ron
I have been a Sweetwater customer for longer than I remember, and one feature I have always loved is the pics and weights of the actual guitars so you know what you're getting. So, I found a 60s Faded LP with a ridiculously low weight of 8 lbs, 2oz. The top looked nice, not anything crazy, which is fine but the one feature I love about the top is the mineral streaks (flecking) in the top. The streaks really add character. I was less into a fancy top than a light weight, good playability and great sound. And I was not disappointed. My rep, a fine young man named Jacob Terhune, expedited the shipping, and I had it in my hands literally the next day. Opening up the new case, and smelling that wonderful new Gibson smell is something I've always loved. The case candy was all there and speaking of the case, It was made by TKL just like back in the day and that is super awesome! My guitar is light as stated, and the satin finish is very well done, feels super smooth and I like that the back is natural with nicely matched grain. I did my usual setup and going through my LP and I think the quality on my LP was top notch. There were no file marks on the board, no scratches and every aspect of the build was great. The 61R/T pickup combo is great, I did have to adjust the pole pieces (which I do for every guitar), and just sat there making small adjust meats and I'm so pleased with the sound. The setup from the factory and the inspection from Sweetwater were fine, but as always I tweak it here and there. I did lower the nut slots only .003 of an inch, since I like the action at the first fret at .020". The fingerboard was a little dry, but much better than my 2020 Flying V board, but I hydrated it just a bit more. As far as sound, this LP is outstanding. It's very loud and projects sound well when you strum it unplugged and the entire guitar vibrates so much that it'll tickle your hands as you play. This guitar just feels alive, and it make me want to play, and if I'm not playing it, I love to just look at it. I guess I'm simping for my guitar, and I'm good with that. I see many people on Youtube run down Gibsons quality, but I have to disagree based on mine. My LP is outstanding and I would highly recommend one of these with no hesitation.
Going on a two-month report. The pickups are the strong suit of this guitar. They are like telecaster single coils but on steroids! They have a low-end snappy output on the neck pickup, excellent for jazz, blues, hard rock & metal. Mid-range is very stable in the middle position i.e. funk, rock, and pop. Also, the bridge pickup is what people strive for in an LP i.e. metal, classic rock, & hard blues. It has That classic overdriven PAF tone. It's worth spending the $$$. The quality is genuine and the slight VOS aging is a nice touch. The relic is not overly done but has a slightly played look. Tuners are superb, metal components are aged, & the lacquer is just right. Indian fretboard looks like ebony and the trapezoid inlays are aged just perfectly. Also, the case is beautiful along with the awesome case candy. Overall, this is worth every dollar. It's surprisingly a very versatile guitar!
4. Epiphone Sg Standard Electric Guitar (Heritage Cherry)
Product Details:
The epiphone sg standard from the inspired by gibson collection recreates the legendary 1960s classic that powered the first generation of hard rock and heavy metal bands including the who, cream, ac/dc, and black sabbath. featuring the historic sg profile with "batwing" pickguard in heritage cherry, ebony, and alpine white finishes. powered by alnico classic pro humbuckers with cts electronics and epiphone deluxe tuners. comes with strap and locking tuners. in mint condition! does not come with gig bag.
Specifications:
Neck Material | Mahogany |
Scale Length | 24.75" |
Fingerboard Material | Indian Laurel |
Fingerboard Radius | 12" |
Number Of Frets | 22 |
Frets | Medium Jumbo |
Nut Material | Graph Tech |
Nut Width | 1.693" |
Inlays | Trapezoid |
Joint | Glued in |
Hardware Finish | Nickel |
Tuner Plating | Nickel |
Bridge | LockTone ABR Tune-o-matic |
Tailpiece | Stopbar |
Tuning Machines | Epiphone Deluxe |
Control Knobs | Black Top Hats |
Neck Pickup | Alnico Classic PRO |
Bridge Pickup | Alnico Classic PRO |
Controls | 2- Volume, 2- Tone CTS electronics |
Pickup Selector | 3-way Epiphone toggle |
Output Jack | 1/4" |
Strings | .10, .13, .17, .26, .36, .46 |
Reviews:
I've been playing guitar for over 15 years. I got an 05' Gibson SG Standard for my 13th birthday. Over the years of influence in your ear about other guitars, you decide to dabble with different sounds and set ups. After playing a few strats, a ES-339, and a LP Standard over the years, I've always found myself to be happy at home with my SG. The 490R and 498T pickups are the best pickups Gibson made in my opinion. The versatility is astounding, ranging from jazz-fusion types like Larry Carlton, to the crunch of post hardcore, while pitching perfectly on iconic 70s solos and leads. Wether you're new to the Gibson family, or looking to add to your Arsenal, the SG Standard will forever please, and forever fit into any track.Jack
Absolutely love this guitar. It has taken the spot of my main Gibson for playing out. I alternate between this and my Dark Night American Pro II Stratocaster. The color schemes go well together and match my band's logo color scheme and branding so that's kind of a cool plus. I love the neck profile, the U shape is chunkier than a 60's Les Paul but is very comfortable in my hand and really reduces fatigue when I'm playing chords. I am still able to shred away with ease during solo time. I'm a huge fan of the nitro cellulous finish. I really like how the mahogany body resonates…I think it improves the tone. The QC, fit and finish on this guitar seems flawless to me. Gibson has really stepped up. Lastly, I want to comment on the soft case. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it. I was very surprised at how much padding there is and how plush it is on the inside. It is much more portable than a hard shell and honestly, with the shoulder strap….I may prefer it over the hard shell. It's easier to take to practice or a gig and the pocket has enough room for my wireless buds, iPod and foot controller (for iPod). I'm really stoked with my new SG, and I'd love to get one in white with gold hardware if AMS will ever offer it;-).Jon
Overall: This guitar showed up in need of a complete setup. Nothing was properly adjusted and setup, and I’m still not sure about the neck truss rod. Fortunately for me I know how to setup a guitar, however everything was out. When I set up a neck I usually adjust for .009” relief. I am unable get that with this neck probably because the truss rod was installed wrong at the factory. I might send this one back for that reason because if I ever go to a light gauge string I’d have to raise the action at the bridge so high it would be unplayable. As far as the CTS pots, they’re a very cheap version and they’re not very good. I replaced all of them with Bournes 500k pots and installed a Switchcraft jack. It definitely makes a big difference. Now that it’s been setup and fixed, except for the neck truss rod, it’s a great guitar. The Epiphone pickups sound great and the tuners are nice too. The finish is perfect and the stock hardware seems good. I certainly can recommend this guitar, but I feel zZounds should at least try and send these out in better condition. A setup like what I did would cost about $150. The last guitar I bought from zZounds was perfect, they let me down this time.Scott
5. Gibson Les Paul Classic – Heritage Cherry Sunburst Guitar
Product Details:
This gibson les paul classic is yet another reason why that legend will keep on living for generations to come. it's been crafted with the guitar's heritage in mind, delivering that iconic gibson tone in a stylish model that looks as though it's come straight from the '60s – and landed in the 21st century, ready to rock 'n' roll.it feels amazing in your hands. because there's nothing quite like its genuine rosewood fingerboard to provide smooth playability. plus you've got all the power and versatility you'd expect from a les paul. and more. burstbucker open-coil pickups let you blast every note at high volume – without feedback. they'll give you a wealth of tonal options, too, thanks to coil tapping and phase switching. there's not much this guitar doesn't give you, in fact. experience the genius of the classic les paul.
Specifications:
Body shape | Single cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Top wood | Maple |
Body wood | Weight relieved Mahogany |
Body finish | Gloss |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | SlimTaper |
Neck wood | Mahogany |
Joint | Set-in |
Scale length | 24.75" |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Gloss |
Radius | 12" |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Trapezoid |
Configuration | HH |
Neck | BurstBucker 61R Open-coil |
Bridge | BurstBucker 61T Open-coil |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Parallel |
Special electronics | Push-pull coil tap/Push-pull phase & bypass |
Control layout | Volume 1, volume 2, tone 1, tone 2 |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Coil tap or split | Coil tap |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | Tune-o-matic |
Tailpiece | Stopbar |
Tuning machines | Grover |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | United States |
Reviews:
Overall: I purchased this guitar from zZounds about 2 years ago. Black and amazing: Before I made the move I played over 100 Gibson Les Paul and other brands, every time I came back to this exact model as the "Standard" to compare, after 6 months or so I pulled the trigger and received this Les Paul. The only thing I have a problem with is I wish I had all colors as this guitar will be a collector in time. The neck, profile, binging, hardware, pickups and electronics are perfect, not a single issue. The tone pull knows are extremely functional and the lower right tone when its "pulled up" is all on gain, treble tone and right into lead solo's without playing pickup selector and tones adjustment. Brilliant.This is players guitar, not a case queen. So glad Gibson came back from the dead.I've owned original 1969 Les Paul's and some 60 Stratocasters all of which have been narrowed down to 4 amazing Stratocasters, and a few other gems for live, scoring to film and all go to instruments.BUY THIS GUITAR and YOU WILL NOT BE DISSAPOINTED.I am not endorsed by any companies!!!!Michael S. SmithMichael
When you want a Les Paul you’ll want a real Les Paul so that’s a Gibson and not a single cut guitar by any onther manufacturer that has its looks changed because it may not look like a Gibson Les Paul. Furthermore: the Gibson Les Paul since its inception in the ‘50’s has always been and will be THE benchmark. Period. This Gibson Les Paul Classic is a gorgeous, great guitar and very competetively priced too. For your tone you really do not need an AAA flame top; many of the best sounding ‘vintage’ Les Pauls are plaintops. And when you do not want one of the ‘burst’ versions that just do not quite meet the looks of the old ones, this Translucent Red is the way to go.. you’ll be buying a guitar that reminisces of George Harrison’s ‘Lucy’ and Dicky Betts’s ‘Redtop’ without having to fork out Custom Shop money. You’ll also get 4 push-pull pots that effectively give you all the inspiring tonal options (including the ‘Peter Green’ out of phase tone) you’d find in a Custom Shop Jimmy Page # 2 (read the spec sheets) but again without having to pay the Custom Shop Price. Between 1990 and 2008 there was also a ‘Les Paul Classic’ too but the ‘Classic’ version on sale these days has little to do with that previous ‘Classic 1960’. The Burstbucker pick ups are supposed to adhere to the specifications Seth Lover intended and that Gibson was applying to the 1961 P.A.F. / Patent Number Pickups. And indeed the Burstbuckers are clear, brilliant, a bit ‘bright’ and not ‘woolly’ or ‘fatty’. More a bit like the P90 ‘without hum’ it was designed to be but then a little more powerful, without the screaming harshness of some ceramic pickups Gibson used in the past. The Grover tuners – although I prefer the looks of the Kluson keystones – are also ‘60’s-modifications’ and I must say they have a wonderfull ‘solid’ mechanically feeling action. The crown inlays in the fretboard are a perfect fit (unlike some others where gaps were obvioulsy filled up with glue or something) and the fret bindings have been finished properly (in the past I’ve seen that done less scrupulously..). The Classic also sports the ‘modern’ larger strap holders so it is not imperative to fit straplock systems right away… Any drawbacks? Some people might scare back at the weight: it comes in at 4.25 kilo’s and the Slim Taper neck profile (also a ‘60’s’ characteristic) has to be your thing. Minor detail: upon arrival the fretboard was very dry but all it needed was some luscious application of Axe Wax and now the fretboard has the same nice even chocolate brown hue as my Gibson 2019 Firebird. When you are on the search for ‘a’ Les Paul, at least try the Les Paul Classic as well. I have sold two M.I.J. Tokai LoveRocks (a 2002 and a 2003) to fund the purchase of the Gibson Les Paul Classic; that was a gamble but I was right in doing so; the Les Paul Classic really pleases me a lot more. And a note I must add: mine came perfectly set up by one of the guitar techs of Music Store; thank you! Even the intonation was spot on !
I've been playing guitar for almost 4o years and have always wanted a Gibson Les Paul because my favorite players use them. As a teenager, I couldn't afford one and saved up for a Washburn WP-80 (licensed les paul custom copy) and loved it. Ever since it has been my #1 and I've always regarded Gibson to be all about the name and not really worth the money. Well, I heard about the new Gibson line up a few years ago, decided to check them out, and discovered the Les Paul Classic model. It checked all of the boxes for my dream guitar. Plain top subtle burst, bound body and neck, coil splitting buckers, and weight relief. I saved up and ordered it through MF and it arrived 3 days later (on my birthday, no less!). Man, I don't know why I waited so long to own a Gibson. It is the sweetest playing/sounding/smelling guitar I have ever held. I was concerned about the wood grain when ordering sight unseen, but was relieved when I finally opened the case (see pics). Set up was good right out of the box. Pickups sound amazing, clear, open, and woody. The only disappointment was that the "9-hole" weight relief really isn't that noticeable. It's still a hefty Paul. Which is fine now, because I'm getting older and usually play sitting down. Also, there is a "freckle" on the fretboard. I know some would take issue with that, but to me tiny little imperfections like that just make the guitar special and unique, and It doesn't affect playing at all. Overall, I LOVE this guitar and am very satisfied!Ryan
6. Gibson Les Paul Standard '60s – Iced Tea
Product Details:
Fall in love with tone. a gibson les paul standard '60s is your ticket to the iconic sounds of classic les pauls. celebrated all over the world as one of the best guitars of all time, the les paul standard has been used by countless legendary guitarists in a wide range of genres. this guitar provides a truly authentic '60s gibson experience, perfectly encapsulating the look, feel, and most importantly, sound of a classic '60s les paul standard. perfect playability, pristine tone. when designing this guitar, gibson wanted to recreate the legendary feel and unmistakable sound of les pauls from the 1960s. the 61 burstbucker pickups deliver pure tones that let your sound shine through with ultimate clarity. and with a super fast, slim taper mahogany neck, you also get the effortless playing feel to match this guitar's amazing tone. experience something truly special.
Specifications:
Body shape | Single cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Top wood | AA figured maple |
Body wood | Mahogany |
Body finish | Gloss nitrocellulose |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | SlimTaper |
Neck wood | Mahogany |
Joint | Set-in |
Scale length | 24.75" |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Gloss nitrocellulose |
Radius | 12" |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Trapezoid |
Nut width/material | 1.69" (43 mm) GraphTech |
Configuration | HH |
Neck | Burstbucker 61R |
Bridge | Burstbucker 61T |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Parallel |
Control layout | Volume 1, volume 2, tone 1, tone 2 |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | ABR-1 |
Tailpiece | Stopbar |
Tuning machines | Grover Rotomatic |
Number of strings | 6 string |
Country of origin | United States |
Reviews:
I had a great experience with Musiciansfriend. I called my gear advisor, Scott, and he went the extra mile to answer all of my questions over about a two week period. My guitar weighs just under 10 pounds. The set up was superb with a low action and near perfect intonation. Phenomenal sound. Just amazing. Each string rings out clear and balanced. This is my first Gibson. I am a Fender player ('69 Jaguar, '97 Strat) so I was afraid I wouldn't like the warm tones of the humbuckers (nearly went with P90 because of this), but I can't compliment this guitar enough. It's a legend for a reason. The only bad thing is the case. It's obvious that Gibson doesn't take as much care in quality control for their cases. Pea sized bubble on the exterior and lining already coming unglued. However, musiciansfriend is working to right this for me.Jonathan
Overall: Ordered my 60's Les Paul in Unburst on Thursday February 10th. I paid for overnight shipping cause I couldn't wait & zZounds didn't disappoint. Guitar arrived on Friday the 11th before noon!!! Thank you zZounds. Now onto the review……amazing guitar. The figured top is beautiful. zZounds lets you pick the Les Paul you want by serial number & the top looks even better in person, I couldn't be happier. The fit & finish is excellent. Setup is perfect out of the box, plays like a dream. Sustain for days & the '61 Burstbucker R & T pickups just scream!!! Gibson's quality control is on point now!!! Just a beautiful guitar.James
Wow, does this guitar growl. These pickups are so hot, I was startled when I turned up the amp. On clean, every note in a chord is articulated brilliantly. And the sustain is strikingly long and full. I thought the fit and finish was exceptional, and appreciate the quality considering the price. It makes my other guitars feel like I'm riding a bike with a flat tire. It's just not a fair comparison. I am afraid I will have to upgrade my entire fleet now – it has spoiled me. I am more gratified with the purchase than I anticipated.Howard
7. Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s Electric Guitar – Metallic Gold
Product Details:
The les paul standard 50s models are part of epiphone's new inspired by gibson collection and recreate the sound of 1950s era les pauls. featuring a classic mahogany body with a maple cap and mahogany neck with long neck tenon. powered by probucker humbuckers with 50s style wiring and cts electronics. epiphone's long friendship with mr. les paul began in 1940 when les built one of the world's first solid body electric guitars while working nights at the original epiphone factory in manhattan. les' first solidbody guitar, nicknamed "the log", would go on to inspire the les paul standard, what many consider the greatest electric guitar ever made.
Specifications:
Year | 2020 – 2022 |
Made In | China |
Body Shape | Single Cutaway |
Body Type | Solid Body |
Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Stop-Bar |
Finish Style | Gloss |
Fretboard Material | Laurel |
Fretboard Radius | 12" |
Model Sub-Family | Epiphone Les Paul Standard '50s |
Neck Construction | Set-Neck |
Neck Material | Mahogany |
Number of Frets | 22 |
Number of Strings | 6-String |
Nut Width | 1.69" |
Offset Body | No |
Pickup Configuration | HH |
Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
Scale Length | 24.75" |
Top Material | Maple |
Wood Top Style | Figured Veneer |
Body Wood | Mahogany |
Neck Wood | Mahogany |
Neck Joint | Set |
Neck Shape | Rounded Chunky C |
Fingerboard | Rosewood |
Nut Width/Material | 1.692" |
Scale | 24.75" |
Frets | 22 Narrow Tall |
Neck Depth at 1st Fret | .904" |
Neck Depth at 12th Fret | 1.045" |
Radius | 12" |
Action | 0.060" |
Strings | 10-46 |
Pickups | 2 x Epiphone Probucker |
Controls | 2 x Volume, 2 x Tone |
Bridge/Tailpiece | Tune-O-Matic/Stoptail |
Tuners | Epiphone Deluxe Tuners |
Knobs | Gold Tophat |
Reviews:
My first electric. Got it in a combo kit with amp and bag. Hook it into my computer now and rarely use the amp for anything. That being said, as many people have mentioned the bridge. If this isn't your first guitar, or you are looking for a second guitar – don't get this one. I learned about intonation and action and all that while having this guitar. You can only set the intonation on the outside E's and everything else is just what you get. My the height of my bridge for medium action on the low E is maybe a 1/16 from bottoming out, any lower it will buzz more. To get the same range of action on my high E my bridge is almost a 1/4" in the air. I do not know enough to get into shimming the neck to get it leveled out more, I just know enough to assume a 1/4" rise over 3" space probably isn't a good thing. However! I've learned plenty on it over these last 6 months. I bought this guitar because I did not want to invest a lot of money into it if I wasn't going to stick with it. I bought this in February of 22. The first 5 months I probably played on it maybe 50-60 hours. These last 4 months I've probably played on it 1-3 hours a day. I started using apps to learn and being able to plug it directly into my computer has been amazing. It's served it's purpose, I'm now getting to the level of playing where I'd like a better quality instrument and am looking in the $400-$500 range. For a first guitar, and you're not sure if you're going to stay with it, this was great for me and I will pass it on to someone else to get started with. Other than the bridge intonation and probably not flat fret board, I have had 0 mechanical issues with it.Jay
Been looking for a nice explorer for a while and once I saw this model some time ago, I fell in love with this amazing guitar. I was for a while very, very doubtful due to the complicated and demanding Floyd Rose bridge I never had before. A couple of good tutorials on the system were enough to take this fear away. After a thorough check, the guitar is a dream, works perfectly and love it so far. No scratches nor color changes on the mat neck and back, veneer looks pristine, and mechanics work just fine, lovely Gibson Pup sound with split coils and the fret-board looks great, 12th fret’s spaceship inlay aside which is also a very nice touch there. No challenges with neck profile, just a bit of a welcomed change to a thinner neck from my husky Les Paul ones I have. This is a really nice and balanced guitar! Ok, it's on the slightly heavier side but very manageable still. As mentioned earlier, It’s my first Floyd Rose guitar and surprisingly, I managed to adjust it to perfect balance and tuning on my first try in less than an hour with the help of some wood wedges to block back of the springs with, that I made during that estimated time, and of course a ton of online tutorials the weeks prior. Next step is changing to Paradigm Ernie Ball 11s half a step down and adjusting float again….but this will have to wait a bit and maybe a fourth spring will be in order, we will see. If doubting on Floyd Rose, trust me, I am really not a technical person but this was a piece of cake, once you understand the basics and foremost, make a nice wedge, rest is just a walk in the park. It also comes with a case which is always a plus for getting it home in the best possible condition though I would have preferred a hard case or actual guitar contour shaped foam on the included case, to make it extra safe. and not moving whist transporting For those Brendan small fans out there, it is even more of a desirable item. For those not following his work, still a really nice guitar and a steal for what you get. This guitar will make you happy no matter if you know artist or not Last but not least, there is a shop that actually checks guitars before shipping and that is Music Store….Big, big thanks for making sure I got the guitar I wanted and expected. Big thanks to the entire team!
I'm reviewing the gold top model. I own a lot of guitars but I didn't have a gold top Les Paul and always wanted one. This is an amazing guitar for the price! Fit and finish are perfect. It sounds and plays great. I love it. Note, always put a new set of strings on a guitar that comes with strings on it. It's a simple fix for a lot of problems you thought you had, but don't. Who knows how long they've been on or what brand they are. Now, the details. Frets were perfectly level, no sharp ends. Slight amount of oxidization. I polished the crowns and ends with Micro-Mesh pads. I used 6000>8000>12,000 grit pads. I wasn't taking metal off, just polishing them to a jewelery finish. Really makes bends and vibrato silky and smooth. I do that to all my guitars. I like the Indian laurel fingerboard. It's a good alternative to rosewood. I cleaned it with alcohol, then applied a very light amount of fingerboard oil/conditioner. Let it sit a few minutes then wiped it dry. It has a beautiful look and feel now. As for setup, the only thing that was set correctly was the intonation. So I lowered the bridge to the (low) action I like, and it was pretty clean, a little buzz on the upper frets. The neck was trussed completely flat, so I loosened the truss rod about 1/4 turn and that gave it the right amount of relief. No more buzz. Next, I filed the nut slots slightly wider and deeper. Action was too high off the nut. I use XL strings (9-42) and the slots were even too tight for them! That was the only real glaring problem on this guitar. Tight nut slots cause tuning issues and your average customer isn't going to have the tools or skills to fix that. I have a set of precision nut slotting files and feeler gauges to cut them to the proper depth. Man, that was the magic touch. The action is amazing now, all the way up the neck. No problems with tuning stability. And that's all I needed to do. It plays like a dream. I thought I would need to swap out the pickups but I like these. I'm old and play mostly classic rock, and these sound just right for the Les Pauls of that era. I get that sound that Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon), early Joe Walsh, Duane Allman, Dicky Betts, Joe Perry, Page, Billy G, had in the late 60's – 70's. I ran it through a Goat distortion simulator and got Tom Scholtz Boston sound perfectly. It was actually better than another LP I have with DiMarzio super distortion pups. Easier to control the overdrive. All in all, Epiphone has really raised their bar. If you have typical electric guitar setup skills, you'll make this a sweet playing guitar. If you don't, it's worth it to find someone who does. Just a few minor adjustments and you'll have a fine axe to play.Rich
8. Epiphone Slash "afd" Les Paul Special-Ii Guitar Performance Pack
Product Details:
This slash signature performance pack has quality and features never before seen in a pack. endorsed and promoted by slash himself, this pack includes a les paul "afd" special-ii guitar, a slash snakepit 15 amplifier, custom gigbag with snakepit logo, slash signature dunlop tortex picks, emedia available in english, german, french and spanish, and an instrument strap and cord. the les paul afd special-ii guitar is equipped with new ceramic plus humbucking pickups, a aaa flame maple top with cherry mahogany back, a bound body, and a built in shadow pickup ring e-tuner. the slash snakepit 15 amplifier features a cool retro rock look with premium appointments, 15 watts of power with 8" speaker, and two channels (clean and overdrive) with separate controls. les paul "afd" special ii guitar features:- equipped with new ceramic plus humbucking pickups. aaa flame maple top with cherry. mahogany back. bound body built in shadow pickup ring.
Specifications:
Body shape | Single cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Top wood | Flame Maple |
Body wood | Mahogany |
Body finish | Matte |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | D standard |
Neck wood | Mahogany |
Joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 24.75" |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Gloss |
Radius | 12" |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Dot |
Nut width | 1.68" (42.67mm) |
Configuration | HH |
Neck | Ceramic Plus |
Bridge | Ceramic Plus |
Control layout | Master volume, tone |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | Tune-o-matic |
Tailpiece | Stopbar |
Tuning machines | Die-cast sealed |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | China |
Watts | 15 |
Speaker | 8", Electar G8 "Classic-25; 4 ohms |
Cabinet | Open-Back |
Reviews:
My first electric. Got it in a combo kit with amp and bag. Hook it into my computer now and rarely use the amp for anything. That being said, as many people have mentioned the bridge. If this isn't your first guitar, or you are looking for a second guitar – don't get this one. I learned about intonation and action and all that while having this guitar. You can only set the intonation on the outside E's and everything else is just what you get. My the height of my bridge for medium action on the low E is maybe a 1/16 from bottoming out, any lower it will buzz more. To get the same range of action on my high E my bridge is almost a 1/4" in the air. I do not know enough to get into shimming the neck to get it leveled out more, I just know enough to assume a 1/4" rise over 3" space probably isn't a good thing. However! I've learned plenty on it over these last 6 months. I bought this guitar because I did not want to invest a lot of money into it if I wasn't going to stick with it. I bought this in February of 22. The first 5 months I probably played on it maybe 50-60 hours. These last 4 months I've probably played on it 1-3 hours a day. I started using apps to learn and being able to plug it directly into my computer has been amazing. It's served it's purpose, I'm now getting to the level of playing where I'd like a better quality instrument and am looking in the $400-$500 range. For a first guitar, and you're not sure if you're going to stay with it, this was great for me and I will pass it on to someone else to get started with. Other than the bridge intonation and probably not flat fret board, I have had 0 mechanical issues with it.Jay
Been looking for a nice explorer for a while and once I saw this model some time ago, I fell in love with this amazing guitar. I was for a while very, very doubtful due to the complicated and demanding Floyd Rose bridge I never had before. A couple of good tutorials on the system were enough to take this fear away. After a thorough check, the guitar is a dream, works perfectly and love it so far. No scratches nor color changes on the mat neck and back, veneer looks pristine, and mechanics work just fine, lovely Gibson Pup sound with split coils and the fret-board looks great, 12th fret’s spaceship inlay aside which is also a very nice touch there. No challenges with neck profile, just a bit of a welcomed change to a thinner neck from my husky Les Paul ones I have. This is a really nice and balanced guitar! Ok, it's on the slightly heavier side but very manageable still. As mentioned earlier, It’s my first Floyd Rose guitar and surprisingly, I managed to adjust it to perfect balance and tuning on my first try in less than an hour with the help of some wood wedges to block back of the springs with, that I made during that estimated time, and of course a ton of online tutorials the weeks prior. Next step is changing to Paradigm Ernie Ball 11s half a step down and adjusting float again….but this will have to wait a bit and maybe a fourth spring will be in order, we will see. If doubting on Floyd Rose, trust me, I am really not a technical person but this was a piece of cake, once you understand the basics and foremost, make a nice wedge, rest is just a walk in the park. It also comes with a case which is always a plus for getting it home in the best possible condition though I would have preferred a hard case or actual guitar contour shaped foam on the included case, to make it extra safe. and not moving whist transporting For those Brendan small fans out there, it is even more of a desirable item. For those not following his work, still a really nice guitar and a steal for what you get. This guitar will make you happy no matter if you know artist or not Last but not least, there is a shop that actually checks guitars before shipping and that is Music Store….Big, big thanks for making sure I got the guitar I wanted and expected. Big thanks to the entire team!
I'm reviewing the gold top model. I own a lot of guitars but I didn't have a gold top Les Paul and always wanted one. This is an amazing guitar for the price! Fit and finish are perfect. It sounds and plays great. I love it. Note, always put a new set of strings on a guitar that comes with strings on it. It's a simple fix for a lot of problems you thought you had, but don't. Who knows how long they've been on or what brand they are. Now, the details. Frets were perfectly level, no sharp ends. Slight amount of oxidization. I polished the crowns and ends with Micro-Mesh pads. I used 6000>8000>12,000 grit pads. I wasn't taking metal off, just polishing them to a jewelery finish. Really makes bends and vibrato silky and smooth. I do that to all my guitars. I like the Indian laurel fingerboard. It's a good alternative to rosewood. I cleaned it with alcohol, then applied a very light amount of fingerboard oil/conditioner. Let it sit a few minutes then wiped it dry. It has a beautiful look and feel now. As for setup, the only thing that was set correctly was the intonation. So I lowered the bridge to the (low) action I like, and it was pretty clean, a little buzz on the upper frets. The neck was trussed completely flat, so I loosened the truss rod about 1/4 turn and that gave it the right amount of relief. No more buzz. Next, I filed the nut slots slightly wider and deeper. Action was too high off the nut. I use XL strings (9-42) and the slots were even too tight for them! That was the only real glaring problem on this guitar. Tight nut slots cause tuning issues and your average customer isn't going to have the tools or skills to fix that. I have a set of precision nut slotting files and feeler gauges to cut them to the proper depth. Man, that was the magic touch. The action is amazing now, all the way up the neck. No problems with tuning stability. And that's all I needed to do. It plays like a dream. I thought I would need to swap out the pickups but I like these. I'm old and play mostly classic rock, and these sound just right for the Les Pauls of that era. I get that sound that Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon), early Joe Walsh, Duane Allman, Dicky Betts, Joe Perry, Page, Billy G, had in the late 60's – 70's. I ran it through a Goat distortion simulator and got Tom Scholtz Boston sound perfectly. It was actually better than another LP I have with DiMarzio super distortion pups. Easier to control the overdrive. All in all, Epiphone has really raised their bar. If you have typical electric guitar setup skills, you'll make this a sweet playing guitar. If you don't, it's worth it to find someone who does. Just a few minor adjustments and you'll have a fine axe to play.Rich
9. Fender Player Stratocaster Pau Ferro – Polar White
Product Details:
The fender player stratocaster electric guitar has the classic sound that made the stratocaster a legend. enjoy smooth, superior tremolo action with a two-point tremolo bridge and crisp tone with the player series pickups. the dedicated tone control for the bridge pickup gives you more control over your sound in pickup positions one and two. the sleek curves are hand-shaped to original specifications, making the player stratocaster as comfortable as it is beautiful. alder body with gloss finish. three player series single-coil stratocaster pickups. "modern c"-shaped neck profile. 9.5"-radius fingerboard. 2-point tremolo bridge with bent-steel saddles.
Specifications:
Body shape | Double cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Body wood | Alder |
Body finish | Gloss Urethane |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | Modern C |
Neck wood | Maple |
Joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 25.5 in. |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Satin Urethane |
Radius | 9.5 in. |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Dot |
Nut width | 1.65 in. (42 mm) Synthetic Bone |
Configuration | SSS |
Neck | Alnico single-coil |
Middle | Alnico single-coil |
Bridge | Alnico single-coil |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Parallel |
Piezo | No |
Active EQ | No |
Control layout | Master volume, tone 1, tone 2 |
Pickup switch | 5-way |
Coil tap or split | No |
Kill switch | No |
Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
Bridge design | 2-point trem with bent steel saddles |
Tuning machines | Die-cast sealed |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | Mexico |
Reviews:
This is the first Acoustic/electric that I have owned that I actually love playing. The action is great even with the large gauge acoustic strings on it. Comes with a very nice gig-bag/case. I love the way the neck and back of the guitar looks. I also love the Strat 5-way switch that selects the degree and type of acoustic sound. The only downside with this guitar is the cover that serves as a cover for the electronics and pick guard. It looks cheap, more like a decal than a cover. I think Fender can do better on this detail for the price of the guitar. However, if you can get past that then it is a fine playing and sounding guitar. I have owned several Acoustic and Acoustic/Electric guitars. The action on even high-priced acoustics was so terrible I just ended up selling them. I also do not like the large back ends of most acoustic and acoustic electric guitars, but this guitar is small and easy to play. I would give it an A-.Bill
The research I did on trying to learn more about this instrument via general internet, YouTube, assorted standard Music Company's like Sam Ash; Sweetwater; Guitar Center; Alamo; and other assorted Music Guitar critics provided a good array of opinions and product test results that produced a positive majority with impressive perspectives for the instrument I purchased. The Fender American Acoustasonic Stratocaster Acoustic-Electric Guitar Cocobolo I purchased from Sam Ash was not a disappointment. Aside from the 10 different options of Guitar unique sounds it provides from Acoustic and Electric mixes. The one-of-a-kind Cocobolo wood identifies a further fingerprint in supporting its own private one-of-a-kind signature sound with relationship to the Cocobolo wood unique to it alone. That just blows me away with how special the sound of specialty signature sound it produces with the ten different built in technical sounds the Fender Guitar company developed with this special edition. I feel overwhelmed in learning to continue how to play this guitar. It allows me so many more possibilities with playing soft country to hard rock a really strong guitar enjoyment experience.Guitar Enthusiast
Overall, I am very happy with this guitar. It exudes classic Fender looks and tone. The quality and craftsmanship are decent for the price point. I have a US Tele and, after putting some TLC into this player strat, it feels and plays almost as good as the Tele. I would give it five stars if it were not for fretwork that was needed. Body – The finish and surf pearl color are gorgeous. The wood grain is barely visible (raised) so I would not say the finish is flawless, but the grain is very subtle and adds character in my opinion. The routed cavities for the electronics (top) and the tremolo springs (back) are precisely cut and clean. The electronics cavity was even finished with black paint. Neck – The finish and appearance are great. However, all 22 frets had sprouted; some as much as 1/32". I can't say this is a craftsmanship issue as the frets were probably fine when it was assembled. It must have been a very high humidity environment, though. Nevertheless, after painstakingly filing and redressing all 44 fret ends it feels good. The frets themselves were well seated and leveled. The 3rd and 11th frets were a few thousands of an inch high, but not enough to cause any buzzing issues. The frets were well rounded and polished. Hardware – The tuners are just okay. One of them feels a little rough turning, and they seem to have a low turning ratio making it very touchy to dial in perfect pitch. The 2-point fulcrum tremolo bridge seems like a better design than the traditional (six screw) bridges, but I did not test it. I prefer to block them for more stable tuning, which worked great with this bridge. I have upgraded electronics I had planned to install in this guitar, but the stock pickups aren't bad. They are very quiet and have good tone – there is no rush to replace them. Setup was a breeze. Truss rod adjustment was smooth, nut slots were to spec, and intonation was perfect. The action needed adjustment since I blocked the tremolo, but that was easy.Dave S.
10. Epiphone Les Paul Special Ii Player Electric Guitar Package, Vintage Sunburst
Product Details:
The epiphone les paul special ii players pack features the popular special ii guitar and epiphone's studio 10 amplifier, with all the accessories you need to get started playing guitar. the special ii is a powerful sounding guitar with the feel you only get from a les paul. it's built with an alder/mahogany body, two open-coil humbucking pickups, a mahogany neck with a rosewood fretboard, and chrome hardware. the studio 10 amp has a 3-band eq and gain controls, and a handy built in prop stand. includes:- les paul special ii electric guitar, studio 10 amplifier, gig bag, pitch pipe, strap, picks, instrument cable, instructional dvd video.
Specifications:
Manufacturer Part Number | EPI PPEGEGL1 VS |
Product Model | EPI PPEGEGL1 VS |
Bundle Main Item Type | Electric Guitar |
Best Buy Main_Item | Les Paul Special II Player Pack Electric Guitar, Vintage Sunburst |
Best Buy Bundle_Item_2 | Strap |
Best Buy Bundle_Item_3 | Picks |
Best Buy Bundle_Item_4 | Digital Clip-on Tuner |
Best Buy Bundle_Item_5 | Guitar Cable |
Best Buy Feature_1 | Limited Lifetime |
Best Buy Feature_2 | 44 |
Best Buy Feature_3 | Color: Vintage Sunburst |
Best Buy Feature_4 | Country of Origin: China |
Best Buy Feature_5 | Body Material: Solid Alder, Neck Material: Hard Maple, Bridge Pickup: 700T Humbucker; Open-coils, Neck Pickup: 650T Humbucker; Open-coils, Controls: Volume, Tone, Toggle, Output Jack: 1/4 inch, Hardware: Chrome, |
Best Buy Feature_6 | Bridge: Tune-o-Matic, Tailpiece: Stopbar, Tuners: Covered; 14:1 ratio, Fingerboard: Rosewood |
Package Contents | Les Paul Special II Player Pack Electric Guitar, Vintage Sunburst. Strap. Picks. Digital Clip-on Tuner. Guitar Cable |
Reviews:
What a brilliant guitar and superb value package! I have owned ‘real’ Gibsons over the years and bought this outfit as a birthday gift for my granddaughter who is learning to play. She has had a fender acoustic for a couple of years and now wants her own electric guitar. I chose this outfit as having previously owned one in the past I like Epiphone guitars. Before giving it to her I thought it best to check it over and set it up but there was nothing to do really, after tuning this guitar was perfectly playable right out the box! The feel, balance and weight is very like my Gibson and the sound is superb. The amp is excellent and packs enough punch to put a smile on your face too. She’s delighted with the built in tuner as well as the other essentials included in the outfit. What’s not to like? I can’t find a better value package!W O.
My original review still stands, but I made cosmetic-only upgrades for less than an average couple's meal at a casual restaurant that makes this look much, much more expensive. No tuner, pickup or pot swaps. Replaced black plastic parts with cream, added cream pickguard, replaced chrome tuner knobs with Klausen-style ivory-look knobs. Installed chrome pickup covers. Replaced speed knobs with gold top-hats.Easily done to make this look like a proper Les Paul. I'm happy with the looks for the little extra money spent.Steve
As the song says: "I'm a Sucker for a Cheap Guitar". I own over 30 – some cheap, some not so cheap. This one arrived perfectly set up: low action, no buzzing, no sharp fret edges, easy to play – amazing for a guitar in this price range. Although not great, the pickups even sounded acceptable. It's heavy, which to me means good, though not as heavy as my Gibson. It's OK-looking, but needed something to enhance it – a pickguard. I added one and it looks much better – more expensive. Instead of cutting off part of the guard to accommodate the knob as I've seen some others do, I drilled a hole big enough for the nut on the body underneath the knob to fit through the guard (see photos). Since the guard isn't much thicker than the nut, it allowed the guard to fit flush with the body and the knob to turn without any restriction of motion, and the pickguard is not butchered. It's a very clean look – like it came that way – not modified. So, I am pleased with this instrument, and would recommend it to anyone for any purpose: especially beginners to play or someone like me who just collects cheap guitars to hang on the wall of their studiio.Steve
11. Epiphone Les Paul Studio (Smokehouse Burst)
Product Details:
Designed by gibson in the u201880s to meet the requirements of recording artists, the les paul studio was an innovative move by the legendary company. for more session players, recording artists and producers to feature the inimitable gibson tone on their records, gibson produced an lp and stripped away any superfluous cosmetic features, focusing solely on sound and playability. decades later, time has proven that looks aren't the be-all and end-all – the les paul studiou2019s simple elegance has proven to be hugely popular outside the studio as well as in. this epiphone les paul studio is a modernised take on the humble u201880s design.nnthe epiphone les paul studiou2019s mahogany slab body is capped with a beautiful plain maple veneer top and is married to a u201860s style slimtaper mahogany neck with an ultra-comfortable u2018du2019 profile. its pau ferro fingerboard features simple yet attractive pearloid dot inlays, 22 medium jumbo frets, and a 12u201d fingerboard .
Specifications:
Body Shape | Les Paul |
Neck Material | Mahogany |
Scale Length | 24.75" |
Fingerboard Material | Indian Laurel |
Fingerboard Radius | 12" |
Number of Frets | 22 |
Frets | Medium Jumbo |
Nut Width | 1.68" |
Inlays | Trapezoid |
Joint | Glued In |
Hardware Finish | Nickel |
Tuner Plating | Nickel |
Bridge | LockTone Tune-o-matic |
Tailpiece | Stopbar |
Pickguard | Black |
Truss Rod | Adjustable |
Truss Rod Cover | Epiphone Bell Shape with "Studio" |
Control Knobs | Black Speed Knobs |
Switch Tip | Black |
Strap Buttons | 2 |
Neck Pickup | Epiphone Alnico PRO Humbucker |
Bridge Pickup | Epiphone Alnico PRO Humbucker |
Controls | 2-Volume, 2-Tone CTS Electronics |
Pickup Selector | 3-way Epiphone toggle |
Output Jack | 1/4" Epiphone heavy duty |
Strings | .10, .13, .17, .26, .36, .46 |
Reviews:
Overall: A couple of weeks ago, I was looking at buying the Gibson les Paul Standard 60's Bourbon Burst for $2,499.00, as I was doing my research checking out reviews when I came across a side by side review of the Gibson verses the Epiphone les Paul standard 60s. The similarities in quality and sound were eye opening, still skeptical I thought to myself, I owe to myself to at lest checkout the Epiphone les Paul standard 60s what's the worst that could happen, if I don't like it ill send it back and order the Gibson. Well I'm here to say I don't JUST like it, I ABSOLUTLY LOVE IT. Right out of the box I was super impressed with the look and feel of this guitar with the flamed maple top to the deep rich cherry back and sides, I sat down tuned it up plugged it into my amp. I went from being impressed to ka-ching I hit the jack pot. You know after I bought this guitar and before it arrived I had that feeling of buyers remorse, thinking that I somehow compromised and I should have bought the Gibson. Well the first few licks on this guitar and all that washed away instantly. This guitar has it all, value, quality, sound, playability and the flamed maple top…. just wow…!!!!! thank you zZounds and Epiphone for this fantastic les Paul.
I just received this guitar a few days ago. It's already my favorite. Love the slim taper neck, and the probucker pickups are great. The pickups are fine on clean tones, but where they really shine is when the gain is cranked up. Build quality is very good, and it's a beautiful instrument. I prefer a rosewood fretboard, but find the Indian laurel to be completely acceptable. Only 2 negatives: 1. No coil splitting option, 2. it's a heavy guitar. This doesn't matter much to me because as a hobbyist, I typically play sitting down. But I can see that if you play standing, this could get tiring after a while. But these are minor quibbles – overall I'm very pleased with my purchase. Finally,kudos to Dave Hoffman, who held my hand during the 3 month period it took to get a new shipment in.
I bought one of these several months ago. Ok I'm not good guitarist so take that into into consideration but I have player series strat and have always played strat style guitars and I'm not saying i love this guitar more than the Fender I love them both but as far as the guitar is concerned she got so much potential tonally. I have no complaints about the ascetic she beautiful sexy gorgeous took a little getting used to the weight and contours compared to the strat there is adjustment period but she just rocks. I never played a Gibson but if this guitar had Gibson I guess it be a little better but also 2grand more. If I have any complaint is she is finger print magnet always wiping down get some dunlop 65 and microfiber cloth. The Glossy neck won't appeal to all but I can deal with it. Fret work perfect. I'm not a gigging musician but i have no doubt she gig worthy. Oh also, get the pro coverage cause I found out ALL Les Paul are extremely fragile at the neck,It has to do with the angle of the neck, Google it, do your research on owning a led Paul little different than strat anyway the guitar is 600-GREAT VALUE then with 2 years pro coverage plus tax it was under 900 or somewhere around there. And if you get a bad quality then ask for another cause it is coming from Asia so there is variability in workmanship but mine is PERFECT. If I ever get rich maybe ill buy a Gibson but for now this satisfy my Les Paul needs. I wanted an alternative to my strat to emulate Slash sound lol I need to work on my technique but this definitely rocks a Les Paul sound. I did see a review or 2 that liked the sound of the 1950 better but I played them both and liked the 60s better but check them both out the inspired by Gibson line is definitely worth the money if you want a Les Paul without breaking the bank. Just take your time do your homework if you can go to a GC and play it then do that In rarely write reviews especially this long but I love this guitarMichael L
12. Squier Bullet Mustang Hh Electric Guitar (Imperial Blue)
Product Details:
Pint-sized power perfect for the raucous sound of indie music, the bullet mustang hh is just plain fun to play. powered by a pair of giant-sounding humbucking pickups, it sports a comfortable "c"-shaped neck with a modern 12"-radius fingerboard and a modern six-saddle hardtail bridge. a tonal powerhouse that punches well above its weight, the bullet mustang hh is the ideal instrument to power your next hit. high-output humbucking pickups for fat, high-output rock tone, this instrument features a pair of humbucking pickups. six-saddle string-thru-body bridge a string-thru-body bridge enhances vibration transfer, resulting in increased sustain, while the six individual saddles can be adjusted for precise intonation along each string. 12"-radius fingerboard this instrument features a fingerboard radius (the amount of curvature across the width of the fingerboard) that, at 12", is substantially more flattened than both a vintage-style 7.25" radius and a modern 9.5" radius. feels notably flat even though there's still slight curvature-great for bending notes without fretting out.
Specifications:
Body shape | Double cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Body wood | Poplar |
Body finish | Gloss |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | C |
Neck wood | 1-piece Maple |
Joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 24 in. |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Satin |
Radius | 12 in. |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Dot |
Nut width | 1.656 in. (42 mm) |
Configuration | HH |
Neck | Standard humbucking |
Bridge | Standard humbucking |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Series |
Piezo | No |
Active EQ | No |
Control layout | Master volume, tone |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Coil tap or split | No |
Kill switch | No |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | 6-saddle |
Tailpiece | String thru body |
Tuning machines | Die-cast sealed |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Reviews:
I picked up the Surf Green Ltd Ed. Bullet Mustang a few days ago off the rack. They had two. One had rusty strings and sharp frets but the one I picked was almost perfect. These Mustangs are great for smaller learners and older guitarists that may enjoy the lighter string tension due to the short scale. I love the sound of both humbuckers. The bridge one gives you a nice grungy Nirvana like tone while the neck is smoother but both love to be driven. I picked up the Imperial Blue Mustang HH a few weeks ago. They both use the same humbuckers, The only difference I believe is the wood type, Basswood vs Poplar. Both guitars are quite light with the Basswood Surf Green one being somewhat lighter.These Mustangs are ideal for modding but for now I've only changed the cheap pickguard on this Surf Green one, putting a Tortoise Shell on it. So far I'm loving both of them and my Fender P90 Mustang is getting quite lonely.Tingman
First of all, this is a ton of value for the price. I got it on sale which made it even a bigger steal. Now, this guitar needs a lot of setup out of the box. You should polish the frets since they are as coarse as beach sand. Otherwise, string bends will be impossible and will most likely damage the cheap supplied strings (which should be changed immediately as with most new guitars). Expect some fret buzz, so be ready to adjust the saddles and the truss rod (I like my action quite low so this was a minor tweak for me). The intonation was actually quite close to perfect, it only needed a bit of tweaking on the A string. The nut and string trees are the ones you typically get on Squiers, which are good enough but won't do wonders for your tuning and should be replaced unless you are patient enough to tune your guitar every so often. Be sure to change these first before changing the tuners/bridge if you have tuning problems, I haven't changed the tuners or bridge on mine and don't plan to – they just work. Finally, the pickups are surprisingly good for the price, not too mellow and you can get some nice tones from the bridge pickup. You might soon outgrow them, though, and might opt for better humbuckers or P90s. For all these reasons, this guitar is not the best as a first guitar or for beginners unless it gets a proper setup first or if you're really planning to learn how to setup or change electronics/other parts in a guitar. However, those are the same reasons (plus the low price and simple design) that make this a really fun modding platform, and if you don't feel like modding it, with the right amount of work it's still amazing. It's light as a feather and the neck is very fast; you can probably muscle through hours of playing with barely any effort at all. The stock tones are reasonable enough, and in my opinion it looks awesome. You can't get a better deal for the money once you're aware of the above.Carlos, M
I like this guitar because of the 24" scale length. Everything else was pretty bad out of the box. The strings were a 1/4" off the fretboard. The fretboard was super dry. There was fret sprout. The frets felt like sandpaper on bends. The E strings are too close to the edge of the fretboard. When you play you're constantly hitting the pickup selector switch. The finish on the neck is supposed to be satin but it looks unfinished to me and there are light and dark areas on the neck which look bad. It is the worst finish on a neck I've ever seen on a guitar and I'm going to have to put some kind of finish on it. Trying to load strings is tricky and not as easy as on most other guitars you have to bend the end of the strings to get them to load. So that is the bad. The good? The tuners are your typical Chinese tuners that come on all cheap guitars these days, and they are fine. The pickups sound good. The 24" scale is great and really fun to play bends on!Steve
13. Gibson – Sg Special – Electric Guitar – Vintage Cherry
Product Details:
Gibson usa's new original series is exactly what you have been waiting for. the sg special returns to the classic design that made it relevant, played and loved – shaping sound across generations and genres of music. this early 60's style sg special has the vibe and sound heard on countless classic rock recordings. the comfortable, slim taper mahogany neck and bound rosewood fingerboard is well known for fast, effortless playing. the two p-90 pickups are noted for their fat, snarl when driven and for their smooth, sweetness when played clean. the sg special is equipped with the 3-way toggle switch, handwired controls and orange drop capacitors. come visit your authorized gibson dealer and try one for yourself.
Specifications:
Body shape | Double cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Body wood | Mahogany |
Body finish | Gloss |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | SlimTaper |
Neck wood | Mahogany |
Joint | Set-in |
Scale length | 24.75 in. |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Gloss |
Radius | 12 in. |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Dot |
Configuration | SS |
Neck | P-90 |
Bridge | P-90 |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Parallel |
Control layout | Volume 1, volume 2, tone 1, tone 2 |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | Compensated Wraparound |
Tuning machines | Vintage-style |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | United States |
Reviews:
Overall happy with the gibson sg special. You can see on the guitar theres a couple of minor marks from the gibson factory. Nothing major. The string alignment is a little off. But dont mind. The low E string is closer to the top of the neck. I use my thumb alot so works out. If it was the other way around I might of sent it back. The electrics look good under the hood. Musicstore got the guitar very quickly to Ireland. Really good service with great updates. Very happy with the purchase:)
Alright, so the first one of these new SG Specials in Pelham Blue showed up with a giant crack (not finish checking) that wrapped from the input jack to the control panel. I knew I had to return it but tuned it up and noodled a bit and tested pickups to make sure it was worth the exchange. The guitar was so good I almost kept it. My girlfriend convinced me to return it for a new one and it's the best decision I've ever made regarding gear. I've had the new one for a few days and it is just better in every way compared to the damaged but also incredible guitar I originally received. The resonance, sustain, comfort, aesthetic, playability, P90s, even the smell… all perfect. Gibson even learned to cut a nut. The fretboard is darker (better), the setup and finish is better. It just feels and sounds better. There is no neck dive on this one, although the first one did have a neck heavy feel (nothing a leather/suede strap couldn't fix). I say all this to remind everyone that every guitar is different and just hope you get one with mojo. I went to a competitor today and played a new Les Paul Standard that was tagged at $1K higher than this SG. No comparison. I was laughing at how much better the SG was in every single department. I can't wait to take this on the road as my new #1 and I seriously doubt it will ever be topped. New or vintage. Gibson is taking this rebuild seriously, and these Original Collection models are the best step they could have taken.UglyRunnerMusic
I am astonished at how quiet the P90's are in this SG. The hum is negligible — substantially less than the high gains in my Rickenbacker and only barely more the Lace Sensors in my strat (which are 99% silent). I had anticipated ordering some hum-canceling Lindy's to go in there, but that won't be happening. These sound phenomenal. They're just about all I could ever want from a pickup. The guitar came with the neck set almost completely straight. Just a smidge of relief (the perfect amount, really). Fretwork is essentially perfect. No sharp ends, frets are perfectly even and well-polished. The action was set a bit high, but was fairly easy to remedy. So why 4 stars instead of 5? The lower set screw (high E side) on the lightning bar wraparound bridge arrived stuck. Under no tension, it could not be adjusted in or out with the 1/16 hex key on the included Gibson multi-tool. I had to use an extractor plier to get it out out of fear of grinding down the end of the hex. Upon inspection, some of the threads near the cup point on the screw were malformed. There were no issues with the screw on the upper (Low E) side. Tracking down a replacement #5-40 3/8" set screw in small (< 100) quantity was actually kind of difficult. A stuck screw on a bridge is not catastrophic, but it does seem like something that should have been caught in QA. Aside from the one issue, everything else was immaculate. Also, great service from Musicians Friend.Justin
14. Epiphone Sg Special Ve Electric Guitar, Vintage Cherry
Product Details:
Chock-full of incredible tone and fantastic value, this sg special ve is ready to be yours. a pair of open-coil humbuckers provide smooth, high-output tone. the epiphone sg-special ve electric guitar is a great way for players to discover a rock classic at a price anyone can afford. featuring epiphone open-coil humbuckers with ceramic magnets and available in five beautiful vintage worn finishes. classic sg styling body material: poplar w/ mahogany veneer inlays: dots number of frets: 22 scale length: 24.75 inches nut width: 1.69 inches neck material: okoume fretboard material: rosewood finish/color: worn cherry.
Specifications:
Body shape | Double cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Body wood | Poplar with mahogany veneer |
Body finish | Satin |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | '60s SlimTaper D |
Neck wood | Mahogany |
Joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 24.75 in. |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Satin |
Radius | 14 in. |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Dot |
Nut width | 1.687 in. (42.8 mm) |
Configuration | HH |
Neck | 650R |
Bridge | 700T |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Series |
Piezo | No |
Active EQ | No |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Coil tap or split | No |
Kill switch | No |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | Tune-o-matic |
Tailpiece | Stopbar |
Tuning machines | Premium Covered; 14:1 ratio |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | China |
Reviews:
I love this Casino. I knew I wanted a P-90, and I really wanted a fully hollow body. I wanted to see if I could replicate a I've been agonizing over the purchase for months, looking for every possible solution, and was almost ready to pull the trigger on the Epi USA version, and after MUCH research, finally decided to go with the regular Epiphone. The construction, from everything I read, is excellent, and I knew that if necessary, I could always switch out the pups. Well, I can't say enough about how good this guitar is! I am extremely fussy on setups (I do setups on my own guitars and for other people) and this thing was ready to play right out of the box! I literally didn't touch a thing except to tune it up. I won't even have to dress the frets. I may touch them up just a bit (again, I'm really fussy) but they feel better than most guitars that cost three times as much. It is really beautiful. I love the vintage sunburst. The finish is flawless. Now for the important part – it plays like a dream. The neck profile is extremely comfortable. I can move up and down the neck as fluidly as on any guitar I own. And the sound! I was amazed at how present it is, even before plugging it in. I see this little sweetheart spending a lot of evenings on the couch with me. Soft enough not to overly bother my wife, but again – very present. Plugged in – well lets just say I won't be replacing these pups. It is exactly the sound I was hoping for. I'm no Grant Green, but I can certainly understand why he loved this guitar. Would I recommend it? Heck yeah! Country? Check. Classic rock? Check. Rockabilly, surf, blues and even jazz? Check, check, check, and check.Jess
This thing is easily worth 4 times the price. The build quality is impeccable. The binding is perfectly flush, the finish is beautiful and evenly applied and the intonation was extremely close out of the box (I only had to move the G string saddle back a bit to set it, all the other strings were perfect). The headstock has a nice molded profile to the sides – this is something I haven't seen on other Epiphone guitars. The PRO p90 pickups are fantastic. I have 11 other electrics from an epi 335 to a Gibson Les Paul Traditional to modded teles and strats and I never could quite find that classic clear tone with a thick rich drive when you dig into it that I've been looking for – this Casino has that sound! Every website/listing likes to talk about the Beatles… that comparison doesn't speak to what this guitar is capable of. This is more in line with Gary Clark Jr., The Black Crowes, Jack White and The Allman Brothers Band sounds. Think rich, bluesy rock. It's much cooler than "the Beatles guitar". Plug this sucker into a Vox and you're in business. The C shape neck is very comfortable- it has a flat back with rounded sides. Plus, with the satin finish your hand moves more freely up and down the neck. It's nice to play unplugged too, it's fully hollow so it plays/sounds like a quieter acoustic unplugged. The knobs/pots are really cool looking and work great with no scratching. They have even adjustments – no quick falls after a certain number like you see with others in this price range. They have a cool old school tab to show where you are on the dial (no pictures show this little detail). All in all – super cool vintage vibe, sweet clean tone with a fun roaring bite on the gain – excellent guitar.
Had the money to buy any guitar in the shop. Liked the looks of the SG, worn ebony with rosewood fingerboard and the Gibson speed knobs. Having only played guitars with 9.5 radius, I found the 14 radius was better for bar chords. The craftsmanship is excellent, can find no flaws the body or neck. The truss rod was out of adjustment, considerable back-bow. I fixed that, and set the action low. The intonation was spot on. Frets were polished with no sharp edges. I plan to upgrade the cheap electronics with new pots. As for the pickups, they sound ok. Since I use a modeling amp, not a big issue for me. The nut is a GraphTech synthetic bone. Nice touch for an inexpensive guitar, since i do not like changing them out…too much risk of damage. I have fender Strat and Tele, but have not put this down since purchasing it. Once I upgrade the electronics, this will be a very solid guitar.Jeff
15. Esp Ltd Ec-1000 Vintage Black Electric Guitar With Emg Pickupsith
Product Details:
Guitars in the ltd ec-1000 series are designed to offer the tone, feel, looks, and quality. the ec-1000 is consistently one of the most popular guitars due to its combination of incredible looks and great performance. it offers a vintage looking body/neck/headstock binding and gold hardware, and includes premier components like ltd locking tuners, a tonepros locking tom bridge and tailpiece, and the aggressive punch of active emg hetset pickups.
Specifications:
Construction | Set-Thru |
Scale | 24.75" |
Neck | 3pc Mahogany |
Fingerboard | Macassar Ebony |
Fingerboard Radius | 350mm |
Nut Type | Molded |
Neck Contour | Thin U |
Frets/Type | 24 Xj |
Hardware Colour | Gold |
Strap Button | Standard |
Tuners | LTD Locking |
Bridge | Tonepros Locking Tom & Tailpiece |
Neck PU | EMG 60 |
Bridge PU | EMG 81 |
Electronics | Active |
Electronics Layout | Vol/Vol/Tone/Toggle Switch |
Year | 2002 – 2022 |
Made In | Korea, Republic of |
Body Shape | Single Cutaway |
Body Type | Solid Body |
Bridge/Tailpiece Type | Stop-Bar |
Finish Features | Matching Headstock |
Finish Style | Gloss |
Fretboard Material | Ebony |
Fretboard Radius | 12" |
Neck Construction | Set-Neck |
Neck Material | Mahogany |
Number of Frets | 24 |
Number of Strings | 6-String |
Offset Body | No |
Pickup Configuration | HH |
Right / Left Handed | Right Handed |
Scale Length | 24.75" |
Top Material | Maple |
Wood Top Style | Flamed |
Reviews:
Sound: A sign of a good electric guitar is how well it sounds unplugged. This 1000BV is loud, full, and sustains very well before it's even plugged in. I bought the 1000BV with EMG pickups. Most people associate EMG with metal, and yes it goes a long way in that genre but they are equally adept and great sounding for blues, jazz, rock, and clean tones. I am very happy with the tonal versatility of this guitar. Cleans are clear and full, heavy drive has the chunk you want, and in between they just growl like they should. Features: I appreciate the locking tuners and Tone Pros bridge. The tuners are ESP branded but are smooth and seem to stay in tune quite well. The TOM bridge was easy to adjust and lock back into place.Active pickups are a matter of taste. I chose EMG because I like the sound they give, and I already have another guitar with the Duncan JB's. Ease of Use: The guitar came out of the box set up perfectly to ESP specs. Having said that, ESP thinks low action is 2mm at the 12th fret for low E, and 1.5mm on the high. This is way too high for my tastes. Adjusting the truss rod, string height, and intonation was a breeze. In a world filled with Floyd Rose, you lose appreciation for how easy a TOM bridge is to work with!The neck is definitely thinner than a Les Paul, but not super thin like a Jackson or Ibanez neck. It is similar to the PRS Wide Thin carve. Very playable if shredding or legato is your thing, and equally comfortable with the thumb over style. The neck finish is matte and feels as smooth as an unpainted neck. Moving up and down the fretboard is comfortable and easy. Quality: The quality of this instrument is superb. I have gone over it with a fine tooth comb and cannot find even the slightest imperfection in fit and finish. If you were to hand this to me blindfolded, I would easily believe it to be a guitar costing twice the price. It was that good. Fret work was spectacular and on par with my American PRS CE-24. Rolled off edges, no burrs or sprouts, smooth all the way up and down the neck. Value: This guitar is a tremendous value. For a list price of $899 you get every penny worth and more. I would put this up against any American made instrument costing 2 or 3 times more. High quality name brand components installed on a beautifully constructed instrument are what this guitar is about. Manufacturer Support: I have not had to deal with ESP directly yet, but they did suspend my account from their support forum for no known reason lol That's why everyone has more than one email right 🙂 The Wow Factor: It's an unassuming looking guitar that would fit on stage playing metal or smooth jazz. It sounds amazing clean or dirty and is a great alternative for someone who loves the traditional look of a single cutaway guitar but desires a more playable neck and less heft. Overall: I had been eyeing this guitar for quite awhile. I admit that when I found out production of the 1000 series moved from Korea to Indonesia I was very disappointed. The internet is full of horror stories about instrument quality dropping after models start getting produced in different countries, especially after having a great reputation for quality at the previous factory. I wavered back and forth and had second thoughts even after ordering. Thankfully zZounds has a great return policy so I took a chance.I AM SO GLAD I DID!!!!!!!If you are looking for a solid body single cut guitar you HAVE to give the EC-1000 a look. For half the money of most other domestic single cutaways you get a great playing and great looking guitar that is just a joy to play. Build quality is absolutely top notch and on par with or better than some of the best domestic instruments I've owned over 4 decades of playing.Allan
Where do I start? I love everything about this guitar and it is my favorite that I own. If you’re looking for something that sounds very sweet and beautiful clean, this is not the guitar for you. That’s not to say that you can clean it up a bit with maybe some stereo chorus reverb or delay but as this guitar stands on its own, it truly suits one purpose for me , it is true metal madness euphoria. Not only do the pick up scream but this guitar is not only beautiful but constructed perfectly. It is the best most comfortable neck I’ve ever played and it is rocksolid!!! The satin finish on the back of the neck makes it effortless to slide up and down. I’m typically not a fan of gold on guitars but with the black matte finish it actually is pretty sharp and not too Goddy in my opinion. I am mediately replace the strings on this guitar with some nice thick ones for drop C tuning. Even with the 24.75 scale it Plays drop tuning nicely without string floppige. As long as you have the right strings on this exit is no problem. This current model has the EMG pick ups. I am seriously considering getting another EC 1000 with the Pegasus sentiment pick up combo. It’s a little heavier than I thought it would be but in a good way. This guitar is perfectly balanced and the body is definitely thinner than a Les Paul. That’s one thing I didn’t like about Les Pauls is it was thick bulky heavy and a baseball bat neck. I honestly couldn’t be more pleased with this guitar. Love the EC 1000 and the great service I always get at American musical supply. I’ll be honest, i’ve went through about half a dozen brand new guitars and returned every single one of them except for this one. I believe I am pickier than most, if I spend $1000 on a guitar I want to fall in love with it and not settle. If you like playing James Taylor and Crosby stills and Nash I suggest you look elsewhere. If you want to rip some faces off get this guitar!!!!Brett m
I bought this LTD EC-1000 after playing it at the shop for over an hour. This guitar delivers in spades the metal tone I was looking for. (I tried against Duncan Seymour version) With the right setup, it will CHUG! The chugs that is produced is so satisfying and inspirational to downstroke riffs like Papa Het for hours. Action is set at 2mm low E and 1.5mm at high E. A bit higher than I am used to but easy to get used to. This guitar is a beauty and plays and sounds great! You can't go wrong!Kalyan R.
16. Fender Vintera '60s Jaguar, Pau Ferro – 3-Color Sunburst
Product Details:
Get vintage style looks and tone with fender's vintera '60s jaguar. with meticulously re-created jaguar single-coil pickups, complete with the original's focusing cages, that summon the sound and responsiveness of the guitar so many surf, punk, alt-rock and other creative guitarists fell in love with, this instrument is truly a classic reborn. the short, 24" scale length makes for easy playing and the vintage-style floating locking tremolo tailpiece remains one of fender's most inspired developments. with the classic lead/rhythm circuit, separate rhythm volume and tone controls and the classic "strangle switch," you'll discover new sonic frontiers. includes deluxe gig bag.
Specifications:
Body shape | Double cutaway offset |
Body type | Solid body |
Body wood | Alder |
Body finish | Gloss |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | '60s C |
Neck wood | Maple |
Joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 24 in. |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Gloss |
Radius | 7.25 in. |
Fret size | Vintage-style |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Dot |
Configuration | SS |
Neck | 60s Jaguar single-coil |
Bridge | 60s Jaguar single-coil |
Pickup switch | Slide switches for pickup activation |
Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
Bridge design | Adjustable |
Tailpiece | Vintage Style Floating Tremolo |
Tuning machines | Vintage-style |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | Mexico |
Reviews:
Sound: Today's guitars are all made on cnc's unless you get something like a US made G&L, those are cut out with bandsaws and routers, like fenders in the 50s up to the 70s. The neck pocket in mine is very clean and neat, the body routing is very clean, the frets were nice out of the box, no misaligned screws or parts, no blemishes in the finish or anything. Features: The least useful feature for a majority of people will be the rhythm circuit, it has its own volume and tone pots and is neck pickup only, with a much darker tone than the neck pickup on the lead circuit, leave the switch in the down position, and you never have to worry about it unless you want an old school jazz guitar tone. Then push that switch up. (It does old jazz guitar really well) Ease of Use: The jazzmaster has quite a bright bridge pickup, makes it well suited for surf, or spaghetti western guitar, but it also means distortion on the bridge pickup will cut through rather well. the neck pickup is strat like, but bigger and thicker. Like a strat neck pickup on steroids. Both pickups together results in a sweet soft sort of quack tone, due to the pickups being so far apart, it's not the same as a strat quack tone, but its very nice sounding. Then of course there's the neck only rhythm circuit which is very much like an old jazz tone (hence the name Jazzmaster)The pickups are generally higher output than most other fender pickups, and work well with distortion. A lot of people still think jazzmaster pickups are p90s. Nope, real jazzmaster pickups are roughly the same size, but thats where the similarities end. They don't even sound similar. This confusion is furthered by the old mexican player jazzmasters, the j mascius, and others that have P90's. Quality: Fender mexico didn't skimp on the electronic parts, the pickups are very much like a mid 60s jazzmaster in sound, even down to the gray bobbins and enamel coated coil wire. Pots are CTS, both switches and the jack are switchcraft, just like they are supposed to be. They should last forever. The trem is built well, but not exactly the same as the old ones, the trem arm is screw in, it really should be a push in arm, like all the old ones. Also, I think the hole of the trem arm in the top plate is way way too big, it only needs to be slightly bigger than the trem arm collet.The tuners are kluson like split shaft, loke fender used from the very earliest days until 68, they're not made by kluson but it doesn't matter the design is too simple to screw up. The frets are vintage, they're always described as tall and thin. They're not tall, but they are thin, it is a 60s styled guitar after all. But I think a lot of people used to 9.5 and flatter radiuses will have problems, it's a 7.25" radius fretboard, requires a bit higher action but a half hour or so of playing, you get used to it. It also has a truss rod nut at the heel of the neck, its a correct feature for all fender's prior to 1971, but man was that a bad design choice on leo fender's part. You either have to loosen the neck a lot or take it completely off to adjust neck relief, and hope you got it right.Now when I got my guitar I took it completely apart (I always do). What I found on the inside could be improved. First was an excessive amount of wire. There is a lot of wire in a jazzmaster, but they didn't even bother cutting the pickup leads to length. Both pickups had about a foot of unnecessary lead wire, so I fixed that.The other issue was a bad conductive paint job in the cavities. The jazzmaster is an electrically noisy guitar, they need all the shielding they can get. The conductive paint was one thin coat, and didn't even go up the sides of the cavities, it wasn't doing anything. From 1958 to the end of the original run around 1980 each jazzmaster had brass tubs in all the cavities, all soldered together and grounded. I don't expect that in a new jazzmaster, but they knew then that it needed shielding. The pickguard in 58 was also gold anodized aluminum, which was excellent for shielding. But the anodizing wasn't good, and the gold wore off after a few months so and looked awful. In 59 fender switched to plastic tort pickguards, with a thin pickguard sized aluminum shield underneath. Anyway I properly shielded the cavities. Also the pickguard only had aluminum tape for the toggle switch to the jack, and another piece for piece for rhythm circuit switch and pots. That ain't going to do it. I added more shielding, put it all back together and it was a major improvement. Recently I decided to see what a proper gold anodized aluminum pickguard would look like on ice blue metallic, and its VERY cool, looks like a 1960s california speed shop modded my guitar, might put some tele knobs on it sometime.I also made another modification, I had a 65 reissue trem and bridge laying around, so I put them on it. In the old days, the lock button, trem
To start with this review I would like to point out in two different sections. The buying experience with the shop and the guitar set up. 1-The buying experience was great, fast shipping, very well package, tracking feedback. No complaints at all. The guitar, as I said before, came really well package, in two cardboards and bubble plastic. 2-The guitar set up: Out of the box, the guitar set up is horrible, and let me tell you again, horrible. The worst guitar set up I have ever received. My guitar which was "inspected" by a music technician before being shipping to me. I do not know what type of inspection was that but sincerely I think the guitar was not by any means checked. It arrived with crazy fret buzzing through all the neck, gritty frets (almost impossible to do bendings), Sharpen fret edges that felt like knives cutting my fingers, super dry fretboard( I can understand this because of the Indian Laure fretboard), no neck relieve at all ( Truss rod adjustment is needed if you want to play any music with this guitar), the tremolo bridge was rattling like crazy, all strings out of intonation, not to confuse with out of tune. All these things made the playing experience awful. Now I understand why there are so many B-Stocks of this guitar. I thought that being a Chicago Music Exclusive (FSR) product will be take care much better. Do not get me wrong, this is a heck of guitar for the money but be prepared to spend an extra 150 bucks to make this guitar useable. IJ D.
My wife got me this guitar for Christmas and it has more than exceeded my expectations. I had a Fender Jaguar MIJ candy apple red back in the early 90s and it ended up missing. I’ve been waiting for a guitar like that again as it was my absolute favorite guitar to play. I saw this one online and told her this is the one I’d like to have to replace my other Jaguar. I LOVE the tone on these as they give so much depth to the mid and high ranges. The notes just ring so much depth. I must say it sounds even better than I remembered. The matching headstock is another positive for me and sold the look of the guitar. While the tremolo is a little different than I remember (tremolo bar screws in vs push into place) it is probably a better thing that it is that way now. American Musical has always shipped our orders in a few days and didn’t disappoint my wife when it showed up just a few days after ordering and was ready to play directly out of the box. I would recommend this guitar to anyone who wants that perfect surf punk sound.A. Smith
17. Ibanez Grx70qa Gio Electric Guitar (Transparent Blue Burst)
Product Details:
The ibanez grx70qa delivers a lot of electric guitar for a down to earth price. featuring ibanez powersound pickups (a middle single-coil and bridge and neck humbuckers), a comfortable grx maple neck that plays fast and smooth, and a contoured poplar body that snuggles up nice and friendly. 5-way switching and a fat6 tremolo bridge give you tons of tone and playing options to play practically any style, and the grx70qa's good looks are at home in bands that play hard rock to country. – case sold separately. – beautiful select top – fast neck – three pu w/5 way switch – trem bridge – case sold separately
Specifications:
Weight | 13 lb |
Reviews:
I purchased this guitar for my teenage son who has just started to play, so I wanted a budget guitar. The sound is really great and I'm very impressed with both the quality and aesthetics of the guitar. Delivery was efficient and within the estimated date of delivery, which having read other reviews I was expecting it to be later. The item was very well packaged and I was sent the tracking details for DHL and then for Parcelforce once the guitar had made it to the UK. I can recommend using this company based on my experience and this guitar.
Overall: I read some of these negative reviews and can't understand what they're talking about. This guitar is probably the best guitar for $200 I ever played , right out of the box it was setup perfectly. All I did was tune it , I've even got the same strings it came with. Which I normally change whenever I get a new guitar. The tuners are unbelievably tight , this guitar barely goes out of tune even if it has been sitting for weeks. Also I never attached the whammy bar , so I can't speak on that throwing it out of tune. Since I have over a dozen guitars I don't usually play it daily , but when I do it always makes me glad I purchased it. This is a very versatile guitar , I play mostly metal and this thing shreds. But I also play blues and it sounds just as good as my custom strat. I bought an Epiphone SG special in the same price range and let's just say the setup is night and day , the tuners absolutely sucked , "already replaced them" and the intonation was off. It was a mess , I've already put it on Craig's list and bought a G400 Pro instead , 10x better quality and setup , but I digress. I've got many high priced guitars but always go back to the GRX , the playability and neck feels so comfortable to play. The only thing I'm going to do eventually is throw in a Seymour Duncan humbucker and I'm definitely keeping this guitar. I don't know how Ibanez can sell this for $200 and keep the quality , but I'm certainly not going to complain. Whether you're a beginner or experienced this guitar delivers. Definitely will be purchasing another Ibanez down the road.Mike
Sound: Does not have the cleanest sound due to the picks. Putting the right pedals and effects in line and cranking up the distortion makes it an awesome beginner / intermediate metal guitar. Features: For the price the materials feel great. Ease of Use: It sounds great on my Fender Champion 20 or Positive Grid Spark amp. Not the cleanest tone but a great metal sound and extremely easy to play. Quality: It feels made well, especially in the $200 range. I feel like this is one I'll have for years and once I get better definitely see this is a good platform for future mods. Value: This guitar is excellent value and at this price an amazing guitar. Manufacturer Support: I have not dealt with Ibanez. The Wow Factor: I must admit the aesthetic. It's extremely hard to find good looking purple color-based guitars. If I could dream up what I want a guitar to look like this is it. It helps that its quality is awesome. Overall: I love this guitar. Purple is my favorite color and a hard one to find good guitars in. It looks great. It feels great and I have yet to find any significant issues with it. No problems with the frets or fret buzz. Action is easy and low. It sounds great with my Positive Grid Spark amp. The pickups sound great. The HSH setup is very versatile. Not the greatest with clean tones like my Stratocaster, but amazing with the right effects.Josh
18. Fender American Original '50s Telecaster – Butterscotch Blonde
Product Details:
The fender american original '50s telecaster is the best way to experience the performance, style and tone that made fender the foundation of modern music. the ultimate blue-collar guitar, the telecaster launched a musical revolution when fender released it. quickly adopted by working guitarists who were enamored with its trend-setting sound, feel and unique style, the telecaster laid the foundation for modern country, blues and even heavy metal (in jimmy page's hands). the american original '50s telecaster has all of the authentic fender touches that made the telecaster a star of the studio and stage, adding modern feel and pickup switching to this classic guitar. the pure vintage '52 single-coil telecaster pickups are as period-correct as possible, from the enamel-coated coil wire to the cloth-covered output wires, fiber bobbins and alnico 3 magnets. fender even made sure the steel base plates are copper-plated, while the pickups' pole pieces are flush-mounted like the originals. the thick "u"-shaped neck profile gracefully fills the fret hand, while the 9.5"-radius fingerboard will feel familiar to any player. other authentic touches include vintage-tall frets, original-era body radii, vintage-style hardware-including three brass barrel saddles-vintage-style hardshell case and a lacquer finish that not only lets the wood "breathe" naturally with resonant tone, it also wears in a distinctively appealing way.
Specifications:
Body shape | Single cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Body wood | Ash |
Body finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | '52 U |
Neck wood | 1-piece Maple |
Joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 25.5 in. |
Truss rod | Yes |
Neck finish | Gloss Nitrocellulose |
Radius | 9.5 in. |
Fret size | Vintage tall |
Number of frets | 21 |
Inlays | Dot |
Nut width | 1.65 in. (42 mm) Bone |
Configuration | SS |
Neck | Pure Vintage '52 single-coil Tele |
Bridge | Pure Vintage '52 single-coil Tele |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Parallel |
Piezo | No |
Active EQ | No |
Control layout | Master volume, tone |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Kill switch | No |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | 3-saddle vintage-style string-through |
Tuning machines | Vintage-style |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | United States |
Reviews:
I have twenty Fenders, including seven telecasters, and this is better than all of them. The neck feels like its been played for years, and the shape is perfect. Heavy rolled edges make it a pleasure to play with my thumb over the neck. First guitar I have bought that I had to raise the action slightly on the top two strings. Set up for fast playing or chords straight out of the case. The colour is sparkly brownish, but looks black in most light. Very well made guitar. The pickups are noiseless and are silent even with pedals. They sound like standard pickups, no loss of signal because of the extra windings for the noise cancellation. Sound fine. I must say, the pro 1 series pickups sound better. All in all a lovely instrument, well worth the extra few quid.STEVEN T.
Overall: I have an Ultra Strat in Cobra Blue, an Ultra Jazz Bass in Texas Tea, a Les Paul Standard Gold Top and other guitars. This has the most beautiful finish (Sunburst). Way better than the picture or videos. The tone is amazing. Light weight at 6.2 pounds. Officially my favorite guitar. Add to that they shipped it to me in 25 hours after promising 5 days. Ordered Monday noon and here it is. They had it in a warehouse near Reno and I got it next day. zZounds you ROCK.William
The Fender Ultra Telecaster Texas Tea is an amazing guitar, at first I noticed the D-Shape neck and quickly adapted to it. The neck feels silky smooth, hand glides over frets and is easy to play. The sound from pickups are brutally brilliant, and wit the S1 switch built into the tone knob, sends a slightly different signal, bit more gain with full richness depending on the selector position of course. I went initially seeking for the Jimmy Page Dragon Guitar and walk out of the shop with this Ultra instead, and for the few hundred dollars more, this guitar is totally worth it. The look of it is killer, and so classy – if there is an ultra guitar series in your guitar shop locally, don't hesitate to pick it up and test it out. This guitar is HOT! It's difficult to see in these photos but the colour under certain light angles are different and has small sparkling metallic substances mixed in with the colour. It's a black oily dark grey/brown. The neck has a vintage tone colour and the rosewood neck and skunk stripe just makes this guitar special.Jim T.
19. Charvel Pro-Mod Dk24 Hss 2pt Cm Ash-Red Ash
Product Details:
Charvel once again reaches new heights of modern high performance combined with elegant style and crushing tone with the pro-mod dk24 hss 2pt cm ash, a stunning new instrument designed especially for a new breed of player whose musical vision and versatility knows no boundaries. featuring a sculpted shredder's cut heel and scalloped lower back bout for comfortable, unencumbered upper fret access, the ash dinky body is paired with a graphite-reinforced bolt-on caramelized maple neck for rock-solid stability. the "speed" neck features a silky-smooth satin finish on the back for sublime playability, luminlay side dots to guide your way along the fretboard on dark stages and a heel-mount truss rod adjustment wheel for convenient neck relief tweaks. built for fast playing speeds, the 12"-16" compound radius caramelized maple fingerboard features comfortable rolled edges, 24 jumbo frets, pearloid dot inlays and graph tech tusq xl nut. an hss pickup configuration consisting of a seymour duncan custom full shred sh-10b bridge pickup, seymour duncan custom flat strat ssl-6 single-coil middle pickup and seymour duncan custom flat strat ssl-6 rwrp single-coil neck pickup proves to be a versatile tonal force with beefed up mids and articulated, crispy highs. taking our modern dk24 platform up a notch, this model's other premium modern features include a five-way blade pickup switch, stratocaster-style skirt knobs for the volume (with 500k evh bourns low friction potentiometer) and no-load tone controls, gotoh custom 510 tremolo bridge, locking tuners and more. sure to impress in sound and style, this pro-mod dk24 is wrapped in a fiery red ash finish with chrome hardware.
Specifications:
Body shape | Double Cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Body wood | Solid Ash |
Body finish | Gloss |
Neck shape | Speed |
Neck wood | Solid Maple |
Joint | Bolt-on |
Scale length | 25.5" |
Truss rod | Dual-action |
Neck finish | Satin |
Radius | Compound |
Fret size | Jumbo |
Number of frets | 24 |
Inlays | Pearloid Dot |
Nut width/material | TUSQ XL |
Configuration | HSS |
Neck | Seymour Duncan Single Coil |
Middle | Seymour Duncan Single Coil |
Bridge | Seymour Duncan Humbucker |
Control layout | Master volume, Individual tone |
Pickup switch | 5-Way |
Bridge type | Tremolo/Vibrato |
Bridge design | 2-point Fulcrum tremolo |
Tailpiece | Floating Vibrato |
Tuning machines | Locking |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Performance Level | Professional |
Orientation | Right handed |
Country of Origin | South Korea |
Reviews:
Overall: Let's start at the top. I have never had a guitar with in house tuners that are this good. The charvel locking tuners are phenomenal. Very smooth and precise, every bit as good as any gotoh tuners I've used. The nut does what it's supposed to, I've not had any tuning issues due to friction when using the trem. The neck. My god the neck is fantastic. It's a very comfortable thin shape that works for me perfectly. It is very very close to as smooth as my strandberg. The frets are about the only thing that leaves a bit to be desired. They're polished and rounded very nicely, however there are sharp edges. Pretty much every fret, bass and treble side. It isn't to the point where it's uncomfortable to play, but noticeable. I absolutely love the spoke truss rod adjustment wheel, not that I've needed to use it. The neck joint is absolutely the most comfortable bolt on I've ever played. The pickups are fantastic as well, not super high output but the clarity is insane. Exactly what I was looking for. The gotoh bridge was probably my biggest surprise. I've never played a non locking trem that actually stayed in tune and even after abusing it like I would a Floyd, lo and behold, still in tune! It's very comfortable as well. The output jack placement is genius and is comfortable in any sitting position. It would be perfect for sticking the cable in between the strap and guitar. I know it's cliche, but the pictures do not do it justice. It is a stunning guitar. The satin burgundy mist is about the coolest color I've seen on a guitar and compliments the roasted maple neck perfectly. Overall, the fit and finish of the guitar, aside from the frets, is flawless. I would still 100% recommend this guitar to anyone. It would be a great guitar for any type of music you play.
Overall: Not much more I can add to what’s been said so far (hit or miss QA, super smooth neck, really nice finish, crazy number of sonically pleasing tones, premium components work great..); it really is an excellent guitar. The matte blue version of this guitar I received had a really janky and loose pickup selector switch, so I had it swapped out for the exact part used in the (*ahem* almost identical $3500!!!!) American version. The fret edges were finished smooth right out of the box, but it badly needed a setup. Once that was done, it was perfect. It’s almost effortless to access all of the frets. The tremolo is different than a traditional Stratocaster style 2-point trem in that it’s way more sensitive and much tighter and way more stable. The only issue I’m having with it is, because of where the volume knob is and my way of playing, I roll the volume down on accident quite a bit. Kinda takes the edge off of a solo when it’s fading out as it’s building up. Also, I’ll eventually swap out the no-load tone control for a conventional one. The stock no-load tone control works just fine to control the tone, but I don’t like the extra click when it’s dialed all the way up. And at this price it should come with a bag.
On paper, a pink strat style guitar with humbuckers would be the last guitar I'd want to play. However seeing this Charvel Pro-Mod Dk24 on the wall in it's sort of darker pink (burgundy mist) just caught my eye so I played it. I knew I found a real player's guitar. The color grew on me even more and the functionality was great. Humbuckers you can run as single coils with the 5 way switch is very practical. I didn't want to put it down. Super strats have always been very versatile but I've never dreamed of buying one just because I always found the styling to be extreme. However the color is kind of soothing. The neck didn't leave much of an impression but I think that there's something nice about not having to think about the neck. If it works and I don't have to think about it, so be it. Played rock through a little orange amp well yet it also sounded beautiful with a lush clean sound through a Fender Princeton. I think super strat type guitars are starting to come around to the market. Between the Silver Sky the PRS Fiore I think the more mellow color/designs with the versatility they've always had are making super strats more desirable to new guitarists. This one's a great one.G
20. Gibson Les Paul Tribute Electric Guitar (Satin Honeyburst)
Product Details:
Iconic tone and uncompromising playability strap on gibson’s les paul classic, and you’ll experience iconic tone and uncompromising playability. a time-tested combination of maple and mahogany serves up the tone that’s fueled a million rock anthems, while burstbucker pickups inject your playing with loads of midrange muscle and sizzling overtones. you also get coil tapping, phase reversal, and pure bypass options for an endless variety of tonal textures. as for playing comfort, this les paul feels as amazing as it sounds, thanks to a slimtaper neck and easy-playing rosewood fingerboard. the les paul classic includes a self-lubricating graph tech nut, tune-o-matic bridge, vintage-style grover rotomatic tuners, and gold top hat knobs.
Specifications:
Body shape | Single cutaway |
Body type | Solid body |
Top wood | Maple |
Body wood | Weight relieved Mahogany |
Body finish | Satin |
Orientation | Right handed |
Neck shape | Rounded |
Neck wood | Maple |
Joint | Set-in |
Scale length | 24.75 in. |
Truss rod | Standard |
Neck finish | Satin |
Radius | 12 in. |
Fret size | Medium jumbo |
Number of frets | 22 |
Inlays | Trapezoid |
Nut width/material | 1.69 in. (43 mm) GraphTech |
Configuration | HH |
Neck | 490R |
Bridge | 490T |
Active or passive pickups | Passive |
Series or parallel | Parallel |
Control layout | Volume 1, volume 2, tone 1, tone 2 |
Pickup switch | 3-way |
Bridge type | Fixed |
Bridge design | ABR-1 |
Tailpiece | Stopbar |
Tuning machines | Grover Rotomatic |
Number of strings | 6-string |
Country of origin | United States |
Reviews:
Only $300 difference from standard and $500 from modern LP… tough choice. I like flame tops for sure but bored of tobacco burst, honey burst, cherry burst and other plain traditional bursts… so leaned towards something more classic modern and bold… so went with translucent cherry. And my back isn't great so wanted something lighter. The coil tapping is nice to have but isn't great… especially compared to my PRS guitars. I'm not sure why Gibson can't figure this out. Again nice to have but wish Gibson could do a better job with this. Coil tapping quality was the same on my studio. I absolutely love the pickups on this guitar… probably some of best humbuckers ever made because of the extra brightness and clarity. I've sold so many of my guitars with humbuckers and gravitated towards single coil guitars because humbuckers are typically muddy in comparison. These 61's are a game changer for me and got me interested in Gibson LPs again. I love the colors of the LP modern too… but not sure what you're are getting extra for the added $500 other than a carved heal joint which I'll never use… and ultra weight relief… which is good if you have a bad back. But I think the electronics are the same with slightly hotter pickups. I guess boils down to which pickups you prefer and color. I love the classic and modern LP colors… again tough choices…but classic is perfect for me… I really love them all for different reasons though.Thad
What we have here is a great American made Gibson Les Paul for a good price. I bought one a year ago and bought a second as a backup/different tuning for stage use. Not that the guitar requires a backup, but strings break and things happen. The 490 pickups are great all around work horses. While I'd recommend different pickups on a per person/per style situation, these are right in my ball park and do what I want them to (goosed with an OD or boost at times). All of the electronics and hardware are fine. Same with fit/finish and the gig bag (which is also very nice). As I said, I have two of these now. The first is a year old and has been through once a week rehearsals and twice a week gigs. The satin finish on the neck settles in nicely with a bit of playing and sweat. It gets slicker over time, shows age, and feels great. Same with the body as well. As with all satin finished guitars, it wont stay that way. Playability on both were perfect out of the bag. No sharp frets and setup/intonation were just to my liking. Now let's compare these Tributes to a Standard. I won't discuss the chambered body versus non nor the maple versus mahogany necks. You really won't notice the difference other than the weight. More weight does not always equal better tone. Here's the thing, I don't notice a difference in tone between the Tribute and Standard….well, not enough to justify the cost difference. I had my doubts when I ordered my first one that it could stand up to my Standard. But I dug it off the bat. To quell my doubts, I had the other guitarist in my band run it through its paces so that I could stand back and hear. That was the Les Paul tone….I was happy. As such, I ordered a second as they were in my stable to stay. Solid guitars with great tone that I will not cry about when they get dinged or messed with at a gig. Now, the Tributes are thinner than the Standards. And of course no bling such as binding or headstock inlays. Switch washer comes in the bag should you choose to install it. But the tone and playability is what you expect from a Les Paul. I would, and have, recommended these to my friends. Great instrument at a great price. BTW, the included case. This was an incredible surprise as I didn't know what to expect. It's a lether "type" exterior, great padding, pink fuzzy interior, LARGE front pocket, and double backpack straps. It's a VERY nice bag! Accessory kit gets you a picture of your guitar being setup, documents that you will probably not read, a few tools, and as of this posting, a nylon guitar strap. While lower in scale compared to the Standard (what with it's hard case, multi tool, and leather strap), it's still rather cool. All in all, these are my go to guitars for stage and studio right now. I have more expensive guitars, but cost doesn't equal tone or feel.Brandon
Overall: First thing I have to say is when I opened it I went over it with a fine tooth comb because I've heard so many nightmare stories about Gibson quality control over the past decade. My guitar was impeccable. Not a single issue whatsoever, as it should be for what they cost now. This guitar comes with the 490r and 490t pickups. These are fine if you play blues, jazz, or classic rock. If you want to play hard rock or metal you may want to look into replacement pickups. The 490r is very warm and thick. It sounds great for clean arpeggios and overdriven soloing, but it can sound downright muddy playing chords with any overdrive on it. Even with the pickup heights adjusted it was a little louder than the 490t bridge pickup. Now the 490t doesn't sound too bad. It's a pretty clear, but doesn't have a whole lot of output. Stick an overdrive in front of a dirty amp and it will sing, but it won't have the compressed singing quality on it's own. That can be good or bad depending on what you need. I played around with them for a couple weeks before deciding to replace them with Seymour Duncans (JB and Jazz). The Jazz has a lot more clarity in the neck than the 490r and it still has warmth to it. The JB just sings and still cleans up with the volume knob despite being high output. They're the go to aftermarket pickups as far as I'm concerned. If it had shipped with a 498t in the bridge I might not have been so quick to swap the pickups out. I love the fact that this has a maple neck. Maple is a lot sturdier than mahogany plus the Les Paul Customs in the 70s had maple necks. That's really the main reason I jumped for this rather than a Studio. No it doesn't have the binding like the Classic, Traditional, or Standard LPs, but I'm used to the no frills construction of my faded SG. It doesn't bother me. It has a simple beauty to it. My guitar is the tobacco burst and I really like how the neck, top, and back all have different colors. You get what you pay for, but it's not as good a value as it was a couple years ago. Replace the 490t with a 498t and drop the price (yeah right) back down a bit and I'd give it a 5/5. As it is it is a solid 4/5. I wouldn't hesitate to buy one if you're in the market for a Les Paul.
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