Better Guitar

player opinions

Name: Andrew
Band: -----
Model Year: 2005
Price Paid: $350
Performance
I picked it up for the first time when it arrived... I was instantly blown away. I had seen the M-200fm for a while now and thought about getting it, then I stumbled across this other one with a h/s/h combo so I opted to get it. Sickest axe I ever laid hands on.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
You would think they would kick butt since they’re EMG, but they do sound just the smallest fraction “hollow” when you play at about bedroom levels ( I play out of a small marshall MG10). But when I crank it real loud, you can’t hear the hollowness anymore. It would take me a million years for me to find a guitar that’s more suited for me (metal, hardcore...emo-screamo stuff.)
Sound Quality Rating: 8
Construction
I’ve already dropped it twice and hit it a few times on the table I practice next to but no paint chips, just minor dents (2-5 mm across.) I doubt if you could accidentally break this thing unless you dropped it off a building, or smashed it onstage.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Brad R
Band: SLAF (Stupid Like A Fox)
Model Year: 2007
Price Paid: $900 CDN.
Performance
This guitar plays very nicely. It’s smooth to handle. The body is shaped quite well. My only complaint is the point that the head comes to. It got chipped before I bought it. I should have gotten a discount, or something... but whatever. As the other dude said “You can’t hear a paint chip.”
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
It sounds okay. The single coil in the middle buzzes just as much as my old Fender pickups. The humbuckers sound pretty hollow. I think I want to change ‘em. The neck-thru adds some nice sustain.
Sound Quality Rating: 6
Construction
It’s chillin. The tip of the head stock rubs on the zipper from my soft-case. That’s my only complaint. Like I said, otherwise it’s a hype guitar.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Tim Wyatt
Band: Straight Jacket 75
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $560
Performance
This guitar plays great. It has a comfortable and fast neck and one of the few I found with 24 frets.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
The EMG pickups were real microphonic when I got it. I tore them apart and found they were not potted. A few melted candles and an hour latter they were. It made a huge difference, the pickups rock now. I also installed a push pull pot so I can kick in the neck pickup with any other pickup, Very fat sound. Rating is before Mods.
Sound Quality Rating: 6
Construction
Very well made with set neck. The finish on mine is great (transparent red). Small bleem on ESP decal but who cares, you can’t hear the decal.
Construction Rating: 10

Name: Danny Lovin
Band: -----
Model Year: -----
Price Paid: $589
Performance
Very fast neck. Smooth all the way up the fretboard. Neck-thru body has plenty of sustain. A nice affordable guitar.
Performance Rating: 10
Sound Quality
Guitar came equipped with EMG-Hz pickups humbucker/single coil/humbucker. These pickups, unlike most EMG humbuckers, are passive and not active. They sound as good as the EMG 81’s. The bridge is a Floyd Rose and does not go out of tune.
Sound Quality Rating: 10
Construction
Very good construction for a lower price guitar. I was very impressed with the workmanship. I own a Gibson SG [1983] and a Guild jf50r-nt [1975], so I’m use to guitars with great workmanship, but with a price. I expected to get a cheap guitar that played cheap, but this was not the case. Inexpensive, yet very nice guitar. Some minor flaws in body, but overall very good.
Construction Rating: 8