Audiofanzine FR
Published on 10/07/08 at 09:23
(Originally written by Zorglusb/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Made in Korea (whereas several current models are made in Indonesia).
2 Duncan Design humbucker pickups. Grover machine heads
Floating bridge The Korean version is/was sold with a hard case and two bridges (one made of wood and the other with metal saddles).
The metal tailpiece is fixed to the rear rim.
Classic setting possibilities for a jazz guitar: Volume and tone controls for each pickup plus 3-way toggle switch.
Set neck. 25.5" scale
UTILIZATION
Very pleasant neck. Quite round, not too thick and wide allowing a comfortable playing. It's shaped like an Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass neck with slightly longer scale but you won't feel the difference. This neck perfectly fits my needs but it's a matter of taste...
Access to the upper frets is typical for a L5-like guitar but it's not really an important point for this sort of guitar.
The size is nearly the same as a Gibson L5. Thus the body is quite bulky but you'll get used to it.
The Duncan Design pickups sound better than I thought. I've owned lots of mid-range jazz guitars and it's clearly the best-sounding one (both in high and low frequency ranges).
SOUNDS
Of course it's the perfect guitar for jazz, bossa nova and blues. You might even play it with a slightly overdriven sound but the guitar is not conceived for that.
I play it with two amps, an AER Compact 60 and a Roland Cube 30. The sound is very good with both amps. I also record into a PC. I connect the guitar to my sound card via an old Zoom Acoustic 504 pedal and I'm satisfied with the sound.
I only use the neck pickup. The tone control of this pickup offers enough sound variations for a good jazz tone.
OVERALL OPINION
I've owned the "made in Indonesia" model for over one year. I recently found the Korean version and I just couldn't resist... There are some differences in the color, the finish and the sound... I have owned about 10 jazz guitars, from cheap to mid-range instruments (Ibanez, Epiphone, Yamaha, Cort...). I wanted to review this guitar because its looks, sound quality and neck seduced me and it perfectly fit my needs. It's an inexpensive alternative to the L5 of my dreams...
In my opinion, the value for money of the Korean version is one of the best for this kind of guitar. The value for money of the Indonesian model isn't so good but it's still ok.
Yes, I would make the same choice again but I won't buy a third one...
Made in Korea (whereas several current models are made in Indonesia).
2 Duncan Design humbucker pickups. Grover machine heads
Floating bridge The Korean version is/was sold with a hard case and two bridges (one made of wood and the other with metal saddles).
The metal tailpiece is fixed to the rear rim.
Classic setting possibilities for a jazz guitar: Volume and tone controls for each pickup plus 3-way toggle switch.
Set neck. 25.5" scale
UTILIZATION
Very pleasant neck. Quite round, not too thick and wide allowing a comfortable playing. It's shaped like an Epiphone Emperor Joe Pass neck with slightly longer scale but you won't feel the difference. This neck perfectly fits my needs but it's a matter of taste...
Access to the upper frets is typical for a L5-like guitar but it's not really an important point for this sort of guitar.
The size is nearly the same as a Gibson L5. Thus the body is quite bulky but you'll get used to it.
The Duncan Design pickups sound better than I thought. I've owned lots of mid-range jazz guitars and it's clearly the best-sounding one (both in high and low frequency ranges).
SOUNDS
Of course it's the perfect guitar for jazz, bossa nova and blues. You might even play it with a slightly overdriven sound but the guitar is not conceived for that.
I play it with two amps, an AER Compact 60 and a Roland Cube 30. The sound is very good with both amps. I also record into a PC. I connect the guitar to my sound card via an old Zoom Acoustic 504 pedal and I'm satisfied with the sound.
I only use the neck pickup. The tone control of this pickup offers enough sound variations for a good jazz tone.
OVERALL OPINION
I've owned the "made in Indonesia" model for over one year. I recently found the Korean version and I just couldn't resist... There are some differences in the color, the finish and the sound... I have owned about 10 jazz guitars, from cheap to mid-range instruments (Ibanez, Epiphone, Yamaha, Cort...). I wanted to review this guitar because its looks, sound quality and neck seduced me and it perfectly fit my needs. It's an inexpensive alternative to the L5 of my dreams...
In my opinion, the value for money of the Korean version is one of the best for this kind of guitar. The value for money of the Indonesian model isn't so good but it's still ok.
Yes, I would make the same choice again but I won't buy a third one...