Crafter SA

Hybrid electro-acoustic guitar / electric. Lipstick and piezo pickups. Made in Korea.

Allergic to traditional electro bass drums I wanted a
thinline that would allow me two things:

 Have a unpluged enough to accompany me in a small group (acoustic blues oriented directory) and repeat at home without making it too enjoy its neighbors.
 Have an electro sound when I play in training, alternating with my strato HSS.

I stumbled upon this Crafter store. It is packed with its beautiful spruce tabby. But it is obviously not enough, the rest of the violin is above average in this price range, this instrument exudes quality. Flawless finish, easy handle, a little Gibsonian.

UTILIZATION

The electric guitar that I felt at home in a few seconds, but not too light, good grip, a real treat.

SOUNDS

This guitar is made for / a tie rod 11 49 (the original drawing), I tried to get in 10/46 (like my electric), it does not work. In 11/49 the choice of Elixir strings significantly improves acoustic performance particularly low. With a well-regulated, which was the case from the outset action, the playability is royal. The difference of sensations with an electric is minimal, much easier than a pure acoustic.

The sound unpluged: 90% of the time, ie at home, I use vacuum. The sound is that of a semi-hollow, there is no miracle, but unlike the ones I've tried in the past, it was still a real acoustic sound, it is small but musical and only has a few strong voices like mine. With Elixir timbre brighter and a little metal is well suited to what I do, the bluespicking is also very nice arpeggios, at least for my taste. Accompanying kind folk that makes it less, but it's still acceptable.

The balance is connected, we say, "means more." I lead in parallel with my strato on a Blues Junior, the record is very clean. The piezo crystal is really as most of the piezo, I never use it alone. The lipstick is in the same key but much meatier. The preamp LRBaggs allows a progressive mixture of the two microphones with a very effective treble / bass equalizer middle /. The final sound quality basic, very flexible, but can hardly transcend ... In picking is very satisfactory, support is less the stuff of this guitar, making the gentle when you get there same. Note that the lipstrick only provides a jazzy sound pretty good. So versatility issue is not a Taylor T5 which costs, as its name suggests, five times more expensive and delivers stamps breathtaking ... That does not diminish the qualities of this SA-TMVs, given what I was looking for (see the beginning), this Crafter less than 500 euros is unexpected, I'm more fun to play on, with the usual we get the stamp and embellish the bargain it beautifies my living room with its great look, what more? In view of this instrument, in my opinion, Koreans Crafter have the know-how to play in the big leagues ...

OVERALL OPINION

Last, this notice is for musicians interested in this kind of instrument, however I would not recommend buying this guitar without trying (I think the internet) you have understood it is quite typical, some acoustic blues and more generally picking, will love, others spend their way ... the problem is that it is quite rare in stores, Crafter is relatively distributed in France. Rest demos on youtube ... not very well done.

Korean manufacturing

Electric guitar and electroacoustic
1 / 4 cutaway body
Type Thin Line, domed table
Maple table Tigre - Body Solid Mahogany - Rosewood
LR Baggs Electronics - Hybrid Preamp with slider to toggle between 2 positions +
Volume sliders - treble - medium - bass -
+ 2 buttons: Mute (to stop the practice to grant = amplification) and Phase: gives + / - in his heat.
+ A volume knob

Micro said Kent Armstrong Lipstick signed for electric sounds
piezoelectric sensor and LR Baggs for Acoustics

Mechanical oil bath chrome Deluxe
Shell Inlays Compass
Natural Gloss Finish


UTILIZATION

Channel comfortable holding the guitar sound, well balanced, relatively light weight.
Cutaway allows access to acute without too many problems.

Although this is neither an electric guitar, acoustic or a full, the sound is fine if you're not too demanding on the purity of those above. Nevertheless I find it better acoustics (sound reminds Ovation) than electric.

The use is nice
Some adjustments may be to consider at the reception (up to review the game = Adjusting sleeve and nut grinding) + change strings manufacturer not terrible.

On receipt and without adjustments noted above, I noted 8.

SOUNDS

Without being plugged in, the guitar sounds little attention = impossible to lead a campfire!
This point is still practical to work the instrument without disturbing those around him too ...

Hype:
In acoustics, the sound is clear, with a small crystalline side Ovation, the bass is deep the tone controls are effective and can modulate the sound to its taste.

In electricity, we find the case = rather his half Jazzy, blues, big rock to avoid it is better to choose this guitar.

And finally, the mixture of the 2 mics opens up another range of sound: It sometimes seems to have 2 guitars acoustic / electric set!

Note 9 because a guitar called "hybrid" one must be aware they have a bit of acoustic sound and a little of its power ... it filled at that level its role.

OVERALL OPINION

I discovered this opportunity in a guitar shop, it is already visually impressive! I tried it and there I found the instrument to play nice, fun, fun show ... : By a simple movement of the cursor, you can play the same song in 2 ways.
I'm not very comfortable on electric guitars, I can not find my bearings, ... with this guitar, no more problem, I have the same haunts as a sound level of my game
It is always more acoustic than electric, it's still also very sweet and jazzy blues (the look of the guitar lends itself well I think ...) we should not try to do with the big sound this beauty.
on the other hand, changing strings delivered series (String manufacturer) is to do upon receipt and adjusting the neck, see a light sanding of the saddle will be considered: The two guitars I tried had a set too high and j have read this comment in other forums.

Cons by then it's a real treat!
In conclusion do not try to replace this guitar with a acoustiqyue and / or an electric guitar take this as a fun, fun which is fun to play to invent, to vary and rediscover the songs we usually play acoustic Pure ....
néamoins with a real quality finish, a look at fall ... I advise those who, like me, its not very comfortable with the pure power.
Undeniable value for money and a big congratulations to the Korean firm.