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MGR/Anonymous « Peavey Raptor EXP »
Published on 04/25/04 at 15:00I recently got back into playing after a long lay-off. I've always had Humbucking rigs and wanted to try the Fender Strat sound. Since I'm not independently wealthy and I'm not a rock star, I was looking for something reasonably priced that didn't sound like it came out of a cereal box. I demo'd Mex Fender Strats and Ibanezs as the most likely suspects. I was ready to pay up to $400.00 for the right piece. I cruise my local music shop that has a Peavey franchise and saw...the Raptor EXP. List price: $199.00. Internet price: $159.00. My price at the end of the day: $129.00.
Well...I figured for $129.00, how good can it be? Answer: you'd be surprised! I was. I looked it over very carefully and was pleasently surprised at the fit and finish. High gloss finish with white pickguard and pups/knobs. S/S/H Fat Strat configuration and Strat-alike double cut and belly contour. Stock Fender-style whammy bar w/master volume and tone controls. 5-way selecter switch. Hard rock maple neck w/rosewood fretboard and medium frets. Comfortable to play with a rather thin neck. Not the Fender ball bat, not quite the Ibanez Wizard, but comfortable for my hand. Electronics all smooth and quiet. Output jack on bottom edge instead of the Strat "cats-eye". This is more convenient for playing, but don't drop it! Single coils are MUCH brighter than the Mex Strats and Ibanezs. The Bridge Hummer gives you the capability to decend into bombastic metal filth, if you desire. Very versatile. In-between settings will let you chicken-pick or blues squawk, too. Kinda the best of both worlds.
It doesn't have female genitalia, but what should you expect for $129.00? Seriously...there's not much to dislike. The pups aren't Seymore class, but they're far and away better than average, even for higher priced intsruments. Obsolete whammy bar. Laminated body(think butcherblock, not plywood) shows through trans red finish. Joins very faintly noticeable. Comes from the factory with strings that are a little heavier than I like. I had my guy change 'em for some D'Addario XLs which were more comfortable for me. I'm kinda nit-picking here.
Outstanding for an import. The research I did on this piece before I bought it says that the bodies are made in America and sent to China, where they are mated with the Chinese-made necks. The rest of the guitar is assembled in China, too. One bonus...American electronics! The pots are smooth as silk and the pups are the quietest I've ever heard. The Fenders sounded like a jet aircraft by comparison and the pots felt like they had sand in 'em. Stays quiet until you pour on the gain or kick in the effects. Then it hums a bit. Not too obnoxous. The neck fits tight into the body with no gaps. I checked this with a piece of slide acetate. I repeat, no gaps. Not a single Fender or Ibanez passed this test. They also had fret overcuts that the Peavey did not have. Frets dressed nicely and no buzzing, even with the lighter guage strings. Neck grain straight, not ringed or birdseyed. Satin finish that plays fast. Came out of the box with no adjustment needed and in tune. In fact, it had no tension on the neck at all. I may have to tweak this after some months of play. The tuners looked like Gotohs to me. If they're not, they look identical and they stay in tune under all loads. I have whammied it out of tune, but only marginally and only after serious EVH worship.
This guitar is the best deal in Axland right now. Sound and build quality that you'd expect in a much more expensive piece. The price/value ratio can't be beat. If you are a beginner or just need something that gets you that KWS or SRV sound, this is the most guitar for the least cash. I love mine and I've been playing off and on for 30 years. This guitar makes me want to pick it up and play it. Get yours today!
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com
Well...I figured for $129.00, how good can it be? Answer: you'd be surprised! I was. I looked it over very carefully and was pleasently surprised at the fit and finish. High gloss finish with white pickguard and pups/knobs. S/S/H Fat Strat configuration and Strat-alike double cut and belly contour. Stock Fender-style whammy bar w/master volume and tone controls. 5-way selecter switch. Hard rock maple neck w/rosewood fretboard and medium frets. Comfortable to play with a rather thin neck. Not the Fender ball bat, not quite the Ibanez Wizard, but comfortable for my hand. Electronics all smooth and quiet. Output jack on bottom edge instead of the Strat "cats-eye". This is more convenient for playing, but don't drop it! Single coils are MUCH brighter than the Mex Strats and Ibanezs. The Bridge Hummer gives you the capability to decend into bombastic metal filth, if you desire. Very versatile. In-between settings will let you chicken-pick or blues squawk, too. Kinda the best of both worlds.
It doesn't have female genitalia, but what should you expect for $129.00? Seriously...there's not much to dislike. The pups aren't Seymore class, but they're far and away better than average, even for higher priced intsruments. Obsolete whammy bar. Laminated body(think butcherblock, not plywood) shows through trans red finish. Joins very faintly noticeable. Comes from the factory with strings that are a little heavier than I like. I had my guy change 'em for some D'Addario XLs which were more comfortable for me. I'm kinda nit-picking here.
Outstanding for an import. The research I did on this piece before I bought it says that the bodies are made in America and sent to China, where they are mated with the Chinese-made necks. The rest of the guitar is assembled in China, too. One bonus...American electronics! The pots are smooth as silk and the pups are the quietest I've ever heard. The Fenders sounded like a jet aircraft by comparison and the pots felt like they had sand in 'em. Stays quiet until you pour on the gain or kick in the effects. Then it hums a bit. Not too obnoxous. The neck fits tight into the body with no gaps. I checked this with a piece of slide acetate. I repeat, no gaps. Not a single Fender or Ibanez passed this test. They also had fret overcuts that the Peavey did not have. Frets dressed nicely and no buzzing, even with the lighter guage strings. Neck grain straight, not ringed or birdseyed. Satin finish that plays fast. Came out of the box with no adjustment needed and in tune. In fact, it had no tension on the neck at all. I may have to tweak this after some months of play. The tuners looked like Gotohs to me. If they're not, they look identical and they stay in tune under all loads. I have whammied it out of tune, but only marginally and only after serious EVH worship.
This guitar is the best deal in Axland right now. Sound and build quality that you'd expect in a much more expensive piece. The price/value ratio can't be beat. If you are a beginner or just need something that gets you that KWS or SRV sound, this is the most guitar for the least cash. I love mine and I've been playing off and on for 30 years. This guitar makes me want to pick it up and play it. Get yours today!
This review was originally published on http://www.musicgearreview.com