View other reviews for this product:
kinder_guano
Published on 07/08/10 at 14:23
Note: This is a test of the prototype of the first series of PMC Blast guitars.
I do not own this guitar. I tested the prototype a full morning with a mate who has ears, hands, and a damn good experience, Patrick, rhythm guitars in the band Scarve.
I know writing a review without using an instrument long enough is BAD.
Oh well.
PMC Guitar Blast, handcrafted in France, in the lovely surrounding of Montpellier, by Mr. PM.
The specs:
-1 piece African mahogany body, with a rather very cool shape, sizing roughly like a Washburn N4.
-Top notch ergonomics and body contour (heel carved for easy access to the upper frets, tummy and forearm cut).
-1 piece bolt on Padauk neck with two carbon fiber rods, two way adjustable trussrod, volute reinforcement.
-Electronics back cover in mahogany (no plastics here!).
-Black finish-dyed and oiled.
-Thick ebony board, round fretboard end.
-Scale 25''1 / 2.
-Medium jumbo frets.
-Grover 406BC tuners.
-Hipshot fixed brass bridge, with strings through the body.
-EMG 81 bridge and neck 60A, wired in 9v.
-Oiled neck.
-One volume knob ,one 3 way toggle switch, placed further away from the bidge.
-Flushmount Dunlop Straplok and output jack.
-Metal pickup rings.
-Graphtech Tusq nut.
Many pretty smart details (the controls layout, for instance) making life easier :o)
I would have preferred the EMGs to be wired in 18v for less less compression, more clarity in the sound though.
This guitar has killer looks! PM sent me on a regular basis pictures of its construction, except for the final stages, to have the surprise when seeing her in real life.
I was not a fan of the headstock, but eventually it really matches the rest of the guitar!
Rather simple but definitely classy, the wood breathes, the wood grain flatters the eye,and all in all top quality gear and woods (it is light years away from ESP, Ibanez, etc..).
UTILIZATION
This guitar is straight forward, no nonsense you feel immediately at home with it.
Lightweight, thoughtful ergonomics, well balanced, everything falls in hand. I loved the controls layout (for fans of violing, PM can place the volume closer to the bridge, that's the cool thing with a guitar that can be tailored for you!).
The neck is relatively flat, very easy and comfortable ease. As good as my good old Lag guitars , or a Jackson Dinky USA.
Again, one can choose the neck shape he wants!
Everything is smooth and cool on this guitar. Low fixed bridge, far more enjoyable than a Tune O'Matic, as comfortable and low as a Floyd Rose, without the nuisance of an OFR! The neck is smooth, comfortable, without the tons of sticky varnish with plastic feel that slow down your left hand. Etc..
Upper frets access is pretty good for a bolt-on neck guitar, the heel is smartly carved, the lower horn might be a more sculpted for access to the 26th fret. Aaaah, there's only 24 frets!
SOUNDS
Tested an entire morning in a very nice amp, a Bogner Ecstasy Classic in a 2x12 VHT (Fryette) Deliverance cab.
It could have been worse as a test amp!
This amp I start to know it well, I've played it already a lot with my Gibson Les Paul, my ESP Horizon, even my old Lag!
Unplugged, the Blast already has punch and rejoicing dynamics!
With the 1 piece padauk ultra rigid neck, ebony fingerboard, string through construction, the Blast deserves its name! The mahogany adds a good dose of low mids. The sustain is not bad at all!
Let's plug the Blast now the tubes are warm enough.
Ok EMG haters. I see you coming!
Now just plug an axe loaded with EMGs in an amp that’s worth it, with a damn good guitarist (not me, but Scarve's axeman!). Bang!
The EMGs are more versatile than you could expect! At least, they can make things do in any style, and most of the time they're rather outstanding. Yip!
Yep, they are ok with funk groove, bluesgrass, blues, good old rock n roll, and big rock wearing shorts crawling on the floor with a SG, all goes rather well with the 81.
The 60A is again a good surprise : certainly the best EMG neck pickup imho. It does not fear jazzy, bluesy crunch leads, and in clean it is pretty cool.
Obviously, as soon as you roll the gain up, you enter the lands of metal, Iron Maiden to Slayer and Scarve!
There, the guitar breathes, the sound is big, accurate. In your face.
OVERALL OPINION
Absolutely fantastic, absolutely no way to resist the appeal of the Blast!
Oh well, the damage is done, I ordered one and I think there will be a PMC in Scarve's arsenal pretty soon!
I do not own this guitar. I tested the prototype a full morning with a mate who has ears, hands, and a damn good experience, Patrick, rhythm guitars in the band Scarve.
I know writing a review without using an instrument long enough is BAD.
Oh well.
PMC Guitar Blast, handcrafted in France, in the lovely surrounding of Montpellier, by Mr. PM.
The specs:
-1 piece African mahogany body, with a rather very cool shape, sizing roughly like a Washburn N4.
-Top notch ergonomics and body contour (heel carved for easy access to the upper frets, tummy and forearm cut).
-1 piece bolt on Padauk neck with two carbon fiber rods, two way adjustable trussrod, volute reinforcement.
-Electronics back cover in mahogany (no plastics here!).
-Black finish-dyed and oiled.
-Thick ebony board, round fretboard end.
-Scale 25''1 / 2.
-Medium jumbo frets.
-Grover 406BC tuners.
-Hipshot fixed brass bridge, with strings through the body.
-EMG 81 bridge and neck 60A, wired in 9v.
-Oiled neck.
-One volume knob ,one 3 way toggle switch, placed further away from the bidge.
-Flushmount Dunlop Straplok and output jack.
-Metal pickup rings.
-Graphtech Tusq nut.
Many pretty smart details (the controls layout, for instance) making life easier :o)
I would have preferred the EMGs to be wired in 18v for less less compression, more clarity in the sound though.
This guitar has killer looks! PM sent me on a regular basis pictures of its construction, except for the final stages, to have the surprise when seeing her in real life.
I was not a fan of the headstock, but eventually it really matches the rest of the guitar!
Rather simple but definitely classy, the wood breathes, the wood grain flatters the eye,and all in all top quality gear and woods (it is light years away from ESP, Ibanez, etc..).
UTILIZATION
This guitar is straight forward, no nonsense you feel immediately at home with it.
Lightweight, thoughtful ergonomics, well balanced, everything falls in hand. I loved the controls layout (for fans of violing, PM can place the volume closer to the bridge, that's the cool thing with a guitar that can be tailored for you!).
The neck is relatively flat, very easy and comfortable ease. As good as my good old Lag guitars , or a Jackson Dinky USA.
Again, one can choose the neck shape he wants!
Everything is smooth and cool on this guitar. Low fixed bridge, far more enjoyable than a Tune O'Matic, as comfortable and low as a Floyd Rose, without the nuisance of an OFR! The neck is smooth, comfortable, without the tons of sticky varnish with plastic feel that slow down your left hand. Etc..
Upper frets access is pretty good for a bolt-on neck guitar, the heel is smartly carved, the lower horn might be a more sculpted for access to the 26th fret. Aaaah, there's only 24 frets!
SOUNDS
Tested an entire morning in a very nice amp, a Bogner Ecstasy Classic in a 2x12 VHT (Fryette) Deliverance cab.
It could have been worse as a test amp!
This amp I start to know it well, I've played it already a lot with my Gibson Les Paul, my ESP Horizon, even my old Lag!
Unplugged, the Blast already has punch and rejoicing dynamics!
With the 1 piece padauk ultra rigid neck, ebony fingerboard, string through construction, the Blast deserves its name! The mahogany adds a good dose of low mids. The sustain is not bad at all!
Let's plug the Blast now the tubes are warm enough.
Ok EMG haters. I see you coming!
Now just plug an axe loaded with EMGs in an amp that’s worth it, with a damn good guitarist (not me, but Scarve's axeman!). Bang!
The EMGs are more versatile than you could expect! At least, they can make things do in any style, and most of the time they're rather outstanding. Yip!
Yep, they are ok with funk groove, bluesgrass, blues, good old rock n roll, and big rock wearing shorts crawling on the floor with a SG, all goes rather well with the 81.
The 60A is again a good surprise : certainly the best EMG neck pickup imho. It does not fear jazzy, bluesy crunch leads, and in clean it is pretty cool.
Obviously, as soon as you roll the gain up, you enter the lands of metal, Iron Maiden to Slayer and Scarve!
There, the guitar breathes, the sound is big, accurate. In your face.
OVERALL OPINION
Absolutely fantastic, absolutely no way to resist the appeal of the Blast!
Oh well, the damage is done, I ordered one and I think there will be a PMC in Scarve's arsenal pretty soon!
