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Audiofanzine FR
Published on 03/09/09 at 12:00
(Originally written by darkjmb/translated from Audiofanzine FR)
Color: black
Body: mahogany
Neck: maple
Fingerboard: rosewood
Number of frets: 24
Pickups: Kent Armstrong®
Pickups configuration: H
Pickups reference: Motherbucker
Controls: push/pull volume
Bridge: Wilkinson®-type tremolo
Machine heads: Grover®
Hardware: black
Pickguard: none
Scale: 25.5"
Strings: D'addario® 9-42 (replaced with 11-58 Skull Strings, tremolo springs changed)
Note: 4-coil pickup
(manufacturer features)
At first I was pretty satisfied with this guitar (it's my third guitar) but after having used it a quite some time (over one year)...
It turns out my guitar was faulty. The neck is distorted on the G, B and high E strings from the 11th to the 24th fret so I use it only for rhythm parts (and I actually I replaced the pickups for this purpose).
UTILIZATION
When I tested it I compared it it with the neck of a BC-Rich Warlock (which is thicker and wider).
This neck is slimmer and easier to play (except the high E string which has not enough space). When I tested it I liked it more than a Schecter Hellraiser, which is a high-end product (and I would rather have now). The guitar is not light but it lighter than a Les Paul.
The main turnoff is the faulty neck, which I didn't notice when I bought it.
It's a pity considering the guitar.
SOUNDS
I play several music styles but mainly heavy and death metal...
My setup:
- Hartke Piggyback amp
- Digitech Deathmetal and RP80 pedals
- Danlectro Fab Metal pedal
The 4-coil pickup produces a highly compressed but not muddy sound with extremely loud lows. It sounds better clean and it allows you to play good funk licks, but that's not what you expect from this guitar.
I wanted to enhance the sound so I replaced the original pickup with an EMG81. It changed 60% of the sound (40% remains the same due to the neck defect that doesn't allow me to play solos). The sound is very powerful.
OVERALL OPINION
- How long have you been using it?
Over one year
- Which feature do you like the most / the least?
The neck (compared with my first electric guitars, a Cort Stratocaster and a Squier) Showmaster HSS.
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
A BC-Rich Rich Bronze Series - Warlock Tribal but I didn't like its neck.
- How would you rate its value for money?
Disappointing because I expected a quality guitar considering the price.
- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
Yes and no!
Test it if you are an experienced guitarist or ask an experienced guitarist to test it for you otherwise you might end up frustrated.
The neck defect and the pickup are very disappointing.
But the guitar is not that bad if you customize it.
From the same manufacturer I can recommend you
the Az By Wsl Guitars Serie 60 with Les Paul shape and WSL pickups.
http://www.azbywslguitars.com/AZbyWSL.html model az aslp black 3[/hs]
Color: black
Body: mahogany
Neck: maple
Fingerboard: rosewood
Number of frets: 24
Pickups: Kent Armstrong®
Pickups configuration: H
Pickups reference: Motherbucker
Controls: push/pull volume
Bridge: Wilkinson®-type tremolo
Machine heads: Grover®
Hardware: black
Pickguard: none
Scale: 25.5"
Strings: D'addario® 9-42 (replaced with 11-58 Skull Strings, tremolo springs changed)
Note: 4-coil pickup
(manufacturer features)
At first I was pretty satisfied with this guitar (it's my third guitar) but after having used it a quite some time (over one year)...
It turns out my guitar was faulty. The neck is distorted on the G, B and high E strings from the 11th to the 24th fret so I use it only for rhythm parts (and I actually I replaced the pickups for this purpose).
UTILIZATION
When I tested it I compared it it with the neck of a BC-Rich Warlock (which is thicker and wider).
This neck is slimmer and easier to play (except the high E string which has not enough space). When I tested it I liked it more than a Schecter Hellraiser, which is a high-end product (and I would rather have now). The guitar is not light but it lighter than a Les Paul.
The main turnoff is the faulty neck, which I didn't notice when I bought it.
It's a pity considering the guitar.
SOUNDS
I play several music styles but mainly heavy and death metal...
My setup:
- Hartke Piggyback amp
- Digitech Deathmetal and RP80 pedals
- Danlectro Fab Metal pedal
The 4-coil pickup produces a highly compressed but not muddy sound with extremely loud lows. It sounds better clean and it allows you to play good funk licks, but that's not what you expect from this guitar.
I wanted to enhance the sound so I replaced the original pickup with an EMG81. It changed 60% of the sound (40% remains the same due to the neck defect that doesn't allow me to play solos). The sound is very powerful.
OVERALL OPINION
- How long have you been using it?
Over one year
- Which feature do you like the most / the least?
The neck (compared with my first electric guitars, a Cort Stratocaster and a Squier) Showmaster HSS.
- Did you try any other models before buying it?
A BC-Rich Rich Bronze Series - Warlock Tribal but I didn't like its neck.
- How would you rate its value for money?
Disappointing because I expected a quality guitar considering the price.
- Based on your experience, would you buy this product again?
Yes and no!
Test it if you are an experienced guitarist or ask an experienced guitarist to test it for you otherwise you might end up frustrated.
The neck defect and the pickup are very disappointing.
But the guitar is not that bad if you customize it.
From the same manufacturer I can recommend you
the Az By Wsl Guitars Serie 60 with Les Paul shape and WSL pickups.
http://www.azbywslguitars.com/AZbyWSL.html model az aslp black 3[/hs]