Short review of my new Xaviere XV-820 (Tele copy)

[dvaoa]

(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).

Picked up the guitar last Thursday:

http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html

I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.

Real quickly:

Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.

Pros:
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.

Cons:
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The nut will
have to be replaced.
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by much.

Sound:
Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
much time with it. Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat. I haven't noticed
a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet. The neck
pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup. The sound
is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.

Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.

-d

[jtees4]

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The nut will
have to be replaced.
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by much.
Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
much time with it. Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat. I haven't noticed
a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet. The neck
pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup. The sound
is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.
-d

If it plays and sound decent out of the box...I have no doubt it will
be a keeper after some tweaking and adjustments and a proper set up.
It's very nice looking. Good luck with it.

***********
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[RichL]

Post by dvaoa
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The nut will
have to be replaced.

Replacing the nut will only fix open-string buzz. For the rest of the
buzz, you'll have to check relief/action/saddle heights.

Post by dvaoa
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by much.

Hopefully you'll find a good compromise between action and relief that
will make those higher notes more comfortable to play yet address that
fret buzzing issue.

[dvaoa]

Replacing the nut will only fix open-string buzz.  For the rest of the
buzz, you'll have to check relief/action/saddle heights.

The neck has some relief as is, and the saddle's pretty high right
now.

I wish there was a guitar tech around here that knows their stuff...it
seems to be a dying art.

-d

[RichL]

Post by dvaoa
I wish there was a guitar tech around here that knows their stuff...it
seems to be a dying art.

I know what you mean! I went through a couple of real losers before I
finally found one who knows what he's doing. This guy worked for Paul
Reed Smith for years before he started on his own. Good guy, but busy
as hell!

[Adams661]

Post by dvaoa
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep.  The nut will
have to be replaced.

Replacing the nut will only fix open-string buzz.  For the rest of the
buzz, you'll have to check relief/action/saddle heights.

Post by dvaoa
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end.  Basically, either on or off.  But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste.  Not by much.

Hopefully you'll find a good compromise between action and relief that
will make those higher notes more comfortable to play yet address that
fret buzzing issue.

Relief doesnt have a fuck-ng thing to do with string buzz. A guitar
neck should be pretty damned straight. I've already logically
explained why relief isnt where its at but you dont seem to be able to
grasp logic . I'm not going to explain it again but it sure gets old
seeing people who dont know what in the hell they're talking about
posting shit advice.

[Meat Plow]

Post by Adams661

Post by dvaoa
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep.  The nut
will have to be replaced.

Replacing the nut will only fix open-string buzz.  For the rest of the
buzz, you'll have to check relief/action/saddle heights.

Post by dvaoa
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end.  Basically, either on or off.  But neither the
volume or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste.  Not by much.

Hopefully you'll find a good compromise between action and relief that
will make those higher notes more comfortable to play yet address that
fret buzzing issue.

Relief doesnt have a fuck-ng thing to do with string buzz. A guitar
neck should be pretty damned straight. I've already logically explained
why relief isnt where its at but you dont seem to be able to grasp logic .
I'm not going to explain it again but it sure gets old seeing people who
dont know what in the hell they're talking about posting shit advice.

Personally, I love when you post shit advice. Gives me something to laugh
at and we could all use a good laugh even if it's at your expense.

heh

[RichL]

Post by Adams661

Post by dvaoa
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in;
when you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The
nut will have to be replaced.

Replacing the nut will only fix open-string buzz. For the rest of the
buzz, you'll have to check relief/action/saddle heights.

Post by dvaoa
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off
only at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the
volume or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut
nice & low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action
around the upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by
much.

Hopefully you'll find a good compromise between action and relief
that will make those higher notes more comfortable to play yet
address that fret buzzing issue.

Relief doesnt have a fuck-ng thing to do with string buzz. A guitar
neck should be pretty damned straight. I've already logically
explained why relief isnt where its at but you dont seem to be able to
grasp logic . I'm not going to explain it again but it sure gets old
seeing people who dont know what in the hell they're talking about
posting shit advice.

It's simple geometry, Keith. Everyone on here but you seems to get it.
Look at a bow and arrow. Do you think it would be more likely for the
string on the bow to touch against the bow if the bow were straight or
close to straight?

[Renli]

Post by RichL

Post by Adams661

Post by dvaoa
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in;
when you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The
nut will have to be replaced.

Replacing the nut will only fix open-string buzz. For the rest of the
buzz, you'll have to check relief/action/saddle heights.

Post by dvaoa
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off
only at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the
volume or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut
nice & low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action
around the upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by
much.

Hopefully you'll find a good compromise between action and relief
that will make those higher notes more comfortable to play yet
address that fret buzzing issue.

Relief doesnt have a fuck-ng thing to do with string buzz. A guitar
neck should be pretty damned straight. I've already logically
explained why relief isnt where its at but you dont seem to be able to
grasp logic . I'm not going to explain it again but it sure gets old
seeing people who dont know what in the hell they're talking about
posting shit advice.

It's simple geometry, Keith. Everyone on here but you seems to get it.

Hell - even I get it...

-

[The Repair Guy]

Post by Adams661
Relief doesnt have a fuck-ng thing to do with string
buzz.

Wrong.

Post by Adams661
A guitar neck should be pretty damned straight.

Usually wrong.

Post by Adams661
I've already logically explained why relief isnt where
its at

Not that I noticed.

Post by Adams661
but you dont seem to be able to grasp logic . I'm not
going to explain it again but it sure gets old seeing
people who dont know what in the hell they're talking
about posting shit advice.

Boy... you're not kidding there.

The Repair Guy
repairguy1993 dot netfirms dot com

[ythread]

Post by Adams661
Relief doesnt have a fuck-ng thing to do with string buzz. A guitar
neck should be pretty damned straight. I've already logically
explained why relief isnt where its at but you dont seem to be able to
grasp logic . I'm not going to explain it again but it sure gets old
seeing people who dont know what in the hell they're talking about
posting shit advice.

Keith?

[Jim]

Post by dvaoa
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.
-d

If you tone control goes from bright to dark too fast, your tone cap may be too
high of a value and/or you may prefer a linear taper pot. You might start by
replacing the cap with a poly type .010 microfarad.

[Adams661]

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards.  Don't like
how they look or feel.  I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice.  Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced.  I like that.  It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice.  The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker.  The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is.  No fret ends sticking out.  Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat.  Purists may differ.  I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup:  I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy.  Very articulate but ballsy.
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep.  The nut will
have to be replaced.
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end.  Basically, either on or off.  But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste.  Not by much.
Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
much time with it.  Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat.  I haven't noticed
a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet.  The neck
pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup.  The sound
is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell.  After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.
-d

Have you tried lowering the saddles to get the upper fret action
right?
A Fender or Fender clone shouldnt have an angle to its neck.
Shimming the neck will work but its not fixing the problem. More like
compounding it. With a bolt on you want good wood to wood contact
between the neck and bottom of the pocket.

[ythread]

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The nut will
have to be replaced.
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by much.
Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
much time with it. Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat. I haven't noticed
a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet. The neck
pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup. The sound
is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.
-d

yep..sounds like you got a $170 guitar.

[dvaoa]

Post by ythread

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The nut will
have to be replaced.
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by much.
Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
much time with it. Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat. I haven't noticed
a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet. The neck
pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup. The sound
is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.
-d

yep..sounds like you got a $170 guitar.

Oooo...I'm gonna be out another $40 for the nut...or $10 if I do it
myself.

What will I do with all the cash I didn't spend on a Fender logo?

Maybe I can write you a personal check for the gear snob illumination?

-d (pffft...)

[ythread]

Post by dvaoa

Post by ythread

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The nut will
have to be replaced.
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by much.
Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
much time with it. Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat. I haven't noticed
a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet. The neck
pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup. The sound
is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.
-d

yep..sounds like you got a $170 guitar.

Oooo...I'm gonna be out another $40 for the nut...or $10 if I do it
myself.
What will I do with all the cash I didn't spend on a Fender logo?
Maybe I can write you a personal check for the gear snob illumination?
-d (pffft...)

here ya go dude.

that movie changed my whole perspective on life.

"I feel pretty. Oh so pretty!" :-)

[dvaoa]

Post by ythread

Post by dvaoa

Post by ythread

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards.  Don't like
how they look or feel.  I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice.  Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced.  I like that.  It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice.  The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker.  The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is.  No fret ends sticking out.  Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat.  Purists may differ.  I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup:  I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy.  Very articulate but ballsy.
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep.  The nut will
have to be replaced.
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end.  Basically, either on or off.  But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste.  Not by much.
Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
much time with it.  Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat.  I haven't noticed
a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet.  The neck
pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup.  The sound
is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell.  After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.
-d

yep..sounds like you got a $170 guitar.

Oooo...I'm gonna be out another $40 for the nut...or $10 if I do it
myself.
What will I do with all the cash I didn't spend on a Fender logo?
Maybe I can write you a personal check for the gear snob illumination?
-d (pffft...)

here ya go dude.
http://youtu.be/loWrI1FneSM
that movie changed my whole perspective on life.
"I feel pretty. Oh so pretty!" :-)

Why thank you, I feel better already!

Although I'm a little too hairy to feel "pretty"...

-d

[Mark Bedingfield]

I wondered how you got on with that;-)

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.

I put these in my Squier;

http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html

http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html

Are any/either of them in yours? I'm stoked with the bridge pup, VERY
Tele in sound. The neck isn't near as loud, but that's just a Tele
problem. Next time I build a Tele I think I'll drop a PAF in the neck.
Yes I know, I'm foregoing my puritan single coil loving ways. From what
I can see its the only way (besides actives) that you can get a good
balance between neck and traditional Tele ball busting bridge.

Post by dvaoa
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The nut will
have to be replaced.
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by much.
Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
much time with it. Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat. I haven't noticed
a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet. The neck
pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup. The sound
is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.

I have to agree with Keith re-shimming the neck. I actually found a shim
in my MIM 50's RI neck. I just took the thing out and did a proper
setup. I'm convinced it made a difference (tho I could just be mental).
In fact I'm not even sure why it was put in there in the first place.
Relief was OK and I actually got the strings a little lower too (which
helps with a 7.25" rad).

As far as the tone goes, check the cap value and make sure they are
audio taper pots. Maybe drop in a treble bleed cap or remove it if there
is already one there?

What's Jay's take on setups? Cheap is as cheap does? I wouldn't imagine
there would be enough in his margins to warrant bothering? But for that
price a little work is hardly a bother for you I suppose.

Anyway, good to hear you got one you are happy with Mate.

Mark

[Squier]

Post by Mark Bedingfield
I wondered how you got on with that;-)

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.

I put these in my Squier;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
Are any/either of them in yours? I'm stoked with the bridge pup, VERY
Tele in sound. The neck isn't near as loud, but that's just a Tele
problem. Next time I build a Tele I think I'll drop a PAF in the neck.
Yes I know, I'm foregoing my puritan single coil loving ways. From what
I can see its the only way (besides actives) that you can get a good
balance between neck and traditional Tele ball busting bridge.

Mark - just a quick note -- you could also retain the stock tele
single coil slot (neck pup) and just install a tele GFS blade type pickup.
Yeah - they are blade humbuckers but you wouldn't have to route out
the wood or order custom pickguard to fit in the blade/rails type neck pup.
I think GFS has 2 types Tele neck blade/rails. One is lower k vintage sounding
and the other is higher wound beefier.
http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html

they have them for import size and american standard spacing.
I do not have personal experience with these though.
I decided on other pickups but just a reminder to you about
the tele 'blade' pup options out there.

sorry for busting into the thread.

Post by Mark Bedingfield

Post by dvaoa
-G string buzzes up & down the entire fretboard when you dig in; when
you look at the nut, the G slot is visibly cut too deep. The nut will
have to be replaced.
-The tone control is a little on the useless side; highs roll off only
at the very end. Basically, either on or off. But neither the volume
or tone pots are scratchy.
-The neck could use a little tilt backwards; while the nut is cut nice
& low (the way I like it, G-slot notwithstanding), action around the
upper frets is a little too high for my taste. Not by much.
Can't really comment too much yet because I haven't really spent too
much time with it. Like I mentioned above, the bridge pup can do
country to metal (yup...) without breaking a sweat. I haven't noticed
a lot of noise (out of the ordinary) or microphonics yet. The neck
pup's output is noticeably lower than the bridge pup. The sound
is...what you'd expect from a tele lipstick neck pup.
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.

I have to agree with Keith re-shimming the neck. I actually found a shim
in my MIM 50's RI neck. I just took the thing out and did a proper
setup. I'm convinced it made a difference (tho I could just be mental).
In fact I'm not even sure why it was put in there in the first place.
Relief was OK and I actually got the strings a little lower too (which
helps with a 7.25" rad).
As far as the tone goes, check the cap value and make sure they are
audio taper pots. Maybe drop in a treble bleed cap or remove it if there
is already one there?
What's Jay's take on setups? Cheap is as cheap does? I wouldn't imagine
there would be enough in his margins to warrant bothering? But for that
price a little work is hardly a bother for you I suppose.
Anyway, good to hear you got one you are happy with Mate.
Mark

[Mark Bedingfield]

Post by Squier

Post by Mark Bedingfield
I wondered how you got on with that;-)

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.

I put these in my Squier;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
Are any/either of them in yours? I'm stoked with the bridge pup, VERY
Tele in sound. The neck isn't near as loud, but that's just a Tele
problem. Next time I build a Tele I think I'll drop a PAF in the neck.
Yes I know, I'm foregoing my puritan single coil loving ways. From what
I can see its the only way (besides actives) that you can get a good
balance between neck and traditional Tele ball busting bridge.

Mark - just a quick note -- you could also retain the stock tele
single coil slot (neck pup) and just install a tele GFS blade type pickup.
Yeah - they are blade humbuckers but you wouldn't have to route out
the wood or order custom pickguard to fit in the blade/rails type neck pup.
I think GFS has 2 types Tele neck blade/rails. One is lower k vintage sounding
and the other is higher wound beefier.
http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html
they have them for import size and american standard spacing.
I do not have personal experience with these though.
I decided on other pickups but just a reminder to you about
the tele 'blade' pup options out there.
sorry for busting into the thread.

Thanks Squier, I just prefer a chrome covered pup in the neck on a
Tele;-). Still a puritan at heart. I was thinking of something like this;

http://store.guitarfetish.com/visphuclfest.html

White bound slimline body, rosewood fretboard and black guard. Mmmmm
Tele;-) Yeah, I know, you don't like Rosewood on a Tele. But hey, its my
dream;-)

Mark

[Squier]

Post by Mark Bedingfield

Post by Squier

Post by Mark Bedingfield
I wondered how you got on with that;-)

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.

I put these in my Squier;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
Are any/either of them in yours? I'm stoked with the bridge pup, VERY
Tele in sound. The neck isn't near as loud, but that's just a Tele
problem. Next time I build a Tele I think I'll drop a PAF in the neck.
Yes I know, I'm foregoing my puritan single coil loving ways. From what
I can see its the only way (besides actives) that you can get a good
balance between neck and traditional Tele ball busting bridge.

Mark - just a quick note -- you could also retain the stock tele
single coil slot (neck pup) and just install a tele GFS blade type pickup.
Yeah - they are blade humbuckers but you wouldn't have to route out
the wood or order custom pickguard to fit in the blade/rails type neck pup.
I think GFS has 2 types Tele neck blade/rails. One is lower k vintage sounding
and the other is higher wound beefier.
http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html
they have them for import size and american standard spacing.
I do not have personal experience with these though.
I decided on other pickups but just a reminder to you about
the tele 'blade' pup options out there.
sorry for busting into the thread.

Thanks Squier, I just prefer a chrome covered pup in the neck on a
Tele;-). Still a puritan at heart. I was thinking of something like this;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/visphuclfest.html
White bound slimline body, rosewood fretboard and black guard. Mmmmm
Tele;-) Yeah, I know, you don't like Rosewood on a Tele. But hey, its my
dream;-)
Mark

yeah, it's your dream. go for it. but friends don't let friends
drive drunk or play on rosewood neck teles ;)
heh.

I don't have any personal experience with that GFS pup but if it
sounds anything like the real deal Fender ones then it's a bright, snappy sound.
The ones I have heard on old Fender thinlines don't really sound like
humbuckers. They have their own vibe to them but they really sound
more like single coils than PAF type humbuckers. Very little to no
typical humbucker 'compression' to them at all. But on a tele they
give it that bright snap and the wound strings don't flub out.

If they are anywhere near the actual old Fender split pups then
they will be really cool. (especially for the neck since they
don't mud out at all).

ah well... rosewood... glad it's your dream and not mine ;)

[Mark Bedingfield]

Post by Squier

Post by Mark Bedingfield

Post by Squier

Post by Mark Bedingfield
I wondered how you got on with that;-)

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.

I put these in my Squier;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
Are any/either of them in yours? I'm stoked with the bridge pup, VERY
Tele in sound. The neck isn't near as loud, but that's just a Tele
problem. Next time I build a Tele I think I'll drop a PAF in the neck.
Yes I know, I'm foregoing my puritan single coil loving ways. From what
I can see its the only way (besides actives) that you can get a good
balance between neck and traditional Tele ball busting bridge.

Mark - just a quick note -- you could also retain the stock tele
single coil slot (neck pup) and just install a tele GFS blade type pickup.
Yeah - they are blade humbuckers but you wouldn't have to route out
the wood or order custom pickguard to fit in the blade/rails type neck pup.
I think GFS has 2 types Tele neck blade/rails. One is lower k vintage sounding
and the other is higher wound beefier.
http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html
they have them for import size and american standard spacing.
I do not have personal experience with these though.
I decided on other pickups but just a reminder to you about
the tele 'blade' pup options out there.
sorry for busting into the thread.

Thanks Squier, I just prefer a chrome covered pup in the neck on a
Tele;-). Still a puritan at heart. I was thinking of something like this;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/visphuclfest.html
White bound slimline body, rosewood fretboard and black guard. Mmmmm
Tele;-) Yeah, I know, you don't like Rosewood on a Tele. But hey, its my
dream;-)
Mark

yeah, it's your dream. go for it. but friends don't let friends
drive drunk or play on rosewood neck teles ;)
heh.

Heh, that's funny;-)

You got one of these yet?;

http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0303000503

http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0303025507

Post by Squier
I don't have any personal experience with that GFS pup but if it
sounds anything like the real deal Fender ones then it's a bright, snappy sound.
The ones I have heard on old Fender thinlines don't really sound like
humbuckers. They have their own vibe to them but they really sound
more like single coils than PAF type humbuckers. Very little to no
typical humbucker 'compression' to them at all. But on a tele they
give it that bright snap and the wound strings don't flub out.
If they are anywhere near the actual old Fender split pups then
they will be really cool. (especially for the neck since they
don't mud out at all).

That's the basic idea, I have never really heard a Tele neck pup (chrome
covered) that sounded great. Got the idea from the Albert Collins Tele.
Hmmm, maybe I should just buy one? In Australia I'd wager it would be
around $4000rrp.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Albert-Collins-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=510184&src=3SOSWXXA

Fuck me, Billy Hydes are at it again;

https://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/index.cfm?action=view&id=5702

$6200rrp(au). It had better come with a dozen naked Sheila's for that price.

Post by Squier
ah well... rosewood... glad it's your dream and not mine ;)

It would be a bit bizarre if it was;-) You might wake in a clod sweat.

Mark

[Mark Bedingfield]

Post by Mark Bedingfield

Post by Squier

Post by Mark Bedingfield

Post by Squier

Post by Mark Bedingfield
I wondered how you got on with that;-)

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html
I know, how can I get a tele-style guitar without a maple
fingerboard...truth is, I can't stand maple fingerboards. Don't like
how they look or feel. I've always been a rosewood/ebony guy.
Grade: B
The guitar looks and feels very nice. Mine came a little darker, more
"woody" than "honey", and the grain on mine is definitely more
pronounced. I like that. It makes it look gritter, for what it's
worth.
-The neck (my main concern on any guitar), is very nice. The
fingerboard is smooth, and all the frets checked out for evenness with
my fret checker. The frets could use a polishing/buffing, but are
playable as is. No fret ends sticking out. Able to do nice deep
bends very easily.
-Nice graphite nut, smooth nut slots (see Cons)
-Very good fit/finish/construction, doesn't look/feel *noticeably*
inferior to a Fender Strat. Purists may differ. I'm not a purist.
-Bridge pickup: I'm guessing they plunked in their standard GFS Tele
pup set (alnicos), but the bridge pup was a revelation to me; it does
SC tele pops & quacks nicely, but it overdrives and distorts as well
when pushed without getting muddy. Very articulate but ballsy.

I put these in my Squier;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
Are any/either of them in yours? I'm stoked with the bridge pup,
VERY Tele in sound. The neck isn't near as loud, but that's just a
Tele problem. Next time I build a Tele I think I'll drop a PAF in
the neck. Yes I know, I'm foregoing my puritan single coil loving
ways. From what I can see its the only way (besides actives) that
you can get a good balance between neck and traditional Tele ball
busting bridge.

Mark - just a quick note -- you could also retain the stock tele
single coil slot (neck pup) and just install a tele GFS blade type pickup.
Yeah - they are blade humbuckers but you wouldn't have to route out
the wood or order custom pickguard to fit in the blade/rails type neck pup.
I think GFS has 2 types Tele neck blade/rails. One is lower k vintage sounding
and the other is higher wound beefier.
http://store.guitarfetish.com/singlecoil.html
they have them for import size and american standard spacing.
I do not have personal experience with these though.
I decided on other pickups but just a reminder to you about
the tele 'blade' pup options out there.
sorry for busting into the thread.

Thanks Squier, I just prefer a chrome covered pup in the neck on a
Tele;-). Still a puritan at heart. I was thinking of something like this;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/visphuclfest.html
White bound slimline body, rosewood fretboard and black guard. Mmmmm
Tele;-) Yeah, I know, you don't like Rosewood on a Tele. But hey, its
my dream;-)
Mark

yeah, it's your dream. go for it. but friends don't let friends
drive drunk or play on rosewood neck teles ;)
heh.

Heh, that's funny;-)
You got one of these yet?;
http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0303000503
http://www.squierguitars.com/products/search.php?partno=0303025507

Post by Squier
I don't have any personal experience with that GFS pup but if it
sounds anything like the real deal Fender ones then it's a bright, snappy sound.
The ones I have heard on old Fender thinlines don't really sound like
humbuckers. They have their own vibe to them but they really sound
more like single coils than PAF type humbuckers. Very little to no
typical humbucker 'compression' to them at all. But on a tele they
give it that bright snap and the wound strings don't flub out.
If they are anywhere near the actual old Fender split pups then
they will be really cool. (especially for the neck since they
don't mud out at all).

That's the basic idea, I have never really heard a Tele neck pup (chrome
covered) that sounded great. Got the idea from the Albert Collins Tele.
Hmmm, maybe I should just buy one? In Australia I'd wager it would be
around $4000rrp.
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Fender-Albert-Collins-Telecaster-Electric-Guitar?sku=510184&src=3SOSWXXA
Fuck me, Billy Hydes are at it again;
https://www.billyhydemusic.com.au/shop/index.cfm?action=view&id=5702
$6200rrp(au). It had better come with a dozen naked Sheila's for that price.

Post by Squier
ah well... rosewood... glad it's your dream and not mine ;)

It would be a bit bizarre if it was;-) You might wake in a clod sweat.
Mark

PS if I had to pay that much for a Tele, I'd fly to the US to pick it up
personally.

Mark

[dvaoa]

On Jul 8, 12:19 am, Mark Bedingfield

Post by Mark Bedingfield
I put these in my Squier;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
Are any/either of them in yours?

I suspect they put their basic tele pups in mine:

http://store.guitarfetish.com/altebrpivivo.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html

-d

[Mark Bedingfield]

On Jul 8, 12:19 am, Mark Bedingfield

Post by Mark Bedingfield
I put these in my Squier;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
Are any/either of them in yours?

http://store.guitarfetish.com/altebrpivivo.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
-d

Yeah, that's the same as the neck pup i have. It's OK. Wouldn't call it
outstanding, tho again, I'm yet to hear a neck pup in a Tele that was
outstanding. It does its job and I have no complaints.

Actually that's no entirely true, I did hear a Tele neck pup I liked.
Unfortunately it was in a Fender limited edition custom shop reliced 54
Tele. It sounded better than the bridge pup. I just wanted to play blues
on it all day. But I'd be hard pressed to compare a $25 pickup with a
$6500 guitar. The rest of that particular Tele wasn't worth $6500 imho.
But I would have nicked that neck pup in a heart beat;-)

Mark

[dvaoa]

On Jul 9, 8:10 am, Mark Bedingfield

Post by Mark Bedingfield

On Jul 8, 12:19 am, Mark Bedingfield

Post by Mark Bedingfield
I put these in my Squier;
http://store.guitarfetish.com/re19tealbobr.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
Are any/either of them in yours?

http://store.guitarfetish.com/altebrpivivo.html
http://store.guitarfetish.com/altenepiclch.html
-d

Yeah, that's the same as the neck pup i have. It's OK. Wouldn't call it
outstanding, tho again, I'm yet to hear a neck pup in a Tele that was
outstanding. It does its job and I have no complaints.
Actually that's no entirely true, I did hear a Tele neck pup I liked.
Unfortunately it was in a Fender limited edition custom shop reliced 54
Tele. It sounded better than the bridge pup. I just wanted to play blues
on it all day. But I'd be hard pressed to compare a $25 pickup with a
$6500 guitar. The rest of that particular Tele wasn't worth $6500 imho.
But I would have nicked that neck pup in a heart beat;-)
Mark

I'm with you in that I like the vintage look of those neck pups...but
I'd be intrigued to plunk in one of those twin blades that Squier
referred to. The bridge pup is a lot better than I expected, though.

-d

[Robert Machado]

Post by dvaoa
(had guests from out of town with us, so I didn't get a chance to put
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html

<snip>

About 8 months ago, I picked up the semi-hollowbody version of this guitar
in sea green. I have an old 1954 Ford Pickup in the same color, and my goal
was to mount this on a gun rack in the back window since the colors were
pretty much the same. Haven't gotten around to that yet.

Mine has the maple neck and a pair of hummers as opposed to the two single
coils.

Sound is fine, but the tuners are almost impossible to turn. I also have
some small intonation problems, and someone I play with on a somewhat
regular basis mentiondd that he thinks that the neck is a bit warped.

This guitar is the reason that I will never purchase another cheap guitar
without trying it out first. But then, I didn't really buy this to be
played a lot.

This guitar is also the reason that I won't buy a tele-type guitar. If it
is indicative of other Teles, the neck dips a bit too low for my liking.

Rob

[dvaoa]

Post by Robert Machado

Post by dvaoa
it through the ringer yet...take this review with a grain of salt).
http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsoashtrrof.html

<snip>
About 8 months ago, I picked up the semi-hollowbody version of this guitar
in sea green.  I have an old 1954 Ford Pickup in the same color, and my goal
was to mount this on a gun rack in the back window since the colors were
pretty much the same.  Haven't gotten around to that yet.
Mine has the maple neck and a pair of hummers as opposed to the two single
coils.
Sound is fine, but the tuners are almost impossible to turn.  I also have
some small intonation problems, and someone I play with on a somewhat
regular basis mentiondd that he thinks that the neck is a bit warped.
This guitar is the reason that I will never purchase another cheap guitar
without trying it out first.  But then, I didn't really buy this to be
played a lot.
This guitar is also the reason that I won't buy a tele-type guitar.  If it
is indicative of other Teles, the neck dips a bit too low for my liking.
Rob

I almost picked one of those up last year, but they were out by the
time I went for it. Did you get the one with the P90's or the Dream
180's?

Surprisingly, the intonation on mine seems pretty close to dead-on,
even with those vintage saddles. This is my third guitar from GFS,
and only 1 out of 3's turned out to be a fixer-upper.


-d

[Robert Machado]

"dvaoa" <***@altavista.com> wrote in message news:5c44f792-c2ed-40b7-be09-***@79g2000hsk.googlegroups.com...
I almost picked one of those up last year, but they were out by the
time I went for it. Did you get the one with the P90's or the Dream
180's?

Surprisingly, the intonation on mine seems pretty close to dead-on,
even with those vintage saddles. This is my third guitar from GFS,
and only 1 out of 3's turned out to be a fixer-upper.

================================================

Mine has the 180s in it, and I kind of wished that one of them were tapped
or that I'd goine with something that has a single coil on it.

The rythym pickup has an incredible amount of bass to it, as in
overpowering, so I rarely use it by itself. The middle position is used
when I want clean, and the down position for lead-type stuff and for when
I'm using the distortion pedal.

AS with all my guitars, I replaced the strap button with straplocks, and I
needed to use toothpicks and wood glue to keep the locks in place as the
screw provided with the locks was a bit smaller than the original screws
used. And, because the original strap button screws were tapered, I
caouldn't use those screws with the straplocks.

So, my experience with this has been: Straight out of the box, three tuners
would barely turn. I can't get the intonation set exactly as I want it, and
the strap button holes are larger than normal because of the screws that are
used. My dilema is: Do I change the tuners before I sell it on Craigslist?

Rob

[dvaoa]

Post by dvaoa
I almost picked one of those up last year, but they were out by the
time I went for it. Did you get the one with the P90's or the Dream
180's?
Surprisingly, the intonation on mine seems pretty close to dead-on,
even with those vintage saddles. This is my third guitar from GFS,
and only 1 out of 3's turned out to be a fixer-upper.
================================================
Mine has the 180s in it, and I kind of wished that one of them were tapped
or that I'd goine with something that has a single coil on it.
The rythym pickup has an incredible amount of bass to it, as in
overpowering, so I rarely use it by itself. The middle position is used
when I want clean, and the down position for lead-type stuff and for when
I'm using the distortion pedal.
AS with all my guitars, I replaced the strap button with straplocks, and I
needed to use toothpicks and wood glue to keep the locks in place as the
screw provided with the locks was a bit smaller than the original screws
used. And, because the original strap button screws were tapered, I
caouldn't use those screws with the straplocks.
So, my experience with this has been: Straight out of the box, three tuners
would barely turn. I can't get the intonation set exactly as I want it, and
the strap button holes are larger than normal because of the screws that are
used. My dilema is: Do I change the tuners before I sell it on Craigslist?
Rob

Can I ask, why didn't you bring it up with Jay (the owner) when you
first tried the guitar? He's good about making things right. I'm
sure he would've shipped out a new set of tuners right away.

Keep in mind, in that price range, you are getting "bargain" tuners.
It's possible you got a couple of duds. Is the tension screw on the
tuners in question too tight? That could explain why they're hard to
turn.

But if you also suspected the neck is warped...I would've sent it back
for an exchange. Drop Jay an email, you never know unless you ask.

-d

[DeeAa]

Post by dvaoa
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell.  After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.

Hey dvaoa,

Before replacing the nut, try filling the too deep slot some with
cyanoacrylate (superglue). I've done that to a few guitars and it
literally can last for years, and is easy to reapply if it cuts deeper
again. If it really is just one slot too deep, might be worth it.


Cheers,

Dee

[dvaoa]

Post by DeeAa

Post by dvaoa
Overall, mine's well worth the $170, from what I can tell. After I
replace the nut & shim the neck, I suspect it'll be a gem.

Hey dvaoa,
Before replacing the nut, try filling the too deep slot some with
cyanoacrylate (superglue). I've done that to a few guitars and it
literally can last for years, and is easy to reapply if it cuts deeper
again. If it really is just one slot too deep, might be worth it.
Cheers,
Dee

How would you do that, tape the first fret, drip some glue in, let it
set, then file it down? How do you keep it from glopping all over?

Also, will super glue stick to a graphite nut?

-d

[DeeAa]

Post by dvaoa
How would you do that, tape the first fret, drip some glue in, let it
set, then file it down? How do you keep it from glopping all over?
Also, will super glue stick to a graphite nut?

Yep it will...no need for any masking either, just drop a small drop in,
it'll pretty nicely spread in the slot. It's such thin stuff that it hardly
needs any filing either, just some fiddling with the string itself. But it
works fine for quick repairs, at least lets you try if a new saddle might
help.