Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com.

35 ELECTRIC GUITARS UNDER $500

LIKE FORD AND HONDA DRIVERS WHO account of those who wished to participate. We’re also trying out a new way of impart- pine over Ferraris and Maseratis, any Of those who declined, two companies were ing information by breaking critical elements guitarist worthy of his or her G.A.S. (Gear in the process of redesigning their lines into categories and giving each category a Acquisition Syndrome) marvels at mega- (Malden and Xaviere), several makers numerical rating (averaged from the total buck vintage models, unique custom-shop didn’t have current models that met the ratings culled from all the individual staff creations, and other high-ticket beauties. price point (Carvin, Ernie Ball, Framus, editors). This tactic is obviously inspired But, for most, these dream instruments will Hagstrom, and others), Rondo opted to by the savvy “circle” ratings utilized by stay parked in the realm of reverie. In the showcase just one of their many lines (Agile), Consumer Reports, and we hope it makes it world of players with limited discretionary and the others did not respond to repeated easier for readers to assess a vast quantity funds, the real action is in the budget arena. requests. of qualitative data. The numbers should be Online forums constantly debate the value, To continue the 2007 roundup policy of translated as follows: 1 = poor, 2 = below playability, workmanship, and tones of bringing in diverse viewpoints to inform average, 3 = average, 4 = very good, and affordable models from numerous makers, GP’s final ratings, every editor was tasked 5 = excellent. In addition, every editor offers and there’s an almost Crusades-like fervor with evaluating every guitar (with the his own personal “tasting notes” for each in discovering new guitars that deliver exception of Jude Gold, who was on tour model (although most redundant comments maximum delight for minimum dollars. And, with BX3). Each guitar was tested through were deleted from the chart). as many a forum member has learned, a Mesa/Boogie Lonestar Special and a The staff has expended a lot of effort bashing the fave $300 guitar of a posse of Budda Limited Edition Tenth Anniversary and brainpower to ensure these big prod- acolytes can unleash a tsunami of online Twinmaster. Cables used include a Core One uct roundups deliver the data readers need flames. You just don’t mess with someone’s Bullet Cable, an Accusound Silver Studio to make better-informed purchase deci- beloved “big value” guitar. Pro, and models by Mogami and Planet sions. Please help GP continue to improve So to provide a meaty summary of what’s Waves. To further promote comprehensive its review processes by visiting our forums currently available for street prices of under and varied assessments, we invited two at guitarplayer.com, and letting us know $500, the GP staff sent out roundup invi- members of the GP online forum to review what you liked, and didn’t like, about this tations to 50 guitar manufacturers. The 35 the guitars (see the sidebar, “Peer Review under-$500 guitar roundup. makers represented here are the full Duo” on p. 98). —Michael Molenda

TESTED BY THE GUITAR PLAYER STAFF Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

AGILE ARIA AXL BC RICH CORT DAISY ROCK DANELECTRO MAKE/MODEL SEPTOR 7-STRING PE ELITE BLOODSPORT ASSASSIN CURBOW ROCK CANDY DANO PRO FIREAX OUTLAW PX3 CUSTOM SPECIAL

STREET PRICE $399 $419 $350 $399 $499 $399 $249 WORKMANSHIP 3.5 3 3.5 4 4 4.5 3.5 HARDWARE 3.5 2.5 3 3.5 3.5 4.5 3 FRETS 3.5 2.5 3 3 4 5 3 PLAYABILITY 3 3 3.5 3 3.5 5 3.5 VERSATILITY 3344342.5 SOUND 343.54344 VIBE 3343344.5 VALUE 3.5 3.5 3 4 3 5 4

EDITOR COMMENTS

Great maple top, Warm, full tones. Glenn Tipton- Solid workmanship. Nice setup. Plays flawlessly. Vibe for days. Decent range of Sweet maple-burst approved body Great tones. Frets “Custom bass” look Sounds amazing. Great, spanky clean tones. top. Pickup makes bold out on big bends. polarizing. Small Fabulous guitar. tones. Bridge MATT selector switch statement. Great body doesn’t sit on pickup could be BLACKETT intermittent. sounding pickups. lap well. louder.

Good bottom end. Warm neck pickup Good sound. Comfy body Pretty woods. A joy to play. Fun to play. Knobs Warm, yet sparkly sounds great with Intonation contour. Nice Pickups good Pickups lively and slip off shafts. neck pickup with a distortion. Pickup inconsistent above tones, though overall, though well balanced. Pickup switch BARRY nice-sounding switch shorted out. 12th fret. Difficult slightly thin coil-tap sounds Volume and Tone unstable. Nut cut CLEVELAND coil-tap option. Neck Tone control to tune, but stays sounding. Loose weak. controls have good unevenly. Lots of gets bright, then in tune once there. input jack. Twangy range. personality. dull. coil-tap option.

A metal machine Sweet looker. Very dynamic Satisfyingly taut, Fangy, carnivorous Every tone I Tons of fun. Nasally with surprising Flutey front pickup Volume control. chunky high gain humbucking tones. wanted, I got. One lipstick tone for clean sounds when tones. Biting rear- Middle-position tones. Tapped Weak tapped of the most days. Sounds great DARRIN FOX you turn down the pickup textures. single-coil gives it tones feeble. Neck tones. impressive budget acoustically. Not Volume. Good Could use more a ton of versatility. too shallow for my axes I’ve seen. sure about the setup. dynamics on back Rear humbucker taste. brown smears on pickup. sounds thin. the pickguard.

Great Malt-O-Meal Badass tones. Nice Fun little shredder. Mean machine. Body contours feel Simply stunning on Love the snap and thickess. Plays feel. Quality of Diverse, ballsy Rockin’ tones. Fast, nice when playing all fronts. A blast growl of those MICHAEL well. Some fret switches and tones. Five- slim neck. standing up. Easy to play. lipsticks. Hard to MOLENDA buzzes. controls suspect. position toggle to play. Sounds reach high frets. switch feels weak. okay.

Plays easily in Warm, balanced Classic hot-rod A slick player that A litte too bass I love this guitar’s Pegs the retro- spite of extra-wide tones with extra look sucked me in, delivers a wide styled for my great setup and coolness meter, neck. Delivers punch, thanks to a but tones left me range of sounds. tastes, but it plays superb balance of though the staining ART metal-approved snappy bridge wanting. Good well and is meatiness and on the sides and THOMPSON heaviness. Can also pickup. thing flat sounding extremely shimmer. pickguard makes romp in other sonic humbuckers can be compact. me want to run it realms. paired with livelier through the single-coil. washer.

74 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. Hot Little Numbers FEATURE

DEAN EASTWOOD EPIPHONE ESP FENDER FERNANDES FIRST ACT MAKE/MODEL CADILLAC 1980 AIRLINE H44 DLX FADED G-400 LTD MH 250NT STANDARD REVOLVER X LOLA CE140 STRATOCASTER

STREET PRICE $499 $499 $299 $399 $399 $349 $399 WORKMANSHIP 4.5 4 3.5 4 4 2.5 3.5 HARDWARE 42.544333 FRETS 4 4 4 4.5 3 2.5 3 PLAYABILITY 4444433.5 VERSATILITY 3.5 3.5 3.5 3.5 4.5 3 3 SOUND 3.5 4.5 3.5 3 4 2.5 3 VIBE 4.5 4.5 3.5 4 4 3 3 VALUE 3.5 3 4.5 4.5 4.5 2.5 4

EDITOR COMMENTS

An absolutely Great tone and Looks good. Plays Beautiful setup. Good frets. Nice Plays well. Floyd Nice sparkle on bitchin' guitar. vibe. Delightfully great. Tons of Great sustain. setup. Great neck. very dive-bomb clean tones. Neck Pickups lack depth chunky neck. attitude. Average Uninspiring friendly. Pickups pickup too wooly MATT and detail. Slightly shaky tones. pickups. sound flat. on distorted tones. BLACKETT wooden bridge.

Sounds great on all Swampy Dual Volume and Good sustain. Great feel. Minor Vibrato system Good garage-rock settings. overdriven tones. Tone controls add Pretty finish. Nice tuning issues with vibrates easily and tones. Drifts out of Extremely Surprisingly jazzy versatility. inlay and binding vibrato system. feels insubstantial. tune easily. Limited BARRY versatile Tone clean tones. Hefty work. Ragged fret edges. Volume and Tone CLEVELAND controls. low end. Wooden Uninspiring sounds. controls. bridge moves around.

Looks awesome. A funky delight Squawk and howl A great looking The classic tones Worst frets of the Great feeling neck. Plays great. Nice, with an almost for days. Casting guitar. Super-easy you know and love bunch. Lackluster The clucky, middle- beefy neck. Tones laughably hefty seam apparent on to shred on, but I are all here. Kind of tones. The Floyd position clean DARRIN FOX are a tad dull. neck, and round, adjustable bridge. wanted a bit more hard to screw this Rose was fun, tones were my bellowing tones. tonal meat. one up. though. fave.

Plays like an Totally kick-ass Pure Angus for the Looks like a super A really cool Strat Plays nice. Prickly Great sustain. Cool, expensive beauty. I playing experience. ground chuck model. Aggro for a great price. frets a bummer. punky tones. A MICHAEL expected a little Fun, fun, fun. budget. Plays tones. Sensual feel Crack in finish by neck that’s fun to MOLENDA more roar and Raging tones. beautifully. Sounds to neck and neck pickup. dig into. articulation, mean. cutaways. though. This budget ver- A time machine I don’t care much Great sustain. A cool Strat for an Uninspiring, heavy, Punky ’60s look sion of Dean’s that looks and for the satin finish, Wooly sounding. insane price that and clunky. Unusual offset by square- classic glam sounds like some- but this guitar Getting any sparkle delivers good amount of trem sounding pickups. ART machine plays thing you’d see in a delivers thick SG requires putting cluckiness in the in- gargle, due to the But they do sound THOMPSON great and summons Chicago pawnshop, wail in spades. One the pickups in split between settings. light, 2-spring pretty vibey when the spirit of ’80s circa 1963. of the best fret mode. setup. combined. excess. jobs of the bunch.

GUITAR PLAYER MAY 2007 75 Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

G&L TRIBUTE GODIN GRETSCH HAMER HOHNER IBANEZ JACKSON MAKE/MODEL ASAT SPECIAL REDLINE 1 ELECTROMATIC XT SATQ MR-800F ARX320 DXMG G5246T

STREET PRICE $489 $449 $489 $479 $449 $399 $469 WORKMANSHIP 4 4.5 3 5 3 5 4.5 HARDWARE 4 4 3 4.5 3.5 5 4.5 FRETS 3.5 3.5 3 4.5 3.5 4 3.5 PLAYABILITY 4 5 3.5 5 3.5 5 4.5 VERSATILITY 3.5 3.5 3 4 3 4 3 SOUND 4.5 5 2.5 4.5 3.5 4.5 3 VIBE 4 4 3 5 3.5 5 3.5 VALUE 4.5 5 3 5 3 5 3

EDITOR COMMENTS

Plays a little stiff. Good setup. Great Great look. Looks great, plays Good, punchy Great look. Cool Well built. Easy to Frets out on big tone from single Bland-sounding, great, and all the tones. hardware. Big play. Lackluster bends. EMG humbucker. imbalanced tones are Nice hardware. range of tones. pickups. MATT Looks a tad pickups. incredibly three- Plays super fast. Beautiful finish. BLACKETT utilitarian, but dimensional. kicks ass.

Wide range of Responds Classy look and Inspiring to play. Versatile tones. Wonderful dynamic Plays well. Locking robust, yet clear beautifully to vibe. Plays easily. Versatile tones. Nice inlays. Nut has response. Lots of vibrato remains in tones. playing dynamics. Tuning issues with Great intonation. gap under one side. character. Great tune. Relatively low BARRY Plays easily. Cleans up well vibrato system. Great overall feel. Slight string buzz. tones on all output. Slightly CLEVELAND Some uneven frets. when volume is Weak output with Anemic neck settings. Inspiring wooly sound. reduced. masked highs. single-coil. to play.

Wonderful One pickup, one Looks hip. Plays Instant vibe. The shreddiest Big neck is a gas to Plays fast. Good, spanking tones. volume—no nice. Bigsby— Plays perfect. An neck in the play. Great dirty solid dynamic Plays outstanding. problem! More headaches and all— amazing guitar. roundup. Taut tones. Good clean tones. DARRIN FOX Nut slots are tones than many is a cool treat. tones with nice textures when you deeper than the feature-engorged Tones lacked zing clarity. blend humbuckers. Grand Canyon. contemporaries. and magic.

Articulate and A simple, deadly Retro fabulous. It It’s a monster! Slim, satin neck is Stunning finish. Fast neck. Nice chunky tones. Nice weapon. Sounds fights you a bit, and Astounding feel, super fast and a joy Rocks like a feel. Could rage a MICHAEL neck. great. The more sounds somewhat playability, and to play. Love bridge banshee. Plays like bit harder MOLENDA you play it, the muted, but it still tones. humbucker. Buzzy a dream. sonically. more you dig it. delivers roots-rock frets. goodness. Feels indistinguish- Superb rock tones Captures the Look no further if Pickups sound Get past the This classic rocker able from a spoken here. Hot Gretsch visual you want an excellent—very flawless bindings wows in the U.S.-made ASAT, EMG a great match experience right amazing looking spanky for hum- and finish and you playability ART other than the for this light, down to the screw- guitar with great buckers. Tone find an exceptional department, but its THOMPSON fretboard being a fast-playing guitar. on strap buttons, tones and control has good player that delivers passive EMGs bit sticky. but tones are playability. range. spectacular tones. sound tame. surprisingly lifeless.

76 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. Hot Little Numbers FEATURE

JAYTURSER LINE 6 MICHAEL KELLY PARKER PEAVEY PRS REVEREND MAKE/MODEL CUTLASS F VARIAX 300 PATRIOT LIMITED P-42 GENERATION CUS- SE SOAPBAR II VOLCANO TOM EX

STREET PRICE $298 $499 $499 $459 $439 $499 $499 WORKMANSHIP 4344.5355 HARDWARE 332.54355 FRETS 4.5 3 4 4 3 4.5 4 PLAYABILITY 4 3.5 4 4.5 3.5 4.5 4.5 VERSATILITY 3544444.5 SOUND 334.54355 VIBE 4 2.5 4.5 4 3 5 5 VALUE 4344.5355

EDITOR COMMENTS

Low-output Thousands of Unique look. Good Very articulate, Amazing sustain. Incredibly sweet Great vibe. Nice pickups with nice sounds. Alternate playability. Great thick tones. Plays Interesting look. tones. tones. Plays tones. Ace Frehley- tunings. A powerful sounds. Flimsy amazingly well. Good versatility Unbelievable awesome. MATT quality burst is tool that still left knobs and Weighs nothing, from piezo bridge. playability. PRS Just flat-out cool. BLACKETT delicious. me cold. switches. but sounds chunky. Some workmanship quality at a great issues. price.

Plays well. Models sound Unusual look. Plays beautifully. Bridge pickup has Understated Great sounds on all Beautiful wood. A largely convincing, Inspiring to play. Excellent clean and nice squawk. elegance. Great settings. Cool Bass few imperfections though not Excellent pickups. overdriven tones. Low action with setup. Quiet Contour control. BARRY on otherwise nice particularly vibey. Cheap controls and Solid controls. slight fret buzz, single-coils. Lots Nice wood. Solid CLEVELAND inlays. Decent, if Voice-selector pickup selector Bland look. which was of inspiring sounds. controls. not particularly switch slightly switch. accentuated when Very similar to U.S. Wonderful feel. exciting tones. loose. using piezo pickup. models.

Low-output Plays nicely, but Fattest Amazing string-to- Plays okay. Nice Unreal setup. Believable and humbuckers nice modeled guitar humbucking tones string clarity. shape to neck. Action is actually organic single-coil and airy. Neck tones don’t stir my of the bunch. Humbuckers had Humbuckers lack too low. Delicate, tones in a honkin’ DARRIN FOX binding has a ton of soul as much as the Toggle switch, and enough detail that I output and heft. yet surly P-90-type humbucker black scuffs. real thing. Volume and Tone never used the coil- tones. If you can’t machine. controls very splitting function. get it on this guitar, unsturdy. give up.

Beautiful recast of Unparalleled Totally fun to play. Marvelous tones. I love the stately This is almost as One of the coolest Les Paul. Excellent tone-generating Fab tones. Plays like butter, “white tie” look. wonderful a guitar V-inspired guitars MICHAEL meat-and- machine. Killer deal: Dungeons and baby. You can really Tonal options best as any big-buck I’ve ever played. MOLENDA potatoes tones. Go for the electron- Dragons vibe a bit rip on this neck. when piezo is PRS. An insane Plays and sounds Fun to play. Crazy ically identical much for me. routed to an value. superb. good value. $299 red model. acoustic amp. I dig almost More sounds than Fantastic top and Light and comfy. Unfinished neck Proof you don’t Impressive take on everything about any solidbody on engraved pewter Broad tonal range. feels overly raw. have to spend a ton the classic V. this guitar except the planet. knobs. Excellent Sweet feeling, Piezo bridge of money to own a Offers great tonal ART its pickups, which Suffers a bit from pickups deliver natural-finished pickup sounds lo-fi killer-sounding range, courtesy of THOMPSON are low in output latency and atonal everything from neck. through standard PRS with its happening and extremely artifacts on some warm jazz textures electric-guitar off-the-hook pickups and Bass microphonic. settings. to screaming rock amps. playability. Contour control. tones.

GUITAR PLAYER MAY 2007 77 Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

RKS WAVE SAMICK SCHECTER SPECTOR SQUIER VINTAGE WASHBURN YAMAHA MAKE/MODEL TORINO TR3 LADY LUCK ARC6 PRO MODIFIED WI-64 RGX A2 TELECASTER SSH

STREET PRICE $499 $499 $449 $499 $299 $479 $499 WORKMANSHIP 3.5 5 5 4.5 3 4.5 3 HARDWARE 3.5 4 5 4.5 3.5 4.5 3 FRETS 3 4 4.5 4 3 3.5 4 PLAYABILITY 3.5 4 5 4.5 3.5 4.5 4 VERSATILITY 3.5 4 4.5 4 4 5 2.5 SOUND 3.5 5 5 4.5 3 4 2.5 VIBE 3.5 4 5 4 3.5 4.5 3.5 VALUE 3 4.5 5 4 3 4 2.5

EDITOR COMMENTS

Good, spanky tones Nice finish. Very Wow. Gorgeous Killer pickups. Big range of sounds, Home run! Great I like what they’re that blend great. good playability. finish. Beautiful Super-musical but two-pickup tones finish. Plays like going for, but some Frets out on bends. Great tones. hardware. Flawless Tone controls. are thin, and neck butter. Tons of elements fall short. MATT Don’t like voicing of frets. Plays like a Top-notch pickup is too wooly. tones with Tuners, bridge, and BLACKETT tone control. dream. Sounds hardware. Uniquely Low Eknocks against innovative VCC knobs aren’t great. great. Bravo. beautiful finish. bridge pickup pole (Voice Contour piece. Control) circuits.

Warm, pleasant Nice wood. Solid Produces a wide Unique finish. Nice maple neck. VCC controls add Didn’t care for bridge pickup. controls. Good range of great Beefy bridge. Weak pickups. versatility, barrel-style tuners Controls overall feel. sounds with Clean inlay work. Slight buzz on but behave and rotary pickup BARRY awkwardly placed. Pleasing and well- exceptional Sounds good on all upper frets when eccentrically with selector. No tone CLEVELAND String buzz on low balanced sound. sustain. settings. bending notes. highs coming in and control. Pickups E above 14th fret. Versatile Tone Textured knobs a out. Intonation sound thin. control. nice touch. excellent.

Zingy clean tones. Expansive clean Not a fan of the A real breeze to A hefty gap in the Love the look, the Recessed knobs Decent chunk tones. Dirty sounds finish, but this play. Tones are top neck slot could be feel, and the tones. tough to sounds. Didn’t dig are rife with chirpy guitar is way notch. I couldn’t put why the tones Turning down the manipulate. Forget DARRIN FOX the placement of midrange. Super- sweet. Feels this sucker down. never really get Volume has major about switching pickup toggle. Not figured top a bit, wonderful in your Bowling ball finish there. dulling impact on pickups on the fly. sure about this uh, over the top. hands. Sports an acquired taste. guitar’s otherwise whole plastic thing. myriad tones. sweet shimmer.

I’m a fan. Dig the Comfy feel. Neck Near flawless with Real head turner A lot of tonal Feels great. Neck Sophisticated, recessed controls, invites riffing and a sense of with fangs. options for three inspires unfettered modern design. MICHAEL although pickup shredding. Ballsy whimsical danger. Articulate, beefy, bills. Plays well. riffing. Unleashes Light. Plays MOLENDA switch was loose. tones. Brilliant. Fun. and soaring tones. Could be more massive waves of wonderfully. Sound Totally fun to play. Fabulous. Plays great. sonically inspiring. tonal fury. could rock more. Decent tones. Has its own sound What’s not to love This guitar flat out I like everything The multiple This is a hip guitar. Though very light with plenty of about this guitar’s rules with its about this guitar, pickups are Voice Contour and easy to play, brightness and awesome finish distressed except its tantalizing, but the Control works tones are ART snap. Plan a little and thick, badass hardware, claustrophobic neck humbucker is great. Tones underwhelming. THOMPSON time to suss the SG-style tones? excellent pickups, control layout. the only setting quickly become Rotary pickup control locations. and dual Volume that really gets it. dull when you turn selector slower controls with down Volume. than a toggle coil-split option. switch.

78 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

AGILE SEPTOR 7-STRING Street Price $399 Manufacturing Plant Korea Nut Width 1u" Neck Bolt-on maple, 252" scale Fretboard Ebony Frets 24 extra jumbo Body Basswood Pickups Info not provided Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Hardware Ajustable bridge, Grover tuners Factory Strings Info not provided Weight 7 lbs Contact Info rondomusic.net

ARIA PE ELITE Street Price $419 Manufacturing Plant China Nut Width 1h" Neck Set maple, 243" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 22 jumbo Body Mahogany with carved flame-maple top Pickups Two Aria OH-1 humbuckers Controls Two Volume, two Tone, 3-way switch Hardware Aria SPT bridge and QH tailpiece, die cast tuners Factory Strings D’Aquisto, .009-.042 Weight 8.35 lbs Contact Info (800) 999-5558, ariaguitars.com

AXL BLOODSPORT FIREAX Street Price $350 Manufacturing Plant China Nut Width 1y" Neck Bolt-on maple with bubinga stripe, 252" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 24 jumbo Body Alder Pickups EMG-designed alnico (one single-coil, two humbuckers) Controls Volume, two Tone, 5-way switch Hardware Floating tremolo with locking nut, AXL sealed tuners Factory Strings AXL, .008-.042 Weight 7.4 lbs Contact Info axlguitars.com

BC RICH ASSASSIN OUTLAW PX3 Street Price $399 Manufacturing Plant Korea Nut Width 1.69" Neck Bolt-on maple, 252" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 24 jumbo Body Basswood Pickups Two Rockfield Mafia humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone with push/pull coil tap, 3-way switch Hardware Tune-o-matic bridge, die-cast tuners Factory Strings D’Addario, .009-.046 Weight 8.5 lbs Contact Info (866) 722-7424; bcrich.com

80 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

DEAN CADILLAC 1980 CORT CURBOW Street Price $499 Street Price $499 Manufacturing Plant Korea Manufacturing Plant Indonesia Nut Width 1h" Nut Width 1y" Neck Set mahogany, Neck Bolt-on maple, 243" scale 243" scale Fretboard Rosewood Fretboard Rosewood Frets 22 medium jumbo Frets 24 medium Body Mahogany Body Swamp ash Pickups Two Dean high-output Pickups Two Mighty Mite humbuckers Bluebuckers Controls Two Volume, Two Controls Two Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Tone Hardware Tune-o-matic bridge, Hardware TonePros- Grover Rotomatic licensed bridge tuners and tailpiece, Factory Strings D’Addario, .009-.042 sealed tuners Weight 7.85 lbs Factory Strings D’Addario, Contact Info (813) 600-3920; .009-.042 deanguitars.com Weight 6.25 lbs Contact Info cortguitar.com

DAISY ROCK DAISY ROCK ROCK DANELECTRO DANO PRO CANDY CUSTOM Street Price $249 SPECIAL Manufacturing Plant Korea/China Street Price $399 Nut Width 1.65" Manufacturing Plant China y Neck Bolt-on maple, 25" scale Nut Width 1 " Fretboard Rosewood Neck Set mahogany, 3 Frets 19 medium 24 " scale Body Chambered masonite/ Fretboard Rosewood plywood Frets 22 medium Pickups Dano lipstick Body Mahogany single-coil Pickups Two Duncan Controls Volume, Tone, Designed HB-108 3-way switch Detonators Hardware Adjustable bridge, Controls Volume, Tone with sealed tuners push/pull coil tap, Factory Strings Custom Korean 3-way switch made, .010-.046 Hardware TonePros bridge, Weight 8 lbs Grover tuners Contact Info (805) 389-4605; Factory Strings D’Addario EXL 110 danelectro.com Weight 7 lbs Contact Info (877) 693-2479; daisyrock.com

82 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

EASTWOOD AIRLINE H44 DLX Street Price $499 Manufacturing Plant Korea Nut Width 1h" Neck Set maple, 243" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 20 medium jumbo Body Ash Pickups Two custom-wound EW-44 mini humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Hardware Floating wooden bridge, trapeze tail, vintage open-back tuners Factory Strings D’Addario, .010-.046 Weight 5.8 lbs Contact Info (416) 294-6165; eastwoodguitars.com

EPIPHONE FADED G-400 Street Price $299 Manufacturing Plant China Nut Width 1h" Neck Set mahogany, 243" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 22 jumbo Body Mahogany Pickups Alnico Classic (neck), Alnico Classic Plus (bridge) Controls Two Volume, two Tone, 3-way switch Hardware LockTone bridge, Grover tuners Factory Strings GIbson Brite Wire, .010-.046 Weight 6.35 lbs Contact Info (800) 444-2766; epiphone.com

ESP LTD MH 250NT Street Price $399 Manufacturing Plant Indonesia Nut Width 1y" Neck Set maple, 25w" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 24 extra jumbo Body Agathis with quilted maple top Pickups EMG-ESP LH-300 set Controls Volume, Tone with push/pull coil tap, 3-way switch Hardware Floyd Rose licensed tremolo, locking nut, sealed tuners Factory Strings SIT, .010-.046 Weight 7.35 lbs Contact Info espguitars.com

FENDER STANDARD STRATOCASTER Street Price $399 Manufacturing Plant Mexico Nut Width 1.65" Neck Bolt-on maple, 25w" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 21 medium jumbo Body Alder Pickups Three Fender Standard single-coil Controls Volume, two Tone, 5-way switch Hardware Vintage Style Synchronized Tremolo, Fender/ Ping sealed tuners Factory Strings Fender Super Bullets, .009-.042 Weight 7.9 lbs Contact Info fender.com

84 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers FERNANDES REVOLVER Street Price $349 Manufacturing Plant China Nut Width 1y" Neck Bolt-on maple, 25w" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 24 jumbo Body Alder Pickups Two Fernandes high-output humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Hardware Floyd Rose licensed tremolo, locking nut, Gotoh-style tuners Factory Strings D’Addario, .009-.042 Weight 8.25 lbs Contact Info (800) 343-0353; FIRST ACT LOLA CE 140 fernandesguitars.com Street Price $399 Manufacturing Plant China Nut Width 1.72" Neck Set maple, 25" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 22 medium Body Mahogany Pickups Two First Act alnico V “bikini” humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Hardware First Act string-through retainer system, die-cast tuners Factory Strings First Act, .009-.042 Weight 8.4 lbs Contact Info (888) 551-1115; firstact.com G&L TRIBUTE ASAT SPECIAL Street Price $489 Manufacturing Plant Indonesia Nut Width 1y" Neck Bolt-on maple, 25w" scale Fretboard Hard rock maple Frets 22 medium Body Swamp ash Pickups Two G&L, U.S.-made Magnetic Field Design single-coils Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Hardware G&L Saddle-Lock bridge, sealed tuners Factory Strings D’Addario, XL110 Weight 8.45 lbs GODIN REDLINE 1 Contact Info (800) 233-8346; glguitars.com Street Price $449 Manufacturing Plant Canada (parts), U.S.A. (assembly) Nut Width 1h" Neck Bolt-on rock maple, 243" scale Fretboard Indian rosewood Frets 22 super jumbo Body Silver leaf maple center, poplar wings Pickups EMG-81 active hum- bucker Controls Volume Hardware Hardtail bridge, Godin high-ratio tuners Factory Strings Godin High Definition E-9 Nickel, .009-.046 Weight 6.75 lbs Contact Info godinguitars.com

86 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

GRETSCH ELECTROMATIC G5246T Street Price $489 Manufacturing Plant China Nut Width 1h" Neck Set mahogany, HOHNER MR-800F 243" scale Street Price $449 Fretboard Rosewood Manufacturing Plant China Frets 22 medium jumbo Nut Width 1.69" Body Mahogany (chambered) Neck Bolt-on maple, w with arched laminated 25 " scale maple top Fretboard Rosewood Pickups Two TV Jones designed mini Frets 24 Dunlop 6105 humbuckers Body Rock maple with Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch flame top Hardware Bigsby B50 Vibrato Pickups Tesla VR-1 (neck), tailpiece, Adjusto-Matic Tesla VR-III (bridge) bridge, vintage-style Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way tuners switch Factory Strings Gretsch, .009-.042 Hardware Tune-o-matic style Weight 7.2 lbs bridge, Grover tuners Contact Info (480) 596-9690; Factory Strings D’Addario, EXL120 gretschguitars.com Weight 6.75 lbs Contact Info hohnerusa.com

IBANEZ ARX320-MS Street Price $399 HAMER XT SATQ Manufacturing Plant China Street Price $479 Nut Width 1y" Manufacturing Plant China Neck Set mahogany, Nut Width 1y" 243" scale Neck Set mahogany, Fretboard Rosewood 243" scale Frets 22 medium Fretboard Rosewood Body Mahogany with Frets 22 medium quilted-maple top Body Mahogany Pickups ACH1-S (neck), Pickups Two Duncan Designed ACH2-S (bridge) humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone, Controls Two Volume, Tone, 3-way switch 3-way switch Hardware Gibraltar III Hardware Tune-o-matic bridge, Quik style bridge, Change III Hamer tuners tailpiece Factory Strings D’Addario, Factory Strings D’Addario, .010-,046 .009-.042 Weight 7 lbs Weight 8.5 lbs Contact Info hamerguitars.com Contact Info (215) 638-8670; ibanez.com

88 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

JACKSON DXMG Street Price $469 Manufacturing Plant Japan Nut Width 1h" Neck Bolt-on rock maple, 25w" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 24 jumbo Body Alder Pickups Two EMG HZ Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Hardware Floyd Rose licensed tremolo, locking nut, die-cast tuners Factory Strings Fender, .009-.042 Weight 7.75 lbs Contact Info jacksonguitars.com

JAY TURSER CUTLASS F Street Price $298 Manufacturing Plant Korea Nut Width 1y" Neck Set maple, 243" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 22 medium Body Mahogany Pickups Two Artec alnico mini humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Hardware Stop tailpiece, die cast tuners Factory Strings D’Addario, .010-.046 Weight 8 lbs Contact Info (631) 773-6411; jayturser.com

LINE 6 VARIAX 300 Street Price $499 (black finish), $299 (red finish) Manufacturing Plant China Nut Width 1y" Neck Bolt-on maple, 25w" scale Fretboard Indian rosewood Frets 22 medium Body Agathis Pickups N/A Controls Volume, Tone, rotary Model Select knob, 5-way switch Hardware Digital I/O, XPS mini power supply, standard bridge with LR Baggs saddles, sealed tuners Factory Strings D’Addario, .009-.042 Weight 7.5 lbs Contact Info line6.com

MICHAEL KELLY PATRIOT LIMITED Street Price $499 Manufacturing Plant Korea Nut Width 1h" Neck Set mahogany, 243" scale Fretboard Ebony Frets 22 medium jumbo Body Mahogany with splated maple top Pickups Two Rockfield SWC humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone with push/pull coil tap, 3-way switch Hardware TonePros bridge, Grover tuners Factory Strings D’Addario, EXL110 Weight 7.9 lbs Contact Info michaelkellyguitars.com

90 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

PARKER P-42 Street Price $459 Manufacturing Plant Korea Nut Width 1.653" Neck Set maple, 25w" scale Fretboard Ebony Frets 22 medium Body Mahogany Pickups Two Parker Stinger alnico humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone with push/pull coil tap, 3-way switch Hardware Stop tailpiece bridge, Grover 18:1 tuners Factory Strings Vinci, .009-.042 Weight 7 lbs Contact Info (800) 877-6863; parkerguitars.com

PEAVEY GENERATION CUSTOM EX Street Price $439 Manufacturing Plant China Nut Width 1y" Neck Bolt-on maple, 25w" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 21 medium Body Alder Pickups Two Peavey vintage-wound humbuckers, piezo with Analog Acoustic Modeling circuitry (ACM) Controls Volume, Tone, piezo/ACM volume, 3-way mini- switch (piezo, humbuckers, or both), 5-way switch Hardware Peavey vintage tuners Factory Strings Peavey, .009-.042 Weight 8 lbs Contact Info peavey.com

PRS SE SOAPBAR II Street Price $499 Manufacturing Plant Korea Nut Width 1h" Neck Set mahogany, 25" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 22 medium jumbo Body Mahogany with flame-maple veneer top Pickups Two P-90-type soapbar Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Hardware PRS stoptail bridge, die cast tuners Factory Strings D’Addario, .010-.046 Weight 7.2 lbs Contact Info prsguitars.com

REVEREND VOLCANO Street Price $499 Manufacturing Plant Korea Nut Width 1h" Neck Set mahogany, 243" scale Fretboard Rosewood Frets 22 medium jumbo Body Mahogany Pickups Two Reverend humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone, Bass Contour, 3-way switch Hardware Tune-o-matic bridge, Wilkinson EZ-Lock tuners Factory Strings SIT, .010-.046 Weight 7 lbs Contact Info (586) 775-1025; reverendguitars.com

92 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

RKS WAVE Street Price $499 Manufacturing Plant Oxnard, California Nut Width 1y" SAMICK TORINO TR3 Neck Bolt-on hard rock maple, 25w" Street Price $499 scale (Buzz Feiten Tuning System) Manufacturing Plant Korea Fretboard Rosewood Nut Width 1h" Frets 22 Dunlop 6105 Neck Set mahogany, 243" scale Body Interchangeable hollow composite Fretboard Rosewood Pickups Two custom Lace humbuckers Frets 22 medium jumbo Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch Body Mahogany Hardware RKS tuners, RKS hardtail bridge, Pickups Duncan Designed HB101 (neck), HB102 (bridge) RKS Groove knobs and Posifly Controls Volume, Tone, 3-way switch pickup selector switch Hardware Adjustable bridge, stop tailpiece, Grover tuners Factory Strings Elixir, .009-.042 Factory Strings GHS, .009-.046 Weight 7 lbs Weight 7 lbs Contact Info rksguitars.com Contact Info gregbennettguitars.com

94 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com.

SQUIER VINTAGE MODIFIED FEATURE Hot Little Numbers TELECASTER SSH Street Price $299 Manufacturing SCHECTER LADY LUCK Plant India Street Price $449 Nut Width Manufacturing 1.65" Neck Bolt-on maple, 25w" scale Plant Korea Fretboard Maple Nut Width 1y" Frets 21 medium jumbo Neck Set mahogany, 25w" scale Body Indian red cedar Fretboard Rosewood Pickups Duncan Design TE-103B Frets 24 jumbo stack (bridge), MH-101 Mini Body Mahogany Humbucker (neck), SC-102 Pickups Two Schecter Alnico Plus Stack (middle) humbuckers Controls Volume, Tone, 5-way switch Controls Two Volume, Tone with Hardware Vintage 6-saddle bridge, push/pull coil tap, die-cast tuners 3-way switch Factory Strings Squier, .009-.042 Hardware TonePros bridge, Schecter Weight 8.5 lbs tuners Contact Info (480) 596-9690; Factory Strings D’Addario, .010-.046 squierguitars.com Weight 8 lbs Contact Info schecterguitars.com

WASHBURN WI-64 Street Price $359 Manufacturing Plant Korea Nut Width 1y" SPECTOR ARC6 PRO Neck Set mahogany, 243" Street Price $499 scale Manufacturing Fretboard Rosewood Plant China Frets 22 medium Nut Width 1.69" Body Mahogany Neck Bolt-on maple, Pickups Two WB630 high-output 25" scale humbuckers Fretboard Rosewood Controls Two Volume, Two Tone, Frets 22 jumbo Voice Contour, 3-way Body Basswood with switch YAMAHA quilted maple top Hardware Tune-o-matic bridge, RGX A2 Pickups Two Tesla VR60 Grover tuners, Buzz Street Price $499 Classic humbuckers Feiten Tuning System Manufacturing Controls Two Volume, two Factory Strings Vinci, .009-.042 Plant N/A Tone, 3-way Weight 6.25 lbs Nut Width 1h" switch Contact Info washburn.com Neck Bolt-on maple, Hardware BM 0004 bridge, 25w" scale Ping tuners Fretboard Rosewood Factory Strings D’Addario EXL110 Frets 22 medium Weight 7 lbs Body Alternative Inter- Contact Info (800) 825-8810; nal Resonance spectorguitar.com with falacata core and maple top and back Pickups Two Yamaha alnico humbuckers Controls Volume, 3-position rotary pickup selector knob 96 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER Hardware Yamaha Originally printed in May 2007 issue of Guitar Player. Reprinted with the permission of the Publishers of Guitar Player. Copyright 2007 NewBay Media, LLC. All rights reserved. Guitar Player is a Music Player Network publication, 1111 Bayhill Dr., St. 125, San Bruno, CA 94066. T. 650.238.0300. Subscribe at www.musicplayer.com. FEATURE Hot Little Numbers

Patrick Simms (left) and Alex Walsh in the GP “guitar room.”

PEER REVIEW DUO its Bigbsy a little too hard, and knock the strings To offer readers an outside perspective of the 35 out of tune. I was pleasantly surprised at the affordable guitars tested for this roundup, the ESP LTD/MH 250NT, because I’ve never been staff invited two members of the online GPforum drawn to guitars with sharp, angled headstocks. to participate in the evaluations. Patrick Simms But this model has a really good combination of is a musician, studio owner, engineer/ producer, a Gibson-style neck on a thin, contoured body, radio personality (California Music Box, 6 pm - and the sound is bright and tight in the lows, and 10 pm on piratecatradio.com), and actor. Check sparkly in the highs. The Ibanez ARX320 has a out myspace.com/27591491 to explore Simms’ thick, dramatic sound with lots of sustain. It’s a DJ Nylon page. Alex Walsh leads the Alex Walsh tonally rich guitar that works well for jazz, rock, Band (alexwalsh.net). He typically looks for and other popular forms of music.” guitars in the price range of this roundup, and “I tried all of the guitars using the clean then adds better hardware and pickups. channel of the Budda Twinmaster,” details Simms and Walsh were allotted several Walsh. “I’m mostly a roots-rock player who hours to examine and play the guitars without sometimes uses a distortion pedal. Out of this any interference, and they plugged into the batch, I like the PRS SE Soapbar II the best. It same Mesa/Boogie and Budda amps used by feels great, and the pickups sound good in all the editors. The views expressed are solely their positions. I’d just put heavier strings on it. My own. Their text was edited for length and gram- other favorite was the G&L ASAT Special. It mar, but both players approved the final copy had a beefy rhythm sound—especially on open that appears in the magazine. chords. My third pick was the Dean Cadillac “Alex and I didn’t find any guitars in this 1980. It kept coming back into my hands— roundup that were unplayable or poorly made— probably because it has a Les Paul vibe. Even although some models stood out more than oth- though it feels a little cheap (I’d probably ers,” says Simms. “The first thing I did was check replace the pickups and get it set up better), the intonation of each guitar, as staying in tune I still like it. The ESP LTD/MH 250NT is a model is very important in my world. I found myself I didn’t expect to dig at all, but it sounds and playing and enjoying the PRS SE Soapbar II above plays great. The Ibanez ARX320 produces lots most. I have never been drawn to PRS—mostly of nice sustain, and the Michael Kelly Patriot due to price—but this affordable model sounds, Limited, Aria PE Elite, Fender Stratocaster, plays, feels, and looks like a PRS that’s in the and Hamer XT all sound and feel good (although $3,000 range. It stays in tune, and handles my the Patriot’s odd finish reminds me of Hobbits). strange altered tunings without sounding like I Although the Eastwood Airline H44 DLX feels have rubber bands for strings. The Michael Kelly a bit like a toy, it has a real woody vibe— Patriot Limited plays, sounds, and feels great. probably due to its baseball bat-sized neck— It’s a little small for my frame, and I wish it had and one great rhythm tone. I love how the separate controls for each pickup, but it stays Schecter Lady Luck feels and sounds, but it’s in tune and delivers the goods. The Gretsch Elec- a bit too tacky looking for me. I didn’t like the tromatic G5246T has the sound and feel of a RKS Wave. The neck is nice, but the place where model three times its price, and it works well I position my right hand just below the strings with alternate tunings. However, I did tend to hit is cut out, and the overall feel is too slippery.”

98 MAY 2007 GUITAR PLAYER PHOTO: MICHAEL MOLENDA