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Parent Category : 'Solid Body Electric Guitars'   Other Shape Guitars User-reviews
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Chandler Futurama
By Boomhauer on 06/28/2008 at 23:12 Music is your Profession.

Characteristics  
A stock model exactly like the white/tort one on the site. I once contacted the compnay for info but missed their response. The finish has some flaws,Im pretty sure it was a second ( the body). The trem has been restored , works well, and the pick ups are decent. Nice neck, truss access is a pain in the neck. Just had it dialed in and it is a great US made Strat style axe. The neck pup sounds fantastic, middle and bridge good enough.
Not many of these around..? Hard to know. I never see them up for sale and I have put this one up in the past, no calls. That's OK as it covers strat territory well, and is more ergonomic than a strat. Maybe it will be a goofy kitsch thing in 30 yrs and people will want one. Not a cheap kitschy guitar.
Utilisation  
Playes great now. great guitar.
Sounds  
Covers lots of ground, nice axe.love the neck pup on this,round and punchy. the pots feel so good too. easy action and nice swell...nice neck,think its pau ferro board,birdseye neck,slim and compound feeling.no complaints at all, good quality wood,holds its tune.
Overall Opinion  
I dont need this guitar but its pretty nice to have. I have 3 electrics(this one, a cheap tele,and a ce-22 wp90's)but mostly use the tele.
now with phat90's in my prs, that thing is a lot of fun,great pick up for a clogged humbucker guitar. it howls with single coil-y goodness.
oh yeah, the futurama rocks the strat turf. just beware the truss access at the body...under the pick guard.
[ More info : Chandler ]
Fender Duosonic
By Heavyspender on 04/22/2008 at 22:04

Characteristics  
Made in Mexico. It has 21 frets with two single coil configuration. The bridge is a fixed stock Fender bridge. One control for volume and one control for tone. Has a three-way selector switch. Not sure what the neck is made of, but it doesn't feel like an expensive wood. The action is OK, mine needs a good set up.
Utilisation  
The neck is OK. It doesn't play well since the strings are old and it is time to have it set up. With the double cutaways, it is easy to access the top notes. Unfortunately, with only 21 frets, you don't get much range. Being a smaller scale and what I consider a beginner guitar, this one is very light. It's your typical strat style design in a smaller, more 60's or 70's design. When this guitar was younger, it actually sounded decent, especially through a Fender Twin. It needs some TLC now, but I am unsure if that will even make it better for me than my beginner Ibanez. There simply aren't enough frets, and the guitar needs to be bigger for a bigger sound.
Sounds  
This guitar can do in a pinch if I break a string on my main guitar. Not exactly a metal guitar or even a shred guitar. It's nice for smooth, slow solos. It's also easier on the hands as it is a smaller scale, but that doesn't really help one's development and hand strength. I used to plug straight into whatever amp I was using at the time. Since I don't use this guitar much, it doesn't get plugged in to my current setup much. Like I said, it's not that great for metal or hard rock. But it can work for that jangly 60's and even 70's sound. I guess you could play Santana, or David Gilmour with it. There is a cool sustained harmonic that automatically appears when you play the 5th fret of the 3rd string, without having to pinch the string or purposefully attempt to create a harmonic. It is probably the coolest signature of this guitar. This is good, because I don't feel it has too many other cool features.
Overall Opinion  
I bought this guitar to gig with my college band in the 90's. I haven't really used it much since. I just lug it around as a spare guitar, but usually I just keep on playing even with a broken string on my Ibanez rather than pick this guitar up and play. I like it's convenience, but it's playability and tone is barely adequate for me. I didn't try many other guitars at the time I bought this, because the price was right, and it's a Fender. If they had my Ibanez for the $200 purchase price of this guitar, I probably would have bought it instead. However, I have seen that these things go for $300 on ebay, which is $100 more than I paid, so they appear to be appreciating ! So I figure I can hang on to it so I can let it appreciate more so I can have more bargaining posture when I get my next guitar or even my next amp.
[ More info : Fender ]
Ibanez RG Series - RG Series
By Heavyspender on 04/22/2008 at 21:45

Characteristics  
My RG120 is Japanese made. It has 24 frets with dual humbuckers. The bridge is a stock Ibanez bridge with tremolo unit. The amp has volume and tone selectors. It has a three way pickup selector switch. Not sure what wood the neck is made of, but it is your typical fast ibanez neck. It is thin, normal width and has small to medium size frets.
Utilisation  
The neck, as with many Ibanez's has a very nice and fast feel. Because it is a twenty-four fret neck, I can easily get to that wonderful high E either by bending up to it, or by simply striking the 24th fret on the 1st string. Give it some wild vibrato and Yngwie would be proud! Cutaways are well cut such that it makes it even easier to access the top notes. The guitar is very light and is easy to move around with. With mine in black, it is very conservative and professional, yet the design still screams "rock star !" Controls are simple and spartan. I usually put the tone all the way. Volume knob depends on where I am in the song. I select the top (low end) pickup mode for smooth solos, and the bottom (high end/treble) pickup mode for rhythm playing and for screaming solos and finger-tapping. I do not use the middle pickup mode.
Sounds  
This guitar, even at entry level, is shred all the way. Just perfect for me. When I go play a Jackson or even a Fender stratocaster, which I used to play, I am out of my element. That is how much I like the way Ibanez's play. If I buy an upgrade guitar, it will most likely be an Ibanez. (I've already got my eye on one.) I play mine through several pedals, including a Zoom multi-effect. I play through a Hartke half stalk, a Fender stage 185, a Crate gx30m, and a Fender Frontman, as well as a combination of these. Even though this is a double humbucker shred guitar, I feel it plays clean sounds / jazz and blues well, at least in my style. The wonderful clean sounds from my Fender amps also help. This guitar is great for heavy music as well as soloing. Get it set up, and you understand why the Satriani's of the world can solo for so long! The only drawback of lower action is the fret buzz, but that may be my guitar repairman's fault, not the guitar.
Overall Opinion  
I've had this guitar for about 3 1/2 years and have been using it a lot since. It's such a great guitar for the price. It has seen me grown leaps and bounds in my development as a guitarist, and it's only considered a beginner electric ! I wish it had a better humbucker in the bridge position (the one in the bridge position does not have as much volume as the one in the neck position.) I also wish it had a H-S-H configuration and a tremolo unit that doesn't make the guitar go out of tune, but that's what an upgrade is for. I didn't try many other models besides this one, and since I didn't try out a Jackson, Hamer, Bc Rich etc, I probably didn't need to. I think my choice at the time was great. I still want to keep using this entry level guitar, as I would rather upgrade my amps and effects before I do my guitar.
[ More info : Ibanez ]
Godin Signature Series - LGX-SA 3-Voice
By RickD on 04/16/2008 at 16:43 Serious about music, want to make it your profession.

Characteristics  
- In What Country was it made? (USA, Japan, Mexico, France...)
I believe this is Canadian and possibly part made in the USA but i'm not sure.
Godin is Canadian, though.

- How many frets, Pickup Type and Configuration?
From memory i'd say it's a 22 with jumbo's.

- What type of Bridge(Floyd, Wilkinson...)?
Not sure but there is no tremolo and the strings go vertically through the body for added sustain. This bridge has an integral piezo pickup for the electro-acoustic sound (dedicated output) and a MIDI sensor inside too! Simply amazing!

- What are the setting controls (volume, tone, pickup selector position)?
An amazing array of controls on this magic piece of 'wood'...it's just full of electronics!
Listen up:
= volume & tone for the electric mics, with push-pull on the tone that carves out the mids for a gentler sound, very useful on rhythm. Electric output.
= electro-acoustic preamp with 3 band EQ and volume. This uses a 9V battery, fairly easy to replace but you need a screwdriver. Dedicated output.
= Midi volume and dedicated output. You'd plug this into a MIDI guitar expander, such as the Roland GR series, for instance.

En extra switch lets you toggle what is sent to one of the outputs, so you can mix the sounds inside the guitar!
Another switch let's you change MIDI presets!
Utilisation  
- Does the neck have a nice feel?
The neck is fine! Just the right width for me...easy to play.

- Easy access to the top notes (last frets)?
Yep!

- Is it's design ergonomic(in terms of the shape, weight...)?
It's a bit heavy after a while, and real heavy to carry around, but...well...what did you expect? ;-) Probably no worse than a Les Paul...

- Can one easily get a nice sound?...
Hell yeah!
Sounds  
You can do pretty much anything you like with this guitar, although i would suppose a metal-head would prefer a Jackson or an Ibanez...

You can get jazzy sounds on the right amp, that electro-acoustic feel, or various electric sounds. Put it through a TC G-Force and you'll have an even wider palette to play with...it's a very versatile guitar.

I love that jazzy warm sound you get on a tube amp with the neck mic on and the tone half way.
But this is great too on a british 70's tube amp with distortion on 5 or 7...
Overall Opinion  
I've had it for about 8 years.
The wood used is probably not the best, apparently Godin guitars 'move' a bit with age...so you might want to get the harmonics reset every year or so.

Overall, a fantastically versatile guitar with almost endless possibilities. Probably not the best electric in the world, but pretty damn good i say!
The guitar itself feels precious. You can just FEEL it's a good guitar! :-)

Watch out not to leave the case or guitar in a damp environment. Some of the metal parts on the case have gone rusty...and even some of the less used frets are showing signs of rust. This, of course, won't happen in a normal environment.
[ More info : Godin ]
MusicMan John Petrucci Mystic Dream
By myriam63660 on 03/27/2008 at 23:21 Music is a hobby.

Characteristics  
- made in USA
- 24 frets, 2 dimarzio custom humbuckers (a modded steve's special with more mids and a air norton with more output and clarity) and a piezo
- floating trem (with locked schaller MD)
- 2 volumes (1 for the passive pickups and one for the piezo), 1 tone, 1 switch for the passive humbucker position and one for passive/piezo selection (passives alone - passives+piezo - piezo alone)
Utilisation  
- This guitar is so easy and confortable to play...
Sounds  
- you can play nearly all styles of music with this axe: with just 2 humbuckers and one piezo you have 7 différent sounds:
- bridge pickup
- inner coils splitting (very strat like sound)
- neck pickup
- piezo
- piezo + bridge pickup
- piezo + inner coils splitting
- piezo + neck pickup

The piezo alone sounds great, even on an electric amp, and it kills with an electro accoustic amp. There are two output jacks (magnetic+piezo - piezo) to make the use of thoses two types of amps possible in live conditions. If i remenber well, if no cable is connected to the piezo output, the signal of piezo and magnetic pickups are mixed together (magnetic+piezo output), otherwise the piezo and magnetic signals are separated
Overall Opinion  
A great guitar
[ More info : MusicMan ]
Ibanez GhostRider Series - GR-520
By goodbyebluesky on 03/27/2008 at 17:03 Music is a hobby.

Characteristics  
My Ibanez Ghostrider guitar, in similar fashion to a Les Paul has a mahogany body and a 2-piece bookmatched maple top in a cherry sunburts finish, although tobacco sunbursts are rare they were also avaible) It sports cream binding on the body and neck, fairly high quality rosewood fretboard with abalone inlay fret blocks, and gold hardware all the way down to the pickup covers. Just like a Gibson it boasts a true set neck and tune-o-matic bridge. The controls, however unlike a Gibson LP, are limited to a single volume and tone with a 3-way selector.
Utilisation  
The neck is very reminiscent of a Les Paul, slightly clubby feeling definitely slim enough to feel graceful when playing. Access to the 22 fret is possible, but may not satisfy shredders who want unrestricted access all the way up the fret board. To myself, it doesn't matter.

If you love playing a Paul but regret it halfway through a gig due to their weight, then this guitar is for you. Somehow, maybe due to a slightly smaller body and the double cutaway they have made a guitar thats several pounds lighter than an LP, and its very balanced and comfortable to play.
Sounds  
This is by far the most gorgeous-sounding guitar I have ever played. Granted I swapped in some Gibson P.A.F. pickups and that has sweetened it all the more. But to pick up this guitar and play it, and then remind yourself it doesn't cost 2000.00 is like a dream come true.
I play everything from hi-gain palm-muted metal riffing on the bridge pickup, to crunchy indie rock, to noodly jazz and Santana soloing, or back the guitars volume down to instantly clean it up for soulful bluesy licks and chords. When through a clean amp, the neck pickup comes through thick and almost jazzy, with enough fatness and sustain to satisfy me when playing mellow chords and licks. The neck pickup is also great for sweet overdriven soloing as this guitar will almost sustain like a real Paul.

I think the bridge pickup is a bit thin or lacking lower end when clean, thats my only real criticism. I usually reserve the bridge setting for crunchy distored sounds.
Overall Opinion  
I've been playing this guitar for years, and will probably never part with it.
If I could have seperate volume/tone controls for each pickup like a Gibson, I'd be in heaven. As it stands I fiddle with the volume a bit to get the sounds I desire from one song or section to the next.

I have played Ibanez guitars before, various models, and I have played Les Paul Standards. To me this guitar is a good medium between them, and does things that really neither can do. To my ears it is more refined and sweet than most garden variety LPs which tend to be more raunchy and won't take you sonically where this guitar will; i.e. a santana solo sweetness or jazz fusion sound. It feels more akin to a shred guitar as far as playability without actually being one, but can still nail a decent shred-metal sound if you wanted one.

This is the best damn guitar I'll ever find for under 1000 bucks, and it only cost 500 used!! They don't make these anymore so if you find one snatch it up. You wont be sorry.
[ More info : Ibanez ]
Schecter Ultra III
By moosers on 03/24/2008 at 05:07 Music is your Profession.

Characteristics  
Made In Korea..22 or 23 frets, 3 pick-ups (the standard Ultra III)...
Utilisation  
The feel of this guitar is pretty good, it isn't as smooth as some other guitar I've played, but its pretty easy to play, great for both lead and rhythm playing. It's a very heavy guitar but it's well worth it for the sound of it.
Sounds  
I love it because I feel I can get very diverse tones between the three pick ups. I use it mostly with my 1976 Fender Twin Reverb along with a few effects pedals (DL4, Boss comp, chorus and distortion)...I feel that with this guitar I can get some great lead tones as well as heavy distortion or a great clean sound. I listen to mostly anything so I'm always trying out new sounds and this guitar is great for that.
Overall Opinion  
I've had this guitar for about two years now and I've enjoyed adding it to my repertoire. Although its very heavy, I don't really mind it, you get used to it and its definitely worth it for the great feel and the sound. If you are looking for a guitar in this price range I would definitely give this one a shot.
[ More info : Schecter ]