Favorite Non American Guitars
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jeffb
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Any of the old MIJ Gibson rips...Greco, Burny/Fernandes, Tokai, Navigator, Yamaha, etc. I have had some great old Ibanez MIJ guitars as well as a couple MIJ Squiers from the early 80s.
I've owned a bunch of Indo/Korea/China stuff and I can't say I'd like to have any of them back. Some of them were good instruments, but none of them were amazing.
I've owned a bunch of Indo/Korea/China stuff and I can't say I'd like to have any of them back. Some of them were good instruments, but none of them were amazing.
jeffb
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^ Nice bird.
I had one of the MIK Mockingbirds from about 2008? 2007? MIK with the carved top, TOM/TP and 24.75" scale. Good guitar for the $ (around the same as an Epiphone Les Paul Standard of the time).
But I also had an original USA Bich back in the day so it was kind of hard for me to come to terms with the MIK versions- they are night and day. I had a 80s MIJ Warlock as well which was a good guitar- the MIK are right there with it.
I'd like to have one of those new MIK Bich models- without all the electronics of my original (why I got rid of it- too much crap for me- pre-amp, phase, splits, varitone, etc )
I had one of the MIK Mockingbirds from about 2008? 2007? MIK with the carved top, TOM/TP and 24.75" scale. Good guitar for the $ (around the same as an Epiphone Les Paul Standard of the time).
But I also had an original USA Bich back in the day so it was kind of hard for me to come to terms with the MIK versions- they are night and day. I had a 80s MIJ Warlock as well which was a good guitar- the MIK are right there with it.
I'd like to have one of those new MIK Bich models- without all the electronics of my original (why I got rid of it- too much crap for me- pre-amp, phase, splits, varitone, etc )
This korean built P-38 gets a lot of play, still has stock pups, no reason to change. Epis are new this year, fantastic p-90 guitars. I know now why Marriott favored the Coronet. Alvin alerted me to these early this year. The PRS SE-ONE is another P-90 guit that should be mentioned.
Deftone
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My Indonesian Ibanez S420 is an amazing player. Best $230 I ever spent.
Edgar Frog
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All of my guitars are non American. All of them are my favorites and great players. The Gary Kramer is my top fave though.
08' South Korea Gary Kramer Custom
08' Chinese Schecter Damien Special FR. Converted to single hum
20' Chinese IBG Epi Standard 60's
08' South Korea Gary Kramer Custom
08' Chinese Schecter Damien Special FR. Converted to single hum
20' Chinese IBG Epi Standard 60's
Deftone
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No.
ricksdisconnected
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Wezie Guitar lover
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jeffb
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This was a very early 80s Fernandes/Burny Explorer I got from Japan. Unfortunately the headstock at the neck had a bad crack during transit. It would kinda sorta stay in tune for awhile, and sounded magnificent acoustically, but USPS, nor EMS would work with me for shipping damages, so I completely lost interest in the guitar and was not going to spend more money on the thing. Sold it to a old online friend who was going to strip it and repair it. IDR what happened. It was 15 years ago or so.
And some of my other import guitars from over the years (and a USA Dean ML in the group shot). I've owned a lot more, but never took pics of most of it.
That's Captain Crunch ^ Best Tele I've owned. Had some Rumpelstiltskin 1950 Black Ropes in it and it was a beast. It's the first run of MIM Fender Roadworn 50s. Supposedly the one Greg Koch played in the demo session he did for Sweetwater when they were first released.
My KWS Strat before I put the Dimarzio FS1 in the bridge
A Schecter Snow Leopard from Sweetwater. If the neck had worked for me, I would still have it. Had the USA custom shop Super Rock pickups in it- great tones.
And some of my other import guitars from over the years (and a USA Dean ML in the group shot). I've owned a lot more, but never took pics of most of it.
That's Captain Crunch ^ Best Tele I've owned. Had some Rumpelstiltskin 1950 Black Ropes in it and it was a beast. It's the first run of MIM Fender Roadworn 50s. Supposedly the one Greg Koch played in the demo session he did for Sweetwater when they were first released.
My KWS Strat before I put the Dimarzio FS1 in the bridge
A Schecter Snow Leopard from Sweetwater. If the neck had worked for me, I would still have it. Had the USA custom shop Super Rock pickups in it- great tones.
StrummerJoe
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All of my guitars are non American. All of them are my favorites and great players. The Gary Kramer is my top fave though.
08' South Korea Gary Kramer Custom
08' Chinese Schecter Damien Special FR. Converted to single hum
20' Chinese IBG Epi Standard 60's
Do they make guitars in North Korea?
(sorry I had to...my head would have exploded if I didn't...don't block me)
anitoli
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Yes but to get one you'll have to take the obligatory ass-beating............Do they make guitars in North Korea?
(sorry I had to...my head would have exploded if I didn't...don't block me)
jeffb
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I had a SA120 that was an excellent guitar- It was MIC (And the Ibby WIKI is wrong or doesn't have all the various versions) mine was a 2005 or 2006 and also a see through gloss brown finish). Sapele body with non locking trem. Really resonant and sustain-y. I sold it because...Gibson guy....and the guy who bought it from me said he couldn't believe how much better it sounded than his large collection of other super strats. Put some better pickups in it and it would have been a real monster. (he did, I believe)
I've never had a bad Ibanez guitar, no matter the decade or country of origin (though IMO the MIJ is tops). I usually hate the necks- too thin, too flat on back and too flat radius, but from that $250 SA120 to an original floral JEM BITD, everything has been very good.
ricksdisconnected
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i agree. its hard to find a bad ibanez. but for me, i love the necks.
my fav guitar EEEVVVERRRRRR is a ibanez 550.
jeffb
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I get it. I just cannot play them. I have perm nerve/lig/tendon damage in both hands- and thin flat necks cause way too much pain/troubles. I need a R9/R8 size or old Fender 50s baseball C or I'm crying like a baby from the pain for a week afterwards (I don't take any RX meds if I can help it).
Of all those thin necks, the best I had were an original Saber from the late 80s (neon yellow like Frank Gambale's), and that SA120. The S series necks seemed to be slightly rounder, IME.
ricksdisconnected
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oh dang, i forgot about the Frank Gambale model lol.
one of my college teachers and he were very good friends. Frank use to come
give clinic's whenever he was in town. very cool guy. use to show us a lick called
The Monster Lick the Slurped LA. it was a stunning example of his talents.
