Guitar reviews from a personal perspective, by a lifelong enthusiast. Quick and easy guides to each guitar, including characteristics and sound. Ideal if you are thinking of owning one of these guitars
Im not a fan of these. Ive owned a couple over the years. Its not quite as good as a P and not quite Jazzy enough. Its a bass that is confused. I only own two Fender basses these days, a P and a J obviously. Best of both worlds. Two completely different basses that shouldnt be Frankensteined in my opinion.
Hello Michael.. I have an EKO similar to yours it has a built on pickup on it with a treble and a volume knob. The pickup is in silver hard casing shell. it has no serial number but the EKO badge is a black plastic with a gold EKO writing. It is a 12 string in good condition no scratches or cracks.. I am trying to find out when it was made. Can you help me please? Thank you very much. Regards Xavier Danny
@@GothicOrchestra hi and thanks for your message. As with most of the guitars I review, they are kindly loaned to me so my understanding tends to focus onto each instrument rather than model variants. In your case it might be worth seeking an enthusiasts forum to ascertain specifics to your guitar. I am aware that some owners fitted pickups after buying them as is the case with the one that I reviewed. I'm sure a forum for enthusiasts will help to discover more. I'm sorry I haven't more information but I wish you well in your search. Do let us know what you find out. Thanks again Michael
Michael, I have a 1967 model - very similar to the one you demo-, but I have a pick-up fitted to the bridge inside the guitar. I play through a Marshall Acoustic amp, which has a chorus effect. This makes a wonderful sound for a lot of songs, especially when they date to the same as the guitar - 1960's. It has been a wonderful friend and I hope my grandsons will continue to enjoy it when I'm gone.
@@user-zs4rp9vn7s it's good to hear that your old guitar continues to bring pleasure. It was a good investment and one that keeps on giving. Thanks for getting in touch. Kind regards Michael
Hey, im getting a pretty good deal on one of these. How would you say they are for strumming.I use lots of dadgad tuning so need the lows. Recommend please.
It's a while since I recorded this review so I can't recall exactly, but judging by my comments it would seem like a worthy choice. I'd recommend revisiting the review for how it might sound, though making allowance for the quality of sound reproduction. I hope this helps you. Best wishes, Michael
I have a 2019 cherry sg bass and a 2020 ebony sg bass and I love them,100%stock ,no need to change the bridge or anything,just learn the volume and tone knobs and you’ll find that they sound great.make sure the bridge is leaning towards the rear.
seeing this now as i see the pickups off one are being sold on reverb would you think they’d sound alright in a strat as a bargain humbucker type setup?
@@aidna042 interesting idea but I don't know as never tried that. If not too expensive maybe an interesting project. If you do it then let us know what you think. Best wishes Michael
@@AllAboutBasses Fair comment they can be quite impressive. As with so many other guitars there can be worthy alternatives to the big names. Thanks for sharing, regards Michael
The Millennium I have is the exact same color but has 5 knobs on it. I put tape wrapped strings on it and replaced the knobs with Abalone topped knobs. I really like the neck width also since my fingers are small and chubby. I have had some problems with the pickups but think my luthier fixed it. I paid $ 249 for it used. I have an Ibanez standard 4 also that plays alot like the Peavey. I don't think the pickups are the same as the one your playing though. I wonder who's signature is on it ?
Thank for getting in touch. Yours has five knobs, what do they do? I agree that tape wound strings can be worth trying, though the guitar I have has round wound which work very well. I can't see a signature, though it is the BXP which seems rare by comparison to the cheaper models and certainly feels like a really good quality guitar. They are underrated given just how well they play and the overall sound variety. The fingerboard and neck feel very comfortable. Thanks again and best wishes, Michael
I’m very grateful to you for putting the time and energy into doing this. And I love your dog. But the poor sound quality makes it impossible to get any realistic sense of how the guitar sounds.
Thanks for your message. I had to review this and some other guitars in the owner's homes, so it sometimes compromises sound. However I hope the description was helpful. Again the dogs courtesy of the owner. Best wishes, Michael
These tinted necks look great. Personally I don't have a problem with them, but a little go over with sandpaper doesn't ruin the look of the neck but does make them smoother to move up and down on. Watching the review because I am very tempted to get one, in white. I've got big hands, but the size is in the palm and not the fingers. I think I'm going to have to at least go and try one out. Thanks for the review.
Hello thanks for your comments. As always it's worth trying one and taking your time to find out if it feels right for you. Since doing that (Mustang) review I've become impressed also with G&L bass - see that review. Narrow neck but I find it works for me - large hands as you say but normal fingers. All interesting stuff. Good luck with your search. Thanks again and best wishes, Michael
@@morrrrtttyyy1203 There are two STG reviews on my channel both very different body woods and weights so its best that you try the one that you are interested in as they vary a lot.
Great review. I have just bought one of these second hand although I don’t think it has been gigged. Basically I bought it to get myself back into bass playing as a couple of friends are asking me to do a few gigs with them. In the mid 70s my father bought me a fender jazz bass and fender bass man 100 amplifier which I gigged in his band with them for a few years. Wish I had not sold them in the late 80s. I also play six string and piano organ and now workstation which I use on our present days gigs. I couldn’t justify spending a lot of money at present on an American Fender but if I was to be doing more gigs as a bass player I would do. Your review is spot on. These instruments are playable but maybe lack the tonal variance and quality. I have subscribed to the channel.
@@martinhudson2552 Hi Martin thanks for your kind comments. It's great that you have returned to playing and I'm sure it will be worth doing. As for your 70s jazz bass, they attract high prices but others are arguably equally good. Nostalgia carries a premium. Good luck with your musical endeavours and thank you for sharing, it really helps. Best wishes Michael
@@michaelsguitarreviews at the time I thought the jazz bass over rated and the cabinet was a 4 x 12. I think a 2 x 15 would have been a better choice looking back. The bass and amp were new in 1975 and I kept them immaculate. As for build quality. Despite the ps bass being a fraction of the cost the quality doesn’t seem to bad at all. I am in the process of lowering the action as it is a little high. I also own a Squier Strat which I bought new in 2009. Not a bad guitar. My father has a 1970s American Strat and tbh to play there is little difference however the American Strat does have a fuller sound somehow. I can barely distinguish the sound difference through his 1960s AC30.
Yours is the first video that allows us to hear the difference. They do actually sound different. The Fender Mexican Standart base is warmer than the Squire, though setup may alter that.
@@jasonbannan4024 I'm glad you found the video helpful. The Fender does in my opinion perform better, so long as it has the higher mass bridge. Lots of guitar for the money. The Squier is still very good value. Best wishes Michael
I wonder if anyone has devised a bracket or a sort of extended post for the neck side strap button similar to steinburger, in effort of combating the neck dive situation.
The only people that I remember playing these guitars are Glen Campbell and Paul Weller. I played one a long time ago and just couldn't get into it. This one sounds nice. I didn't know they were still being made. Nice review Michael and a nice bit of your personal history.
@@AnthonyMonaghan Thanks for your comments Anthony. They are quite idiosyncratic, but nice to play if not rather mobile due to the bowl back. I still have the guitar, which is occasionally brought out of its case and admired. It's in as new condition and even smells like when I bought it. Kind regards Michael
@@danmeek928 I'm still trying to work out the connection between your knees and choice of guitar, but it conjures up a range of entertaining possibilities😅🤔🦵
Hi Michael. I have the Alvarez version of this guitar. It is so much better than the Epihone. I had an Epiphone Sheraton and there's no comparison. Unfortunately Alvarez stopped making the 335 type guitar to focus on their acoustic range. If anyone is looking for a cheap 335 type guitar, the Alvarez is definitely the way to go. Thanks for the great review.
@@AnthonyMonaghan Hi Anthony, thanks for your information. I've never played the Alvarez that you describe. It's difficult to understand why such quality guitars seem to slip under the radar. Why not record a review of yours as I'm sure it will be of interest to fellow enthusiasts, I'd certainly be interested in how it varies from it's contemporaries. It's really good to hear about others experiences and views on their guitars, much appreciated. Kind regards Michael
Tanglewood are probably made by Cort. You may find information on its twin. It sounded very buzzy and probably needs a neck job, frets levelled and crowned, truss rod. I would replace the nut at the same time; out of the box, nuts are always cut too high and plastic ones are often hollow. Plastic doesn't like the nut files, it is easier to make a bone one up. The saddle probably wants replacing with a fatter one, it might help the intonation, but piezo can be fussy if the saddle is sticky in the slot. A big Dread is often tuned down to D to run 12 gauge strings, 10s are for electrics and can sound weedy. Properly set up with low action that does not buzz, heavy strings are easy to play.
@@jeffslade1892 Thank you for the information which is very helpful. The guitar is very buzzy but the owner rarely uses it so perhaps will not mind. Again very much appreciated you sharing your info and advice. Kind regards Michael
@@michaelsguitarreviews With the string lower, the string have less space to fully ring out and has a bit of fret buzz, maybe a lighter attack on the strings. Also, I find bridge pickups underneath the saddle has a restricting effect on the sound, unlike saddle to wood.
@@ChayBode Good points, thank you for your contribution. Under saddle pickups do seem to have their own characteristics. I think this particular guitar might be affected by poor design, for example the indefensible headstock with strings touching which is so basic yet overlooked. It gives the impression of having been designed more around materials than construction characteristics, which might explain its infrequent appearances and Tanglewood not having bothered to offer much information.. Thanks again and best wishes, Michael
Hi Michael. I bought my acoustic EKO 12 string back in 1974. Have been told by a local guitar agent that he sold them new and mine should be circa 1962. No serial, so hard to know for sure. The EKO on the head is gold inlay and the circle around the hole is 7 black rings, so quite different from others I have seen in videos. The rest looks the same as your demo one. I had an internal pickup fitted which works well. It eventually suffered from the bridge lift you described, and under the skillful hands of a friend who was a tool maker, it now has a stainless steel plate which anchors the strings and goes right around to the back of the guitar. Sound is amazing with the steel rather than wood anchored strings. Lots of cracks and bumps in the polish now, and needs new frets. Pity we can't post a photo. Enjoyed your very informative video. This viewer from Christchurch New Zealand.
Hello Bruce thanks for sharing. Your guitar sounds very interesting and would likely be of interest to EKO for archives, also for someone writing a book or journal article on earlies. You and your friend sound very creative in resolving the bridge lift. Why not create a video about your guitar for you tube? Thanks again for sharing and for your kind comments. Best wishes Michael
Relics: I would assume that the main reason why there are people who are drawn to relic stratocasters, is the feeling or illusion of owning an extremely well broken in instrument. People praise and look up to people like Stevie Ray Vaughan and Rory Gallager, who almost always played their one specific, heavily weathered, number one guitars. People have followed and admired many of these players for decades and I guess there is something "magical" about a dirty, sweaty and heavily worn look of a stratocaster. It speaks years of touring and playing smoky clubs and big venues. Personally I can see the appeal. However... buying a new guitar with factory aging and relicing can be a different thing. Is it "authentic"? Did you earn the battle scars yourself? Custom Shop: Having a 24 year experience with guitars of different brands, different styles, varying in price, different manufacturing countries etc. I have to say, that a higher price rarely guarantees a 100% satisfaction with the guitar. No matter the origin country, if the overall build quality is good, which it usually is at this day and age, thanks to precise machinery, it all comes down to each guitar being "unique individuals". I've played 700€ to 900€ guitars that had better feel, sound and sustain etc. than some guitars with 2000€ pricetag. I've owned and played guitars that were identical, down to the manufacturing year and paint job etc. yet they feel and sound completely different. Building a guitar from organic material such as wood is such an interesting process. You will never fully know how it turns out to be, untill it's 100% finished and ready to go.
Thanks for your comments which are interesting and illustrate just how diverse we are. Very good point about modern manufacturing. I agree with the worn in and well played appeal from a life on the road as you rightly point out. I suppose for me it's that word 'authentic'. Somehow factory battle scars seem hard to appreciate, however I respect others whose views differ. Thanks again I appreciate your taking time to share. Regards Michael
Thanks for your kind comments, always very much appreciated. I never know how people might respond, so it's good to know it works. Kind regards Michael
I know the Strings were installed incorrectly but it's a good opportunity to let people know Fender and licensed parts dealers sell a gizmo called the "Stealth Bass String Retainer" that you put on the B, E and A tuner that helps increase the strings break angle and tension. These come stock on Fender Elite and Ultra basses. on the 5-string models all Five strings have a string tree to live under. Thanks for the video Michael 🍺
I had a Gibson EB-3 bass I bought new in 1973 I think it was. Once I finally got a Fender P-Bass, I never went back to any Gibson Basses. I like Gibson guitars though.
Thanks for sharing Ray, another interesting example of diverse preferences. There's a wide variety of offshoots out there to choose from now. Happy playing, regards Michael
Not only do you have to worry about the headstock breaking but the heel as well on an SG. I don't like the neck dive or the bridge and I am not in love with the woolly tone. Yes, I know you can move the strap button and upgrade the bridge to a Babicz or Hipshot but I still don't like Gibson basses. The Japanese copies from the 1970's are better in a lot of ways. Cheers from Toronto 🍺🇨🇦🇬🇧
Good to hear from you Christopher. Yet more evidence of the very wide range of experiences and preferences that we have. I appreciate your taking time to comment and no doubt your insights will trigger others. Kind regards, Michael
If I were designing a strat with one volume and one master tone, I would move down the volume knob to the former top tone position.....because I keep hitting it!
Thanks for your comments. I'd be interested in other players opinions on the bridge. It's good to have a variety of info and experiences. Thanks again Michael
Thanks a lot for the review! I had exactly same Strat (still regret selling it) and I do think that it sounds amazing, feels amazing and looks amazing!
Hello and thanks for getting in touch. I happened upon this through the kindness and generosity of its owner who has had it for around 20 years. I understand that it was a gift for his 21st birthday which is impressive. The colour and overall condition are really nice, but the bridge design is a mess; a simple hardtail would be better in my humble opinion. Plenty of sound options and overall a nice guitar. Thanks again for sharing. Kind regards, Michael
@@michaelsguitarreviews I bought a 2 knob 1983 Strat in like new condition in 1999 but 2 years later sold it to a much more talented guitarist than me. In fact, this 1 volume 1 tone design motivated me to use the so-called 7K (1 volume, 1 tone, 1 mix knob) wiring on my Strat since then. This is a very wise solution to the notoriously harsh Strat bridge pickup! Is it a deviation from the original Leo design? You bet! But if the guitar still looks like a Strat, feels like a Strat and can sound like a Strat (plus some extra), then it is a Strat, I reckon. At least more Strat than HSS. As for the bridge I have no other option but to agree with you.
