Got one delivered today. Amazingly, mine read 14.2 on the humbucker and 11.50 on the P90! a near match. With consideration of the things that have to be done for a good setup, this things sounds and looks excellent, VERY surprised. I gave $100 shipped to the door and double boxed. Yes, the strings are crap and likely the tuners are lame. Far better than I expected. I plan to gig with it this weekend to beat it a little....see what she do!
I'm not surprised by the inconsistency in the pickups' output. That happens a lot in this price range since they often use whatever the factory next door has too many of. Over time, I've noticed that the tuners are weak point on the guitar, primarily a lack of precision and stickiness. I'll probably replace them soon with a set of Guyker or Wilkinson tuners.
I really want a cheap tele style and the hollow body surf green with maple fretboard really gets me going. The added idea of humbuckers makes me think it’s almost like a casino tele cross or a something like that. Really cool!!
It looks really nice and, with the exception of that spot on the neck, no noticeable blemishes. As I mentioned, it did need considerable setup work. Based on the Amazon reviews, this seems like a common issue, although an easily correctable one with basic guitar tech skills.
The neck is really the best thing about the guitar, probably one of the best fret jobs I've seen on a very low end guitar. You would have to spend more than $300 to get a better separate neck, outside of just getting lucky. While I'd like an aged pearloid pickguard, I haven't found one that wouldn't cost almost as much as the guitar.
It just amazes me that $100 guitars can come with binding, but Fender, Gibson and even PRS seem to consider it so expensive to do they usually offer it on $1000 plus guitars.
I'm guessing that they're using some kind of automation to apply the binding, similar to what's used in furniture manufacturing. That's been the secret to cheap Chinese guitars, adapting and applying automation to the build process. As such, it's the human fine details and quality control they miss. Fortunately, this is usually something that can be dealt with by a consumer who has guitar tech skills.
It would be kind of difficult to do significant mods to it beyond a pickup swap, wiring and tuners due to some non-standard sizing. I am considering a pickup swap and series wiring to get a better balance in the middle position. The low E tuner is still overly stiff which is annoying but it holds tune. The knot doesn't affect anything but the looks.
@@jfrankcarr Actually the knot does... Where lumber 🪵 is made at a mill the 1st cut is rough cut . Typically used for pallets etc..2nd cut is typically Studs for building See SFP2.. both can have knots. 3rd cut is typically better grade lumber 🪚 beginning of trim lumber.4th cut should be where a Fret Board Neck is made NO KNOTS. A knot can come loose.. however if it does just get a dowl of same lumber & place it in glue it. Cut it off sand finish.
I've seen this deep knotting on some Home Depot wood I bought for building cigar box guitars, but, on this neck it seems more like a surface blemish than a serious knot. I don't think it will become an issue over time. But, it does indicate that the guitar was made with a lower quality wood and limited factory QC.
I may swap the saddles since I have a few sets on hand. Same with the roller trees. But, it's not a big priority for me. The tuners will need to be replaced though. I've found them a bit too wonky for my taste.
Got mine today in Sunburst. Overall nice guitar, but in the middle position unless the tone is all the way off, it sounds like its coming through a tiny A.M. radio. ARGH. Phase issue? Does your do this?
It sounds OK in the middle position, but a lot weaker than the other positions unless I boost it substantially. It could be phase or that the output levels between the HB and P90 are so mismatched. I've seen this on regular Teles with a hot rails in the bridge and a regular neck pickup. I may eventually rewire it so that it's in series and see if that helps it.
