@@DarrellBraunGuitarthanks for the amazing videos. I've made a few guitar purchases thanks to your videos. You're the only sane RU-vid guitarist that appreciates how well Schecter guitars are made and their amazing prices.
I have owned several Valentines and my current Saturn Gold Tremolo is an all-time keeper. I absolutely adore this model and this chambered Sterling version is super tempting. It’s the most successful Super Tele design to me and the neck humbucker is just gorgeous.
Wow... sort of an offset 335. Also reminds me of my Squire Starcaster semi hollow Classic Vibe minus the weird headstock. I love the look and the sound of this guitar which you demo'ed, as you usually do... so, so well.
Music Man/Sterling/OLP guitars always impress me. I own an OLP (the budget brand before they were renamed Sterling or whatever) and it was 60 bucks at a yard sale and it’s easily the best playing guitar I own. Top work, DB.
I totally concur with your assessment Darrell. I own both the USA Valentine and the Indonesian model. Except for the weight, coil split on the USA model, and some unique tones, it’s hard to tell them apart in terms of feel. Great review for a hidden gem guitar! 🤘
Beautiful instrument. Does have some interesting tones. Your's is one of the few channels thats looks closely at build quality. Love that. Most channels hold guitar at arm's length and say great
Great demo highlighting the tones! Dig the tones and boost feature and such a natural beauty. I could have some fun with that guitar! I did notice that the body is two piece, but the back actually looks like about a quarter inch cap of a solid piece, judging from the grain on the end where you showed the strap button. Interesting detail...
Man I would die to learn and play an electric guitar just like you but the only guitar I could afford is an Air Guitar 1980 Vintage 1 of a kind supreme edition.
I had a Sterling Cutlass. Beautiful guitar that had every feature I wanted and sounded great. The only problem was the soft v neck, which left my paw aching every time I played it. So beware if you have small hands.
I love the soft v of the cutlass. I bought a cutlass for $400 from a guitar store that was closing down (rrp was $900 aud). Didn’t know anything about them except it was cheap and had 1 vol 1 tone which I liked. It was love a first grasp and sold me on sterlings and music man guitars straight away
Back in 2017 my daughter was a lit to be born and I wanted a guitar to remember the time (well that’s what I told my wife anyway) I got a valentine, 6 years on and it’s one of my favourite guitars and one of 3 from 17 that I kept. I’ve always wanted a F hole version and this is a dream come true. I said I woken them buy another sterling but wanted a ebmm version (absolutely nothing wrong with SBMM though) so I hope they bring a ebmm version but if it this will do very nicely Oh. I put a pair of custom beefed up p90’s in my valentine (still retains the boost too). SO GOOD!
I discovered this guitar about a week ago while looking at the CT50 and well it will be added to my collection at some point along with a CT50 that I will use for modding. I have watch several RU-vid videos on this Sterling MM Valentine JV60C with an overall favorable opinion.
Very nice,one of my favorite guitars I own is semi hollow body, it just plays and sounds different then my others solid body les pauls style guitars and even my full hollow body I have brings more depth and seems easier to play which just might be quality difference lol but its like they want to sing and I love it. Would love to have this one you have looks supper basic in a good way, simplistic design no frills to it so you appreciate the wood for what it is and can bask in all that bright wood tones and also nostalgic classy as almost an acoustic guitar wood look while still bringing the sound and playability and depth.Great job on the video and presentation, look forward to your next as always thanks again.
Cole Clark in Australia makes a Hybrid Acoustic Guitar which was shown at NAMM 2023. The Guitar can be played through your Tube Amplifier which you use with a solid body guitar.
I know probably no one will believe me, but a couple of weeks ago, I sketched out a guitar that was a mix between a 335 and a Tele. I had the traditional set up of a Tele. I drew the body with a mix of the Tele and 335 (just picture a big thick Tele), with a crescent moon F-hole. This Sterling sounds decent clean, but it doesn't take gain very well at all. The neck sounds flubby, especially with the boost, and the bridge is thin and tinny. It's a nice looking guitar though.
I own this guitar and I agree. I’m looking to mod it very soon. The neck pick up is very “flubby” sounding like you mentioned for me the middle position is the best for my use. I never was a fan of the tele bridge pick up sound I’ve gotten used to it kinda but still not my favorite. The guitar feels amazing and for me feels very comfortable. I’m looking to replace the pickups with humbucker sized p90’s.
I will say that lowering the bridge pickup height made the tone more bearable and useful for me. I was getting the horrific ringing from the G string even after getting it set up. The pickup adjustment helped with that.
Well, doggoneit, I'm going to have to get me one those. Love the tones. I've already contacted a nearby guitar store and they are gonna get one so I can check it out. If I can get the same tones, I will definitely purchase it. Love what you do on your channel Mr. Braun. You've introduced me to some great guitars and now to one I will pursue to purchase.
I have this guitar with the Bigsby. I really like it! 2 minor complaints: It's a bit on the heavy sied for a semi hollow, and it would have been nice to have a coil splitter forthe humbucker. 1 big +, it comes with a nice padded gig bag. Overall, it's a great package...
Pretty cool! Love that natural finish too. I was looking to buy my 1st solid-body guitar a few years ago and decided on the Cutlass after seeing your review. It plays amazing and has really motivated me to play and improve my skills as I was starting to feel limited by my old Ibanez Artcore I got in college. Thanks for all the informative videos!
Like many people I love your channel I’d like to see a review on the Harley Benton acoustic guitars that are solid wood rather than laminate namely the CLG-650 I’ve seen one review but it was by someone I’ve not seen before so don’t know how honest the review is.
Very Cool, thankyou. Stunning looking and sounding Guitar and playing as always. I have a Sterling by Music Man SUB Silo3 entry level 'Strat' style guitar. I love this guitar, the build quality, finish and Playability are all Outstanding. The asymmetrical neck is SO comfortable. All the best. Cheers
That bridge pickup has balls. Makes a lot of current t-types sound lame. The neck pup is solid with good tone. If I read correctly both are made by Music Man. What REALLY puts this guitar in the sub $1000 BUY ME category is the boost. That feature knocks it out of the park. Not overbearing, just gives a little more.
Looks like it's a three-piece body, Two-piece for the top and one solid piece for the back. It would have been interesting to hear some Maroon 5 style strumming as it is their guitarist's signature model.
Hi Darrell Another great video showing off one of the great design features that separates MusicMan / Sterling from the rest The 4 / 2 headstock eliminating the need for string trees, and a headstock angle - possibly mitigated nowadays by staggered tuning posts and locking tuners... Something Gibson could learn from but they are so obsessed with building guitars that had all the flaws of guitars made in rhe 1950s (and some of them are amazing (and legendary) - but some will not stay in tune whatever you do) Darrell, you also say that you like to showcase brands that are not in the mainstream? Can I suggest you (please) have a look at .strandberg who do ergonomic, lightweight guitars in a lot of different cnfigurations? They do a multiscale "tele" called (I think) Salen Headless guitars, under 6lbs, ergonomic necks - and versions in 6, 7 and 8 strings NB I have no connection to .strandberg. I found out about then in a fairly poor review in Guitarist Magazine, and then found Sarah Longfield (just don't watch the Ukulele Slayer (Bloodline) covers unless you are a horror movie fan - think The Lost Boys)
Excellent review as always Darrell. The quality of the guitar is fantastic but, personally, I don't care for the pickups - they sound harsh. Warmer ones would be nicer.
Darrell, I love all your videos. Great informative stuff. I have to say, I was disappointed that there was a glaring flaw in this episode. When you knock on the body of the guitar, my poor dogs, Hugo and Proust think someone is knocking on the door and burst into conniptions of barking and zoomies. Please take their sweet lil hearts into consideration in future videos.
Nice one! It's almost a Starcaster. 😁 Any Idea where I could get a hold of an aftermarket Pickup like the bridge one there? Need an HB Sized Single coil (not a p90) in the neck of a project Starcaster.
Darrell, I don't even play guitar ('though I do appreciate them), but I always make time to watch your videos. You're a champ, and do excellent work here. Kudos - and thank you!
@@aldersmoke1 They sound so different tough, it would be a bit weird. The neck one is really muffled, highs are really really damped. The bridge one is really really chimey. Also i dunno how it works with the guitar being like active, about the wiring.
Please always include the bridge to nut length scale length in these reviews. I assume this is a 25" but ???. Scale length is "requirement #1" for me (I prerfer 24.5 or 24.75).
Well I bought that guitar today. I have to say mostly from the tones I heard on Tomo Fujita's video about it but I realize now the amps he's using are playing a big role in the sound we hear. I don't have a proper amp and I am quite disappointed by the pickups. I spent the whole afternoon trying to get info about pickups to replace the stock ones... The neck pickup sounds like cardboard to be, no chimes in the highs, bit dull. The bridge pickup is the most disappointing compared to your video: i really don't see what i could do with it, it just seems to sound like harsh high mids and that's it. This kind of guitar was hard to find, no way to try it, i feel a bit stupid now. The neck is quite good although thicker than what i am used too (i always played on a Tele that has a more D shape kind of neck) but i shall maybe get used too it. Also coming from a single coil on neck and humbucker rail on bridge, this combination is a bit disturbing so far. I love the sound of my Tele but I had to find a replacement as the neck suffered along the years, the frets are quite dead and the wiring is next to letting me down on stage. This Sterling has also the enormous advantage to stay on tune although i bent all strings in every way possible ;) If anyone has a suggestion as to which pickups would fit (I know next to nothing about gear), I am open ;) I'd prefer to be able to split the humbucker rather than having a boost (no sound if you remove the battery, that's not only for the boost option).
Nice guitar, sounds amazing but that's your playing. For $800 Gretsch or Fender or Epiphone will be where my money will go. After I bought all my favorites from those 3 icon manufacturers designs I would be definitely interested in this guitar.
Regarding the back plate not being flush, it's not on my JP150 Sterling either. And it's not even on my PRS CE24, which is a $2600 USA-made guitar these days. I'm told it's a cost-saving measure, although I'm skeptical because how much money can it really save to not have the CNC machine route that recess as part of its overall program? But yeah, I think that's across the board for Sterling.
Easy FIX: if they have to keep it sitting on top they should at least bevel the edges of the back cover to make it "catch resistant" if its going to sit on top of the body and not flush fit it, so a buckle or a button wouldn't catch on the cover. Make it the same way they make a pick guard.
Hey Darrell I saw what looks like a Les Paul guitar with a heavy metal hammer on it. I did a little internet search and I think I found it Gibson Les Paul Custom w/ Bigsby Electric Guitar. Have you played one of these? If so send me a link to that video.
I feel the fixed bridge is the only option here (especially with the bigsby) for this sterling. My Floyd Rose bridged guitar is awesome, but I can't picture a sterling without a fixed bridge
Sounds a bit like a Thinline Telecaster Custom, and with that offset shape, it bears some visual resemblance to a Starcaster! Music Man is possibly even better than PRS in terms of fit and finish.
Compare it to a MusicMan and you'll see it's by far the most affordable. Plus it's 800 dollars in US (God knows why it comes 50% more expensive iin EU). For the overall build quality, it is one of the best built i've seen for that price range.
