I love how they don't just throw the same pickups in each guitar, nice to have actual options between the four. That demo track with the singlecoil clean tones was pure Opeth.
Got the Black Metal Phoenix last year. Awesome guitar, especially if you are tall and also singing and playing. Such a comfortable shape. It just makes you look and feel so cool when slinging it around. I think it's cool that they brought out the "Arctic Metal" series. It takes away the impression that the "Black Metal" means the genre and not the color. I play Post-Hardcore/Post-Rock with my Black Metal Phoenix.
Sounds like you've been listening to a lot of Opeth (per Blackwater Park's 20th anniversary)! Awesome riffs, loved this demo, I want one of these even more now!
Very nice. I picked up the cherry version about a month ago and it's great. I was going to pick up the vintage white one as well, but I ended up getting a 35th anniversary PRS Custom 24 instead Lol. That one was a bit pricey.
Active pickups are definately a thing and both have there place.... Personally in my setup I find the Fishman Moderns (well, the ones that come in the Epiphone Prophecy guitars which are proprietary pickups but I'd imagine voice 1 is the same as the moderns) I find them to be way too modern, really tight in the low end to the point where the low end is almost gone. Now, they're handy if you're using mega thick strings, an amp or cabinet with tonnes of low end (or a combination of any of those) then I'd say they're definately a consideration.... but a tube screamer will pretty much do the same thing though and I've found the 81/60 EMG set just has more "balls" They're still good pickups and definately worth a look if you need a guitar that's versatile, but I find voice 1 just a bit too clinical.
I don't like white guitars, but this one has a lot of appeal to it for me! Aside from the great tones, you've got really original songwriting chops, I enjoy listening to the riffs you come up with. Cheer mate!
I think the Phoenix looks alot better than the standard Firebird. I think the Phoenix has more character than the other LTD shapes, but I love offsets so...
Great review bro!! I have the satin black Schecter ultra similar look! But I am selling it. The pickups it has just don’t give me what I want! But this Phoenix does! I’m torn between the black and white finish. What one do you personally like more for modern metal and just heavy metal in genera!
Hi, I’m a big fan of your channel and I love all the gear reviews. I just bought a Phoenix Arctic metal. But after 1 minute of having it I already send it back as it’s a very headstock heavy guitar. I think for a guitar that price range it should at least hang balanced. I don’t know if that’s something every phoenix guitar has?
Thank you for the great demo. I would like to buy the guitar but I am a bit worried about the (lack of) arm contour area. Did you have any issues regarding where your right hand stays during your playing? Cheers.
Wonderful guitar man! And great demo, as always! One day I’d like to see the XJ6 back in the ESP catalogue. It was a very nice guitar, Fender Jaguar shaped with reverse headstock and stripped down electronic. With full sized single humbucker pickup and neck thru construction it will be an alternative metal machine!
I got that guitar, man! I can tell you it's one my to go guitars for gigs and recordings. I'm even with it at my profile pic. It's really easy to play on it and its one the coolest designs out there. I think i even have video with it on my channel. Cheers.
Idk, gibsons fender has been out for a long time and it hasn't really worked out... but like with the iceman and kiss or meshuggah, a few artists will probably make it work. The black one looks cool, reminds me of said meshuggah iceman sig.
Hey man! I'm thinking of getting one of these but I read some reviews, that the white finish turns yellowish quite fast. What is your experience with yours?
@@SonicDriveStudio gotcha, thanks. I have those and can program them with a decent level of realism here, but you’re mixing them way better. If you ever get time to demo your approach, I’d watch that.
If you could keep only one, wich one? This one looks great but I really don't like the EMG 81.. So it is between the vintage white or this one and switch pickup
FYI Heavy Wood = Cheaper, less good wood. It's usually wood from younger trees that has been quick dried in a kiln, not wood from mature trees left to age and dry naturally which is preferable.
@@SonicDriveStudio Tonally of course things are always to taste! But from a purely lumber perspective wood from the exact same tree will turn out heavier if you kiln dry half of it and the other half will be lighter if you leave it out to dry naturally which costs significantly more, especially with certain species that can take a decade to fully dry out to a useable standard. One of the reasons if you take a pickguard/pickups/wiring/pots out of a vintage fender and install it onto a modern vintage spec'd fender it doesn't sound the same. Same thing goes for modern production copper vs vintage, but thats a serious rabbit hole only insane people go down!
@@R3CT0-CC look, all I know from having played and owned many guitars in my life is that I tend to prefer slightly heavier guitars because in my opinion they sustain longer and they have a bigger low end. Now, mind you, the wood HAS to be resonant because I hate nothing more than dead sounding wood but as long as it sounds good, it is good, and for me that usually means the guitar has some weight to it. That's all :)
@@guittarwizzrd I just ordered the Arctic metal Phoenix myself. I like the red Phoenix 1000 but it was over $400 more than the Arctic metal/black metal during the Boxing Day sale.
