NGD: Greg Bennett FA-2 (w/ soundclip)

[deltaslim]

Here's a quick soundclip of the guitar straight into a Fender Silverface Princeton Reverb. (Note: Strings are stock 9s, so it's a little brighter and slinkier than I usually like. BTW, Clip was recorded w/ iPhone voice memo app so it actually sounds better in person/live. It also sounded better w/ ZT Lunchbox ).

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=398267&songID=9655547

As I mentioned in other GB threads, I was smitten w/ the lipstick pus when I stumbled on this model. I waited till the Fairview branch had one in natural color and tested it more thoroughly. I bought it so obviously I liked it. YMMV.

The lipstick pus have a hollow clean tone that is a little different and more interesting to me than regular SC pus in Strats (which it sounds closest to). Sounds like there's some inherent quack in em. In between sounds are even more quackier. The bridge HB is uncharacteristically bright, almost Tele-like; must be a low-wind. In any case, the whole idea with this guitar is to also become a platform for a bridge Filter'tron because the Tele-style bridgeplate is already routed for HBs. But I see no need to replace anything with the other parts. Construction and build quality is as good as anything twice its price range. One thing I did notice is that there are some fret burrs (not all frets, and not terribly bothersome though). I'll have to learn to do this easy fix myself since it's no biggie, not worth paying a luthier for.

Will write out and update this post w/ a more careful and thorough review after some time with the gtr. But so far I've played it at volume with an SFPR, ZT Lunchbox, MicroCube RX, and a Line 6 amp (clean model) at last night's gig. So far so good but it sounds best thru a clean, dry amp like ZT Lunchbox.  

[raybrig]

Wala bang "HAM" sir? 

Any pics? at makano? 

[maxi_musikero]

congrats on the NGD Joric!  i searched for it online and it looks very unique with those two lipsticks.

and i thought you were gunning for a semi-hollow. 

Wala bang "HAM" sir? 

 

[r_chino18]

Congrats sir! Sounds good from your clips.. really crisp sound and has a good bite.. 

[deltaslim]

Wala bang "HAM" sir?  

Any pics? at makano?  

It looks like this but this is not my actual guitar (found this via Google images but I think it is AnodBiomech's, and has since been modded. See later posts):


Around 9.6k, iirc.

Di ko nagets yung "HAM"?

congrats on the NGD Joric!  i searched for it online and it looks very unique with those two lipsticks.

and i thought you were gunning for a semi-hollow.  

 

I still am. Was ready to pull the trigger on one the other day (assuming it passed the test) but it got retracted.

[Boxedking]

Congrats bossing!

Btw, eto yun HAM thread. http://talk.philmusic.com/board/index.php/topic,202619.0.html

[maxi_musikero]

I still am. Was ready to pull the trigger on one the other day (assuming it passed the test) but it got retracted.

i like the top on that one! 

i was able to watch the Carole King-James Taylor reunion on DVD and the lead guitarist there used something like this, except that it was Fender and the neck pickup was HB with mid and bridge on SCs.   

[raybrig]

Sure looks good boss! looks very "vir gin" hehe

Yun ham thread basahin mo sir  di ka magsisisi, but sure magugutom ka 

[fourth_cycle]

ganda ng tone not bad for almost 10k 

[Mike.B.]

saw one of these at Lazer sa SM manila, bone nut guys. bone nut 
soundclip sounds awesome 
btw, nice ObG SG on your soundclick profile photo

[deltaslim]

saw one of these at Lazer sa SM manila, bone nut guys. bone nut 
soundclip sounds awesome 
btw, nice ObG SG on your soundclick profile photo

That's the amazing thing about these GB gtrs. Naka bone nut na, Grover tuners. The other parts and even the wood even seem better quality than guitars twice their price range. Great value talaga. Yehey for us budget-conscious Pinoys. Buy with your ears, not your eyes!

Re ObG, I have little loyalty for gear but it is the closest thing to a keeper I've got (unless I come across a better SG). It brings home the bacon.

[bryanarzaga]

HNGD! post some pics

[lenpopz]

Proud owner of GB guitar here. Awesome tone for its price.

[mikomiko]

GB guitars comes with awesome finish what else can we say,,,, gassing for the GB hollow body

[deltaslim]

Btw, what also attracted me to this guitar is its Tele shape, except for the headstock. Dont know when it happened but I got bored with Strat style guitars. Maybe its because of all the different flavors of it, incl superstrats.

[Mike.B.]

one more great thing about Samick GB's.
Samick produced epiphones and squiers, etc back in the 90's when production was still in Korea. so rest assured they know what they're doing
and on top of it all. they're damn cheap.
check it, the Ultramatic costs 11k at lazer, and costs 20k in the States san ka pa?
Avion 3 costs 15k+ in the states, 10k sa lazer 
plus, when i did a comparison of the avion 3 and my epi les paul, there really wasn't much difference. the neck feels great, the body weight was excellent. overall a great sounding guitar.

re ObG
keep the ObG they're really worth a lot nowadays
hopefully I could afford an ObG or maybe just an Orville or JDM Epiphone/Elitist one day. sucks being 16 with no cash flowing in hahahaha

[gspboljack]

Wala bang "HAM" sir? 

Any pics? at makano? 

HUM SER NOT HAM HAHAHAHA WRONG SPILLING PA!

[AnodBiomech]

i upgrade my FA2 some hardwares..
DiMarzio D Activator X on bridge pickup
changed to black pickguard by Max Rufo
Graphtech stainless string saver saddles

and i removed the middle pickup, inilagay ko sya sa neck ... i'll post some pics tomorrow \m/

[deltaslim]

Guys, note that I continue to edit my initial post to enhance and complete my review the more I play the guitar.  For instance, I added that I noticed some fret burrs. But not all frets have it and, in fact, the frets look well done in general (talagang binilog and crown). Kulang lang siguro sa final sanding and buffing yung iba. It's not terribly troublesome when I play but it's there and I wanted to remain objective.  It's not a perfect guitar, by any means, but what is, right? 

[bryanarzaga]

one more great thing about Samick GB's.
Samick produced epiphones and squiers, etc back in the 90's when production was still in Korea. so rest assured they know what they're doing
and on top of it all. they're damn cheap.
check it, the Ultramatic costs 11k at lazer, and costs 20k in the States san ka pa?
Avion 3 costs 15k+ in the states, 10k sa lazer 
plus, when i did a comparison of the avion 3 and my epi les paul, there really wasn't much difference. the neck feels great, the body weight was excellent. overall a great sounding guitar.

Samick also did Valley Arts those are premium made stuff that i got to try one used, the price was a shocker though lol..

so yeah GB's just have alot of competition on how they are priced here , like i was checking out the Fastback-1 in one of the local stores that deals GB guitars(uncle bobs music), i was able to play it and yes it does need work(there were some burrs on the top frets and some polishing to go with it),the nut was corain, i think the pickups may need changing(since it wasnt picking up the nice top end that was noticeable when unplugged), the bridge would look better with wilkinson stuff(ss saddles) the price was $325 in store and i was thinking bout the upgrades it needed which would cost $80(bridge and 2 pupsets and probably set screw knobs), maybe at the time i just needed something different on the whole fixer upper guitars and i needed something that would impress me off the bat, thats why i didnt get it..

overall it had a nice veneer top and was lookin great, the grover tuners is a nice to have

Kulang lang siguro sa final sanding and buffing yung iba. It's not terribly troublesome when I play but it's there and I wanted to remain objective. 

yeah i noticed that too, but just depends on who was working on that guitar, i did find an Avion model without any burrs

It's not a perfect guitar, by any means, but what is, right? 

craft wise? i found a some

[AnodBiomech]

i upgrade my FA2 some hardwares..
DiMarzio D Activator X on bridge pickup
changed to black pickguard by Max Rufo
Graphtech stainless string saver saddles

and i removed the middle pickup, inilagay ko sya sa neck ... i'll post some pics tomorrow \m/

[bryanarzaga]

that looks kewl!

[deltaslim]

that looks kewl!

Ang ganda, mukhang Tele na.   I suddenly wanted to check if my own gtr looks just as nice.

[bryanarzaga]

Ang ganda, mukhang Tele na.   I suddenly wanted to check if my own gtr looks just as nice.

post pics of the one you have

[cayle]

Sounds really nice sir Joric. What turns me off sa GB FA is the headstock.I tested a GB Avion a while back. I liked the neck, much like a PRS SE wide fat neck, but it was more comfy for me. Sounds good also. I should have tested the FA and UM models as well. Well, there's always next time. 

@Anodbiomech - ano routing ng mga GB FA? Nice mods, btw.