i can start with a story but thats not how i roll lol but i'll try
i was at Guitar Center Milwaukee sunday(with preferred player card in hand and a $50 coupon) was looking at guitars, originally i was suppose to get a Fender Strat,tested a few but the only one that felt right was the used mexi fender strat in the used section(not covered by a current 12month promo) so scratch that one..tried some MIJ jacksons, really awesome built and stock duncans but $899 (700 budget..not happening) plus the maple fretboard reminded me of my builders $145 jem copies lol, tried a San Dimas Charvel..awesome! wait $899! not happening..ok schecter..active pickups..ok, but it had a rosewood fretboard..im already have a small bunch..so ok ibby prestige 1550M and 3550 FTW..$1k!!!
...almost took a squier home hahah but i placed it down before i did something stupid..so mike(GC employee) oh we got some new 09 LTDs..and i ask if they got anything with a maple fretboard and non black finish guitar...he scouted the inventory from other stores and checked the items that just arrived..he went to stockroom pulled up a box, i saw it, it was perfect
Then i thought it needed to be tuned since i always get that with guitars out of the box they need 1) a set up 2) and tuned..
but none of that was needed, it was already in tune, and the action was great..and im the kind of person that is really neat pick about
fretwork, jumbo nice..but whats better is rounded of frets..similar to what an MIJ fujgen or MIK world made Ibby..
but the all this goodness was worked by CHINA..really cool quality by a mass produced instrument, it also has a volute which i really dont mind at all
has a floyd rose special trem, was setup right out of the box, paralled to the body..neat!
pickups arent that bad, alot better than stock INF's from ibbys in this price range (09 indo RG's are far from this one)
the mid pickup is ok but might change these after getting tired of it lol (Guitarheads
)
the maple fretboard doesnt feel cheap at all, neck is really sturdy and has a similar roundness to my 1608 j.custom, there arent any bad fret work on the neck i gave it a close inspection, the body is basswood so the coating on this finish is similar to a modern prestige ibby, just enough for the gloss and enough for the wood to breathe, the Quilt top is a plus, veneer on the headstock is well done, no uneven finishing. tuners work doesnt feel cheap,
bottom line is, a very affordable guitar with alot of potential next phases are:
change tone capacitor
might consider changing the pickups after a month
