Current gen Caparison guitars

[Breeding The Spawn]

Before I got my Caparison Horus, I was already a fan of them but had no way to check one out. Coming from a Japanese 1991 Jackson Fusion Professional which has the most thinnest and comfortable Jackson neck's I've ever played I had no idea what would a Caparison feel like. So waited a while and saw a good deal for a used Caparison Horus and just went for it without knowing if I would like it. First thing I noticed was the attention to detail from the frets, the ebony board, clock inlays pretty much everything. Now the most difference was the neck, I don't know how to describe the sizes of the neck but it was definitely not slim or thin like my Jackson. It's a bit chunkier but surprisingly It didn't matter to me. I will say it is the most comfortable guitar I've ever played as far as how it sits and hangs on my body. To be honest I sold all the guitars I've owned and kept those two the 91 Fusion Pro Jackson and the Cap Horus, In my opinion those two ruined every other guitar for me. If I could, I would buy another Horus, the Walnut version

 

[stratjacket]

Am a Gibson fan (Les paul in particular, have a black custom fretless wonder). Would I like the Horus (take to it comfortably)?

If you like the LP shape it’s hard to say since Horus and Dellinger are a super strat body. The Angelus is shorter scale, thicker necks and more of an LP style body.

 

[Emperoff]

I know this is a Caparison thread, but as a fellow Jackson lover, I agree with @altnate. ESP might be exactly what you're looking for.

- The core shapes are awfully similar: M-II = Soloist/Dinky, Horizon = SLAT, Eclipse = Monarkh, ESP also has a bunch of Vs, etc.
- ESP necks are thicker, but very comfortable. ESP's default "Thin U" neck is around 1mm thicker than Jackson's Soloist profile.
- E-II models can be found used for under 2k, which will cover anything you need.

 

[Delmonte Du]

If you like the LP shape it’s hard to say since Horus and Dellinger are a super strat body. The Angelus is shorter scale, thicker necks and more of an LP style body.

I was speaking more in regards to the short scale construction of the neck. Playability (neck) wise, does the Horus compare to anything else?

 

[Flappydoodle]

No experience with Caparison, but I've got an ESP E-II with the "thin U" neck and it has the thickest neck of any shred style guitar I've played. Much thicker than any Jackson I've played or the "extra thin U" necks on my LTD's. I was pretty surprised actually, but I prefer necks a bit on the thicker side anyway.

Agreed. ESP necks are honestly fairly chunky, and there is very little consistency in "thin U" or "extra thin U" across different models, years etc. I have two M-IIs, two Horizons, and an M-I - all with "thin U" but they're completely different.

Another major factor in the feel is the 12 inch fretboard radius, which is comparatively more old school feeling.

Basically, you need to try it.

I was speaking more in regards to the short scale construction of the neck. Playability (neck) wise, does the Horus compare to anything else?

IMO, no. I own a Horus M3, and have played the FX-AM. They are really cool guitars, but the short scale length doesn't feel anything like a les Paul - especially because you have 27 frets and tons of access to the upper frets.

I've never played an ESP Maverick or the short scale Jackson, which might be the closest comparisons.

What I will say is that the Horus is a VERY easy guitar to play. I play better on that than anything other guitar, I think.

 

[Flappydoodle]

Caparison just announced some new, solid colour, TAT models:

TAT

Electric Guitars and Basses, Hand made in Japan

www.caparisonguitars.com

TAT II

Electric Guitars and Basses, Hand made in Japan

www.caparisonguitars.com

Available as HSS (TAT) or HH (TATII).

Supposed to be a re-run of the original TAT series with the alder body, all painted bodies and necks, but upgraded with 5-piece neck, stainless steel frets

 

[MetalDestroyer]

Caparison just announced some new, solid colour, TAT models:

TAT

Electric Guitars and Basses, Hand made in Japan

www.caparisonguitars.com

TAT II

Electric Guitars and Basses, Hand made in Japan

www.caparisonguitars.com

Available as HSS (TAT) or HH (TATII).

Supposed to be a re-run of the original TAT series with the alder body, all painted bodies and necks, but upgraded with 5-piece neck, stainless steel frets

Jackson Americans are 2500 retail, so unless these are at or below that price point it'll be a hard sell - just like all other Caparisons since Engage757`s reign of terror

 

[Flappydoodle]

Jackson Americans are 2500 retail, so unless these are at or below that price point it'll be a hard sell - just like all other Caparisons since Engage757`s reign of terror

Based on UK pricing (which does have 20% VAT), they're £4,200, which is $5,400 USD.

That said, I think Jackson is an order of magnitude larger and produces way more guitars than Caparison. So I don't really see them as in direct competition. Fans of the Caparison brand are easily enough to buy everything they produce IMO, and most of them aren't very price sensitive.

 

[tian]

Based on UK pricing (which does have 20% VAT), they're £4,200, which is $5,400 USD.

I just... don't understand.

 

[Flappydoodle]

I just... don't understand.

I agree that they're expensive, but they are a small company only making a relatively small number of guitars per year. Most runs are also relatively limited, and most models are discontinued and replaced after a couple years. Thus, I don't think they are directly competing with mass produced Jackson USA "SL2MG HT".

End of the day, you can get a perfectly serviceable guitar for even less money, so all of these are luxury purchases. So if you like the brand, style, image etc of Caparison, then you buy one. If you go for a Jackson USA production model instead, I'd argue that you likely weren't really in the market for a Caparison anyway because it's not really about comparing specs vs specs. It's about what YOU like and what YOU are willing to spend.

I'd also add that $1 or £1 is not what it used to be. Inflation has been crazy and the currencies are all greatly devalued. Looking at what things used to cost is a pointless exercise IMO. From what I see, the price of most guitars has increased.

 

[narad]

Caparison just announced some new, solid colour, TAT models:

TAT

Electric Guitars and Basses, Hand made in Japan

www.caparisonguitars.com

TAT II

Electric Guitars and Basses, Hand made in Japan

www.caparisonguitars.com

Available as HSS (TAT) or HH (TATII).

Supposed to be a re-run of the original TAT series with the alder body, all painted bodies and necks, but upgraded with 5-piece neck, stainless steel frets

The level of innovation I've come to expect from Caparison

 

[jco5055]

The level of innovation I've come to expect from Caparison

i love Caparisons, but I do find it a bit boring that all their models' specs are virtually identical at this point other than I guess shape/color.

 

[Surveyor 777]

Pricewise for the new Caparison TAT's is $4199 on Sweetwater.

I'm a huge Caparison fan and I absolutely love that blue but these are a big nope from me. I have a few TAT Special FM's (flame maple) and I like those for the 27 frets and the deep cutaway to reach them.

I received an email from Caparison when these came out. I saw the blue and got excited. But when I saw the price, then no.

If these were $1000 or more reduced in price, then I'd think about it. But these are not that much less than the TAT Special FM's. The FM's have thick flame maple tops - solid, thick, nice looking flame maple. These are painted, so you can't see what's under the paint.

Also these don't have the more slanted body shape like the Specials.

So again, if these were like $3000 or under I would consider it - Caparison's are just sooo good. But no way at this price - no way.

 

[eaeolian]

Hi y’all, was instructed by someone on the gearpage to post my question here. Have a question about current generation Caparison guitars. Without getting into the mud of my long search (for a super strat specifically), I went through a number of pieces from other brands that I ended up returning due to a number of reasons, most crucially uncovered a wrist issue that developed over the last year and a half that I’ve luckily gotten under control through therapy (though there are some guitar neck profiles that just aggravate it more than others, like super thin necks). I did like a number of the Jackson’s I played (one of the few brands that gave me the least amount of issues across a number of models), though there were a handful of feature preferences and price issues that made me pass. Recently I came across the Caparison brand, and after doing some research seems to share a lot in common with Jackson, including a connected history. The features on the Dellinger model specifically seem to have a lot more of what I’m looking for in that price tier (similar neck shape to the Jackson’s I’ve played but with a slightly larger profile that is my preference, electronics layout, etc.). So to my question, since I unfortunately have no opportunity to play any in the area I live in, how similar in playability is that particular caparison guitar to a Jackson, more specifically to something like a USA soloist (Custom or Select) or even a PC1? Appreciate the input. Thanks

I thought the TAT neck was more like the "Pro" (Chushin Gakki) neck than the USA Soloist, whereas the Dellinger was kinda a thicker USA Dinky, with a little more hard shoulder C going on, almost to a D. They're both good (and pretty close), just a bit different.

The PC1 is a totally different beast, that neck is HUGE.

You might try late '80s/early '90s ESP Mirage neckthrus, as I always found those to be like a slightly bigger Soloist profile.

 

[somethingsomething]

Caparisons' have the COOLEST FUCKING INLAYS. Unfortunately, that is not enough to justify a $4k guitar.

 

[narad]

These guys desperately want to go bankrupt again. They're pushing the highest new/used % depreciation I can think of any guitar brand, and they don't even introduce new features so you can start to piece together some justification for buying the new one. I like the blue, but it's not going to to convince me to spend $2500 more than a used sponge finish one.

 

[Surveyor 777]

These guys desperately want to go bankrupt again. They're pushing the highest new/used % depreciation I can think of any guitar brand, and they don't even introduce new features so you can start to piece together some justification for buying the new one. I like the blue, but it's not going to to convince me to spend $2500 more than a used sponge finish one.

Yep. That's why I look for used ones now. It's shocking the difference between new prices and used prices. Recently picked up a used Dellinger 7-string fixed bridge for less than half of the new price (under $1700). This is a current model/current finish (the white one). Listing said there were a couple of dings - I swear I can't see them. So I basically got a new/untouched guitar for less than 1/2 the price of new.

So if you're interested in Caparison - check out used ones. Can get better bang-for-your-buck that way.

 

[nightsprinter]

I've posted how enamored I am with the Moonlight Graham TAT before... just not at $4,699....

$3000 new and it would be in my living room rn.

 

[somethingsomething]

These guys desperately want to go bankrupt again. They're pushing the highest new/used % depreciation I can think of any guitar brand, and they don't even introduce new features so you can start to piece together some justification for buying the new one. I like the blue, but it's not going to to convince me to spend $2500 more than a used sponge finish one.

Yeah, it's wild. If you purchase one of these new, you're looking at an immediate 40 to 50% depreciation if you ever want to sell it. Which, yeah, resale value shouldn't necessarily dictate what someone buys but we all think about it. I just can't see the point in buying a Caparison new unless you're a huge fan/collector.

Sweetwater--which rarely runs good sales--is currently blowing out some old models for like 40% off. So...clearly they aren't selling well.

 

[Surveyor 777]

Yeah, it's wild. If you purchase one of these new, you're looking at an immediate 40 to 50% depreciation if you ever want to sell it. Which, yeah, resale value shouldn't necessarily dictate what someone buys but we all think about it. I just can't see the point in buying a Caparison new unless you're a huge fan/collector.

Sweetwater--which rarely runs good sales--is currently blowing out some old models for like 40% off. So...clearly they aren't selling well.

Yeah, that line they have on sale is a discontinued line. And they really aren't moving.

The one thing about Caparison - usually when I have my eyes on a guitar and they only have one or two, I figure I have to move quick to buy it or it will be gone soon. Not with Caparison - I can normally relax and take my time.