There have been too many rumours about $200 chinese guitars passing as Japanese guitars, so I decided to investigate the issue myself.
I got myself a flight to China, grabbed my finest coat and an acoustic for the trip, and off I went.
I followed the leads until I arrived to a clandestine factory. The lamp was the giveway.
A couple of western tough guys came into my path. I tried to bribe them, but they attacked. Luckily, those betas couldn't do much against the 540 head kicks ss.org taugth me.
What I found inside was disturbing. Plenty of obviously skilled artisans, but none of them were finishing the guitars. The only finished ones looked like samples. Apparently they were just assembled and painted, getting them ready to be shipped somewhere else for fit and finish...
When I reached the core. I confronted the master luthier. To my surpise, he said nothing. And just gave me a large box. He told me it was not to be open until I came back. Otherwise the pickup cavities would crook and the binding be messed up. So I accepted.
It was time for me to leave. Instead of answers, I ended up with more questions (and what looked like a guitar box). I headed to the airport wondering if I could have done more...
Anyway...
As soon as I arrived home, the Customs Police demanded the box to be opened immeowdiately.
Need appropriate tool for opening the case, of course...
ORAAAAAA!!!
Easy.
Ichi
Ni...
San...
FUCK YEA.
Binding is fine. Only the logo is wrong because it doesn't say ESP. That means is made in China, of course!
Everything looks fine. Move on...
QC Inspection. Only qualified purrffessionals here.
They detected something in the pickup cavities. The upper one has a 0.5mm smidge of paint visible under a certain angle provided for me by DirtyPuma. Of course that means I'm returning the guitar
Phew! That was long!
Now for the (more?) boring stuff. You know, words. I'll make it quick.
- I am not sure yet if I'll keep it or not. If I do I'm replacing the hardware for gold. But what should I do for pickups? Fishman Heafy (gold accent)? white EMGs? There's a poll if you want to chime in.
- The guitar is massive. And it sounds as massive as it looks (thick body, thick neck, etc). Very low action as well. 3.99kg. Could be better, but the whole guitar feels very "Les Paul" like. I can see why @budda loved his.
- This is a 2020 model. The ebony board isn't as black as my other (2015-2017) E-IIs. For the grain it also looks like a different wood species entirely. Not bothered.
- No flaws that I could find. The guitar is also in 9.5/10 condition. Frets are in great shape too.
Cheers!
I got myself a flight to China, grabbed my finest coat and an acoustic for the trip, and off I went.
I followed the leads until I arrived to a clandestine factory. The lamp was the giveway.
A couple of western tough guys came into my path. I tried to bribe them, but they attacked. Luckily, those betas couldn't do much against the 540 head kicks ss.org taugth me.
What I found inside was disturbing. Plenty of obviously skilled artisans, but none of them were finishing the guitars. The only finished ones looked like samples. Apparently they were just assembled and painted, getting them ready to be shipped somewhere else for fit and finish...
When I reached the core. I confronted the master luthier. To my surpise, he said nothing. And just gave me a large box. He told me it was not to be open until I came back. Otherwise the pickup cavities would crook and the binding be messed up. So I accepted.
It was time for me to leave. Instead of answers, I ended up with more questions (and what looked like a guitar box). I headed to the airport wondering if I could have done more...
Anyway...
As soon as I arrived home, the Customs Police demanded the box to be opened immeowdiately.
Need appropriate tool for opening the case, of course...
ORAAAAAA!!!
Easy.
Ichi
Ni...
San...
FUCK YEA.
Binding is fine. Only the logo is wrong because it doesn't say ESP. That means is made in China, of course!
Everything looks fine. Move on...
QC Inspection. Only qualified purrffessionals here.
They detected something in the pickup cavities. The upper one has a 0.5mm smidge of paint visible under a certain angle provided for me by DirtyPuma. Of course that means I'm returning the guitar
Phew! That was long!
Now for the (more?) boring stuff. You know, words. I'll make it quick.- I am not sure yet if I'll keep it or not. If I do I'm replacing the hardware for gold. But what should I do for pickups? Fishman Heafy (gold accent)? white EMGs? There's a poll if you want to chime in.
- The guitar is massive. And it sounds as massive as it looks (thick body, thick neck, etc). Very low action as well. 3.99kg. Could be better, but the whole guitar feels very "Les Paul" like. I can see why @budda loved his.
- This is a 2020 model. The ebony board isn't as black as my other (2015-2017) E-IIs. For the grain it also looks like a different wood species entirely. Not bothered.
- No flaws that I could find. The guitar is also in 9.5/10 condition. Frets are in great shape too.
Cheers!
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