Get a First Act guitar for $49.99!!!!

[Robert]

:applause

$49.99 for a First Act Git!!!!

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/catalog/categoryinfo.aspx?cid=176&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

[sunvalleylaw]

I would probably have to pop the extra $30 for the Paul Westerberg model. That plaid on black rocks, and I kinda like that it has only a bridge pup for rocking out! :AOK

[Eric]

What's the word on these?

[Radioboy950]

HA!!
I have an older First Act, double cut w/ a humbucker.
It's playable.
The nut is kinda funky, so no matter how many adjustments I made, it's still not perfect. But it's a beater guitar and serves the purpose.
I still go back to it for fun at home.
I figure if my hands can make it sound decent, I must be doing something right.

[Brian Krashpad]

One of the $49 guitars is a mini-guitar though. Lots of options at the $80 mark.

I wonder what the body wood is on these-- never says.

Much as I Like Paul Westerberg, why not get the same guitar with an extra pickup for the same price?

http://shop.firstact.com/WebServices/images/10-859-Everything_ProductPrimaryImage-thumb.jpeg

[sunvalleylaw]

Well, you've got a point Brian. I just like the plaid and black, and Westerberg. Not that I am getting one anyway. ;-)

[Spudman]

It's basswood.

[Brian Krashpad]

It's basswood.

That's what I was thinking it might could be. I'm not a big fan of basswood. I know it's tonally neutral, and inexpensive (which is a good thing), but basswood guitars don't seem to have any heft to them. I got a basswood Tele that's actually neck-heavy.

:thwap

[wingsdad]

What's the word on these?
Wal*Mart

[Brian Krashpad]

Wal*Mart

Actually, the Wal-Mart ones are a step below the ones being sold here, sfaik.

[wingsdad]

Actually, the Wal-Mart ones are a step below the ones being sold here, sfaik.
woo-hoo. OK, then, I stand corrected:
Target.

[Brian Krashpad]

woo-hoo. OK, then, I stand corrected:
Target.

Best Buy, smartass.

http://img3.harmony-central.com/acapella/ubb/cop.gif

[Perfect Stranger]

Oh, I don't know...never seen any of these at Target or WalMart!
http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/catalog/HOT-US-CUSTOMS-15-OFF,173.aspx

And they definitely aren't $49....or even $499

[Brian Krashpad]

Oh, I don't know...never seen any of these at Target or WalMart!
http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/catalog/HOT-US-CUSTOMS-15-OFF,173.aspx

And they definitely aren't $49....or even $499

Everything I've seen says their US-built things can hang with anybody's. They've done guitars for Rick Nielsen, the bassist for Drive By Truckers, and a number of other fairly big name artists.

For a large part of the buying public, they may've poisoned the well, image-wise, with the Wal-Mart guitars. But the reaction I've seen to the mid-level "Studio for Artists" guitars, that can go on closeout for a Benjamin or less, is that they're quite good for what they are.

[Spudman]

That's what I was thinking it might could be. I'm not a big fan of basswood. I know it's tonally neutral, and inexpensive (which is a good thing), but basswood guitars don't seem to have any heft to them. I got a basswood Tele that's actually neck-heavy.

:thwap

My Deluxe Squier Strat is the heaviest Strat I have and it's basswood. My guess is that every tone wood there will be density variations.

[wingsdad]

Oh, I don't know...never seen any of these at Target or WalMart!
...

Sam Walton's brick n mortar stores in SoCal carry most of this stuff, especially now that Christmas is coming, but ya gotta splurge around $70 for a cool electric:
First Act at WalMart (http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&search_query=First+Act&Find.x=28&Find.y=7)
Same with Target...
First Act at Target (http://www.target.com/gp/search/176-9052482-0617632?field-keywords=First+act&url=index%3Dtarget%26search-alias%3Dtgt-index&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=7&y=14)
...and if they don't have what you need, you cruise over to:
First Act at Toys R' Us (http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=first%20act&origkw=First%20act&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2254197&sr=1)
...the selections' a little thin at Best Buy, though...
First Act at Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=B79A550AB073AE4EA7436F6DE58 A050C.bbolsp-app03-28?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_dynSessConf=-7360372974803724985&id=pcat17071&type=page&st=First+Act&sc=Global&cp=1&nrp=15&sp=&qp=&list=n&iht=y&usc=All+Categories&ks=960)

[Brian Krashpad]

http://shop.firstact.com/WebServices/images/19-560-Everything_DefaultProductImage-thumb.gif

Here's where the best deal may be, a 30W 1x10 combo with 4 amp models, for $80:

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/30-watt-1X10-Guitar-Combo-Amp,560,94.aspx

Got a good review at Frugal Guitarist:

http://www.frugalguitarist.com/Frugal.aspx?Issue=10&Page=Dynamic%20Duo%20-%20First%20Act%20Paul%20Westerburg%20and%20VA850

If I wasn't all set up with a Super Champ XD, I would consider that for plunking around Casa Krashpad.

[Brian Krashpad]

My Deluxe Squier Strat is the heaviest Strat I have and it's basswood. My guess is that every tone wood there will be density variations.

I've heard it can be heavy as well, but the examples I've tried have been light.

[Perfect Stranger]

Sam Walton's brick n mortar stores in SoCal carry most of this stuff, especially now that Christmas is coming, but ya gotta splurge around $70 for a cool electric:
First Act at WalMart (http://www.walmart.com/search/search-ng.do?search_constraint=0&ic=48_0&search_query=First+Act&Find.x=28&Find.y=7)
Same with Target...
First Act at Target (http://www.target.com/gp/search/176-9052482-0617632?field-keywords=First+act&url=index%3Dtarget%26search-alias%3Dtgt-index&ref=sr_bx_1_1&x=7&y=14)
...and if they don't have what you need, you cruise over to:
First Act at Toys R' Us (http://www.toysrus.com/search/index.jsp?kwCatId=&kw=first%20act&origkw=First%20act&f=Taxonomy/TRUS/2254197&sr=1)
...the selections' a little thin at Best Buy, though...
First Act at Best Buy (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp;jsessionid=B79A550AB073AE4EA7436F6DE58 A050C.bbolsp-app03-28?_dyncharset=ISO-8859-1&_dynSessConf=-7360372974803724985&id=pcat17071&type=page&st=First+Act&sc=Global&cp=1&nrp=15&sp=&qp=&list=n&iht=y&usc=All+Categories&ks=960)

Wings, did you even look at the link I posted and was talking about? I think eveyone knows about their cheap, throw-a-ways.

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/catalog/HOT-US-CUSTOMS-15-OFF,173.aspx

[marnold]

I've heard it can be heavy as well, but the examples I've tried have been light.
I've had four basswood guitars in my life. My Charvel Model 7 was the heaviest guitar I've ever owned. My Fender Showmaster was so light that I probably could have thrown it into near-earth orbit if it weren't for wind resistance. My Floyd was somewhere in the middle. The only one I still own is my Spector bass which admittedly has a maple top, but it's wafer thin. There's a good amount of heft there while still being well-balanced. It's also has the best sustain of any guitar I've owned. My alder-bodied DK2M is probably somewhere between my Model 7 and my Floyd.

[Brian Krashpad]

Wings, did you even look at the link I posted and was talking about? I think eveyone knows about their cheap, throw-a-ways.

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore...5-OFF,173.aspx

The Toys R Us link had a couple Delias and a Sheena that are from Studio For Artists, the rest of the stuff there and all the other links are crap.

[wingsdad]

Wings, did you even look at the link I posted and was talking about? I think eveyone knows about their cheap, throw-a-ways.


Yes, I did, and I saw the hot tickets like the Lola, et al, that I've seen ads for & read the paid advertorial reviews about in GP and GW mags.

Nope, never seen any of those in any of the stores I referred to & linked to, but I've seen the cheapos, like the 50 buck one that this thread was supposedly started about. Which is why I replied to Eric's 'what's the word...' query as I did.

The 50 buck number is a toy, plain & simple, as evidenced by FA marketing models like that in Toy Stores and Toy Departments of Discount Stores. That's my opinion.

Apparently, there's some serious, defensive love here for First Act, so serious its proponents overlook the point of the thread, consider me a smartass, maybe even a dumbass, for offending their honor, and so I'll just shut up and politely excuse myself for butting in.

Sayonara.

[sunvalleylaw]

Ok everyone. Just talkin' guitars here. Room for all opinions of course. :poke :AOK

[Perfect Stranger]

Yes, I did, and I saw the hot tickets like the Lola, et al, that I've seen ads for & read the paid advertorial reviews about in GP and GW mags.

Nope, never seen any of those in any of the stores I referred to & linked to, but I've seen the cheapos, like the 50 buck one that this thread was supposedly started about. Which is why I replied to Eric's 'what's the word...' query as I did.

The 50 buck number is a toy, plain & simple, as evidenced by FA marketing models like that in Toy Stores and Toy Departments of Discount Stores. That's my opinion.

Apparently, there's some serious, defensive love here for First Act, so serious its proponents overlook the point of the thread, consider me a smartass, maybe even a dumbass, for offending their honor, and so I'll just shut up and politely excuse myself for butting in.

Sayonara.

Wings, no offense meant or taken. I was just pointing out that they do indeed offer "some" quality equipment.
Like you said, they have shot themselves in the foot, who knows...maybe they made millions on their cheapos, from
our viewpoint from selling the junk that they do. It's beyond me why a company that can obviously make and sell
quality stuff sells that kind of stuff. However, there is no telling how many really great players got their start on those
cheapos. BTW, no real First Act love here, I've never owned nor played one.

It's all good.....:AOK

[wingsdad]

Wings, no offense meant or taken. I was just pointing out that they do indeed offer "some" quality equipment. ...

... BTW, no real First Act love here, I've never owned nor played one.

It's all good.....:AOK

Yah, PS, I figured that's what you were sayin'. Cool.

[mw13068]

I ordered a $48.00 green double cutaway (ME 448) for my wife, who plays bass but wants to learn guitar. She saw one in a swap shop window and loved the color. :) The one at the shop was missing one of the saddles, and was priced at $80 :messedup:. The one I ordered was $60 including tax and shipping.

I'll post a review when it arrives and we plug it in.

[mw13068]

Me again. Just thought I'd share my experience with my First Act guitar order. :)

As described above, I ordered the green double cutaway ME 448 from the First Act Web site. I noticed the next day after I placed my order that the ME 448 model was no longer there. Very curious indeed. A couple of days later UPS dropped off the guitar-shaped box!

My wife and I opened it up, and sure enough there was our bright red ME 446! Woo hoo! Wait a minute! RED? WTF? It suddenly dawned on me that the ME 448 model disappeared from the First Act Web site because THEY DON'T ACTUALLY HAVE ANY.

It seems that rather than doing the "customer servicey" thing of contacting me, and letting me know of the error and offering to send me another model, or refunding my money, they just decided to ship whatever and they probably counted on my not returning it. Damn good business sense these folks have!

Well, I didn't return the red guitar. Since I wanted a green one, I took the new red one down to the pawn shop where they had the green model and swapped it. Once I got the green one home, I swapped out the saddles from an old Squier bridge that I had lying around, and upgraded the tuning machines, simply because I had a spare set of those as well.

So, after $60, a couple of spare parts, and a bit of hassle, the guitar has a good sound, and plays well. Most importantly, my wife is happy that she has a guitar in her favorite shade of green, and a story to tell about it.

[Brian Krashpad]

Pics?

[mw13068]

Let's see if I can get this photo embedded...

http://www.thefret.net/imagehosting/106654b0be80940280.jpg

[player]

actually first time I've seen an electric First Act guitar.normally see their el cheapo acoustics in Wal - Mart and/or Target but if she and you are happy wings more power to you.would not own one myself either Not knowing how they sound and all.the Fully and Fender float my boat.someday hopefully so will an acoustic

[Brian Krashpad]

actually first time I've seen an electric First Act guitar.normally see their el cheapo acoustics in Wal - Mart and/or Target but if she and you are happy wings more power to you.would not own one myself either Not knowing how they sound and all.the Fully and Fender float my boat.someday hopefully so will an acoustic

From what I've seen from friends on the net, the mid-level stuff is a steal.

[Commodore 64]

From what I've seen from friends on the net, the mid-level stuff is a steal.

Krash, does this 79.99 qualify as midlevel? http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/Single-Cutaway-Guitar-2-Single-Coil,806,176.aspx

http://shop.firstact.com/WebServices/images/10-806-Everything_ProductPrimaryImage-thumb.jpeg

[Brian Krashpad]

Krash, does this 79.99 qualify as midlevel? http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/Single-Cutaway-Guitar-2-Single-Coil,806,176.aspx

http://shop.firstact.com/WebServices/images/10-806-Everything_ProductPrimaryImage-thumb.jpeg

I'm no expert, but I believe that's one of the Wal-Mart ones, so, no. Look for the ones with names like the Lola, or the Westerberg sig.

Again, I haven't ever bought any of these, my experience is only from seeing what others have reported here, over @ Harmony-Central, etc.

[Commodore 64]

Lola is $800 (http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/LE001-Lola,491,107.aspx)

http://shop.firstact.com/WebServices/images/10-491-Everything_ProductPrimaryImage-thumb.gif

[Brian Krashpad]

Lola is $800 (http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/LE001-Lola,491,107.aspx)

http://shop.firstact.com/WebServices/images/10-491-Everything_ProductPrimaryImage-thumb.gif

There are or at least were cheaper versions. Both of the Lola and the Sheena. They were going for under 2 bills. Also, there were setnecks and bolt-on versions.

For example, here's someone selling a Sheena for $100:

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2255875

Here's used setneck Lola and Sheena models for $130 and $100, respectively:

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/showthread.php?t=2338933

[Commodore 64]

Hmm, now those do look intriguing. However I can get a genuine "Gibson Epiphone Black Fender Strat" for $45 on CL: http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/msg/1480839670.html:dude

[Brian Krashpad]

Hmm, now those do look intriguing. However I can get a genuine "Gibson Epiphone Black Fender Strat" for $45 on CL: http://akroncanton.craigslist.org/msg/1480839670.html:dude

You never know, it might not be half-bad.

For a Benjamin you could probably find a used USA Peavey Predator "Strat" though. Since I'm not really a Strat guy, that's what I have (it replaced a '90's MIM Fender, and is every bit as nice as the guitar it replaced). Played it this last Sunday in church, in fact.

http://static.flickr.com/62/188512407_8a37548044.jpg

[Commodore 64]

The Epiphone Strat guy is coming by in an hour. I'm gonna buy it, if only for parts. :)

[Ilovecheapguitars]

I have a first act. not sure of the model. I bought it at the right price on craigslist for a project guitar. I've never actually seen one like it at walmart. its a strat copy with 3 single coils. most of the stuff I see at walmart and target have a single humbucker. when I first bought it, the tuners wouldn't stay in tune and it just sounded "blah" to me. I replaced the trem, pup's, nut and tuners and now I think it sounds awesome. from what I hear the stuff you get from the website is actually pretty good stuff, who buys a guitar at walmart anyway??