FrankenFretter
August 11th, 2011, 07:58 AM
No, this has nothing to do with Mission Impossible. Just a guitar that's Gladiator brand. Do you like Gladiator movies?
A few weeks ago, my GAS pains started after reading about these inexpensive Chinese LP copies with the Gladiator brand name. They're made by Saga, the same company that makes the Blueridge acoustics. From the reviews I read, I was more than a little intrigued. The dimensions are supposedly almost identical to a genuine Gibby, and the neck profile is said to be a perfect '59 profile. They had (yes, had. I'll explain later) three models, a lower-end bolt on neck, a middle range set neck, and their flagship model, which featured a 1/4" maple cap and a long tenon neck. All three have Wilkinson pickups, vintage tulip style tuners and a few other nice accouterments. The flagship model, the GG-258, was/is going for $800-$1000 on Ebay, while the middle range GG-157 was going for $499 or so. I found a seller on Amazon that had the GG-157 in a three-tone sunburst for less than $300. I couldn't justify spending that much out of savings, so I sold my Douglas WRL 590, and a couple sets of pickups I had sitting around. Luckily for me, the guitar (they only had one in stock) was still available when I had my funds together. I ordered it, and about a week later our friendly UPS guy delivered it to my doorstep. And since this guitar would only be a myth without photos, here they are:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9QBfggiVWJc/TkPUfJAXurI/AAAAAAAABF4/nY57KluYPHo/s800/100_2312.JPG
Still in the box, you can see the beautiful top on this.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FtOoKpeMQ7U/TkPUgOPqNGI/AAAAAAAABF4/-u7SIEs6IJU/s800/100_2314.JPG
The gratuitous bridge shot.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ScfeJUzknbg/TkPUocz7XrI/AAAAAAAABF4/kNT5fV3s8yI/s800/100_2315.JPG
The Wilkinson pickups. Not bad sounding at all, although I think these are their ceramic covered pups.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Yd4PjpFZGzw/TkPUv6w2YjI/AAAAAAAABF4/4vd7K7ZxHS4/s640/100_2318.JPGhttps://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c8LAV8bDAmA/TkPUwA2iMxI/AAAAAAAABF4/oxPR3aOZb1w/s640/100_2319.JPG
Kluson Keystone style tuners, and metal jackplate. And now the bad news...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jGkWMM_gRlA/TkPU3ua9agI/AAAAAAAABF4/Yc5Oot0yJZs/s800/100_2323.JPG
A bad finish chip on the end strap button. Could have occurred during shipping. This flaw ended up bringing the total cost of the guitar to under $200. I can live with that.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CctuSRb5iVA/TkPVGOhfhOI/AAAAAAAABF4/aT-iFxS2Tw8/s800/100_2325.JPG
This model is supposed to have block inlays starting at the first fret, similar to a Les Paul Custom. I got a "fluke" according to the seller. This fretboard was intended for the higher model, the GG-258. I was looking forward to the block inlays, as I don't have any LPs with those, but I can live with these. The manufacturer said that only a few were made like this, so I may have one that is worth more to a collector. Yeah, their words, not mine.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sVIqXTOvUvo/TkPVT0QPPNI/AAAAAAAABF4/eaQr9nerweg/s800/100_2328.JPG
A good outdoor shot of the front. The top looks even better in person. It does look awfully glossy though. You know what I'm thinking, don't you?
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VO0rsGPYKes/TkPVmq6_tQI/AAAAAAAABF4/q_lAT01snTA/s800/100_2335.JPG
The back. Looks like it might be a two-piece body. Not bad.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C8K791fKZ0g/TkPVljCFvdI/AAAAAAAABF4/NFmaaZvX1G4/s400/100_2334.JPG
The headstock is not one of my favorites, but I'm not playing the headstock.
First impressions: I wasn't sure about the neck, seeing as I love the thinner necks. I'm pleasantly surprised that it's very comfortable to play. It's quite beefy, although not a log-neck. I will be taking the Scotchbrite pad to the back of the neck (and maybe the rest of the guitar...), but other than the gloss, I really like the neck a lot. By the way, it's a 12" radius, same as a Gibson. The Wilkinson pickups sound really decent, either clean or dirty. Of course I'll replace them, because that's what I do. Tuners are about the same as all the other Kluson Keystone clones, meaning they're not as smooth as Grover 18-1s, but they work fine. The action is slightly high, and there's a bit of fret buzz in the middle, meaning I probably need to set some relief in the neck. Frets are smooth and have zero fret sprout. The weight is slightly under nine pounds, if I remember correctly. This is a very solid feeling guitar, and it plays nicely. The quality of the craftsmanship is impressive. I'm very happy with this guitar, and I wouldn't mind owning another one. That might be challenging pretty soon, though; the big G has issued a Cease and Desist order for these guitars, so whatever is already out there is what's available. There will be no more made.
Now I have to run to work, but I'll be happy to answer questions as I get the time to do so.
A few weeks ago, my GAS pains started after reading about these inexpensive Chinese LP copies with the Gladiator brand name. They're made by Saga, the same company that makes the Blueridge acoustics. From the reviews I read, I was more than a little intrigued. The dimensions are supposedly almost identical to a genuine Gibby, and the neck profile is said to be a perfect '59 profile. They had (yes, had. I'll explain later) three models, a lower-end bolt on neck, a middle range set neck, and their flagship model, which featured a 1/4" maple cap and a long tenon neck. All three have Wilkinson pickups, vintage tulip style tuners and a few other nice accouterments. The flagship model, the GG-258, was/is going for $800-$1000 on Ebay, while the middle range GG-157 was going for $499 or so. I found a seller on Amazon that had the GG-157 in a three-tone sunburst for less than $300. I couldn't justify spending that much out of savings, so I sold my Douglas WRL 590, and a couple sets of pickups I had sitting around. Luckily for me, the guitar (they only had one in stock) was still available when I had my funds together. I ordered it, and about a week later our friendly UPS guy delivered it to my doorstep. And since this guitar would only be a myth without photos, here they are:
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-9QBfggiVWJc/TkPUfJAXurI/AAAAAAAABF4/nY57KluYPHo/s800/100_2312.JPG
Still in the box, you can see the beautiful top on this.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-FtOoKpeMQ7U/TkPUgOPqNGI/AAAAAAAABF4/-u7SIEs6IJU/s800/100_2314.JPG
The gratuitous bridge shot.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ScfeJUzknbg/TkPUocz7XrI/AAAAAAAABF4/kNT5fV3s8yI/s800/100_2315.JPG
The Wilkinson pickups. Not bad sounding at all, although I think these are their ceramic covered pups.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-Yd4PjpFZGzw/TkPUv6w2YjI/AAAAAAAABF4/4vd7K7ZxHS4/s640/100_2318.JPGhttps://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-c8LAV8bDAmA/TkPUwA2iMxI/AAAAAAAABF4/oxPR3aOZb1w/s640/100_2319.JPG
Kluson Keystone style tuners, and metal jackplate. And now the bad news...
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-jGkWMM_gRlA/TkPU3ua9agI/AAAAAAAABF4/Yc5Oot0yJZs/s800/100_2323.JPG
A bad finish chip on the end strap button. Could have occurred during shipping. This flaw ended up bringing the total cost of the guitar to under $200. I can live with that.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-CctuSRb5iVA/TkPVGOhfhOI/AAAAAAAABF4/aT-iFxS2Tw8/s800/100_2325.JPG
This model is supposed to have block inlays starting at the first fret, similar to a Les Paul Custom. I got a "fluke" according to the seller. This fretboard was intended for the higher model, the GG-258. I was looking forward to the block inlays, as I don't have any LPs with those, but I can live with these. The manufacturer said that only a few were made like this, so I may have one that is worth more to a collector. Yeah, their words, not mine.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-sVIqXTOvUvo/TkPVT0QPPNI/AAAAAAAABF4/eaQr9nerweg/s800/100_2328.JPG
A good outdoor shot of the front. The top looks even better in person. It does look awfully glossy though. You know what I'm thinking, don't you?
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-VO0rsGPYKes/TkPVmq6_tQI/AAAAAAAABF4/q_lAT01snTA/s800/100_2335.JPG
The back. Looks like it might be a two-piece body. Not bad.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-C8K791fKZ0g/TkPVljCFvdI/AAAAAAAABF4/NFmaaZvX1G4/s400/100_2334.JPG
The headstock is not one of my favorites, but I'm not playing the headstock.
First impressions: I wasn't sure about the neck, seeing as I love the thinner necks. I'm pleasantly surprised that it's very comfortable to play. It's quite beefy, although not a log-neck. I will be taking the Scotchbrite pad to the back of the neck (and maybe the rest of the guitar...), but other than the gloss, I really like the neck a lot. By the way, it's a 12" radius, same as a Gibson. The Wilkinson pickups sound really decent, either clean or dirty. Of course I'll replace them, because that's what I do. Tuners are about the same as all the other Kluson Keystone clones, meaning they're not as smooth as Grover 18-1s, but they work fine. The action is slightly high, and there's a bit of fret buzz in the middle, meaning I probably need to set some relief in the neck. Frets are smooth and have zero fret sprout. The weight is slightly under nine pounds, if I remember correctly. This is a very solid feeling guitar, and it plays nicely. The quality of the craftsmanship is impressive. I'm very happy with this guitar, and I wouldn't mind owning another one. That might be challenging pretty soon, though; the big G has issued a Cease and Desist order for these guitars, so whatever is already out there is what's available. There will be no more made.
Now I have to run to work, but I'll be happy to answer questions as I get the time to do so.