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First Pics! Xaviere XV-820 Tele Copy

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duhvoodooman

duhvoodooman

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I picked up my new Xaviere XV-820 Solid Ash Trans-Honey Maple Neck Tele copy today from Guitar Fetish while traveling over to Boston to pick up my daughter at college. They're located a few miles off I-495 just south of I-90, which is the route I take from the Albany NY area. It's a pretty small operation--really just a small warehouse and shipping area, with several employees busily packing up orders. I'm sure that keeping the overhead low is a key part of why GF can offer quality parts & products at such good prices. My contact was Dave, who heads up the shipping operation. He greeted me immediately as I entered the building and my guitar was sitting there, ready to go. We opened the carton just to do a quick once over--everything looked fine--and then taped it back up and I was on my way.

Since getting it home, I've cleaned it up a bit (it didn't need much!), removed the protective plastic on the pickguard, and restrung it. Just starting to get used to it, but it's got a nice, clear, bright Tele tone and plays very well. Set-up seems to be very good--the action is fairly low and quite fast, no fret buzz that I can hear, and the intonation sounds good, though I haven't checked it yet with a tuner. I'll post more in the way of a review in a few days, but my initial impression is very positive. Amazing for $174! Here are some pics for you curious gear-hounds. They do a really nice finishing job on these new Xavieres, and I think the guitar is quite striking in appearance. Maybe not quite a genuine Fender '52 RI, but close enough for me! :AOK: :dude:


XV820_full_front.jpg
XV820_body_front.jpg
XV820_bridge_controls.jpg
XV820_headstock.jpg
XV820_body_back.jpg
 
Nice lookin guitar DVM , where these Xavieres are manufactured..
 
I've never played an SX, but I'm quite sure they are. Pretty comparable to a good Squier, I'd think.

Re: where they're manufactured, I believe I saw somewhere that they're made in Indonesia.
 
That does look nice :)
As you say, not -exactly- the same colouring as the '52 RI although that could just be the pics of course. I'd chastise you for use of built in flash, but given thats it's probably freezin' outside where you are, I can overlook it ;)

I thought you were keen on one of the new 335 style guitars from Xaviere tho?

Anyway, gratz on the new acquisition :)
 
Ch0jin said:
....I'd chastise you for use of built in flash, but given thats it's probably freezin' outside where you are, I can overlook it
Click to expand...
Yeah, other than it being 25 deg. F and dark when I took these shots, it would have been perfect outdoor photo conditions! ;)

Ch0jin said:
I thought you were keen on one of the new 335 style guitars from Xaviere tho?
Click to expand...
Nope, I just posted to point out the new semi-hollowbodies added to the Xaviere line. I have an Epi Dot, so am not in the market for another SHB.
 
Nice looking Tele copy, DVM. If I could cough up the do-re-mi, I'd go for one of the Xaviere Strat copies. If they play half as good as they look, they'd be "simply mahvelous"...
 
duhvoodooman said:
Nope, I just posted to point out the new semi-hollowbodies added to the Xaviere line. I have an Epi Dot, so am not in the market for another SHB.
Click to expand...

Ahh cool. Now everything makes sense to me again :)
 
Jipes said:
Did you have the opportunity to see in real one of the Thinline copy?
Click to expand...
Unfortunately, no. As I said, this was really just a small warehouse & shipping operation, not a "storefront" with anything on display. There were plenty of guitars about, but they were all in cases or boxed. The only guitar sitting out was a single XV-550 semi-hollow LP copy. Looked nice, though....
 
Looks good DVM, wishin I had some extra molah for one. I'm itchin for a Tele. :AOK:
 
duhvoodooman said:
Unfortunately, no. As I said, this was really just a small warehouse & shipping operation, not a "storefront" with anything on display. There were plenty of guitars about, but they were all in cases or boxed. The only guitar sitting out was a single XV-550 semi-hollow LP copy. Looked nice, though....
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for your quick reply ;)
 
What exit off of 495? I go that way quite a bit on my route from our home in the Philadelphia area to my in-laws' up in New Hampshire? Looks like a nice tele.
 
jasongins said:
What exit off of 495? I go that way quite a bit on my route from our home in the Philadelphia area to my in-laws' up in New Hampshire?
Click to expand...
Exit 19, Rte. 109, Milford-Medway. You take 109 a few miles east to where it takes a jog just west of Medway. Then it's a right and a left on Village St. and a couple more miles to their location. 67 Village St. on the righthand side of the road, eastbound.
 
I love the looks of that thing. I would love to know how it compares to a Classic Vibe. When you have the feel of it, I would love it if you would go play a CV and compare for us. I really would love the '52 re-issue look in a tele. Right now, I would still lean toward a G&L ASAT over the CV. I just don't love the white wash look of the CV. So, I guess I am very interested in how good a contender this guitar is.
 
Well, I'm not sure how good are the prospects of me playing a CV Tele for comparison sake, but if the holidays take me into my local GC (as they may if I can move that Nashville Tele and get my funding finalized for an Egnater Rebel 20 head), I'll try to accomodate you, Sun....

So far, I only find one notable detracting factor for the guitar--it is Heavy, with a capital H. Right up there with my two Epi LP's. Not a problem for me, because (1) I'm a beefy guy, and (2) as a home player, I do the vast majority of my playing seated. But it's something to consider for those who are slighter of build, have back/shoulder problems, or just plain don't like heavier solid body guitars. I kind of prefer them heavier--makes 'em feel more serious in your hands, if you know what I'm sayin'--kind of a sonic weapon!! :rockon:
 
Humm, now DVM you have awoken my GAS which I had put into a frozen sleep and limited to only a few items - one of which is a Squier CV Tele.

But, but, the pictures, your descriptions, have :poke: my GAS. I've been resolved that I would get a new amp first (the Fender Super Champ XD), and then, and only then, think about a new guitar. And now you have awoken the monster who needs to be kept frozen :thwap:

I dread the to be posted clips - it might make me re-arrange my GAS list :messedup:

:reallymad: you and the fine folks at GFS

Gil :cool:
 
duhvoodooman said:
So far, I only find one notable detracting factor for the guitar--it is Heavy, with a capital H. Right up there with my two Epi LP's.
Click to expand...

Sounds like it's made of northern ash rather than southern swamp ash...
 
Bloozcat said:
Sounds like it's made of northern ash rather than southern swamp ash...
Click to expand...
I suspect that's it exactly--northern ash or some other variant that is hard as a rock and almost as heavy! I'm exaggerating here a bit, but it is quite the little chunk. The upside is that the hardness & density of the wood really contribute to that characteristic bright Tele tone! To me, that's an absolutely critical quality for the guitar to have. It ain't a Tele if it ain't got that twang!
 
duhvoodooman said:
So far, I only find one notable detracting factor for the guitar--it is Heavy, with a capital H. Right up there with my two Epi LP's. Not a problem for me, because (1) I'm a beefy guy, and (2) as a home player, I do the vast majority of my playing seated. But it's something to consider for those who are slighter of build, have back/shoulder problems, or just plain don't like heavier solid body guitars. I kind of prefer them heavier--makes 'em feel more serious in your hands, if you know what I'm sayin'--kind of a sonic weapon!! :rockon:
Click to expand...
What's the point in having a Tele if you can't beat an intruder to death with it?
 
marnold said:
What's the point in having a Tele if you can't beat an intruder to death with it?
Click to expand...
'Xactly!! Or, to quote a line I heard used by guitar virtuoso/funnyman Greg Koch, "unleash a sonic blizzard of nails a la Roy Buchanan" to subdue the marauder!
 
That is a great looking guitar, Vood! I really like the finish, the grain looks beautiful in those pics.:AOK:
 
Yeah, it's a very attractive guitar. It's a 3-piece ash body, and the piece on the right side as you face it could be a better match to the other two (it's noticeably lighter), but it's still a nice looking piece. The finish is gorgeous, as is the finish on the XV-870 Strat copy I have. Don't know how they do it at these prices. And they got the tint on the neck exactly right, IMO. It's a happy medium between that blanched maple neck you see on the recent Squiers and the orangish overdone one that the SX's have.

As far as tone and playability go, I'm very impressed with it thusfar. I need to pop the control plate open and have a look at the pots to see the resistance on them and the tone control cap, but this thing has twang for days. No weak and characterless pickups, these! The GFS site notes that the guitar has their “Fat TC Alnico” pickup in the bridge and the matching “Classic TC Alnico” at the neck. And the neck pickup is RW/RP so the middle position is noise canceling.
 

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