Guitar Review Ninja

The Gibson Flying V ‘67 V Factor is a modern update of Gibson’s classic axe. The original Flying V of 1958 was so far ahead of its time that even the first reissues, almost 10 years later, were only moderately successful. Finally, in the late ’60s and early ’70s, progressive rockers embraced the V, and the 1967 version lives on today as the V-Factor. Features include 496R and 500T ceramic humbuckers, a Tune-o-matic bridge with a Stopbar tailpiece, a mahogany body, mahogany neck, rosewood fingerboard (or ebony on Classic White) with 22 frets and green key tuners.

Pickups

496R “Hot Ceramic”

The 496R “Hot Ceramic” is a smokin’ neck pickup with incredible sustain and cutting power. Its high-output ceramic magnet adds more highs with increased definition and no muddiness. Factory-installed 496R pickups have two conductor wiring.

500T “Super Ceramic”

The 500T delivers no-holds-barred, in-your-face hard rock licks. The powerful multi-ceramic magnet structure enables this monster to cover lots of territory. It can scream or growl – never losing its rich combination of enhanced lows and crystal clear highs. Factory-installed 500T pickups have two conductor wiring.

Gibson V-Factor X Flying V Electric Guitar (with Case) Features…

Manufactured in: Nashville, TN

Body Species: Mahogany

Neck Species: Mahogany

Profile: Rounded

Peghead Pitch: 17

Thickness at 1st Fret: 0.800

Thickness at 12th Fret: 0.850

Heel Length: 0.625

Neck Joint Location: 17

Fingerboard Species: Rosewood, Ebony (Classic White only)

Scale Length: 24-3/4 in.

Total Length: 18.062 in.

Number of Frets: 22

Nut Width: 1-11/16 in.

Width at 12th Fret: 2.062 in.

Inlays: Pearloid Dot

Hardware Plating Finish: Chrome, Gold on Natural finish

Tailpiece: Stopbar

Bridge: Tune-o-matic

Knobs: In-Line Black Top Hats with inserts

Tuners: Grover Kidney

Neck Pickups: 496R ceramic magnet humbucker

Bridge Pickups: 500T ceramic magnet humbucker

Controls: 2 volume, 1 tone, 3-way switch

Case Interior: Dark Gray Plush with Black Shroud

Case Exterior: Black Reptile Pattern Hardshell

Case Silkscreen: Silver ‘Gibson USA’ logo

Buy Gibson V-Factor X Flying V Electric Guitar (with Case)

Overall sound is more versatile than you'd think for what many consider a "METAL" guitar. With the pickup selector in the middle position, it sounds almost identical to a Les Paul (that very distinctive Gibson sound, much like Jimmy Page). The bridge position gets a very nice, meaty, treble-y, distorted sound, great for metallica, Judas Priest, even Van Halen type of sound. I do not like the neck pickup sound at all. No meat, just flat, dull, I never use it. Sounds great in the middle and better in the back (bridge). The biggest problem with the pickups is that when you are soloing on the high frets (E & B strings), way up there, the guitar will feedback like a beast. I do not recommend this guitar for wild soloing on the higher frets, due to this feedback problem.

This is the 2004 model, 1976 re-issue. Finish is fantastic, but after playing, the black finish needs to be polished and wiped down as it smudges very easily. Chrome hardware looks great with the black finish! Definitely needs strap locks and a very long strap because of the shape of the guitar and where the strap buttons are located. 22 frets, very nice, smooth feeling neck (even though I am more used to Ibanez-style, thinner necks). Stays in tune very well with .10 guage Ernie Ball strings on it. Nicest finish I have ever seen on a guitar, just brilliant!

Action is low and flawless. Bought it used, required very little adjustment, pickups were a bit low, and bridge was adjusted just a bit. Like I said in the FEATURES section, the finish is truly remarkable, brilliant, can't say enough about how this guitar looks. People that have never played guitar and don't know a damn thing about them come over to my house and see it & say, "OH MY GOD… THAT GUITAR IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!" Its rather hilarious, the reaction it gets!

I e mailed GIBSON about replacing the white pickgurad with a black one… They e mailed me the very next day with some info. Great response, very pleased. And they have the best guiatr manufacturer website ever.

ROVER PHX (11/17/2004)

i play metal and this guitar kicks ass. i play threw a marshall mg100 rcd head and a marshall speaker cab and play alot of metallica. my setup is explorer, small clone chorus, mg100 rcd. the only bad thing is when i play clean i have to roll the volume back. i never have problems with noise except for feed back but what guitar doesnt feed back. it has a very crunchy tonethat sounds great specialy when you palm mute.

2 hot humbuckers 3 way switch black paint white pick gaurd mahogany body and neck grover tuners tunomatic bridge rose wood finger board

every thing was just where it was supposed to be all i did was lower the bridge and put size 11 strings on it. the selector is silent and it has a good thick paint job and everything else was great.

Anonymous (06/26/2001)

The Ibanez MTM2 Mick Thomson electric guitar’s 5-piece thru-neck and Mahogany body pump out full, fat tone with strong sustain. Edge FX Edge bridge offers double-locking stability with fixed bridge simplicity and sustain. The new MTM2 offers the Mick Thomson signature design in a powerful, more affordable package. Factory equipped with heavy strings tuned to C# tuning with a dropped B: (low to high) B-F#-B-E-G#-C#.

Ibanez MTM2 Mick Thomson Electric Guitar Features…

Neck: 5-piece Wizard II neck

NeckType: Wizard II

Body: Mahogany body

Frets: Jumbo frets

Fingerboard: Bound Rosewood

Inlay: n/a

Bridge: Fixed Edge III bridge

Neck Pickup: IBZ V7

Bridge Pickup: IBZ V8

Hardware Color: BK

Buy Ibanez MTM2 Mick Thomson Electric Guitar

great heavy tone!!

this guitar screams distortion!! it remains articulate even with a thousand pounds of distortion. this guitar is a metal machine crank the drive nob to 10 and rock out

todayendstomorrow from montreal (May 10, 2008)

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Here’s an updated version of the Clapton Signature Strat, guaranteed to please all you “Slowhand” fans. The updates are a trio of Fender’s new Vintage Noiseless pickups, a powerful active mid-boost and TBX circuits, making it one of the most tonefully versatile instruments Fender offers. Other unique features include a special soft “V” shape neck and blocked original vintage synchronized tremolo bridge. U.S. made.

Fender Artist Series Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster (Maple, With Case) Features…

Body: Alder

Neck: Maple, Soft ‘V’ Shape

Machine Heads: Vintage Style

Fingerboard: Maple (9.5 in. Radius/241 mm)

No. of Frets: 22 ‘Vintage’ Style Frets

Pickguard: 1-Ply White

Pickups: 3 Vintage Noiseless Strat Pickups (Neck, Middle, Bridge)

Controls: Master Volume, Tone 1. Master TBX, Tone 2. Master Active Mid Boost (0-25db)

Bridge: ‘Blocked’ American Vintage Tremolo

Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade:

Position 1. Bridge Pickup

Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup

Position 3. Middle Pickup

Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup

Position 5. Neck Pickup

Scale Length: 25.5 in. (648 mm)

Width at Nut: 1.650 in. (42 mm)

Colors:

(805) Olympic White,

(806) Black,

(843) Pewter,

(858) Torino Red,

(871) Candy Green, (Poly-urethane Finish)

Strings: Fender Super 250R’s (.010 to .046) Nickel Plated Steel pn# 073-0250-006

Source: U.S.

Hardware: Chrome

Specs: Subject to Change Without Notice

Series: Artist Signature Series

Accessories: Tweed Case, Strap, Cable

Introduced: 7/2001

Wrench Sizes: .050 in. Saddle Height Adjustment Wrench, pn# 0018531000, 1/8 in. Truss Rod Adjustment Wrench pn# 0023811000

Unique Features: Special Soft “V” Shape Neck, Blocked Tremolo, Active Mid-Boost Circuit

Switching Model: 1

Buy Fender Artist Series Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster (Maple, With Case)

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Very Flexible and you can make it create any range of strat sounds you can think of. Great Tone and the mid boost is noticeable and more usefull than the standard tone controls on a strat. I do admit that I still turn to my tele with two Joe Barden HBs for certain tones that I cant quite describe but this thing is great and versitile and should fit almost anything you need.

Good Quality and features maybe could be better with some small hand done details so I give it a 9 but I can't think of what. Outstandingly well built it is a strat not a fancy les paul or something so this is what you get:

An exact Custom Shop representation of Eric's personal axe, made by the same craftsmen who made the actual Clapton instrument. Refinements include a special neck shape, noiseless pickups, and active circuitry. Standard features include an alder body, bone nut, vintage frets, and chrome hardware.

MODEL NAME Eric Clapton Signature Stratocaster

MODEL NUMBER 015-0082-(Color#)

SERIES Custom Artist Series

COLOR

(873) Midnight Blue,

BODY Select Alder

NECK 1-Piece Maple, Soft ?V? Shape,

(Satin Polyurethane Finish)

MACHINE HEADS Fender/Gotoh? Vintage Style Tuning Machines

FINGERBOARD Maple, 9.5? Radius (241 mm)

NO. OF FRETS 22 Vintage Style Frets

PICKUPS 3 Vintage Noiseless Pickups (Neck, Middle, Bridge)

CONTROLS Master Volume,

Tone 1. Master Tone Control,

Tone 2. Master Active Mid Boost (0-25dB)

BRIDGE ?Blocked? American Vintage Synchronized Tremolo

PICKUP SWITCHING 5-Position Blade:

Position 1. Bridge Pickup

Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup

Position 3. Middle Pickup

Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup

Position 5. Neck Pickup

HARDWARE Nickel/Chrome

STRINGS Fender Super 250R, Nickel Plated Steel,

Gauges: (.010, .013, .017, .026, .036, .046),

p/n 073-0250-006

CASE Vintage Tweed Case

PICKGUARD 1-Ply White

SCALE LENGTH 25.5? (648 mm)

UNIQUE FEATURES Special Soft "V" Shape Neck,

Blocked Tremolo,

Active Mid-Boost Circuit,

Eric Clapton?s Signature and Custom shop Logo on back of Headstock

WIDTH AT NUT 1.650? (42 mm)

ACCESSORIES Vintage Tweed Case, Strap, Cable

INTRODUCED 1/2004

OK this is where this guitar shines. I must admit the fit and settup are great. I find it to be the most confortable guitar I have played. Very good finish and a great clean strat.

Well here is the downfall of fender they are not famous for quick and easy customer service even on these high end cutom shop guitars this is a shame but anyone can work on it and they will eventualy get a good job done if you have the time.

Ismael Santos (12/31/2004)

Here's the mystery: This guitar is not really lighter or heavier than any other average Clapton strat. The neck does NOT have flame maple or anything else fancy. Everything about it except the custom shop stamp on the neck looks like bog standard Clapton Strat kit.

But this one SOUNDS WAAAAY BETTER than my first (lace sensor) Clapton, and noticeably better than my current non-custom shop Clapton strat. Acoustically, it's not particularly loud or resonant, but each string rings out clearly and sounds very separate from the rest of the strings in a way that almost sounds like each string is on a separate guitar. And every string on every fret rings clear and long.

Amplified, this guitar has that 'balance' to the sound of each string (whether clean or highly overdriven) that is hard to find. Yes, I needed to adjust the pickup heights a bit, but every pickup setting sounds very balanced across every string in any amplified level you care to dial in.

The difference between this custom shop model and the others is this: the old versions and non-custom shop ones tend to get a bit muddy when you ramp up the mid boost built into the guitar. This one does not. It cuts through a band / gigging wall of sound very effectively.

So what do the custom shop boys do to get this special better than your average strat sound, and more? Who knows? Magic dust maybe. But whatever the secret may be, it works.

Thanks Custom Shop!

Hello again students — this is your intrepid guitar reviewer and all around gear addict, Russ, reporting to you on the Eric Clapton Custom Shop Stratocaster — a fine instrument indeed.

Mine is a midnite blue, and has all the specs you most likely have already memorized from reading below. I will say that this example weighs in at about 7.6 pounds — somewhat on the light side though I've held lighter of the same model.

I have owned and enjoyed 3 (three) Clapton strats over the past 15 years. The first was an early one with lace sensors in a pewter finish. The next was a recent model, but non-custom-shop, with Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups, in torino red. And now this latest acquisition is a Custom Shop Clapton Strat in dark dark dark blue. It looks black in low light, and has a very cool sparkly navy blue deep color under spotlights or in sunlight.

For those of you who are not so patient and can't stand reading more than a postage stamp, then here's the verdict up front: Each of the Clapton Strats I've owned has been better than the previous one — in almost equal measure. And so the Custom Shop model is absolutely the best Clapton strat in terms of sound and feel, that you could hope to buy.

Almost perfect.

Setup (the hard bit in terms of neck adjustments and bridge tweaking) was just right. I like my strings a little bit on the high side, so they ring out clear. Custom shop had it set up just right for that.

The neck joint and pocket fit perfect — no gaps. Paint and finish are all flawless as you'd expect (but is not always the case) from the custom shop.

The one issue I had was the input jack. When plugged in the jack and cable intermittently had a bad connection and sound would cut out — so I had to unscrew the jack plate and bend the contacts a little to make better connection with the plug.

The pickup height was directionally adjusted right — but I needed to tweak all 3 a bit for my strings and preferences.

All in all — nearly perfect.

Russ (12/08/2007)

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The ES-335 brought hollowbody tradition and solidbody performance together in 1958, and it is still one of the all-time classic guitar designs. Gibson invented the semi-hollowbody electric guitar in 1958, offering players the perfect combination of traditional archtop looks and powerful solidbody performance. The original ES-335 was soon joined by the ES-345, with additional ornamentation and features. Today’s ES-335 and ES-345 continue to provide the tone and the look that inspires musicians in blues, rock and jazz.

Gibson ES335 Memphis Series Dot Reissue Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar (with Case) Features…

Body: Figured or Plain Laminated Maple top back and rims, Maple center block

Neck/Profile: Mahogany/1960 slim taper

Fingerboard/Inlay: Rosewood/Dot

Scale/Nut Width: 24-3/4 in./1-11/16 in.

Binding: Single-ply top, back and fingerboard

Bridge/Tailpiece: ABR/Stopbar

Hardware: Nickel

Pickups: 2 x ‘57 Classic humbuckers

Controls: 2 volume, 2 tone, 3-way switch

Strings: Brite Wires .010-.046

Buy Gibson ES335 Memphis Series Dot Reissue Semi-Hollowbody Electric Guitar (with Case)

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I play mostly jazz. The 335 sounds great through any amp I have ever played. My current amps are a Peavy Classic 30 and a Vox Pathfinder 15R. I use no effects. The sound is rich, warm, round, open from the neck pickup but can also growl, crunch or bite from the bridge pickup. Then there is in between. Very versital. A great sounding jazz and blues and rock guitar.

See other reviews for specs. The two I have had were vintage sunburst.

#1 was set up by the dealer and felt great. The setup on, #2, the one I got directly from the factory was poor. Lots of fret noise and unwanted harmonics. The sunburst finish on both looked beautiful, one much darker than the other, but the f holes on #2 were cut and finished in a very sloppy manner and the headstock was cut lopsided on #2-see below. Bindings were just " good enough," as Gibson says.

The company seems helpful on the phone as are the people at the authroized service center but come on, shouldn't they have made sure to send a good one on the second round? I feel like it was a factory second. Also, being without my guitar again, for 2 months while I wait for the 3rd one to arrive is a hardship. With warranty/craftsmanship issues, Gibson should be immediately on top of the situation yet they are slow.

Still waiting (07/12/2005)

"It's A Gibson isn't it!"

Classicly Sexy

Great

I looked for flaws none it's a Gibson

a customer from aol.com (7/21/2004)

The Dean Vendetta XMT Electric Guitar has a marvelous looking lightweight body with incredible resonance. Dual naked humbuckers and the vintage style tremolo pump out huge chunk and a searing sustain while the Rosewood fretboard on a maple neck with 24-fret access finishes out this sweet and fleet guitar.

Dean Vendetta XMT Electric Guitar with Tremolo Features…

Basswood Body

Maple Neck

Rosewood Fingerboard

Bolt-on Construction

Die Cast Tuners

2 High-Output Humbucking Pickups

Vintage Tremolo bridge

Buy Dean Vendetta XMT Electric Guitar with Tremolo

This suits my style of music exeptionaly. The 2 humbuckers really sound like sum 41 and linkin park but they can also soun like AC/DC.

This guitar came with the whole starting shibang. It has 2 humbuckers and a three way selector which I still havn't figured out. It also has a nob for tone and a nob for volume. It has 24 frets and is laminated top. It has metal tuners not those cheap wal-mart plastic ones. I am pretty sure it was made in the us and is a new model for 2007.

Everything was fine here exept I could do without the silvery flecks in the painting but there not really visible.

Havn't needed to use it yet.

sum41fan (09/21/2007)

Great start

Never owned an electric before, got this to initiate myself and to have one with a tremolo. It would have gotten all 5's except the high E string broke before even getting in tune. Yes, most change the installed strings, but they should at least be tuneable! Otherwise, wow, this is a rockin' guitar, good sound, the RED is much more attractive than the picture indicates. Great fiery sound, strings are changed with no special worries, worth the great value price!

OnlyTheHunter from Columbus OH (Jul 18, 2008)

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The American Vintage ‘57 Stratocaster re-creates one of Fender’s most famous designs. All original specs are detailed including neck and headstock shapes, body radii and contours, 12th fret dot positioning, and hand-beveled pickup magnets.

Fender ‘57 American Vintage Stratocaster Electric Guitar (Maple, with Case) Features…

Body: Comfort Contoured Alder Body

Neck: Maple

Fingerboard: Maple (7.25 in. Radius/184mm)

Scale Length: 25.5 in. (648mm)

Number of Frets: 21 Vintage Frets

Width at Nut: 1.650 in. (42mm)

Machine Heads: Fender/Gotoh Vintage Tuning Machines

Pickups: 3 “New” American Vintage Strat Single Coils

Pickup Switching: 3 Position Blade

Controls: Master Volume, Tone (Neck), Tone (Mid)

Pickguard: 1-Ply, 8 Hole, White

Bridge: “Original” Vintage Synchronized Tremolo

Unique Features: Nitro-Cellulose Lacquer Finish, “V” Shape, 1-Piece, Tinted, Maple Neck

Buy Fender ‘57 American Vintage Stratocaster Electric Guitar (Maple, with Case)

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The Best is still the original

I have had this guitar for a week now, and I own several other strats. I have slowly, over time, begun to go from rosewood necks to maple necks, and the 57' Vintage and 57' hotrod have become two of my standards. This guitar is absolutely true to the orinigal intentions of Fender. I bought the 2 Tone Sunburst and it's the most visually pleasing guitar I own. The only drawback is the 3 way swtiching (which you can change to 5 way with the easy-to-follow kit included with the guitar) but aside from that it's a faithful reproduction of what you would have gotten in 57'. Many people don't like the 7.25" radius neck, but to me as someone who usually plays on 9.5", it's not that big of a deal. If anything, it's teaching me to play cleaner than I have before. All in all if you want to get back to the roots of the Stratocaster, this is the guitar you want. Ronnie Wood, Buddy Holly, Clapton, and David Gilmour have all played the 57's and there is a reason why. Put this gem in your hands and you'll feel it too.

4strats from Texas (May 23, 2008)

Greatest guitar I've ever played

I purchased this guitar over a year ago, and I gotta say, even though it was a little pricy for my income at the time, it was well worth every dollar I paid. It looks and feels amazing. The neck is thin and fast and has incredible action on the strings. The sound is amazing on all three pickups, no matter what the tone setting. I've heard a few complaints on the 3-position switch, but being as I never used the other two on my other strat I don't see it as an issue.
<p>Overall, it is an outstanding instrument and I highly recommend it.
</p>

ArmySean (Jul 29, 2008)