NGD Non Hamer

[BTMN]

Well early birthday present for me. IYV from Vietnam. My second IYV. Not bad for $142 from Amazon. Like 3 lbs, made out of basswood. I give it a 3.5/5

Edited January 10 by BTMN

[Steve Haynie]

Do you upgrade hardware or the pickup?

[BTMN]

Just got it. No changes yet. Planning strings and a setup early next week. 

[burningyen]

Never heard of this brand. Looks like they have a version of just about any guitar design you can think of at dirt cheap prices. They even have a poor man's Jazzmaster Acoustasonic.

Edited January 10 by burningyen

[BTMN]

My other IYV. 

[Jimbilly]

there's a strat style at a pawn shop near me, priced for about what they go for online, but a pretty guitar

[Brooks]

I got this IYV from GC.com used for $170, crazy bang for buck. Nice frets & neck carve. Actually fully hollow except a small block under the bridge (like a Newport, IIRC?). Replaced the crap tuners & pups w/ cheap Amazon.com Alnicos & locking tuners, added some chrome knobs & pup rings, all in for maybe $240. It lives at the EMS base.

Before mods;

After;

 

 

Edited January 10 by Brooks

[RobB]

Amazing how good cheap guitars are getting. I wonder if 30yrs from now Asian instruments will be revered like high-end MIJ guitars are currently?

Edited January 10 by RobB

[crunchee]

Bought one of these several years ago at DGS with plastic molded case for Too Fitty, same version as the one in this Premier Guitar article:

AXL USA Bulldog AL-1090 Electric Guitar Review - Premier Guitar

I'm not a huge fan of the LP Jr. type of guitar, though the version above that I have will more than make do.  They're out there if you look hard enough, try to avoid the AXL models with the 'engraved'/'wood-burnt' shield headstock logo instead of the pearloid logo, as I believe those are all imported (not assembled in the US) and don't have the fancier 'deluxe' hardware and PU.

P.S. Like I said, they do pop up now and then if you're looking hard enough.  Apparently, AXL got into the relic game, too (no affiliation):

Axl USA Bulldog Les Paul Junior New Brown | Reverb

Edited January 11 by crunchee

[scottcald]

3 hours ago, RobB said:

Amazing how good cheap guitars are getting. I wonder if 30yrs from now Asian instruments will be revered like high-end MIJ guitars are currently?

If people think they can make the crazy "vintage" pricing from them, yes.  

[hamerhead]

Looks great, Gene!

My IYV Spalted Tele is set-up in Nashville tuning:

Nice and light, looks good, plays fine, used it on several recordings. Under $200.

[crunchee]

Ain't nuthin' wrong with 'budget' guitars that punch well above their weight, I have a few more like that of my own as well that I never plan to let go of, because they do the job as well as anything I've had if not better.  A LOT of great music was made and recorded on 'inexpensive' (cheap) gear over the years.  Besides, has anybody priced heavyweight (literally) Peavey T-60s and T-40s from the late '70's/early '80's lately?  

Edited January 11 by crunchee

[Jimbilly]

I just picked up a 2 year old Epi LP Custom (made in China), it has the 'probucker' pups, and cts pots. It is surprisingly good, a lot better than similar from 20 years ago, as best I can recall.  I actually really like this one.