hunter Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 Have you seen these? Probably crap but maybe a good place to start if you want to build your own. Put in a Ghost loaded Floyd and some better pickups...https://www.aliexpre...fb-893498003d06 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoopid Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 What is it about that particular guitar that you can't find in a more, let's say, reputable make/model at a similar price? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter Posted November 23, 2016 Author Share Posted November 23, 2016 What is it about that particular guitar that you can't find in a more, let's say, reputable make/model at a similar price?For me, most importantly is the smooth heel at the neck body joint. and the color and quilt maple top. I've owned the epiphone with the floyd and it wasn't great, at least the one I owned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1-0-0-1-0-0-1 Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 Funny I should see a thread about these guitars today -- I'd never heard of AliExpress until yesterday when I stumbled upon some YouTube reviews. Some good, some very bad. http://youtu.be/TfbvDrCnbpk http://youtu.be/KGqVLtdGeLc 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter Posted November 23, 2016 Author Share Posted November 23, 2016 (edited) Yep. i saw both of those after finding the Alex copy. I'm sure it's a crap shoot.The thing is there are multiple sellers, like Amazon. It may depend on the shop you purchase from. Edited November 23, 2016 by hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFEman Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 A lot of people say that the company that makes that guitar is not good quality. I'd rather save $200 more and get an Epiphone Les Paul Plustop Pro FX used. Those are actually good and still a reasonable price. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter Posted November 23, 2016 Author Share Posted November 23, 2016 A lot of people say that the company that makes that guitar is not good quality. I'd rather save $200 more and get an Epiphone Les Paul Plustop Pro FX used. Those are actually good and still a reasonable price. I actually owned one of the plustops. It was decent but I could never get it intonated correctly due to the poor fret work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFEman Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 A lot of people say that the company that makes that guitar is not good quality. I'd rather save $200 more and get an Epiphone Les Paul Plustop Pro FX used. Those are actually good and still a reasonable price. I actually owned one of the plustops. It was decent but I could never get it intonated correctly due to the poor fret work.I am thinking about buying one. I live near a Sam Ash and I would take that and my PRS over for an intonation setup. It costs around $70 each but I would do it if it meant for better playing. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Ways Posted November 23, 2016 Share Posted November 23, 2016 I know a few people that have these guitars. If you are interested, do your research. Find out about the makers and be very specific with your order. If you don't specify otherwise you might get a neck that is not one piece, etc... Why buy one? Honestly, for me if I got one it would be wall art more than playability. Who wouldn't love a wall with Alex's axcess, al's white Gibson hollow body and al's double neck? Now, who can afford to buy the real McCoy of all three just to look at? If you just wanted to get a guitar that is playable these are not for you since you can get a decent guitar for $3-400 already. The flip side is these are so ubiquitous now that you need to be extremely careful buying used gear that is commonly counterfeited in China. At first glance most of them look close enough to fool the average person. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoopid Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 A lot of people say that the company that makes that guitar is not good quality. I'd rather save $200 more and get an Epiphone Les Paul Plustop Pro FX used. Those are actually good and still a reasonable price. Exactly what I was thinking/where I was going. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirteen Posted November 24, 2016 Share Posted November 24, 2016 You guys in the USA have it great compared to Australia.The prices we are forced to pay for guitars $ucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Babycat Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 Have you seen these? Probably crap but maybe a good place to start if you want to build your own. Put in a Ghost loaded Floyd and some better pickups...https://www.aliexpre...fb-893498003d06 Nice looking model. :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoopid Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 (edited) The issue is they *look* nice, but there's zero quality control and if you look at the reviews there's corner cutting and other cost saving measures that would steer me away from buying one of these knockoffs/custom Chinese guitars for any serious playing. You can't just slap parts together like these chop shops are and expect something usable to result. And they're really not THAT MUCH cheaper than finding a comparable model on the used market. You know the saying - if it's too good to be true?... Edited November 26, 2016 by stoopid 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Ways Posted November 26, 2016 Share Posted November 26, 2016 The issue is they *look* nice, but there's zero quality control and if you look at the reviews there's corner cutting and other cost saving measures that would steer me away from buying one of these knockoffs/custom Chinese guitars for any serious playing. You can't just slap parts together like these chop shops are and expect something usable to result. And they're really not THAT MUCH cheaper than finding a comparable model on the used market. You know the saying - if it's too good to be true?...I agree mostly. I doubt these places are chop shops per se. I'm sure they make guitars for someone that puts their name on the headstock that are available here to buy in stores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter Posted November 26, 2016 Author Share Posted November 26, 2016 (edited) If I could find a real brand on the used market that had the smooth heel that'd be great, but there aren't any. Unless you go with a Charvel Desolation. :/ Edited November 26, 2016 by hunter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoopid Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 I doubt these places are chop shops per se. I'm sure they make guitars for someone that puts their name on the headstock that are available here to buy in stores. What do you base that on? Hunch? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoopid Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 (edited) If I could find a real brand on the used market that had the smooth heel that'd be great, but there aren't any. Unless you go with a Charvel Desolation. :/ Unfortunately it's a crap shoot ordering from these companies, so if that's the only reason you're on the market perhaps save up for a proper guitar that meets your requirements or roll the dice on one of these. Edited November 27, 2016 by stoopid Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancient Ways Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 I doubt these places are chop shops per se. I'm sure they make guitars for someone that puts their name on the headstock that are available here to buy in stores. What do you base that on? Hunch?Having held them in my hands and playing them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TFEman Posted November 27, 2016 Share Posted November 27, 2016 Look the best way to honestly cut corners on the Alex Lifeson Les Paul is to go with the standard Les Paul Axcess, which is $2700 cheaper. Then you buy a ghost Peizo Floyd Rose from graph tech for around $300-400. You just spent $3000 on a les paul which can be hard to save that much (which is why we're looking at chinese knockoffs) but you just got basically the Alex Lifeson custom Les Paul for over $2000 cheaper. Also add the fact that you would have a real USA Les Paul instead of a chibson. I understand, though, that some people don't have the luxury and/or time to do this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoopid Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 I doubt these places are chop shops per se. I'm sure they make guitars for someone that puts their name on the headstock that are available here to buy in stores. What do you base that on? Hunch?Having held them in my hands and playing them. So they say Gibson or Ibanez on them? I'm not sure how touching them verifies other manufacturers utilize the same factories and parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stoopid Posted November 28, 2016 Share Posted November 28, 2016 You can't get something for nothing. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thirteen Posted November 29, 2016 Share Posted November 29, 2016 That Yngwie Malmsteen strat is pretty tempting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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