If this is your initial acquaintance with Z>Custom guitars, it's likewise for many of us. The manufacturer runs a modest factory in Taiwan with some production relations in China so this accounts very much for the $199 (SV Guitars) price tag- very affordable indeed. But wait, there's more to this.
The test model was fantastic in terms of build, fit & finish QC. If the headstock outline was carved out more convincingly to mimic a certain brand name, it'd really fit the bill. That's saying a lot for an instrument in this price bracket. However, the overall weight of it would give away the fact that it's not what you thought it was/ should be. Nevertheless, it's a remarkable workmanship at this price point. The hardware & electronics were very acceptable but the 5-way pickup selector could have been smoother; all ye Malmsteen-esque flickers, be warned. Coming to tone, I'd say it's a typical manifestation for an instrument of this make. The single coils are pleasant in drive mode but they fared better clean. The humbucker's a polar opposite of the single coils- excellent in drive mode but that clean take, well, it's all square but nothing repulsive. I've heard more repulsive tones coming from budget models above this price point- enough of those. The neck carve was also a good replication of a modern C-profile, equally adept at all manner of digging in & shredding. I'd recommend this to the average beginner looking for a good bargain on a budget. Less that stubborn 5-way selector, the Z>Custom is a good entry-level instrument to own, worth every cent of the asking price.
---------------------------------------
PS: Pic courtesy of SV Guitars- thanks, Mike!
No comments:
Post a Comment