There's no hiding the fact that this is an outright Strat copy. This one has a scalloped fretboard, not quite obvious in this picture. FYI, the Grass Roots (non-Japanese) name is a budget version of the Edwards (Japanese) lineup which are replications of Gibson & Fender instruments in addition to its own series of offerings.
Likes
- quality construction, fit & finish
- good overdriven / distorted tones
- price
Dislikes
- stiff tuners (2 units)
- poorly cut backplate
- input jack angled up excessively
I was expecting a downtrodden Squier-esque craftsmanship; something riding on the remarkable reputation of its eminent sister brand but this G-SE-58M holds its own. Yes, it's a flagrant copy of a Strat & those scalloped fretboards are not unique to the Grass Roots / Edwards name. The construction quality here is very impressive for the price. In fact, it would easily put some higher tier Squiers to shame. This guitar was let down by its obviously cheap set of tuners with two units proving to be stiff & threatening to invite distasteful opinions by enthusiastic players. The badly cut slot of its cover plate didn't help either; its uneven edges are at best a novice affair. I'm still wondering if the input jack was intentionally angled up more to avoid cable plug contact with the plate or was it a sheer reject from the start; this escaping QC scrutiny is concerning. However, this guitar proved to be addictive & I will credit it for its overdriven tones & overall feel. In clean mode, the budget single coils would give themselves away; these are next to characterless without the aid of any driven influence. All in all, a positive investment if you don't mind the unalluring brand name at the headstock.
Overall rating: 79%
Grass Roots: G-SE-58M/SC
Availability: Davis GMC
Price: $650 (bag not included)
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