79 posts
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Post by rockbadger on Oct 28, 2015 18:40:38 GMT
Hi there. New here.
I'm currently trying to persuade the Mrs that I need to buy a HB. But which, I don't know. It's between one of the TE90s and the Les Paul(ish) copies.
My question is on the build quality across the different models and within them. Obviously, the cheaper models have cheaper hardware and not-so-pretty finishes. But what are people's experiences on setup, intonation, action etc. between the differently priced models? I know lots of you have multiple guitars from HB.
I've also seen the thread on the different SC models. Are the customs just supposed to be different from the 450s and 550s or superior in some way? I'm used to the more straightforward naming schemes of Ibanez.
Thanks all.
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Post by JAC on Oct 28, 2015 20:45:41 GMT
Hi rockbadger, and welcome to the club!
Unfortunately I can't be of much use with regards as to the differnces between models. I will say one thing though, QC is usually pretty good, but not always. The good news is that Thomann will change/replace/refund no problem.
So you can try whichever one takes your fancy, then, if you don't like it, you can just send it back and get a different one, or even your money back.
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703 posts
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Post by gullum on Oct 28, 2015 21:06:06 GMT
On all my HB's the finish has been amazing, What I've discovered to be the main difference between the cheep and not so cheep models are the pickups cheep once come with no brand pickups (most of the time) with only 2 cables hot and ground, while the not so cheep (custom, deluxe and some vintage) have higher quality pickups with 4 conductor cables, All my HB's have had decent hardware from cheapest and all the way up. Only on the FV-430 the tuners were really bad. I don't know about the Custom line only have the L450 and SC-500, but Cory swears by the custom models and he has quite a few HB's
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79 posts
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Post by rockbadger on Oct 29, 2015 16:57:46 GMT
Thanks guys, good, helpful answers. Unfortunately it doesn't get me any closer to choosing. I just end up wanting the TE90QM with P90s followed by an SC Custom to use New Standard Tuning on (being a Fripp fan). But it'll take some serious lobbying to buy two.
I really want the TE90QM in red but the headstock (light) and the pickups (also light) don't fit the look of the rest of the guitar. Lots of the SCs look so much better and I don't have that style of guitar so I'm being pulled that way.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 29, 2015 19:30:25 GMT
Set-up, intonation and action can vary from one guitar to another of the same model. That said its a gamble but then again the price of the instruments should be taken into the account. What I look into is the materials used, the feel of the neck itself, the pickups, how good the tuners are. But even all this aside I can still mod HB guitars to get a great guitar just because of the very well built guitar bodies.
I only started modding one HB guitar and that is the cheap ST-20. My SC-550 single cut, L-450Plus single cut and JB-75 bass are perfect as they are. All of them had a few frets that needed slight leveling either by hammering them gently into the neck of by filing them. Action is a personal preference. Im not a shredder guitarist so dont mind to have a slight higher action, but that is me.
Intonation was very much spot on, on all instruments but all this (intonation, action, tuning, truss rod) can be adjusted. What can not be adjusted is the body and neck if they are made poorly which is absolutely not the case with HB el guitars.
But I did have issues with acoustic HB guitars (bought 3 and all were returned back to Thomann).
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79 posts
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Post by rockbadger on Oct 30, 2015 7:09:54 GMT
Although I am capable of fixing action/intonation is a bit of a pain. It's always a risk buying a guitar you've not seen and I've had relative failurrs and successes.
I'd be considering the PRS style HBs but those wraparound bridges are a pain to adjust-locking trems are probably more fun. This is actually one of the things driving my guitar lust - I've stripped down a 'vintage' PRS copy, re-painted it and put some irongear alchemist 90s in - it now looks OK and sounds great but getting the action and intonation right is a pain. I don't know why these bridges even exist these days.
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Post by reling on Oct 30, 2015 16:53:32 GMT
If you're lucky, the guitar will be checked. If not, then not. You can of course try to get in contact with the guys from thomann and ask them to check the guitar before they send it to you. But as you might think, many customers write something like that on their order and chances aren't really high that your guitar gets checked specially.
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