Feature:
Great for what I paid. It was B-stock so I really can't criticize this part (my controls worked a little funny but easy to fix).
Quality:
Just fine for the price and being B-stock.
Value:
Yes.
Desirability:
One of my preamps (Mercury M72s) is made with components identical to those in the console George Martin used to record the Beatles. It was his favorite console for their particular sound. When I bought it, you can bet there was some massive gear lust beaming from my soul. So I HAD to buy a Beatles guitar, right? I saw the J-160 AE, read that Lennon and George both had, used and loved them, and that made me want to have, use and love one, too. Gear lust. I would have lusted for it no matter what preamp I owned. I still lust for it when I'm away from town.
Sound:
I was blown away by the sound--rich, deep, sparkling, dark and bright all at once. Just like the sunburst. Maybe I just lucked out and got an exceptionally good one, who knows. Someone said theirs was flat sounding and that really surprised me. I don't give out 10's u unless the product plays itself, so take my "9" as a super-outstanding grade. If you like the Byrds and the Beatles' Byrd-like compositions, and you can't afford a Rickenbacker, buy this guitar. Man, buy it even if you can afford a Ric. I like to use heavier strings than average and especially on the J-160 it pays handsomely in terms of tone. How do I use it? Mainly for recording these days, although I'll definitely take it live when the time comes. I use it for lead tracks as well as backing. Boy it warms up the mix. I don't do a lot of acoustic guitar sounding material, so I use the J-160AE like an electric for the most part. One of the best sounding electric guitars you'll ever hear! The acoustic element your mics and the pickup recieves for recording does some wildly wonderful things to your sound. (I always use this guitar for sound design--slap a few effects on and it sounds like a breathing synth.) She usually gets run through the pickup/direct in and a Soundelux U99 mic'ing a Fender Princeton amp. Both paths will end up going through a POD XT (Line 6), and/or Guitar Rig 2 (Native Instruments Co.). The signals are always sent through a preamp first, usually a Sebatron Valve preamp or a Telefunken/Siemens pre, or a Mercury M72s (Mercury Recording Equipment Co., fantastic sounding pres and outboard effects!!).
The J-160 makes them all sound good!
Ease of Use:
No brain required. Balls already included. ;>)
Support:
No dealings because no problems so I'll assume they are great and give them a "9."
Overall:
I will always love this baby. A Rickenbacker 360 is in my future, but that will be another guitar to love, not a replacement for the J-160 AE.
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