Feature:
I wasn't real happy about the active pickups (despite the amazing sound) simply because I'm skeptical about adding in batteries where they aren't necessary. They will last months and months apparently but I still am not sure. Apart from this there is the Gibraltar bridge and quick change tail piece which are very nice (though I haven't restrung the guitar yet).
Quality:
Great guitar. I haven't really owned anything like this before so I'm still in love with it. Definitely get a hard case though, because I have made the mistake of letting others play this and there is a chip on the neck. Everything seems strong and sturdy, even the pickup selector switch feels beefy which is unusual. I already have taken this to gigs with no backup but I wouldn't on tour because of the active pickups.
Value:
There are 4 things I look for in guitars. Looks, Sound, Feel and Quality. This guitar has very unique looks which always get great reactions. It sounds amazing and with the right distortion will come alive everytime. The feel of the guitar is so-so, nothing compared to the greats (custom shop strats and one particular firebird studio...) but still very solid. The quality on this appears great but only time will tell. I went out looking for a guitar to take to the studio and I was glad my friend pointed this out to me, though I'm sure I wouldn't have picked it up if it weren't for the finish.
Desirability:
This thing is awesome. I think I've said whats great about it enough times already.
Sound:
I bought this guitar for $800AU. This is by far the best sounding guitar I have played, I even tried it against a Gibson Explorer and felt the sound was superior. I have played it through a Marshall Stack, a Laney Stack, Kustom Combos and DI into my computer, and this coupled with my BOSS distortion is the loudest thing I have ever heard. I bought this guitar to take to the studio and I am glad I did.
Ease of Use:
This thing is light! I am still surprised when I pull it out of the case. One thing though is that I have those silly plastic strap locks (the ones that just sit over the strap) and the top strap button has worked its way out. Not cool. Another thing I was unsure about is the lump behind the headstock. When sliding down to low E chords etc this can feel very unnatural.
Overall:
This guitar is great, and though I was sure I wanted something else and didn't want a "metal guitar" I'm glad I bought it. It's not really a metal guitar, it is great for any style I throw at it from ska to extreme metal and funky jams. It has also stood the test of various live performances. The only things I don't like about it are the lump behind the headstock which is very awkward and the fact the pickups are active. It's a bummer to know that you need fresh batteries to maintain that amazing sound, but it's soooo worth it.
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