I was shopping around for a lower price guitar to keep me playing whilst staying in a tiny studio for 4 months. I didn't want to bring my Strat for fear of it going missing !
For the money, the competition is Ibanez and the 'Harley Benton' range. Sorry but I cant get past this dumb name, Harley - Like Harley Davidson, a not cool motorcycle brand owned by old men who don't ride them, just clean them with toothbrushes and 'Benton' An English butler perhaps. It has to be the worst name of any guitar brand anywhere. Rant over.
This Yamaha is amazing, I'm a semi pro player and play a lot of different guitars, mainly acoustic, switching to electrics for a few weeks here and there. The build is ace, the neck is a little thin for me and the low e kept popping over the fretboard, I play 11's and this helped, plus an adjustment to playing style. It is snug on an open a chord (when playing fingerstyle) also and I do not have large fingers. So there is a need for accuracy and some muscle memory. Soundwise, the pick-up selecter delivers a great range of contrast. I didn't bother with the trem arm as I don't use them and this guitar stays in perfect tune.
I do have an earthing issue, but cannot address this in my current location, it may well need a solder but I'll find out when I move into my next permanent address. I always know if the problem is something that needs further attention Thomann will help. For now I can work around this and am successfully recording projects in Logic with this guitar. For the money I cannot fault this guitar, it could easily be 2 times the price and still be good value. I made the right decision.
update - It had to go back to Thomann as the neck problems were not down to my technique, rather a poorly aligned neck, also the earthing problem was chronic. Thomann agreed and replaced it, I have the new one now and I like it even more.
