The 2000 Golden Axe Awards
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Guitar Best Value (Top 5)
<--Back to Introduction | <--Back to #6 thru #10
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| Alecia Hunter |
#5: Vaccaro Guitars: V2 Generator X
Like that cool 50's hot rod look? Then look no further that this baby from Vaccaro. The V2 Generator X is one of a series of instruments from Vaccaro with a patented aluminum reinforced neck. Armed with two single coil pickups and one humbucking pickup, this guitar was a serious rock and roll monster. Big, tough, biting sound combined with a nice playing guitar. Forget what you think you know about aluminum necks, this baby plays sweet. I liked this color called "Deja Blue", but all the Vaccaro colors were alive and vibrant. Definitely aimed at the Strat fan, this guitar does Strats one better.
At $699.95 this instrument is a real contender for the limited budget working/gigging amateur or professional. Couple this destroyer with a Marshall amp and you're ready to take people's heads off. I got to look into getting me one of these.
To see their other cool designs go to www.vaccaroguitars.com.
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#4: Taylor Guitars: Big Baby
Boy, how many times do I have to write the Taylor name in this year's Golden Axe articles? They won the Unlimited Acoustic division, they took 4th in the Unlimited Bass division, and here they are again. However, when you can turn out a big bodied, all wood, spruce top, mahogany neck, ebony fingerboard and bridge acoustic guitar for $428, I guess you deserve all the accolades you can get. And, they even throw in a gig bag.
Affectionately call the "Big Baby", this is a pretty classy instrument for a beginning instrument price. Looking about the NAMM show at other instruments in this price range, the "Big Baby" is quite a deal. Still made in America (most lower end models from other companies are not), this instrument does Taylor proud. I got a chance to talk with Bob Taylor about it and you could see the pride on his face.
Definitely one to check out at www.taylorguitars.com.
#3: Pawar Guitars: Turn of the Century Player
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| (Click for a close-up of guitar body) |
Now this is cool! This silver beauty from Pawar Guitars is a really nice guitar aimed at the PRS/Les Paul fans. A distinctive body shape is just the beginning of what make this instrument special.
This is a tone monster. It's best tone (in my opinion) is something like the big heavy Les Paul sound only brighter and a little more subtle. It is capable of making a wide variety of sounds from the Les Paul rock and roll giant roar to the PRS humming strum. The through the body bridge keeps the top of the instrument clean and uncluttered while giving it great sustain. Great electronics, very quiet with a lot of diversity.
This model, the "Turn of the Century Player" has a swamp ash body with a maple top, and that scroll, too cool. Another one I've got to get my hands on. I have to quit going to these NAMM shows, I'm going broke.
The price tag of this instrument is $2,500 and for a guitar like this, that's a deal.
To find out more, surf on over to www.pawarguitars.com.
#2: Warrior Guitars: Soldier
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The Soldier |
Continuing their onslaught on this year's Golden Axe Awards, Warrior powers its way into second with a beauty of a guitar. The "Soldier" is the same body design as the Arch Angel that took 3rd in the Unlimited division except that it has a two piece body, set neck, and no fancy inlay work. The paint work is called "Pearl White", and has little flecks of gold in a porcelain white color. Simply stunning.
The playability factor of this instrument is a 10, or maybe this one goes to 11 (yes, I've seen Spinal Tap). The tone is crystal clear and smooth. A perfect sound to go into almost any effect rig. The archtop body is high in the middle and then dips down below the edge of the guitar and then curves back up to the edge of the body. The "Soldier" has a set neck and weighs in at under eight pounds. Another instrument on my "To Get" list. Boy, this list is getting long, but I'd better move this one up near the top.
With a list price of under $2000, it is a great value.
To see more go to www.warriorinstruments.com.
#1: Brian Moore Custom Guitars
And finally, at number one, is this incredible value from Brian Moore guitars. Another company bent on taking over the Golden Axe Awards single-handedly (taking 6th in the Unlimited Guitar and placing in the Bass Best Value), this guitar, the iGuitar 2.13, has a quilted maple top, mahogany body, Seymour Duncan pickups, sperzel tuners, an RMC piezo system, and a 13-pin jack for connecting to a guitar synth. All this for the price of $1,695. A MidiAxe equipped 5-pin MIDI version, the iGuitar 2.5 is also available with a list price of $1,995.
You'll love the way that the three sound systems (regular, piezo, and synth/MIDI) can be mixed allowing the guitar to make some very unique and unusual sounds and textures. It's sound city here. You could play this instrument forever and never get tired of the tones you can create. On top of all these cool sounds, it is a Brian Moore (a company known for making great guitars) and just look at it. It's gorgeous! This guitar was sure generating a lot of interest at the show and that was down in K-hall which doesn't get as much traffic as the other halls at the show.
You can visit Brian Moore Custom Guitars' web site at www.bmcguitars.com.
Congratulations to Brian Moore, the Y2K Guitar - Best Value Champions.
After playing all these great guitars (and so many more that didn't make the finals) I think I'd better get a second job. I'm going to need the money for more guitars. As I said before, the state of guitar building has never been better. And, we guitar players are the ones reaping the benefits. Great job finalist and keep up the good work.
Keep Jamming,
Cliff
Cliff Suttle (cliffnotes@harmony-central.com) has been studying music for over twenty years including studies at the University of Michigan. Fluent on keyboards, guitar, and bass, Cliff is currently playing in an all original rock band Middle Earth. Cliff's motto: Understand the theory and you can play anything.
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