Re: Edwards Quality...
Alrighty..finally i can give Christian advice on something!
Pros :bigthumb:
Build quality is superb. Mine had one minor aesthetic issue: some bleed of the black from the headstock onto the side of the stock.
Frets absolutely perfect.
Nut absolutely perfect
Binding pretty much perfect.
Nice Rosewood board (not like the Korean crap you see)
Nitro top with beautiful maple veneer
Super slinky action, just played very very well. I really thought it had 9s on it it played so easy. I put new 10s on and was floored.
Import Klusons were just awesome. Along with the nut, I never had to tune the thing.
I've never seen anything built so well except my hamer and R8. for the $, it's just insane.
Cons :thumbsdow:
Thick satin poly finish everywhere else but the top. Much thicker than my Tokai. Wood grain on the back hardly showed through
Binding is cheesy "faux yellowed vintage"...looks cheap. Its not the right size or thickness...it almost looks like it's painted on.
Studs for Stop TP have a taller lip, so you cannot wind it down to touch the body for a topwrap. I'm not sure this is an issue though as the action is so slinky as it is, I think it would get way too sloppy topwrapped.
Feel: It looks great. It doesn't feel like a Les Paul. At all. It feels kinda cheap. The balance is not right.....it doesn't "hang" the same as the real deal. Mine wasn't too light (8.6 lbs) either. I cannot say for sure, but I believe the body dimensions are a little smaller than a real Les Paul. Some of the Epis I have had felt more like the real deal, some haven't. Basically It feels and plays like a ESP shredder axe or PRS, but is shaped like a Les Paul. My Tokai is closer to the real deal, however it's still not the same either.
I don't think the thick poly back and lacquer top helps. At least it did not on mine. While the guitar was pretty darn resonant, sustain was so-so for a Paula (so much for the long tenon theory). When a JB and 59 are not bright enough, well...
I think this is a sympton of the mahogany that the Japanese and Koreans use. EVERY SINGLE import (recent build, I've not played any vintage Tokais/Grecos, etc) I've had or played, Japanese or Korean..have not had the bright snappy, loud acoustic tone of any American built mahogany guitar I've played. They tend to be dark and muffled. I have a "cheap" Gibson Faded V right now that is still pretty warm sounding but is twice as loud as my imports, much fuller, with better clarity. Night and day. I a/b'ed my Firebird Studio and my old Faded LP standard w/ the Edwards, Tokai, and Epis as well and its the same exact thing.
It could be the poly vs. Nitro. It could be the wood. I'm inclined to believe it's the wood.
For the money they are great. I doubt you'll find a better built instrument for $700 . I would buy another one, but I know what to or not to expect out of it now. It's no Les Paul, but If ya want a beater for a gig, go for it. It's a great playing instrument.
