MF selling Ravelles for $499

[kherman]

Very good guitars.
Great buy at $499.
If I was in the market for another Ravelle, I'd be all over this.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=513217

If your looking for a good lp type guitar or a backup to your current LP.
Or maybe first guitar for your kid.
These are worth looking into.
I prefer them over the MIK or MIC Epi's.

But, I know.
The Ravelle shapes not for everyone.
The horn does serve a function.
It hugs your leg better than a conventional LP horn when sitting with the guitar.
Doesn't slide around as much.

and they do come with the Duncan Jazz/JB stock, which is cool.

Just thought I'd pass this along.

 

[Guest]

Re: MF selling Ravelles for $499

Those wine reds just torment my wallet...

 

[kherman]

Re: MF selling Ravelles for $499

Unfortunately the wine red are NOT on sale.
Just the Black, White, and Honeyburst.

 

[ErikH]

Re: MF selling Ravelles for $499

I don't know why, I but kinda dig that shape. It's sort of an Icman/Les Paul combo. If I had money to burn I'd snag one for the heck of it, honey burst.

 

[Wattage]

Re: MF selling Ravelles for $499

I love the shape, very comfortable but I have a to disagree on QC. I played a handful of them looking to buy one when they came out and I have played a few here and there since and every single one had some major QC issue.

Fret inlays not level with the board, electronics that didn't work, poorly filed frets and a nut that wasn't even close to being seated properly were just some of the issues and the tuners were atrocious. I would like to see one of those made in Japan or even one of the better MIK factories and I bet I would buy one but the Chinese ones were not worth it IMO. They went cheap and it shows big time IMO, it is a shame too because that is a great looking modern take on an LP with a lot of the more popular Japanese style changes.

 

[kherman]

Re: MF selling Ravelles for $499

Actually Wattage,

Many of us Ravelle owners found it to be the other way around.
The MIC from around '02-'04 (mines a '03) being more consistant in QC.
Then late '04 and part of '05 Fernandes did switch to MIK production for a while.
On the MIK they were doing larger cavity routes on the back, plastic nut instead of the graphite nut, scarfed neck/headstock instead of one piece, Gotoh instead of grover tuners, a different TOM, larger route for inlays (resulting in more fill), maple necks instead of mahogany.
This was really evident on the Ravelle Limiteds that were out.

Since then, my understanding is they have switched back to MIC.
Grover tuners, graphite nuts, mahogany necks, smaller routes, one piece necks, etc.. again.

There were a few discussions on it over at H.C and on the Fernandes forum.

I know there were a few places selling factory seconds as well (Music-go-Round for one). Fernandes was purposely putting a chip (nickel size) in the horn to identify it as a second. Don't know why they didn't just use a 2nd stamp on back. But, none the less there were more issues with those than just the chip.

MIC can be identified with FG starting the serial number.
MIK start with FSG.

Mines an '03.
I've had it for 3 years now.
It's held up great.
No issues.

By the way there is a MIJ Custom model.
http://www.fernandes.co.jp/start_up.html
There used to be a California USA made customshop model back in '03-'04.
But, I believe the customs are all MIJ now.
I'm not sure if they can be order from a USA store.
Might just be Japan market only.

 

[kherman]

Re: MF selling Ravelles for $499

MIJ Ravelle

http://www.fernandes.co.jp/ravelle/jpc/ravelle_jpc_main.html

 

[Wattage]

Re: MF selling Ravelles for $499

380000 JAPANESE YEN (JPY) = 3202.778 US DOLLAR (USD)

They look great but OUCH!!!!

The first batch I played were definitely all MIC, all from the same shop. They were really hot on them and definitely were hoping I would score one. I suppose if they had done setups on them they would have found broken switchs and non functional pots. The other ones I played I couldn't tell you origin for usre I assumed they were all MIC. I gues at $499 I could deal with changing out the guts and doing a full setup on, I do like them.

 

[Sludgenutz]

Re: MF selling Ravelles for $499

Here is a blem Elite in the red color...but not the same price:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=513216X

The real reason for my post is that I love the shape of the Ravelle...but what I do not see is the space-age era pickguard! The pickguard has the style of the cartoon Jetsons/1972 Elvis' sunglasses...with holes in the pickguard like a 1950's/1960's car lot/gas station/Denny's.

For some reason, the Ravelle just tickles my fancy. But it has to have that pickguard!

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: MF selling Ravelles for $499

i am definitely feelin the ravelle vibe