Crafter FSD-400

Korean made, I bought it in 1997, I couldn't tell you when it was made. When I bought it, no one knew anything about, or had even heard of Crafter Guitars. They didn't have a website and American dealers were hard to find. Solid Tiger-maple top. 22 Frets. It has a Crafter F-510R with Bass, Midd, Treb. and Pres. Fiberglass back. Gloss Finish. F-holes rather than standard round hole.

I play rhythm, classic rock and country, with a healthy dose of everything else. It has beautiful tones. Great for picking as well as rhythm. This guitar is not a giant dreadnaught, so one can't expect to get the incredibly deep, rich tones that an all-wood jumbo gives, but it still has a rich, clean sound, although brighter than a bigger guitar. When I first bought it, I had trouble with sound through the pickup. It turned out to be the amp. I play this through a Fender Twin and its awesome. I can't find any criticism of the sound. I bought this guitar the same day I was walking in to buy an Ovation I had my eye on. The Ovation stayed in the store.

When I picked up this guitar in 97, it was covered in dust in the back of a local guitar store. The unique design (The wood-inlaid f-holes) caught my attention. After wiping the dust off, I realized how beautifully crafted the guitar is. Factory set-up was ideal. I haven't had any work done because its not necessary. The action is fast and easy. This guitar NEVER goes out of tune. Heat, cold, bumping, playing, really, it takes some heavy playing to disturb the tuning. I've spent a lot of time examining this guitar. I've found one flaw. There is some slight glue spread in one spot at the top of the neck, where the body binding meets the neck binding.

I've owned this axe for six years. Its done numerous live performances, played in the rain on one occasion, has seen parties, family outings and pretty much any other occasion that calls for guitar playing. It has a thick gloss finish that doesn't have a scratch on it, yet. I am extremely careful with this guitar, but I have managed to bang it quite a few times, and a friend dropped it once onto a hardwood floor. It still looks like new. Strap buttons are very solid. It is as dependable as they come. I don't use a backup.

No opinion because I've never need support. I'd say that's the best kind.

I've been playing for eight years. I own a 1968 Ovation Thunderhead and a 1972 Strat. I would definitely buy another, God forbid anything happens to this beautiful guitar!) as long as the new ones are of equal quality. The FSD-400 has changed since I bought it. The pickup is different and there are some minor cosmetic changes (to the good)otherwise they look the same. I love the sound, the action, the overall playability. It doesn't have that awful, completely rounded tub back that Ovation makes, so it isn't always rolling around, trying to roll up while you're playing. I also love its unique look, the quality of the binding, and that this cheap 289 dollar guitar has an abalone inlay in the outer binding. When I bought this axe I had the money in my pocket to buy an Ovation Elite that day. I picked up this guitar and knew from the first chord that I was hooked. I don't know if every FSD-400 has what this particular one has. It has soul. you can hear it in every note. I'd give up my Strat before I gave up this cheap, awesome, unknown guitar. How can you beat the price and quality? You could pay 1200 dollars for a guitar and not get the sound, craftsmanship and beauty of a Crafter guitar.