Crafter FX-550EQ

Horrible Guitar. Very akward shape and weight. Very unbalanced, very uncomfortable. The slippery polycarbonate material doesn't match the thick gloss finish of the horribly audacious "wood".

Horrible guitar. Extremely quiet. Best described as sounding as though it was dipped in motor oil then sold to a sucker like me. It was horribly muffled. I really can't explain it.

Terribly. The guitar never once held tune. New strings, adjustments, etc...nothing. All poorest quality materials.

The paint scratches when it touches air. The heavy gloss dents when dust lands on it. The wood looks like cardboard. The soundhole accent piece fell off and you could see the generic "felmer's" glue that didn't hold it on. As I said before it felt oily and soft. I could practically twist the neck right off.

Got on e-bay. Didn't bother.

Worst guitar I've ever touched. Been playing 15 years.

I don't know what it's made from, apart from wood, plastic (or glass fibre for the bowl) and the usual inexpensive metals for the other relevant bits. Frankly I don't care what it's made of and this price I don't feel I have the right even to ask. One thing I am beginning to realise though, we don;t need to spoil the planet in search of the best woods. Modern technology is enabling the Far Eastern manufacturers to continually improve and produce very decent alternatives. I've got several US and European guitars costing up to twenty times what this coast (Gibson; Rickenbacker; Black Mountain
Gold Tops etc etc)they ARE made from the "Right materials" but
the sound and playability gaps are NOT twenty times better.
It's cheap it's Korean, it's got no soul, it's bright, plastic and
slightly flash, but everything works on it and the sound and tone, amplified or not, is pretty good. I paid ??135 second hand & unmarked a spur of the moment and totally unplanned purchase as I was walking past a shop window in a distant town. I have 10 other guitars, I had previously thought about getting a smallish bowl back for when I'm not in the mood to play Parlour, Electrics, or Super Jumbos. This is a nice in-between size -projection is good and loud enough for most uses. We are not talking a professional tool here. It's basic economics. I like steak, but fancied something cheap, this is good tasty burger - a good alternative at a BigMac price, but decently beefy and much tastier than expected. There is no trickery here, this guitar is very good value for money. The tone is pleasant, it's a joy to play with. A bit like finding a 6foot blonde beauty but with a dark brown voice, and interesting. Not a common phenomenon, so it was a welcome surprise when I tried it out! I understand the top is spruce, it's a reasonably bright tone, but rich enough with it.
Shadow (USA) electronics - nowt special, but it works and has a decent bit of a tonal range. It's a nice gloss reddish/brown finish.
All in all very well made, except for a couple of slightly burred frets up near the sound hole. Smoothed off in a couple of minutes.
Everything else is as good as a high priced US made guitar.

Quite a rich full sound but bright enough.
For the price, try one and buy one, you cannot go wrong at this price.
Being one of a wide assortment of guitars that I own, I do try to give them all a run out (obviously depending on my mood at the time)
For those of you who maybe only want one general purpose guitar, who like to twang and sing along and maybe entertain a smallish group of people or maybe money is tighter, then I would highly recommend trying out this guitar. Play with it for more than a few minutes, it just might grow on you as it did with me in the shop.

Apart from a couple of very slightly burred (sharpish edge) frets
up by the sound hole, which I fixed in a couple of minutes. It is all pretty much a case of excellent value for money.
Yes it's plastic, but doesn't look or perform anywhere near as cheap as the price would suggest.
Very well made!

It all looks solid to me. I don't see why it shouldn't do a very
good job on stage - and survive. Personally, I would want to test it out further before recommending you perform with it in front of fifty thousand fans. Maybe they would expect a Taylor, Martin or Gibson.
Depends how snobby you are!

I gave it a a hard bit of Pinball Wizard strumming and it survived, so yes I don't see why it should fall apart for no reason.

Don't speak Korean and for ??135 second hand, if it does start to fall apart or it suddenly goes all crappy (DEFINITELY NOT EXPECTED), then I would recoup some of my money and burn it for heating.
If you pay peanuts for something, you can't expect much in the way of a service back up or warranty. It's a cheap guitar not a motor!
I wouldn't even try to contact them if it fell apart. I just don't buy
one again.

Been playing 40 odd years. I've got all sorts, from medium to high end equipment. This Crafter is the cheapest guitar I own, but by no means the poorest quality. It is excellent value for money!
I love it's price to performance ratio.
Being a smaller body, and bowl backed, it's great for playing whilst sat on a sofa etc etc., and for those quieter moments alone.

This is Korean made - it's not a problem. I tried out a few guitars around this price and this was head and shoulders above them all. It has 22 frets, and it has a beautiful bubinga solid top which is stunning to look at. It has 4 band active EQ electronics which seem to work perfectly. The whole guitar has a real solid feel about it and is very comfortable to play, due to the fairly thin bowl back. It really punches out the sound at all levels, both unplugged and plugged in.

My musical style is mainly Indie/Rock - I like to put my own twist on songs and try to play them as they haven't been heard before, I try to avoid effects (apart from gain with my electric), and I like to figerpick an acoustic. This guitar is perfect for this. One of the earlier reviewers said they felt this was a strummers guitar - I don't agree, this guitar has a good range and sounds really bright when figerpicking. I will use whatever amps are available, but my own amp is a VOX valvetronix AD60VT. I can get a good sound out of this.

The action was a little high, but I haven't adjusted it because it wasn't a big problem. I had a good look for flaws on the guitar, and only found a slight blemish on the plastic around the sound hole - I am being hyper critical.

This guitar, as I have said already, just feels really solid and dependable. I could be wrong, I've only had it a couple of weeks, but I consider it the best guitar I currently own. I already depend on it, but I always carry spare batteries.

Not dealt with them

I'm not a collector of guitars - my wife won't let me! so I only normally have an electric and an acoustic at any one time. I've owned electro/acoustics in the past - a Washburn jumbo which was lovely, and a Yamaha which was OK, but this is the first bowl back I've owned, and I am very happy with, I just love how it feels and the sound it kicks out. If it was stolen? I would kick next door's cat to death in anger and frustration, then claim on the insurance for the guitar and buy another one (Crafter not cat)

Korean made capsule-backed (epoxy/fibre, not plastic as has been stated here.) electro-accoustic. 22 frets, well fitted. Laminate top, i think, bookmatched in a lovely shiny deep red/brown stained and lacquered to a fine gloss, walnut-like effect, quite pleasing to the eye really. :) Has a 4-band eq, with mute, volume and phase reversal controls. Electronics are really good, not expected on a guitar of this price at all (199 GBP from curly music, liverpool) solid tuners, hold very well with smooth action. got a free soft case with mine. fairly thin neck, but straight and well finished binding on neck. 4-ply binding on body between

Picked up this guitar because i was looking for a budget and portable electro acoustic and the sound astonished me. it has a full bass and just feels tight when played, no rattley frets, tinny lows or scratchy highs. excellent volume and projection when unplugged and a hi-fi sound when plugged in, tight bass and clear top end, i couldnt beleive this was only 199, it feels, sounds and looks as good as a guitar twice the price. i think the only thing that betrays the price bracket would be that the peghead logo is silk-screened silver rather than inlayed.

guitar was set up a little high, and the plastic saddle looks a bit sloppy, might buy a bone saddle or clean this one up a little, doesnt affect the tone though so not really a factor.

seems solid, would gig this without backup, but would take spare batteries of course silly :P everything seems well put together, hardware and electronics all look like theyre here to stay, but this remains to be seen as i only bought it today. the only exception is the soundhole surround which looks a bit femmer, but its not crucial and if it comes off a little epoxy would hold it. all in all looks like a solid 'twah.

1 year warranty from music shop, seemed helpful, if something went wrong i would take it back to them, if they couldnt help i would probably repair it myself, i couldnt be fussed with sending it back to the manufacturer

I own 9 guitars and basses, mostly electrics, this accoustic is as user-friendly to play as an electric, once the factory action is lowered a bit, with its thin body and shallow-radius neck. Factory strings were excellent. just need a proper accoustic amp now to take full advantage! :D looked at yamaha APX3's and 5's, this guitar is similar, and can hold its own no bother against these more expensive alternatives! an excellent choice for beginner and experienced player alike. i would reccomend this guitar heartily.

wish it had a coffee maker.

I bought this guitar because I wanted an electro-acoustic for playing in clubs and pubs and it looked cool. I bought it mail order for just over #200 and when it came and I saw the label 'Made In Korea' I flipped. But within 10 minutes I'd changed my opinion totally. The finish is excellent, the woods are superb and even-grained, and the tuners are very good too. I tune it regularly and never have to give it more that just a tweak. The only weak point is the lid for the battery container - it's not anchored and I know that one day I will lose it! The bowl-back I thought at first was a bit crude, but it isn't; it's also extremely tough, which is great for me as I'm somewhat careless. The Shadow pickup as fitted is adequate, but no more. In my opinion, this guitar deserves better quality electrics, but that may just be nit-picking.

Unamplified, it is loud, but not unduly so. Amplified through my Marshall AS50 it sounds terrific. No rattle, no buzz, even right up the fretboard. The bass is rich, and the treble doesn't shriek like some guitars. I can't fault it, really.

When I received it, I thought the action was very high, at least for me. I adjusted the neck with the Allen key provided, and improved it, but it's still not perfect. The factory strings are good, and still OK after more than 1 year's regular playing. I really cannot find any flaws with this guitar - the frets were dead accurate, the materials of construction as I'd choose myself, the hardware very good quality, the finish excellent (in blue). One slight negative point is that when you look into the soundhole you can see some rather crude textile reinforcement, but who looks into the soundhole anyway? For the price, it is difficult to come to terms with the overall high quality of this instrument.

I play this guitar regularly on live gigs and have had absolutely no problems. The hardware seems very well made and durable. The finish of the top is hard and deep, but perhaps just a touch brittle, as I once accidentally tapped it with a key and it chipped. (Tip: a spot of nail varnish will rectify small chips!). The strap buttons are well solid. I use it solo on gigs and have never felt that it will cause me a problem. It is a totally dependable instrument and will very likely last longer than I will!

Never need support. Can't remember how long the warranty is, but I'd be surprised if I ever need it.

I've been playing seriously for about 5 years and own 2 other (acoustic) guitars. I bought the Crafter really because of its looks, and was glad I did. I would definitely buy another if I had to, no question. It's a classy instrument at a silly price, and I'm surprised that you see so few Crafters here in the UK. The only criticisms I have are the loose battery-compartment cover and the rather cheapo Shadow pickup, but I can live with both of those. I feel good when I'm playing it, and the guitar also feels good and it's comfortable to play standing up. I love it!

This model has some nice (but limited) features considering the price bracket it falls into. Remember, this is no Martin, so its low on frills . The pick up is (suprisingly-impressively) very good for such a cheap guitar, it sounds as good as it did when I bought it two years ago. The only thing I dont like is that it requires a battery (it sucks up juice like there's no tomorrow). The tuners are nothing to write home about but do the job without fault. There are 21 frets, all accessible thanks to the simple (but successful) cut-away. With a laminated top the tone is not breath taking, but, again, this is not a Martin. This is a sub #300 acoustic, and the top does the trick. The trebles, in particular, sparkle. The back is a plastic of some sort, and it gives the guitar a lot of volume for its depth (about 3 inches). The factory strings have nice clarity and feels comfortable, if a little sticky at first. The features are good, really, in regards to the price, so they get a nice rating.

This guitar is really for strummers, rather than finger-pickers, as the bass lines lack impression and the tone isn't jaw dropping. There isn't a lot that can be said about sound for this geetar as it doesnt have a price to demand a full tone. None the less, it can achieve a nice range of effects before it begins to get muddy, thanks to the impressive pick-up. A general, no frills, no spills sound for the guitarist who doesn't crave that Taylor/Martin depth.

This guitar proves that Asian built guitars are underrated. There were no blemishes what so ever with my model. Apparently, Crafter dont produce as many guitars as they COULD, so the attention to detail is far higher than some. This was the case with my piece. The action was even, the neck straight, the strings fitted well and general ware was perfect. However, where this guitar shines more so than any other department, is finish. My piece is a beatiful green stain, with black fade around the edges of the top. The inlay is smart, and the wood looked clean. This is where the guitar shone, its a real looker.

All I need say is that I have had this (REMEMBER! LESS THAN #300 MODEL!)for over two years and the ONLY damage is a nick in the laminate where I dropped a knife onto the top (don't ask). It's a well put together strummer which probably couldn't handle big tours, but it wont struggle to keep up with the rigours of home entertainment.

The only dealing with the company I had was to find out how much of the cost of guitar went towards shipping/importing/PROFIT MAKING... etc, as no English shop dare tell you. They were unscary, simplistic, straight forward and frill-less, like the guitar. Perhaps they lacked enthusiam, but none the less, it wasn't a BAD experience.

I'm sixteen and have played for nine years, so I think that puts me in enough stead to have an OPINION and knowledge of guitars. This was my first real guitar, and I want to keep it untill I can play no more, as it is just so averagely faultless. But, financial happenings mean I have to sell it along with my Burns Marquee, Ibanez acostic amp and Marshall FX in order to upgrade to a truly good guitar. I have realised that I only want to play acoustic, and so am funding towards the purchase of a Taylor. This Crafter is no Taylor. Its just a well built, no frills, value for money, playable, attractive acoustic. End of. I love it because I have had it for longer than any girl. There you go.

Same features as all the others here (of course) but mine is the black model

The sound is really OK. Unplugged it has a crystal sound, loud enough! What I would recommend people who use this guitar in a band, is to use the Boss AC-2 pedal with it. You don't believe your ears! This acoustic simulator pedal just adds this sparkling sound you want from a acoustic guitar!

No flaws, maybe it picks up resonances too easy if you play it amplified, I solved this by putting in a piece of imitation fur (looks like I've got a rabbit in my guitar) Some people put a plastic lid on the soundhole for the same reason....

so far so good!

no need of them so far....

I've been playing 34 years now and I must say I'm impressed by this guitar! I play in a mainly blues band and it suits me fine. I also play a Aria Pro ES 335 model, gives a good contrast in sound! If it were stolen or lost, I would buy it again....

My comments are very similar to the rest of those here, but I'll go on about a few things:

- Three things in particular impressed me about this guitar. First, the quality of the tuners is excellent. I've got tuners in my USA made Fender Strat that don't turn as smoothly. They also hold a tuning very well

- Second, is the quality of wood and degree of precision in the neck. The fret construction is excellent. At this price range, one would expect to see at least one poorly set fret, but that wasn't the case.

- Third, the quality of wood is incredible, and the sunburst is aging very well. I would say that the top of my guitar looks even better than the one that is featured on the Crafter website.

This guitar would be great as a stand-alone, without the pickup. It is just that loud. I'm impressed with the power of the bass strings on this guitar. A lot of products in this price range tend to sound thin and tinny, but not the Crafter.

The pickup itself is well made, and the on board controls allow me to tune more towards the bass without compromising the higher range. The pickup seems to capture each string equally. I play this guitar through Cakewalk Sonar on my computer, and it works just fine. The only minor flaw is a very, very slight static in the 7500 Hz range, which I can easily edit out.

I bought this guitar used, so I can't say anything about the factory finish.

I'm the third owner of this guitar (bought it off of e-bay), and it still seems very solid, if not better with age. It is a very solidly built guitar, with a deceivingly light weight (due to the resin back)

Didn't deal with the company.

I bought this guitar during a year when I wen't to the UK to study and didn't have much money. At the time, I was very, very prejudiced against any bowl/resin/plastic backed guitar. I frankly didn't see how they could have any resonance whatsoever.

The Crafter really blew the doors off of my expectations. The quality of build was incredible for the price. I also own an Ibanez bass, and in general am very impressed with Korean built intstruments.

Really, I can't think of any substantial flaw with this guitar. The one thing I can't figure out is why Crafter hasn't cracked the market yet. If people knew how good this guitar was, and appreciated the value, every musician would own or play one at some point in his or her career.

My advice: buy this guitar if you're looking for a reasonably priced acoustic that sounds so big no-one will ever suspect you paid less than 500 pounds for it.

Same features as all the others here (of course) but mine is the red color model.

The sound of this guitar is amazing. Unplugged, it has to be one of the loudest acoustic guitars I've ever played. When I saw the composite back on the guitar I was thinking "Ovation". No Ovation I've ever tried can get this kind of volume (or sounded as good). And the tone is sweet and clear as a bell. The Shadow pickup works fine and the EQ provides enough tonal variation for just about anything you'd want. I like everything about the sound and dislike nothing.

I bought this guitar used so I don't know how it came from the factory. I will say that it is a beautiful guitar. The wood grain is extremely handsome and shows through the laquer. The hardware is quality stuff, no problems there at all. If there were any flaw (I doubt there were) they were fixed before I got the guitar.

I've had this guitar for about 2 years now. I have gigged with it in clubs, outdoors, parties, etc. It is very very well made and barring an accident should last a long time. It does not consume batteries at an alarming rate. The finish appears to be tough as nails. It looks much the same as the day I first played it.

Never dealt with the company but they are a division of Hohner. It's my understanding that the Hohner company has been around for quite some time. If your service sucks, you don't get to stay around for a long time.

I've been playing for 38 years and I own at least one of everything. I have 2 other acoustic electrics (Carvins; and my reviews are on Harmony-Central). This guitar is the best full bodied acoustic electric I've ever used. It is remarkable to me that a guitar can sound this good both acousticly AND electricly. I recently did some recording with mine. The engineer had never heard of Crafter before. He's now seeking to buy one for his studio. My Carvin AC175 & AC 275-12 are fantastic but they are useless unless plugged in. What I wish is that Crafter would do some heavy duty marketing/advertising. J.Q. Public doesn't know about this guitar but he should.

when made: N/A
made where: Japan
frets:21
solid top: yes
laminated:no
controls: 2-volume 2-tone 2-mic switches
pick up:N/A
make of pickups:N/A
woods: ash
finish: flamed
neck/scale: thin frets and a thin neck
accesories: wami bar

style of music: heavy metal
amp: crate amps
efects:N/A
noisy: depends on the amp
sound: just fine
kind of sounds: acoustic sounds/ electric
variety: small
likes: the way it looks and sounds
dislikes:restringing it

set up: very well
action is perfect
pick ups:N/a
top: properly book matched
bridge: routed fine
flaws:a messed up turning peg

i dont know
hardware will last
finish will last
strap buttons are solid
yes
no

never delt with the company
repairs:none
warenty:N/a

ive been playing 3 months
gear: a case and an amp cord
no
get something else
i love the style of it and the coloring and the way its designed
what i hate: the messed up string peg
favorite feature: whamy bar
no
none
why i chose this one:it was sitting ther unused for a while so i bought it
the barnd of the guitar is FIAMA