Product: Alamo Tonemonger Custom
Price Paid: US $2300.00
Submitted
09/28/2001
at
09:18pm
by
Anonymous
Email: JBTSI<at>Houston dot RR dot com
Features
:
10
2001, Made in Houston, Texas USA, 22 Fret, Flamed Koa top on Ash body, 3 Rio Grande Super Grande Single Coils, 5 way selector, one volume, one tone, Centerpoint tremelo system, "Strat Style" body. Flamed out maple neck/fingerboard. Case included.
Sound
:
10
Used with Fender Super Champ/Rivera Chubster 40. Quiet, quiet, quiet.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Setup fine. No flaws. I changed out the vintage type saddles with graphite.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Built like a fine piece of furniture - plays and sounds like an already broken in vintage piece.
Customer Support
:
10
Dave Wintz, President - Takes calls, responds to email, will educate you on the finer points of guitar construction. Whatever, it seems, that it takes to make the customer happy.
Overall Rating
:
10
The guitar is, bar none, the best Strat style guitar I have ever played. The Super Grandes are the best single coils I have ever heard - I am amazed at them. I cranked it up through a little Fender Super Champ amp (early ?80?s Paul Rivera design) and it was shocking. I have never heard a single coil sound so big and full - and quiet! Really amazing. It?s doesn?t have a midrange curve like a LP or Clapton Strat w/boost, yet it has awesome midrange. At the same time it still has that high end snap and sparkle. And the quack! The Fender goes ?quack? and it?s nice. The Tonemonger goes ?QUAAAACCCKKK? and you go ?Holy sh**, what was that?? I mean, you HEAR it.
I am all for cool Fender Custom Shop Strats. And every guitar has its place in the cosmos. I can even see the appeal of something like an Anderson. But I cannot imagine how anyone could A/B a Tonemonger next to a Custom Shop Strat or (or Anderson, Sadowski, Suhr, ALL EXCELLENT GUITARS BY THE WAY) and walk away with the Anderson or Fender in good conscious. Again, I CAN see the ?all my friends have Fender's? factor. I even understand it and have a degree of respect (and empathy) for the AMFHF factor. But pound for pound, true comparison, there is just no way someone could come to the conclusion from a side by side comparison that they are ?better.?
And no, I have no financial interest in Alamo Guitars (although I wish I did).
Product: Alamo Tonemonger Custom
Price Paid: US $1900
Submitted
01/25/2001
at
06:25am
by
Steve
Email: stevemasten<at>aol dot com
Features
:
10
99 Alamo Tonemonger Custom. Handmade in Texas, USA. 22 fret. Volume, one tone control, bound body in white, beautiful transparent orange finish with white pickguard. Beautiful Maple neck. Came with hardshell case. Tremolo bar is set in middle of bridge and looks awesome.
Sound
:
10
I play everything from blues to funk to bluegrass. This guitar is not noisy at ALL and the pickups sound gorgeous. Rich, warm sound with the tone down, turn it up and youve got a screamer. Sustains forever. I'm running it through a Line 6 Spider amp, without any effects or setting for this review. I'e never heard a nbetter sounding guitar.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Absolutely Perfect. I've never seen action this good. Perfectly straight and low the entire length of the neck (even near the pickups) and never frets out. The wood is perfect. The finish is perfect. This guiatr is any players dream.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Built like a tank, thank god for hand crafted guitars. Strap buttons are SOLID and BIG. This thing isnt going anywhere.
Customer Support
:
10
The guys at Alamo are great.
Overall Rating
:
10
If you can afford one, buy one. You WONT be disapointed.
