Blade Guitars Classic

22 fret, Maple neck, fretboard. Tobacco Sunburst finish, white pickguard. Strat configuration (s/s/s). Gold Sperzel tuners. Blade falcon tremolo (a great piece, you can uptrem, but the bridge stays flush with the body, and it stays in tune! The countoured neck is phenomenal, I can't say enough good things about it. The VSC circuitry acts as a fully adjusttable "preamp," adjusted with an eyeglass screwdriver through an opening in the battery compartment on the back of the guitar. Thus, you can interchange passive pickups without losing the active electronics. This guitar was made prior to the current Musicians Friend line; the headstock doesn't have that "lip." The only thing I don't like about it is the tremolo bar. It screws in. So in order to be tight, you have to keep winding it in, and sometimes it stops directly over the pickups or something. And nothing is worse than a tremolo bar that swings all over the place. However, I rarely use tremolo, so it's a non-issue.

I love this guitar. I run through Mesa Boogie amps, and use Seymour Duncan pickups. I had to replace the pickups due to their age and heavy usage. I run a Hot rails in the bridge, a Vintage Staggered in the middle, and a Vintage rails in the neck. The possibilities are limitless, especially with the VSC circuitry. I've owned several others, but this is my workhorse.

I bought it used from a guy who really took care of it. Action was great. No problems. Finish is gorgeous, but I bought it to play it, not to show it.

I am a very physical player. I've lost a volume nob, and had to reposition the strap button from the edge of the horn to underneath it, so the strap comes up over the edge of the horn. I pulled the button out, but that's because I leap over drumsets from atop cabinets. I replaced the strap buttons on all of my guitars in this way, and it has proven very beneficial. I always play with a backup, no matter what. I've disconnected my share of input jacks. I had to plug and redrill the holes for the input jack plate, as front-routed guitars seem to be more prone to injury. I play for a theatre in Columbus OH, and also in a band with a former vocalist for Faith No More, so the musicianship has to be there as well as the acrobatics. This guitar takes it. I've I'm feeling really abusive, I use an Ibanez w/EMG's instead; the last thing I want to do is put this guitar out of commission.

Never had to deal with them. They are, however, in Switzerland, so go to a dealer you know and trust

I'd absolutely buy one again, although I'm always experimenting. If I bought another one, I'd use it strictly for studio purposes. Next time, I may go with something with a little wider neck for stage use. I also have a Blade Legend (tele), but I don't use it near as much. I wish the tremolo bar pushed and snapped in, as opposed to winding in.