Brian Moore Guitars i2.13

Brain Moore i2.13 Les Paul style guitar, made in Korea. This guitar was purchased new in 2002. The neck has a 24-3/4 inch scale, made of 3 piece Kalantas Mahogany, 22 frets, 12 inch radius and a Rosewood fingerboard. The frets are tall which make for superb bending. The tall frets may not be to liking of all players. The contoured body is Kalantas Mahogany with a highly figured maple top (top is veneered). Gold hardware. The matching headstock is scuplted and includes Sperzel Tuners locking tuners. All strings exit the graphite nut straight to the tuners (no offset). The headstock has an unusual 2 by 4 arraingement. The guitar comes with Elixer strings (.009's). You can see the guitar and specs at the Brian Moore web site -> http://bmcguitars.com/iguitar/ig2.13.html

Controls include volume and tone for the two Gold covered Seymour Duncan humbucking pickups. The tone control has a pull-up feature for splitting the coils on the pickups (single coil strat type sound). The tune-o-matic style RMC bridge does triple duty. It is nicely adjustable for string height and string length. It is also a peizo pickup for acoustic sounds (with separate volume control), and it is also a divided pickup for 13 pin (GK-2) synths, amps, etc. There is also a separate volume control for synth output. This volume control is black in color to help differentiate it from the other volume controls. Two switches are also provided. One for switching patches on your synth (via the 13 pin cable) and the second for selecting the RMC (divided) pickup, magnetic pickups, or combining both. The rear mounted 1/4 inch jack is great. It is too bad that the 13 pin connector wasn't put in the back also. It is mounted on the bottom (Les Paul style).

The BMC i2.13 has more features than any other guitar in it's price range and BMC has made it very easy to navigate through them.

I play mostly classic rock and some jazz. I have been playing on and off for about 30 years. I do not play professionally. The guitar sounds great. The bridge Seymour Duncan pickup is fantastic for lead work. It really cuts through the mix. When playing power chords this pickup really shines. The neck pickup is a little bassy for my liking but when playing jazz or rhythm grooves it is very passable. Both pickups are extremely quiet. The peizo pickup is very typical of most peizo pickups, in my opinion. It works extremely well when mixed with the acoustic sounds on my Roland VGA-7 amplifier. The RMC divided pickup tracks like a dream with the VGA-7. Just about any kind of sound that you might want at a gig or for jamming can be conjoured up with this guitar and a VGA-7 (or a VG-8, VG-88, GR-33, etc). Variety of sounds is what this guitar is all about. I give a rating of 9 only because of the neck pickup... otherwise it's a 10.

The guitar came from the factory with Elixer strings (.009's I think). I swithed to .011's because that's what I like. Other than that, the factory setup was very good. The guitar stays in tune no matter how I play it. Very stable. I did adjust the tune-o-matic bridge down a little from the factory setting.

The finish on this guitar was awesome. Bookmatched maple top is gorgeous. Ivoroid binding is very nice. The overall appearance is fantastic for a guitar of this price. The sculpted body is light, but not too light, and is very comfortable. Looking at the guitar from and end view, the body has a large sweeping radius which adds to it's beauty. See picture here -> http://bmcguitars.com/

I haven't had it long enough to comment on reliability but, the guitar looks and feels like a million bucks. It appears very sturdy and the set neck joint appears to be very solid.

I have only had email questions so far and BMC responded quickly. You can also register the guitar on their web site -> https://secure.surfhawaii.com/brianmoore/add.taf

Overall I am very please with this guitar. I also own a Gibson Les Paul Custom (1972), a Gibson ES-330 (1967) and Takamine FD-360 (1999). I must say that this guitar ranks right up there with my other guitars. If it were lost or stolen I would certainly get another one. The only item I will change is the strap buttons to strap locks. As mentioned previously, the tall frets took some getting used to for me, but other than that, it's a great guitar.

Brian Moore, Tobacco Sunburst, i2p.13 guitar. Les Paul type with Seymour duncan pickups,sperzel locking tunners.piezo bridge... The neck not sure of radus but 24.75 scale(les paul) but much flatter then the Pauls I played. I did get a stereo Y cable but basically that is all that comes with it. For 1200 bucks I think it should come with at least a gig bag but I told Brian Moore that so hopefully they will listen. All major specs are true to the web page.

No noise and comming from strats it is kind of nice. Of course with the coil splitting option I can get right back to the 60 cycle hum! I play rock, bluesy type stuff with just enough funk to make it fun. I run this guitar through a Fender Twin "Evil Twin" all tube amplifer, a sansamp PSA-1 preamp, a boss Chorus Pedal, Ross Phaser and Crybaby!
Okay here comes the criticisms...sort of. I don't know how they do it but it seems that there is an up-sized portion of bass in the neck pickup! I have loswered the neck pickups bass side but with very little difference. I am running fender 10's because elixir strings suck and the high E broke on me the first night I owned the guitar. Back to my gripe...The low end is workable but when it is just too much I can split the coil and then I get a good clean sound. Single coil through an all tube amp just can't be beat. I will knock it down a point for the too bassy neck pickup.

Elixir makes some very expensive strings and for an electric guitar they are just no good. But for acoustic I love Elixir strings. I replaced mine the next day with 10's and raised the bridge to get rid of the fret buzz the guitar came with. I ordered it from Triple R Guitar in PA and they did not set it up till I got it home and played it for a few days and broek it in. But as of now it can't be beat! Still going down a point for the Elixirs and fret buzz.
Tobacco finish is just BEAUTIFUL and blemish free!!! Just darn pretty.

Nah, always take a backup you just never know but excetpt for freak accidents this guitar is plenty durable. I am worried though about the finish lasting. Though it is not their fault I tend to get into picking (SRV style) and hit the guitar above the strings. This could wear it out but so far so good. Playing live should be no problem.

I talked to them before I bought the guitar and they seemed very helpful. I am working on getting the 13 pin Midi replaced with a five PIN so when they get back to me I will let you know what I think more. I will give them a five for now but if they give me a problem with the midi conversion I will be taking them down. For 1200 bucks they should offer a 5 PIN midi as well as the 13 and since they don't they should make the customer happy! My opinion.

I would get another one for sure...might get one anyway. I might take the neck pickup out and spin it around in hopes of making it sound less bassy. Might e-mail Seymour Duncan too and see what they say. I chose this guitar after about 8 months of decision making. I own a Fender Waynes world strat,1991, and a Mexi-strat. I wanted something with humbuckers and played I think every guitar out there. And I came down to three... A les Paul Studio, a PRS cutom 22 and Brian Moore. The Les Paul just flat out lost just not enough options or ways to vary tone. The PRS almost won except that its coil splitting sounded too nazzle. The Brian Moore has midi, piezo, humbuckers, superbe finish, seymour ducnanse and coil splitting! So, for me it was just right. I can do anything with this guitar(almost) right out of the box. I am not a person who plays a lot of guitars or wish to acquire a lot of guitars but my strat and this guitar are perfect...for me anyway. Go out and play one for yourself. And compare bug the salesperson till they can't stand to see you anymore, web research, talk to friends and maybe you will agree with me or not but you have to at least play one of these babies.

This is basically a Les Paul type. Mahogany/Maple with set neck.
Pickups are H/H/Piezo. The RMC bridge system allows for both Piezo output for acoustic sound (like acoustic only different) and 13 pin Roland system connection. Enough switches are provided to select pickups and control synth, but not to select piezo to guitar output of 13 pin cable. Had to knock it down a point for not having the piezo available to the 13 pin.

I got this for the sound of the guitar. I had a Strat for my midi rig but didn't care for the sound of it in guitar mode because I'm used to my Les Paul. The sound of this is not identical but comes close enough for stage work. Seems a little darker. With coil tap in single coil mode it is very thin and weak execpt on the front pickup so I don't use that mode much.

This guitar is excellent in this department. Most players would consider it perfect, but I find the jumbo frets a little big for my personal taste.

I've had it for about a month and haven't had any problems. I plan on gigging with it.

Haven't had to deal with them other than registering warrantee via their website. The fact they are accessible via the web is a plus compared to some other major manufacturers who only use the web to advertise.

I've been playing 37 years. I would replace it right away if it got lost or stolen. It's nice to have something affordable to gig with so the irreplaceable stuff can stay home. This would be the perfect guitar for me if: It had a switch to route piezo to 13 pin and low flat frets like my Les Paul.

This bookmatched Quilted maple top Les Paul style guitar from Brian Moore is manufactured in Korea. The set kalantas mahogony neck is a three piece laminate, and is seated deeply into the kalantas mahogony back. The specialty acpect of this guitar is that it is loaded with an RMC bridge, and Roland 13 pin synth output. The gold Piezo Tune-O-Matic bridge, and stop tailpiece are nicely done, and solidly mounted. The controls for the synth driver include a Volume control, and mix switch that allows the selection of Synth/Mix/Magnetic, and a selector switch that chooses program options on the synth. It Also had a gold covered Seymour Duncan JB in the bridge, and Alnico Pro II in the neck positions. The controls are single volume and tone for the two of them, but there is a coil tap when the tone knob is pulled. There is also a piezo volume control that allows you to control the bridge volume. This feature however requires a stereo plug for the jack that splits into a magnetic, and piezo output. Only the magnetic sounds can be routed out via the synth jack, not the 'acoustic' natural piezo pickup. The whole thing is powered by an easily accessible 9 volt battery in the back of the guitar, with it's own compartment and door.
The neck is a small rounded shape that is somewhat wide. It's 12" radius ebony fingerboard feels really good with it's 22 medium jumbo frets, that are finished and shaped VERY well. and it's 4/2 headstock with sperzel locking tuners has a thick laminate of Quilted maple.

The i2.13 is a very good sounding guitar. I use it for Hard Rock, and some Jazz/Fusion, and it really sounds good. It sounds especially good teamed up with my new Roland VGA-7 amp (see seperate review), and it's synth driver abilities match up well with this amps capabilities. Though brighter than a Les Paul, it really is clean and quiet. Ii's coil tap allows the strat like sounds to come out with some shimmering highs. The body mass is also less than a Les Paul, so it avoids that whole muddyness on the bottom end. It REALLY becomes a versatial guitar when plugged into the VGA-7 or VG-8/VG-88. It can do Anything with respectable aplomb then. I truly like this guitar, and can't complain much, especially for the price.

The action of this guitar is excellent, and has required no tweaking from me. And in the two months I've had it, the neck has required no adjustments, even though winter has passed into spring here. The Maple top is a relatively thin veneer, and the bookmatching line isn't perfectly centered, but it IS pretty in the natural finish. The finish is clean and well done. No blemishes can be found, and the choice of a deep cherry red on the back of all the i2000 and iGuitars is an interesting choice. I am a bit unhappy with the bookmatching line, and the fact that the bridge pickup isn't perfectly square in it's mounting. The hardware, expecially the bridge could be a bit better casting. but for it's price it's really hard to be critical of this instrument.

This guitar is solidly built and seems to be well finished. The hardware is probably going to fade from play, but even the most expensive gold finish will pit and wear with age. Everything is in the right place, and well seated. I would depend on this guitar, and belive it would do well at a gig, even though I am not currently playing out. The 13 pin connection sometimes drops out, when bumped however, and I see that as a major issue when playing live. I would be sure to have a second cord (regular cable) going to the amp in case the 13 pin midi failed.
I would not however play a gig without a backup in any case. It's just plain crazy not to have something else there in case of an emergency.

I have spoken with the president's wife Suzie Cummings. When I originally registered the warranty on it, I made comment about the bookmatch line, and they actually responded to me via E-Mail letting me knwo that if I needed anything, let them know.
I called and spoke with Suzie, who explained the construction of the guitar, and why it was a recent development that there were bookmatched tops at all. She mentioned that they are not perfect, like the custom shop instruments, because they are still learning over in Korea how to build this type of guitar with a consistant level of quality. She also told me that if I want it replaced, she would be happy to do so, and would prefer to see me blown away with the purchase.
To date I have not traded it in, though I have left that door open. I would say that all in all I am extremely happy with the responsiveness of the manufacturer.
This guitar comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

I have been playing for 20 years, and really have mellowed from my days a Metalhead. I am really impressed with the quality of this guitar, especially because it's a made in Korea.
If it were stolen or lost I would replace it without question, though I might wait a little longer to get the DC/1 instead. I alsi might choose a different color.
All the flaws I mentioned are minimal, excepting the loss of connection when the 13 pin cable wiggles too much. For that I am working on a solution however.
If you want a Les Paul, buy one. This looks a bit like one, and sound in my opinion superior in many ways. I would recommend it highly to anyone. Even without the Synth access it's a great guitar!