Brownsville GG1 Standard

This was hanging on the wall of SamAsh in 2007 and I was looking for an inexpensive guitar.

I assume mine is a GG1 "standard", it's called "GG1 Vintage Sunburst" in the receipt, but it's more like a "honey" or "amber" sunburst. I loved the color.

This is basically like an Epi Les Paul Standard, except the cutaway horn is pointy and the non-cutaway side is curvier, like a Tele.
Mahogany body/neck, maple arch top, rosewood fretboard. Set neck, of course.

2 humbuckers in gold covers and gold hardware (my preference).

Unlike a Les Paul, the 3-way switch is located near the knobs (in the same control cavity) and instead of 4, there's only 3 knobs - 2 volumes/1 master tone, which is fine for me. The 3 knobs are in a row. The wiring is like a typical PRS guitar with the same config.

The actual finish is very pleasant. I used to have an Epi Les Paul Custom (cherry sunburst) and this guitar looks much better. The mahogany grain on the neck and back/sides is really pleasant through the laquer. The maple top is mildly striped, sorta subtle. Could be better, but that's not the finisher's fault. This guitar cost me $175, but it plays/feels/sounds better than Epiphones double the price. And I DON'T CARE what the headstock looks like or what's written on it. I am a budget-minded hobbyist with no credit cards :)

It sounds like a Les Paul should. It's the same config - set neck, mahogany, maple top, etc. That's what I wanted.

I replaced the tuners with Wilkinson EZ-LOKs, replaced the bridge with Wilkinson Roller bridge and installed a Bigsby Vibrato piece. Also, to maintain tuning stability I had a nut cut for it from "slip stone" material. The roller bridge and slip-stone (delrine) nut were only needed because of the Vibrato.

I also installed 2 GFS Dream 180 humbuckers, which I like and recommend. I got all the parts from GuitarFetish.com - I am not disappointed!

I get great clear/defined sounds through my new Fender Superchamp XD (fully tube amp with 2 power tubes 6V6, 1 12ax7 as preamp/phase inverter, but with a digital modeler preamp with 16 voices, excellent amp!). I also intend to coil-split the humbuckers, but don't have all the parts yet. I managed to coil-split the neck pickup and in single-mode it also sounds SWEET. I can get Chris Isaak "Blue Hotel" or "Wicked Game" type cleans now.

In dual-coil mode it sounds great with overdrive - smooth, screaming, heavy, it's all there (with the right amp).

Action was also good at the store, no buzzes anywhere. I have since installed .11's on it, which are fine too. I've also had "Light Tops/Heavy Bottoms" on it (trebles are like .9's, basses are like .10's). All it takes is a few cranks of the truss-rod.

The guitar is VERY heavy - about 13 lb. No doubt, that's what contributes to tone.

VERY lovely finish. My Bigsby and other upgrades were also easy swaps. The stock hardware is useable, but you're better off upgrading.

Oh, I should mention that the pickguard and pickup rings were supposed to be "cream", but had a pink hue in them, which didn't match the binding. I managed to find a yellow pearloid pickguard, which matched the new pickups (also yellow pearloid gold covers) and some cream pickup rings. Now pretty! Another thing is that trapezoid inlays (position markers) are a white pearloid, which would look better as a cream or yellow. but that's no biggie.

Solid (after I replaced all the hardware). Strap buttons? I installed strap locks.

this is the best guitar i've ever had.

Brownsville is a SamAsh brand, so I don't know.

but I have 3 Brownsvilles - a solid-top acoustic dreadnaught, which I also love, similarly nice finish and also a violin (beatle) bass. They're all great for the money, but I recommend picking them out personally - they're not all consistently good.

Been playing over 10 years, love Les Pauls, but can't afford them. Not even an Epiphone. A similar Epi would run me more than double, but would still need all the same upgrades.

This one was the last at the store and they probably won't have exactly the same one again, but if they did I'd recommend it.

I rate it a 10 because at this price you EXPECT to upgrade components on a guitar.

For pics of my guitar and other comments go here:

http://www.agileguitarforum.com/viewthread.php?tid=4308&page=1#pid43273

and with the Bigsby:

http://www.agileguitarforum.com/viewthread.php?goto=lastpost&tid=4305&pid=43255

This is for the Brownsville GG1-Custom in Black.

Finish is an 8. It has a rosewood fretboard...I prefer maple, but this isn't as sticky as some rosewood feels...just my opinion. A very attractive guitar with the gold and black - a friend who recommended it said it was the tuxedo of guitar colors. It's made in china, at least that's what mine said. Seems lighter than a Les Paul Standard, but I don't own one so I can't do a direct comparison.

I'm really a Stat guy - I just like the chiminess of a Strat, but I'm open to all kinds of sounds. I did take back an Epiphone Les Paul Standard I got for xmas, because I just couldn't stand the muddyness. This guitar is a lot brighter with excellent sustain and clarity. I've been running it direct through a Line 6 Pod Pro XT and a Roland Cube 60. It's got a nice clear growl to it that works for me on even reasonably heavy distortion settings and warm clean tones. What can I say...I like it.

Set up at the factory is poor.

THE GOOD:
The intonation was close and I only had to tweak it a little. The gold hardware looks cool, but probably isn't of very high quality. Fit and finish are excellent for the price and better than average at any price. There were a few minor details that only the picky would notice (my guiter was hand selected from a group of 7 or 8 by a friend who has very exacting standards and recommended this guitar to me). Audio knobs are smooth and very reactive. Tuners appear to be good quality for the price. One was a little tight.

THE BAD:
The action was set very low...which is how most of us like it, but there were more buzzes than a beehive. I will take care of that soon.

THE UGLY:
The "1" string is so close to the edge of the fret board that playing lead in the 2nd - 4th fret range can cause the string to pop off the fret board as the frets are angled at the ends. I'll have to get a new nut and cut it to give me a better tollerance. This is unfortunate, but not fatal.

Overall, mine is excellent for the price and very good at any price, but it was selected from a group of many, and I heard that several in the group were significantly less than average quality.

Feels solid. I'm sure the gold finish won't last, but you never know...the used and abused look can be cool. I'm planning on a # inch + strap and strap locks.

The rear access panel on the body feels flimsy.

The official/unofficial site (I couldn't really tell) was deathly slow on my DSL connection.

Been playing long enough to know what I like and don't like.

They are now out of production. If lost, I don't think I'd replace it, but I would miss it.

I like that it has the growl and attitude of a Paul without being as muddy - it has an uncanny clarity to it. I don't know why that is, but I like it.

I hate the fret problem I mentioned above, but I'll fix it.

I didn't really compare it directly with others before I bought - though I had an epiphone Les Paul Standard for a week or two and I like the tone of this guitar better.

A friend recommended this guitar and he's very, very, picky. I use a 50th Anniversary American Deluxe Stratocaster as my main axe, and I was resolved to the fact that I'd have to spend $2300.00 for a real LP Standard to get a good quality guitar. You know, the real LPs sure are pretty - a lot better looking than this guitar, but I can honestly say that I like the sound of this guitar better than any real LP standard I've played and I'd take the ugliest guitar with the best sound any day...and this guitar isn't ugly - it's a tuxedo.

Bottom Line:
I like the tone. I like the feel. I love the price. Why are real LPs so expensive anyway? Oh yes, I remember... they say "Les Paul."

I think my guitar is this model. It is an LP style guitar. Black with gold plate hardware, neck and headstock binding with the body being bound with triple stripe binding. It came with two volumes and a tone, which I changed to two tones and a volume. Rosewood fretboard with block inlays. The Brownsville name is in what looks like abalone, very nice touch. It has pickup covers.

I bought this guitar while I was playing a gig, a dude sit in with us and was playing it. I normally don't like LP style guitars, but this thing has GRUNT. He offered to sell it to me and I snatched it up.
It has a very present sound without being bright. It REALLY cuts through without me having to play too loud ( when I am playing live I like to practice good volume control on stage). I play mostly rock era stuff like Hendirx and Clapton and a lot of blues or blues based rock. I also play some country and a lot of bar standards.
This guitar handles everything I do well, it has great tone and is at the same time very hot sounding, normally really hot pickups tend to lack tone. I can do everything from faux steel to quick lead runs for rock music. I like everything about the way it sounds.
I changed the control setup, I never understood the need for two tones and two volumes on a guitar. When I am on stage I don't want to have to fumble for the volume knob. I changed it to have one volume and two tones. I would rather have a three knob guitar than a four knob. Much easier to deal with live.
This guitar sounds VERY fat and present and doesn't bottom out on the neck pickup. The pickups sound very clean, not grungy at all, and when doing bar chords the individual strings ring out. This is one of the best sounding guitars I have ever played.

I think this is a Samick. It has Samick quality. Everything on the guitar is very well made and very tight looking. The binding is perfect, the finish is better than I am use to seeing on black guitars.
The only thing about the workmanship I see that even got my attention is that I can see under some of the frets a very tiny amount, which means they might not be seated good. However, none of the frets rattle and they seem very firm. The tuners are excellent, very smooth, they feel like a high tuning ratio.
I normally put a lot of work into my guitars to get them just so. All I did to this one was rewire it and pollish the frets a little.

This guitar is well made. If it is a Samick, it is definitely reliable, Samick makes some of the best instruments on the planet. I never go to a gig with only one guitar. I trust it as much as any guitar I have had.

I buy asian products because customer support is normally not neccesary with them. I got it used at a bargain and do my own teching so customer support is not neccesary to me anyway.

I have been playing 42 years.
I have a lot of guitars so I would not try to replace this if it walked away on me. Much as it will probably be my main gigging guitar from now on, and it sounds amazing and handles great, I didn't need it when I bought it, it was just a gem I couldn't pass up, but I have other guitars I like.
I have to say, I am not a LP fan, but have played a lot of domestic LPs and this guitar leaves all of them in the dust. It sounds better, has better action, and the workmanship is better than I see hanging in guitar shops.
This is a great guitar at any price. I don't care about image or headstock names, I need a guitar to do what I need when I rip off some leads, want some chunky rhythms, or pull out the slide to do some Statesborro blues.

If this guitar had an ebony fretboard and abalone neck markers it would be the cats ass.

Features are great for a beginning guitar. 2 humbuckers... ect. THe only thing it lacks is a whammy bar, but thats how Les Pual styles are.

Pretty good, it takes effects well. Really bad buzz on the 2nd and 3rd frets. Its got a pretty basic sound, not a lot of character, but this is good if you want to go effects crazy, or just like playing generic rock... which if u do is perfecly find and i recomend this guitar.

It needs some adjusting when u first get it, but it's not horrible. The frets need some major filing tho. Also... the plastic backing wasnt screwed in properly in mine, and i had to drill a new hole. This was just prob. a one time fluke tho.

This guitar has been in the shop 3 times in 2 years. The output jack is horrible!!! Also, the nut seems to be funny at the top, and has been replaced on mine. The volume and tone knobs as well as the pickup switch need to be tightened daily. Also, it goes out of tune after 2 songs. The 3G string is the worst, and makes all chords sound extremely flat after 10 mins of play.

If you are a beginner, get your hands on this baby, it is perfect for you. However, if you are more advanced, i would upgrade. the guitar is pretty universial, and is a good value. Get a Digitech Bad Monkey pedal and a DigiDelay, and you are ready to rock.

This was my second guitar. It's served me well, but i'm gonna upgrade to an Ibanez Af57d Artcore. Rock on everyone!

Transparent finish, mohogany body/ neck w/ rosewood fretboard. Has styling of a les Paul. Bad tuners.. Two Humbuckers

I play blues mostly, it is an ok sounding guitar that you can get a few different tones out of. But mostly, it is a very dark loud sounding instrument. I am used to playing an american standard tele which you can get tons of range with and it has alot of twang. I am not impressed with the range on the brownsville at all. It is too bassy and too loud. At least twice as loud as any other guitar I plug into the same amps. Low noise from the pickups and the range it does has, it plays pretty well however.

I didnt receive it straight from the factory, I won it new in a contest at a bar my band plays at. The neck pickup needs to be raised, it is very sunken, the bridge needs to be adjusted, intonation is a little off. Worst of all, however is that there are two frets which have a horrible buzz. I will need to file these two frets down. Everything else seems good. The action is a bit high for my liking, but then again.. I am used to fenders which are usually lower than les paul styles in my experiences. This is an absolute beautiful guitar however, the finish on it is amazing. Very heavy instrument.

Again, it is incredibly heavy.. which seems like a good thing in my book as far as reliability is concerned. Finish looks very good and stable, I havent played it enough to have an opinion on the hardware's reliability however.

N/A

As stated before, I won this in a contest at a bar I play at. I do enjoy it and I am probobly gonna set it up to be my slide guitar. I own an American Standard tele and I can get the same sounds from that as I can get from this Brownsville and tons more.. It almost seems 'too' hot of pickups.. I plug anything else in the same amps and I get about 50% of the volume of this bohemoth. Very nice looking and it plays within its range quite well. I would definatly not buy this if it were stolen however.

Brownsville GG1 Custom purchased new from Sam Ash.I believe these are made exclusively for them by Samick. It has a set-neck and a pair of Humbucking pickups. Mahogany body and bound mahogany neck with 22-frets, Rosewood fingerboard. Gold-tone hardware, pearl block markers, multi-ply top and back binding, black multi-ply pickguard, and an adjustable bridge with stop-bar tailpiece. Master tone and individual volume controls and a 3-way switch. The Custom only comes in gloss Black.

Unbelieveable sound for this price range. I mainly play blues and it suits well. Fantastic sustain. Gets all kinds of tones through my Vox modeling amp. Bridge PU has some minor hum only at high volume, but will change out to Seymor Duncans anyway.

Fit and finish again for this $$ range is way better than I expected. Set up was horrible. Factory strings were super light and really crappy. Action was way high and bridge adjustment was uneven. Looked like the factory didn't do a thing to it but string it and send it out the door. The thing wasn't even playable. Took it back to the store and the guy spent a good hour on a new set-up and changed out the strings with heavier guage. Frets were pretty good, smooth and tight. New set-up made huge difference.

No experience with the manufacturer. Everthing seems solid, but I don't plan on gigging it so who knows about durability.

Again no experience with manufacturer, but the Sam Ash guy was terrific. Really took his time and no charge for the new set-up or strings.

Been playing long enough to know a good guitar from a bad one and old enough not to care what's written on the head stock. I have other guitars and just wanted something with some sustain and humbuckers w/o spending big $$$. This does the trick. For the money... a set neck and great sound for $250 is pretty hard to beat. It was so cheap, I'll put Seymours in it and have a really fine sounding blues ax. The things got some heft to it too. The gold tone on the tuners, bridge, and pu's looks real nice now, but it'll probably wear off pretty quick. I don't really care. Really good value!

Made in china, 22 frets, three knobs (volume and two tones), two humbuckers, Les Paul styling, and no accessories. Looks nice.

I play mostly 80's punk like misfits, black flag and dead kennedys but just recently ive been getting into bands like muse. It sounds great on my line 6 spider 2 112 amp. It can have a good meaty sound when youre playing chords and its got a good thin sound when your playing solos. So all in all it sounds good.

Mine was a floor model because if I had wanted one from the back, I wouldve had to have waiting three more hours for them to open the boxes. I played this guitar for about 20 minutes and compared to 4 others and 5 other shops. Everything looks nice on it. The only blemish on the guitar was on its inlay. It has trapazoid inlays and there was a brownish mark left on one of them. My second problem was the jack for the guitar is too big. In one band practice, the cable fell out of the guitar at least two dozen times. So it is being repaired.

This guitar can definetly take a beating and it seems as if everything will last me some years. So far no paint chips or anything. As if now, its being good to me but when they ask you would I use this on a gig without a backup. Sorry to say this, but no. Im going to start a project of building my own guitar very soon. If all goes well, that will be my gigging guitar and this will be the backup. But if you are not building a guitar, I would reccomend get another cheap guitar just incase something goes wrong. My last epiphone died on me one week before a big show so I have learned my lesson.

I still have not found a brownsville website so I cant really contact them. Since the jack on the guitar is screwed up, I had to contact sam ash and they were helpful. And it was under the warranty. Samash's warranty was 30 days.

I have been playing guitar for three years now and from my old epiphone les paul JR, this was a good stepup. Other than this brownsville, I play on planet waves cables and a line 6 spider 2 112 guitar amp. I do wish though that I had stood up and played this guitar because of the jack. I wouldve been able to make a better decision. If this guitar was stolen or lost, I would probably buy it again, or just save up for maybe an epiphone les paul standard. Im not too sure though because I havent had it that long. I love the les paul styling but the fact that ive only had it for a few weeks and the jack is screwed up pisses me off. Before buying this guitar, I compared it to a dean zx, an Ibanez and a jackson rhandy roads. The jackson was not comfortable while I was sitting down aswell as the dean. And the ibanez just didnt feel right to me. I wish the jack was the right size but overall it is a nice guitar for the money. I reccomend this guitar to an intermediate player and people who will play smaller shows. Its definetly good, just when youre playing it, make sure you stand up and walk a few feet around!