Brownsville USA-102

The body-coloured neck and headstock are the cherries on top of this sweet little cake. It was the only guitar in the entire store that caught my eye, and when I played it, I was awestruck. I happen to think that the matte-silver extenders on the pickups look kinda cool, and the chrome hardware on the blue flamed maple is definite eye-candy. The recessed output jack is nice and tidy and keeps it visually tider when playing. The only thing I didn't like was the bridge with it's break-angle rollers. I broke a string at the bridge the first time I played it live. This happened with the last guitar I had with that type of saddle, so as I did then, with this 102 I took the stock saddles off and replaced them with graphite string savers. Never had a bridge-break since. The axe keeps it's tuning well, and it was set-up pretty good right out of the store. I had to raise the action a touch to eliminate some fret-buzz on the lower strings and the intonation needed a little refinement, but then what do you expect for $200? Seriously though, without those little easily-fixed idiosynchrosies, this guitar looks and plays and sounds like $1k guitar. -1 for the crap string saddles.

This is probably one of the most versatile guitars I've ever owned or played as far as sound goes. I'm mainly in to U2/Radiohead/Delirious? type sounds, but also like to make it punch out some harder and heavier sounds, blues, a little country - depending on my mood. The pickups sound great. There is a little hum, but then that's the nature of single coils. Contrary to other reviews, I found the active circuit quite useful for boosting my signal enough to solo without changing the tone of the output too much. I lowered the neck pickup a little at the top edge because it sounded a little bass-responsive, but other than that, I made no adjustments. It has a sweet clean sound, full of richness and tone, but it also sounds great routed through my stomp boxes. The only thing I don't like is that it tends to peak a little with my Boss auto-wah if I have the pedal set to a volume sensing wah. That's easily adjusted at the pedal though.

The shop I got it from is a private, custom shop who just bought a few of these in as part of some deal with their wholesalers. They'd done some in-shop adjustment with the action but I think that's the only adjustment they made. So if that was the only adjustment, it comes out of the box with a great set-up. As I said before, I adjusted the neck pickup slightly, and put some new saddles on the bridge. As far as the materials used, I can't find a flaw. Even the paint job is flawless inside the tremelo cutout. Nothing loose, nothing scratched, nothing misaligned. Electrical controls are quiet as a mouse and the active circuit, whilst not brilliant, does a nice boosting job.

I've been playing this guitar live twice a week for 4 months, plus rehearsal time. I chose it over my '71 USA strat. It's never let me down, apart from that one string breakage the first time I played it live. Nothing has worn so far, the strap buttons are as tight as they were the day I bought it. I have other guitars on stage with me for other songs, so even if it did fail, I'd have backups, although I've never needed one to date. For the hard gigger on a budget, this guitar is a must.

Not really applicable as I've never had any issues with it. The reseller I use gave me a 12 month personal guarantee, but I doubt I'll need it.

Compared to my other guitars that I use ('71 USA Strat, '89 USA Tele, '69 Les Paul, '99 SG), this is probably my second favorite after the '69 LP. Not bad considering the competition it's up against. Plus, I've never seen another 102 for sale anywhere. I think it's going to be a rareish guitar several years from now. Should I lose it or have it stolen, I think I would consider giving up guitar, because wouldn't want to do without this beast. I'd certainly claim the full amount I insured it for (which was way above what I actually paid for it) and then go on the search for another. If I could change just one little thing, I would put a humbucker at the neck and put the active circuit on that pickup only - get some nice feedback tones out of it. Definitely get's a 10 shags out of 10 from me.

You can read the specifics of this guitar in the other reviews. This is just my overall impression...First off, this guitar really IS gorgeous! I didn't expect much for the low price, but wow!Fast neck...Great looking...setup very good right from the box. I would just like to say that I snapped those oval "extensions" of the high E magnet with no loss of quality. They just looked wierd to me. -2 for the "extenders".

Sounds F**KING great! It is a little noisy, but, man, for the tone this kicks out I can live with a little hum! The active tone circuit worked for me right from the start, and tho I at first didn't like it much, I love it now. Flip the switch...KILLER screaming tone!! I play this through a crate GX-15R just jamming with myself( my main guitar is a fender roudhouse strat). Killer, killer, tone. -1 for the hum

Fast action. Great setup. No flaws. I was a little disappointed by the plastic fretboard on the maple neck. Makes no difference tho.

This guitar is very very light. It should withstand live playing, I just don't know yet. I am comparing this to my fender, which is a little unfair considering the price/quality difference. But that tone!

I have a feeling that if Mannys Music won't provide support, there won't be any. Just try finding this guitar on the net.

You will be blown away by this guitar. I would be highly upset if it was stolen as I get the feeling these will be hard to come by in the future.

2003,
- GORGEOUS Tiger Stripe blue flame maple top (not a photo-laminate), blue stained maple neck, on a strat-style body, with a semi-arched top (nice touch).
- Imported by a company called "Silvertone" out of Korea and NOT distributed by Samson, as shown by Harmony-Central.
- 3 single coil pups, volume, tone, 5 way switch and a single toggle that turns on an Active tone circuit (VTB by Artec) (www.artecsound.com).
- 24 fret, 25 inch scale, wilkenson bridge, neck is "ibanez-ish" with a radiused neck joint with recessed screws into 4 separate bushings (there is no neck plate)
- Output jack is in a recess in the back..VERY COOL and out of the way! (and as mentioned in another review here..is perfect for adding a 2nd output for stereo or a piezo pup).
- no accesories except strings!

Okay..first off..the active tone circuit didn't work properly. It maintains some funky bass boost regardless of the mini-toggle position. I called SamAsh who had me call Samson..who had me call Korea..blah blah.blah..no one knew jack-shit!!! Thanks to the dude at SamAsh for actually taking another one off the shelf and trying out while I was on the phone..but his switch didnt do anything either! I took the back plate off..drew up the circuit..started trouble shooting it...then decided to disconnect it..and BAM..this guitar SCREAMS! I've sent an email to Artec to at least get some additional info on their VTB circuit.
This is my first all single coil guitar (the 25 yr old hagstrom I have doesnt count!!) There is a wide range of sounds available just thru the pickup combos with the 5 way..and the tone control does a nice level treble cut. The tone is great in every configuration..super bright..to really bluesy. I've played this for at least an hour each day since I got it..(a week ago now)..and notice no buzzes..no scratchy pots..no problems.
I think I have to de-rate the sound though..cuz as purchased with the f-d up active tone circuit...it sucked! Otherwise it's a 9!!

This guitar was ultra cheap...and I am blown away by how well it was set up when it got here. I lowered the Wilkenson and changed the springs in the back to be 3 straight across..versus the "triangle" ..but thats personal preference.
Everything in the back is shielded with bi-metal paint....which is in itself very progressive.
Everything is suprisingly hi-quality!

I've only had it a week..but it seems to be very well made. I didnt notice any paint dripings inside..or anything loose or sharp.

Hmmmm...well..first off...NO ONE knew how to get ahold of the company that actually BUILT this guitar..which sucked. Worse..No One knew how the thing was supposed to work. For SamAsh and anyone else who cares..the mini toggle is NOT a coil tap (this guitar has 3 single coil pickups..THINK ABOUT IT!!!). Noo its not a phase switch..take the f-ing back plate off..see the 9v battery..and that circuit board??...got a clue yet!!. And..if you're selling stuff at a low price cuz something doesnt work right on it...TELL people!
I talked to several "guitar techs" and "salesmen" who were of no help. Nods to Geno at SamAsh in Long Island..he at least put me on hold and actually plugged in the last on of these he had...and came back and told me "his" toggle didnt change anything either!
There IS a 3 year UNLIMITED guarantee on this guitar...I just have NO IDEA who I'd send it to. People TRIED to help out on this..there just isnt enough knowledge about who makes "Brownsville" at this point in time. So if ya buy one...you're on your own.

For 200 bucks...despite the painful quest for knowlege.. This is a great playing, great sounding..and mostly GREAT LOOKING guitar. If a very sexy, flamey, all blue guitar is your latest impulse..this should be your first and only choice. I'll play it live in 2 days..and if there is significant fan attention (the guitar that is)...I'll report back. This guitar should get some attention!!

SamAsh only had 3 left..and Manny's (the only other place I've seen this guitar)..is out..and no plans to re-order.

I'm frustrated that the Active Tone didnt work...I'm hoping Artec writes back and explains it..cuz the website says I can control the tone with the little micro-potentiometer..and adjust the gain. I'm hoping this circuit acts like the old Alembic StratoBlaster!!!!! But if not...I'm really thrilled with the guitar as is.

All in all having a working active tone/gain circuit..would be icing on a $200 cake wouldnt it!?!? The ad-work for this guitar certainly didn't mention anything about active electronics!

I've been playing 25 yrs, still gigging almost every weekend, this will be the 15th guitar in my house...and it definitely has its niche. I would be crushed if I lost it..specially since I dont think I'd be able to get another one! Compared to what else you can buy for 200 bucks..Brownsville made a really great blue guitar (they also make an all ORANGE model with 2 hums, and a nice telecaster style)whoever they are! Anyone would be VERY happy with this guitar. I just hope people realize the tone sucks when you first get the guitar..and are smart enuff to come read reviews on H-C, rather than send it back for a refund.

I'm told by a friend that this came out of the K/Cort factory in Korea. I must say that I wasnt expecting much from this axe. I own a lot of Blue Guitars (My favorite color) and I really only ordered it because it has a blue maple fret board. I was absolutely SHOCKED at the quality of this thing. for $259 bucks it blows away 'custom shop'guitars like Tom Anderson & Valley Arts costing 5 times the price. It's 24 frets. A bolt on but with individual screw points, not a whole plate so you've got very good acess to the higher register frets. It's a 3 single coil set up with a coil tap. When using only one PU you get some hum but for chrissake what do you want for 259?!
this is actually the ONLY gripe I have about the whole guitar. The PU's are unlike ANY I've ever seen. the magnet for the high E string has a weird oversize oval shaped pole piece that hangs over the edge of the pickup. I think it was someone's idea of compensating for drop outs when you bend the strings and it DOES work for the most part. I still think I'll wind up throwing a Hot rails in the bridge position though. The top must be a lam. as it's got a lovely matched maple top with a slight burst on the sides which goes from a royal blue on the edge to almost a greenish blue in the center. As I said before the fretboard is also dyed a beautiful greenish blue. This guitar is worth the $ I paid for it, if only for the fretboard alone. It's 24 fret and laquered. with med. frets. Very fast! I prefer my necks a bit more narrow at the nut but I'm sure for most players it would be perfect. The finish is transparent all over and the headstock matchs the rest of the body and fretboard. Strat style BTW with a Wilkinson "type" bridge& trem. which stays in tune quite well. I'm not really a "Wanger" so I dont use it much anyway. Non-locking gotoh type tuners. One other item to note is that the plug is in a recess carved on the back half of the body in a perfect spot to keep your cord out of the way PLUS there is space left next to the plug for aother one. So if you wanted to add say a piezo acoustic bridge to this baby and run it out to completely different amp it would be easy as pie. I've already sent off for a Fishman bridge to do just that.

I must admit that with the exception of an old Melody Maker I fitted with a P-90 this is the only single coil guitar I own and I must admit that it has opened up a whole new tone ave. for me. I've let other players I know who play single coils try it out and they say that the PU's in "Blue boy" as I've come to start calling this guitar dont sound any worse hum wise than any other single coil strat. But to the novice single coiler like me it's still very noisey compared to all my other humbucker fitted guitars. Still I was surprised a how well they sounded through my Marshall jubilee combo and an old 10 watt tube combo from the 50's I had sitting around

The guitar was fairly set up out of the box. I like my action as low as you can go yet still not get buzzing but it was fine. the Pickups seem to be balanced as well no real 'flaws' anywhere. I talked about some of this stuff in the first part so I'll move on

I've only played rehearsals so far but everyone who sees this beauty FREAKS at the finish. When I tell them that I only paid $259 they freak again. One aquaintence I know just bought a custom shop G&L and paid over $900 for it and his guitar cant touch mine. He was all bummed out when we compared them.
I cant wait to get this thing set up with a piezo bridge and maybe a hot rails. Then nothing will be able to touch it for looks OR sound. Certainly not value since nothing can touch it for that now. Back up? well you always need more than one guitar gigging but this will be my main along with my Flying V and I'll start using my Squire Super Sonic as my back up.

I see in the ads at Sam Ash that this guitar also comes in a dual humbucker model with an Orange finish. I dont know why they chose to offer it in Orange instead of Red but Cest La Vie. If Orange is your favorite color I'd say jump on it! For me this blue one is a dream come true. Didnt speak to anyone from the factory. I really dont think I'll need to as the last thing this axe has are defects.

I've been playing since I was 15 (for whatever thats worth)
I'm a songwriter singer mostly. I am a bit of a collector as I own (including this one) 19 guitars~ Hey, You gotta spend yer money on something! If this thing was stolen I'd cry for a month. Then search from the Pocanos to Patagonia to find another one. I'm seriously thinking of buying another.just in case. Sorry if I'm Waxing on... but this really is a GREAT Axe and and Amazing price. Best buy I've ever make.