Product: Collins Amplification ST100
Price Paid: 69 (euri)
Submitted
08/25/2004
at
01:20pm
by
Frans van Helvoort
Email: fth<dot>vanhelvoort at quicknet<dot>nl
Features
:
9
A strat-copy whith the same pickup config. and selector as the real thing. Body of basswood in black. Hard rock maple neck with rosewood fingerboard.
Sound
:
10
Here is the big thing!! I was searching for a backup for my sweet warm sounding Fender MIM stratocaster with Texas Specials. I've tried Dean, Fender the real thing, Squier (with te real Fender Alder body) . Equiped them all with Texas Specials and the sound wasn't as warm and sweet as my FenderMIM (with a body of poplar!!) The body wood seems to be the maker of the warm sound! Mexican Fenders aren't made anymore with poplar body's.
A friend of mine bought this stratcopy just for fun and took it to a rehearsal with our band. I played it through my setup and couldn't believe my ears. This was wat I'm looking for. Sweet warm Fendertone's at all positions with imo very good sustain! So I bought one for myself. Clean sounds are beautiful and rich, distorted sounds a bit shrill. So I put a copple of Texas Specials in it and yes, I have the right backup guitar which I now use more than my real axe!! This guitar Rocks and Bluess!
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
The action and so were good when I got the guitar. I blocked the bridge so I wil hold pitch when I brake a gauge. Fingerboard is a very beatiful peace of rosewood. Very tight and smooth. Fretwork was much better as the real Fenders I owned!! the only thing that you can see is the finish is not so good. But I don't care.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Did not have gigged whith it yet, but I'm sure this puppy will withstand my rough style playing. I do the rehearsals with it and he never failed on me.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Overall Rating
:
10
If you want a good sounding fender-copy give this a change, but keep in mind that the sound is a bit warmer than the real one, NOT MUDDY, but more jazzy-like. I like it very much and couldn't believe how they managed to sell this for a prise so low.
Product: Collins Amplification ST100
Price Paid: 69 (Euros)
Submitted
08/12/2004
at
04:53am
by
Anonymous
Features
:
8
Well, just another strat copy, body made of solid linden or limewood. good black painting, standard 3 PUs Single Coils, 5-way selector, neck seems to be of alder, hardware standard, nothing special about it, neck plate looks very much similar like a Fender.
Sound
:
10
Let's be honest. What would you expect from a guitar that costs 69 Euros including a gigbag only? Played dry you can feel that linden wood lacks a bit of sustain. Played via my Peavey Delta Blues this guitar really sounds o.k., the sound is a bit thinner than that of my Fender Strat, but not harsh. Played distorted you can still hear seperate string. I would give it a weak 7 for sound, but concidering the price you can only give it a 10.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
7
Well, set-up was poor. The neck is not adjusted well, but hey, take yourself some twenty minutes and it'll be fine. O.K., this will mainly be a beginners guitar, so adjusting my be a pain in the ass for them. Apart from that Fit and and Finish was o.k., so let's give a moderate 7
Reliability/Durability
:
No Opinion
Will see
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Will see as well
Overall Rating
:
10
When I started playing electric guitar in 1985 you would not find a single guitar for that price. For a cheap Strat copy you had to pay at minimum 150 Dollars. And quality? Was an unknown word. This guitar is just a big big value. For someone who just wants to start playing it will be more than fine. But even for those experienced amongst you it could be a good 2nd chance on stage, when your loved one suddenly fails. This guitar could definitely be improven by better pickups, but it can really be played as is. For that price (a simple Gigbag is even included), it can only be a 10. If you want to spend a bit more money have a look at Aria Strat Copies. They are really good and offer a solid elder body for less than the double price.
