Ed Roman Abstract Maximus

It came with basically what I ordered, no less and certainly no more. Flame maple top, mahogany body and neck, ebony fretboard, clear body finish, 24 frets and neck-through for easy high access shredding, EMG 81 and 85 pickups, Planet Waves tuners, bound body neck and headstock, kill switch, no inlays.

It sounds like any other guitar with EMGs fitted. No real distinct personality, no real criticisms. Played in blind tests next to other EMG-equipped neck-through axes I own (ESP and Ibanez) it is nigh on impossible to tell the difference except that the ESP seems exceptionally quiet (in terms of ambient noise and static) which is a good thing.

Absolute garbage. The binding on the body is sloppy, the paint around the headstock is some of the sloppiest work I have ever seen let alone on a $6000 guitar, and worst of all is the neck. The low E and A strings buzz badly between the 6-7 and 12th fret when I first got it. I figured it must be an issue with being shipped from the USA but I've taken it to three different guitar techs (one who does all my guitar work usually and does EXCEPTIONAL jobs - totally rescued a cheap second hand BC Rich Warlock I bought most recently) and they all agreed it cannot be fixed with a simple fret redress or truss rod adjustment. It is just a very poorly constructed guitar. The pickups are noisy as well like on my Ibanez where I retrofitted EMGs myself with little idea what I was doing. I can't blame the pickups because I have an ESP with the same pickups and it is as silent as active pickups should be.

Heap of ****. Unsatisfactory from day 1. See above. Definitely haven't ever gigged with it so can't rate its reliability long-term but it's not even worthy of studio use let alone inspiring of enough trust to warrant taking it on the road.

Once the final payment was made, customer service went out the window. The shipping from the USA was fairly fast so no complaints there but there has been absolutely no interest in "customer satisfaction", addressing my complaints or any kind of offer to fix anything. I ended up wasting the money on an international phone call to try and get some positive results after email failed and I was basically talked down to as though I was some teenage retard who had no idea about guitars at all.

If I'd paid $500 for this guitar from a Cash Converters I'd feel ripped off. Considering I payed just over $6,000 it is completely unacceptable. Even if I could somehow get my money back re-selling to someone else I'd feel like a criminal hocking this piece of **** onto anyone else. WORST ******* GUITAR I HAVE EVER BOUGHT OR PLAYED! NEVER EVER EVER DEAL WITH ED ROMAN, BUYER BEWARE!

To the previous "sincere" straight-10's review... Tune-o-matic bridge AND a Floyd Rose bridge? Wow, you sure crammed a lot onto your axe ;) Nearly $10K for a guitar and you got a "free" graphite nut? Bargain!

Neck Through Body
24 Frets
Graphite Nut (free)
Absolutely No Heel
Hard Mounted Pickups
Roman Blackbacks
USA Made Sperzel Locking Tuners
Maple top Mahogany body
Tone Pros Tune-O-Matic Bridge
Floyd Rose Tremolo
Ferrari Rails
Abalone Inlays

I am in a retro-metal band called 'Larceny' that recalls the Sunset Strip greats of 1978-1989. We play fast and hard in the style of Odin, Jetboy, Poison, Triter, Enough Z 'Nuff, Y&T, etc...

I also play session work in Los Angeles and have known Ed "The Guitar King" Roman since he opened shop in CT and I'm a GIT grad.

I had been using a Gibson Les Paul and Fender Stratocaster as my main guitars for years. I wanted Ed to build me a guitar that I could use for all of these tones. It was a challenge but Ed and his team came through with flying colors.

I play the guitar in a variety of settings and it shines in all of them.

For studio work I use a Marshall JCM-800 once owned by George Lynch, Lee Jackson Metaltronix, Engl and a host of plug-ins and simulators.

I had a big name producer who has worked with the likes of Guns 'N Roses, Aerosmith, Y&T and Uli John Roth comment that this guitar was the best sounding instrument for studio work he has heard in the last twenty years. When I told him it was from Ed Roman's custom shop he understood why it was golden.

It sounds huge for metal. By metal I mean retro-glam. I used the guitar on a date with Lizzie Grey from London fame and he offered to buy it on the spot. I suspect Lizzie will be heading out to see Ed soon.

If you're looking for Poison, LA Guns, Trixter, Enough Z Nuff, etc... this is the real deal.

The neck is a cross between a Kramer Pacer and an Ibanez Wizzard. The woods are perfect and the body has a 'Roman Top' - this is what the people at BC Rich used to call extremely high grade tops because Ed is fussy when it comes to his stock.

The guitar can really nail vintage tones thanks to the fact that the Blackback pickups are flat out amazing.

This thing sounds like a Roman which is like a PRS but with a depth and clarity that the PRS lacks. It kills my Les Paul as well.

It is great for anything that a Les Paul/PRS type guitar would be good for - humbucker style - but since to Ed's switching and wizardry the thing can nail Hendrix/SRV tones as well as Tele and Gretsch tones.

It's a Roman. Flawless.

The guitar is built like a tank but I baby it.

Ed Roman speaks his mind and sells guitars to serious players and rock stars.

That's the truth and if you don't believe it go look at his client list, photos and rants.

That has pissed off the white bread corporate internet cheapo folks who don't like a guy who doesn't want a store full of 13 year olds and 40 year old looky-loos ruining his inventory.

Ed can be blunt and he is a business man. He is also a master salesman.

You should always be cautious dealing with Ed because he wants happy customers but if you make a stupid decision after he warns you he will not eat it.

Ed's prices sometimes seem higher but if you buy a guitar from him you're getting the best of the best. Certain companies put aside super nice guitars with super high flame, etc... for him.

GC may buy 10000 PRS guitars. Ed will order 2000 and send 1000 back because they don't meet his standard. This is where 'Roman Tops' come in.

I have seen PRS '10 tops' at GC that pale when placed next to Ed's PRS regular tops.

Of course only a fool would buy a white bread 'Best in Store' PRS when a Quicksilver was sitting next to it.

If you are not a serious player don't buy a Roman.

If you are a conformist Green Day, Slash, Dimebag, Wannabe don't buy a Roman.

If you believe what someone online tells you don't buy a Roman.

Ed Roman gets bashed a million times a day but when you stop to think about it if he were 1/100th as bad as people say he would not be the largest Rickenbacker, PRS, BC Rich, etc... dealer in the world.

Use your brain and think about it.

When you want the best and have the resources, Ed will build you your dream ax

Oh, and I'm NOT ED - anyone who says anything possitive seems to be so feel free to email me