First Act Sheena CE220 Series 1

Brand new Sheena by First Act.

This is the bottom of the line model, but by no means does that mean bottom of the line quality...it is EXCELLENTLY MADE AND FINISHED!

Weirdo Rickenbaker meets Telecaster meets Firebird style body and headstock, with one bridge P90 pup.

Thats all it needs.

Less is more here.

Redburst finish with pearloid scratchplate.

Everything VERY neat and tidily done.

Pickup is excellent, loud and fruity!, and is very hiss-free for a single coil...no hiss or crackle.

The guitar has a rich bright jangly Telecaster type sound, but can also do jazz or blues with the tone knob turned back a bit.

Theres nothing I dislike about it at all.

A neck pup might have been nice but its not a big concern.

I have to say that the guitar was faultless out of the box. It was even perfectly in tune!

Again faultless.

I don't have to say that...but it just WAS!

Difficult to say at this point, but I think it will last at aleast 50-60-odd years with no problems.

No idea and at this price I dont care.

Been playing 37 years. Had literally hundreds of guitars. Still buying them when I see something interesting and cheap like this First Act Sheena. I have bought lots of Chinese guitars and I have come to the conclusion that there are some really top-notch Chinese guitar makes, and some not so hot ones. THIS guitar probably comes from the same factory that makes Lags as they are similarly very well finished for peanuts money. I really totally whole heartedly recommend these guitars. It is a lot better finished that most of the Mexican Fenders Ive had and it plays and sounds great.

A FUTURE CLASSIC!!!

What more could you ask for?

First Act Sheena CE220 Series 1, very basic guitar this and for the money (<??50 + strap and picks) I can see why. It's a single P90 style pickup, a volume pot, a tone pot and a Gibson style (although a better design) tail piece. It also sports a Sunburst finish (probably not real) and a pearloid scratch plate.

It really is in the design that First Act have done well. The knobs feel really smooth and the bridge and tail are great design classics....what other budget guitar maker uses allen keys for the intonation and though body stringing with such a great design of string retainer? The headstock also looks great and keeps the strings straight going over the nut.....the nut does look a bit plastic-y but does the job 100% and who cares how a nut looks!?

I've rated this with price in mind even doing that it'd have to be pretty pricey to lose significant points here.....

Acoustically very resonant for a bolt on...the P90 gives a classic sound that's exactly what I love. Think PJ Harvey, Hole or Paul Westerberg (yes I know he has a Frist Act signature guitar!) Again rated baring in mind it's a sub ??50 guitar but if this was twice the price I'd give it a good 9.5.

I've seen some bad words about First Act budget guitars but frankly they are groundless. I've paid ??250 for a Squier that really was very much worse than this. That was some years ago and Squier have improved greatly.....even so, it is as good if not better than my P90 loaded Tele and given I paid over three times the amount for it, Squier should hold their heads in shame......the intonation was spot on, the finish was flawless and the action was great. I prefer a bit of distance between fretboard and strings and this was spot on for me. Shredders might not love it but it is playable and lets face it, shredders are tossers and won't 'get' this guitar. I've rated this based on a standard budget guitar e.g. around ??150 not the ??50 I paid.

Will this guitar withstand a live gig....if any guitar didn't, why would you buy it? Stupid question! As is playing without a backup......duh! Any guitar can have a string break!!! I'd gig this guitar, why not!?

To make a simple point, this guitar has nothing to go wrong....apart from a string break....

No reason to go to the company (and for ??50 even if they were rubbish, I wouldn't care!).

I've seen a few First Act guitars on at just under ??50 and frankly, I couldn't believe it credit crunch or no credit crunch. These things are proper grown-up budget guitars and when I say budget, I mean budget in the modern Squier way. I've owned and played a few modern day Squiers they are as good now as ??300-??400 guitars were when I started out (15 years ago). Great sound, great setup and great looks......I've seen loads of bands playing Squier......this First Act is as good if not better......the price for not paying as much as a Squier? Fewer pickups......THAT'S IT! The look isn't a classic shape but it's got classic lines...I love it. A kinda weirded out Tele with Firebird leanings.......How can you go wrong for ??50 for a brand new guitar!? You could pay treble and still have a great deal for a guitar!!!!!