Product: Fret King Corona 50
Price Paid: 875 (?)
Submitted
01/25/2005
at
02:37pm
by
Anonymous
Features
:
10
This is about a 2003 Fret King Corona 50. Built in UK it is from the top line Fret King is offering. It is a Stratocaster copy with some minor changes in design - but basically a strat. Two piece alder body, one piece maple neck, three Wilkinson single coils. Mine has a very beautiful 2tone sunburst with that sought after greenish style. Please find the specs on Fret King's website: http://www.fret-king.com/newwork/spec%20sheats/Corona_50.html.
The quality of my guitar is really high class. Perfect fittings, perfect lacquer, all mechanical parts work exact and smooth. Well, as it has to be on guitars that are claimed to be top class and comparable to Fender C.S or better. The Corona came with an original Fret King hardshell case made by Hiscox.
Sound
:
8
My music styles are rock, blues, funk and every thing in beetween. For that, the Corona is the perfect strat I was looking for. Typically played through a Dr.Z Carmen Ghia and it delivers a fat, shimering sound that can be used for allmost every music style. The sound is very sweet with a perfect balance of highs. Very versatile.
Just one complain is left. Fret King tried to copy a fifties strat as good as possible. But unfortunately they even imitated the noisy pickups. Don't get me wrong. The PUs sound fantatstic, but in single modus they make the typical noises. Okay, you do not hear it while playing, but the noises are loud enough to annoy me.
I just use two effects: A Voodoo Lab Sparkle Drive and a Boss DD-3 Delay.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
As said before it is perfectly built. No complains. The shop people said that they do not tweak Fret Kings, because they come with 95% of the perfect setting, that fits almost everybody. Just new strings, little adjustments on the neck and pick ups and it was perfect to me.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Absolutely well made. I played some gigs with it and had no problem. I think it will last a long time.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Never dealt with them.
Overall Rating
:
9
I am playing for appr. 30 years now and had a lot of gear. After having lots of gear I play the Fret King Corona 50 and a Morgaine Telecaster (handbuilt by master luthier Jorg Tandler in Germany) thru a Dr.Z Carmen Ghia amp or for practising thru a VOC AD30VT. I really love the sound and playability of the Corona. Compared to Fender C.S. Strats it was way better than every Fender C.S. Strat I have played. It sounds very vintage with a little more power. As said before I dislike the noisy PUs. Maybe I will change to other PUs. If this baby dispeares by any reason I would try to find another one, no matter what it costs. This one is definitely a keeper.
