Hohner Birmingham

Was 19 and looking to spend my hard earned $200 on a used guitar or entry level Ibanez. The hardware on the entry level Ibanez looked like crap and none of the used gear blew me away for the money I had, the salesman directed me to this little beauty. It played like a Strat but sounded warm (and crunchy when you kick on the dirt) like my old gibson DC Studio. Fast forward seven years later and it still plays like a champ, and it's making buying a nicer guitar difficult because those in my new price range (let's say $400-$500) fail to impress me by comparison. I went on to buy Rockwood (Hohner) Drum kit and Bass guitar to fill out my jam room - these guys really made some good hardware for dirt cheap back in the late 90's.

2000 Hohner Birmingham, black. Made in Indonesia, probably in a Cort or Samick factory(probably Cort because of quality). It has 22 medium frets. Solid (I checked) alder body with one piece maple neck and rosewood fretboard. Neck is bolt on with recessed screws and contoured neck joint to easily reach all 22 if you need. It's a 25 1/2" scale, 2 humbuckers, chrome knurled volume and tone controls and a three way switch. Not sure of pickup make, probably Powersound or Mighty Mite. The body style well, hard to describe its a cross between a strat, LP, and PRS. It is a smaller body similar in shape to a PRS but thicker amd the the cutaway points are more defined, and the top is contoured but there is no contour for you arm to rest if playing sitting down. This is my only complaint on this part. The headstock is, well different. 6 on a side Gothom chrome tuners with semi strat style headstock with an extra contour bevel. Beautiful flawless gloss black finish. The bridge is one of those modern all in one tune a matic which works well but a little of a pain to change strings. The neck is satin finish and fast. It is a little on the chunky side but I like them like that. Ibanez people don't e-mail me but those thin necks are for wanabees. Comes with a couple of allen wrenches and a cord. Dealer threw in a padded gigbag for free. List price is $339 w/o bag I paid $199 but would have paid more.

This is my all time favorite right now. I like alot of different music but mainly hard rock, 80's style and some modern. I am a rhythm player so no need for Floyd or any of that get in the way stuff. I went into G&H Guitars in Nanticoke, PA and was just looking around. They have small store without the big names(Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, ect) but they take care of the customer. I tried just about every thing they had, Fernandes, BC Rich, Cort and some used 'big names'. The sales person said try this Hohner. I thought to myself yea, right a $200 Hohner, come with a harmonica? Well I wasn't laughing for long. The neck was just right(I have kinda big hands and not those skinny Van Halen fingers). The action was decent but i did lower it after I got it home. The sound was just right. I am not real particular but this thing sounded great distorted clean or anywhere in between. I have a Kustom KGA65 with Zoom 505II efects and every thing sounded just great at home as well. I am sure the more demanding player would change the pickups just because they are not 'name brand' but they are great stock pickups. I will rate a nine because it doesn't have a coil tap.

Again I was blown away by the action, fit and finish. The factory set up would sattisfy most but I did set it up to my own liking. Everything was tight and well put together. The only flaw I found was a small indent on the neck about the 9th fret that looks like a knot but it does not affect anything. The neck joint fits just right. I took the cover off to check the pots and body. This was also very good with high quality pots, shieled cavity and heavy guage wiring. Everything secure much better than Ibanez's, Gibson, epiphone, Fender and others costing 2 to 3 times as much. This is superb quality for a guitar in this price range.

This guitar is a tank. My 3 1/2 y/o daughter likes 'playing' it and ocasionally knocks it over. Minimal scratching and no nicks. The recessed screws on the neck joint almost like lock when tightened(I do this to ll my guitar, it wasn't loose)so there will never be a problem with that. I put Schaller strap locks on, but the stock strap buttons are heavy duty and the screws are long and heavy. Had to shim the holes because the screws for the straplocks were smaller and shorter!! This is no doubt a dependable guitar and would gig 1000 miles away without a backup but every one has a backup!

Didn't have to deal with them but the guys at G&H Guitars tell me they replace stuff, no questions asked. I hope I will never have to deal with them. It does have a lifetime warranty.

I have been playing for over 20 years. i'm not the best player in the world but I am particular about quality versus price. If this had a name on it like Ibanez, Gibson, Fender it would sell for $500. I tell every one that the big ane guitars are not for everyone. Check out some of these other companies because they try a lot harder to make a good instrument than the big guys who sell there stuff mostly by the name on it. If it were stolen I would find the person and trade my old Ibanez junk for it. I wish the headstock was different and body had an ard contour since I sit to paly alot. Other than that, it's perfect for this kind of money. By the way the Fernandes were awesome but a little higher priced and the color I wanted wasn't in stock but I would probably buy one of those for the extra $50-$75. The BC Rich are not my style but they also played well but were much much more than this.