Karera SH-800AN

What the first guy said.

only thing I can add is that after researching I beleive the maker must be Samick.

I have owned 3 Gibson 335's and I was pleasently suprised by the sound of this guitar. Most of the reviews on other Karera models are not so ravish to say the least,but this has the full fat and warm "Gibsonesq" sound, but with a bit more brightness and clairity like a Fender. Wound strings have that sharp edge all the way to the bottom and even unpluged it screems and has that airy violin sound.
I would like to give it a 9.5 for sound since I alway want to leave room for something better, but having to choose between either 9 or 10 I'll give it the 10.

Set up was Okay, but not perfect, however, the neck is so straight that it can be set up with just a few small adjustments at the bridge(nutt was fine). Workmanship was very good but not perfect. This guitar was "new old stock" strings were oxidizing and same for a few screw heads. Only a couple minute flaws in the finish work.

Construction is solid but the "gold plated" hardware probably won't last long here on the gulf coast. The neck is scarfed at the headstock which may or may not be a concern, I have seen them break there before.

ebay- Buckeye Pawn, so far so good, quick shipping and no problems yet.

Started playing in '63 or '64, it's been on and off for 40 years.
I have owned maybe 60 or so guitars including 3 Gibson ES 335s.
This is a very very good guitar and considering the price the bang for the buck is exceptional. The combinations of materials and design seems to have been just right to produce a great playing and sounding guitar. If you spend a few thousand more bucks you can avoid the scarfed neck and a few other cost cutting measures, but I think you will be hard pressed to find a simi-hollow body that plays sounds or even looks better.

Year made is unknown. The importer, V.J. Rendano, died in 2002 and the new owner of the distributing company cannot find the actual manufacturer in Korea. 22 frets, laminated bookmatched flame maple top, back and sides. 2 gold humbuckers, 2 volume pots, 2 tone pots w/3 way switch. Passive pickups of unknown origin but they are HOT! Neck is also maple, actually a three piece neck with one Vee joint between the neck and headstock and another butt joint on the neck heel where the strap button is affixed (to make the neck heel thicker). Finish is a transparent Antique Natural with good flame throughout. Body style is more like a Gibson ES-355 than a 335 because of triple binding around body, bound f-holes and triple bound headstock; neck has single ply binding. Pickguard is a matching flamed maple laminate with double binding. Headstock is inlayed with "Karera" and a beautiful reverse question mark tree/vine inlay. Whereas the Gibson ES line has a single laminate top, this one has a two-piece top and back. Lower bout is actually 16 1/4", not 16" like Gibson, Heritage, etc. so find the right case! This guitar has a super straight set neck but the sound block within the body appears to be a different wood from the neck; mahogany by it's grain. Bridge is gold plated Tune-o-Matic metric style with body inserts for bridge and tailpiece. Tuners are Schaller style gold plated 3 per side. Neck is a 24 3/4 scale, 60's slim taper compound radius, rosewood with block MOP inlays with inner abalone triangle inserts just like a 1962 Epiphone Emperor. Frets are medium jumbo with a nice rounded profile. Guitar is one pound lighter than an ES-335. The guitar came in it's own cardboard box and was shipped within another box.

Imagine that you had accidentally found some pickups on a guitar that actually suited your taste. For blues and sustain this guitar does it by the ton. Pickups would be considered hot but without the distortion, very amazing; think PAF's on steroids. Used with a Matchless DC-30 and Johnson J-station, it blows the ES-335 away in the tone and sustain department. No noise whatever. It has a balanced sound that encourages the use of the middle and bridge positions. The bridge pickup can be used extensively because, unlike the Gibsons, it has a balanced low end to go with the treble sounds. All three pickup selections work equally well, offering the player a good tonal palette. Whereas the neck pickup is used on my Gibsons almost exclusively, I use all three positions on this guitar. Pickups react to even the smallest height adjustment so that a good balance or strength can be achieved. There are no dislikes here.

I actually had to raise the action it was so low. Since the neck is perfectly flat you can go as low as you want but to bend the strings you need them up a little more. Guitar came strung with 9-44 that were immediately changed to 10-46 with good tonal results. Intonation didn't need adjusting. Pickups were adjusted well. Body is superbly flamed with a properly bookmatched top and back and stained a golden yellow shade. A microscopic examination of the top reveals two pinhead sized dark wood -flaws in the maple wood itself, like two tiny dark dashes about 1/32" long each; totally miniscule. 3 way switch needed cleaning with contact cleaner and is very indifferent quality wise like the bridge and stop tail piece. Everything else is bright and tight and the binding is very well done throughout the guitar.

Since the guitar is new to me I can't comment on the durability and don't know if the finish is nitro, acrylic or poly. This is the guitar to take out on the road with you while the Gibson has her beauty rest. The gold hardware does look a little cheap compared to the Gisbons but why change it over when it works just fine? Any metalwork or finish waviness cannot be spotted except very close at hand. Strap buttons are gold finish with good profile for keeping the strap on.

Buckeye Pawn of Ohio was very helpful. They still have a business relationship with the new owners of the VJ Rendano warehouse and have an Ebay store. There are only four of these NOS guitars left from what I understand then they will become collectors fare.

If you have a chance you won't regret buying one of these Kareras (if you can find one). The neck is straighter than any of my Gibsons, is feather light with a beautiful finish and a simply awesome PAF style output. You get appointments like a mono ES-355 (excellent inlays and binding and pickguard) and you also get the tone of a 1959 ES-335. What an amazing deal.