Product: Lace Music Products LG-1
Price Paid: US $600
Submitted
03/04/2001
at
10:00am
by
Neil Fonger
Email: fonger<at>mediaone dot net
Features
:
8
Built in 1999 or 2000 as a demo for the Lace Helix bolt-on neck. Made in USA as far as I can tell. Standard scale neck, with the helix twist and compound radius. Unique, solid body - sort of a double cutaway like an Ibanez Artist-but slightly skewed (not the same as pictured at their website). Contoured front and back like a Strat. Wood unknown, maybe alder. Surface-routed, 3 Lace "Holy Grail" pickups with volume, tone and 5 position switch. Also has experimental "Acto-tone". Sperzel locking tuners and German hardtail bridge.
Sound
:
10
The sound of this guitar is awesome! I've been playing for 33 years and I really like the Fender single coil sound. I put this unit up against my Tele and a Parker Nite Fly for sound comparison. Not quite as versatile as the Parker, but definitely has the vintage Strat sound down cold. Also, the Lace Sensor pickups cured my onstage noise problems. I use a Fender Deluxe 112 at home and play thru a J Station into the house system on stage. I can get everything I want, from country twang to jazz to hard rock just from the guitar and amp combo. The Acto-tone is supposed to recreate an acoustic sound, but even Lace admits it isn't what they hoped for.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
7
This guitar was used for a demo at a couple of NAMM shows, so it was pretty playable out of the box. The Helix neck has some minor lumps and ripples in it up near the body join, but not in the way of playing. I would imagine the twisted neck shape would be difficult to machine and finish. But after 10 minutes of playing, it's tough going back to a standard straight neck. I noticed that the pickups appear to be slightly out of position under the strings, which means the bridge wasn't placed properly on the body. But it doesn't affect sound. But only top quality hardware was used on this guitar.
Reliability/Durability
:
9
I've had this guitar since summer of 2000. The solid, Seafoam Green finish might chip easily, but I don't abuse my equipment either at home or onstage. The guitar is as durable as I can expect.
Customer Support
:
8
No literature on this guitar at all, since it was one of a half-dozen or so demos. Calls to Lace have been answered by Don himself. who offered as much info as he had on the guitar's history. I would expect to be on my own for repairs.
Overall Rating
:
10
As stated, I've been playing for 33 years. Have owned many Fender electrics, Various acoustics, mostly Fender amps. This is a very unique guitar. Probably the best playing and sounding guitar. The shape takes getting used to. I've been tempted to re-body it with a Warmouth Jazzmaster, but Don Lace suggested that if the Helix guitar ever took off, I'd have a real collector's item :). I'd love to get ahold of one of their Helix guitars, but I haven't seen any in my locale. I'd probably buy one.
