Malden Holly Keyser

-Amber flametop finish
-Arched maple top
-Semi-hollowbody mahogany body
-PRS style body
-Tune-O-Matic bridge
-Chrome hardware
-Stock Malden humbuckers
-24 3/4 rosewood neck
-Volume and tone knobs
-Three-way tonal switch

The finish on this guitar is beautiful. Compares favorable with guitars three to four times its price. Features are fairly standard. Split volume/tone knobs for each humbucker would have been nice, but the hardware is good quality.

My musical style is all over the map, and this guitar needs to be as well. First off, playing this guitar unamplified gives a nice chirping ring. The "naked" tone is quite good, and compares favorably to more expensive PRS semis. This guitar is run into a Morley Wah - Fulltone 69' - Fullton Soulbender - Fulltone Fulldrive II - MXR dynacomp - Line 6 MM4 - Line 6 DL4 - Laney VC30 2X12. The guitar excels at clean, jazzy tones, as well as overdriven southern rock. The other guitar player in my band plays a real PRS semi, and the tones are very close.

The pickups are stock Malden. They are quite nice in their own right, and would satisfy most players. I do plan to swap them out for Fralins down the road.

The guitar was set up beautifully. The action is top-notch, and I speed all over the fretboard. The pickups did/do not need adjustment.

The arched maple top is a thing of beauty. On a guitar that retails for under $500, this truly is an astounding value for a finish of this nature.

No loose controls. No complaints. First rate.

I have not gigged with this instrument, but have subjected it to marathon freestyle jam sessions. It holds up to my playing, and is very comfortable to hold (I am 6'6" - 260 lbs+).

The only complaint I've found is that the tuners occassionally slip out of tune.

Strap buttons are incredibly solid, and allayed my fears that I would need strap locks. Will probably invest.

It is dependable, but I would certainly gig with a backup guitar. Who wouldn't?

N/A

I have been playing guitar for 18 years. More so than any guitar I've owned, and most that I've come across, this guitar just screams at me to pick up and play. It is that beautiful. The tone is very nice amplified, but it is also quite solid acoustic, which to me is very telling in an electric guitar.

This guitar would be replaced (if I could find another) were it stolen or broken. They are becoming very difficult to track down, since they were limited in production, and are so solid for the money.

It did not come with a hardcase, which I am currently looking for.

Circa 2003 model, Solid white with Gold hardware, made in Korea
solid arched maple top
1 volume, 1 tone, 3 way switch
2 humbuckers of unknown origin (kinda weak)
Passive electronics
Mahogany set neck with bound headstock & rosewood fingerboard(very comfy) easy access set neck joint. Mahogany back and sides, arched maple top w/bilateral f-holes, hollowbody.
Finish is solid white Gold hardware with ivory headstock, neck, & body binding (Nice quality).
Paul Reed Smith body styling.
Tune-o-matic bridge
Gotoh style non locking tuners that stay in tune
24.75" scale (very easy playability) Modern C-shaped neck w/medium frets, bound rosewood fretboard, pearl dot inlays. (Faster than my 1996 Fender american stratocaster)
Included nice hardshell case, strap, peg winder, spare strings, Dessicant bags.

Compared to a strat, this guitar is the complete opposite. That is why I got it.
I am using a 1967 Fender Princeton Reverb Amp and a Line 6 AxSys 2x12
rich/full sound, a little dark. Great sustain. nice for jazz playing.
I usually use both pickups on and roll a slight amount off the tone knob for a more balaced sound. Neck position sounds a little dark but with nice highs. Bridge pickup is a little weak so it can sound thin and middy.
I plan on replacing the pickups with a Dimarzio EJ custom in the neck. and a '59 PAF type in the bridge.
What I like about the sound is that it covers all the spots that the strat misses. What I dislike is that it is not that versatle with the current stock pickups.

Since I got the guitar used, it was set up very well with 10-46 strings on it. I switched to 10-52s and had to adjust the bridge a bit. Now it is perfect.
I had to raise the pickup height because the pickups are weak.
the top looks symmetrical. the bridge has been routed perfectly.
The quality of the guitar is unbelievable. I cannot find one flaw in the construction. I am AMAZED!

Again, the construction of this guitar is flawless and has been very reliable. The hardware seems to be good quality. I am starting to wear off the gold plating of the bridge where I rest my picking hand though (that's a given).
The solid white finish is really good quality, it covers the entire body, the back of neck, and back of the headstock. The front of the headstock is painted gloss black. It looks classy.
I replaced the strap buttons with Schaller strap locks.
This is a Guitar anyone can depend on.
And yes, I would use it on a gig without a backup.

I haven't had to contact the company for any reason (that is a good thing)

I have been playing for a solid 13 years
If it were stolen I would be heartbroken, then buy it again.
I love the tone and playablity of this guitar, my favorite feature is that it is a hollowbody. It has THAT sound. Great for Beatles tunes! and thick distorted lead tones.
I wish it had independent tone and volume knobs for each pickup.