Product: Memphis L5 Copy
Price Paid: US $400
Submitted
03/29/2006
at
06:22pm
by
probyn gregory
Features
:
No Opinion
unknown year, probably late 70s; Japanese; 21 frets; seems to be solid archtop, not ply; 2 vol, 2 tone, 3-way switch; humbux; passive; seems to be maple neck; sunburst; single round cutaway a la L5 or Super 400; floating bridge; stock tuners.
Sound
:
5
Pickup sound is thin and uneven (G-string pole at top height and it's STILL quiet) but i am about to install a seymour duncan SH55 seth Love neck PU. Pots also are bad, I may rewire. But instrument unamplified has character and is solidly built. Not as light and nimble overall as my 175 but still an archtop to be reckoned with.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
8
Action is great, tho after i left .12 roundwounds on there for 3 months, the neck gave a little (the neck is VERY long, beyond full scale). the overall quality of construction is high; I'd say this is a lawsuit model, possibly one of the ones made by Ibanez. fretwire is even, bracing is good, the finish only has age checks.
Reliability/Durability
:
7
Finish is chipping slightly but then again when i got this it had no case, for who knows how long. i had to take the strap button off or it wouldn't even fit in a jumbo case. i have gigged without backup on it, because frankly i don't know anybody who has something that could sound just like this (maybe my Kay archtop with PU installed after the fact). hardware is rusting, PUs especially.
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
NA
Overall Rating
:
7
Been playing for 36 years, own a variety of solids and hollows. I'd get another if i could, but I've never seen one again. i love the feel and the giganticness of the neck, plus it LOOKS great, even if presently the sound leaves something to be desired. I'd compare it somewhat unfavorably to a Gibson L5 or Super 400. Wish it had BETTER PICKUPS/ELECTRONICS!
