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Peavey Predator

Summary
Price New Peavey Predator @ Musician's Friend
Manufacturer URL http://www.peavey.com/
Features 7.3 (80 responses)
Sound 7.7 (85 responses)
Action, Fit, & Finish 8.0 (80 responses)
Reliability/Durability 8.4 (85 responses)
Customer Support 8.8 (30 responses)
Overall Rating 8.6 (79 responses)
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Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $165 used
Submitted 10/06/2000 at 05:58pm by Anonymous

Features : 8
Copy of a Stratocaster. 3 single coiled pickups. Fat Maple fretboard with 22 frets. White pickguard with solid top. Strat body with solid top. 1 volume, 2 tone controls. 5 way switching. Came with a case.

Sound : 10
The sound for this strat copy is awesome!! It is very clear. The sound is also good when it is placed on distortion. Tone is very nice.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
The guitar was used, so it had some scratches. The pickups are very good. I don't think there are any flaws in design.

Reliability/Durability : 9
The reliability of this guitar is very good. The finish is nice. Everything is placed properly.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with them

Overall Rating : 10
This is an awesome guitar. It can be easily mistaken with a Fender Standard Stratocaster. I just wish it came with tremolo.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $199.00
Submitted 09/22/2000 at 11:01pm by Anonymous

Features : 9
I bought this guitar new in 1992 (USA Made). 3 single coil PU's, 5 way switch. The body I think is either poplar and Alder and the neck is maple. Paint job was a glossy black but I have stripped the paint off and refinished the body with a wood gain cherrywood stain and then laquered it.

Sound : 9
I play many styles Rock, Country, Blues and I have never had a single problem with this baby stepping up to the plate and hitting a home run. I run this guitar through either a Peavey Deuce (Twin 12) amp or a Marshall amp. I also run it through a Zoom effects pedal.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Perfect right from the get go!!!

Reliability/Durability : 10
This guitar has been through hell and back, it's been dropped down a flight of stairs (and it wasn't in a case), it's been stepped on, had all kinds of stuff spilt on it, and this baby still performs night after night. I own a Fender Telecaster and it sounds great but it plays the backup role to my Peavey. I've been playing guitar for 20 years and I don't play the Peavey because I can't afford a better guitar, because I would have no problem buying a Gibson, Guild, ESP and so on. I play the Peavey because it's a DAMN GOOD GUITAR!!!!

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with them if there is any work to be done I do it myself.

Overall Rating : 10
Great Guitar will keep it forever.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: N/A used
Submitted 09/21/2000 at 04:51pm by Anonymous

Features : 8
American made strat copy with 22 frets. Laminated top. Includes 1 volume switch and 2 tone switches. Comes with 3 single coil pickups. The frets are jumbo. Neck is maple.

Sound : 10
The sound is very good for rock, although it is sometimes sensitive. Has a very clear and solid sound.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The finish is very nice. If you don't look at the neck, you could easily mistake this for a Fender Standard Stratocaster. It's got a nice look and finish.

Reliability/Durability : 9
It's ok when it comes to reliability. This guitar was very used. It had a few scratches, but they're hard to see from a distance. I think the strings really have to be replaced.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with them

Overall Rating : 10
This is a great guitar at a reasonable price. It's almost the exact same as a fender strat. I wish it had tremolo, though.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $160.00 used
Submitted 09/13/2000 at 07:19pm by Steve Morris
Email: tarbaby<at>meckcom dot net

Features : 9
Late 80's American made strat copy. Maple neck and fret board. 21 frets. Neck is excellent and is the main reason I bought it. Basic strat style clone.One volume, two tone controls. 3 single coil P/U. Heavy wood body, probably ash with a very thick finish. Basic black finish like liquid kevlar. Frets are medium jumbo. Generic tremolo with whammy. Everything is solid as a rock except the tuners which are economy grade. But they work and it even returns to tune after the whammy dive.

Sound : 10
I've read some criticism of the stock pickups but I've found these to be quite acceptable. Neck P/U is good and blusey. Bridge has substantial crunch for AC/DC types, without the ear splitting highs common to many strat stock bridge P/Us. Bridge tone control has little if any impact on P/U performance and sound, but sustain is surprisingly good for a bolt on neck. Much less hiss from the single coils than what I experienced with my previous Fender Mexican strat. I play mainly blues and rock and this fits both styles nicely.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Bought this used and reworked the set-up. Micro-adjustable neck is very handy to get low action with NO string buzz. Selector is firm shifting. No wiggling or pops when changing selections. Hardware looked like it had been dipped in stale beer and nicotine. But it cleaned up like new. Control knobs are smooth without any hiss or popping. Must be all that bar resin holding everything together. The pickups must have gotten a good coating too as they don't buzz like normal low end stock P/U's.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I haven't had the opportunity to use it live but I wouldn't hesitate to do so. The finish appears to be bullet proof. Strap buttons are solid. I would depend on this to hold up but would never gig without a backup. Shit happens to the best of equipment.

Customer Support : 10
I've used Peavey's website in the past to determine the production date of a Peavey T-60 and to inquire about replacement parts for a T-25. Answers to inqiuries have been returned in 24 to 48 hours. Sorry I can't say the same for the other brands I've owned.

Overall Rating : 10
Got back into playing about 5 years ago. I have three guitars, a Zoom 505 which I use on and off and a 25W Fender amp.I like the strat sound and wanted a strat style guitar to replace the Fender Mex strat that I traded. I just wasn't very impressed with the Fender. I started looking for this model after reading some of the reviews on Harmony Central. If stolen I would begin the search for another. I believe this guitar holds it's own with Fender's American Strats at a third of what the Strat would cost. I got lucky. If your're looking to buy, quality control appears to vary significantly between the same models and companies. I've encountered rough, sharp frets, finish flaws, buzz and hiss on several name brands including Peavey. So be wise and check it out close before you buy it.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US
Submitted 09/11/2000 at 02:23pm by Anonymous

Features : 8
U.S.A. made Peavey Predator (1995) - standard strat set-up (poplar body, maple fretboard, 3 single coil ceramic pickups)

Sound : 7
The ceramic pickups are a little on the harsh side for my taste. The 2 and 4 positions don?t quite have the same quack as a strat. Clean sound at low volumes is good. Distorted sound is good. Sounds better through my tube amp than my solid state. Good sounds with various effects. I may upgrade the pickups.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
This is where this guitar shines. The action, fit and finish are outstanding.

Reliability/Durability : 8
This appears to be a very well made, solid built guitar.

Customer Support : No Opinion

Overall Rating : 9
I?ve been playing for over 30 years and have owned many different guitars (Fenders, a Gretsch, Danelectros, etc?) and amps. For the money, this is a fantastic value. This is very comparable to my Mexican made Fender Strat (also an excellent buy); but less expensive than a Fender. The neck is very different from a Fender, it?s thinner and the radius is flatter. It?s fast and feels great though. The polyurethane coating is thinner than a Fender, which has it's pluses and minuses. Plus because the body will sustain better, minus because it will nick a little easier. The tuners could use an upgrade. The neck has an angle adjust which is a nice feature. Intonation is good. This is a very easy guitar to play. Unless there is a lot of variation between guitars (the one I have is great), I can?t understand why the U.S.A. built ones sell for so low. A used U.S.A. made Predator is one of the better values out there.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $130 used
Submitted 08/03/2000 at 10:09am by Nick
Email: tito4569 at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 8
I'm a begginer and I bought this guitar from ebay and it's in really good condition. It was made in the US nd i think it has 22 frets. There is 1 volume knob and two tone knobs, a 5 way switch and a powerbend tremolo system. it has a S/S/H setup and the pickups are pretty decent. It has an alder body and a nice finish. Its a strat style guitar and looks real nice. The tuners are non-locking and basically stay in tune. It has a thin neck and it's comfortable to play.

Sound : 8
I play rock, alternative, metal, etc. and this guitar gives me the sounds I need to play. I use a Stephens 20 watt amp and a Rogue DST-5 distrotion pedal and i get a pretty good sound. It's nice and bright and I get a lot of high end sound. The pedal helps out for producing a better low end sound. I'm just starting but I think this is a great guitar.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
When I got the guitar from the guy on ebay it was in good condition...a nice paint job, no scratches. The 2 single coil pickups were good but I needed to adjust the humbucker to get a better tone. The bridge is really low, sunken into the guitar. Also, the action was set really lowand I was getting bad sound but when i raised it it sounds beautiful.

Reliability/Durability : 8
I'm a beginner so I realy wouldn't gig yet. I imagine this guitar would hold up. It seems really durable. THe finish is good and the strap buttons are solid.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I've never dealt with Peavey.

Overall Rating : 9
Like I said I just started but it's a great guitar and I really like it. If it were stolen I'd probably try to go woth the upgraded version, the Predator Plus. The only problem I really have is that the spot where I like to use the tremolo is blocked by the volume knob so I have to come closer to the strings. No big deal though. A great overall guitar.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $90 used
Submitted 07/18/2000 at 08:01pm by sommersby
Email: stiles42<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 9
strat copy with micro-adjustable Maple neck with Maple fret board.

Sound : 8
At the time I was just starting to take up guitar again after about a 15 year lay off and this was the first guitar i bought. For that purpose it worked out great, never did really care for strats though even when i use to play alot, the middle pickup always got in the way and my hand always seemed to hit the volume control, but thi guitar did the best stat imatation of any strat copy i have ever tried!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Like I pointed out at the start, this guitar came with a micro adjustable neck, you don't get that on a mexican copy, only on the amer strat, the guitar set up great, as good as any strat I have played!

Reliability/Durability : 9
when i got it it needed some solder work and pot cleaning, after that i never had a prob, as good as any fender product!

Customer Support : No Opinion
never had to use them

Overall Rating : 9
If i rated it on the price I paid I would give it a 20, but I will give it a solid 9, this is by far the best strat copy you can buy without buying the real thing! I did sell it to a friend that wanted to get his first electric guitar, for me it served it's purpose, since buying this from the pawn shop I have fallin back in love with the guitar, so thanks peavey, ya did good!


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $100 used
Submitted 05/20/2000 at 05:29am by jmarc
Email: jmarc at wickedmail<dot>com

Features : 8
This is an early 90's Predator. Made in the U.S.A., 21 fret maple neck,solid body strat style guitar. Has the classic strat configuration of three single coils, one volume and two tone controlls. with a fulcrum type trem. Everything on this guitar is pretty solid except for the economy tuners.

Sound : 10
This guitar sounds pretty cool for strat sounds and strat sounds with light trem work. Great for blues and rock and roll. Gonna need to change at least the bridge pickup though if you want some chuga chuga rythm sounds.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
I bought the guitar used so can't comment on the factory setup. The guitar plays great after I gave it a complete setup.

Reliability/Durability : 8
With better tuners on this guitar, I would have no problem playing this guitar in any situation.

Overall Rating : 8
In closing, I would like to say that not all guitars are created equal. My previous predator model guitar was a real hunk of junk. It sounded and played like crap no matter what. This one however is a real players guitar. With some quality tuners, I would have no problem playing a gig with this axe...it really smokes!


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $230
Submitted 04/29/2000 at 04:59pm by Ben J. Roethig
Email: kirk102881<at>home dot com

Features : 8
Black. 3 Single Coils. 22 fret Maple neck with maple fretboard.

Sound : 5
Stock pickups suck. I advise a combination of two Seymour Duncan Coolrails (Neck, middle) and a Hotrails at the bridge

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Except for the stock pickups, everyrhing on this guitar is perfect

Reliability/Durability : 10
Very Reliable guitar.

Customer Support : No Opinion
No need to call Peavey.

Overall Rating : 10
There's a very good reason while it's been my fav since the beginning: It kicks ass! If you can find a predator with the 3 single coils (The new one sucks), buy it. If not, but a guitar from www.route101guitars.com


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: CDN $199 used
Submitted 04/15/2000 at 11:43pm by Dan
Email: griffin at planetmail<dot>com

Features : 7
I would like to make it clear that this Peavey differs greatly from the newer basic Strat clones. They began production on the Predator in 1985 in the midst of the "Super Strat" era, which can basically sum up the idea behind the original Peavey Predator; The body is made of a curious select hardwood, making it surpisingly heavy. The ultra-hot pickups (dual humbuckers in middle and neck positions) are housed in black covers, and feature two rows of adjustable pole pieces. The locking bridge system (Flyer by the Kahler company) is very easy to use, but isn't nearly as stable as it's obvious rival, the Floyd Rose. The neck is the guitar's best feature, and perhaps one of the best I have ever placed my hands upon. The neck's dimentions are quite strange as it only has 23 frets(no kidding, 23 frets), but it's 12" non-compound radious and top crowning job on the frets give you the freedom to shred or the option to really dig in and pull out an incredible slow blues feel. There are only two knobs, tone and volume. As with nearly all other Peaveys, the Predator was hand assembled in the USA. Also, Peavey also used to offer something called the Electric Case which included a playable, portable amplifier. The case came with the guitar when I bought it, but all electrical parts had been removed by the previous owner(that, or the store ripped me off).

Sound : 10
The sound of this guitar is quite amazing. It has a remarkable full tone in the neck, very, very near a Les Paul(sorry LP freaks) and a chugging quack in the neck. This guitar was clearly made for speed metal, the neck almost begs for it, but given the proper respect it can give a great blues tone. This guitar has a crystaline quality when played clean through a decent amp. The tone might not be for everyone, as the pickups are white hot, but if you're confident in your pick attack and your string muting techniques, this guitar will reward you to an extent that is beond belief. If you can find one in decent shape, plug it in and try it.

Action, Fit, & Finish : No Opinion
I can't begin to imagine what tortures this guitar was put through the 14 years before it found me, but the only problem I can find is that there is a slight buzz through the amp when modestly distorted+. I suspect the may be a wire loose from the rest. I will find and fix the problem when it becomes time to do so.

Reliability/Durability : 9
This guitar obviously didn't spend 14 years in a case. There are nicks and scuffs all over it, and it appears to have been used as an ashtray for a short period of time. If it's lasted this long I can't see a reason why it would fall apart any time soon.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Yeah, maybe I'll call Peavey and ask for a replacement tremolo arm that was made by a company that stopped making bridge parts when it I was watching Saved By the Bell and Family Ties...

Overall Rating : 10
You've read my review, you know my feelings on the subject. I've been playing since George Bush SR. was president, and I've been around the guitar block a few times. To me, this ones is a momento of guitars' past. I would put it up against any electric guitar. As far as super-strats go, this one puts to shame production guitars(Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel, Hammer...) and more expensive guitars. Gibson, for one, is a company content to rest on it's name. Rightfully so, maybe... Sure, the Predator is out of date, it's heavey and it looks like most every guitar produced 1978-1990, but for some reason it stands out. No guitar I've ever owned had a better feeling neck. This is also the best sounding guitar I've ever played. Which says a lot considering my arsenal of 121 guitars. If you can find a good one, pick it up. I promise, you'll find it to be one of the best guitars (not)available today.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $250-300
Submitted 12/13/1999 at 05:37pm by Wrastus
Email: wrastus at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 7
The Peavey Predator features 21 frets, a humbucker inthe bridge position and two single coils in the middle and neck positions. One volume and two tone controls and a five way pickup selector. The bridge is a basic strat style copy. The wood used for the guitar body is poplar.

Sound : 9
I play many different styles of music. My two favorites strangely enough are blues and punk. The single coils when combined give off a wonderfull blues type sound when you lower the volume and the tone a bit. For punk, the humbucker has wonderfull distortion ability. It can scream and crunch and the sustain lasts forever. The sound quality is better than most guitars even up to twice the price. Wonderfull sound!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
The action on the guitar is not set as low as I like.(which is just a whisper above the frets)I sent it to a local music store get the action lowered. The pickups did not need to be adjusted at all. They are perfect for my style. The only problen I had with it was when the nut where you plug in the cable became loose. I just got out a pair of small pliers covered the with cloth and tightened it. NO problem since

Reliability/Durability : 8
This guitar could stand live playing. The hardware seems like it will last if you treat it sensibly. The paint is extremely durable. It takes a beating and still lookes new. I would gig without a backup.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I have not needed to contact them before.

Overall Rating : 8
I have owned it for almost two years. I also own a peavey Envoy 110 amplifier.(very nice) If it was lost or stolen I would probably buy the Predator plus model wich was not out when I bought mine. Just a few more little features. Other than that it is a value monster.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $200
Submitted 11/24/1999 at 08:34am by Jason
Email: floydian at writeme<dot>com

Features : 9
This is your basic strat setup. The guy at the store said it was made in the US. Bought it 2 and a half years ago, i just never got around to writing one of these things. Its been my main (only guitar) till now. Its got 21 frets, 1 volume, 2 tone, S-S-H pickup setup, standard tuners (go out of tune some times), standard nut, and a simi-floting bridge (not to good, makes it go way out of tune if you try any floyd-rose like things to it.) Body is alder, maple neck and rosewood fretboard. I give it a 9 because its more than what you need as a biginner, which i was when i started.

Sound : 7
Sound is pretty good. The humbucker is preety good, i'm using a peavey classic 50, i did use a squier 15 when i first got it. My effects are a crybaby, ZOOM 505 (this made the guitar sound much better, because i use the compresser, which really broadend the tone of the guitar), Boss DD-5, and a DOD chorus. The single coils are great if you dont use distortion. If you do use distortion, use the humbucker, because its not too good clean. I play everyting, i started playing metal only, but have gone from that to SRV, Van Halen, Satriani, Floyd, and so may more. With this guitar and a few effects it can get to just about any sound. I gave it a 7 because the pickups arent EQ'd any way spiecal, just like all 5's, but it helps you develop your own tone. i've made them higher and lower to make a diffrece, and it did. I'm getting locking tuners and an EMG-DG20 David Gilmore pickup set put in it, it will sound great then.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
This is where the points are. I loved the neck on this guitar. Its just the right amount of thick and thin. I've cleaned it every time when i change strings it keeps the neck fresh feeling. It took a long time finding a guitar that comes close to this neck when i got my new guitar (Ibanez RG520). The necks are completely diffrent, but thats a diffrent story. This neck just makes me play blues i love it, i've gone from 9's and i'm going with 9.5, and soon 10's, string wise, and i like it a lot better. The finish is preetty good, its no gibson sunburst or PRS, but its perfectly fine. I got sunberst, and from far away it look kind of dull, but who cares really? Its the sound and feel that matters.

Reliability/Durability : 7
Ths guitar has so many nicks and scraches and still is great. That's another thing i like about it, it's part of the feel. I never giged with it, but it is my backup now. The only problem id have with playing it live would be going out of tune. The past year i just havent used the tremelo because i'll use it too much and it will go out of tune. I can't compare it with the floyd i have now. This is a pretty solid guitar, but because my stupidity and dropping so many times, there are some nicks, and the bridge, it gets a 7

Customer Support : 10
I got it repared once and had it set up at the peavey place i gor it at, no problem it was still under warrenty and was free, i think a screw came loose on teh bridge. i cant remember exsactly waht it was, but they were really nice about it.

Overall Rating : 9
I dont know if it were stolen or lost i'd buy another. its my first guitar and i deffinatly got some attachment to it. Its just somethign i fool around with. I compared it to a squer, and other guitars around that price. Its an International Series, if that maters. It was priced at $250, but the guy gave me a deal because it was my fist guitar and i got that squier amp wit it. It had everyhting i was looking for, i guess. Pretty much everyhting i wish it had over the years i got in my ibanez (24 fret, floyd-rose, locking nut, adn 2 humbuckers) and you wont get that in this price range. For a beginer i would give this guitar a 10!! But now i look back and i'll give an 7-8, 8. So it averges 9. Not perfect but its gotten me where i want in playing and has allowed me to shape my sound. I have recommended this to friends starting out and they have NOT been dissapointed. If you want a great first guitar get this dont look at squier because they SUCK.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $130
Submitted 11/07/1999 at 07:27am by beber
Email: beber at media-net<dot>net

Features : 5
I bought this guitar used at Midwest Music in Hays, Kansas for $130. I got it because it had the third best keyboard among 20 or so electric guitars in the place. Those that beat it were a Brian Moore C-55 and an Ibanez SC - 620. We're talking in the grand range for those, and in the hundred dollar range for the Predator. I don't know what the body is made of. It's laquered up with some sort of indestructable black goop with a little clarity. It could easily be described as ugly. It's got 22 frets and a maple neck. There's a serial number stamped on the back of the (oh, you know,) that thing that has the tuners on it. There's a five way switch on the front, and three knobs.

Sound : 6
What I do is sit in the basement and play songs out of fake books; have for years. Some songs are almost like second skins to me now, yet if I pass them up for a few years, then come back to them, It always seems like I never really knew the song at all. I pick the notes from the chords; the object is to have a rhythm going all the time, a little simple base line, and the melody or the voice line flowing through it. Some days, I'll play "Pinball Wizard," the next, I'll concentrate on "Beautiful Dreamer," which is a song made to pick. So is "Crazy," by Willie Nelson. Did you know that? Since the object of my playing is first to accomplish the finger work, I often play this guitar with no amplification at all. I have both a crate CA 60D and an old giant Ampeg head of some kind, with a speaker box I can't carry up the stairs by myself. Sometimes I play through one and sing through the other, and vice versa. Sometimes I play and sing through the Crate, which seems to sound best. The son of a bitch hums like a bastard. I think the sound is probably pretty anemic, Really, though you can make huge squawks with the big amp. I'm not in to those. I have to wear ear protection to run a lawnmower. The truth is, I think it's a mellow little guitar, that plays just fine, if you don't make it play to loud. The keyboard is wonderful, just as facile as a Gibson Les Paul Standard I had years ago. The Gibson is now owned by a kid who plays fifty-eleven times better than I ever did and has tripled in value since I sold it. Set on the rythm section the guitar drones at such a low frequency it almost causes pain. It can also provide an incredible background against which to pick those notes. On the picking or lead side, I find it to harsh usually, especially when I use finger picks. You can really set up some rythm with it between with picks, though. But I usually play it bare handed, plucking the strings with the pads of my fingers. I'd rather play with nails, but usually they're worn off from guitar strings. By god, even without fingernails, I can make it sound real nice.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
Bought used. Great action; no big flaws; the electronics seem crackly.

Reliability/Durability : 7
It's made of maple; ever work that stuff. It won't break. The electronics will probably have to be replaced.

Overall Rating : 7
I've been playing for 35 years. I have a bunch of unplayable cheap acoustic guitars. My main alternate ax is an Ibanez 70-string. Wonder warm sound; a bitch to play. I wouldn't look for one if it were lost, but if I saw one cheap, I wouldn't hesitate to get another one. The best thing about it is its playability.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $160 used
Submitted 09/25/1999 at 10:57pm by Chris

Features : 4
This guitar is just basicly your beginner guitar, it has a maple neck standerd pickups (i quess) its a strat style guitar and comes with three single coil pickups.

Sound : 5
I play manly hard rock, ad blues, this guitar can't really play any spacific tunes it is a good beginner guitar but once you get more advanced you will dread it. I am using a marshall VS100R with a Jimi Hendrix Jh-1 Wah Wah pedal and a chorus pedal, this guitar actually can get some pretty good tunes when i plug in the chorus and tweek with the Fx loop on the amp. This guitar cant hold notes very well and has really bright sound when played clean. The gutar isn't very versitile at all.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
I got this guitar used and dont know if the person that had it before me messed with the pickups but they were set so high that the strings would hit them when played, but that is an easy fix. Other that that it is pretty well put together.

Reliability/Durability : 3
This guitar isn't that reliable, i have had it cut of on me several times because the wires inside came loose, but that comes with ware and tare. Everything on it is screwed in tight and seems pretty durable. The is no way in the word i would gig with this thin period.

Overall Rating : 5
I have been playing for abou 7 years and have a fender standerd strat and a fender big apple strat and they both blow this thing away. It doesn't even compare with those guittars. If it were stolen or lost i would be upset because it was my first guitar and you always should keep it, but i wouldn't but it again. This is the perfect beginner guitar because its cheap and should last.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $230 used
Submitted 09/19/1999 at 02:12pm by Mike
Email: Mossimo418 at aol<dot>com

Features : 7
As far as the year this guy was made, I'm not sure. I think its a 96/97. It's an American guitar, which is nice. It has a solid poplar top, and a bolt on maple neck. It has 21 frets and no name tuners. It's got a S/S/H setup, and i think the single coils may be high output. As on any strat-style, it has the basic 1 volume and 2 tone controls. It's also got a 5 way selector. The tremelo is a Power Bend 3...not the same as a basic strat one. Go to the peavey site to see exactly what it looks like. It's mettalic red, with a white pickguard.

Sound : 7
Well, I play ska/punk, and it suits it decently. I play with a Peavey Transtube Blazer (Only a 30-watt amp) and i use a Crybaby and a DOD distortion pedal. At first i used the humbucker alot, but the single coils actually give you a better sound. The humbucker is kinda cheap, so i stay away from it. But the single coils really shine when you play with the tone. At high distortion, it gives a little bit of buzz, but turning down the tone takes that away. The single coils give a suprisingly rich sound, especially when you use them both. For ska, I usually use the neck single, with the tone all the way up. For a strat copy, you can't get much better. My only big dislike is the humbucker. But you can by a Duncan or a Dimarzio for pretty cheap.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 6
The only actual flaw was that the volume control wasn't glued on, but that was no big deal. The action is decent, with 9's. I play with 10's and the action is still pretty good, and you get a deeper sound. The only annoying thing is the string buzz you get when you break another string. The neck isn't set, so its not top quality.The finish is pretty nice, except for one flaw on the back. My biggest complaint would be that the tremelo can set the guitar out of tune pretty easily. I dont use it alot though, so it's not a problem.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I've had this guitar for three years, and it's taken alot of abuse. But it still looks really good. I wear my strap low, and some guitars fall off easy. But this one is great, and the strap buttons are solid. The only thing is the string breakage...specifically the high E string. It's partially cause i play it hard, but it had a tendency to break sometimes. As for using it in a gig, i was surpirsed at the sound it gives. For a really rich sound, you need a more epxesive guitar. But for one under $500, it's not bad.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt wiht the company (never had to.)

Overall Rating : 8
I've been playing as long as I've had this guitar, and it's been pretty good to me. Peavey is a solid american company, and it shows in this guitars orkmanship. The humbucker stinks, but thats ok, cuz the single coils make up for it. For a first guitar, I'de recommend it. For the money, I think it's a great value. Compared to a gibson, it has no chance. But when you're just starting to play, you don't need a gibson. The most important thing is that you know your guitar and how to get the right sound out of it. Email me if ya have any questions...


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $165
Submitted 08/11/1999 at 06:47pm by Anonymous

Features : 3
1994 Predator "crafted in USA." Standard strat style guitar that only wishes it could be as good as a strat. Has a maple neck (and fingerboard) that isn't that bad, body made of some sort of polyuerethane.

Sound : 3
I play blues, blues rock, and good old rock. I've been playing for about six years and like SRV, Van Halen, Clapton, Creed, etc. This guitar suits pretty mush none of those styles, but if that's all you got, it works O.K. with a good amp and pedal. The only thing it's got that I admire is a crystal clear clean tone, but has no "ring" or any distinctive characteristics.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
I was surprised for such a horrible P.O.S. , that when I got it, it looked fine, and pretty much flawless. Over the years though, it wore down quicker than a better crafted guitar. I've actually tried to dent or damage the body, but not much happens due to it's plastic body. That's cool about it, but, if it gets scraped up like Kenny Wayne's or SRV's guitar, it becomes completely obvious that it's not wood.

Reliability/Durability : 1
Sure, it'd withstand live playing, considering your crowd doesn't ditch you because of your crappy sound. Most everything seems like it'd last a couple of years more. HELL NO!!! I'd never use this thing without a backup. Anyone whose was unlucky enough to get one of these jewels, don't get cocky, it's really a bunch of recycled garbage behind a Strat.

Customer Support : 4
It had a one year warranty, and they [Peavey] purposely rig it to show its true shitty face after the warranty is up. I dealt with Peavey once, and hung up the lady because she was stupid and didn't want to help me. That was a while ago and hope Customer service has gotten better.

Overall Rating : 3
I've been playing guitar for about 6 years and am pretty damn sick of it. I've played Standard American Strats, a '57 reissue (Fender strat) Epiphone Les Pauls, and lots of other cool guitars. It doesn't compare with any of those. If it were stolen, I'd feel sorry for the dumb bastard. He (or she) wouldn't get any money or a good guitar. I feel sorry for the Peavey Wolfgang considering it's cousin is a piece of shit. When I get a new guitar (soon I hope) I'll hang it on my wall for the Hard Rock Cafe effect, not that I'm proud of it. Bottom line: don't buy it!!


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $175.00<>
Submitted 07/30/1999 at 01:24am by Anonymous

Features : 9
Possibly made in 1980's Standard frets Solid top 3 pickups Standard Peavey pickups Passive pickups Body is Popular Neck is maple Finsih Black painted Tremilo Bridge Standard Tuners

Sound : 10
Just Replaced the Peavey pickups and 5 position switch. With AGI-LACE Holy Grails and fender 5 position switch OEM Left standard 500k pots and capactor in pickguard. Sound before was around a 5 or 6 now a 10 May change to AGI-LACE recommended 250k pots later. Now has full range sound. This unit was made in the USA. Sounds now are better than a Fender with the standard laces Neck gold center Gold and Bridge Silver. The AGI-LACES installed on this are Holy Grail Neck Gold Center Gold Bridge Red. Looking at a Wolfgang with Drop Bridge D and Tremilo. Will see how this compares sound wise to it next week when I check them side by side.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
Purchase From Rondo music years ago new. Setup was fine except had to raise the pickups for more guts. No flaws in the guitar at that time. Now after years of just normal playing got some nicks etc. Orginal Pickups have hum and other noises. Not Laces.

Reliability/Durability : 10
This unit is built like a tank. None of the hardware has been changed except to upgrade the pickups and switch (old parts are packed away) just in case I decide to sell it and keep the Laces (of course I would keep them) They cost me more than the Guitar did.
The finish has lasted for this time but due to banging into things it has some chips but that is pilot error not hte guitars fault.
The strap button have never fell off.
I depended on it for at least 10-15 yrs.
I don't need a backup unless I have pilot error and then it would be because I fell off the stage and would be in the Emergency Room anyway. And then they could use the neck to brace my broken leg or arm.

Customer Support : No Opinion
They have support? Never needed any rock solid AXE. O yes watched the 1/2 video thing on their website about the WolfGang


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $170.00
Submitted 07/29/1999 at 07:01am by Garry
Email: gcorrigan9 at aol<dot>com

Features : 9
The Predator was made maybe four years ago, in Japan of all places. It has your standard number of frets, volume control, two tone controls, and a three-way selector switch. Body is great, neck is also finely constructed. Plastic nut, non-locking tuners. The pickups are not the greatest but they will please the beginning guitarist. Comes with a whammy bar but I got rid of that due to the fact that I get pissed off when I have to tune my guitar every 10 mins. Frets are a good size. Read someone else's posting if you want the details because I dont have the patience.
I gave it a 9 because It has pretty much all the features you would want from a guitar.

Sound : 9
It suits my music style just fine- I am a Zep fanatic and also play van Halen, metallica, etc...I also play some bouncing-souls style punk and it is great for that. I have played this through a cheesy 15 watt Crate amp (the thing is crapping out on me as of late) and also through a 50 watt Marshall, not to mention my brand new Vox mini-amp which by the way is impressive for 1 watt. Variety is good- you can go from a deep, base tone to a cutting sound with a flip of the selector switch. The sound related problems I experience are usually a result of the amps I use. I dislike the mild hum that is distinguishable when the tone is up.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
Guitar action set-up from the factory was not that great. I had it professionally adjusted after about a month of dealing with a high action. But don't hold that against the guitar-it was a 175 dollar guitar, what can you expect. Pickups, as I have mentioned before, are a little on the budget side. I am in the market for new ones as I type this. Top, bridge were great. No flaws on the guitar when I bought it- I bought a royal blue color and after about three years of daily playing it has that brand-new shine to it. Pickup selector seems a bit on the cheap side.

Reliability/Durability : 8
This guitar will withstand live playing. Problems with the hardware:After about three years of playing it, the pickguard screws as well as the selector switch have started to rust. You would think that they could have gone for better quality screws for crying out loud. My advice would be to replace the screws with high quality ones before they start to rust. Finish will definitely last. Solid strap buttons, dependable, but would not use it on a gig w/o backup.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never tried to repair it, believe there is a 1 year or so warranty on it. Peavey seems like a quality company-check out their website for some cool stuff such as if you have a Peavey, you can enter in your serial number and it will give you the year made.

Overall Rating : No Opinion
Ive been playing for about 4 years now and what I love about this guitar is its durability and playability. After adjusting the action, this guitar was a breeze to play on. I HIGHLY, HIGHLY, HIGHLY recommend this guitar to all beginners out there. This is definitely where you want to start learning the electric. A friend of mine owns one of those 1400 dollar Les-Pauls and I have played it- the sound quality was definitely better on the les paul but the playability was worse-the owner of that Les paul admitted the same thing! Plus it is lightweight and cheap price-wise. If run through a good amp, this guitar is as good as any 700 dollar strat-and at 175 dollars it is not out of anyone's price range. Some last minute advice to people looking for their first electric- DO NOT buy a 99.00 guitar. They suck and you will get discouraged rather quickly from playing. Spend an extra hundred bucks (or more if you have it) and buy the best guitar you can to start out with.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $165
Submitted 05/05/1999 at 03:55pm by Huck
Email: mhuck<at>aol dot com

Features : 7
Just like the other entries, the basic strat rip-off w/ 3 single coils. I think it was a 93 or 94. I think I got a gig bag with it, and some spare strings. Generic tuners that are touchy. Good, really good actually, maple neck.

Sound : 6
For classic rock in the house it has decent tone, and take effects well. I played it through various Peaveys, and a Fender Champ. Much better through the Champ. It gave the sound much more body. Through the Peaveys it lacked bass and fullness. I rewired it several ways but sold it before I replaced the pickups.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
I did a bunch of different stuff with the action and it took all of it well, but always had more string buzz than my Peavey Reactor. The thing was set up well from the dealer (Alamo Music in San Antonio), but action is personal, so I played around with it. The finish held up pretty well. I don't consider a guitar as something to beat up, though.

Reliability/Durability : 10
This guitar never missed a lick. I would definitely bring it to a gig rather than an expensive strat.

Customer Support : No Opinion
It never broke.

Overall Rating : 9
A great piece. I wish I had kept it. They do vary from guitar to guitar, so be careful. I have seen some crappy ones. If it were ripped off, I would find another. I am, in fact, looking for a good one. I wish, however, that the dealers would be more helpful in pickup upgrades, I.E. knowing what comes in it from the factory to avoid a potential downgrade.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: pounds 50 used
Submitted 04/21/1999 at 08:10am by Anonymous
Email: tnnurse<at>usa dot net

Features : 8
US made economy guitar. Body is poplar, 3 large chunks glued together as with most decent guitars. It is then faced back and front with a thin veneer - presumably to allow sunburst finish. This is an OK way to make a body and its NOT ply!
The neck is two part maple, cleaved up the middle and the truss rod inserted sideways before glueing back together, ala G&L guitars. The maple is not top grade flame, but rather aneamic and plain. The neck, however, is very well made and would put some more expensive guitars to shame. It has a smooth matt finish, the frets are well seated and ends properly dressed. Machine heads are functional but seem reliable. The neck fit to body pocket is extremely good and the neck comes with a tilt adjusting screw. The neck plate has to be the ugliest ever - a sort of crackle finish black. The nut was not well cut on this example, being far too shallow.
Body hardware consisted of a rather well made traditional trem, with cast bridge assembly, rather than the usual bent bit of metal. I didn't want a trem so I screwed it down tight. I've no idea how well is works. The intonation was not properly set.
Pick-ups consisted of 3 single coils. At best, they can be considered at the top end of the 'budget' class of pickups. They consisted of a ceramic bar magnet under 6 pole pieces and looked similar to Chinese made pickups used on low end Squiers. Switchgear was all standard stuff.

Sound : 8
Sound was somewhat generic of cheap Strat style guitars. The pickups were prone to pick up noise from flourescent lights - this was despite me spending some time screening it. The sound was rather weak. The bridge pick-up was rather brittle and harsh sounding. The neck pick up was quite mellow sounding and the in-between sounds were a passable imitation. I replaced bridge pickup with a DiMarzio SD Humbucker and suddenly it sprang into life! What a difference! Rating is for the HB upgrade. Deduct 5 for original.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
The guitar needed a bit of fiddling with. I hated the colour - an ugly red, so I stripped it, resprayed it white, fitted a black scratch plate and black pickup covers. The set up was very poor, but this was a junk shop special. After adjusting truss rod, recutting the nut and setting the intonation and height of the bridge, this guitar played very well indeed - ridiculously well for such a cheap guitar. Rating is for after fettling, deduct 7 for before.

Reliability/Durability : 8
Seems solid enough. I can't see any problems with using this at a gig. Everything is solid and well made.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I got this from a junk shop. No warranty!!

Overall Rating : 10
This is potentially a very good guitar. The neck is excellent and the body well made. It is let down by a poor set up and cheap pickups, both of which can be easily dealt with. As the basis of a project guitar which can be upgraded as you go along, it is an excellent base. At the price I paid for it, it can only be fantastic value so it gets...


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted 04/12/1999 at 11:59pm by Chris Greene
Email: greene<at>cyberhighway dot net

Features : No Opinion
This is a brief addendum to my 7/11/98 review of my '94 USA pawn shop Predator. I recently replaced the pickguard assembly of this guitar with a Fender Lone Star Strat pickguard assmenbly (two Texas Special s/c and a special design Seymore Duncan Pearly Gates hummer).
This has significantly improved this guitar for me. It was always a nice body and neck with okay electronics but this Peavey *Lone Star* has quickly become one of my favorite axes. The tuners really should be replaced as Peavey used (on this model anyway) very inexpensive machines.
I'm now into the guitar $200. $100 for the original guitar and a $100 for the LS assembly (purchased right here on HC). I also own four Fenders (USA '52 Tele reissue, USA '62 Strat reissue, MIM Jimmie Vaughan Strat, and a MIM Standard Tele with an aftermarket custom one-piece swamp ash body and '52 bridge, pups, and pickguard). With this electronics upgrade the Peavey now compares favorably with any of these for sheer mojo and tone. I couldn't be more pleased with this little pawn shop special!


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $250
Submitted 04/09/1999 at 06:45pm by Mark
Email: subtil_serpent at hotmail<dot>com

Features : 8
Plenty of features, more than on most other guitars in it's price range. The guitar I am reviewing is an older model. It was made in the USA, and was discontinued in 1995, i think. The difference in features between this one and later Korean-made is significant. The old USA type has a bridge humbucker, coil tap, slightly different cosmetics, and overall better build quality. The new one has three single coils and low quality components and build quality. Mine is built of poplar, has 2 single/1 slanted humbucker, a master tone pot, a coil tap switch, and the standard strat body style.

Sound : 9
The other people to review this guitar seem to be beginning kids that don't have much experience. I've been playing for a long time, and this was my fourth guitar. I think it sounds great, contrary to the other reviewers who claim that "humbuckers have more of that Fender sound", and "I only use the front pickup because it sounds warm". This guitar has the fenderish, chirpy, neck and neck/middle sound. It is plenty bright, has more than enough output, and isn't muddy. The humbucker is mounted at an angle, like a standard strat's bridge pickup. I wish they didn't do that, but it sounds fine anyway. This guitar can get any tone you could need for rock, blues, electric jazz, experimental, and almost anything else. It doesn't sound as good as a 63 strat at stratty tones, or as good as a Jackson at metal type tones, but can do most anything well. It is an excellent stage axe, as you won't care if it gets thrown around.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
I don't really remember exactly how well it was set up from the factory, but do know that it was good enough to play right from the store. I changed the strings to 11's, but the stock set-up was fine for what it was. The finish is great; it is a nice thin polyester finish that doesn't wear off soon. The pots wore out too soon, but for the price of the guitar I felt I got much more than what I paid for.

Reliability/Durability : 9
This guitar HAS withstood live playing for several years. It will hold up to anything reasonable, don't worry about that. The hardware hasn't rusted yet.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Guitars aren't Peavey's main business, so customer support won't be too great. they will help you out, though, as I found out when I called for some replacement parts.

Overall Rating : No Opinion
As I said, Ive been playing for a looong time, and own tons of other gear. I love this guitar for so many reasons. Nobody else plays them, so I look different. It was inexpensive, so it makes a great beginner's guitar. If you want a guitar that you can mess around with and customize, this will be perfect. Basically, this guitar will be just fine for anybody. I love it's versitility. If I'm playing a strat type tone, and need just a little more power, I just click on the humbucker and I'm all set. It is plenty durable. I don't hate anything about this one, it has treated me fine. I highly recommend this to anybody. Try it out fot yourself. You might find that you like this guy.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $180
Submitted 02/26/1999 at 07:22pm by Mike
Email: beem_420<at>hotmail dot com

Features : 8
22 fret, two tones, one volume, 5 way selector, humbucking, whammy bar very nice paint job, great appearance.

Sound : 8
The tones are decent, I like playing very hardcore such as Metallica, Pantera, and Van Halen. I use a Peavey 158 Blazer and it sounds very nice. I generally play on the 4-5 volume, in my bedroom, which is plenty. The distortion is a little better than average for beginnger axes.

Reliability/Durability : 10
Never had a problem with it, don't expect any either. Peavey makes a great product.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Again service-wise I never had to deal with them, because I never had a problem. The warranty for both amp and guitar is one year.

Overall Rating : 9
I been playing for a couple months now seriously. I love the nice distortion it has, though it could use more. I hate the clean sound, it doesnt have it there. My next guitar is a Peavey Wolfgang and that is coming into my house very soon.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $280
Submitted 02/11/1999 at 06:43pm by Aaron Plath

Features : 8
Made in the U.S.A. Made in 1998. 24 frets, 3 controls (1 volume, 2 tone, 5-way selector switch). 2 single pick-ups, 1 double. Fret-board is maple, the body is poplar. The finish is gloss black with white pick guard. Has a Fender Strat style body, with a Power Bend III tremolo system. Came with Rage 158 amp, gig-bag, hook-up cord, picks, etc.

Sound : 9
I think that this guitar is good for a beginner to find what kind of music they want to play. It suits all types of music, but if you want to really get into a certain kind of music, then go for another brand. For me, I like playing heavy distorted stuff (Metallica, AC/DC, etc.), and it works for that, espically with the double pick-up in the rear. I use a Peavey Rage 158 amp with it and it sounds fine. I also use a Zoom 505 pedal, and it's kept on Metal Distortion effect. Probably the thing that bugs me the most is that you can't get this model of guitar with just double humbuckers, which is really what I was looking for.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
When I received the guitar it was straight out of the box. The pick-ups were sounding great, and the strings were all in tune. The finish was flawless, and the hardware was spotless. It had never been used.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I do jam with this guitar alot and I have broken a few strings because of hard hitting. But hey, that's what I like to do. I would recommend having a back-up for a gig because you never know what's going to happen. Everything on it seems to be holding up just fine.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never had any problems yet.

Overall Rating : 8
I have been playing for about 7 months and I still like this guitar. If this guitar was stolen, instead of buying another one I would probably buy an ESP or a Gibson. Sometimes I wish the strings were raised higher above the fret-board. They always seem like they're too close. I wish they would offer the Predator model with a double humbucker setup. I think alot more people would consider it then.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: # 189
Submitted 01/08/1999 at 05:21am by Nick
Email: nic_welsh70 at hotmail<dot>com

Features : No Opinion
I bought this guitar about two years ago now. My guitar teacher (the bastard) raved about this guitar so much that I felt it was the only guitar in the world worth buying. Being USA hand made I felt that I was buying a quality instrument. It's a basic strat shape, and to be honist it's pretty dull to look at. The scratch plate and pots are pretty run of the mill. The pick ups are just basic single coil. The back pick up has a real bite to it but I find the others arn't worth bothering with as they don't suit my style of playing. It has a maple neck which is well made but the body is cheap and doesn't have that feeling of real quality. When I purchased it I recieved no extras.

Sound : 3
When I first purchased this guitar I found that on the front pick-up the tone had a very rich warm sound. On the back pick up it has plenty of bite and it suited my style of playing which is mainly heavey rock/grunge style. After about a year of playing it, I found that the rich tonal qualities that it once had began to fade. I don't know what it was maybe missuse but the guitar started to sound rather crap!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 4
There was no factory set up on this guitar when I purchased it. I had to do it all my self. Overall the build quality is very good. The kneck was flawless although I did notice rust on the saddle after the first year, but that's probably just me, as I'm a sweaty bastard!

Reliability/Durability : 6
I would never use this guitar to play live with. I use a basic Fender Strat when I play live. The Peavey Predator is just a dull guitar which seems to have no charisma to it. I just don't enjoy playing it. The hardware is good. I havn't had any problems with it since I purchased it. Everything is solid and well made although I find that it goes out of tune quickly if you move around a lot.

Customer Support : 2
I got it from a guitar shop who offered little support, just a basic year warranty.

Overall Rating : 3
I've been playing for 3 years now. I own a Trace Elliot SuperTramp. This amp is highly reccommended. If my peavey was lost or stolen then I would be very releaved as I never play it and I think its a pile of shite. There is nothing I like or hate about this guitar. I would reccomend it to a beginner guitarist, but if you've been playing longer than a year then this guitar just won't cut it. It offers an experienced guitarist nothing in playablity or feel.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: N/A used
Submitted 12/01/1998 at 08:28pm by Douglas Lane
Email: coldstone at rocketmail<dot>com

Features : 5
This Guitar was made in 1993 in the U.S.A. Basically it is a strat. Red finish white pickguard three single coils (peavey Stocks), 5 way selector, 1 volume 2 tone, Cheap Peavey tuners that are actually quite nice, and a standard one way fulcrum tremolo. Not that biog on features, pretty Basic.

Sound : 8
Sounds very nice, I like to play allot of things and so far it is nice for almost everything. It's very bright in the lead, and you can really change the sound of the pick ups by changing their height. I am using an HM-2 Heavy Metal distortion pedal it can be ,a little bit noisy at times. When you combine the end pickups with the middle one it cancels the hum though which makes the guitart very versitile. Any sound you want it can do more or less.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Everything is very well made, in fact I don't think you can destroy this guitar. When I got it it was stickered up retty bad but most of them came off without harming the finish. The intonation is tricky but it can be done, it took a generic brand new pick guard very well with almost not problems, I like to play kinda high but the action was very low when I got it and it sounded fine. The only thing I would do is maybe drop a set of grovers in it and maybe put a scremin demon in the lead but right now it's almost perfect, it's been beat to hell and back and returned unscaved. The previous owner actually threw it into the audience at a school talent show. No one caught it and it hit the tile floor onll to return and play the rest of the show with no problems.

Reliability/Durability : 8
You should not mistreat your instrument but you could take this gutar anywhere without a backup and you would be fine. As before the tuners could do with a changing but they are fine tuners as they are.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Got it used so there is no warranty besides it's never broken so why call?

Overall Rating : 8
Would buy another peavey guitar if the price was right


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: CDN 300
Submitted 10/30/1998 at 02:04pm by Aj Mclaughlin
Email: holbach at sympatico<dot>ca

Features : No Opinion
Poplar body, Maple Neck, standard strat style. Better neck design than Fender. Truss rod is pressed between two sides. No skunk like bore.

Sound : 7
The guitar is a price/value monster. It is a standard strat. Sounded good for a while but pickups had to go. This is where Peavey went cheap.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
The finish is nothing special. Basic colours only. I had mine refinished in a white gloss. Cheaper finish means more quality somewhere else.

Reliability/Durability : 10
Been using this guitar since 93' for all sorts of stage work. Also been used for recordings. Comes out nice. Bit better becasue it is slightly larger than a strat.

Customer Support : 10
Peavey customer support stands behind its product regardless of how much you paid.

Overall Rating : 9
Been my main guitar since 93'. I've owned various kinds of guitars but htis one is great. The most important factor is that it has potential for expansion. I have since replaced the pickups with 2 Texas Specials and a SD Pearly Gates. I have also replaced the neck with a Warmoth Rosewood. For the total investment I have built a Lone Star Strat (1300.00) for about $800.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $199.50
Submitted 09/11/1998 at 09:42am by jeffry
Email: me434 at aol<dot>com

Features : No Opinion
standard strat copy. 3 single coils 5 way selector one volume two tone. maple neck & fretboard

Sound : 9
I play it through a fender blues deville 410 with a tube screamer.or clean . good sound on bridge & middle pickups but i battle a wall of mud on the neck pick up . i use 11s on it and it stays in tune always.usually in tune right out of the box . Run through my amp it is virtually indistingushable from a standard strat

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
took the stings off immidately after i got it . pu 11s on it & set the intonation and saddle height ..hardware seems fine. i take very good care of all my guitars so the finish is in great shape . had it four years and its the only guitar in the band that has required no repairs .

Reliability/Durability : 10
never needed a backup. cant seem to break it! it gigs almost weekly and withstands practice twice a week .mine is bullet proof

Customer Support : No Opinion
no breaky no cally!!

Overall Rating : 8
i have a tele,several acoustic electrics and a jap strat. this is the only one that has needed no work .might try some different pick ups to get some brightness but as is it it works for me . for the money its tuff to beat .if it got stolen i would prob bite the bullet & go gibson but ill use it till it breaks . overall i dg it


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $225
Submitted 08/07/1998 at 08:57pm by Anonymous

Features : 4
This is an American made Stratocaster similar to the Mexican made Fender Standard, but slightly better. I believe it was made in 1993. Three single coils with 5-way selector. Master volume with two tone controls. Body is poplar with maple neck and fretboard.

Sound : 3
I play a lot of hard rock, like Nirvana or Metallica. I use a small Crate amp without any effects equipment. The pickups give off the hum that you would expect of a stock pickup, especially in the neck and bridge. They're pretty weak but still give off a decent tone. But their tonal range is limited to rock songs with light distortion and lots of mids. I replaced them with Seymour Duncan humbuckers, to get higher output and more of that Fender sound.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
The action on this guitar in great considering it's price. The fretboard is painted over in black, which I've never seen on any strat before, but it still has the same feel of any other maple fretboard. The finish is wearing off slightly on the fretboard, but it is barely noticeable, and that may be due to the fact that I don't wipe it off after I play a lot of the time. It stays in tune very well, despite the fact that it has pretty crappy tuners. The bridges are very loose and it seems as if they are beginning to rust. The nut could be cut a little better.

Reliability/Durability : 7
The finish is beginning to wear off. The hardwear is probably going to stard rusting any day now. But it still sounds just as good as the day I got it. I have never had any real problems with it. And I'm sure it could survive a gig without a backup, although I'd never risk it.

Overall Rating : 8
I've been playing for three years now. When compared with a Fender Standard Stratocaster, I think the Predator comes out on top with superior sound and action, and especially considering the fact that it usually sells for about $75 less. Its an great guitar to start out on or turn into a project. But as a quality instrument it just doesn't cut it. If it were lost of stolen I definitely wouldn't but it again, but only because I'm now looking for someting in a higher price range. I'm considering getting Floyd Rose bridges with a locking nut, and maybe Sperzel tuners. As far as overall value goes, the Peavey predator can beat any Fender or Yamaha in the same price range.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $240.00 cash
Submitted 07/27/1998 at 06:36pm by Anonymous

Features : No Opinion
Strat type. 3 single coils. 22 frets. Poplar body, Maple neck & Fingerboard. Black. 5 way selector. Standard tremolo. Non locking tuners. Thin strat type neck.

Sound : No Opinion
I play the thing through my Line 6 Axsys 212 with upgrade, and so it really sounds good. This is due to the amp, which pretty much takes the guitar and pickups out of the equasion. You could play any peice of junk through this amp of mine and it would sound good. As far as the guitar goes, the single coil sound is not for me. I always use the bridge pickup to be as warm as possable. I plan to put some dimarzio humbuckers (Evolution bridge, Tone Zone neck) in it and the I know it will then really sing. If I were to play the guitar through another amp I believe I would not be happy with the sound of the single coils.
The wammy bar makes some noise if jiggled around because I stripped the insides by tightening it up to much the first day I got it. DONT DO THIS!
*9 rating for sound with Line 6 amp. Without Line 6 amp probably a *2, but only because I cannot stand thin sounds. The *9 rating will be a *10* soon because I am getting the dimarzios.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Really good factory action. Very low with no buzz. I even lowered it by slight adjustments to the bridge saddles, and now the action is extremely low, still with no buzz. When I bought it, the salesperson and I looked at 3 or 4 of the same guitar to find the straightest neck possible. This was most important to me. It plays excellent. I have played almost every guitar out their including top end guitars, and I can say my neck and fretboard are the very best save one: a Parker Fly Deluxe. In my opinion their is no better neck or fingerboard than the Fly. Finish good. Fit fine. Volume knob cuts out at 6, but not a big deal. The nut is a cheap plastic one, so I filed the grooves a little, and I put lubricating oil in the grooves everytime I play it, so it stays in tune quite good. I wammy a lot and like my Elixor super light strings streached out. 10 for neck, action, and playability.

Reliability/Durability : 7
Guitar holds up. I will upgrade the hardwear soon to the highest grade. Hardwear is ok. Black finish is good and lasts pretty good. Strap buttons are fine. For a $250 guitar it is pretty good.

Overall Rating : 8
I bought this guitar for its playability and because it was cheap. I am extremely happy with its neck, frets, fingerboard, and overall playability. I plan to turn it into a GREAT guitar by putting sperzel locking tuners on it, some sort of fishman peizo wammy bridge, some dimarzio humbuckers, a more flexable pickup swich (including a split signal), and by getting a new volume pot. Then it will meet all my flexability demands.A good value for the buck in my opinion.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $189
Submitted 07/12/1998 at 06:23pm by Mike Flouton
Email: mdf10 at cornell<dot>edu

Features : 5
This is a 93 I believe. Made in the USA, although I believe Peavey is a Japanese company. It has a poplar body, black with all the standard strat features. The pickups are Peavey single coils. Hardware is about what you'd expect on a guitar in this price range.

Sound : 2
I play a lot of classic rock, jazz and funk type stuff. It seems to suit it well. This guitar is bright. I use it with a Peavey Audition and a Line6 AxSys 212. It was bought as my primary guitar when I started playing and now I've retired it and given it to my brother after using it as a backup for a while. The pickups are complete crap, I could probably wind better pickups. They're slightly noisier than the average single coil.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 6
The factory action was excellent, especially for a guitar in this price range. The fretwork is not very good, as should be expected. Poplar is a decent wood considering how cheap it is.

Reliability/Durability : 6
Withstands live playing well, but I sure as hell wouldn't gig without a backup. The finish chips off easily through normal wear and tear. I'd say it is reliable, but I wouldn't even gig a PRS without a backup.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with them.

Overall Rating : 3
I've been playing for 5 years, and own an Alvarez acoustic and a Univox 335 copy. I've been shopping for a new guitar for the past year and have played countless PRS's, Gibsons, Fenders and Hamers. Peavey is definitely the bottom of the barrel here. If I wanted another Strat style guitar in this price range I would get a Yamaha Pacifica 112. [I would NOT buy a Fender in any price range: Yamaha, G+L and Anderson are far superior.] But, if you can grab a used Predator very cheaply it might be worth picking up as a cheap backup.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $100.00
Submitted 07/11/1998 at 03:31pm by Chris Greene
Email: greene<at>cyberhighway dot net

Features : 5
Inexpensive American made Strat copy. Similar feature as a vintage Strat (not same quality).
Poplar or Alder body. No one at Peavey was quite sure (this is a '94 used model). Maple 21 fret neck. I worked the back of the neck with 0000 steel wool and wax to give it the feel that I like.

Sound : 7
After reading some of the comments preceding mine I would say this guitar gives you 70-80% if not more of a Strat sound. As a 30+ year veteran, I can tell you more of the sound is dependant on the amp and not the guitar. Pickups matter but less than most people think! The wood matters even less.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
For a used pawn shop special everything was pretty good. I've made no adjustments so far. The frets need to be dressed a little but the original fit and finish is pretty impressive for an inexpensive guitar. Certainly, on this guitar at least, very close to an average American Standard with regards to fit and finish.

Reliability/Durability : 6
I wouldn't use this ax for a gig but a guy could. Don't know how the new imported models compare to this American made one. This one is solid although the parts are basic and medium/low quality. Overall, the guitar feels solid.

Customer Support : 9
Contacted them to date the guitar and get a few questions answered. Prompt and helpful answers although there is some confusion as to the body wood.

Overall Rating : 7
I bought this as a lark because I was able to buy it cheap. I wouldn't replace it with another but I feel it's a great guitar for the money I paid. Certainly a fine student instrument. Doesn't make lots of sense to me to replace tuners and pickups. Mine work fine and the guitar stays in tune reasonably well (I did block the tremelo because I don't use them). Remember, it ain't the guitar, it's the guy playing it.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $129
Submitted 06/23/1998 at 05:23am by Wally Kwiatkowski
Email: walter dot a dot kwiatkowski<at>jci dot com

Features : 4
Made in 96 I think. Strat style body, tremelo, 5 way selector, 3 single coil pickups (which you should replace), well you know what a strat style guitar is like.

Sound : 6
I play thru a 30th anniversary Marshall Combo. This guitar is very noisy in the 1st, 3rd, and 5th position. The selector is very noisy too. I replaced the pickups with Texas Specials and that really helped. Now if I could get the thing to stay in tune.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 1
The action is horrible on this. This guitar was poorly set up. But what do you expect for $129?

Reliability/Durability : 3
I would trust it once I changed the pickup selector and the tuning keys. Right now it needs an overall adjustment. It's not a bad guitar to throw into a crowd because I wouldn't miss it.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never dealt with Peavy

Overall Rating : 1
Basically, if you want to buy a cheap guitar to give to your kid one day or spend some time and money on learning how to fix a guitar, this is the one to buy. I have been playing for 2 1/2 years now and I barley play this guitar. I play my Epi Les Paul all the time. Before I bought it, I wish I would of played it a little longer. It never stays in tune. A stick with strings would stay in tune better than this guitar. But hey, one day, my kid will love this, because I will let him smash it against the wall and get crazy with it. My opinion, don't buy this guitar, it stinks.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $30 used
Submitted 06/17/1998 at 05:05pm by Kaoru

Features : 7
mine had a mapple neck/figerboard. The tuners were allright for now.. I need to try to get new ones cause they dont stay in tune for long. It came with some crappy bridge but I didnt use it much anyway. the pickups suck. Im thinking about putting in humbuckers.

Sound : 10
I think this guitar sounds awesome. It sounds killer through my boos ds-1 and my marashall 8020. It sound very bright and the guitar is good for alternative and amazingly jazz. I love the thing!

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
My guitar was perfect. No dings no mistakes no scratches. Everything was perfect.

Reliability/Durability : 7
This guitar is sometimes my main guitar. but how can I play this over my les paul? but when I feel up to it this sometimes is played more than the les paul. It is more reliable than any other guitars I've ever had. Always working and always sounsd good.

Customer Support : No Opinion
I got is used so I dont have anything like this. but who needs it it cam perfect.

Overall Rating : 10
I think it is made out maple. It is one of the orignal predators which looks like and strat. It is also made in America. So if your on the market for an predator try to buy and U.S made predator over A new one!


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $140 used
Submitted 06/02/1998 at 02:09pm by Brendan McGarrett

Features : 7
I'm not sure when It was made bacause I bought it for $140 dollars used. Decent Pickups with 5-way selector switch. Maple Body and Neck. Strat Style but with a little larger body. Tremlo Bridge that stinks so bad I took the Bar off.

Sound : 9
Great Sound. It sounds wonderful on all settings and Kicks on Distortion. This is the best thing about the guiar

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
Peavey did a good job making this they put on the Pickups properly and and it was some nice wood they used

Reliability/Durability : 9
Definitly good. I can depend on this guitar and it can take a major beating.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Wouldn't now never needed it

Overall Rating : No Opinion
I bought this guitar because I wanted to learn how to play and it was cheap. I was surprised to find that the Pawn shop was stupid to sell this for such a low price. I would recommend it to anyone who wants to learn how to play. I use a peavey amp with Overdrive Distorion(I have an obsession with Nirvana). SO for all you beginners try this guitar it rocks.
PEACE OUT


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $229
Submitted 05/08/1998 at 08:40am by Anonymous

Features : 3
alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard. H-S-S pickup configuration. I beleive this guitar was made in Japan. Not shure. Strat shape.

Sound : 5
This guitar sounded O.K.. Replaced the pickups with a Dimarzio PAF-PRO in bridge and a pair of Dimarzio HS-2's for Mid and Neck. Now it sounds like a real guitar. I play through a Peavey Audition 110 and a Zoom 505 Multi Effects unit.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 5
Guitar was set-up well and the pickups were adjusted good too. evrything else was fine. This is not a top of the line guitar but you can make it one.

Reliability/Durability : 5
I wuld not gig with this guitar now. I plan on replacing the nut with a graphite one and changing the tuners with Sperzel locking. I also may change the bridge to any Wilkinson that will fit. I have played on and off for roughly 12 years. I have owned an original Fender Mustang, and a G&L Legacy. This guitar does not compare to either.

Customer Support : 8
Never had to deal with them. However, I did have questions about what wood was used and they were very helpful. If your serial number starts with a 0 than it is alder.

Overall Rating : 8
As I said earlier I have been playing for 12 years on and off. I bought this guitar for the time being until I fing the G&L I want. I do however plan on keeping it. With the modifications I plan for it , it will be a good back-up and practice guitar. My favorite feature is the neck, beleive it or not. For a $200 guitar the neck feels great. This guitar is better than any foreign fender I have ever played. Great guitar for the money.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $239
Submitted 05/08/1998 at 03:20am by Jeff Ganaposki
Email: jgmail at bellsouth<dot>net

Features : 5
Features: I believe it was built in 1996-7, in Korea, for PEAVEY. I originally was planning on buying a Fender Squier Strat w/ s s h pickup configuration. But as I cruised music stores on that fateful day, I was persuaded to test play a PEAVEY PREDATOR. On first examination, it had what I was seeking: a basic Strat (or clone), 5 way selector, and V, T, T controls.
Though it cost $39 more than the Fender, I feel I received good value in that the hardware was robust, the tuners were better, and the bridge was sturdier.
The neck had a rosewood fingerboard, and the action was adequate.

Sound : 10
But what sold me was the sound. I planned to play it through a Digitech GSP-2101 so I wasn't too demanding on the guitar's native tone. But I was pleased with the tonalities, from the humbucker's power, to the "between" pickup sounds.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
For a instrument that was no doubt built with robots and automation, the quality of manufacture was good. The real test will be time and the vagaries of wood, which can fool the best machinery.
Overall, the quality was consistently good. No glitches or problems were observed.

Reliability/Durability : 9
After owning many instruments, from the cheap to the cream, I have been burned on both ranges. But I am happy with the price / performance of this guitar. Many new players are led to believe that the "special axe" will cut the forest down, but old-timers know that it's practically impossible to be EXACTLY like a recorded sound. The best we can achieve is a copy that is a tribute to the original. I think this Strat clone is a dependable axe, and those who find it unwieldy should not fuss - just find the tool that makes your muisic play.

Overall Rating : 9
I've been playing stringed instruments since 1970, starting with Bass and Ukelele, then Banjo, Lap Steel (Hawaiian), and later Guitars. Like many musicians, my vice is wanting to buy new toys. Unfortunately, I was forced to part with many that today would be worthy of a collection. Having once owned a Gibson 335, Carvin SC, Ovation, Guild Starfire Bass, Fender 6 string Bass (old one), Carvin LB-60 Bass, and a Fender Jazz Bass, I know how frustrating the search for THAT SOUND can be. I decided that it would be impossible to recreate the past so I am moving into the 21st century with compromises and adaptations that will have to make it. And with that in mind, the versatility of the PEAVEY PREDATOR fills a major niche in my guitar dreams.
Now if only PEAVEY would make a decent 30" scale (short) bass with noise cancelling single coil pickups.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $150
Submitted 04/19/1998 at 11:38pm by Chris Drennon
Email: cdrennon<at>metallicafan dot com

Features : 8
The guitar is an American made Strat clone. It has 22 frets. It has a master volume switch and a tone control for each of the single coil pickups(neck, and body). The pickups are all passive and there is a humbucker(which is really two singles wired together))S/S/H). It has a nice alder body with a good paint job. Though ifyou drop it on tile itll chip off(not too badly). It has a maple neck and a very nice rosewood fretboard. It has a floating bridge that you'll have to reset yourself if you change string guages(its set for 9's). The intonation was set properly when i got the guitar. The tuners are non-locking but they stay in tune well. The only problem I have with it is that becuase of the floating brifge when you tighten one string it pulls the bridge up making all the otehrs go flat.

Sound : No Opinion
I play everything. But my mainstay is Metallica, not the new stuff(that too) but the classic stuffm off of Ride The Lightning, etc. With my Peavey Envoy 110 I get a kick-ass palm-muted sound and pretty nice highs. I can get great sound out of it but the pickups arnt sensitive enough and thier almost touching the strings too(so i cant get any better than it is), Im planning on upgrading to the KH EMG set though. The humbucker(bridge position) is quiet. The singles are ok. There is a very bad hum that you get on high-gain amps becuase the bridge is somehow connected to the electronics or the ground so that the tuners,strings, and bridge make the giutar one big antenae, but as long as your touching the strings it goes away. The bridge has also shocked me a few times(static electricity). Overall i get a great clean tone and a versatile distrted one. One last thing though, without a bluse driver pedal or something else to that effect you can get harmonics on clean.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 8
The guitar came set up great from the factory, beatiful. The only thing is some glue by the 18th to 20th frets, everything else was perfect. The nut was cut fine. The 5-way selector does lcik when you use it though. I had to reset the intonation, hieght, and spring tension on the bridge because i use Dean Markley 10's. The guitar comes set for 9's.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I beat on this thing everyday, have dropped it on hard(cement, tile, wood) floors about 50 times, accidentally rammed it into a jagged cieling, used it as a shield and weapon, spilled food and drink on it, and fell upon it(tripped at rehearsal), and only thing is the out jack came unscrewed.

Customer Support : No Opinion
Never had a problem with the guitar.

Overall Rating : 8
I've only played 8 months but im schooling 3 year players(they said, not me I have a Peavey Amp and a Boss DS-1. If it was stolen or lost id cry about(first guitar thing), but im saving up for an ESP guitar and dont plan to buy anything except pro level guitars from now on. I hate the tuning with a floating bridge and that the bridge screws strip every allen wrench i have, and the damn 1/4 jack comes loose. I wish it had beter pickups(mine will soon . . .) For $150 its a great beginners guitar, but if i could go back i woulda gotten a mexican strat for the same price.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $180
Submitted 04/13/1998 at 09:21am by Ben P.

Features : 9
The Predator is a Strat copy with three single coil pickups, tremolo, single volume and two tone controls. I'm not sure what the body is made of, but it's got a maple neck and fretboard. The scale length is the standard 25.5". The neck is fairly meaty and feels great. The frets would probably be classified as mediums. It looks pretty sharp in black with a white pickguard and electronics and the maple neck. The headstock shape is kinda ugly with the new style Peavy logo.

Sound : 9
I mostly use this guitar to play rock with moderate overdrive and blues. It's fairly noisy(esp. at high gain), but that's just the nature of the beast with the single coil pickups. This is a very bright sounding guitar in the bridge pickup combinations and the neck pickup sounds full.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
It was setup fairly well from the factory, but being the beginner I was at the time, I lined up the bridge saddles so they were in line. Whatever intonation it had needed a re-adjustment. All in all, the construction wasn't perfect, but was very solid.

Reliability/Durability : 9
I don't gig, but this guitar looks very dependable. It's a very simple guitar(esp. with the bolt on neck) so I can't imagine very much going wrong. Besides, it's a made in the usa Peavey(unlike the new Predator with a bridge humbucker that's made overseas).

Customer Support : 10
Anytime I've written Peavey or requested information, they have always responded and tried to help out as much as possible.

Overall Rating : 10
I bought this guitar when I first started playing and it never let me down. While it's a pretty cheap Strat copy, it totally gets the job done. I would recommend this guitar to people just starting out and to guys that might need a backup guitar. Sure it's not as nice as a more expensive Fender(Amer Std), but it offers incredible value and can get you basic Strat tones for little money.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $250
Submitted 04/12/1998 at 10:33pm by Anonymous
Email: Lucaspro<at>aol dot com

Features : 5
The peavey predator is a Stratocaster copy with two single coil pickups and a humbucker in the bridge. It has a 21 fret rosewood fretboard and maple neck and mine (a '96 model) has a solid alder body. The new ones are supposed to have poplar according to the web site. Its got a powerbend III tremelo.

Sound : 5
I play rock and a little country. It gets a decent rock tone i guess. I play it through a fender ultimate chorus. It seems to lack highs though and seems to be overly twangy if playing clean with the bridge. Playing distorted yields pretty good results with the bridge pickup but not enought umph with the single coils. Its pretty versatile though.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 4
The factory set up on this guitar sucked. The strings were too low for my tasts. Also looking in the control cavity yielded a lot of saw dust. I still havent gotten it all out. The pickup selector switch is also very crackly.

Reliability/Durability : 6
Ive used this guitar in my two live outings (im just in high school), since it is my only guitar. It stays on the strap so long as you dont sling it behind your back. The jack becomes loose sometimes and has to be tightened. It stays in tune fairly well but i can never intonate the 6th string(im currently using dean markley 10-46). As long as you dont dive bomb the tremelo it will stay in tune. Im gonna have to detract a few points though because ive only had the guitar since december of 96 and this week the humbucker quit working.

Customer Support : 8
Ive emailed the company about the bridge pickup and always got a response by the next day. The person I emailed from the website seemed very helpful and friendly. Im not sure about how long the warranty is. I do think mine is expired though.

Overall Rating : 6
This guitar is a good guitar to learn on but not great for a gig. It is very difficult to do slack tunings on because of the tremelo uprouting. It has a good neck by my standards. (Ive been playing about 2 years). I wouldnt buy this guitar againg though. It was my first guitar and only guitar and I probably would have gotten a different model if I'd known more at the time. I wish the humbucker had a coil tap on it. Having the humbucker in the bridge does make it versatile though.


Product: Peavey Predator
Price Paid: US $249
Submitted 04/12/1998 at 12:26am by Anonymous

Features : 7
Made 1996. 22 frets, Solidbody Strat configuration (S/S/H w/5way Switch. Basically a Strat copy. Maple neck, Ash body. Blue metallic finish (Gorgeous!!). Factory everything for hardware. 25 1/2" scale. Bridge is a factory whammy setup.

Sound : 10
Has that rich Strat tone in second and fourth switch positions. I can get a really wide range of sounds out of it. Grounding/noise control questionable in some switch positions, though. First switch position gives a really rich Telecaster single-pickup sound, real good for Country tunes, and the 'Bucker position is genuine rock and roll. My favorite positions/tones are second for clean progressive chording and fifth for rock lead riffs. I've played this through my Crate CR-1, Peavey Bandit, Spectra 220, and an old Fender Tremolux with incredibly good tones throughout, even with my DOD TR3-M or Boss Chorus.

Action, Fit, & Finish : 7
The only complaint I have on the action is the whammy. If I use it, the G and B strings go sharp, regardless of tuning or brands of strings. Not much can be done about this, other than going to graphite bridge parts. I don't recommend changing the bridge. Factory action setup was good, but I fine-tune my actions to my own feel on the guitar. This was easy to accomplish. I have a set of Elixirs on it now, feels like silk. Feels great with D'Addario EXL-130's on it too.

Reliability/Durability : 9
When setup properly, this one will go beyond the distance. It's well- built and very playable (and I'm not crazy about Strats either) for a low-buck guitar. I wouldn't be afraid at all to use this one for every song at every gig.

Customer Support : 9
Warranty is excellent (one year parts/labor), I can always get a straight answer from these people.

Overall Rating : 10
I've been playing for about 25 years, and have had a variety of gui- tars ranging from dog logs to Vargas beauties. This one rates in the Vargas class. Graphite parts would be nice on the bridge, possibly a locking system. If I were to lose this one, I'd replace it with the same.

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