Quest Manhattan MK 3

The finish is a nice tobacco colour on a little flamed maple. i think its a laminate as the back of the guitar looks different and definitely not maple. cant say what wood, but the guitar is a lightweight, so it cant be a super heavy wood. the shape is a mixture between ibanez iceman and stratocaster. it has a fixed string-thru bridge made of brass. the string holes in the back are super perfect made! this is always a criteria to know a good from a bad string-through guitar. i actually had to replace the original quest tuners as they were going out of tune. i recently installed schaller locking tuners. they are good german quality and this guitar deserves just the best.
the neck is a mixture between strat and les paul necks. i like it, but the neck of my mexican strat plays a bit smoother. the painted neck might be a cause for that. i prefer natural necks with a light oil rubbed back. but check this: this baby has a neck that goes through the body. there were manhattan models, that had bolt-on necks, but this one is of higher quality.
it was made in japan in the beginning of the 80s. i couldnt find much about the history of QUEST. if someone know, please drop me a line!
it hast the lespaul-controls, meaning a 3way-toggle-switch, two humbuckers and 2vol+2tone controls. additionally to that one can split the humbuckers as two mini-switches for coil-tapping were already installed by the factory. i wired the whole thing to a classic lespaul
connection as i use my strat for single coil sounds.
unfortunately i sold the original mounted pickups on ebay as i wanted some more scooped mid sound when i bought it. they were from gotoh, but dont think were heaven on earth. they were ok, but not very powerful.
in a few days i am gonna put in a dimarzio superdistortion in the bridge and a seymour duncan sh1 59 2conductor in the neck.
i am really looking forward to the sound of the guitar then.

now it has more low end and sustain than a strat, but doesnt get too muddy or dark like a lespaul. its a perfect sound to me, i love this guitar.
i play alternative, a little bit less than high-gain, numetal with gain at 5-6, of course pure tube amps. by the way, i have the ibanez thermion and this tank really blows me away, it can battle with a rectifier top and kicks all marshalls and even some engl tops in the azz!
its very good for what i do, the guitar has a nice attack and the right balance between bass and treble, its a real open and warm sound at all.
there is nothing i dont like with this guitar. the neck could be a bit smoothier, but i still love playing her. she is absolutely individual and well made.

i dont know how the guitar was set up at the factory. i just know, that japanese electric guitars from 1980-1985 were the best available worldwide.

this guitar can do anything anywhere at anytime! i havent toured with it yet, but i would be definitely take her with me, as well as my stratocaster.

quest company is not existing anymore in 2007.

if someone would steal my baby, i would rent all available bounty killers of the galaxy and give a big reward on that guys head.
seriously, this guitar is a rarity turning around 25 years now, i will never get the same again!
ok, i dont wanna mystify my guitars, i like my quest and i like my stratocaster, i dont need more!