Product: Raven A451J
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
09/27/2004
at
07:28pm
by
Anthony
Features
:
10
This is a 70s made in Japan j200 copy,mines a sunburst finish and this guitar is a solid well made axe.I thought I had the only one till I stumbled on the other review here and I can echo his words....great
Sound
:
10
Full and a big jumbo sound,its one of the best j200 copies Ive ever played....its sweet
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
well made with tulip tuners just like the original,crown fret markers and a great bridge system with adjustment for intonation and height...mop inlay on the bridge and headstock
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Had it for years with no probs and gigged with it.lived with it,slept with it,and cried with it
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
dunno.....they are more well known for electrics
Overall Rating
:
10
Best j200 copy Ive ever had and Ive had lots of them.Ive got the real thing as well,but dont take it out much as its too valuable now,so the raven does the job just as well.If it was stolen Id try to contact the other reviewer here and make him an offer he couldent refuse for his one.I love it
Product: Raven A451J
Price Paid: N/A used
Submitted
07/20/2004
at
04:23pm
by
Bobby-J
Features
:
10
I was after this guitar for a long time.Id never seen one like it and my best friend took it everywhere with him.He played it all over the country...he called it his Ornate Gibson.Its not a gibson of course, it was a Raven,but what a beautiful copy!Made of all solid woods,its a beautiful J200 Jumbo copy,or should I say replica.Its got big crown mother of pearl fretmarkers and a fully bound body and neck.The bridge is encrusted with MOP and each string has its own saddle.The action is adjustable too.The pickguard has the flowers on it just like the real thing and the tuners look just like the original.a kind of hard bakelite or plastic.It was made in Japan late 60s early 70s.Its a sunburst model.
Sound
:
10
He flatpicked it,strummed it,and miked it up for bigger gigs and the sound was awesome no matter what he done.It sang,it rang, and was clear as a bell and loud without being muddy.Notes can be clearly heard and sustain for an eternity.He could almost make it talk and I wanted it more every time I heard it.
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
Dont know about factory setup,but the action was low helped by that adjustable bridge and the intonation was perfect on every string.I loved when he let me play it,as it had such a comfortable neck,It was made for me!The bracing was solid and scalloped with a one peiece back with a slight arch to it.A well made instrument with no cheapo woods here.
Reliability/Durability
:
10
Its been dragged all over the country and in Canada too,been on boats,planes,trains,for more than 25 years and has stood up to lots of playing without complaint,all it ever needed was a new set of strings and a set up once in a while.Been used all the time without a backup and apart from the odd string break,never a problem
Customer Support
:
No Opinion
Cant find the original company,but as Gibson were sueing everybody who even came close to copying their guitars,I guess it was made by a well known guitar company,who just used the name raven to disguise their identity.The label says "craftsman made" and boy is that true!
Closest Ive ever seen to it was ones made by Alvarez and Aria,but without the seperate little saddles.
Overall Rating
:
10
Ive played em all,Martins,Taylors,and even had a real J200,but was always worried about damaging them,and theyre expensive to fix if something goes wrong.But I guess the Raven will always have a place in my heart seeing as I hankered after it for so long and eventually got it...I lost a friend and gained a friend on the same day.You cant beat that.If it was stolen,I would find the thief and torture him slowly to within an inch of his life.Im still looking for another one but cant find one....they are a big secret to the owners,I think,and no one wants to let em go.
