Raven RP-450

Lefty 2001 model. Cherry sunburst with flame maple top and basswood hollow body. Very nice for this price range. Maple neck with 24 frets. Basically a PRS copy.

I've thought about putting some Duncans in this but everytime I pick it up I'm more impressed with the sound. I play through a Tech 21 that makes all my guitars sound great but I do believe this can sound good with any decent amp. My favorite setting is the middle where it seems to get a nice crunchy harmonic sound. Not real hot but not muddy either. I may still swap out the pups but for right now my playing is not good enough to hear the difference.

Setup was a little high. The strings have to go first thing. Also the nut is cut too deep and is a cheap plastic. They had to cut cost somewhere but this is easily corrected. Flame top is real nice. Not a 10 but better than lots of Gibsons I've seen. Everything else is fine and worthy of a more expensive guitar.

I don't gig but I would imagine this would hold up fine. Not as sturdy as my G&L Legacy but it is a hollowbody after all. Strap buttons are fine and the gold hardware has stayed gold to this point.

N/A Bought on ebay.

I've been playing about 2 1/2 years so I'm no expert but I do own a G&L and I have played some nice guitars. Is it a PRS? No. Is it a great guitar for $285 dollars? Absolutly. I almost sold this because I was mostly using my Legacy. That would have been a big mistake because this is a fine instrument. I would buy it again tomorrow if it were lost or stolen. I'm not able to afford a PRS but I think I've gotten a real deal for alot less money.

This is a 2002 model. The purple/blue quilt top. Very nice. A little smaller than I expected. It's definetly a PRS Hollowbody knock off with the body changed just a little bit.

I have no idea where they are made. Probably Korea by Samick. It has a maple top which for the price range is great. The body was flawless. The tuners I didn't like as much. They seem to be not as fine in adjusting as Schallers. No surprise there. The neck pickup is so so. Better quality than a Mexican Fender or stock Samick though.

I bought this for a jazz guitar. It is nice for that. I am using it with a Fender Chorus or a Fender Blues Jr. through a Mesa Boogie half stack. No effects except the Chorus, reverb. I think I will replace the neck pickup with a Seymour Duncan P90 type.

Nothing wrong. Arvived fine. Frets seem a little high for me.

Yeah, I would play a gig with it. Seems fragile but I am used to slabs of wood with strings on them. I would replace the strap buttons. No, I would bring a backup.

Supposedly a lifetime warranty but read the fine print. It really isnt much of a warranty.

I have been playing 5 years. I own a Mex Strat, A Samick LP. Usually I go cheap and replace the pickups etc. with sale parts. Yeah, I know...A Music Man head with a Mesa cab, a Fender chous and Blues jr. I would buy another.

This is my second review for this more recent (2001) model of this guitar. I have sold the original purple blue (2000) guitar I owned so that I could have two guitars exactly the same. These are amber, left hand hollow bodied guitars that have a mahogany back and neck and a solid spruce top with an ash veneer top. They are extremely beautiful. They are manufactured in Korea and have two humbuckers, a three way switch and a single volume and single tone control. The neck of the guitar is somewhere between a thin taper and a PRS wide/fat with 24 frets

I simply love the tone of these guitars. Full and detailed with neck warmth and bridge bite. While not as powerful as an American made humbucker, they are not muddy in the low-mids like some Gibson PUs at full volume. You will not be disapointed, especially for the price you pay for one of these guitars.

Although you will probably want to adjust the action to suit your preference, this axe comes well set up from the factory. I've only made small adjustments to suit my own taste. Finish is great, hardware is great. EVERYTHING is great.

Although I've only had these guitars for a few months they appear rock solid and I would not hesitate to use them on stage or in the studio, where they are currently my primary humbucker equipped axes. I bought two so that I could have a backup if I popped a string.

I've dealt with the company and found support to be at least 110%. The warranty is a limited lifetime deal, but I'm confident that I'll never need ot use it

I've been playing for over thirty years and have never found a guitar at this price with these features. I've shown this guitar to lots of people and all of them have compared it favorably to the PRS model that it is quite similar to. If something happened to one of mine I would unquestionably replace it with the same thing. I own many other guitars - a strat, a tele, an SG, a G&L and a bunch more. Dollar for dollar, this axe takes the cake. I (unofficially, as in not for any deal with the company) HEARTILY endorse it as a professional.

2001(2) Raven RP450 left handed with a green ash top. The same as every other review here accept mine is left handed. I thas two passive humbuckers, one volume, one tone and a three way selector switch and a tune-o-matic bridge. This guitar has a thin neck that is real quick. My guitar was nicer than any of the pics I saw of it prior to buying. The color is much richer and not as pale as the pics.

I knew when I ordered this that it was a knock-off of a beautiful guitar that costs way more than any guitar should, but i had no idea that I would fall in love so quick. I'm a bass player who just wanted a guitar to help me write songs. I haven't even looked at my bass since my Raven got here. The pick-ups sound a lot better than prior reviews might have implied, but I'm getting some Duncans anyway. This is the first semi-hollowbody that i've ever owned, but I can't get over the full sound it puts out.

The guitar arrived and I changed the strings to Elixer 10-46's before I even tuned it for the first time. The action was a tad high for my taste, but that adjustment took about 10 seconds to rectify. The neck required about a quarter turn of relief and she was ready to roll. The action as lower than I've heard on almost any guitar without any buzzing. The finish is beautiful for any price, but beyond belief for the price that I paid. There is a very small blemish near the cord jack, but it is not noticeable at all. Everyone who sees or hears it cannot believe what I paid for it. I'm use to playing strat's and have grown really comfortable to palm muting a strat syle bridge. I find myself picking over the neck pick-ups on this. Maybe it's that way on all tune-o-matics???

Seems like a tough guitar even as light as it is. Huge strap buttons that won't need to be changed. I haven't had it long enough to make a judgement that might help anyone but it seems tough enough. I'm in the US Navy and I wouldn't hessitate to bring it on my ship.

I had a lot of questions before I bought and every email was answered very promptly. I haven't had any problems yet though. Lifetime warranty!

I have been playing guitar/bass for over 13 years now. I own a plethera of basses and bass gear, but my only guitars are this one and a Fender (mex) strat. I chore this guitar for it's looks and kept my fingers crossed on it's sound until I got it. I was very pleased I might add. I will not wait for something to happen to it before I buy another. I want a RP350 now. If you only see a raven online, you will see picture that don't do the real thing justice. For the price you can't go wrong here. I was apprehensive right until I first saw and played it. Especially for the price, you can't go wrong with this guitar!!!

This PRS Hollowbody copy is a dream for the price. Mine is a cherry sunburst with gold humbuckers and trapezoid pearl inlays. The full range of the fretboard is easily reached. It has a stop tail bridge and maple and rosewood neck with basswood body. The face is maple and finished very well.

The humbuckers play well through my Mesa Boogie and I get a good full range with the treble control. The pickups have distinctive difference like some of the higher end Gibsons I have played. It has a great warm sound and plays great through the different sounds of my GT3 effects. It does have a little bit of a shrill in certain conditions which a higher quality duncan or other humbucker may cure. Overall for the price it plays well.

I received mine brand new in the box, all I had to do is tune. The action is sweet and everything was adjusted excellently. I could find no flaws in the body or hardware. The impressive part is the neck to body fit. Much better than any PRS I've seen. All PRS guitars have this 4" heel next to the body which makes it tough to reach those high notes. This Raven is within a half inch of the body and I can easily reach the bridge! The overall quality is A+. I could care less it was built in Korea.

The overall quality is very good and I could depend on this baby as my main axe. This plays most styles very well and is pretty versatile. The finish is impressive and it is a good looking guitar that could be mistaken for a PRS.

It is a limited Lifetime warranty, but that's if you don't touch it. Can't comment on Customer Service.

For the price, you can't beat it. If you're thinking of a PRS, save your money and get yourself 10 of these and tweak it the way you'd like. It plays as well as any of the PRS guitars I've played and I can't imagine spending an inflated $3,000 for a guitar now. If anything, I may upgrade the pickups, but not important.

I own 2 recent Raven PR450's; both are based on the PRS McCarty Hollowbody--carved semi-hollow design, bound body and neck, gold hardware, but they differ:

#1 has the CRM-carved mahogany body and center block, flame maple veneer top, cherry sunburst finish. Rosewood board has pearl dot inlays.

#2 has the CRM-carved alder (??? it's a pale, lightweight, tight grained wood) body, quilted maple veneer top, purple/blue sunburst. The rosewood board has MOTS crown inlay (like on an LP Standard).

I immediately replaced the pickups in both guitars with older Bartolini humbuckers--they're very hot, bright, and tap-able. The stock pickups were a little dark for my taste, but with the replacements, both guitars scream, squeal, and sing with the BEST of'em.

I also rplaced the bridges w/ slightly heavier (denser metal) Gotoh units, and that also improved the tone, "thunk", and sustain

Both instrument played superbly right out of the box, and have required no adjustments beyond bridge height.

The overall manufacture is outstanding, and while not up to the exacting standards associated with PRS, et al, I'd put them both up against any Gibson or Fender product.

I have a few niggles over the finishes: The CSB model (my #1), has a spot in the top veneer that was sanded a little to deep; the purple one (#2) shows some inconsistency in the distribution of the dyes or stains used--too much blue in the purple areas on the top.

Played 30 years...also own '77 Gibson L5S, '82 Yamaha SA800, a custom-made solid, '90 Heritage 537 prototype, others...

I wouldn't mind owning one or two more of these axes, with different pickup arrangements...

Theres nothing to hate about these instruments, and plenty to love! The action and tone surpass just about anything I've ever owned, and for the price they're absolutley unbeatable.

I saw the instrument in Raven's flawland section, and since the price was very attractive, and it looked right, I bought it right away. I was not disappointed when it arrived, promptly I might add. The RP450 is a hollow body with 2 humbuckers, 1 each volume and tone controls, 3 way pickup switch, set neck, in the PRS style. It has gold hardware and a transparent green/black burst finish on a flamed maple top. Except for the top, the guitar is finished black overall, with cream colored binding on the top edge. This one has dot fretboard markers, though I notice the ones they currently offer have trapezoid ones; maybe it's an older model. I don't know when it was made. Hardware is generic les paul type. It's shape and balance are really good, in my opinion, and it sure is nice looking.

It works well with the rock/alt/space cadet music I play. I've been using it for about a month, and have plugged it into a blues jr. and a marshall combo, as well as direct recording. I use a DOD delay and a Digitech RP3 presently for effects. Some other reviewers have complained about the sound lacking character, but I'm satisfied, with the understanding that I often hot-rod my guitars, and this one will be no exception; the quest for perfect tone as we all know. HOWEVER, there's one thing I noticed right away. With both pickups on, the thing has this chiming, glassy sound I really like. It's an elusive tone, like Pete Townsend used to get with his SG's. Having played since prehistory on numerous Fender, Gibson, Rickenbacker, etc., and custom built guitars, and never liking the sound of having both/all pickups on at once, I was impressed. I don't know how they did this, but am trying to figure it out. The instrument sounds pretty good to me, in other words.

Well, I bought a flawed guitar, didn't I? Interesting, the flaw they mentioned on the raven website turned out to be a slight irregularity in the wood itself, but if I didn't know it was there, I probably wouldn't have noticed it, or cared if I had. However, there were other finish issues; a small touch up with black paint where the green and black areas meet, a couple of minor errors in the binding, some tiny pits in one area, and a very slight thinning of the finish at the edges of the f holes. None of these defects were visible except under close examination, and as I said, it's an eyecatcher of a guitar. One thing about the finish was a real pleasant surprise; on the Raven website its photographs made the green finish look bright and limey, with a lot of contrast between the green and black burst areas. The actual instrument is a bit darker in reality, much better looking than the photos would have indicated. The maple top was ok for an inexpensive guitar. Overall the guitars fit and finish were good. The action and set up left a lot to be desired, but this is a personal thing with musicians; I always do my own, and the guitar was shipped across country in a cardboard box, after all.

It's about right for a guitar of its type, no complaints. I take care of my instruments, and I think this one will do ok. I'd use it without a backup if I was the type to do this, which I'm not.

So far, so good. I've not had to deal with them over any problems, but when inquiring about their products they were very good to do business with. It has a 1 year warranty.

I've been playing since the mid-sixties, and have used every major type of gear, and some you probably haven't heard of, or wouldn't want to. I'm rating the instrument based on sound, price, and looks, and am well satisfied. It's a nicely balanced product, I'd get another one if I gave it away or lost it. If I could have asked for one additional feature, it would have been nice if the guitar had a 5 position switch instead of 3, with the 2 additional positions used for coil phase reversal.

Features: Gold hardware, two humbucking pickups, setneck, decent finish (green quiilted burst), tun-a-matic bridge and stop tailpiece, one volume, one tone, 3 position LP style switch, passive electronics. Styled after the Hollowbody PRS. Basic features....that's fine and fits the bill for me.

Have been playing for over 35 years. I play in a 9 piece blues band, a 4 piece classic rock band with female vocalist, a trio with female vocalist, a 3 piece power trio, and a six piece, classic rock band. I play a original 60s strat, strat plus, musicman axis, peavey wolfgang special, parker fly deluxe, Kramer Focus 111, numerous home built Warmoth guitars, 92 tele, and now I have added this to my collection.

For amps, due to a bad back, I am now using a Fender Blues Jr which I have also reviewed. EFfects used are: modified TS5, Vintage Rat, MT2, Morley JD-10, Marshall Jackhammer, Boss limiter, Dano echo, Dano chorus, Orion chorus, numerous dano cheapers. I don't usually only use about 3 pedals connected...distortion, chorus, echo.

The guitar sounds best using the bridge pickup. It is a dark sounding guitar as comparred to the instruments mentioned above. I believe that this is due to inexpensive pickups. I have already ordered a Dimarzio FRED and Dimarzio Tone Zone to try out. It could also be poor component wiring...I haven't checked yet.

I have gigged with this guitar. With the 4 piece classic rock band I went direct to the board using my J-Station and it was great!!! I have always felt that weaker pickups are easier to work with that high output pickups....it's the tone that is the problem here.

The action was good right out of the box. Not great because the neck adjustment was too tight. The strings are terrible. I put on some wimpy Ernie Ball .o9 slinkys and the guitar brightened up just a tad. Not enough though.

The pickups we set neutral. I brought up the treble side and dropped the bass end and that also made things better. It still needs better pickups.

The quilted finish is Okay. The sunburst lacquer job is great. Hey it is an inexpensive copy that plays better than any recent American Fender or Gibson guitar. I want to stress that point!!!! Playability not sound.

Everything appears solid. All the joints look well glued/assembled etc. I don't abuse my instrumenst so this guitar will outlast me (I am a gearhead and buy at least 5 guitars per year). Since I have had experience with cheap gold hardware, I would assume that the plating will wear away quickly....although this has not happended yet.

I change all my tuners to Sperzel locking tuners. I have gotten used to them over the years and with all the guitars I have, changing strings is quick. I am not saying that these tuners are faulty, I just don't like them.

N/A

I will now answer these form questions....Been playing for over 35 something years. I own way too many guitars and equipment. I only have 2 non-american guitars and this is one of them! The other is a cheaper Kramer Strat copy that actually is a great little cheezy guitar. If the Raven were stolen, I wouldn't replace it. I wouldn't replace any of my guitars with the same one. There are so many other brands that I haven't used. What I love about it is its light weight and playability. I hate the pickups and they will be changed as I mentioned above. This was purchased because It looked like a PRS. I have played numerous PRS guitars and like they way they feel. Their prices are absurd. No big name guitar is worth the $$ they get for them.

So although this review is luke warm, this guitar works for me. It is worth every penny and is by far better than most of the American guitars that are available.

made in 2001 in sunny korea. 24 fret. quilted maple top , believe me, this is not a photo, ( no photo would look this bad). real wood top, as i said b4, the quilt looks nice , but not like a real quilt top. basswood? body. rosewood fingerboard. 3-way selector. one tone , one volume. 2 gold color humbuckers. passive electronics. green to black sunburst finish. prs copy, but not as carved out meaning the arch is not deep and the arching at the cutaways are almost flat. very nice nitro finish. el cheapo gold tun-o-matic bridge and same brand gold sealed tuners. hollowbody with solid wood tone bar inside. thin neck, med frets. came with the usual cheap cord that i don't know if anybody actually uses. in fact, i would recommend that all cheap guitar companies don't include this item and use the money to but better hardware or electronics. plastic nut. all in all , alot of features . quality not so good

i play all kinds of styles from rock to country, alt. whatever is on the radio whenever i'm playing. running through a processor to marshall half stack. decent sound for a semi solid. hollow body sounds a certain way , and this one is no exeption. not a whole lot variety , but i bought it for the hollow body sound. pickups should be changed if this is to be your only guitar.

i was expecting a wacko set up from factory. but was pleasantly suprised. the strings were even decent. i've read some scary posts about the strings. tuned it up and voila, perfect! action was perfect and finish looked good. missed a spot on the edge of the f-hole. they are supposed to be painted black , but this one has a bare wood spot that i will have to bust out the sharpie to rectify. quilt , like mentioned above is poor for quilt but decent looking. looks almost like a combo of quilt and burl wood. frets perfect. fingerboard rough at the end and of a pretty cheap rosewood. gold hardware already turning silver.

guitar should stand up to most abuse, again this guit is semi solid. definately not what a strat or other solid body will take . but the hardware should be pretty bulletproof if you're not concerned with the finish. strap buttons solid. always use a backup!

haven't dealt w/ company. dealer was friendly , helpful and fast . couldn't be more pleased with dealer. too bad he dosen't have better product, with his service and a decent quality instrument, he would be the ideal music store.

been playing over 10 years. have over 20 guitars from cheap to crazy expensive. wished i could have seen and played it before buying, probably would have bought it anyway. if stolen, would get another but with different finish. finish dosen't look like webiste so i figure its a crapshoot. i love that it is 80% of a prs at 10% of the price. theres nothing i hate about it. the quality is not there. but you do get way more than you pay for. if they can make a guitar for 340 this good , i love to see what 500 with this company buys. i wish they would have a pro quality guitar for more money . i'm working on this one , swapping out hardware and setting up better. i feel much better messing around with this one instead of modifying my prs. price independant rating 7. price depandant rating 11 plus!

I play my RP-450 through a Fender 212 Deville. I play funk/jazz style music. Although the guitar doesn't quite have the right bite when playing funk with a wah-wah pedal (in my opinion), it sounds sooooo smooth when playing jazz leads and comps. Sustain is great, action is great, factory strings suck, but I replaced them with nice round-wound strings. For the price, this *is* a great guitar.

After getting the guitar setup by a guitar tech, it sounded beautiful. Even the tech had alot of nice comments that rang true: truss rod ok, finish very nice, tuners held strings in tune, etc.

Every question that I had was answered. His average return e-mail time is about 2 days.

If it were lost or stolen, I would most definitely replace this guitar with another of its kind.