Product: Raven RSM-700A
Price Paid: US $330
Submitted
01/09/2003
at
09:51am
by
matt g.
Features
:
10
2002 Korean-made, 24 frets, Solid Ash Top, comes with volume/tone knobs (tone knob serves as a push-pull coil tap), 3-way pickup selector, 3 way boost selector switch (high, mid and low boost) H/H, passive hex-shaped pickups (resemble DiMarzio pickups), Mahogany Body with a solid ash top, Finish is an antique violin color, strat-shaped, regular tremolo with rollers, roller-nut, non-locking Grover-Style tuners, semi-fat neck, Rosewood fretboard with sharktooth inlays, came with a gig bag ($7.50 for shipping only) thin cable and the adjustment hex keys
Sound
:
10
Excellent for my music style (hard rock, metal and alternative), I use my Line 6 Spider 210 and my Ibanez Delay Pedal. The pickups sound amazing especially considering how much it costs. They get a very nice clean tone especially with the coil tap for pristine, bright highs, pinch harmonics as well as natural harmonics leap off the guitar. The only pickups I've played that I can say in this price range that could compare to these are EMG-HZs, but there is a great variety of tone to be had with this guitar's pickups and the tone is awesome! I spent $330 total on this guitar and I can easily say that it is one of my favorites now!
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
10
The factory setup was not bad at all and the pickups were adjusted properly. The strings sit correctly in the bridge and there is no buzzing. I've had roughly 12 guitars since I started playing and since I know what to look for in terms of flaws I really couldn't find any, although the factory strings needed to be changed but I think most people change the strings to their preference anyways!
Reliability/Durability
:
10
This guitar was built very well and puts to shame the other Korean-makers that allow junk to leave their factories. Everything seems sturdy enough to handle a live set and the finish is great so it seems like there will be no worries there. Strap buttons are solid and the guitar seems very dependable overall. I would gig without a backup but I like to use many different tunings so it helps to have more guitars to make it easier.
Customer Support
:
10
Eric Bernquist is THE MAN! He is extremely friendly and honest with his business dealings. He told me anything that was wrong with my guitar would be replaced to assure my total satisfaction, and that is something that is lacking from most companies today! Eric must take in a lot of caffeine, becauase he answers emails late at night and every order from his company is shipped out at light speed(literally!!!). I have not had any problems with the guitar at all, but it has a lifetime warranty as long as the guitar and the owner are not changed, and I don't believe that I will be doing anything different to it anyways!
Overall Rating
:
10
I have been playing about 4 or 5 years now and I am not the best player around, but I can tell great tone since I've been exposed to the best kinds of gear imaginable. My setup is basic since I don't do much more than play for fun now but I used to have a Line 6 POD which I sold to get my Line 6 Spider 210 amp and I have an Ibanez tone-lok delay pedal. I just sold my LTD EX-351 with active EMGs and am sad I parted with it but the Raven is much nicer for the price. I currently use my LTD F-200, Ibanez custom Sabre, Ibanez acoustic and I have a used Raven RP-350 on the way! There was not much I could ask about the guitar before I received it, but I bought it without seeing or hearing it and I am not disappointed at all! I think that they should have audio clips up on the website to show what they all sound like but that's just being picky. I love the finish as well as all the tonal options it offers, as well as the fact that it doesn't have a floyd rose on it. I like my LTD F-200 better than this one only because the neck is thinner, but this one has a regular tremolo so I can easily change tunings when I play which is important to me. It's funny though because the tone of the two guitars is very similar and I didn't think the hex shaped pickups could compare to the EMG-HZs I have in that one! The only thing I wish was different would be a thinner neck but that's just my playing preference. Overall a GREAT deal and it was a pleasure doing business with Eric... he is a very-customer oriented guy and I would highly recommend him to anyone looking to pick up a new guitar at a low price!
