Switch Stealth Aurora

No doubt named for the black Ops Hyper-sonic military Jet. This beast comes in any color you want as long as it's satin cranberry, which is a very tasteful and understated choice. The satin finish makes for a slick classic neck feel. The Body seems to be modeled after a Gibson ES-137. The bridge is a standard Tune-O-Matic with it's short comings. i.e annoying play during adjusting. Grover pegs are OK when adjusted, correctly. No extras thru the "Freindly" retailer I purchased from, just the guitar. Still at $350.00 US, it's a bargain. It's an original, modern body design with: 22 frets; Semi-hollow body; 2 PAF type Humbuckers, well matched to the guitar; 2 Volumes; 3-way switch; Master tone; Polyurethane foam one piece molded, but for the Fingerboard. My only minor complaint is the Ebonite fingerboard. It has a glass like surface, which can be a bit sticky. As of yet, it does not impede my playing and time it might retain some oil and smooth out. Either way, no matter.

A basic and proven design, it responds like a top grade guitar worth many times the price. It sings with just the right balance of sustain and articulation. This is the eighth electric I've owned over the last 25 years: Others having been sold, stolen or given away. I kept my Parker Nitefly as a Strat style. (Nice Axe, once I put all Bill Lawrence PUPS in it). I did notice that there is still a little bleed from the pickup that is off due to the 3-way switch, which I imagine is the case with all 3-way Gibson style 3-way Swithes. No big deal, though. The sound is like the most evenly balanced semi-hollow you could ever imagine. Sweet, full singing sustain and just the right amount of articulation. Perhaps a Custom shop ES-336 , or a boutique one-off might have something on it, but this axe sounds like it was hand picked by John Mclaughlin. I kid you not. I owned an ES-335 in the 70's. This sounds better. I spent a good day and a half setting it up with Everly B-52 .011's. Now, that I got it right. It is very impressive.

It was not set up from what I garnered. I like to do that my self anyway. I got it just right. Great learning experience if you know how to proceed. Now, that it's done, I shan't need to mess with it again, as the inorganic materials are impervious to environmental variables. The nut is slightly offset towards the high E side, but I don't notice. Would have been worse the other direction. Fret work is more than adequate. No worries, there. Baring some unforeseen catastrophe, this may prove to be the best instrument purchase I have made, by a long shot. Seriously, it's the first guitar I have ever gone "ga ga" over. My Parker is nice, but the sound of this thing is truely amazing, especially for the price. The wonders of technology are really never cease to amaze. I only hope the manufacturing process doesn't pose a toxic threat to it's workers, or the sounding community. Guess we wouldn't know, cause they are made in China. I couldn't find any bad press on the interwebs. Maybe Switch has Greenified this process?

I've only had this guitar for three days, but the patents state that it is stronger than wood, so it should be just fine. Hardware seems fine. Finish? I might use tis at a gig without backup, although there is never a justification for that, but the advanced alloy Everly B-52 strings have never broken on me. They are cheap, too. Give them a try.

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I've been playing for over 25 years. Wish I got a gig bag. At this point, I would replace it if stolen. My favorite feature is the tone of the guitar itself. What else really matters? I think it is fine as is, but as others have mentioned, updating the electronics would be a serious challenge. I really don't understand how they were able to mold a one piece, sealed semi-acoustic?! It defies logic, even. Exit, stage left.