Switch Wildfire X3

I bought this guitar for $129.00 from Musician's Friend in 2006.
Several reasons influenced my choice of this model.
He's the link to the manufactuer website, if you wanna see it's features.

http://www.switchmusic.com/wildfire_view.aspx?pid=105

The main things I look for in a quality guitar are:
Set neck or neck-thru body
Binding on the neck
Humbucker pickups
Tune-O-Matic style bridge
Tapered (short) neck heel

Other than it's unusually low price for such upscale features, it's a basic guitar.

How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)?
This guitar is very average sounding. It would do the job for most situations/styles, but lacks power & definition due to cheap pickups. To get truely good sound, you need good pickups. Not bad for a beginner/starter guitar, but not pro sound.

What amps and effects are you using it with?
Fender Twin onstage, M Audio Black Box for recording, Dunlop wah

Is it noisy? On what settings?
Very quiet.

Rich/Full sound? Bright sound?
Plain average sound, no bite

What kind of sounds can the guitar make?
Guitar sounds

How much variety?
Not much unless you get the midi version; it will pretty much sound like an electric guitar.

Likes and dislikes?

Love the color & finish!
I can't stand the neck!
also
I love ice cream and cookies
I hate salad and vinegar

Everything about this guitar was well made. The finish looks spectacular. The fit and feel of it is of good quality for such a low priced guitar. Much better than expected.
Set up was OK, I did a little tweaking but nothing major.

The bottom line on this guitar is the feel of the neck. I don't like it. Flat out, plain & simple.
Is it too wide? No
Is it too thick? No
What's wrong with it then?
I can only say that the shape must be what I don't like.
I just can't get use to it.
I play several Gibson Les Pauls and a 1991 PRS Custom 24, so maybe I'm just use to the feel of a fine instrument. This is just a cheap "Made In China" piece of crap.

(Low rating is for the neck shape)

Will this guitar withstand live playing?
Physically, this guitar should withstand most of the abuse a 12 year old could give it. (albeit with only a gig bag for protection, no case)
In so far as "live playing", my opinion is, this guitar is NOT stage ready. It will NOT stay in tune, even for one song! I tightened the tuners as best I could, but it's just not a stable system. You'll need new tuners to remedy this (add $40-$50), plus to get good pro sound, you'll need 2 new pickups ($130-$180). So, put $200+ into this ($129) guitar and you'll have a decent axe! (If you can get use to the feel of the neck)

Does the hardware seem like it will last?
Yes, but the pots & electronics seem cheap.

Is the finish good enough to last, or does it seem thin and easy to wear off with lots of playing?
Finish would probably dissolve upon the first polishing. I can see it oxodizing right in front of me! I sneezed on it and it left pitting!
I'm just being funny!
It has a nice thick finish, durable as most I've seen.

Are the strap buttons solid?
Couldn't pull them out with a 1/2 ton pickup and a chain.

Can you depend on it?
If Indiana Jones and I were trying to escape a Tomb we just raided and there was a wall closing down between us, I would definitly use this guitar to hold the wall up. It might stop it for a few seconds. I would also use it as a blunt weapon to swing at enemies.
I bought this as a guitar to tote around to places (friends houses with kids) that might not be safe for a $2500+ guitar. It's not really good enough as it won't stay in tune very long.
I give it a 3 for structural integrity.

Would you use it on a gig without a backup?
If it had new pickups and new tuners? No

N/A
Hey, they sold me a $129 guitar not a $20,000 car.
I'd feel lucky if the returned an email.

How long have you been playing?
27 years

What other gear do you own? A bunch of pro gear, Gibson, Fender, PRS, Ibanez, Alvarez, Washburn, Soldano, Roland, Boss

Is there something you wish you had asked before buying this guitar?
Why am I buying yet ANOTHER guitar?

If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else?
At the moment, the guitar is in my band's lead singer's possesion. I told her that she could play it until we play a big show (3000+ people or more). If we get that big and play a big show, I'm gonna take this Switch Wildfire guitar and set it on fire and smash it up onstage! It's really not worth anything to me and if it were stolen tomorrow, I'd laugh!

What do you love about it? What do you hate? What is your favorite feature?
I love the sunburst color and finish
Hate the tuners, pickups and the neck.
Favorite feature? The looks

Did you compare it to other guitars?
Not really.

Which ones?
PRS shape, maybe?

Why did you choose this one?
To remind myself not to buy cheap guitars

Anything you wish it had?
Vintage collectability

Anything else you'd like to share?
Mice & rats run along the baseboards and up against objects to keep from being seen. They particularly like corners and will go to a corner in a room to feed and rest.
To catch them, place traps in or near corners, along the wall or next to objects (on the dark side).
After ridding your dwelling of mice, be sure to clean the urine trails and "rat pellets" along the baseboards and in corners (and in the cupboards) to keep from giving new mice a blueprint/map of your home. Peanut butter works better than cheese in a trap. I've heard bacon does well, too.
A good cat is an effective countermeasure, but brings on other issues. (feeding, smell, litter box, destroyed furniture, etc.)
Idealy, cats would just live outside most of the time, but that's a whole 'nother issue. I'll cover that in another review.