Telestar Lisa

As stated below. One volume, one tone, three way switch, solid strat-style tuneamatic bridge, why would you want any more. These tuners are outstanding, hold tune very well.

Very transparent sound, all shimmer and sparkle with no flavor which makes effects, both electronic and manual that much more pronounced. It sounds amazing with a little reverb. Not made for rock boogie lines, but surf, blues and jazz really shine. Has more accoustic presence than my jazz box and chambered body guitars. Don't know what's in the minis but I like em alot!!!

This guitar doesn't set up for really low action. That said it sets up well enough to easily play bar chords all the way up the neck and because of the neck size really plays easily for lead as well, at least for me. Fit and finish are fine.

Hardware is terrific IMO. None of the soft alloys I've experienced with certain imports. Some have questioned the electronics, but they seem fine to me - the controls don't cut off abruptly. Sound is great as noted. Only time will tell.

N/A Out of business

This is really a fantastic value if you can find one. I searched high and low looking for one after buying Johnny Jones "Blues is in the house" 2001 CD in which he is pictured with one and endorses them in the sleeve. His blues tone is OUTSTANDING. Mine came with some cosmetic issues (a bit discolored by multiple stickers) but excellent utility (no fretware, nice straight neck). I absolutely love the tone and it gives me a sound I couldn't get with my other eleven guitars. Pros - incredible accoustic transparent tone, stays in tune, great neck. Cons - neck heavy, sets up a little high IMO. By the way: this thing sounds amazing with a slide.

This was probably a 2000 or 2001 model, bought new on ebay after playing one used in a local shop (sold before I could buy that one). It is Korean-made, 22 frets, bolt-on neck, laminated body like a danelectro, 1 master vol, 1 master tone, 3-way LP style switch, two mini-humbuckers (about the size of a gibson mini, but higher output), appears to be a rosewood finger board, neck and body are black with sparkles, has a cream-colored pickguard, chrome trim, chrome pickup rings, strung through the body. Les Paul-like shape, but thin an light like a dano. Tuners are sealed - no brand - but have cool pearl keys. I never bothered checking the scale of the neck. It was made well, and I feel similar to - but a step above the danos.

The pickups sound great! So does the "dano-like" semi-hollow tone of this beast. It is cool. The minihumbuckers are powerful and cut. The bridge pickup has a mid-range bite that has a hint of P90 tone to it. The neck pickup is very FAT sounding, but not muddy at all. This is what I liked most about it - it sounded great - so great I saved up my money and hunted one down (again, the used one I played first sold before I could get the money to buy it). It is a little unique. I really liked it better than danos I have played, and the pickups really bring it up a notch or two. I did find that when I really put the preamp to it or crank it my neck pickup is microphonic - not terribly so, but it is there. I potted it and it did not seem to take care of it (a first for me). But, it is not terribly so - I tend to play LOUDLY and near the amp so if a pickup is going to feedback it will for me. The feedback is the only thing that keeps this from a 10. The bridge pickup does not do it, nor did the other one I played (either pickup on that one). It kind of reminds me of a Reverend Rocco (humbuckers) crossed with a Slingshot (P90s). A Reverend is certainly better than this guitar, but it costs a lot more too.

The action was not setup well - it was rather high from the store that Ebayed it to me. However, I did some adjustment and it plays great. It has a truss rod and a bridge on the order of a non-tremolo strat bridge, so it was not difficult to setup. It seemed to be well made. Parts fit together well. Frets were finished well. I was able to set up the action very low without buzzing. I would have rated it higher, but it was not setup and cheap electronic parts.

When I opened it up, the switches and pots were cheap - but they work OK. The 3-way does make some noise when you switch it. The rest seems to be reasonably well put together. I rate the build as a step above the danos. I believe it could have been made in the same Korean factory easily enough. You could definately gig with it as it is, but do a setup and replace the switch, pots, and probably the jack if you are gigging extensively to be safe.

Company is out of business as far as I know. Too bad. I would expect NO support since the company is gone.

These are great guitars - unique - and well-made (especially for the money). They sound GREAT (my favorite thing about it), and play great too with a little setup. I play it a lot, and it sounds COOL for Rock, Blues, and even clean for Jazz or country. Tone is FAT. Mine feedsback some it I really push it. But I love the tone of these minihumbucker pickups. I would expect that eventually the switch and volume and tone pots would need replacement because they do not appear to be ruggedly made, but I have been playing it for a few months now without any problem other than a "clunk" from the 3-way switch mounted in the hollow body. My advice is if you like minihumbuckers, find one of these and buy it. Or if you want a great sounding guitar that is light and sounds similar to a full-size humbucker but less "muddy" and a little more "edgy" it is a great choice. At $165 you can't go wrong. I think these babies listed at $300 or 400.

I have been playing for MANY years, mostly rock and blues. I have owned a lot of guitars, from Gibsons, Epiphones, Electras, Fenders, Zion, Ibanez, Aria, Washburn, Danelectro, Kramer, and others. If someone ripped it off I would be scouring Ebay to find another one. I would rate it better than a dano, less than a Reverend, but it did not cost that much either. It is probably my current favorite. It is a really great guitar. It is a fantastic VALUE at what I paid.

"Tonium" Finish. 2 "Lightning" Humbucker pickups, Neck pickup with extra high end. Bridge pickup has solid output for fuller tone. Indian Rosewood fretboard, Maple Neck, Master volume and tone
with 3-way selector switch, 15:1 tuners, 22 frets, String
through body, fully adjustable bridge and truss rod, 3-ply pickguard.
Single cutaway, Les Paul type body.
Lisa lists for $399. There is an 15W amp in case option which I find a little tacky but is probably great for kids.

This guitar is primarily for ROCK and secondarily for JAZZ. The 2 Humbuckers provide quite an impressive output and sustain. I was shocked. Switch provides notable tone variety.
I heard the former head of R & D for Gibson started this company. He sure knows his pickups. Nice job, really. Sound is best feature.

Good action, fits nicely, rather "man sized" if you are used to wee little fretboards. It has a hollowbody feel, but is solid -- at least feels solid.
Finish is very cool. Mine is "White sparkle." Think 1950's coffee table. Comes in Black Sparkle too, not sure about others.

OK, there is some plastic (tuners, knobs) but this hasn't hurt Danelectro any and the Lisa is definitely a step or two up from the avg Dano reissue. For the money it's a winner. Keep an eye on neck adjustment.

N/A

Been playing 30 years. Own Fenders, Silvertone, Ovation, Dano.
Love the tones, sustain, output. It's a monster and for the money, and if I were a frequent gigger, I would have one in the van as backup at all times. Wish it came with vibrato as I am fond of surf.
Note; There is a "Mona" model too. Both reviewed favorably in Feb 2001 Guitar Player magazine.