Vintage V6

This guitar is basically a strat copy. It has all the features you would expect of a strat, and nothing you wouldn't. We have 3 single coil pickups; 25.5" scale length; 22 medium jumbo frets; 9.5" radius fretboard and a vintage (with a small "v") style trem. All hardware is by renowned guitar guru Trev Wilkinson. So... a strat copy, then. How does it measure up?

I play the guitar for a living in a "classic rock" covers band, as well as doing guitar lessons to all levels of student. I play through a variety of amps - tube & solid state (Peavey/VOX/Marshall/Boogie dependant upon the gig). This guitar is a replacement for a Mexican Fender Strat I got rid of. This guitar is EASILY the equal of the Fender. The Wilkinson pickups are bright and punchy without being harsh or shrill - a great traditional strat sound. The "in between" positions on the pickup selector are tightly sprung and "quacky" sounding; the neck unit is pure SRV and the bridge selection is bright and ballsy and almost tele-esque. There is the usual single coil hum at higher gains, but this is no worse than on a USA Fender - it's just what single coil pickups do.

Here's where the ridiculously low price begins to show. When the guitar arrived the action was uncomfortably high, and bends would choke off if lowered even slightly. Fortunately, I've been tinkering with guitars for many a year and was able to make the necessary adjustments (new strings; truss rod needed half a turn; trem needed balancing and a quick fret dress) to have it playing like a dream in under half an hour.

Basically if you're OK with doing your own guitar maintenance, then this is a FANTASTIC bargain. If you're nervous about getting the tool kit out, then budget on getting it professionally set up, and it will still be a bargain. You are getting a guitar EASILY as good as a Mex strat (and would give the American Standard Range a run for it's money too), for less than the price of a Squier!!!

I've used this guitar in exactly the same way I use my more expensive "up-market" instruments, and the fact that it can hold it's own in the company of guitars costing up to 5 times as much is testament to it's value & quality. You never feel like you're playing a "cheap" guitar - it just feels like a strat... except when you check your wallet & spot the extra cash you've still got:)

I've dealt with JHS, the company behind the VINTAGE brand, previously and found them to be courteous & very customer focused. They understand the concept of "good will", and make every effort to keep the punters happy. Can't fault them!

I've been playing the guitar for nearly 30 years (20 as a full time pro), and I am ASTOUNDED by the quality of this instrument. I've owned several examples of the "real thing" - a Fender Stratocaster - and I can honestly say that this cheap little far eastern copy is as good as ANY of the USA, MEXICAN or JAPANESE strats that I've owned. Don't be put off by a poor set-up, just try another off the rack in the shop, or ask them to set it up for you rather than haggling for a discount.

I got my Powder Blue V6 brand new in Feb 2005, after playing a number of Strats and Strat copies in various shops and exhibitions. I liked this because it looks great, the weight is right and the neck is thin but very playable.

I'm not a guitar tech so don't have a lot to say on the features, but have read good reviews of the Wilkinson hardware.

Mmmm. This is where I can be a bit more helpful.

This guitar has great strat tone, from a full rich sound at the neck pick up to an almost Telecaster like tone at the bridge. There are five position settings Neck/ Neck & Middle/ Middle/ Middle & Bridge/ Bridge. The Neck & Middle and Middle & Bridge positions lack a bit of tone to my ears, but where an individual pick-up is selected it sounds great.

I play a variety of stuff from bluesy 60's style to more punky rock stuff, but like to do a bit of jazzy stuff now and again, and played through my Fender Champion 30 or through my old amp, a Vox Cambridge 15 it has proven to be extremely adaptable. I often use effects, my favourite being a Korg Toneworks to beef up the pre-amp when playing at home or recording direct.

Like the other reviewer, I had the guitar set up when it arrived by my favourite guitar shop. The action is low, and the neck is slick, but I remain unconvinced by the tremelo. I am always wary that it will put the guitar out of tune - however this is applicable to amy gutar with a trem and probably is an unfair criticism.

My guitar shop suggested that the set up from the factory wasn't good. I spent #30 on a set up, and it now plays great.

Other than that finish is excellent for a guitar of this price.

Some of the frets could be finished better at the edge of the neck, but a everything else looks and feels the part.

The tuners are by Wilkinson and aren't the most accurate, these might be worth replacing at some point.

Volume & tone controls are smooth and quiet, as is the pick-up selector. Wii give it 5 only - as it wasn't really good enough from the box.

I only really play for my own enjoyment at home so can't comment on how this will stand up to rough treatment. I certainly feel that the build quality is superior to Squier.

I would personally depend on this guitar. I also play an ES335 copy, but it's not nearly as versatile and easy to play as this one.

Tuners might be a problem over the long term

As it's only a few months old I can't be much more helpful here - but nothing is loose or falling off yet.

No issues

I have been playing for twenty plus years at a truly amateur level, and look for quality budget instruments and equipment. I don't have the money to spend on pro level equipment, but look for the best I can get for my money.

I play this mainly through the Fender Amp, but I have put it through my son's Marshall amp (great bluesbreaker tone!) and through my mates Roland.

I love the look and feel of this guitar, and I it has opened my mind to soloing.

If it were lost or stolen, I would have to replace it with another, unless I could get the money together for a genuine Fender Strat. There is no other copy that matches this that I have tried (and I have tried lots!)

Overall, I agree with the previous reviewer that there is no better budget guitar available. More serious players might baulk at the badge however.

This is one of the new strat style guitars from Vintage, developed with Trevor Wilkinson, who puts his name to pickups, tuners and bridge.
My guitar is a V6SB (SB = sunburst).
22 thin frets, rosewood fingerboard on very comfortable thin maple neck, eastern poplar body and nicely finished.
Usual strat configuration, but the bottom tone control works on the bridge pickup and the top one on both middle and neck pickups. It also has a filter cap fitted on the volume knob, so that you can roll off the volume without getting muddier.
The tuners are of the vintage style visually, but they have two holes: this allows for better anchoring improving tuning stability, and also provides staggered heights (for the same purpose).
The bridge is a vintage style too, but the sustain block is made so that the strings break at a sharper angle than usual, which again is supposed to help tuning by facilitating the return of the bridge after use of the vibrato arm. the arm is of a push-in type, instead of screw-in, which I like... nice tight fit.
It came with a little booklet on stringing, tuning, chords etc... and two allen keys: one for the saddles and another for the truss rod (adjustable at the headstock end).
I give it a 10 purely for the thought that has obviously gone into producing this guitar, the wiring etc.

The sound is your typical strat sound. The pickups are alnico V by Wilkinson, calibrated to work well together... and they do sound good. The bridge pickup lacks the annoying brittleness of most strat bridge pickups.
It's a bit noisy on when you turn up the gain... but that's the deal with single coils. It's not noisier than my other strats (a mexican Richie Sambora model, and a USA Highway1)

Okay... here comes the worst part. I bought it online (at this price, and with these specs, I just had to get my hands in one) and it came in need of some adjustment.
The guitar was not strung taking advantage of the double hole locking thing, but it did use the staggered heights. Not a biggie.
The action was low, but it buzzed. The vibrato springs claw was screwed all the way in, so that the bridge rested against the body and you needed to be Schwarzenegger to operate the arm. In addition, the intonation was way off on the lower strings.
Not a problem, as I can adjust that easily, but it should be shipped at least in a playable condition.
The nut was nicely cut at least.
The finish is very good especially considering the price.
The serial number is just a piece of paper stuck on the back of the headstock. I removed it and wiped the area and left no mark.
Not sure how durable the finish will be, but I already dropped it and bumped the bottom and only left a tiny ding, so it doesn't look too bad (get straplocks!!!)
The frets seem fine and are nicely finished on the edges... very smooth ends, and nice fingerboard.
So, straight from the box, I give it a 3. After a few minutes adjusting it I give it an 8 or 9. But I will rate it at 3 as that's how it was sent to me. If you're not comfortable setting it up yourself, spend #30 to get it set properly, and you'll have a wonderful guitar for silly money.

It looks well made and the parts seem of good quality. In this respect I don't think it would behave any differently than any other stratocaster style guitar, including Fender.

Never dealt with them, but Trevor Wilkinson himself seems pretty helpful, from second hand accounts, as well as the people at JHS...

Been playing for about 15 years, own two Fender strats among others. Lately I have been hearing really good things about Vintage guitars, and I have personally found a GREAT cheap guitar in the shape of a SX les paul junior alike... My sambora strat is very nice, but I wanted a more classic strat (the pickup locations/type and bridge is very different on teh sambora). I had recently bought a USA Highway1 stratocaster, and nice as it is, I was a little underwhelmed after a few days. It feels nice, but... there's something missing and I can't put my finger on it. After I read the specs of the new V6 from Vintage I had to give it a try, and now I think I will keep it and sell the Highway1 (which cost about 4x).
This V6 is excellent value for money. You can buy better and nicer strats, but you'll have to pay at least 5 times what the V6 costs, and it won't play 5x better... This one is good enough for me, and if it gets stolen... I won't lose sleep over it and just buy another one. Or maybe one of the SX 57 strats (I haven't been able to try one yet, but if my SX is anything to go by, it has to be a great guitar too.
So, overall... I have to give it a 10. Not because it's the best guitar in the world, but because I don't think you can get a better guitar at this price or even slightly higher (and I've tried a few!)