Product: Wesley Viper
Price Paid: UNKNOWN
Submitted
08/16/2009
at
06:07am
by
DarrenDarren
Features
:
8
I won this Metallic Blue beast as the first ebay bid from Wesley itself. (Can't think of why noone else bid). Anyway it was cheap and cheerful, but is it any good? This is my sixth Wesley I've bought (some I've sold) and with a H-S-H set up, non-locking trem, 5 way switch, 22 frets it seemed like an alternative to a strat with a cool Gothic (albeit, blue) shaped body. Well the tremolo went out fo tune quite a lot so I kept the bridge flat. The neck is okay for a beginner (and at the price I paid). Having a head with three on each side is a treat.
Sound
:
5
The guitar looks like the sort of thing Lordi or Within Temptation might play. However, they wouldn't as the pickups are fairly weak. Only positions 1 and 5 give significant strength. Despite the appearance one should not forget that it is a BEGINNER'S guitar. Once I got over this, it gives a fine array of sounds I suppose for country picking (which looks like the wrong thing to do)
Action, Fit, & Finish
:
5
I have great admiration for Wesley and their set ups but this one had buzzing frets and I might have to adjust the truss rod soon for an even lower action. Although I know what I'm doing, many budding guitar players might get bored and let this gather dust behind their wardrobe
Reliability/Durability
:
7
I wouldn't use it live though it would be good stage decoration. You will need a guitar stand due to the shape of the body.
Due to the position of the strap button I found myself looking down (as opposed to looking back) on the 5th fret. This did make playing this guitar a bit of a novelty and a different experience.
Customer Support
:
10
Wesley are one of the best companies even if you don't like their guitars.
Overall Rating
:
7
The good book says lead us not into temptation, but I was. On the website it was one of the best guitars I've set eyes upon and had to have one. Having got it home the thrill disappeared. It is a beginners guitar (but if you like customising stuff here is a useful set of parts) and that's the way you should view this. As a beginners guitar, it's pretty good and a good alternative to the bog standard strat copy out there.
