Another Example of why I have no interest in Import Jackson Guitars - WMI Korea

[toejam]

I had a Schecter 007 Elite many years ago, but I didn't mind the rosewood board. I'm pretty sure it was Korean, but I don't remember where exactly it was made, it's been a long time since I've owned it. Jeff Loomis used to play one, and I just fell in love with it. Put a Duncan Custom 7 in it with a DiMarzio Blaze single, and it sounded awesome.

PIC_S0005.jpg

[eakinj]

I already had a DBZ what was built by WMI, today I took the plunge - with all the WMI love and the PRS love I picked up a Prs Se Tremonti Custom with the vtrem sort of bridge, the bird inlays and a really nice flame maple top. looks to be a real maple cap (Can anyone confirm?) the trem bar is a little strange (I'm a ORF guys so) and it needs to have the tip sanded down - the only issue I have with the guitar right now is that there is a sharp bit at the tip of the trem bar that wasn't ground off and should have been. I'll be on a road trip (Taking it with me) I'll get some shots of it from the road and post them when i get back.

Oh! One thing I did notice is this thing is a monster with high gain, for some reason I wasn't expecting this thing to sound as damn good as it does with distortion. great guitar thus far

[markD]

The SE guitar have a real maple cap with a flame or quilt veneer. Look in the horn, you can see the maple - it is pretty thick! Yes, they sound BEASTLY with high gain. Enjoy it!!!!

[warlok]

My Tremonti SE (wraparound, not the trem version) is my only guitar that still has the original pickups. Every time I think about changing them I change my mind.. Sound pretty huge..

[Number Of The Priest]

I know I started a thread about this a while back, but what guitars are currently WMI-made? In other words, if I were to walk into Guitar Center after work today and wanted to try some WMI models, what am I looking for?

Where's that thread with the WMI brands?
I think I saw it once a while back.

Is this the thread? http://www.jcfonline.com/threads/147...hey-Build-For?

[lepard]

Another example of how Jackson imports cannot compete:

Core-X set neck, mahogany, BC Rich branded Floyd(most likely a Floyd Special), 24 frets, World Musical Instruments South Korea.
$299.00 shipped

http://www.ebay.com/itm/B-C-Rich-Warlock-Core-X-Electric-Guitar-Black-and-Red-/191841453850?hash=item2caaa4471a:g:K98AAOSwu1VW4Lxb

[vector]

I get that this is aimed more at noobs and youngin's wanting to shred it up. That being said, if I were to snag one which is HIGHLY unlikely given it's 24.6" scale, I'd likely be investing another 400- 500 bucks just to make it playable for me. The BCR branded Floyd would be outta there almost as fast as the BCR p'ups. A proper OFR and a some decent SD p'ups would be put in their place. The last control knob (all the f*ck the way down there on the lower, ass end "horn") would be outta there too and the hole filled up right quick.
Anyway, a lot of this boils down to aesthetics and brand recognition, too. If kids ain't seeing up and coming and already established players sporting the models, they won't be buying them. Most youngin's aren't nearly as picky or detail oriented about materials, and minutia that would be deal killers for experienced, old-head rockers, like me.

[xenophobe]

Most youngin's aren't nearly as picky or detail oriented about materials, and minutia that would be deal killers for experienced, old-head rockers, like me.

Then get one of the nicer WMI builds? At one point distributors were blowing out Chuck Schuldiner Stealths for under $500. Or pick up a PRS SE or any other number of good Korean builds. WMI also builds the $2000-ish Strandbergs... I think they're overpriced, but high end WMI is great stuff.

You can get a high end WMI for the price of a mid-range Jackson, and the quality just shits all over the mid range Jackson.

[Number Of The Priest]

This weekend, I had the fortune of playing three WMI guitars at a local store through a Yamaha THR10 amp on low volume.

- PRS SE Tremonti with a wraparound bridge/tailpiece, solid black
- PRS SE 245 or PRS SE Standard 245 (can't remember which), goldtop
- DBZ Barchetta STF-FR, transparent blue

If I recall correctly, all of them were in the CAD$6xx or CAD$7xx price range, before taxes, and unsure if they included cases.

Build quality of all three was basically flawless.

All three could have benefited from better setups. Didn't like the way the PRSs played, so I feel like a proper setup would have made all the difference. The DBZ's Floyd wasn't level and obviously wasn't set up correctly, but the guitar played quite well.

I'm now eyeing two LTD EC-1000s on a local classifieds website. One is CAD$600 with a case and the other is CAD$650 without a case (I think). Investigating further. I didn't recall ever playing one of these Eclipses until I searched through my post history and discovered that I enjoyed playing one back in the early 2000s.

I'm now on a mission trying to get my hands on as many WMI guitars as possible. This one: http://stjohns.xcart02.mmspos.com/DB...ic-Guitar.html is available through the Canadian music store chain St. John's Music at a clearance price of CAD$400, which seems reasonable, but I'm not a fan of V-shaped guitars.

[AAEA]

Isn't the Korean factory making guitar the old Cort factory? if so they do really quality stuff but not sure if it is the same build team from the mid 80s or if they have switched it up.

[xenophobe]

All three could have benefited from better setups. Didn't like the way the PRSs played, so I feel like a proper setup would have made all the difference.

Almost any guitar benefits from a good setup. WMI guitars are no different. You need to put in a little bit of effort, but it totally pays off.

[vector]

Then get one of the nicer WMI builds? At one point distributors were blowing out Chuck Schuldiner Stealths for under $500. Or pick up a PRS SE or any other number of good Korean builds. WMI also builds the $2000-ish Strandbergs... I think they're overpriced, but high end WMI is great stuff.

You can get a high end WMI for the price of a mid-range Jackson, and the quality just shits all over the mid range Jackson.

Noted. Took me 30+ years to arrive at my meager herd of CS Jackson, Charvel, Hamers, and a so-called CS Gibson. Stylistically and quality-wise, they're hard to beat. Except for the Gibson. That was a dog that WMI would've beat with a stick in the quality dept..

[xenophobe]

Noted. Took me 30+ years to arrive at my meager herd of CS Jackson, Charvel, Hamers, and a so-called CS Gibson. Stylistically and quality-wise, they're hard to beat. Except for the Gibson. That was a dog that WMI would've beat with a stick in the quality dept..

lol I would rather have any nondescript Japanese LP style guitar over an actual Gibson.

I watched the Gibson USA tour and wow... Gibson USA doesn't have luthiers, they have machine operators. It's easy to understand QC issues with the way they manufacture high volume like that. The operation is impressive, but a real luthier barely has any interaction with one.

Watch that then watch one of the Chapman WMI factory videos, and you can see why the Korean guitars are nicer.

[vector]

Yeah, I caught and weighed in on that thread re: LP variants. I've dumped a fuck ton more money into the LP Axcess to get it playable. That being said, it is pretty fucking stellar now. I'm also a sucker for tradition and a fan of iconic forms like the LP. Pretty much anything else won't measure up. But that's for me and my therapist to deal with. Doesn't change the fact that Gibson has been rolling out some real crap over the years. Frankly there's no excuse for it especially when you're paying that much.

[BenoA]

Doesn't change the fact that Gibson has been rolling out some real crap over the years. Frankly there's no excuse for it especially when you're paying that much.

Yep! See my post about 2 Gibson LP I saw in a local store... Pathetic for the price they ask for.