Ran Guitars

[Luke]

These guys never cease to amaze me. I've sent off two custom quotes to them, and they got back to me the next day! I'm really considering ordering the second custom I got a quote for or something different. Its less than what you might pay for a production model of similar specs in this country, and its custom made.

Both my quotes came out at 980 Euros.
No.1 Ibanez JEM.

Body = Ibanez JEM-style - with 'Monkey grip' handle and claw tremolo recess
Construction = all access neck joint
Body = alder
Pick-up config = Hum-SC-Hum
Finish = White
Headstock = Ibanez
Neck = flamed maple
Headstock Finish = match body
Neck finish = gloss
Fingerboard = rosewood
Frets = 24
Fret Size = Extra jumbo
Inlays = Vine
Fingerboard_end= Square
Fingerboard binding = yes
Headstock binding = no
Binding Colour = white
Nut = Locked
Nut width = 1 5/8''
Hardware = gold
Bridge = Schaller Locked Floyd Rose Tremolo
Tuners = Schaller M6
Pickups = DiMarzio
Bridge = Evolution
Middle = Evolution S/C
Neck = Evolution
Control Pattern = One Volume, One Tone, 5-Way Switch, front routed.

I know some of you don't like Ibanezes, but I'm not gonna do that one anyways. It was more to see how much they would do something non-standard for me.

No.2. This is one I want some input from you guys on.

Body = Vision (I think this is their Soloist style model. Well, thats what I meant it to be. [img]images/icons/wink.gif[/img] )
Construction = all access neck joint
Body = Ash with a 1/8" 5A Flamed Maple cap.
Pick-up config = Hum-Hum
Finish = Trans black
Binding = White
Headstock = Vision, Reversed (It doesn't quite look like a Jackson imo)
Neck = Maple
Headstock Finish = match body
Neck finish = Satin
Fingerboard = Maple
Frets = 24
Fret Size = Extra jumbo
Inlays = Ebony Sharkfins (No extra charge - awesome! [img]graemlins/drool2.gif[/img] )
Fingerboard end= Square
Fingerboard binding = Yes
Headstock binding = Yes
Binding Colour = White
Nut = Locked
Nut width = 1 5/8''
Hardware = Black
Bridge = Schaller Locked Floyd Rose Tremolo
Tuners = Schaller M6
Pickups = Seymour Duncan
Bridge = TB4 - Red and Black bobbins (had no problem with quoting me this)
Neck = SH-1
Control Pattern = Master Volume, Master Tone (Push-Pull Coil Tap), 3-Way
Blade Switch.

I might change it to neck-through construction, but thats an extra 140 Euros, but probably worth it. Anyways, this thread is more about Ran Guitars than my Custom Quote, as I only know of one person who has placed an order with them. Because of their great prices I am seriously considering placing an order with them sometime, but of course I want that order to be exactly what I want, because I can't sell off a Custom job like a production model. Plus, I am only 14 and don't know if spending the extra cash will be worth it for me. But yeah, Ran impress me and are very competetively priced indeed.

[hollow08]

Re: Ran Guitars

Wow! I just checked out Ran's website and it looks very impressive! I also sent away a custom order.

[Infernal Death]

Re: Ran Guitars

Do a search, there was a thread here about Ran guitars quite some time ago.
In that thread we all agreed that their prices are very cool and they seem to be a very nice company.
But the main problem was/is that nobody knows something about the quality of these guitars.
Some time after that thread i found a thread on harmony central where somebody received his ran guitar. He said that the quality is very nice, especially for the price.
But after all the big problem with Ran guitars is that you can't play them before buying because i don't know any store who has them (and i am from europe, so i guess in america the chance of test playing one is even smaller).
It seems like a "place an order and hope it's good" situation for me.

Flo

[slicer]

Re: Ran Guitars

Heyho. BTW Ran guitars are the ones used by Vader(a sh*t hot Polish metal band [img]graemlins/notworthy.gif[/img] ).
I will be speaking to them on the 30th of this month at a gig in Glasgow so i will ask them if they can offer any advice on them.

[Luke]

Re: Ran Guitars

Infernal, I remember that original thread, but if I ressurected it I'd probably get jumped on. I found it a while ago again, and searched at Harmony Central, and discovered that the thread had been deleted. So, I couldn't read it. :S

Slicer, cool! Make sure to report your results back here!

Anyways... I'm thinking about changing the finish to a trans Amber instead of black, cos of that cool Bengal Star with a Maple 'board with Ebony Sharks, light finishes seem to go well with that combo. Looking at a black RG570, the maple neck and black body seems too much of a stark constrast. I'd change the p/ups to Zebras or black then. Any thought?

[wodka]

Re: Ran Guitars

Does that price include the 22% VAT (value added tax)? I'm not sure if you have to pay that on imported instruments.

[777SteveVai777]

Re: Ran Guitars

What is 980 Euros in American dollars?

[hollow08]

Re: Ran Guitars

$1053. I think.

[the_drip]

Re: Ran Guitars

their website designer could use some help with his english translations. Kind of humorous reading it.

[warhead]

Re: Ran Guitars

Guys, check out Hex Custom Instruments. I am sure they are better than Ran. And it`s a USA made!! Dirt cheap too. For 850$ you get a guitar with the hard shell case. Even better, you put 250$ up front and the rest you pay 100$ a month. I am expecting mine to come in a month, month and a half. It`s my own design.
If you don`t know about this company, Motorhead guitarist plays their guitar and Karl Sanders is going to get his soon. Both plays them exclusively.
www.gothiccustomguitars.com

[Infernal Death]

Re: Ran Guitars

Hey Warhead what makes you think that Hex Custom Instruments guitars are better than ran guitars ? I hope it's not just the fact that they are made in USA. Because that doesn't say something about quality. The only thing which would be better for you american guys is the fact that with USA made guitars you won't have to pay taxes and duty. That's what makes USA guitars nearly unreachable for us european guys [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

Nobody here has ever played a Ran so we only can assume how the quality is.
But my guess is that both companies make good guitars. Which one is better is up to the person who plays/buys them. I always think that such small and unknown brands better have very good quality because if not they can't stay that long in business because they don't have a famous name to rely on like Fender or Gibson. Fender can get away with poor build quality because most people don't mind because "it's a Fender".

Flo

[Black Mariah]

Re: Ran Guitars

I got a quote for a Soloist style, mahogany body and neck, blacked out (ebony board without inlays, black hardware, black finish), neckthru, Duncan Distortion bridge, random single coil (don't remember what) in the neck. Came out to 750 euros. I wish I had steady income, I'd be all over it.

[Ironhead_metal]

Re: Ran Guitars

During the days of "the old Ran thread" I put in an order for a lightning sky warrior. Got back a quote of 980 Euro. For a guitar with awesome specs. Still curious.

[warhead]

Re: Ran Guitars

I don`t think that Hex guitars are much better than Ran. But I presume that they can get hold of a better wood supplier(I may be wrong). And by the way, I am European too. But since you`re asking, here`s why I`d take Hex over any other company, including Jackson. You get a hand made guitar for 850 $ including the hard case. Than you get in on 7 monthly payments. Then you can get a trade in. You can trade your stuff for even or partial trade. And being European doesn`t make it any easier to get the guitar, right? You order from Ran, you pay shipping, you pay taxes(unless you`re from Poland), buy from Hex, you pay for shipping and taxes. Same ****. And me being European, Hex offered him to pay the shipping costs from USA to my country. Please tell me who will do that? He also offered me to pay 100 $ upfront and the rest in 15 monthly payments(meaning 50$ a month). I did a custom graphic on the headstock, and he made me a deal on this too. There`s probably more to it by I don`t remember it right now. He does everything on a friendly basis.
Who plays his stuff:Glen Benton, Mikael from Dark Tranquillity, Robin Graves ex-Cradle Of Filth, the ones I mentioned before.

[Infernal Death]

Re: Ran Guitars

Warhead, sorry i didn't knew you are from europe too. Well from what you told, the guys at Hex guitars seems very friendly and have very good customer service. That's really cool to hear.

Please make sure you tell us about how your guitar from Hex guitars turned out to be. I am still in search for a cool guitar company who doesn't cost me an arm and leg to order a custom guitar from. I always will love Jackson guitars but there simply is no way now and in 5 years that i ever will be able to buy a custom guitar.

Flo