Played the tangerine hardtail Wildcard today...

[SouthernShred]

It could be that your USA is also one where everything just came together perfect. I have a cheap squier affinity strat that is one such happy accident. I'm not saying it holds a candle to my USA Jacksons but it plays well and sounds as good as guitars costing many times more. Around here the USA's seemed to have a slightly higher share of "average" versus "excellent" guitars. Like RobRR's experience that it was a quality guitar but needed some extra setup attention before it morphed from Okay to Awesome.

As the manufacturer the goal is to get as close as you can to "Every one has to be at least as awesome as this one." How high you set the bar is generally affected by profit margins mainly.

Like people, some guitars just rise above due to luck of the draw genetics. I don't think anybody is saying "burn your USA's, they're only good for tinder." Most people that have sampled both, (Myself included, although only short trials on floor models for me.) have felt the Japanese ones are a little more consistently of a high setup quality. I'm not surprised though, as the Japanese culture places high value in consistent excellence.

Of course this is all my gut feeling and perception from hanging out here for a couple years and limited playing time on floor models. I could be 180 degrees off.

I agree with this...I just remember going through a lot of USA Prod's trying to find one without sharp fret ends, good fret dressing, etc...with the Japanese one's, I haven't seen any fret issues...and like any production guitar, I think you have to run the racks and find one that speaks to you...Do I wish the Pro Mods had a more raw finish? Yep...but I own micromesh pads and steel wool...that can be remedied...I've just seen more consistency in the Japanese models...nothing would put me off from owning one in favor of USA placebo...both are good guitars, some are better than others

[guitarzan_josh]

Wow.. reading this really has me thinking. I was dead set on finding a used usa San or So-Cal.. .now the imports seem more appealing. I've played both and admit that I liked the FEEL of the USA neck as it seemed more natural.. and the set up on the import had horribly high action.. but overall the neck wins for me. It is sad that we expect better QA from Japan than USA... but hey.. they win the prize in most areas don't they? I don't like the direct mount pups.. so If I go Japan.. I'll nab a so-cal.

[RobRR]

To be honest, I still regret not buying that particular guitar. I dont know why, just something about it. And thats saying something, because I dont say that often and I have a LOT of guitars. I might stop by there today and see if by chance its there, maybe it just wasnt out on the floor the day I went...

[CHARVEL_strat_81]

BLASPHEMY!! I have played several recent Charvels, both the Japanese and U.S.A. models, and the USA guitars are always far superior. I hated the neck shape, fretwork, neck finish, control knob, bridge (do they have different bridges or is it just me?) , direct mount pickups and general feel of the guitars, although the sound was there. The USA models I've played (just the San Dimas) always felt better, not only when playing them but even when holding them. You know what I mean, when you hold a guitart and you KNOW that it's put together beautifully? I get that feeling with my San Dimas, I don't get that feeling with the Jap guitars.

I do not agree with this and i love the USA stuff! the MIJ pro mods have even better fret work and a nicer roll on the FB edge. I dont like the Direct mount pu's because it strays from the originals but I seen these on Ebay that were modded with rings and zebras pu's and even a brass knob. these are very easy cheap mods and these look amazing!

[MarkTheMuscleShark]

This is a little off topic, but I absolutely love those brass knobs. I was bored one day so I sanded down the top of my guitar's black volume knob to the brass so now there's a cool contrast going. It's not as cool as a full brass knob, but it'll do.

[hippietim]

It's funny that you mention this - I was at Sam Ash last week and played one as well. The guitar looked great and played great. It just sounded terrible. It was thin sounding and had no sustain. Just to be sure it wasn't the amp I grabbed the closest guitar to me and plugged it in - it definitely wasn't the amp. For $900 it really should have sounded better than a Squier Classic Vibe Tele. I don't think it's a matter of swapping out pickups - it had a JB in the bridge and a Duncan single in the neck.

[CHARVEL_strat_81]

This is a little off topic, but I absolutely love those brass knobs. I was bored one day so I sanded down the top of my guitar's black volume knob to the brass so now there's a cool contrast going. It's not as cool as a full brass knob, but it'll do.

the thing about the brass knob is that it is what all the originals had. when i saw charvel was using that friggin fugly as F**K matte black knoband those penis shaped grovers just to help keep the cost down i screamed! NO! i would have rather them charged a few more bucks than to disgrace a charvel that way! it is almost as bad as puttin emg's in a vintage san dimas! LOL

[RobRR]

I agree with you on the Grovers... they just dont go with Charvels at all and look cheap. I cant imagine it being a cost cutting issue, as they could have just used the same Gotoh style tuners that are on EVERY other Jackson/Charvel, INCLUDING the JS series. Ill never understand that move.

[CHARVEL_strat_81]

I agree with you on the Grovers... they just dont go with Charvels at all and look cheap. I cant imagine it being a cost cutting issue, as they could have just used the same Gotoh style tuners that are on EVERY other Jackson/Charvel, INCLUDING the JS series. Ill never understand that move.

yeah your right,now i really dont understand WHY they did it!:think:

[Twitch]

.....charvel was using that friggin fugly as F**K matte black knob! LOL

One, leave my step dad out of this, and 2, I like the high traction knobs the Promods have.

[RobRR]

Well, I got one! I didnt need one, but I got a good deal on it so I jumped. Should be here mid next week, cant wait!

[RobRR]

Scratch that, itll be here on Monday when I get home from work. Sweet!

[RobRR]

It showed up at 8:30am, and I just happenned to take the day off.

All I can say is WOW, what a guitar! While mine is "used", it might as well be new. The fit and finish is great, and wow, talk about phenominal fretwork. Sustain is GREAT. Plugged in the guitar sounds very bright and articulate, brighter than Im normally used to. Only thing Ive noticed is that these have no neck plate gaskets, I confirmed this looking at other ones on ebay... strange considering my SoCal has one. Ill put one on there just to proect the finish, metal plates pressed against paint is never a good idea.

[VitaminG]

sweet! Congrats, Rob. Now pics, or it never happened.

[RobRR]

It's funny that you mention this - I was at Sam Ash last week and played one as well. The guitar looked great and played great. It just sounded terrible. It was thin sounding and had no sustain. Just to be sure it wasn't the amp I grabbed the closest guitar to me and plugged it in - it definitely wasn't the amp. For $900 it really should have sounded better than a Squier Classic Vibe Tele. I don't think it's a matter of swapping out pickups - it had a JB in the bridge and a Duncan single in the neck.

I kind of know what you mean, but I found the problem... I was just messing with it again playing clean. Noticed some normal "super low action" buzz, but after a bit I realized it wasnt coming from the frets or anywhere near the neck for that matter. Its coming from the saddles. Apparently due to the angle the saddles are adjusted to and the way the strings come off of the saddle, theres just enough there for the string to buzz if plucked hard enough. Not sure how to remedy this yet, its not that big a deal but it is something that needs to be addressed.

Other than that I do absolutley love the guitar!