Playing the STUNNING Guitar That Nobody Knows About!! - Valiant Soothsayer
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- Discovering a unknown guitar brand is always exciting, and when their guitars are this good...well it's fantastic!
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Always exciting when a new player enters the market! Enjoy the demo!
Give away? ... Please? :)
Why do you alienate your viewers with guitars that 95% of us would only dream of owning. Sell out Darrell
333 🌈
@@STAY-GOLD-VINYL Darrell does not need me to 'defend' him, but he does review lots of cheap guitars, from time to time is nice to see some outliers like this. He is rather critical too, which is great.
I am sure he will soon review some Squires...
Have you tried Tagima guitars?
Thank you, Darrell, for the video, we will address those issues!
Good luck guys. Looks like you’re off to a great start. I love a good sounding guitar. It could look like a turf for all I care lol. Anyway, best wishes on what looks to be many great sounding and looking guitars.
Where can i browse your products?
Gorgeous piece of work. I wish you guys success!
Man I’d kill to own one of these…been my pops caretaker for the past year and a half so money is extremely tight….maybe one day…a man can dream. Gorgeous guitar guys.
Looks great. Would love to try one
Thanks for the demo. I recently (2 weeks ago) purchased a soothsayer after viewing this video. I'm happy to announce that the frets, finish and playability issues you addressed have been rectified. I love this guitar. Top shelf quality. Thanks for your input and to Igor and crew at Valient for the totally professional buying experience. I highly recommend this company to any and all.
At first I was like, "That's a nice looking guitar." Then I heard "Bareknuckle Pickups" and "Gotoh Locking Tuners and Bridge" and knew it was going to be over $2,000. Dang, Darrell, got me again! ;-)
Lol two thousand
$2,350 US on their website. That's a lot of guitar. 😎
yeah, you can find an Ibanez Axion Label RGA61AL that has all of that for under $1200
@@ThePenitentSquirrel yeah, it’s not all that hard to produce a decent guitar for loads of money
It’s mostly in labor actually hahah
Each and every guitar has a certain unique value, this one is no exception.
It might be one of the most subtly unique we’ve seen in a while!
Never skip the value on any guitar: it could be worth something special.
Keep up the unique work, Darell!
Hi Darrell, I got a Valiant Soothsayer because of your video here. I ordered the version in antique green. As you decribed an incredibly good looing and sounding instrument. The delivery to Germany was easy and I got it after 1 week. Igor and the whole team do a nice job there in the Ukraine...
I tried it out yesterdy, same opnion with you. Sound good, making and looking incredible, some little issues, the frets could have been polished a little bit better for my opinion, I will do that when I change the strings, the whammy bar is a little bit stiff, so I will remove one spring...the rest is amazing...
Thanks Darrell, now I have a guitar more and a lot of money less....
;-)
So Daryl I love your reviews. There is one exception and for me and I know a lot of guitar players feel the same way. The neck. If you could describe how the neck feels in relationship to say offender modern sea or perhaps a Les Paul it would be very helpful. I've played very expensive guitars and love the sound but hated the neck. If the neck isn't right I don't care how good the guitar sounds or plays or looks. Just my two cents cheers
Yes!
I press PLAY and LIKE buttons almost at the same time, because I know it's Darell's video so it's gonna be great even before watching it.
Here's the thing. Other than the aesthetics of the guitars that Darrell reviews, I can never hear much of a difference in any of the guitars. I am the first to admit that the first thing I look at when considering a guitar is how it looks. I love the looks of this guitar but I guess what I get most out of these reviews is how amazingly good of a musician Darrell is. Just a phenomenal player. Thanks Darrell.
kevin O'Rourke
I can hear a difference when he demonstrates the tone clean but as soon as he goes into his one minute solo on whatever guitar he's demoing they just sound the same to me. Would much prefer if he didn't use as many effects on his solos
The inlays are BEAUTIFUL!! Nothing outlandish like some guitars have, but something different than just the dots or the block looking ones in SGs and Les Pauls
I like the name and that finish is killer.
Also Soothesayer is a great buckethead song
Hornbeam is a wood that's found in the northern hemisphere. It's also been called ironwood and musclewood although not necessarily interchangeable. Super hard wood when dried. Not a lot of folks like working with it. The wood makes for great tool handles and such.
It's got a pretty cool name as well!
Pretty sure they also use it for drumsticks
They also made gears out of hornbeam.
(we got a lake here, and they grow the trees of the year by the lakeside, there they tell about the gears)
When it comes to electric hardbody guitars the type of wood does not make that much of a difference as some give it credit for . The price of the wood is based on the ease of difficulty in tooling and wear on the tools .
Maple is expensive because of the sugars in wood - time and wear .
@@dennispickard7743 it is rather important, that the fretboard is made out of a hard wood, in order for little fretboard wear.
Beautiful guitar and the string-height adjustment on the nut is a very useful feature.
Sick! That purple flame top is gorgeous. I love the features on this guitar. Looks like a cross between a Strat and a pimped out Schecter C1 SLS Elite.
One of the most eye-catching beautiful colors I've ever seen on a guitar Daryl. And this sound is absolutely stunning. Now if we could just get glary to make it so I could afford it. LOL. Have yourself an awesome Labor Day weekend man. That is if you guys celebrate that in Canada I don't know. LOL.
Nice to see new brands coming up with original designs rather than Tel, Strat or LP knock offs. Thanks Darrell 🙏
you realize that is a strat copy right?
@@thejusticeizationits a bit modified rather than just a straight up strat knockoff is what i think he was trying to say. it has a unique charm rather than the same boring copies
Lots of cool design choices on this guitar! Loved the tones and inlay designs especially. Definitely would get the more traditional nut version. Great review!
With this brass one, I would take a string and carefully run it back & forth like a saw blade to speed up that break in. Letting dive bombs do it would take forever and not be practical when my method would file it in the exact same way, but much quicker. certain "rat tail" files can do it as well.
great review! Would consider getting one but $2350 is kinda steep!
I do like the look of the fretboard and the triangles.
The nut is really interesting. (I agree and I'm using your words.)
I'm glad that you didn't try to modify "unique". (Things are either "unique" or they are not. They can't be "kind of unique", "really unique", "pretty unique", "somewhat unique"... You absolutely nailed it. That's probably because you're Canadian. Americans are constantly modifying "unique" and it is always wrong.)
EDIT: After praising you for your use of "unique", I restarted the video and after describing the fretboard, you unfortunately said "another 'really unique'...". I spoke too soon. You were doing so well. Okay, now back to the video.
The back of that neck is stunning.
"A very very custom look" I think is okay, and that truss rod adjust meant in between fret numbers 21 & 22 is something that I've never seen before... though I'm not sure whether or not it is unique. ;-)
Once again, I nice review. You know, you're pretty good at this whole guitar reviewing thing. :-D
Nice guitar. 4:04 the truss rod adjustment dial looks nearly identical to what Peavey installed on their Firenza guitar series 30 years ago. I have several Firenzas with this dial. It is indeed a clever idea but not new by any stretch. Thank you for an honest and thorough review!
Speaking of peavey, look up pics of the odyssey guitar and compare the fretboard inlay markers. Granted peavey used solid triangles vs outlined, but I see peavey influence there as well on this guitar
My brother's 60s italian guitar looks the same though it's under the neck not "inside".
@@rebelcat420 Agreed. To push the comparison even further, I think the pups on the Soothsayer have at least a faint resemblance to my 1979 Peavey T-60 (and both guitars cool-split!). BTW, looked up the price on this guitar - $2,350. For that much, the frets and the binding should be MUCH better IMO.
@@WW-1995 Interesting. Do you know the name of the brand? I would like to see that if possible.
Really nice looker!
Digging the clear pickup guard, and that purple looks slick
Pickups sound fantastic as well
👍
So many innovations and such a sweet sound. Fender and Gibson could learn from this.
But how much does it cost?
@@justice100forwin2 On Reverb, they're about $2,700. So not a budget guitar for sure.
The first second I saw that purple flame I crushed hard on this guitar. When I saw the tuning machines, I knew the rest of this guitar was going to be uncompromising in parts and construction. And $$$! She’s outta’ my league but she’s a beauty! What a great looking and sounding instrument.
except the frets weren't finished and it had over spray everywhere. yeah very high quality construction lol
@Mark Seymour It's not just the finish, the frets are part of the construction, and they were horrible. even squire bullets frets look better
Wow, that’s a beautiful one. Nice playing Darrell, also!
Amazing guitar, just top notch. I have one of valiant's early models and I am absolutely satisfied. Amazed to see how much they've progressed.
Those pickups are dynamic. I was surprised at the different tones. Impressive.
It looks as if the strings go over the nut, and unlike most "6 on one side" heads, perfectly straight to the tuning pegs. No string trees, woo hoo!
I immidiately fell in Love with this guitar seeing the adjustable Nut and then the Grover highend tuners. Actually the basic for tuning stability and I think the most comen issue to complain about. Can't wait to watch the rest of this vid. As it goes on there comes the fear - price 😭. Okay was already afraid about the digging in the nut. There are a few things they should clear. Frets, binding and the nut. So now going to see the price. Uuuh ... For this price they should be perfect to really standout in all the other brands. Not only high quality hardware, more also high quality craftsmanship. Thanks for the review Darrell.
They're not grover tuners. He said they're Gotoh
Cool. Expect perfection in this price range. Red alert $$$. A little mention of the neck joint carve would have been nice.
Me: That's a nice guitar
Me 2 minutes later: That's not in my budget
These are sweet, I’ve had their website up with this guitar on it for months drooling over it.
That’s a cool guitar. Maximum Guitar Works had been using the recessed spoke wheel for some time now. I find it interesting that Peavey is building the new line of guitars HP (Wolfgang 2.0) in Eastern Europe and now we have a product launch from there as well…
What a fine looking axe and it sounds excellent too! Then agian you make everything you play sound fantastic!
$2350 on their website, if you can get their website working...it has issues.
Quite a few purple guitars popping up around me at the moment! Pretty cool, this one! Thank you for the demo and the good vibes, Darrell! 😀
About the nut, that might be useful (I'd polish those screw slots and add some graphite-like lube), but many decades ago there was something called the Zero Fret. It was a fret where the nut is, and the nut only held the position of the string, not the height, that was set by the zero fret. It make the string height consistent and "what it should be" (presuming the fret heights are consistent). But that was only done on cheap guitars back in the day, and since no guitar maker wants their guitar to look cheap, even the cheap guitars did away with it. The result was cheap (and even mid-priced) guitars never had the string height anywhere near where it should be, resulting in (at best) more work for guitar techs in setting string height as well as other adjustments that should have been done at the factory, or (at worst) new guitarists being frustrated and not knowing what a good guitar should feel like, and not knowing what causes the better feel when they play a well setup guitar.
Note: Valiant site shows the Soothsayer with a Tusq nut (thank GOD) and An upgraded GoToh tremolo!
We do have Soothsayer with straight headstock and it comes with TUSQ nut, but both options have Gotoh 510 trem.
as always a great review Darrell. Watching these has really helped me understand what to look for and what is important in an instrument. Keep it up!
Really is the best split coil I’ve heard. I usually hate split coil sound personally because I find it to sound like a extremely poor faux strat sound but in this case I think it does approximate nicely
The finish issues on this guitar are nothing compared to what was leaving the Gibson factory a few years ago.
It might ..just might …be worth $1200…maybe…😎🎸
Ouch.
@@valiantguitars9029 It feels like a burn but you have to remember that, in this price range, you're going up against some really big names and you need to stand out from them whilst matching their quality. Ultimately, the quality of the guitar that Darrell has does not look to be in that quality range.
I appreciate that, in another comment, you've said that you'd fix these things and that shipping would be free but it should never have got to Darrell in this way in the first place. Buying a guitar at that price isn't just about the guitar, it's about the experience. Most people will only ever buy a guitar that costs that much once so when they spend that money they want to take it out of the box in a pristine state like they would with other guitars. If I buy this from you and it has a defect on it, I won't get it back for at least a month when you consider customs inspections and customs may even try to charge me a second time when it returns to the UK. So this needs to be right, first time, every time.
The issues pointed out are the sort of thing that you'd see on $500 guitars and, expensive hardware or not, why should I buy a $2350 guitar with issues when I can pick up guitars at a third of the price that won't? That's the question you need to answer.
You also need to put some effort into the localization on your website. You're selling a quality product so your marketing should be spot on. At the moment it seems plagued with grammatical issues (which I'd be happy to help you with) and broken links. Again, it just creates the perception that maybe you're not as bothered about perfection as the site claims and that's not a good look for a company asking for so much of my money.
I'm sure you'll get this sorted in time. It's nice to see new manufacturers so keep on going. Take the feedback you're getting and hang in there. Good luck!
I've emailed the address on your website with my details in case you want to take me up on my offer.
Yeah...I don't think Gibson is the best example. They've been trading on their name for years.
@Mark Seymour Yeah, and they shouldn't. However, it doesn't contradict the point here....the Valiant is a $2,350 guitar and should not have finish issues.
Awesome looking guitar from top to bottom!!!!
Very cool guitar! Very fresh design! Can't wait to see more from these folks.
Thanks!
I feel kinda bad pointing out corrections but I think the pots are actually Fender made instead of CTS, no quality difference but a different name haha
Nice demo, Darrell, as usual. It's gorgeous, and I like the pickups. Alas, I already have multiple guitars, and don't need another one. I can only play one at a time as it is…
Done buying guitars?
@@216trixie For the time being…
I have the same pickups in an Ibanez Prestige with a super switch, they are incredible and quack like strat/tele pickups split. I was really surprised by them.
Woohoo I'm excited for this video Darrell🎉🎉
At this price range, I expect nicely rolled fretboard edges, too.
It will be a good brand to come back later and check out. reviews like this will promt action. you may very well see things cleaned up in short order. the brand has a lot of competition out there now. they have to stand out for those price ranges. time may allow development of more affordable models. improving and streamlining build techniques accomplishes that.
In this price range, it better be FLAWLESS.
You have some of the best produced reviews on RUclips. Top notch Darrell
Nice ding near the output jack lol
Good lord man. I want all of them. I can't afford any of them..... What a great looking, sounding machine.
Proving that there is still room for innovation. Love those fret markers. My favourite Valiant is the Smith Desert Sunrise.
id like to see a review on EART guitars, particularly the T style one they make
Very very cool guitar beautiful sound 👍👍
Jimmy page is like where was this guitar when I was using a violin bow🙄🙄😂😂😂😂
For me, it was love at first sight. I like a purple finish over a figured top. Sounds great. Nice details. Me likie.
Thanks! Appreciate!
@@valiantguitars9029 Awesome looking and sounding guitar, guys. Excited to see what you put out in the future.
@@bvionis It's very nice of you! Thank you very much!
@@valiantguitars9029 Can you make this guitar as a HSH with quilt top and all pickup combinations of a Les Paul, Tele, and Strat?
@@Peetie_Wheatstraw Technically, it is possible:
1. Impulse has single-coil-sized brother to put in the middle.
2. We do have quilt top in stock
3. Wiring should be enhanced with coil-splitting push/push or mini-switch to add 5 extra positions.
In addition to all the elements you mentioned, I like the clear pick guard. Too many times there is a ton of work invested in a paint job which ends up 20% routed out and 40% hidden behind a pick guard. This is why I think burst patterns on a Strat are a bit of a waste.
As always my good sir you made that beauty sound like a million bucks. 🤙🏻
Love the variety of tones.
Wow looks super cool and modern. I love how the detail aspect that company give for the guitar like the body cut for jack input. I just don't like the spoke wheel on the neck
The body reminded of Fender Japan Aerodyne. Cool
Oh yeah it kind of does
Wow, those pickups do sound great! I wouldn't mind putting a set in my Ibanez RG550 reissue.
It looks very nice and sounds even better, colours are fantastic and it has great features that makes it very contemporary although It would be good they would choose a different body design to give it its own identity, however the website directly mentions that this model is a proper tribute to the 1954 classic from Leo Fender, with the Jupiter model resembling a Jaguar and the Smith, a PRS. Hopefully they fix those QC issues for a guitar in that price range from a company that says it has 30+ years of experience
Beautiful guitar and just about $2000.00 above my budget! I am glad you review so many affordable guitars as well!
Gotoh trem, Gotoh tuners, Bare Knuckle Impulse pickups, this guitar is killer
I want a Valiant..such craftsmanship
Right away I dig the way it looks!
As always for me and my opinions you are still the best DBG, Thanks for this great review.
It looks like a nice guitar and I love the overall design but, with all the things you've pointed out, it's not in the right price range and it doesn't really feel close. In addition to the fret ends and the overspray on the bindings, it also looks really banged up at the back already and that worries me that there are general finish issues. The fact that this got to you like this also says there are some QC problems.
I think once you start going over the $1000 mark, things like this should absolutely be sorted. They certainly are on some much less expensive guitars. I appreciate the addition of some high-end hardware but I'd rather spend my money on something with a well-put-together and finished construction and add hardware at a later stage. Things like metal backplates are going to add to cost and, ultimately, add very little.
Amazing guitar! ❤ Congratulations!
Must agree on the frets, for the price range. Would like also to see better rolled fret ends. As for the paint ,,,I am afraid
That would have to be a re do and a send back for a re try. All the other considerations would be it’s grace. But they would have to perfect the only 2 so so items.
Remembering that perfection can at times be a cruel mistress. But to achieve a status worthy of that price. No free passes .. the guitar is a working piece of art very beautiful art.
And worth every penny! I totally love it!
I went and checked the entire soothsayer lineup out and the Dryad Green is amazing to say the least and to be honest for all that comes in the package it is probably the best value in a Custom Shop guitar. I like that they also provide a choice of 5 piece neck or quarter sawn. I would love to put one in my collection but price is a bit prohibitive at the current moment. Still, as I said, it is probably the best value in a Custom Shop quality guitar hands down.
In the woods around here, we got quite a lot of Hornbeam. The German name for Hornbeam could be translated to “grove beech”, but the actual word is hornbeam and not grove beech. Hornbeam is closer related to birch than to beech.
Hornbeam is a pretty hard wood, and people made gears out of hornbeam in former times.
And actually, hornbeam is my personal Celtic zodiac sign.
Stunning! Just beautiful and so gorgeous with an incredible tone. Not often a guitar stops me in my tracks but this one sure did! If I wasn't handing over all my $$ to the US medical system I'd order one today. Impressive. Time for a 3rd job.
The top is gorgeous but for that price I can get a guitar custom built to the specs I want.
The adjustable nut is a touch of genius.
I have a German made Warwick Fortress One bass built in 1994 with a very similar adjustable brass nut. The only difference is mine has a single slot in the screw, makes changing string gauges much easier
Dude these are EXPENSIVE guitars and basses dang!!!!
You missed a great opportunity to demo it by playing Buckethead’s song Soothsayer…
Graphite lube can help with your nut issue. Beautiful gitfiddle. Love that color! Great review👍👍👍
looks subtly futuristic which is rad.
For the $2k+ price tag I would have expected an option for locking nuts and a Floyd Rose style bridge.
They do. You can choose a Floyd Pro, the Gotoh one on this demo model, or a custom hard-tail of their own making.
Amazing color, great idea about plug in jack space. And interesting string heigh-adjustment
Looks like it was designed by someone in there late 20s or early 30s lol. A bit of modern and classic look. Love it!
Hello Darrell! I think the black paint inside the cavity of pots and springs is conductive. In the cavity of springs is covered with transparent varnish for not wear out. try with a multimeter. I am curious 😁
Great looking and sounding guitar full of promise with some early great oversights😕
This guitar hits those two issues, I’m in! Love it✅
I never understood why more builders dont use a clear pick guard. Ive seen beautiful guitars with a huge pick guard covering it up. Smooth fret edges are a must. The biggest thing im not fond of is the brand logo font style at the first fret.
Wow! Another over 2K guitar!!! Hope they're giving you a deal on them! Love this axe tho! And yes, the "fine" detailing needs to be done for that price point!
Looks great and has quality parts but overpriced for what it is. Should be around $900 IMO
The hardware probably pushes it over that price but I know exactly what you mean.
im in love with that guitar
What a beautiful instrument! Way2go, Valiant! That color is absolutely gorgeous! I like what you're doing, guys. Digging the brass nut. This might be a silly question, but wouldn't the pinging problem be relieved just by a little light filing in the grooves? Anyway, thanks for the review, Darrell! As always, you reviews are awesome and thank you for introducing me to This Magnificent guitar!
Spectacular info 👏
Hey Darrel, I hope you're okay !!!
I really love your work, and the way you talk about guitars and gear in general with such judgment and professionalism!
I would like to see a brand called soloking guitars, and review these guitars
greetings from Venezuela!
Keep rocking!
Oh, man, that finish color is so cool!
Just under $2400.00 for an unknown guitar? Yikes! But thanks for bringing it too us DB.
no way!!
@@corylocher1 yeah I'd rather buy a custom shop for that price by a known manufacturer
High-quality components in a guitar that doesn't look high quality. It kind of feels like an upgraded Ibanez. I can put £2k of hardware in my old Yamaha but it isn't ever going to be a quality guitar.
welp, you've convinced me that i wanna buy one
That thing looks amazing. I love the inlays so much. It's still outside of my price range, but maybe some day on the used market.
Darrell since I found you sometime back I really dig your vids, thanks! However, as I was making a list of guitars to bring to my friends NEW music store in NJ I see this vid! Man, I was all psyched to down size my collection, then you post this! I love it! Yet don't love the "fret end" issue you mentioned. For THAT price, come on! IF I order one, I'm asking for THAT to be perfect or I don't want one. Why should anyone have to deal with that @ those prices. Nice overall site though, they flew under my radar all this time. Cheers!
From what I've been able to see is the Valiant guitars are assembled in the Ukraine. Not sure why some manufacturers are not forthcoming with where the product is made.
I love how they carried the brass color from the nut and used it as a theme throughout the entire guitar. Usually I prefer chrome or black hardware but this just works so well 😍
EDIT: question about the nut. Would some gentle work with a nut file help it break in? Or would that be too aggressive and do more harm than good?
I suspect taking the screws out and polishing them properly and breaking the edge of the screwdriver slot would help quite a bit, but you never know until you try.
I think it's a good idea to add some graphite in the slots
@@MSPatterson yeah, something at least. I also wonder how much it would impact the tone of open strings compared to a bone nut (or the ultra rare “zero fret”)
@@denis_kleshchev it may help but I suspect it’s just the edges of the metal that need a bit of attention in a similar way to polishing and finishing fret ends.
Soothsayer huh? Man, they dare to make a buckethead reference, hope they live up to it
But , if I'm going to spend 2300 dollars on a guitar am going to buy one of these or am I going to buy a Gibson or a PRS or even a fender , I don't know . I would have to play one of these guitars before I buy it .
Lol, what? you really saw something and said "if im gonna spend that much money, i'd rather get something garbage"