Glarry Butterscotch Tele Review: ruclips.net/video/Ssuf6dngvCQ/видео.html The guitar - Glarry GTL Semi-Hollow Electric: bit.ly/2IFxGn2 The amp - Blackstar HT5R MKII: imp.i114863.net/74yZO The mic - Senheiser E609: imp.i114863.net/na9v7 Please help support my lessons by donating here: www.paypal.com/paypalme/MZabel335 More Gear Reviews: ruclips.net/p/PLSVfUQKkNUqb0xIdDxT4yen6QebY_FoLD
Excellent video Mark! It’s very rare to find a video of a budget guitar done by someone who not only plays really well but understands stylistically appropriate stuff for this style of guitar. All of your points were spot on. Kindred spirit, man! Definitely subscribing.
I’m a new player and the Glarry GTL is my first guitar. Mine is the coral color. I figured i would mod it etc. as time went. 11 months later- Mods so far: bone nut, polished frets, Daddario 8s, locking tuners, better string trees, neck adjustments, individual brass bridge pieces, Fender 62’ custom single coil bridge, stacked humbucker in the neck, 500k Alpha tone pot. - .047 paper in oil capacitor. And a 500k volume pot, 2 telecaster knobs, 1 fender high hat 🎩 switch, and a 6 dollar tuner. I play through a Vox VT20X. It’s a modeling amp that is really fun. I modded that too with a new Jenson vintage ceramic speaker. Okay. What did I pay for all this? Glarry GTL Coral + All new mods: 286.00 mods installed by me by watching RUclips vids. Cost of Vox amp (it was used at Sweetwater) shipped 147.00. Right now I’m learning the first solo in Comfortably numb. The Vox has an excellent delay and reverb hall sustain. Really any adjustments on the Glarrys can be learned on RUclips. Basic soldering tools etc. if you want to tinker and get a better sound from the pickups- change them, it’s still a cost effective way to go. I need a case. I like that custom looking one. That will be about 90.00 from Glarry. It’s a golden time to buy. I remember the feeling I had first opening the Glarry cardboard shipping box. I was expecting something bad shipping damage, somewhere on the guitar as I pulled carefully on the foam wrapper. I couldn’t believe there was not a mark on the guitar. I was so relieved. It’s my only guitar after all. It’s still looking new today and I play every other day. Make no mistake the guitar will need to be set up. Once you’ve done that it’s awesome, considering a Telecaster semi hollow deluxe is upwards of a grand.
The body alone from GFS for a Thinline Tele is the more than this Glarry guitar itself. I’m absolutely not afraid at all in doing a custom setup for a thinline guitar for $115 with cream binding is a absolute steal.
Hi! If you're looking for some fun tooling around with a mod platform it's fine. Be prepared for broken parts - more fun if you like to mod them anyway. Enjoy!
@@MarkZabel I had a good friend that was like a samurai when it came to guitar work and soldering. Sadly he passed away several years ago but he definitely made a impression on me and taught me a lot about not being afraid of putting a guitar together, leveling and crowning frets, sanding a neck and soldering electronics. I miss the dude badly he was like the “Rain Man” of Guitar Techiness.
Many thanks Mark. You explained the pros and cons very well. Being a modder myself I wouldn't rule this guitar out as it would be a fun project to keep me outa trouble lol for little money, I must agree it looks good too. I'll definitely watch your video on sorting the nut out, etc. Always happy to learn a bit more.
Very good review. I am a mixture as a buyer. I like cheap guitars with things to do. This guitar: make a neck tilt adjustment screw system. I use a corner cat for fret ends and "rolling". Smooth out with dremel and polishing head. Install bone nut and shape, cut. Replace the pot. I don't care about cosmetics. Just want a great sounding and comfortable guitar. 20 dollars for parts and the fun of a couple hours work. It will play and record as well as the other 30+ guitars collected over 60+ years, from stupid expensive to ultra cheap. Thanks!
Interesting and I think the right attitude! I'm with you on the electronics (I'd replace all of it as long as I'm doing it - pretty cheap stuff) and such. I would put in decent pickups too, but that will exceed the $20. Three additional thoughts on making it a guitar that plays well: 1. The neck will likely require more than merely adjustment and sanding the fret ends. I haven't gone there yet, but I'm guessing it will need a fret level. 2. It's a fairly chunky neck with a wide, flat radius. I don't mind that at all, but it's not similar to a Fender modern C. 3. It will have some neck dive. As with all of this, it helps to go in with your eyes open. If you're willing to do some work (or even enjoy it!!) then it can be okay. Thanks for watching!
Hi Mark. Great video in telling it how it really is. I just bought the orange one and evidently the quality varies greatly between these guitars. On mine the fret edges are smooth so I lucked out and the finish is really good and no issues with the electronics. But, just like yours the action was really bad and I had to adjust the truss rod and still had issues with frets 1 thru 3 being way too high. So, I filed down the nut slots and I had never done this before but I took my time and did it carefully and now the action is great and the guitar plays really well. So, you hit the nail on the head with all your observations. Look forward to seeing your adjustments to the guitar. Happy New Year from a subscriber of yours!
Thanks! LOL about Buckethead. Using a broken volume pot as a kill switch is definitely turning lemons into lemonade. Not sure my temp fix would hold up!! 😀
You know, guitarists and cheap guitars are like moths to the flame. They just can't help themselves. There always is the dream of getting much for a little, or of finding the hidden gem and getting it for next to nothing. Mark does his readers a great service by telling them what you really get in a $120 Fender knock-off. Thanks for helping us keep our feet anchored in reality.
You made it sound good Mark, also the breakup you were getting on the clean channel neck sounded great. Is that a characteristic of the black star amp? Also happy new year’s to you and your family!!
Thanks! Yes, it's characteristic of that amp. It has 2 voicings on each channel, one more prone to breakup and one a bit cleaner. Really a great amp! Happy New Year to you too!
Your reviews are good because I'm learning so much that is of value; like that I can sand sharp frets quickly and easily with a soft sanding block i didn't know that.
Great video Mark, after buying a Glarry bass and uke at launch I've been hesitant but interested in this model (,the Buckethead reference was pretty good) After seeing this I think I'll be ordering Thanx!
Thanks Ian! Yes, that's why I recommend that you set it up properly first before giving it away. Another idea would be to gift it, but with a pro setup as well.
I own this guitar it says it has a plactic nut, but i have to tell you this nut is very hard it took me some time to slot it, i would not replace it, if you find the pickups to brite, place a .002 cap across the input jack and it sounds great, and take the neck pickup cover off, it will be louder and less bassy, my action is very low no buzz, and it is flawless, to bad Gibson can't make a guitar as good as this.
It sounds decent. But having to shim the neck and replace the nut and Vol pot, man! Not worth it to me. It's basically a $120 project guitar. In contrast, my daily player is a Jackson JS22 Dinky. I got it as "open box" (floor model) from Guitar Center for $179 in 2017 (New was $199). Probably could use a set-up. But it's been great for 3 years now. Good action, pretty good intonation, great sound and has held together really well so far. Tuners are a bit cheap, but it stays in tune really well. Nice honest review Mark. Enjoyed the video. Happy New Year's buddy.
Yeah a Jackson Dinky is a totally different guitar. Probably not what players who buy this are looking for. Shimming the neck ... meh, that's not too unexpected. It's within the realm of a normal setup of a bolt-on neck guitar. But I expect the electronics to work, I agree.
I went with the HS model, mostly because it has individual saddles for each string and a rosewood fretboard. But no binding! And no sunburst ): I went with the “yellow”, can’t wait to see how it turns up.
This was a very good (and honest ) assessment of the guitar. Have you ever done a review like this of your Blackstar amp? Happy New Year to you and yours. I just happened to find a video from you exactly three years old today: Commander Cody's HotRod Lincoln. Fun Stuff!
Thanks so much! I haven't reviewed any of my Blackstar amps. I should do one at least on the HT5R. Hey, I remember making that video. I think I had just recently gotten that G&L T-Style guitar and wanted to try it out on that tune. Yes, really fun!
I have that guitar, rebadged by a national distributor..well either a Glarry or a Sunsmile. Identical spec to what your playing there Had to shim the neck too. Pickups are remarkably responsive and balanced. I had several high frets and the trussed is almost inaccessible. She has cleaned up okay. Not on par with Harley Benton or Squier and in hindsight I'd rather fork out €220 for a decent offering from one of those brands.
I figured the pickups would sound good. I own an inexpensive Squier Tele with ceramics, a mid priced MIM Strat with ceramics, and a fairly expensive American Tele with alnico’s, and honestly, I love the sound of all of them. I’d definitely think twice before automatically writing off the pickups on a lower priced guitar.
I actually think these pickups sound a bit better than the garden variety low-end ceramics like what you find in, say, the Squier Affinity. (Which is a much better guitar all around BTW.) Ceramics have that dark, smooth sound, but these seem just a little brighter to me. Not "Alnico bright", but a bit brighter.
@@MarkZabel I find ceramics to be quite bright. If they sound dark, and lack brightness, they may be adjusted too high. The stronger magnets can pull on the string if the pole pieces are too close, inhibiting it’s vibration. My Squier Bullet, and MIM Strat get plenty of high end sparkle.
@@artamussumatra6286 Wow, really? Are you sure? Here's a direct comparison to alnicos. The alnicos are much brighter than the ceramics. The same has been true for every guitar I've ever owned, single coil or humbucking. And I've owned and played many, many guitars. ruclips.net/video/UjZ-4zfaLPc/видео.html
@@MarkZabel Me too, I guess it depends on the guitar, but generally, I find the ceramics to usually be brighter. Almost too bright in some cases, that’s why I think a lot of people prefer alnico, they tend to be more mellow on the top end. I like the extra brightness, because when you roll back the volume on the guitar, it attenuates the treble just a bit, and turning the amp up to compensate, gives a very sweet sound. My Ampro Tele has bright alnico pickups, but it does also have a treble bleed circuit. I think ceramics really benefit from proper adjustment, and dialing in, where as the alnicos tend to be a bit more “Plug and play”, I’ve learned to appreciate both.
I just bought one. The Action is a little hi. Mine has a humbucker for the neck pick up. I'm taking it in to have it all adjusted. But for $120.00 really nice. But the monoprice Indio is $80.00 but not a thin line. And for $40.00 cheaper I should have got the Indio. ?
Nice honest review. I’m not tech savvy so I won’t be buying but maybe when I feel brave enough to modify I’ll get one just because of the price. Love your volume fix for this demo.
Despite some glarry problems (yes I'm a horrible punster😜) with this guitar, I'm looking fwd to Mark's videos on potential fixes & modifications with info I imagine is good to know in general.
Anymore I would rather pay around $1,000 and get something that looks and plays great out of the box - notwithstanding a few tweaks to the setup to meet my personal preferences. I currently only have 6 guitars but my two favorites get 90% of the playing time - after the novelty wore off I doubt this would ever get plugged in. If I was getting something for the 12 year old grandson (who I actually gave my Epiphone Les Paul to) I think I'd rather have a used Squire that's already been setup (enough to be playable) even if it was a bit more dollars. I fully understand the space they're filling and don't mean to sound elitist - but for most "mature" players this likely doesn't fill a need. All that said - it certainly didn't sound bad when you played it! Then again - you could play most anything and make it sound pretty good methinks. Cheers and Happy New Year Mark!
Thanks Mike! Clearly, this guitar isn't for everyone! I think you should like to do work on guitars if you buy it. I also think that you REALLY have to like to modify guitars, because for ~ $500 or so you can get a very playable (and gig-able) alternative without having to mod much at all. It won't be a $1,400 Fender or $2,400 Gibson, but you can get some pretty decent stuff for $350-$650. Still, as you say, this fills a semi-hollow niche that's otherwise empty.
I can see that this is a string through guitar versus the non-thinline model being a top loader. Curious what your thoughts are between the two of these guitars and also the bridges. Do you notice a difference in feel/slinkiness/etc?
Hi. This guitar can be used as either a top-loader or string-through-body. I much prefer the top-loader setup. Much slinkier - better for bending and the blues. No difference in tone or sustain that I notice.
@@MarkZabel Cool, thanks for the info! Seems to be a polarizing topic among Tele enthusiasts but if it worked for Jimmy Page and Jim Campilongo, I am pretty sure it would work for me too :-)
You can usually make the cheap pickups sound decent with an EQ that has line level.....or a boost pedal. Boost the line level and it gives the anemic pickups some punch. Up graded a 50.00 ebay strat with decent pickups.....measured the ones that came with it and they were 3k each. After a month of work it's one of my favorite guutars now. Got a cheap bone nut from aliexpress for 2.00. Had some original grover tuners I added. Put in 2 DPDt switches to make the hot stacks PU's I added into North//Hum/South. Leveled the frets some....didn't go too much...didn't want the frets too low. Could have got it more level. Blocked off the tremelo. By the way ebay has the same guitars cheaper.....no markings on headstock.
Pickups are cheap and easy to replace. Fret leveling isn't what most people want to do. Playability matters more than sound - especially for beginners. In a 5 minute search, I didn't find any semi-hollow tele-style guitars on eBay for less than $100. Would be helpful to post a link.
@@MarkZabel www.ebay.com/itm/GLT-6-String-Maple-Fingerboard-Electric-Guitar-SS-Pickup-With-Bag-Strap-Wire/402764765990?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3De213bd1f79b94e94977e5dab42dcd79c%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D174438400486%26itm%3D402764765990%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DGlarry&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Af019e7f1-92fe-11eb-9d18-42d34496dd80%7Cparentrq%3A8e0d04f21780a7b1ee1cd32effdc717c%7Ciid%3A1 There's the solid body....I saw a semi hollow for about 90.00...i'll try to find it again.
4th category.. someone who wants t-style guitar, and doesn’t mind learning how to set the action, intonate, polish fret ends and cut new nut slots..and after doing all that having a semi decent playing guitar, as good as a squire but costing a lot less?.
@@MarkZabel True! I WON'T! Have 3 Teles already! HOWEVER, you couldn't BUY a finished neck & body for that price to build on its own! (& Brands like Warm Oth, are a bit of a rip off!)
"Finished" is a kind word for the neck on this guitar. How it has gotten glowing reviews is beyond me. I was going out of my way not to be nasty, but as I said, for anyone thinking they will get a playable guitar out of the box ... they're not being realistic.
Well, it's a bit better than a toy, because it actually plays and sounds good, BUT ... that's only if you're willing to put work into it. And for the work and money you put into it, you could probably buy a different (i.e., better) guitar. On the other hand, the body *IS* semi-hollow, and even a kit costs the same or more. Not for me. I'm going to fix it up - get it in working order and playing decently - then give it away.
For 20 bucks more get an firefly,or a iyv,you will be glad you did,their better made,better setup,both my glarrys took a lot of work to make play good,my 2 fireflies took some setup too,not as much.my 2 ivy took little to no setup
I would *STRONGLY* suggest one should NOT buy this for a beginner as a first guitar. Nobody continues to play when a guitar is either broken or horribly set up. Be prepared to do the setup work yourself or to spend another $100 or more once you get the guitar. If you're a beginner, sound should not be your first or even second concern.
Oops... Nonstarter for me if it doesn't work as it should. Big mistake sending you one that is non-functional. I think Squier is the best cheap one out there. Mexican Squiers are about as good as their counterpart. Epiphone is the same as it's counterpart. Just my opinion... 🤟
Makes sense, but some people are more tolerant if they're planning to modify anyway. Squiers are all made in the far East now. Mexican Teles start at $699 new, which is a bigger chunk of change for sure. I've reviewed the Squier Affinity Tele, which goes for $229 today. But nothing semi-hollow from Squier until you get to around $400. Interesting how things are going these days.
Several videos mention these are light weight. I have an orange one and it weighs about the same as my fender thinlines Those particular model has about the worst log neck I've ever encountered on a budget electric guitar of this era . It's like a big untilty pole sawed in half. If it looks good to you,buy one and plan to buy a decent neck and pickups.
I would say no - not unless the beginner already knows how to set up the guitar and fix parts that need to be fixed. I would advise spending a bit more and getting a guitar that's relatively easy to play. If you're gifting the guitar to a beginner, make sure it's set up properly before doing so.
I'd probably replace pretty much everything except the body, input/output jack, and maybe the bridge. Pickup, tuners, neck/nut/string trees, electronics. The pickguard can stay. I kind of like the pearl! :) But yeah, you could end up with a nice hotrod.
@@MarkZabel yes , you are right. I was confused with the solid body Tele ,, you posted a comparison on January 2020 and you choose the Squier. And we are talking of lower prices. Thinlines are expensive.
I'm not sure of the point you're trying to make. Could you explain please? I acknowledged that they sent me the guitar without my having to pay for it. But I agreed to do the review, so it was not free.
@@phillipholt6005 Right, so you fit into the 3rd category then. (Someone buying it to play right out of the box.) If you followed the recommendations at 12:52 in the video, I recommend someone who is looking to play right out of the box shouldn't buy this guitar. So as I said in the video, I wouldn't recommend you buy this guitar.
@@phillipholt6005 I'm sorry I wasn't able to publish this video before you bought that other Glarry, so you could see I wouldn't recommend it for you. I wasn't sent this guitar until a week ago. I've now had 2 Glarry guitars and both had issues. Neither was playable without work - especially the setups. Only people who are comfortable fixing a few things on their guitar should buy a Glarry. That's my opinion.
It's an extremely light body - as is the "normal" Glarry Tele. Lighter than most basswood bodies. You'll need to shave some wood off the neck and buy super-light tuners to have a chance at balance.
Yes, but you get a good one. Playable, feels good, with nothing broken. For ~$400 you can get a Thinline from either Squier (Fender) or G&L that's reasonable, even good. This guitar will need a lot of work to get it to "playable".
![What they WON'T TELL YOU about the Glarry GTL [honest review]](/img/1.gif)
Glarry Butterscotch Tele Review: ruclips.net/video/Ssuf6dngvCQ/видео.html
The guitar - Glarry GTL Semi-Hollow Electric: bit.ly/2IFxGn2
The amp - Blackstar HT5R MKII: imp.i114863.net/74yZO
The mic - Senheiser E609: imp.i114863.net/na9v7
Please help support my lessons by donating here: www.paypal.com/paypalme/MZabel335
More Gear Reviews: ruclips.net/p/PLSVfUQKkNUqb0xIdDxT4yen6QebY_FoLD
Excellent video Mark! It’s very rare to find a video of a budget guitar done by someone who not only plays really well but understands stylistically appropriate stuff for this style of guitar. All of your points were spot on. Kindred spirit, man! Definitely subscribing.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for subbing!
I’m a new player and the Glarry GTL is my first guitar. Mine is the coral color. I figured i would mod it etc. as time went. 11 months later- Mods so far: bone nut, polished frets, Daddario 8s, locking tuners, better string trees, neck adjustments, individual brass bridge pieces, Fender 62’ custom single coil bridge, stacked humbucker in the neck, 500k Alpha tone pot. - .047 paper in oil capacitor. And a 500k volume pot, 2 telecaster knobs, 1 fender high hat 🎩 switch, and a 6 dollar tuner. I play through a Vox VT20X. It’s a modeling amp that is really fun. I modded that too with a new Jenson vintage ceramic speaker. Okay. What did I pay for all this? Glarry GTL Coral + All new mods: 286.00 mods installed by me by watching RUclips vids. Cost of Vox amp (it was used at Sweetwater) shipped 147.00. Right now I’m learning the first solo in Comfortably numb. The Vox has an excellent delay and reverb hall sustain. Really any adjustments on the Glarrys can be learned on RUclips. Basic soldering tools etc. if you want to tinker and get a better sound from the pickups- change them, it’s still a cost effective way to go. I need a case. I like that custom looking one. That will be about 90.00 from Glarry. It’s a golden time to buy. I remember the feeling I had first opening the Glarry cardboard shipping box. I was expecting something bad shipping damage, somewhere on the guitar as I pulled carefully on the foam wrapper. I couldn’t believe there was not a mark on the guitar. I was so relieved. It’s my only guitar after all. It’s still looking new today and I play every other day. Make no mistake the guitar will need to be set up. Once you’ve done that it’s awesome, considering a Telecaster semi hollow deluxe is upwards of a grand.
Cool! I kinda enjoy doing a setup and making a guitar as good as it can be for me. Happy New Year and thanks for sharing all year long!
Yes, I enjoy them too ... to a point. Happy new year!
The body alone from GFS for a Thinline Tele is the more than this Glarry guitar itself. I’m absolutely not afraid at all in doing a custom setup for a thinline guitar for $115 with cream binding is a absolute steal.
Hi! If you're looking for some fun tooling around with a mod platform it's fine. Be prepared for broken parts - more fun if you like to mod them anyway. Enjoy!
@@MarkZabel I had a good friend that was like a samurai when it came to guitar work and soldering. Sadly he passed away several years ago but he definitely made a impression on me and taught me a lot about not being afraid of putting a guitar together, leveling and crowning frets, sanding a neck and soldering electronics. I miss the dude badly he was like the “Rain Man” of Guitar Techiness.
@@alexandercook9614 Sounds like a great friend to have had. Yeah man, keep his memory alive by tooling around on your guitars!
@@MarkZabel I certainly will and certainly am. Thanks for the replies back I appreciate that.
Many thanks Mark. You explained the pros and cons very well. Being a modder myself I wouldn't rule this guitar out as it would be a fun project to keep me outa trouble lol for little money, I must agree it looks good too. I'll definitely watch your video on sorting the nut out, etc. Always happy to learn a bit more.
Thanks Alan. I ended up giving the guitar away to someone who wanted to slot the nut himself, so I never got around to the video. Sorry.
Very good review. I am a mixture as a buyer. I like cheap guitars with things to do. This guitar: make a neck tilt adjustment screw system. I use a corner cat for fret ends and "rolling". Smooth out with dremel and polishing head. Install bone nut and shape, cut. Replace the pot. I don't care about cosmetics. Just want a great sounding and comfortable guitar. 20 dollars for parts and the fun of a couple hours work. It will play and record as well as the other 30+ guitars collected over 60+ years, from stupid expensive to ultra cheap. Thanks!
Interesting and I think the right attitude! I'm with you on the electronics (I'd replace all of it as long as I'm doing it - pretty cheap stuff) and such. I would put in decent pickups too, but that will exceed the $20.
Three additional thoughts on making it a guitar that plays well:
1. The neck will likely require more than merely adjustment and sanding the fret ends. I haven't gone there yet, but I'm guessing it will need a fret level.
2. It's a fairly chunky neck with a wide, flat radius. I don't mind that at all, but it's not similar to a Fender modern C.
3. It will have some neck dive.
As with all of this, it helps to go in with your eyes open. If you're willing to do some work (or even enjoy it!!) then it can be okay. Thanks for watching!
Hi Mark. Great video in telling it how it really is. I just bought the orange one and evidently the quality varies greatly between these guitars. On mine the fret edges are smooth so I lucked out and the finish is really good and no issues with the electronics. But, just like yours the action was really bad and I had to adjust the truss rod and still had issues with frets 1 thru 3 being way too high. So, I filed down the nut slots and I had never done this before but I took my time and did it carefully and now the action is great and the guitar plays really well. So, you hit the nail on the head with all your observations. Look forward to seeing your adjustments to the guitar. Happy New Year from a subscriber of yours!
Thanks so much Tim. I'm not happy you had the same nut-slot issue, but glad you didn't have the broken volume pot. Happy New Year!
Thank you for such an honest review, happy new year!!!
My pleasure Matthew. Happy New Year to you too!
Another great review. Thxs Mark.
I saw Buckethead just a couple years ago. Me and my friend oldest people there!
Thanks! LOL about Buckethead. Using a broken volume pot as a kill switch is definitely turning lemons into lemonade. Not sure my temp fix would hold up!! 😀
You know, guitarists and cheap guitars are like moths to the flame. They just can't help themselves. There always is the dream of getting much for a little, or of finding the hidden gem and getting it for next to nothing. Mark does his readers a great service by telling them what you really get in a $120 Fender knock-off. Thanks for helping us keep our feet anchored in reality.
My pleasure Tim. Thanks!
You made it sound good Mark, also the breakup you were getting on the clean channel neck sounded great. Is that a characteristic of the black star amp? Also happy new year’s to you and your family!!
Thanks! Yes, it's characteristic of that amp. It has 2 voicings on each channel, one more prone to breakup and one a bit cleaner. Really a great amp! Happy New Year to you too!
@@MarkZabel
I could never get it sound decent
Your reviews are good because I'm learning so much that is of value; like that I can sand sharp frets quickly and easily with a soft sanding block i didn't know that.
Glad you like them! That's great to know. I'm going to keep doing more reviews!
A great and honest review
Thanks!
Foam sanding block for fret ends ..I found one that’s both extra fine/fine
and the other is fine/med .. which would u choose? Thank u, great channel!
Hi and thanks!! I use the "fine". I would say use the finest you find. It won't take long to do either way.
Great video Mark! Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure. Thanks for watching!
When will the video come out of you showing the reslotting of the nut? Interested in seeing how that's done.
Probably in a month or so. Gotta find some time in early January to do it. I will not use expensive tools either. Thanks for watching.
Great review, Mark.
I enjoyed it.
Happy New Year.
Glad you enjoyed it. Happy new year Mike!
Great video Mark, after buying a Glarry bass and uke at launch I've been hesitant but interested in this model (,the Buckethead reference was pretty good) After seeing this I think I'll be ordering Thanx!
You're welcome. Thanks for watching!
Nice review Mark. I guess for $119 that’s not bad but if bought as a first guitar for someone just starting out it could be a nightmare.
Thanks Ian! Yes, that's why I recommend that you set it up properly first before giving it away. Another idea would be to gift it, but with a pro setup as well.
I own this guitar it says it has a plactic nut, but i have to tell you this nut is very hard it took me some time to slot it, i would not replace it, if you find the pickups to brite, place a .002 cap across the input jack and it sounds great, and take the neck pickup cover off, it will be louder and less bassy, my action is very low no buzz, and it is flawless, to bad Gibson can't make a guitar as good as this.
It sounds decent. But having to shim the neck and replace the nut and Vol pot, man! Not worth it to me. It's basically a $120 project guitar. In contrast, my daily player is a Jackson JS22 Dinky. I got it as "open box" (floor model) from Guitar Center for $179 in 2017 (New was $199). Probably could use a set-up. But it's been great for 3 years now. Good action, pretty good intonation, great sound and has held together really well so far. Tuners are a bit cheap, but it stays in tune really well.
Nice honest review Mark. Enjoyed the video. Happy New Year's buddy.
Yeah a Jackson Dinky is a totally different guitar. Probably not what players who buy this are looking for. Shimming the neck ... meh, that's not too unexpected. It's within the realm of a normal setup of a bolt-on neck guitar. But I expect the electronics to work, I agree.
The P 90’s in the Amazon “IVY” or actually the IYV 40 whew they sound great . It’s about $165 I think , check em out !
Interesting!
I went with the HS model, mostly because it has individual saddles for each string and a rosewood fretboard. But no binding! And no sunburst ): I went with the “yellow”, can’t wait to see how it turns up.
Hope it's a good one!
@@MarkZabel me too mark! LOL
Good review, Thanks for sharing
You bet. Thanks for watching!
This was a very good (and honest ) assessment of the guitar. Have you ever done a review like this of your Blackstar amp? Happy New Year to you and yours. I just happened to find a video from you exactly three years old today: Commander Cody's HotRod Lincoln. Fun Stuff!
Thanks so much! I haven't reviewed any of my Blackstar amps. I should do one at least on the HT5R. Hey, I remember making that video. I think I had just recently gotten that G&L T-Style guitar and wanted to try it out on that tune. Yes, really fun!
I'm looking forward to seeing you doing mods and fixes man, I enjoy that stuff. Pretty nice looking guitar for the price. I enjoyed this review. 😁😁
Believe me, if I can do it you can too. I'm all thumbs when it comes to that stuff! Glad you enjoyed. Happy New Year!
Great Job Mark! I would love to see you slot the nut properly! Happy New Year! And thanks for your fantastic videos!
Thanks Chuck. I'll definitely do try that in an upcoming video. Happy new year!
Thank you Mark. Excellent, honest review.
It really helped.
Glad it was helpful!
I have that guitar, rebadged by a national distributor..well either a Glarry or a Sunsmile. Identical spec to what your playing there Had to shim the neck too. Pickups are remarkably responsive and balanced. I had several high frets and the trussed is almost inaccessible. She has cleaned up okay. Not on par with Harley Benton or Squier and in hindsight I'd rather fork out €220 for a decent offering from one of those brands.
Totally agree.
I figured the pickups would sound good. I own an inexpensive Squier Tele with ceramics, a mid priced MIM Strat with ceramics, and a fairly expensive American Tele with alnico’s, and honestly, I love the sound of all of them. I’d definitely think twice before automatically writing off the pickups on a lower priced guitar.
I actually think these pickups sound a bit better than the garden variety low-end ceramics like what you find in, say, the Squier Affinity. (Which is a much better guitar all around BTW.) Ceramics have that dark, smooth sound, but these seem just a little brighter to me. Not "Alnico bright", but a bit brighter.
@@MarkZabel I find ceramics to be quite bright. If they sound dark, and lack brightness, they may be adjusted too high. The stronger magnets can pull on the string if the pole pieces are too close, inhibiting it’s vibration. My Squier Bullet, and MIM Strat get plenty of high end sparkle.
@@artamussumatra6286 Wow, really? Are you sure? Here's a direct comparison to alnicos. The alnicos are much brighter than the ceramics. The same has been true for every guitar I've ever owned, single coil or humbucking. And I've owned and played many, many guitars.
ruclips.net/video/UjZ-4zfaLPc/видео.html
@@MarkZabel Me too, I guess it depends on the guitar, but generally, I find the ceramics to usually be brighter. Almost too bright in some cases, that’s why I think a lot of people prefer alnico, they tend to be more mellow on the top end. I like the extra brightness, because when you roll back the volume on the guitar, it attenuates the treble just a bit, and turning the amp up to compensate, gives a very sweet sound.
My Ampro Tele has bright alnico pickups, but it does also have a treble bleed circuit.
I think ceramics really benefit from proper adjustment, and dialing in, where as the alnicos tend to be a bit more “Plug and play”, I’ve learned to appreciate both.
I just bought one. The Action is a little hi. Mine has a humbucker for the neck pick up. I'm taking it in to have it all adjusted. But for $120.00 really nice. But the monoprice Indio is $80.00 but not a thin line. And for $40.00 cheaper I should have got the Indio. ?
Nice honest review. I’m not tech savvy so I won’t be buying but maybe when I feel brave enough to modify I’ll get one just because of the price. Love your volume fix for this demo.
Glad you enjoyed the "MacGyver" type fix here! :)
Despite some glarry problems (yes I'm a horrible punster😜) with this guitar, I'm looking fwd to Mark's videos on potential fixes & modifications with info I imagine is good to know in general.
Groan!!! That was indeed a terrible pun! :) I'll get to that video hopefully sometime in late January or early February 2021. Thanks for watching!
Anymore I would rather pay around $1,000 and get something that looks and plays great out of the box - notwithstanding a few tweaks to the setup to meet my personal preferences. I currently only have 6 guitars but my two favorites get 90% of the playing time - after the novelty wore off I doubt this would ever get plugged in. If I was getting something for the 12 year old grandson (who I actually gave my Epiphone Les Paul to) I think I'd rather have a used Squire that's already been setup (enough to be playable) even if it was a bit more dollars. I fully understand the space they're filling and don't mean to sound elitist - but for most "mature" players this likely doesn't fill a need. All that said - it certainly didn't sound bad when you played it! Then again - you could play most anything and make it sound pretty good methinks. Cheers and Happy New Year Mark!
Thanks Mike! Clearly, this guitar isn't for everyone! I think you should like to do work on guitars if you buy it. I also think that you REALLY have to like to modify guitars, because for ~ $500 or so you can get a very playable (and gig-able) alternative without having to mod much at all. It won't be a $1,400 Fender or $2,400 Gibson, but you can get some pretty decent stuff for $350-$650. Still, as you say, this fills a semi-hollow niche that's otherwise empty.
I can see that this is a string through guitar versus the non-thinline model being a top loader. Curious what your thoughts are between the two of these guitars and also the bridges. Do you notice a difference in feel/slinkiness/etc?
Hi. This guitar can be used as either a top-loader or string-through-body. I much prefer the top-loader setup. Much slinkier - better for bending and the blues. No difference in tone or sustain that I notice.
@@MarkZabel Cool, thanks for the info! Seems to be a polarizing topic among Tele enthusiasts but if it worked for Jimmy Page and Jim Campilongo, I am pretty sure it would work for me too :-)
I'd prefer a string through body, since the metal bridge catches some resonance from strings on the top loader
Okay.
For sanding the fret ends, which level of grit would you recommend for the foam sanding block?
I use the 3M foam blocks. Fine or Extra Fine works well.
You can usually make the cheap pickups sound decent with an EQ that has line level.....or a boost pedal.
Boost the line level and it gives the anemic pickups some punch. Up graded a 50.00 ebay strat with decent pickups.....measured the ones that came with it and they were 3k each. After a month of work it's one of my favorite guutars now. Got a cheap bone nut from aliexpress for 2.00. Had some original grover tuners I added. Put in 2 DPDt switches to make the hot stacks PU's I added into North//Hum/South. Leveled the frets some....didn't go too much...didn't want the frets too low. Could have got it more level. Blocked off the tremelo.
By the way ebay has the same guitars cheaper.....no markings on headstock.
Pickups are cheap and easy to replace. Fret leveling isn't what most people want to do. Playability matters more than sound - especially for beginners.
In a 5 minute search, I didn't find any semi-hollow tele-style guitars on eBay for less than $100. Would be helpful to post a link.
@@MarkZabel www.ebay.com/itm/GLT-6-String-Maple-Fingerboard-Electric-Guitar-SS-Pickup-With-Bag-Strap-Wire/402764765990?_trkparms=aid%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3De213bd1f79b94e94977e5dab42dcd79c%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D174438400486%26itm%3D402764765990%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057%26brand%3DGlarry&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3Af019e7f1-92fe-11eb-9d18-42d34496dd80%7Cparentrq%3A8e0d04f21780a7b1ee1cd32effdc717c%7Ciid%3A1
There's the solid body....I saw a semi hollow for about 90.00...i'll try to find it again.
I don't see the semi right now....I'll post it when I find it. The solid body is about 18.00 less....they have the yellow from time to time.
Mine is a disaster. Open cords are out of tune WTF. Needs serious setup work. Lovely looking guitar
How heavy is this semi hollow body guitar? Any idea?regards
Very light. 6 lbs or less
4th category.. someone who wants t-style guitar, and doesn’t mind learning how to set the action, intonate, polish fret ends and cut new nut slots..and after doing all that having a semi decent playing guitar, as good as a squire but costing a lot less?.
Sure, it works.
Sometimes, it's better NOT to go TOO cheap!
Oh, for sure. If you buy this, be prepared to either do a lot of work or pay (a good chunk of change) to have someone else do it.
@@MarkZabel True! I WON'T! Have 3 Teles already! HOWEVER, you couldn't BUY a finished neck & body for that price to build on its own! (& Brands like Warm Oth, are a bit of a rip off!)
"Finished" is a kind word for the neck on this guitar. How it has gotten glowing reviews is beyond me. I was going out of my way not to be nasty, but as I said, for anyone thinking they will get a playable guitar out of the box ... they're not being realistic.
@@MarkZabel Heh! ;o)
Toy guitar for beginners
No offence but it’s a throw away guitar, just can’t take it seriously
Thanks Mark for your great review
Well, it's a bit better than a toy, because it actually plays and sounds good, BUT ... that's only if you're willing to put work into it. And for the work and money you put into it, you could probably buy a different (i.e., better) guitar. On the other hand, the body *IS* semi-hollow, and even a kit costs the same or more.
Not for me. I'm going to fix it up - get it in working order and playing decently - then give it away.
For 20 bucks more get an firefly,or a iyv,you will be glad you did,their better made,better setup,both my glarrys took a lot of work to make play good,my 2 fireflies took some setup too,not as much.my 2 ivy took little to no setup
There are certainly better options IMHO.
sounds pretty good for $119 ! I think another good reason to buy this is for a son or daughter as a first guitar to learn to play.
I would *STRONGLY* suggest one should NOT buy this for a beginner as a first guitar. Nobody continues to play when a guitar is either broken or horribly set up. Be prepared to do the setup work yourself or to spend another $100 or more once you get the guitar.
If you're a beginner, sound should not be your first or even second concern.
@@MarkZabel thanks really great review !
Oops... Nonstarter for me if it doesn't work as it should. Big mistake sending you one that is non-functional. I think Squier is the best cheap one out there. Mexican Squiers are about as good as their counterpart. Epiphone is the same as it's counterpart. Just my opinion... 🤟
Makes sense, but some people are more tolerant if they're planning to modify anyway. Squiers are all made in the far East now. Mexican Teles start at $699 new, which is a bigger chunk of change for sure. I've reviewed the Squier Affinity Tele, which goes for $229 today. But nothing semi-hollow from Squier until you get to around $400. Interesting how things are going these days.
@@MarkZabel
Agree
Several videos mention these are light weight.
I have an orange one and it weighs about the same as my fender thinlines Those particular model has about the worst log neck I've ever encountered on a budget electric guitar of this era . It's like a big untilty pole sawed in half.
If it looks good to you,buy one and plan to buy a decent neck and pickups.
Im looking for a good beginner is this a good beginner? Im on a budget
I talk directly about it in the video.
Good starter or learning guitar?
I would say no - not unless the beginner already knows how to set up the guitar and fix parts that need to be fixed. I would advise spending a bit more and getting a guitar that's relatively easy to play.
If you're gifting the guitar to a beginner, make sure it's set up properly before doing so.
@@MarkZabel what do you think about the grote thin series?
Do they have one that comes with a amp
They have a couple guitar/amp packages, but none that I see with this guitar.
It doesn't sound bad!
If Glarry was smart, they'd use your critiques as quality control tools for thier "techs", to improve thier product.
Thanks! I hope they do that. I would love them to "wow" me ... or actually just improve a bit. It would be a much easier review for me to do!
Forget the Glarry, try Grote Thinlines at 119 dollars
Looks like a great choice for a mod. You could seriously modify and still be under $500
I'd probably replace pretty much everything except the body, input/output jack, and maybe the bridge. Pickup, tuners, neck/nut/string trees, electronics. The pickguard can stay. I kind of like the pearl! :) But yeah, you could end up with a nice hotrod.
What is its nut-width?
42 mm
@@MarkZabel Thanks.
But it's too narrow for me.
I prefer 1.75" to 1.80"
Best thing to do : Buy a Squier Telecaster
Maybe. But a Squier thinline will run you $479 new today - unless you want a Cabronita for $399, which is a very different guitar.
@@MarkZabel yes , you are right. I was confused with the solid body Tele ,, you posted a comparison on January 2020 and you choose the Squier. And we are talking of lower prices. Thinlines are expensive.
@@mpmonzon Ahh, yes. Definitely in the other video if you can spend a little more cash you should go with the Squier instead of the Glarry.
But you got it free!
I'm not sure of the point you're trying to make. Could you explain please?
I acknowledged that they sent me the guitar without my having to pay for it. But I agreed to do the review, so it was not free.
I'm not going to buy a guitar if you got to work on it!
I got my tail kicked buying the semi-hollow with the Humbucker in the neck!
@@phillipholt6005 Right, so you fit into the 3rd category then. (Someone buying it to play right out of the box.) If you followed the recommendations at 12:52 in the video, I recommend someone who is looking to play right out of the box shouldn't buy this guitar.
So as I said in the video, I wouldn't recommend you buy this guitar.
@@phillipholt6005 I'm sorry I wasn't able to publish this video before you bought that other Glarry, so you could see I wouldn't recommend it for you. I wasn't sent this guitar until a week ago.
I've now had 2 Glarry guitars and both had issues. Neither was playable without work - especially the setups.
Only people who are comfortable fixing a few things on their guitar should buy a Glarry. That's my opinion.
glarry uses basswood
Sharp edges, ouch
Cutting through skin
Glarry just needs to Sell Telecaster Bodies for 100.00 then there want be any problems
Body is to light to use with a strap.....neck pulls the guitar down.
It's an extremely light body - as is the "normal" Glarry Tele. Lighter than most basswood bodies. You'll need to shave some wood off the neck and buy super-light tuners to have a chance at balance.
YOU DO NOT GET a Perfect Guitar from Fender or Gibson for $2000 Bucks,
Yes, but you get a good one. Playable, feels good, with nothing broken. For ~$400 you can get a Thinline from either Squier (Fender) or G&L that's reasonable, even good.
This guitar will need a lot of work to get it to "playable".
I bought one.
IT ABSOLUTELY SUCKS!!!!