Great review. This kind of honesty is why you have so much credibility. Personally I'd much rather go with the "real thing" - i.e., an Epi LP Special I with P-90s - for literally the same price on sale (and they always are). And it's a fabulous guitar. I do love affordable instruments but I do tire of microphonic pickups.
Yes. Many of these guitars are hit and miss. That's why I always buy mostly from Amazon for the budget guitars; easy return policy! I had a Epi LP Spec I too. Great guitar. Got it on sale as well. However, I got the Epi SG with 2 P90's and it was more $, but oh so better and I sold the LPS. The advantage of buying these myself is, I can say the truth, even if it hurts. Thank you for watching and commenting 🤘!
@@PipeCat1965 I know some that have had no issues with these. They're hit and miss. Plus, you can always send it back, not that that's ideal. I appreciate you watching and leaving a comment. 🤘
I got one recently in sunburst finish. All the important bits were good and in my case, it was a great guitar for the price. I've seen much worse for much more money...cough-Epiphone-cough. Here are the only minor issues I had with mine (like any cheap guitar): 1. Bone nut, was actually bone and was cut at a good height, but the angle of the cut was bad so the strings were coming off the back side rather than the front, making "cowboy" chords quite out of tune. Fretted notes about 16 cents sharp (2-3 cents is normal). I replaced it with a new bone nut. 2. Decent bridge, but was installed backward so the narrow slots had the thicker strings in/on them and vice versa. Duh! Easy fix, flip it when you put a decent set of strings on. The good stuff was: 1. It is all Mahogany. There's no top or back, it's just a solid (flat top), 3 piece hunk of Mahogany. The finish was good and I really like the matte, open pore look and feel. 2. The frets are indeed rounded end, stainless steel, and fret work was very good for a factory job. It had about 3 very slightly higher ones that rocked my tester a tiny bit (could feel it but not see it). Totally playable though without buzz, unless you are going for super low action. 3. Electronics are/were cheap but good, routed cavities were very clean, pickups not horrible, but I replaced mine + all electronics with some $30 Wilkinson M Series Alnico 5 P90s. 4. The tuners actually work well, unlike most cheap guitars, I did not bother to change them, good'nuff. 5. The headstock area has a volute (bump of extra wood) to add strength, unlike Gibson who still leaves them weak as heck. From a photo I saw of someone else's that had the paint sanded off the back, it does appear they have a scarf joint as well. Good for strength if done well. If done poorly, can cause the second/third fret area to develop a slight bulge later (rare) causing that fret to go high and need leveling.
I love the thumbnail for this one. Seafoam is nice on some guitars, like actual matte (not open pore) or light gloss - I have a Sire Larry Carlton Tele-style guitar in Seafoam, and it's gorgeous. I'm not a fan of open pore 90% of the time though. Even on one of my favorite guitars (Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 2PT), I would have much preferred if it had a satin finish vs the open pore. I don't know why, but I find the grain to be distracting and almost sub-consciously, I have this sense that it's cheap, even on a $1000 guitar.
I absolutely can't stand that sea foam green color, and I don't like the orange either... yeah, grote really seems like the biggest hit and miss brand out there, and they are generally more expensive than better ones like Leo Jaymz. I had a Epiphone Special years ago, that was before I discovered the 4 knobs configuration of a real LP design... there's just no going Special for me anymore. Lol. I got a black Fojill LP recently and realized that I'm not really a fan of the flat top body either. You couldn't tell from the Amazon photos, but that's what it had. I kept it though.
check that upper neck bro...make sure they didnt send ya that broken one i sent back hahaha!!! my "bakki burst" one i got as a replacement is spot on... the stock pups do sukk...but 30bux for a sweet set of p90s from guitarmadness will solve the pup problem... hekk if ya feel like it de string it...check the frets with a rocker and seat the weird ones with a fret hammer...then replace them cheezy pups and maybe give it another go? mine just about hangs with my epiphone model tonewise....but build for build the grote model is bang on with the epiphone one...
Oh yeah, I'm going to fix it since I own it. LOL. I replace the pups, fix the frets, and maybe replace the tuners. I might try some amber stain on the white binding to "age" it. Thanks again, birdman!
Mister Microphone. Excellent.
🤣🤘
If you can work in a Popeil's Pocket Fisherman reference in a future video, that would be amazing.
@@cbbiny 🤣 I will do what I can!
Great review. This kind of honesty is why you have so much credibility. Personally I'd much rather go with the "real thing" - i.e., an Epi LP Special I with P-90s - for literally the same price on sale (and they always are). And it's a fabulous guitar. I do love affordable instruments but I do tire of microphonic pickups.
Yes. Many of these guitars are hit and miss. That's why I always buy mostly from Amazon for the budget guitars; easy return policy! I had a Epi LP Spec I too. Great guitar. Got it on sale as well. However, I got the Epi SG with 2 P90's and it was more $, but oh so better and I sold the LPS. The advantage of buying these myself is, I can say the truth, even if it hurts. Thank you for watching and commenting 🤘!
I'm waiting for one. Plan is to drop some GFS P-90's in it. But now I'm anticipating fret problems. Thanks for the review.
@@PipeCat1965 I know some that have had no issues with these. They're hit and miss. Plus, you can always send it back, not that that's ideal. I appreciate you watching and leaving a comment. 🤘
@@MotorRoseMusic 🤝😎
I got one recently in sunburst finish. All the important bits were good and in my case, it was a great guitar for the price. I've seen much worse for much more money...cough-Epiphone-cough.
Here are the only minor issues I had with mine (like any cheap guitar):
1. Bone nut, was actually bone and was cut at a good height, but the angle of the cut was bad so the strings were coming off the back side rather than the front, making "cowboy" chords quite out of tune. Fretted notes about 16 cents sharp (2-3 cents is normal). I replaced it with a new bone nut.
2. Decent bridge, but was installed backward so the narrow slots had the thicker strings in/on them and vice versa. Duh! Easy fix, flip it when you put a decent set of strings on.
The good stuff was:
1. It is all Mahogany. There's no top or back, it's just a solid (flat top), 3 piece hunk of Mahogany. The finish was good and I really like the matte, open pore look and feel.
2. The frets are indeed rounded end, stainless steel, and fret work was very good for a factory job. It had about 3 very slightly higher ones that rocked my tester a tiny bit (could feel it but not see it). Totally playable though without buzz, unless you are going for super low action.
3. Electronics are/were cheap but good, routed cavities were very clean, pickups not horrible, but I replaced mine + all electronics with some $30 Wilkinson M Series Alnico 5 P90s.
4. The tuners actually work well, unlike most cheap guitars, I did not bother to change them, good'nuff.
5. The headstock area has a volute (bump of extra wood) to add strength, unlike Gibson who still leaves them weak as heck. From a photo I saw of someone else's that had the paint sanded off the back, it does appear they have a scarf joint as well. Good for strength if done well. If done poorly, can cause the second/third fret area to develop a slight bulge later (rare) causing that fret to go high and need leveling.
@Dude_Guyman Glad to hear it! Thanks for watching and commenting 🤘
I love the thumbnail for this one.
Seafoam is nice on some guitars, like actual matte (not open pore) or light gloss - I have a Sire Larry Carlton Tele-style guitar in Seafoam, and it's gorgeous. I'm not a fan of open pore 90% of the time though. Even on one of my favorite guitars (Charvel Pro-Mod So-Cal Style 2 2PT), I would have much preferred if it had a satin finish vs the open pore. I don't know why, but I find the grain to be distracting and almost sub-consciously, I have this sense that it's cheap, even on a $1000 guitar.
Thank you!
I heard those Carlton's are nice! Thank you for the comment and for watching 🤘
Nice guitar
Mr. microphone! ✌
maybe i got a good one there is absouty nothing wrong with it sounds as good as my gibsons lps
Yes, that's the way it goes with these budget guitars. You win some, you lose some. Thanks for watching and commenting! 🤘
I absolutely can't stand that sea foam green color, and I don't like the orange either... yeah, grote really seems like the biggest hit and miss brand out there, and they are generally more expensive than better ones like Leo Jaymz. I had a Epiphone Special years ago, that was before I discovered the 4 knobs configuration of a real LP design... there's just no going Special for me anymore. Lol. I got a black Fojill LP recently and realized that I'm not really a fan of the flat top body either. You couldn't tell from the Amazon photos, but that's what it had. I kept it though.
Thanks for watching and commenting 🤘. I have really come to like the slab bodies in my older age.
check that upper neck bro...make sure they didnt send ya that broken one i sent back hahaha!!!
my "bakki burst" one i got as a replacement is spot on...
the stock pups do sukk...but 30bux for a sweet set of p90s from guitarmadness will solve the pup problem...
hekk if ya feel like it de string it...check the frets with a rocker and seat the weird ones with a fret hammer...then replace them cheezy pups and maybe give it another go?
mine just about hangs with my epiphone model tonewise....but build for build the grote model is bang on with the epiphone one...
Oh yeah, I'm going to fix it since I own it. LOL. I replace the pups, fix the frets, and maybe replace the tuners. I might try some amber stain on the white binding to "age" it. Thanks again, birdman!
@@MotorRoseMusic hekk ya man ill be hoping to see it again when ya finished "fixin" it!