Vola guitars in general are are a really great value, and this one is right up there! Guitar link/info: volaguitars.com/ You can use my name (DARRELL) to get a bit of a discount too! Enjoy :)
OK, thanks Darrell. I'm not 100% sure that I've got the correct model selected, because I too get a "not valid" reply for the "DARRELL" code). (UPDATE: My bad when entering the code. Oops.) It's a nice feature of their web site that they provide prices in $CAD for those of us up past 54N. I'll give it another try - pretty sure I have selected that model. Thanks for the great review. I have a 1980 MIJ SuperStrat, all original. Amazing workmanship and attention to detail even then - glad to see that with this one!
That's a nice guitar. Really like the P90 in the neck. Speaking of fair priced MIJ guitars, I'm still surprised that no FGN has been featured on this channel.
I got a Harley benton fusion 3 for $315 with all of those same specs except different pickup configuration and not the “premium” electronics. And the thing plays and feels like a guitar at this “affordable” $1,100 price point. I could put the most expensive pickups and electronics in the fusion and still barely go over half the amount of the Vola
Free shipping, no taxes at checkout, so yeah...its a deal. Im 70/30 certain people are eventually going to figure out Japanese made guitars are superior to USA built and that theres going to be a shift in pricing but for now, wow. Vola isnt screwing around, and theyre too big to get poached or go broke, so this should make Fender/Gibson/PRS look at what they do for a grand then start adding features (or slashing prices) and value to catch up. The Chinese are fighting it out for the entry level market, now the Japanese have de-pantsed the big brands at the mid range. Competition is good for the consumer. This is good.
Lol....I love his idea of 'value price'. I've been a gigging, touring, session playing musician for 40 years plus. I currently gig with a 89$ Grote strat that I put 3 generic Alnico pickups in at a whopping 33$ for all 3. And a CXS built Squier with same pickup upgrade. I bought that one at the EZ Pawn fer 60$. 🧐 I guess my idea of 'value,' is a bit different. I'm cool with folks playing pricey axes but I sure wish I'd see just one RUclips vid where folks were a bit more down to earth on what a professional full time picker actually needs.
A “Super Strat” with no locking tremolo as a “best value” at $1,150? Oh Darrell. I appreciate we all need to make a living, but let’s try to stay real.
For a few hundred bucks and some parts shopping I can put together a fairly close version. On the other hand , take a look at Revelation guitars for " best deal out there" contention. Guitar Boutique in Bethany Ontario is sole North American distributor and those guitars beat everyone in that $300-500 USD price range. I just visited him and he has lots of higher priced brands if you want those too. Burney, Heritage and Deusenberg.
Darrell does adverts, not reviews. How else do you explain that every guitar is the best he has ever played? The playthroughs are useful and the points raised are interesting but the conclusions should be taken with a pinch of salt. He's quite open about the sponsorship
There's a 311 from Yamaha for half the price. It just substitutes perfectly good Yamaha pups for the Seymour Duncan's in the 611. Both are better value than Darrell's concept of 'value'. The problem with guitar features on YT these days is this level of disconnect with what most people can afford.
I'm not sure how a guitar that costs over a thousand is a value guitar considering you can buy a fender for less. I think you may have gone beyond my price range if this is "value"
I just recently purchased a Vola Vasti with their new modern C profile and have to say the quality along with the fit and finish is every bit as good as my USA made PRS CE24, and my Music Man Cutlass for less than 1/2 the price. Great value for an awesome guitar.
I do not like that Japanese guitar way overpriced and aesthetically not pleasing I'm sorry to say that but if I was going to spend that kind of money I could think of a lot of better ways that I could spend at I bought a Gibson Les Paul Custom with three humbucking pickups gold-plated Hardware wine red that plays awesome for $1,000 I got a great deal but there is no way I would spend that kind of money on that guitar
Definitely a value piece from Vola. I really like the idea of the neck positioned P90, and that metallic black with that pick guard and roasted maple neck looks absolutely awesome.
It seems nice and all but its not a super strat unless it has a floyd style locking trem. This is just a two point trem standard strat style circa 1980ish. Thats like seeing a triple single coil strat and calling it a fat strat. Words mean stuff. I dont mean to be a jerk about it but come on. You must know by now what super strat means lol
Okay... I'm at @2:27. I'm guessing on the low side it's $900.00, and on the high side, it's $1,300.00. EDIT: Okay... I'm at @3:02. I was wrong. It was smack dab in the middle of what I said.
NGL I've been eyeing this exact one because of the humbucker & p90 combination. I'm just fearful of ordering a guitar without being able to feel the neck. Since yeah, I do have a specific taste that I absolutely can't stand 😂 And apparently it's widespread.
Too much emphasis on MIJ. You have reviewed some other less expensive guitars with perfect craftmanship and specifications from Indonesia and China. But you didn't put similar emphasis to "made in Indo or made in China" who have shown great achievement in quality recently. And $1150 is not of the best-value for a non-maple top guitar and a brand with limited resell value.
Darrell’s never met a guitar he didn’t think was great in every way. I really like this channel, but the strongest criticism he EVER gives is lukewarm praise. I have never heard him rip into a disappointing guitar or piece of gear. The ONLY negative thing I’ve heard from him was a couple years ago when he was explaining why he gave up on Gibson.
Because of 3 decades of stagnation and recent Yen weakness, labor costs in Japan are less than half of that in the US. Korea now has hjgher labor costs than Japan
We’re putting too much stock in country of origin here - there’s plenty of better values out there from Korea, Mexico, etc. if we knew a specific builder or even factory that would be one thing but ALL guitar makers in Japan aren’t outright superior than other places
Hey Darren, Vola's are sweet. I actually have been sweet on the Tokai Love Rocks myself. I have 2 and I like them as good or better than my 2022 Les Paul standard 60's. Yes another MIJ. The craftsmanship from most Japanese manufacturers is impeccable!.
The tone control isn’t very good, you can hear it goes from mud to bright in the first quarter of a turn, and then it basically keeps the same for the rest of the turn
Hahaha... Lol maybe for rich youtubers. Us mortals with inflation, high grocery $4/gal gas expensive cars, rent /mortgage, prop tax, etc.... Can't be spending 1k+ on a guitar. Most I'll pay is $700 and that's pushing it. There was a time you could get a real Fender for cheaper than that.
What a spoon-fed claque of whingers and complainers! ** KIDS! LIFE IS NOT A COMPUTER GAME! ALL DARRELL HAS DONE here, IS! amidst a HOST of cheap-ass Harley-Benton, Squier, & Epiphone, etc., etc. reviews!, - is point out that GIVEN THE MARKED SUCCESS of the marketplace competition in Quality Control,! (Where both Epiphone, & Squier have been driven to higher excellence!, (not to mention Gibson & Fender themselves!) you NOW can find, if you put some ENERGY into it! - a formerly $2,500 JAPANESE GUITAR 🎸
Very good review, thanks! It is important to highlight the perfect balance between both Pickups and the variety of tones you can get with them, from jazz, fusion and rock. In addition to being a very easy instrument to play, extremely important for playing contemporary techniques
@@oldschoolfunkster1 very good point 👍 I'm also a lefty so my options can be very limited...but my hats off to Fender for expanding their left handed lineup
For a few hundred bucks and some parts shopping I can put together a reasonable version of this. On the other hand, check out Revelation Guitars for " best deal " contention in the $300-500 USD range. Prorietary pickups and tone mods, great players. Guitar Boutique in Bethany Ontario is the only importer in Northern Hemisphere and he will ship. I just visited his store and he has lots of higher priced stock as well. Burney, Heritage and Deusenberg. Tell him I sent you:-)
2 capacitor tone stack is likely a 0.022uf and something around 0.015/0.010 mark? I noticed the CDE serial number so they're genuine "Sprague" orange drops as Cornell Dublier bought Sprague way back or so I'm lead to believe ✌️
When one drops the tag "best value" or merely includes the word "value" in describing a guitar model to the guitar buying community, that usually translates to an instrument being somewhere south of 1k.
Darrell is a good, honest man! For those complaining that he says every guitar he reviews is great, that's a half truth. He won't review a guitar that he knows is problematic. So no, not every guitar is good, but he chooses not to waste our time reviewing bad guitars. He chooses to not be toxic in an otherwise toxic world. I tip my hat to that! For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool, by making his world a little colder. And Darrell is not that kind of fool.
Not that it’s exactly a household name but this is a signature model - back of headstock is shown with the signature and no mention. “Maycown Reichembach”
Huh, so it's a Maycown Reichembach signature guitar. It''s ok at best (imo). I do like the P90 in the neck. Had to chuckle over all the comments about that QR code on the headstock.
Loved the P90...the split humbucker sounded really harsh to my (admittedly damaged) ears. The clean middle tones were great, but I didn't care for the dirty tones at all...
I really like the look and sound of Vola guitars but the standard 20% (of the price of the guitar) re-stocking fee they charge on returns is the barrier that stops me from buying one. It’s hard to reconcile Vola’s 20% fee when you can pay standard shipping costs or get free returns elsewhere.
Another great review Darrell ! Super playing. I have listened and watched the Vola KJM review you did in the recent past, quite a few times. It was just getting to be too much to take. So I ordered the Vola KJM as I wanted a reasonably light guitar that was versatile. You reviewed the white version, which is my favorite. However, I picked up the black version with the gold hardware...the satin finish reduces the excessive glam factor. Normally black guitars do not appeal to me. What a superbly crafted instrument...so solid and loaded with first rate quality features + the s.s. frets ! Fortunately, I did get a super deal, this guy is a very happy camper. Marty
Neck is slightly off center from what I see in the video which could result in the high E string be a little close to the fretboard edge. Hard to tell of the bridge was installed off center or the neck pocket off center.
The Japanese factories like Vola, Gretsch etc, churn out the best in flawless construction, parts and finish. At 1150 that puppy, although not for my playing style, is a STEAL!
Vola guitars in general are are a really great value, and this one is right up there!
Guitar link/info: volaguitars.com/
You can use my name (DARRELL) to get a bit of a discount too!
Enjoy :)
OK, thanks Darrell. I'm not 100% sure that I've got the correct model selected, because I too get a "not valid" reply for the "DARRELL" code). (UPDATE: My bad when entering the code. Oops.) It's a nice feature of their web site that they provide prices in $CAD for those of us up past 54N. I'll give it another try - pretty sure I have selected that model. Thanks for the great review. I have a 1980 MIJ SuperStrat, all original. Amazing workmanship and attention to detail even then - glad to see that with this one!
@flyingbeaver3805 Well Good for "flying beaver "🦫 - finally a positive comment in a sea of "Mama's basement dwelling" American Boo-Birds!
That's a nice guitar. Really like the P90 in the neck.
Speaking of fair priced MIJ guitars, I'm still surprised that no FGN has been featured on this channel.
Was about to say that. FGNs are much cheaper than this one and are still made in Japan...
@DarrellBraunGuitar...-. I got something in my front pocket for you, bot
Can I ask you how many best value guitar videos have you done I. The last two years.
Awesome quality for the price. Love Japanese guitars. AMerican builders should take lessons.
They did. It’s called “get Korea and indonesia to build your cheap models.”
@@thisguy2973yep except the Korean abd Indonesian are better!
@@thisguy2973 but we’re referring to in-country built guitars.
Whats the difference between a guitar made in japan vs one made in China? Why are Japanese guitars more desirable than Chinese or Korean?
Good1.
"Here's the price...$1000 and"....click! Next video.
NOT A SUPERSTRAT! Where’s the locking tremolo?? You want a real budget superstrat? Look up SBS!
I have a sbs and a vola the neck on vola is worth price of admission
@@reesewaller238 maybe so. I’m just saying it’s not a superstrat unless it has a Floyd Rose, Ibanez Edge, or some other locking trem system.
Japanese made Ibanez RG 550 Genesis $999
I got a Harley benton fusion 3 for $315 with all of those same specs except different pickup configuration and not the “premium” electronics. And the thing plays and feels like a guitar at this “affordable” $1,100 price point. I could put the most expensive pickups and electronics in the fusion and still barely go over half the amount of the Vola
I have an HB and a Vola. The HB is brilliant value, but it doesn't come close to the Vola.
"how did they do it?"
They changed to a factory-direct business model a few months back, and chopped the retailers markup off their prices.
the qr code on the back of the headstock is just trashy. ruins the whole thing.
the people in the crowd won’t be seeing it lol
Right
Don't worry your fingers won't matter the code...Your skills will
I was close. I said $1200. Isn't that neck pickup more akin to a P94?
Free shipping, no taxes at checkout, so yeah...its a deal. Im 70/30 certain people are eventually going to figure out Japanese made guitars are superior to USA built and that theres going to be a shift in pricing but for now, wow. Vola isnt screwing around, and theyre too big to get poached or go broke, so this should make Fender/Gibson/PRS look at what they do for a grand then start adding features (or slashing prices) and value to catch up. The Chinese are fighting it out for the entry level market, now the Japanese have de-pantsed the big brands at the mid range. Competition is good for the consumer. This is good.
I was looking to get an Ibanez AZS Prestige but the Vola OZ MRM has my eye.
The other one is Vola OZ RV TNC
Ha! I’m old enough to remember when MIJ meant garbage. My how times have changed.
P90 neck + Humbucker bridge is the best pickup configuration for electric guitars.
The p90 sounded huge. The humbucker sounded awful.
Lol....I love his idea of 'value price'.
I've been a gigging, touring, session playing musician for 40 years plus. I currently gig with a 89$ Grote strat that I put 3 generic Alnico pickups in at a whopping 33$ for all 3. And a CXS built Squier with same pickup upgrade. I bought that one at the EZ Pawn fer 60$. 🧐
I guess my idea of 'value,' is a bit different.
I'm cool with folks playing pricey axes but I sure wish I'd see just one RUclips vid where folks were a bit more down to earth on what a professional full time picker actually needs.
has this dude EVER found fault with any guitars?????????? he just tries to sell more crap
A “Super Strat” with no locking tremolo as a “best value” at $1,150? Oh Darrell. I appreciate we all need to make a living, but let’s try to stay real.
Dude. It's made in Japan, tho!!!
@@mothygryphon9111 yes. And it's lovely. Nonetheless, still an expensive instrument for us, common mortals.
For a few hundred bucks and some parts shopping I can put together a fairly close version. On the other hand , take a look at Revelation guitars for " best deal out there" contention. Guitar Boutique in Bethany Ontario is sole North American distributor and those guitars beat everyone in that $300-500 USD price range. I just visited him and he has lots of higher priced brands if you want those too. Burney, Heritage and Deusenberg.
HAHAHAHAHA I came here to say the same thing.
I thought it'd only be me because I really can't spend more than 900 dollars on a guitar
Darrell does adverts, not reviews. How else do you explain that every guitar is the best he has ever played? The playthroughs are useful and the points raised are interesting but the conclusions should be taken with a pinch of salt. He's quite open about the sponsorship
When it comes to humbucker and p90 combo there's also a Yamaha Pacifica 611
Honestly when i saw the thumbnail thats what i thought this was, some type of new Pacifica, i didnt even know Vola made affordable guitars.
There's a 311 from Yamaha for half the price. It just substitutes perfectly good Yamaha pups for the Seymour Duncan's in the 611. Both are better value than Darrell's concept of 'value'. The problem with guitar features on YT these days is this level of disconnect with what most people can afford.
You must have had that given to you as a promo so of course you're going to talk it up don't sell your soul
posted 43 seconds ago
The thing I have come to realise about the Japanese, everything they do, they strive for perfection. Totally superior craftsmen.
I'm not sure how a guitar that costs over a thousand is a value guitar considering you can buy a fender for less. I think you may have gone beyond my price range if this is "value"
I just recently purchased a Vola Vasti with their new modern C profile and have to say the quality along with the fit and finish is every bit as good as my USA made PRS CE24, and my Music Man Cutlass for less than 1/2 the price. Great value for an awesome guitar.
I do not like that Japanese guitar way overpriced and aesthetically not pleasing I'm sorry to say that but if I was going to spend that kind of money I could think of a lot of better ways that I could spend at I bought a Gibson Les Paul Custom with three humbucking pickups gold-plated Hardware wine red that plays awesome for $1,000 I got a great deal but there is no way I would spend that kind of money on that guitar
You are just straight up lying😂😂😂
This thing wouldn't fetch half that price on the used market.
$1149 value is relative
Definitely a value piece from Vola. I really like the idea of the neck positioned P90, and that metallic black with that pick guard and roasted maple neck looks absolutely awesome.
The p90 is amasing!!!
P90
Darell! Please try a Tagima TW55 or/and a TG530! Writing from Brazil here. Cheers!
Wish they would make this model with normal headstock. Don't like reversed ones at all. Guitar sounds fabulous to my ears though.
I thought you said these were budget friendly… those dam things are over $1000+ bucks
I finally got a Vola and I absolutely love it. Highly recommend them!
Your intro is still a little too long
They have lefty and I'm veryyyy tempted. But I really want HSS... how do you think this compares to schecter NJ import?
It seems nice and all but its not a super strat unless it has a floyd style locking trem. This is just a two point trem standard strat style circa 1980ish. Thats like seeing a triple single coil strat and calling it a fat strat. Words mean stuff. I dont mean to be a jerk about it but come on. You must know by now what super strat means lol
This Guitar would play Killer of Giants (Hint) By Ozzy really well... GAwesome Playing.. Awesome Axe...
Okay... I'm at @2:27. I'm guessing on the low side it's $900.00, and on the high side, it's $1,300.00.
EDIT: Okay... I'm at @3:02. I was wrong. It was smack dab in the middle of what I said.
NGL I've been eyeing this exact one because of the humbucker & p90 combination. I'm just fearful of ordering a guitar without being able to feel the neck. Since yeah, I do have a specific taste that I absolutely can't stand 😂 And apparently it's widespread.
Please Review HEX E300S, flagship killer on electric guitar
Too much emphasis on MIJ. You have reviewed some other less expensive guitars with perfect craftmanship and specifications from Indonesia and China. But you didn't put similar emphasis to "made in Indo or made in China" who have shown great achievement in quality recently. And $1150 is not of the best-value for a non-maple top guitar and a brand with limited resell value.
thanks for your effort for reviewing this but... ever considered super strats are not made for playing chords?
Darrell’s never met a guitar he didn’t think was great in every way. I really like this channel, but the strongest criticism he EVER gives is lukewarm praise. I have never heard him rip into a disappointing guitar or piece of gear. The ONLY negative thing I’ve heard from him was a couple years ago when he was explaining why he gave up on Gibson.
When normies think of a value guitar, it definitely doesn't cost more than $1,000 lol. Value is $400-$500 max
Darrell, If I keep watching these Videos, I'm Going to have A room full of Guitars !!
Because of 3 decades of stagnation and recent Yen weakness, labor costs in Japan are less than half of that in the US. Korea now has hjgher labor costs than Japan
Tonally, not impressed. Seems to be a good quality instrument though...
OZ RV TNC
Regular price$1,439.00 USD
We’re putting too much stock in country of origin here - there’s plenty of better values out there from Korea, Mexico, etc. if we knew a specific builder or even factory that would be one thing but ALL guitar makers in Japan aren’t outright superior than other places
Hey Darren,
Vola's are sweet. I actually have been sweet on the Tokai Love Rocks myself. I have 2 and I like them as good or better than my 2022 Les Paul standard 60's. Yes another MIJ. The craftsmanship from most Japanese manufacturers is impeccable!.
Fender will cry on this guitar!! Made in Mexico player plus round about this price good specs but this one!!
It says made in japan but shipped from hongkong? Kinda confusing.
If you think Vola is 100% Japanese made, then I have some swampland in Florida I'd like to sell you.
Better deal is the rg 550 genisus from ibanez . And you think that guitar is a good deal ????
A gramd plus isn’t a “value” guitar im watching no more .
Mia leading thumb nail D .
Not cool
I could never own it the headstock is offensive and I am very particular about headstock shape, unfortunately and it hurts my eyes to look at it
Even in the first 30 seconds you can tell this is good quality. Fretwork looks great and fabulous tones you chose to showcase this. 🎉
Looks can be deceiving.
Please review ibanez ichi100 ichiko nito signature.❤❤
I bought my 1983 strat made in Japan. For 7.99
The tone control isn’t very good, you can hear it goes from mud to bright in the first quarter of a turn, and then it basically keeps the same for the rest of the turn
Nice guitar but $1,340 USD is best value 👀
Thats a really good price for mij, looks a lovely bit of kit too.
Too bad they dont ship in a lot of countries, I would buy one but they cant ship here...
Come on man cheaper than a MIM Fender and it has Stainless Frets? What is there to think about?
Nice guitar bro, and the cheapies, I heard for a Japanese guitar.
Superb Quality and Versatile Tones !!! 🎉 😊 !!!
I think it is fair to say that in general Japanese Guitars > American Guitars in this day.
Anyone know what the cheapest strat/tele with stainless frets would be?
$1150 for a 'value' guitar....yaa NO
value guitar: same price as an american fender….um, no.
beautiful but way out of my price range :(
Meh upside down headstocks are not for me
The fujigen J standard is same price and has s duncans
Hahaha... Lol maybe for rich youtubers. Us mortals with inflation, high grocery $4/gal gas expensive cars, rent /mortgage, prop tax, etc.... Can't be spending 1k+ on a guitar. Most I'll pay is $700 and that's pushing it. There was a time you could get a real Fender for cheaper than that.
What a spoon-fed claque of whingers and complainers! ** KIDS! LIFE IS NOT A COMPUTER GAME! ALL DARRELL HAS DONE here, IS! amidst a HOST of cheap-ass Harley-Benton, Squier, & Epiphone, etc., etc. reviews!, - is point out that GIVEN THE MARKED SUCCESS of the marketplace competition in Quality Control,! (Where both Epiphone, & Squier have been driven to higher excellence!, (not to mention Gibson & Fender themselves!) you NOW can find, if you put some ENERGY into it! - a formerly $2,500 JAPANESE GUITAR 🎸
Nice, I just hate reverse headstocks.
It's waaay too thick. That's what she said.🤷
Wow this Guitar sounds amazing!
Very good review, thanks!
It is important to highlight the perfect balance between both Pickups and the variety of tones you can get with them, from jazz, fusion and rock. In addition to being a very easy instrument to play, extremely important for playing contemporary techniques
I love your player master!
@DarrellBraunGuitar...-. 🤩
I almost went with a Vola and got the American Professional 2 instead... starting to regret that decision lol
You won't regret it when it's time to resell.
@@oldschoolfunkster1 very good point 👍 I'm also a lefty so my options can be very limited...but my hats off to Fender for expanding their left handed lineup
What about tne thin block trem?
For a few hundred bucks and some parts shopping I can put together a reasonable version of this. On the other hand, check out Revelation Guitars for " best deal " contention in the $300-500 USD range. Prorietary pickups and tone mods, great players. Guitar Boutique in Bethany Ontario is the only importer in Northern Hemisphere and he will ship. I just visited his store and he has lots of higher priced stock as well. Burney, Heritage and Deusenberg. Tell him I sent you:-)
the best youve ever played. like the last 1000 and the upcoming 1000 i guess. thanks for the advertising
2 capacitor tone stack is likely a 0.022uf and something around 0.015/0.010 mark? I noticed the CDE serial number so they're genuine "Sprague" orange drops as Cornell Dublier bought Sprague way back or so I'm lead to believe ✌️
Don't like that knot in the neck.
I will check if Black only ??? Which of their 3 or 4 Models is It ???? 🤔 🤔 ??? Why is it missing their 3rd pickup shown on their website ???
Fine craftsmanship but where is the focus of inspiration? Now the hum/p90 setup in a spruce top hollow (Duesenberg) is inspiring.
When one drops the tag "best value" or merely includes the word "value" in describing a guitar model to the guitar buying community, that usually translates to an instrument being somewhere south of 1k.
WOW....a very interesting guitar, it looks good, sounds good and very interesting specifications.
I wanna get a Vola Julian Rosenthal...shell pink, gold hardware, tones aplenty...
Darrell is a good, honest man! For those complaining that he says every guitar he reviews is great, that's a half truth. He won't review a guitar that he knows is problematic. So no, not every guitar is good, but he chooses not to waste our time reviewing bad guitars. He chooses to not be toxic in an otherwise toxic world. I tip my hat to that! For well you know that it's a fool who plays it cool, by making his world a little colder. And Darrell is not that kind of fool.
Not that it’s exactly a household name but this is a signature model - back of headstock is shown with the signature and no mention.
“Maycown Reichembach”
Huh, so it's a Maycown Reichembach signature guitar.
It''s ok at best (imo). I do like the P90 in the neck.
Had to chuckle over all the comments about that QR code on the headstock.
Loved the P90...the split humbucker sounded really harsh to my (admittedly damaged) ears. The clean middle tones were great, but I didn't care for the dirty tones at all...
I really like the look and sound of Vola guitars but the standard 20% (of the price of the guitar) re-stocking fee they charge on returns is the barrier that stops me from buying one. It’s hard to reconcile Vola’s 20% fee when you can pay standard shipping costs or get free returns elsewhere.
It might as well be a million dollars. I'll never be able to spend that much on a guitar.
I'm just glad the cheap $250 are made alot better now.
Another great review Darrell ! Super playing. I have listened and watched the Vola KJM review you did in the recent past, quite a few times. It was just getting to be too much to take. So I ordered the Vola KJM as I wanted a reasonably light guitar that was versatile. You reviewed the white version, which is my favorite. However, I picked up the black version with the gold hardware...the satin finish reduces the excessive glam factor. Normally black guitars do not appeal to me.
What a superbly crafted instrument...so solid and loaded with first rate quality features + the s.s. frets ! Fortunately, I did get a super deal, this guy is a very happy camper. Marty
you should see what my TD strat looked liked for $1,300. Let's just say I am depressed now lol
Direct pricing/spec competition with the Charvel DK22, a personal first choice super Strat.
Neck is slightly off center from what I see in the video which could result in the high E string be a little close to the fretboard edge. Hard to tell of the bridge was installed off center or the neck pocket off center.
The Japanese factories like Vola, Gretsch etc, churn out the best in flawless construction, parts and finish. At 1150 that puppy, although not for my playing style, is a STEAL!