Encore E99CSB E99 Electric Guitar - Cherry Sunburst

Product Information

It’s worth noting that the guitar might require some setup out of the box, but overall the EC-256 is a joy to play. Just to note, the 245 doesn’t have a push-pull coil split, so you can’t really get those ‘glassy’ clean tones like a Strat. But tweak your amp settings a bit, and it’ll still sound gorgeous. Ease of Use This model is great for seasoned players looking for a high-quality single-cut guitar, with some unique features. It’s comfortable, looks magnificent, and the bass contour was a special highlight for me that adds to the tonal versatility. Any guitarist worth their salt can take good advantage of this impressive instrument. The EC-256 comes in a range of colors, including Cobalt Blue, Dark Brown Sunburst (the one I reviewed), Vintage Natural, and See Thru Purple Sunburst, making it easy to choose your flavor.

First Act’s guitars have girly names: Lola, Delia and Sheena. According to First Act, each of its ‘girls’ has a distinct personality; our Lola is ‘free spirited, deep and complex. Take the time to get to know her - the rewards will be considerable and long-lasting. Er, what? We’re guessing they named this guitar after the song Lola by The Kinks, the one about the transvestite who walks like a woman but talks like a man. We could be wrong, of course… The Schecter Solo-II is a bit on the expensive side, but with its superb craftsmanship, high-quality materials, and innovative design, I think it’s well worth it. It’ll serve intermediate and professional players nicely, especially if you like exploring different genres.This Epiphone Les Paul model does not have the push-pull coil tap functionality, probably because it’s inspired by the vintage Gibson ‘60s model. While I didn’t miss it much because the guitar already sounds so good, it definitely would have made it more versatile. The Solo-II felt as familiar as any Les Paul-style guitar, but it’s also got some nice design elements. For one, I really liked the 12” to 16” compound fretboard radius, because it made it much easier to play solos on the higher frets, especially with tapping and legato.

Gibson Les Paul, along with Fender Stratocaster, has a body that is instantly recognizable. The iconic design featuring a single cutaway, smaller upper bout and a larger lower one is just about the epitome of the electric guitar. Sure, nowadays you can get a Les Paul with double cutaways, but when we think of a Les Paul, we think of its default, single cut incarnation. Usually, the body itself is made out of mahogany. Les Pauls often have a top made out of maple, which can make the guitar look absolutely gorgeous, provided that the finish is semi-transparent and that it showcases the beauty of the wood. But if you know how to dial in the right tone in your amp and use some pedals, this guitar can deliver just about any tone you need. I even used it for a couple of local gigs and it held its own admirably. Ease of Use

The inclusion of the two-point vibrato ensures that you can wham away without fear of drifting into coarse tuning problems. Verdict

Personally, I’ve always found most PRS models to be very versatile; they easily adapt to anything I want to play. And this one fits the bill too. What I found truly impressive was the guitar’s ability to retain a unique mid-range character, regardless of the style I was playing. It always cuts through the mix beautifully. But I admit, some may not like this aggressive personality of the guitar. Ease of Use

The Seventies was the era of Classic Rock, so it’s not surprising that so many new guitar brands were flourishing then. But it was a less innocent time than the Sixties, and it soon became known as the “Lawsuit Era”. Here’s all you need to know about all the best,  the most badass, and the most copyright-infringing guitars of the time.

I’ve spent a great deal of time with the Atlantic: playing, recording sessions, and simply enjoying the feel and sound of this guitar. The tones I’ve been able to achieve, the comfort of playing, and the visual appeal all make it a must-try. I classify this as a premium guitar that’s meant to inspire. It’s not a Les Paul copy; it’s a single-cut work of art. Towards the end of the 1970’s, Fender and Gibson were loosing market share. That is why we hear so much about the “Lawsuit ERA” guitars. Late in the seventies, Gibson Guitars won a legal battle for patent infringements, which over time, shut down all but a few “copy” guitar manufacturers worldwide. This allowed some elbowroom for Gibson and Fender to rethink and retool their operations to fortify their position in the market. To avoid the same problem happening again, Gibson bought Epiphone and started building some very nice Imported Copy Guitars! Fender opened facilities outside North America under different brand names like Squier. GIBSON LES PAUL COPIES After putting this thing through its paces, I can confidently say it’s a top performer. One of the best Les Paul-style guitars for metal that I’ve reviewed, and still flexible enough to adapt to other genres. And the eye-catching finishes only add to the overall aggressiveness of this guitar. Bottom Line: The Sire Larry Carlton L7 electric guitar is a sophisticated and versatile instrument that offers classy quality at a reasonable price. With its elegant design, robust sound, and adaptability, it’ll likely exceed your expectations. Estimated Price By this time, many guitar manufacturers from the Far East had 10+ years experience under their belts, and the improvement in quality began to shine through. Univox, Kawai, Silvertone and Domino were starting to deliver guitars that – from a price / quality point of view – were beginning to eat into the markets that Fender and Gibson dominated. Not only was the manufacturing quality improving, but the quality of the REPLICATION was reaching new highs. The lawyers at Gibson started to get restless, and young guitar players like myself were also getting restless… I could not wait to go out and buy a UNIVOX Les Paul for 1/5th the price of the real thing! Damn, it was so inexpensive that I could almost afford to smash it on stage! Cool! But as the saying goes, all good things must come to an end.