Expected NGD

[Philly Q]

The basic wordworking is done in China, then they're assembled in Japan.... which just about allows them to put a "Made in Japan" sticker on the headstock, I guess!

[dave_mc]

^ i have a feeling the newer ones don't have the sticker... or at least mine doesn't. I tried an older one in a shop and it had MIJ stamped into the headstock (like tokais do). :?

Nice score, though, like edwardses. Agreed about not really needing upgrades, though I do wish they wouldn't put the JB in their "classic" guitars... way too hot imo. Would it kill them to just put a '59 set in there?

[Philly Q]

^ i have a feeling the newer ones don't have the sticker... or at least mine doesn't. I tried an older one in a shop and it had MIJ stamped into the headstock (like tokais do). :?

The ones Rich Tone Music are selling now in the UK have a little silver "Made in Japan" sticker on the back of the headstock.  All the ones I've bought from Japan didn't have any kind of country of manufacture marking at all.

I think Edwards is a relatively new brand - only going back to the early/mid '90s maybe?  The oldest Edwards guitars I've seen on eBay were original designs rather than Gibson/Fender copies - maybe those were 100% made in Japan (and stamped MIJ)? 

One of my Juniors doesn't have a serial number so I assume it's relatively old, it feels a bit different from the newer ones but I'd guess it's still a China-Japan collaboration.  I've seen serial numbers going back to '04 or '05 for sure, so mine's probably just a bit older than that.

[Sancho]

Nice score, though, like edwardses. Agreed about not really needing upgrades, though I do wish they wouldn't put the JB in their "classic" guitars... way too hot imo. Would it kill them to just put a '59 set in there?

I see your point about the JB, but if they put in a 59 some folks would complain about the lack of output I suppose

Country of manufacture is not necessarily a deciding factor, but the one MIC guitar I've bought (Dean Dimebag model) was also the worst guitar I've bought in several years. At 900€ it was worth maybe half that.
Of course, setup and quality control go a long way to assuring you get a good guitar rather than a POS.
That being said, I played a Chinese LTD this weekend and, apart from the setup being a bit off (strings way too high for starters) it was a very nice guitar.

Edwards has a very solid reputation. I am going to buy an Edwards Schenker V off a friend. I'll be very curious to see how she holds up.

[gwEm]

it suits you actually. i can see you on stage rocking that.  8)

[Dmoney]

it suits you actually. i can see you on stage rocking that.  8)

haha. cheers!. Hopefully I can get some pics of it in action soon.

I need to set the intonation on it but I wanted to settle when I have some free time and spend a while doing that while relaxing.
I didn't much like the pickups it came with. The bridge felt brittle and didn't feel like it had much low end. The nailbombs make it RIP!
I'd really like one of those Navigator les pauls... but that isn't a budget instrument.

Black Customs are actually my least favourite customs. I used to really like the Tabacco Burst, if a cherry burst is quite dark (like my LPC) then its cool, I don't like a bright cherry burst. white is possibly my least favourite. The black customs are ok but I take each as they come. Some with witch hat knobs and particular aesthetics just look bad, while others although very similar, look nice.

[gwEm]

it suits you actually. i can see you on stage rocking that.  8)

haha. cheers!. Hopefully I can get some pics of it in action soon.

I need to set the intonation on it but I wanted to settle when I have some free time and spend a while doing that while relaxing.
I didn't much like the pickups it came with. The bridge felt brittle and didn't feel like it had much low end. The nailbombs make it RIP!
I'd really like one of those Navigator les pauls... but that isn't a budget instrument.

Black Customs are actually my least favourite customs. I used to really like the Tabacco Burst, if a cherry burst is quite dark (like my LPC) then its cool, I don't like a bright cherry burst. white is possibly my least favourite. The black customs are ok but I take each as they come. Some with witch hat knobs and particular aesthetics just look bad, while others although very similar, look nice.

the zebra pickups and the tail piece give it an edge.

agree witch hat knobs don't look so well with LP customs. however, they look great on Vs (possibly the only guitar the do work on).

i also dislike an intense cherry-burst! not sure what my favourite LP colour is.

[dave_mc]

(a) The ones Rich Tone Music are selling now in the UK have a little silver "Made in Japan" sticker on the back of the headstock.  All the ones I've bought from Japan didn't have any kind of country of manufacture marking at all.

(b) I think Edwards is a relatively new brand - only going back to the early/mid '90s maybe?  The oldest Edwards guitars I've seen on eBay were original designs rather than Gibson/Fender copies - maybe those were 100% made in Japan (and stamped MIJ)? 

One of my Juniors doesn't have a serial number so I assume it's relatively old, it feels a bit different from the newer ones but I'd guess it's still a China-Japan collaboration.  I've seen serial numbers going back to '04 or '05 for sure, so mine's probably just a bit older than that.

(a) yeah that might be it. mine was from japan too.

(b) yeah, i think so. when i said "older", i meant "older than mine". :lol:

I see your point about the JB, but if they put in a 59 some folks would complain about the lack of output I suppose

well... sure. But I mean les pauls, sgs and the like are "meant" to have lower output, paf-type pickups. I'm not saying everyone who buys a lp wants vintage output pickups, but you can't really complain if it does have them. Whereas if you're buying an LP you probably are sorta justified in wondering why it has a hair metal-voiced  pickup in the bridge position (and i like hair metal!).

[Philly Q]

I see your point about the JB, but if they put in a 59 some folks would complain about the lack of output I suppose

well... sure. But I mean les pauls, sgs and the like are "meant" to have lower output, paf-type pickups. I'm not saying everyone who buys a lp wants vintage output pickups, but you can't really complain if it does have them. Whereas if you're buying an LP you probably are sorta justified in wondering why it has a hair metal-voiced  pickup in the bridge position (and i like hair metal!).

It's funny, the sunburst V I had (which was based on a Gibson Custom Shop guitar, a non-vintage design) had a Custom 5 rather than the JB in bridge position.  It was pretty good actually, if a little too bright and piercing.

[dave_mc]

haha, yeah, even one of the customs would be better, if only by dint of the fact it's not a jb :lol:

I haven't tried the V, but i've tried the other two customs and they were some of the better duncans... they'd be a step in the right direction, certainly. would possibly cover those people sancho said would be complaining about too little output, while being a bit more classic-sounding and versatile than the jb.

Actually I never know whether the JB is everywhere because the perception is that it's the best all-round pickup, or if it's just that they get them cheaper the more they buy.

But either way it doesn't really suit me... :lol:

[Sancho]

I usually like the JB, but in some guitars it can sound a bit harsh.
But I agree it's a bit annoying that it's the standard passive stock pickup for most manufacturers. It's like you get a choice between a JB and an EMG 81...

[Telerocker]

I usually like the JB, but in some guitars it can sound a bit harsh.
But I agree it's a bit annoying that it's the standard passive stock pickup for most manufacturers. It's like you get a choice between a JB and an EMG 81...

Yeah, they sit in a lot of guitars and those pu's are not my fav's at all. Doesn't mean they don't work for other players.

[Philly Q]

I haven't tried the V, but i've tried the other two customs and they were some of the better duncans... they'd be a step in the right direction, certainly. would possibly cover those people sancho said would be complaining about too little output, while being a bit more classic-sounding and versatile than the jb.

I've always found the Duncan Custom, Custom Custom and Custom 5 quite fascinating - basically exactly the same pickup with three different magnets, and they really do sound totally different! 

I don't think any other manufacturer has done the same thing.  Of course it's a cheap way of making three pickups - not much R&D required!  :lol:

[Dmoney]

Custom Custom? what a terrible name!

[Sancho]

Custom Custom? what a terrible name!

Yeah, but it's a pretty cool pickup. I have it in a Charvel and it really delivers in that guitar. A very big sound, but doesn't quite cut through the mix like a JB.