Fernandes/Burny super grades

[genocidal tendencies]

Anyone have any experience with these LP copies? There's a really nice looking one on ebay just now...

[Mr Ed]

They're outstanding guitars, I'd sooner part with £400-500 on a Fernandes or Burny rather than dump more money in Gibson's useless pockets.

THe majority of the companies that were part of the 80's lawsuits by Gibson and Fender are damn fine copies, hence why they took legal action. They were no longer making cheap Les Paul/SG/Strat/Tele copies... they were making cheaper, high quality replicas of top-end guitars... look at the number of Les Paul Customs from that time and I'd bet if you gave two to a guitar player and blanked off the headstock, you'd be hard-pushed to tell the difference.

Take a £200-300 cheap Tokai, replace the pickups (essential) and maybe even some of the hardware (tuners, bridge, tailpiece) and you're still talking less money than an asbolute bottom-end Gibbo Les Paul Studio only you get ten times the instrument.

The key for me is value for money... you buy a cheaper replica, and you definately get more than your moneys worth. A modern Gibson is worth about half what the tag says to me.

[Skybone]

+1... Totally agree, the MIJ replica's are great guitars, be it Burny/Fernandes/Greco/Tokai etc, etc.

[Mr Ed]

This one right here is a pure and simple bargain. Click the link on the item to see more photos, phwoooooar!!

And this is even cheaper, pretty different looking too!

Tobaccy sunburst anyone?

Fffffffffernandes Super Grade.. super indeed!

Another good company to look out for is Edwards ESP, they have some wicked custom models about.

If the real thing looks half as good as these pics make out, then someones a lucky boy or girl.

Fitness personified.

For the budding LP-shredding metalhead...

[dave_mc]

^ i was looking into edwards last night... but couldn't find the nut width!

those last two links have the nut width! thanks for that (i realise it may be different for different models, i remember philly q saying his V had a narrow nut width)- but it's a start!

cheers! from what i hear, ishibashi.com is the cheapest...

don't forget about customs fees, though!

[Mr Ed]

Ishibashi is a damn fine site...

don't forget about customs fees, though!

ARGH! Yes, the major drawback with ordering direct from Japan, pretty crazy shipping, the potential for damage and the ludicrous import fees. Grrrrr.

I think Ishibashi even has a guide for all the hidden costs, I'm sure I saw it somewhere...

[gingataff]

Edwards also make a range of models that are replicas of famous signature guitars, these guitars have no logos on them and they are all relic'd. They make a really nice Jimmy Page LP, a Keef LP Junior double cutaway, a Blackie strat, a Blackmore strat and even a Frusciante strat! My favourite is the Jeff beck tele (double humbucker) model. they all look fab.

Back to Burny, I think the 70s models are supposed to be very special indeed, some of the newer ones are a bit cheap and cheerful but get a good one and you're sorted.

[Mr Ed]

Edwards also make a range of models that are replicas of famous signature guitars, these guitars have no logos on them and they are all relic'd. They make a really nice Jimmy Page LP, a Keef LP Junior double cutaway, a Blackie strat, a Blackmore strat and even a Frusciante strat! My favourite is the Jeff beck tele (double humbucker) model. they all look fab.

Back to Burny, I think the 70s models are supposed to be very special indeed, some of the newer ones are a bit cheap and cheerful but get a good one and you're sorted.

Yeah, I forgot about them... the Edwards signature-type ones are awesome. Their relic'd Frusciante Strat is flawless and they also do a couple of hot Randy Rhoads models too. Phwoooooooar!

[genocidal tendencies]

It was the lemon drop one that caught my eye. Although I'm now more interested in this explorer that's coming up. I could do with an excuse to buy a set of nailbombs...

[Philly Q]

don't forget about customs fees, though!

True, but the prices are so low to begin with it works out very reasonably even with all the shipping and customs charges included.

The total costs of my two Edwards Vs came to about £430 and £530.  Not dirt cheap, but no more than some of the more upmarket Epis or PRS SEs at UK prices.  And they're definitely a couple of steps higher up the quality ladder.

(Of course I've then customised them, but I'd have done the same to said Epis or PRSs anyway.)

[genocidal tendencies]

didn't get the explorer...

[dave_mc]

don't forget about customs fees, though!

True, but the prices are so low to begin with it works out very reasonably even with all the shipping and customs charges included.

The total costs of my two Edwards Vs came to about £430 and £530.  Not dirt cheap, but no more than some of the more upmarket Epis or PRS SEs at UK prices.  And they're definitely a couple of steps higher up the quality ladder.

(Of course I've then customised them, but I'd have done the same to said Epis or PRSs anyway.)

of course, don't get me wrong, they're still good value even after the customs... i just don't want someone to order them thinking that the price you see is the price you pay, lol.

I'm fighting off a pretty serious GAS attack for them at the moment, actually...

 :lol:

[dave_mc]

Ishibashi is a damn fine site...

don't forget about customs fees, though!

ARGH! Yes, the major drawback with ordering direct from Japan, pretty crazy shipping, the potential for damage and the ludicrous import fees. Grrrrr.

I think Ishibashi even has a guide for all the hidden costs, I'm sure I saw it somewhere...

do you know if there's any english translation for that site? there's an "in english" button at the top, but when i click it it appears to take me to a different site which doesn't work?  :?

obviously some of it is in english already, but not very much, lol.

:drink:

[Philly Q]

do you know if there's any english translation for that site? there's an "in english" button at the top, but when i click it it appears to take me to a different site which doesn't work?  :?

Try these Dave:

http://www.ishibashi-music.com/

http://www.ishibashi.co.jp/webshop/guitar/esp/edwards/index.htm

As you say, there's not much in English but I did most of the buying process by email.  You let them know what you're interested in, they come back with a quote and expected delivery date, then if you want to go ahead they send a link to a secure payment site.  You deal with the same person through the whole process and they're lovely, really polite and helpful.  :D

[dave_mc]

^ cheers, philly.

i'm not buying at the moment, but they do look nice,... where would you put the quality of your v's at? (sorry for the slight hijack)