This guitar is a good start for anyone that doesn't just want a strat copy.
The paulownia body is super light, and the neck on mine is fat and round. Intonation is decent, the tuners hold well enough. Frets are relatively level, and well done for this price point. Mine played well and was comfortable with very few adjustments.
Having said that, paulownia isn't a far cry from balsa wood- klutzes should be warned that it requires little force to break the pretty satin finish. The pickups could best described as inoffensive. Although they get the job done and have enough output, they have no defining characteristic. Almost anything would be an upgrade. I should also mention that while mine is fine, I've seen a number of these with intonation issues from poorly cut nuts. Oh, and the wiring is junk. You may very well need to replace parts as soon as it arrives.
On balance, you get what you pay for and no less. You arguably don't get any more, either.
If you're not planning to play out soon, this is good for a beginner. If you're a seasoned pro looking for a cheap backup, this is a great choice for those with no fear of soldering.
This guitar is a good start for anyone that doesn't just want a strat copy. The paulownia body is super light, and the neck on mine is fat and round. Intonation is decent, the tuners hold well enough. Frets are relatively level, and well done for this price point. Mine played well and was comfortable with very few adjustments. Having said that, paulownia isn't a far cry from balsa wood- klutzes should be warned that it requires little force to break the pretty satin finish. The pickups could best described as inoffensive. Although they get the job done and have enough output, they have no defining characteristic. Almost anything would be an upgrade. I should also mention that while mine is fine, I've seen a number of these with intonation issues from poorly cut nuts. Oh, and the wiring is junk. You may very well need to replace parts as soon as it arrives. On balance, you get what you pay for and no less. You arguably don't get any more, either. If you're not planning to play out soon, this is good for a beginner. If you're a seasoned pro looking for a cheap backup, this is a great choice for those with no fear of soldering.