Guitar: Ibanez SA160 Features: Mahogany body, Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard, 22 Frets, S-S-H pickup configuration, 1 Volume, 1 Tone, 5 Way switch, Floating non-locking trem. Playability: Balances perfectly, and has a more modern strat-like feel, with a flatter fingerboard radius and easier fret access. Easy to get a nice low action on this guitar. Very fluid and a joy to play. The neck is thick...

Guitar: Ibanez RG470 Features: Basswood body, Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard, 24 Frets, H-S-H pickup configuration, 1 Volume, 1 Tone, 5 Way switch, Licensed Floyd Rose. Playability: As with most Ibanez guitars, it plays very well indeed. No detectable fret buzz and super low action. The Wizard II neck is super thin for effortless playing. Nice string tension, and good access to the higher frets....

Guitar: Harrier Cirrus ST Features: Basswood body, Maple neck, Sonokelling fingerboard, 22 Frets, 3 single coil pickups, 1 Volume, 2 Tone, 5 Way switch, Vintage 6 screw tremolo. Playability: For a budget guitar it plays quite well. It actually plays better than some other guitars I’ve owned for more than twice the price. I can get a low action with little to no buzzing. Stays in tune fairly ...

Guitar: ESP LTD Viper 50 Features: Agathis body, Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard, 24 Frets, 2 Humbuckers, 1 Volume, 1 Tone, Fixed bridge. Playability: I have to say I am less than impressed with this guitar. I could not get a low action, and when I tried I got fret buzz everywhere! The neck felt nice and chunky though… Sound: Despite the action issues, this guitar sounds very nice. I think ...

Guitar: Yamaha RGX121S Features: Alder body, Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard, 22 Frets, H-S-H pickup configuration, 1 Volume, 1 Tone, 5 Way switch, Vintage 6 screw tremolo. Playability: Good balance, good action, and a joy to play! Love the feel of the neck! Fingerboard is fairly flat and doesn’t fret out when you bend notes, but still retains the comfort. Magic! Sound: Excellent tone. I...

Guitar: Westfield E4000 Features: Carved maple top, (unknown body wood), Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard, 22 Frets, 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3 Way switch, Fixed bridge. Playability: If you like short scale guitars, this guitar will be a joy to play! Couldn’t get a really low action without buzz, but I did however manage to get a playable action. Balances pretty nice. Sound: Gotta lov...

Guitar: Epiphone G400TI Tony Iommi Features: Mahogany body and set mahogany neck, Rosewood fingerboard, 24 Frets, 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume, 2 Tone, 3 Way switch, Fixed bridge. Playability: The 24 3/4” scale gives this guitar a comfortable feel and nice string tension. Good for people with small hands or short fingers. Sound: This guitar has some serious tone! I thank the Gibson Tony Iommi pickups ...

Guitar: Tanglewood Strat Features: 21 Frets, 3 Single coil pickups, 1 Volume, 2 Tone, 5 Way switch, Vintage 6 screw tremolo. Playability: Plays ok. I adjusted the action and the bridge once and it never let me down. Sound: Sounds pretty good all round. With or without overdrive/distortion. The 5 way switch provides many useful sounds. Durability: The finish on this is pretty cool. Nice and thick. ...

Guitar: Steinberger Spirit GTPRO Features: Maple neck-through body and neck, with maple wings. Rosewood fingerboard, 24 Frets, H-S-H pickup configuration, 1 Volume, 1 Tone, 5 Way switch, Steinberger Patented Trem and Headpiece. Playability: As small as it may be, you probably wont find a better guitar design anywhere on the planet! The thing is pretty much dead on as far as balance goes, and the s...

Guitar: Squier Affinity Strat Features: Agathis body, Maple neck, Rosewood fingerboard, 21 Frets, 3 Single coil pickups, 1 Volume, 2 Tone, 5 Way switch, Vintage 6 screw tremolo. Playability: Very good for such a cheap guitar, and with a pretty low action. Many people bash the Squier stuff, but it’s a lot better than it used to be. It’s very light and the body is slightly thinner than t...