This is probably the best review on a guitar I have seen. Most reviews just plug in, play, and say a few vague things about pickups. This review goes into great detail and comparisons on all the components of the guitar.
Actually the barrel tuners do have an advantage. You can rest the headstock on the couch without risking the tuners being moved and thus putting it slightly out of tune. I hate it when that happens.
Hi Andre, found your videos recently and I love how much attention you give to ergonomics. I'm a similar age to you and after 20 years of playing, I am beginning to see the impacts of earlier, poor playing posture and have a newfound mission to get everyone to sit better so they don't get hurt! Thanks for speaking the good word!
Andre, big respect for explaining very simply why guitars have the radius they do. While I prefer more traditional radiuses, I thank you for clinically explaining this kind of stuff!
So cool to see this reviewed seriously, and super lucky to be reviewed by you. Have enjoyed your enjoyment of this guitar, thank you for doing a full video on it!!
May I also add the fact that the attention to detail on the guitar is next level? I was lucky enough to get one at release, and just out of the box, the setup as well as the quality control in general was better than any guitar I have seen and possible will see. Great video!
My very first guitar was a classical that I got at 12 years old. It's kind of a wonder that I stuck with it, trying to learn how to do chords with younger hands. When I finally switched to my first electric--a Strat--I never went back to a flatter radius. Thanks again for the detailed walkthrough!
Great review! Very comprehensive. And I love that you focused on the form factor of the guitar rather than the tone. So many guitar reviews are more like a pickup review tbh.
Great video. It seems they really gave the design a lot of thought. I particularly like how the volume control is moved out of the way. It's position on a strat drives me crazy.
It is good to see someone make the point about the value of money now compared to the past. People so often look at the prices of Fenders or Gibsons in the 50s and 60s and long for the "good ol' days" when they were cheap. They were NOT cheap. Guitars have ALWAYS been luxury items. The prices of those guitars in their day was about half the monthly income of the average American worker - that was not the same $289 as we think of it today (where we spend that on dinner out for our family without batting an eye most of the time). The price of an American Fender is what it is today because the labor it takes to make it is very expensive - much more expensive than the labor in Mexico or other places import models are made. The Abasi guitars are really well done - modern with a nod to the great designs of the past that have stood the test of time. Are they worth $3,800? That is up to only the buyer.
Yup. I bought my 1968 LP Custom 2nd hand in 1974 for NZD 800 and the NZ website thing tells me the equivalent of that today is NZD 11,136 (which is approx USD 6,375 - which is about what Gibson are charging for their fairly recent Custom Shop 68 Ebony Custom 're-issue'). I was 18 working a music shop selling guitars (that I couldn't afford) at the time and I saved for months before I could buy it from my friend . . . just figured you would probably want to know that 😅
I honestly play "up there". All the time actually, but mostly with my RIGHT hand. I tap up there more than I fret the notes. Abasi definitely made an ergonomic Strat. I dont like the pickup selector position. But otherwise it is an amazing instrument. Great review dude!
Regardless of whether we ever collaborate, this video exemplifies why I will point any viewers (hope, hope, hope) which my future show gets to your channel.
For me, It's the 23rd or 24th fret on the daily, but I wouldn't say it's a frequent location that I hang out in. That said, ultra ergonomic high fret access is such a nice thing to have and I definitely noticed and appreciated the difference once I switched to a guitar that accomodated for it.
Kind of surprising to see a "Shred Guitar" with single slot humbuckers . I would like to see that option on a 7 string! What i have found is you end up setting your multi effects louder with more pre amp yet it is still capable of sustain . The design is the same as the telecaster with the pick up angled away from the picking hand . This is a seriously under rated feature of the stratocaster . There is so much less interference with out a double humbucker I love the strat and agree with Jeff Beck it is a harder instrument to play than a Gibson yet you get a lot out of it
It’s always interesting trying new products from an ergo perspective. Just got a new guitar that on paper is similar shape to another one I have and it’s so much more comfortable when sitting. Weights 1oz difference but the actual thing that seems to really be making one more comfort able is a small angle difference in the back side comfort cut
Nice! You've given me the courage to try one. I've been binge watching this channel since TH-cam recommended it to me. Just joined your Patreon as well. Thanks for all the material!
Great review as always. However, I would note that the potential weakness to the Abasi is that, unlike the astandberg or Klein, itcan't be played in the preferred 45ish degree angle while sitting without the use of a strap. If you don't mind always wearing a strap it's not an issue but for people who do it's something to consider.
I do have to pick you up on that price comparison because simply adjusting the to compensate for the depreciation in the value of the currency isn't telling the full story. Since the 1980s wages have dramatically lagged behind inflation across the board, whilst the relative costs people pay for accommodation, utility bills, food, and other essentials have outpaced inflation. The prospect of spending that amount of money back when the stratocaster was first on the market would have put less strain on a person's budget because a much greater proportion of their income would be left over after basic essentials were covered. Furthermore the profit margins on the instrument would have been lower, as they would have had much lower production capacity due to the amount of hand work involved. Materials costs have gotten higher, but not by enough that it would offset the increase in profit margin generated due to reduced labour costs and much higher output of product. The strat in 1954 was much more attainable, with the main challenge being whether or not there was actually one for sale. They weren't that much more expensive than entry level instruments you'd buy in department stores (it was definitely more than a lot of people could afford, but the disparity in price between a harmony, Danelectro, or silvertone and a fender was nowhere near as significant as the difference between an entry level product and a Fender guitar now), a lot of people would have bought a strat over a catalogue guitar if it weren't for the fact that the cheaper instruments were actually produced in sufficient amounts to meet demand and you weren't subject to a total lottery to see if there was a shop within driving distance that hadn't completely sold out.
Apparently im crazy but i actually donnot prefer a matching headstock/body paint job. I like that the neck is separate and can look beautiful by its own appearance
I think as long as it’s a maple neck maple board, the non matching headstock looks great. But if it’s an ebony or rosewood board, gotta match the body.
I feel you 😅 I really don't like if it's a mostly natural finish neck but only the face plate is matching, feels kinda "spotty" to me but it's hard to describe. I prefer either fully natural or fully colored (incl. Gibson Style black face plates)
Highest fret that actually play on a daily b - is 22, but always there is need to play at 23 😅 I have only 22 frets guitar for now ) But working on changing this situation up to 27s fret. Plus one more hi string. Those sounds are amazing ✨
An excellent design - head and shoulders above most guitars ergonomically. It should be very comfortable to play, and I like the output jack placement, too. However, unless I win a PowerBall jackpot, there's just no way I'm going to spend $3,800 on a guitar - electric, acoustic, laser-carved, or whatever.
Yes. Another fan of flat fingerboards. I play a bit of classical. I built a neck with no radius for one of my electric guitars and I absolutely love it.
Yeah man! I fasho wanna cop one when I get the money, I just got a new guitar (since the gifted one I got at 12) and it's the same Jackson 7 you got I believe (Dinky version); been making way heavier music with Samiah, can't wait till we drop next Summer! Always a pleasure watching your vids and how meticulous you are 🔥
Not gonna lie, i put more of a radius on my homemade fretboards because i like the specular highlights that show up more at an angle. I dont have much of a preference when it comes to playing.
I don't play the 24th fret very often, but I still do sometimes. I'd rather just have a good heel so I can play the 24th if I ever need to. Having a giant square heel is just a problem that doesn't need to exist for me. Even if you never play frets that high, its not like having good high fret access causes any problems. I have a Schecter with a square heel and it can start bothering me at the 20th fret on the highest string, and even the 18th fret on lower strings. Meanwhile on my sculpted heel Ibanez RG, I feel almost no discomfort at the 24th on the high E. Even the 22nd fret on the A string is pretty comfortable. Its genuinely almost as good as my neck through Ibanez. I tend to avoid buying guitars with square heels for this very reason.
Thanks for the review. I have a Strandberg and agree the cutout shape is the best for seated playing. Regarding the neck curvature - you mustn't play much slide guitar Any slide guitarist will tell you the value of the curved neck.
Your videos are top tier quality dude. You know your stuff and suprised I wasn't subscribed. Video reminded me of my Parker fly gas I have that I need to hold back on, 14 guitars is enough. On a side not how are the Sophia tremolos? Not many people know about them. Currently got a Gotoh ge1996 with a tremmory, tremel-no and tone vice pitch shifter. So picky with tremolos and having them work correctly which is very difficult but the Sophia and zr trems are intresting.
I’m only asking because I really don’t know either way. When you were explaining why the fretboard radius was added, you demonstrated by curving your hand, and noting that it would somehow relate to that. But would that particular curve of your hand have anything to do with how your fingertips fall on the fretboard? It seems more of a relation to how your finger tips align from a different angle, when the fingers are loosely curled into playing position. It could very well all relate. As I mentioned, I really don’t know….But now I’d like to. Great video man. 🤘🏻
I do play all the way up the neck daily, at least as high as 22nd fret, because there's a jazz fusion solo I transcribed from a piano solo that I practice everyday, and it has a fast run that starts on the treble E string at the 22nd fret. And when practicing improv, I do sometimes go up all the way to the 24th fret for moments when I want to up the sense of drama. It's too bad that the Emi doesn't have HH or HSH models for the 6-string, or I would own one already. I do like neck single-coil tones, but at that price I'd want also a neck humbucker tone too, so a model with neck humbucker and coil-split feature would be perfect. I have other guitars with Fishman humbucker pickups that have additional voicings that do really great single-coil tones, and I also have the Abasi pickups in my other guitars that have split-coil (or single-coil voicing), so I know they can do it if they wanted to.
Mayers explanation for preference to lower radius vs flat is nothing to do with playing cowboy chords but better playing thumb over style, key factors ability to heavy pick/strum most to all strings and mute most to all besides single notes aimed for with left hand. Then the bends and hammer/pull offs in this style. Like to hear your thoughts on if there’s any truth to this or the difference playing both on flat vs rounder radius
Your videos were the reason which made me buy and emi8, and I agree with all the ergonomics. I think tosin should work with you in the future to make even better guitars. Emi is near perfection though.
You refer to the radius whether it is essential to the playing ergonomics. Now what if the neck and obviously bridge and saddle were angled slightly forward compared to the guitar's body, like this | / ? Would it help to have the arm and wrist in less stressful position ?
My hot take on Strats is that the bulky neck joint is outdated design that Fender should have updated to a low-profile, ease-of-access design as soon as those were invented.
I believe the roasting of wood has nothing to do with the woods absorption of moisture. It will stabilize to its environment, roasted or not. Additionally, the truss rod adjustment at the pickup area prevents removing wood that thinnest part of the neck where back things can happen.
Torrefication, also known as “roasting” the wood, definitely removes moisture content and improves stability. The process used by luthiers to make guitars was originally developed by a Finnish man named Osmo Savolainen. He developed it to make wooden playgrounds resistant to mold, premature decay, and fungus. The process he developed combines carefully controlled temperature, steam, and sometimes pressure changes to artificially age wood. It does make a charred or roasted appearance to the wood, but it is a side effect of the process and not the primary mechanism. He later approached a company called VTT, which patented his idea and commercialized it. To date, all commercially available torrefied wood for guitars is produced using a modified version of VTT’s original process. There is a great paper called Thermally Aged Tonewood (Nieminen & Nieminen, 2020), that describes a new thermal aging process with superior results that does not cause torrefication or charring/roasting. They worked with Savolainen directly and the luthiers he originally collaborated with decades ago to develop the new process. To date, no major manufacturer is using this process, which is a shame because it’s cheaper, easier, and can be done by small independent luthiers without relying on large companies like VTT who fundamentally don’t understand tonewood.
I like, really like that guitar. If it had been available in the late 70s when I shifted from Les Paul to Telecaster, I would have instead gone for this. Just a fabuous guitar! I do wish they would offer different radii and nickel frets - I am not a fan of stainless, EXCEPT on my Parkers because Parker frets are round and glued onto the carbon fiber fingerboard.
While fingerboard radius is often related to fretting hand comfort, my understanding is that radiused fretboards were intended to aid with flat picking by providing a little extra string clearance. What's more is that the original Stratocaster's extreme radius was because the string spacing was closer than a typical acoustic, or indeed a Gibson, and a smaller spacing requires a smaller radius to get the same vertical displacement between strings. I can't play well enough to verify that radiused fretboards actually help with this style of playing, but it might be interesting to ask a bluegrass player about it. I really enjoy your detailed breakdowns, even from just a pure design philosophy perspective.
Personally, I find flatter radius neck to be way less comfortable, at least for. Let me explain why. My main guitar for 15 years has been a luthier custom made RG style guitar. When I ordered it I didn't have much idea as to what king of neck profile and fingerboard radius I want, so I just copied an Ibanez RG Prestige neck specs (I recall it was a Himalayan Black painted RG Prestige on Ibanez website) and sent them to the luthier, who took some further liberties. The end product was a D shaped neck, 43mm at the nut, 57 at the 24th fret with 20" radius. A neck perfect, I guess, for classical playing position with your thumb at the back of the neck and the guitar strapped high up. However I have always played with my thumb on the low E side of the fretboard (switching to the back for stretchier licks) and my guitar strapped in mid body, as high strapped guitar put too much tension on my right arm. I have found that the sides of the D profile jabbed into my palm whenever I played on high B and E string while the flat, 20" fretboard made it difficult to play chords. I always blamed it on my lack of proper technique until I got another guitar, C shaped profile and 14" radius. The difference was night and day. It took a couple more years to finally decide on ordering a new neck for that guitar and I couldn't be happier that I did - now I have a C-shaped neck, so nothing jabs into my palm and 12" radius, which makes playing whatever effortless. I am surprised to the point that I don't know why would anyone play anything flatter than 12" inch (actually I know :D)! Nothing frets out, all notes sing and the neck is actually fatter (while retaining the same width on both ends), while being more comfortable. You mentioned just the exact reason why I switches to this profile and radius - the position and relaxed shape of the hand, which is curved. On the 20" radius I actually had to struggle and put strength of fret barre or any harder chords. On 12" it's completely effortless. I think that classical guitar is not the best analogy to electric guitar as it is played sitting down, requires a proper position and technique to utilise it's full potential and has nylon strings which doesn't translate well to electric guitar, which is played differently depending on the player and usually strapped on while standing, which immediately shifts the position. Anyhow, nice analysis!
Just curious since I feel like the Abasi Concepts site is just a placeholder at this point since the entire site is out of stock and seems to always be lol.
The problem with a set neck is that if or when it bows eventually due to the tension of the strings (we talk about decades here, but still) you are basically screwed, with a bolt on neck you just take off the neck, but a shim in and continue playing. This is not as bad a problem on solid guitars compared to acoustic guitars, but it is a problem non the less.
I had an 8 string Abasi that I sold but it was the highest quality instrument too high for me. (Or too low rather) couldnt get down with how wide it was being an 8 string. I would love to try a 6 string Abasi some day
my highest daily fret is genuinely 24, i do a lot of octave tapping and playing on the low strings because its a different sound then playing the same notes on the higher strings, im not much of a shredder though i just like throwing in 24th fret taps or tremolo picking on the 23rd and 24th
i love the look and sound of strats but they don't work for me bc the volume knob and i end up strumming over the middle pickup (idk size of my hand and arm angle ig) and my left hand starts to ache in the first 5 minutes. would love to try a guitar with ergonomics & design like this - thanks for reviewing it for us!
I still think the strat is the best guitar ever but I will say that abasi guitar and it’s differences make sense and aren’t changes just for changes and really does look good for a modern guitar.
I also had the Vigier Shawn Lane, but ended up selling it. The flat fretboard is not a problem at all and feels nice, but I just found myself playing other guitars more and it was a bit of a waste to have such an expensive guitar just laying around.
Take a Fender Strat upside down on your lap. Close your eyes... and feel the curves with both hands... ...there is more to a Strat than 3 single coils ;)
I love your channel and I really appreciate you style BUT as an amateur player I would NEVER consider buying that monstrosity. Not even for 1/3 of the price.
I mean it definitely is a luxury and ergonomic instrument, but obviously not a necessity Its for motherfuckers with a lot of money who want the best feel i guess
I’d spend that amount but not for this for reasons: no public reviews, sketchy support and returns, risky resell value, no independent evaluation, etc. the price for me is the SMALLEST concern.
@@Rex-golf_player810 You can do this level of ergonomic guitar by your own. No super heavy hard skills is needed for this. All parts and materials available in modern world. Even knowledges about making in a free access here in youtube. You can do that in a price much lover than 800$ or even 500$ (depends from pickups and bridge price mostly, what you prefer for you) You can do this level of ergonomic guitar even cheaper than 300$ , but that is only with some of cheapest pickups and bridge that still would be "ok" for you. You can do it from all carbon neck and body with good pickups in 800$ range. If you don't want to by - do it by your own. Invest your time and skills in this. All is achievable. But only if you really want that. If not - all other "reasons" is excuses 🤷
Form over function? I build and do try to have a balance between ergonomics and classic looks, it’s tough. I haven’t made anything with the leg cut yet but understand it.
I hope i'm not going to offend anyone but, that thing does not look good to me at all. I feel like some things should not change you can't make a wheel more round you know what i mean. If that's what inspires you then that is all you need to say. Pickups and effects sure they add a little something but we all know its the player who ultimately makes the sound. If you need an ergonomic guitar so you can sit. Sometimes I can't even feel my strat sitting down its so comfortable. I guess I am just a traditional guitar player too. Julian Lage and his Telecaster makes beautiful music. But it's not the telecaster it's his hands and how he plays it. I feel that when you make a guitar so perfectly that the notes are in absolute tune, it looses a little character you know. Then how the player uses those character defects to make original music. That's just me. I'm sure that guitar Abasi Emi plays fantastic but just from the sounds i've herd its not organic too me.
I get that this guitar is ergonomic, but for like 2.5k less you could get all the things you want, pickups, bridges, tuners, and the neck, on a strat. Also, I don’t see any aftermarket support for the Emi. The strat is a better guitar.
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This is probably the best review on a guitar I have seen. Most reviews just plug in, play, and say a few vague things about pickups. This review goes into great detail and comparisons on all the components of the guitar.
Glad it was helpful! Thank you!
Actually the barrel tuners do have an advantage. You can rest the headstock on the couch without risking the tuners being moved and thus putting it slightly out of tune. I hate it when that happens.
Hi Andre, found your videos recently and I love how much attention you give to ergonomics. I'm a similar age to you and after 20 years of playing, I am beginning to see the impacts of earlier, poor playing posture and have a newfound mission to get everyone to sit better so they don't get hurt! Thanks for speaking the good word!
Andre, big respect for explaining very simply why guitars have the radius they do. While I prefer more traditional radiuses, I thank you for clinically explaining this kind of stuff!
This was the most efficient way to go in depth! These 13 minutes flew by like nothing and kept me interested on every topic!
1:01 Too easy: Electric Eye- Judas Priest!
Beat me to it
So cool to see this reviewed seriously, and super lucky to be reviewed by you. Have enjoyed your enjoyment of this guitar, thank you for doing a full video on it!!
May I also add the fact that the attention to detail on the guitar is next level? I was lucky enough to get one at release, and just out of the box, the setup as well as the quality control in general was better than any guitar I have seen and possible will see. Great video!
My very first guitar was a classical that I got at 12 years old. It's kind of a wonder that I stuck with it, trying to learn how to do chords with younger hands. When I finally switched to my first electric--a Strat--I never went back to a flatter radius. Thanks again for the detailed walkthrough!
Great review! Very comprehensive. And I love that you focused on the form factor of the guitar rather than the tone. So many guitar reviews are more like a pickup review tbh.
Great video. It seems they really gave the design a lot of thought. I particularly like how the volume control is moved out of the way. It's position on a strat drives me crazy.
I accidentally hit the pick up switch all the time its annoying
It is good to see someone make the point about the value of money now compared to the past. People so often look at the prices of Fenders or Gibsons in the 50s and 60s and long for the "good ol' days" when they were cheap. They were NOT cheap. Guitars have ALWAYS been luxury items. The prices of those guitars in their day was about half the monthly income of the average American worker - that was not the same $289 as we think of it today (where we spend that on dinner out for our family without batting an eye most of the time). The price of an American Fender is what it is today because the labor it takes to make it is very expensive - much more expensive than the labor in Mexico or other places import models are made.
The Abasi guitars are really well done - modern with a nod to the great designs of the past that have stood the test of time. Are they worth $3,800? That is up to only the buyer.
Well said, Daniel! Thanks for your comment.
Yup. I bought my 1968 LP Custom 2nd hand in 1974 for NZD 800 and the NZ website thing tells me the equivalent of that today is NZD 11,136 (which is approx USD 6,375 - which is about what Gibson are charging for their fairly recent Custom Shop 68 Ebony Custom 're-issue'). I was 18 working a music shop selling guitars (that I couldn't afford) at the time and I saved for months before I could buy it from my friend . . . just figured you would probably want to know that 😅
I love the concept of this guitar! I play classical style when seated, so this is awesome to me!
I honestly play "up there". All the time actually, but mostly with my RIGHT hand. I tap up there more than I fret the notes.
Abasi definitely made an ergonomic Strat. I dont like the pickup selector position. But otherwise it is an amazing instrument.
Great review dude!
Regardless of whether we ever collaborate, this video exemplifies why I will point any viewers (hope, hope, hope) which my future show gets to your channel.
For me, It's the 23rd or 24th fret on the daily, but I wouldn't say it's a frequent location that I hang out in. That said, ultra ergonomic high fret access is such a nice thing to have and I definitely noticed and appreciated the difference once I switched to a guitar that accomodated for it.
Your picking has gotten so much better. The practice is showing!
Kind of surprising to see a "Shred Guitar" with single slot humbuckers . I would like to see that option on a 7 string!
What i have found is you end up setting your multi effects louder with more pre amp yet it is still capable of sustain . The design is the same as the telecaster with the pick up angled away from the picking hand . This is a seriously under rated feature of the stratocaster . There is so much less interference with out a double humbucker
I love the strat and agree with Jeff Beck it is a harder instrument to play than a Gibson yet you get a lot out of it
It’s always interesting trying new products from an ergo perspective. Just got a new guitar that on paper is similar shape to another one I have and it’s so much more comfortable when sitting. Weights 1oz difference but the actual thing that seems to really be making one more comfort able is a small angle difference in the back side comfort cut
The radius guide blows my mind, thanks a lot.
This is another excellent video - I'm not in the market for any new guitars, but if I were this model would definitely be a contender.
Nice! You've given me the courage to try one. I've been binge watching this channel since TH-cam recommended it to me. Just joined your Patreon as well. Thanks for all the material!
This was interesting as hell to watch and you are very well-spoken. Nice video!
Thank you sir!
Great review as always. However, I would note that the potential weakness to the Abasi is that, unlike the astandberg or Klein, itcan't be played in the preferred 45ish degree angle while sitting without the use of a strap. If you don't mind always wearing a strap it's not an issue but for people who do it's something to consider.
Excellent video, clear and straight to the point
I do have to pick you up on that price comparison because simply adjusting the to compensate for the depreciation in the value of the currency isn't telling the full story.
Since the 1980s wages have dramatically lagged behind inflation across the board, whilst the relative costs people pay for accommodation, utility bills, food, and other essentials have outpaced inflation.
The prospect of spending that amount of money back when the stratocaster was first on the market would have put less strain on a person's budget because a much greater proportion of their income would be left over after basic essentials were covered.
Furthermore the profit margins on the instrument would have been lower, as they would have had much lower production capacity due to the amount of hand work involved. Materials costs have gotten higher, but not by enough that it would offset the increase in profit margin generated due to reduced labour costs and much higher output of product.
The strat in 1954 was much more attainable, with the main challenge being whether or not there was actually one for sale.
They weren't that much more expensive than entry level instruments you'd buy in department stores (it was definitely more than a lot of people could afford, but the disparity in price between a harmony, Danelectro, or silvertone and a fender was nowhere near as significant as the difference between an entry level product and a Fender guitar now), a lot of people would have bought a strat over a catalogue guitar if it weren't for the fact that the cheaper instruments were actually produced in sufficient amounts to meet demand and you weren't subject to a total lottery to see if there was a shop within driving distance that hadn't completely sold out.
Also great points! Thanks for sharing.
First video I've seen of yours, really interesting and informative video! Great work
Glad you liked it!
i love how you explain things. subscribed.
Thank you-beautiful practicality!
Apparently im crazy but i actually donnot prefer a matching headstock/body paint job. I like that the neck is separate and can look beautiful by its own appearance
I think as long as it’s a maple neck maple board, the non matching headstock looks great. But if it’s an ebony or rosewood board, gotta match the body.
I feel you 😅 I really don't like if it's a mostly natural finish neck but only the face plate is matching, feels kinda "spotty" to me but it's hard to describe. I prefer either fully natural or fully colored (incl. Gibson Style black face plates)
Great guitar. I really hope I get lucky when they release some more in December. Good vid as always.
This guitar is so well thought out
Highest fret that actually play on a daily b - is 22, but always there is need to play at 23 😅
I have only 22 frets guitar for now ) But working on changing this situation up to 27s fret. Plus one more hi string. Those sounds are amazing ✨
27 that’s pretty crazy. Playing for the dogs at that height 😂
@@andrefludd😂😂
I played a classical primarily for close to ten years as a youngster. I agree, a flat fretboard is pretty comfortable when you get used to it.
An excellent design - head and shoulders above most guitars ergonomically. It should be very comfortable to play, and I like the output jack placement, too. However, unless I win a PowerBall jackpot, there's just no way I'm going to spend $3,800 on a guitar - electric, acoustic, laser-carved, or whatever.
Fair enough :)
Barrel tuners!? Im in love!!
For which frets we use I say depends on the guitar. When I’m on a 21, the 21st. When I’m on a 22, the 22nd, and when I’m on my 24, the 24th fret :)
Yes. Another fan of flat fingerboards. I play a bit of classical. I built a neck with no radius for one of my electric guitars and I absolutely love it.
This was excellent.
It’s not just about price. The brand matters for various reasons as I stated in your patreon.
Yeah man! I fasho wanna cop one when I get the money, I just got a new guitar (since the gifted one I got at 12) and it's the same Jackson 7 you got I believe (Dinky version); been making way heavier music with Samiah, can't wait till we drop next Summer! Always a pleasure watching your vids and how meticulous you are 🔥
I totally agree, 20" radius is definitely comfortable
Not gonna lie, i put more of a radius on my homemade fretboards because i like the specular highlights that show up more at an angle. I dont have much of a preference when it comes to playing.
Interesting piece so siked for your notes that are insightful!
I don't play the 24th fret very often, but I still do sometimes. I'd rather just have a good heel so I can play the 24th if I ever need to. Having a giant square heel is just a problem that doesn't need to exist for me. Even if you never play frets that high, its not like having good high fret access causes any problems.
I have a Schecter with a square heel and it can start bothering me at the 20th fret on the highest string, and even the 18th fret on lower strings. Meanwhile on my sculpted heel Ibanez RG, I feel almost no discomfort at the 24th on the high E. Even the 22nd fret on the A string is pretty comfortable. Its genuinely almost as good as my neck through Ibanez.
I tend to avoid buying guitars with square heels for this very reason.
Thanks for the review. I have a Strandberg and agree the cutout shape is the best for seated playing. Regarding the neck curvature - you mustn't play much slide guitar Any slide guitarist will tell you the value of the curved neck.
1:00 you really think you’re gonna sneak some Priest past me? That’s Electric Eye!
Great video! Fret job now a days is upward of 500 bucks!!! Stainless steal or Evo Gold is the way to go...
Amazing dude, I love that guitar! 🤘
Maybe the first on the channel that isn’t ugly? 😂
@@andrefluddNaaaah dude, you’ve had some stunners. I don’t think the rep is totally fair 😉 Besides, I adore the Larada so who am I to judge haha
Your videos are top tier quality dude.
You know your stuff and suprised I wasn't subscribed.
Video reminded me of my Parker fly gas I have that I need to hold back on, 14 guitars is enough.
On a side not how are the Sophia tremolos? Not many people know about them.
Currently got a Gotoh ge1996 with a tremmory, tremel-no and tone vice pitch shifter.
So picky with tremolos and having them work correctly which is very difficult but the Sophia and zr trems are intresting.
Excellent points you brought out, but I’m just interested in this guitar looks cool 🤷🏾
I’m only asking because I really don’t know either way.
When you were explaining why the fretboard radius was added, you demonstrated by curving your hand, and noting that it would somehow relate to that. But would that particular curve of your hand have anything to do with how your fingertips fall on the fretboard? It seems more of a relation to how your finger tips align from a different angle, when the fingers are loosely curled into playing position.
It could very well all relate. As I mentioned, I really don’t know….But now I’d like to.
Great video man. 🤘🏻
I do play all the way up the neck daily, at least as high as 22nd fret, because there's a jazz fusion solo I transcribed from a piano solo that I practice everyday, and it has a fast run that starts on the treble E string at the 22nd fret. And when practicing improv, I do sometimes go up all the way to the 24th fret for moments when I want to up the sense of drama.
It's too bad that the Emi doesn't have HH or HSH models for the 6-string, or I would own one already. I do like neck single-coil tones, but at that price I'd want also a neck humbucker tone too, so a model with neck humbucker and coil-split feature would be perfect. I have other guitars with Fishman humbucker pickups that have additional voicings that do really great single-coil tones, and I also have the Abasi pickups in my other guitars that have split-coil (or single-coil voicing), so I know they can do it if they wanted to.
Perfect for you.
I’ll keep my 20+ year old Ibanez prestige guitars.
How many hours have you got on that Jackson? Can't wait to see the review.
Mayers explanation for preference to lower radius vs flat is nothing to do with playing cowboy chords but better playing thumb over style, key factors ability to heavy pick/strum most to all strings and mute most to all besides single notes aimed for with left hand. Then the bends and hammer/pull offs in this style. Like to hear your thoughts on if there’s any truth to this or the difference playing both on flat vs rounder radius
Your videos were the reason which made me buy and emi8, and I agree with all the ergonomics. I think tosin should work with you in the future to make even better guitars. Emi is near perfection though.
This reminds me of the Ovation Breadwinner, probably the original ergonomic guitar.
You refer to the radius whether it is essential to the playing ergonomics. Now what if the neck and obviously bridge and saddle were angled slightly forward compared to the guitar's body, like this
| / ? Would it help to have the arm and wrist in less stressful position ?
My hot take on Strats is that the bulky neck joint is outdated design that Fender should have updated to a low-profile, ease-of-access design as soon as those were invented.
Jackson Warrior, stars and all x shapes came out decades ago. I dig it though.
I believe the roasting of wood has nothing to do with the woods absorption of moisture. It will stabilize to its environment, roasted or not. Additionally, the truss rod adjustment at the pickup area prevents removing wood that thinnest part of the neck where back things can happen.
Torrefication, also known as “roasting” the wood, definitely removes moisture content and improves stability.
The process used by luthiers to make guitars was originally developed by a Finnish man named Osmo Savolainen. He developed it to make wooden playgrounds resistant to mold, premature decay, and fungus.
The process he developed combines carefully controlled temperature, steam, and sometimes pressure changes to artificially age wood. It does make a charred or roasted appearance to the wood, but it is a side effect of the process and not the primary mechanism.
He later approached a company called VTT, which patented his idea and commercialized it.
To date, all commercially available torrefied wood for guitars is produced using a modified version of VTT’s original process.
There is a great paper called Thermally Aged Tonewood (Nieminen & Nieminen, 2020), that describes a new thermal aging process with superior results that does not cause torrefication or charring/roasting. They worked with Savolainen directly and the luthiers he originally collaborated with decades ago to develop the new process. To date, no major manufacturer is using this process, which is a shame because it’s cheaper, easier, and can be done by small independent luthiers without relying on large companies like VTT who fundamentally don’t understand tonewood.
Great video 10/10
I have already eyed this model up, but just can't afford it... Would definitely invest if it was in my budget though.
I like, really like that guitar. If it had been available in the late 70s when I shifted from Les Paul to Telecaster, I would have instead gone for this. Just a fabuous guitar! I do wish they would offer different radii and nickel frets - I am not a fan of stainless, EXCEPT on my Parkers because Parker frets are round and glued onto the carbon fiber fingerboard.
One spec I really like is a bolt thru design its like best of both worlds imho
While fingerboard radius is often related to fretting hand comfort, my understanding is that radiused fretboards were intended to aid with flat picking by providing a little extra string clearance. What's more is that the original Stratocaster's extreme radius was because the string spacing was closer than a typical acoustic, or indeed a Gibson, and a smaller spacing requires a smaller radius to get the same vertical displacement between strings. I can't play well enough to verify that radiused fretboards actually help with this style of playing, but it might be interesting to ask a bluegrass player about it. I really enjoy your detailed breakdowns, even from just a pure design philosophy perspective.
Personally, I find flatter radius neck to be way less comfortable, at least for. Let me explain why. My main guitar for 15 years has been a luthier custom made RG style guitar. When I ordered it I didn't have much idea as to what king of neck profile and fingerboard radius I want, so I just copied an Ibanez RG Prestige neck specs (I recall it was a Himalayan Black painted RG Prestige on Ibanez website) and sent them to the luthier, who took some further liberties. The end product was a D shaped neck, 43mm at the nut, 57 at the 24th fret with 20" radius. A neck perfect, I guess, for classical playing position with your thumb at the back of the neck and the guitar strapped high up. However I have always played with my thumb on the low E side of the fretboard (switching to the back for stretchier licks) and my guitar strapped in mid body, as high strapped guitar put too much tension on my right arm.
I have found that the sides of the D profile jabbed into my palm whenever I played on high B and E string while the flat, 20" fretboard made it difficult to play chords. I always blamed it on my lack of proper technique until I got another guitar, C shaped profile and 14" radius. The difference was night and day. It took a couple more years to finally decide on ordering a new neck for that guitar and I couldn't be happier that I did - now I have a C-shaped neck, so nothing jabs into my palm and 12" radius, which makes playing whatever effortless. I am surprised to the point that I don't know why would anyone play anything flatter than 12" inch (actually I know :D)! Nothing frets out, all notes sing and the neck is actually fatter (while retaining the same width on both ends), while being more comfortable.
You mentioned just the exact reason why I switches to this profile and radius - the position and relaxed shape of the hand, which is curved. On the 20" radius I actually had to struggle and put strength of fret barre or any harder chords. On 12" it's completely effortless. I think that classical guitar is not the best analogy to electric guitar as it is played sitting down, requires a proper position and technique to utilise it's full potential and has nylon strings which doesn't translate well to electric guitar, which is played differently depending on the player and usually strapped on while standing, which immediately shifts the position. Anyhow, nice analysis!
Andre, do you typically get your guitars from reverb?
It depends. If it's new and available at sweetwater then I get it there. If used usually Reverb or Guitarcenter.
Just curious since I feel like the Abasi Concepts site is just a placeholder at this point since the entire site is out of stock and seems to always be lol.
@@AustinBartley This, absolutely this. I'm inclined to go Strandberg just because I can't find a EMI near me.
The problem with a set neck is that if or when it bows eventually due to the tension of the strings (we talk about decades here, but still) you are basically screwed, with a bolt on neck you just take off the neck, but a shim in and continue playing. This is not as bad a problem on solid guitars compared to acoustic guitars, but it is a problem non the less.
Yep. Absolutely fair point
another awesome video andre. funnily enough I just posted a video asking strangers about the Kaizen haha!!
charvel dk is the ultimate evolution of a strat 👍
I had an 8 string Abasi that I sold but it was the highest quality instrument too high for me. (Or too low rather) couldnt get down with how wide it was being an 8 string. I would love to try a 6 string Abasi some day
my highest daily fret is genuinely 24, i do a lot of octave tapping and playing on the low strings because its a different sound then playing the same notes on the higher strings, im not much of a shredder though i just like throwing in 24th fret taps or tremolo picking on the 23rd and 24th
All wood from major manufactures is kiln dried to remove moisture. Doesn't roasting just crystaline the sap structures and darken the wood?
This is what my girlfriend hears when I talk about instruments.
hows the string spacing? 43m? or 42mm at nut?
If you would have added a link of the Pickup review, I would have clicked on it.
I’ve never seen a Suhr on your channel. They are better than almost all I’ve seen you demo
IM ELLEEECTRIIIC ELECTRIC EYE
Great video. Have you thought about trying Tim Henson's signature guitar? The acoustic/electric one.
Yep. Hopefully in 2024
Electric Eye!
i love the look and sound of strats but they don't work for me bc the volume knob and i end up strumming over the middle pickup (idk size of my hand and arm angle ig) and my left hand starts to ache in the first 5 minutes. would love to try a guitar with ergonomics & design like this - thanks for reviewing it for us!
Your channel has given me an itch to buy a man “ergonomic” guitar. Out of the big companies, what is your recommendation?
Strandberg
I automatically started singing Electric Eye, lol
I still think the strat is the best guitar ever but I will say that abasi guitar and it’s differences make sense and aren’t changes just for changes and really does look good for a modern guitar.
I also had the Vigier Shawn Lane, but ended up selling it. The flat fretboard is not a problem at all and feels nice, but I just found myself playing other guitars more and it was a bit of a waste to have such an expensive guitar just laying around.
Take a Fender Strat upside down on your lap. Close your eyes... and feel the curves with both hands... ...there is more to a Strat than 3 single coils ;)
Have you considered trying the extended range from abasi?
I’m not really a 7 or 8 string guy just yet. But I never say never :)
Great review, does anyone know how much these guitar weight?
What is the name of that guitar in the background with a flat fretboard radius?
Vigier Shawn lane signature model!
1:00 Electric Eye?
I guess one imperfection is that it's almost impossible to acquire one since they are making so few.
Hell yeah it is a cool guitar.
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I love your channel and I really appreciate you style BUT as an amateur player I would NEVER consider buying that monstrosity. Not even for 1/3 of the price.
I mean it definitely is a luxury and ergonomic instrument, but obviously not a necessity
Its for motherfuckers with a lot of money who want the best feel i guess
that guitar is an unbearable sight to behold.
I’d spend that amount but not for this for reasons: no public reviews, sketchy support and returns, risky resell value, no independent evaluation, etc. the price for me is the SMALLEST concern.
@@Rex-golf_player810
You can do this level of ergonomic guitar by your own. No super heavy hard skills is needed for this. All parts and materials available in modern world. Even knowledges about making in a free access here in youtube. You can do that in a price much lover than 800$ or even 500$ (depends from pickups and bridge price mostly, what you prefer for you) You can do this level of ergonomic guitar even cheaper than 300$ , but that is only with some of cheapest pickups and bridge that still would be "ok" for you.
You can do it from all carbon neck and body with good pickups in 800$ range.
If you don't want to by - do it by your own. Invest your time and skills in this. All is achievable.
But only if you really want that.
If not - all other "reasons" is excuses 🤷
Form over function? I build and do try to have a balance between ergonomics and classic looks, it’s tough. I haven’t made anything with the leg cut yet but understand it.
ELECTRIC EYE
I hope i'm not going to offend anyone but, that thing does not look good to me at all. I feel like some things should not change you can't make a wheel more round you know what i mean. If that's what inspires you then that is all you need to say. Pickups and effects sure they add a little something but we all know its the player who ultimately makes the sound. If you need an ergonomic guitar so you can sit. Sometimes I can't even feel my strat sitting down its so comfortable. I guess I am just a traditional guitar player too. Julian Lage and his Telecaster makes beautiful music. But it's not the telecaster it's his hands and how he plays it. I feel that when you make a guitar so perfectly that the notes are in absolute tune, it looses a little character you know. Then how the player uses those character defects to make original music.
That's just me. I'm sure that guitar Abasi Emi plays fantastic but just from the sounds i've herd its not organic too me.
i want one in the 8string so bad, its like the larada but better
I get that this guitar is ergonomic, but for like 2.5k less you could get all the things you want, pickups, bridges, tuners, and the neck, on a strat. Also, I don’t see any aftermarket support for the Emi. The strat is a better guitar.