DBJSBML/Zen review

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 403 Location: Cincinnati, OH

DBJSBML;

I've had a littel while to play with this know and I'll give you kind of a run down about what I think. The neck on this is a lot thinner than both my MLX and and my USA ML. Oddly, it's not uncomfortable to me (I like really fat neck, skinny ones cramp my rather large hands). the finish is top notch, and the fret job was actually fairly good. Not as good as a USA, but far better than my MLX. fairly good, I amde a few filings rel small, and polished teh frets, and now it's good to roll. I am NOT impressed witht eh pups AT ALL. these WILL be replaced. they are allright in their output, but they sound thin, if that makes sense. These will either get reaplceed with Seymour Duncan Distortion i teh bridgea dn Symour '59 in the neck, or DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge and DiMarzio '59 in the neck. Unsure which though. also, all the pots and the switch will be getting replaced too, as these koreans pots always seem to burn out after you sweat on them for about a month. This guitar is VERY light, lightest ML of ANY that I own. It is also a little thinner in teh thickness of the body. This isn;t a bad thing. I like a heavy body, but it's also nice nmot having a back breaker to wear on stage. While I don't think this would replace either of my Custom ML's (either hte ankh or the natural custom) for recording purposes, I think this will make a great show guitar; killer finish, and after the elctronics are replaced it';ll ahve a grgeat sound, and light for those long nights. plus, I won;t be quite as upset if some drunk knocks this one over or spills beer on it like I would if it were one of my customs. GRanted, I'll still tear him limb from limb, but still... The action is a littel funny... Strting tension is a little high, yet teh strings rattle on teh board a little... i'm gonna give it a totoal set up, plus install teh Buzz Fieten Tuning System, which will eliminate all these problems. oh yeah, and the Series 2 headstock is KILLER! So, all in all, This is a great guitar, but the electronics got to go, but this is jujst my personal preferances.

The Zen Acoustic/Electric;

WOW! My old acoustic just got retired. This review will be short and sweet. This guitar plays ABSOLUTELY GREAT! for an acoustic, it plays almost as easily as my electrics! the looks were top notch! and MAN is this guitar LOUD! i mean LOUD!!!!!! the fishman system in it is great, adn this will make my acoustics gigs so much easier and better sound to boot! It's sounds Excellant. Now granted, it is not a Martin HD-28, but it didn't cost $2500 either. And to be truthful, New martins don;t sound as good as old martins, unnless you buy martins new HD or "pre-war appointments" series guitars. I do NOT like the new D-28's, they lack that charectoristic martin "BOOM". so I'd take this Zen over an new D-28 anyday, and that's a $1500 guitar!!!!! For what I paid, I got MORE than my money's worth!!! this guitar comes VERY VERY VERY HIGHLY recomended. I consider the HD-28 the pinnicle of acoustics,a nd honestly this comes DAMN close. DAMN CLOSE... almost frighteningly close. Oh, the case and certificate are KILLER!

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 4797 Location: BEERMUDA

Sounds luike you got two awesome guitars!

Cheers!

Posted: Wed Dec 24, 2003 11:28 pm

SWEET!

Posted: Thu Dec 25, 2003 5:44 am

Cool. I was curious about how the DBJSB ML handled. Great review.

Joined: 29 Nov 2003 Posts: 6645 Location: Hawaii

Can't wait to try mine out....man I want that thing so bad I can taste it