Guitar & Equipment Review Instructions

This part of our site can help you make informed and professional decisions when buying gear. Please help make this section ROCK!!!

Review Instructions

• These instructions should be used for all products including guitars, amps, recording gear, effects, pro audio, etc.

• Select a star rating in each category (5 is the best, 1 is bad)

• Add comments in at least one of the text fields (You must enter some comments that go deeper than saying it rules or sucks. Surveys without valuable comments will not be used). There are a number of questions below that you can use as a guide.

• BE CRITICAL! Nothing is perfect. Superficial, glowing reviews will not get published.

• Resist the new product rush! Take some time and really work with the product. If you need to comment right away, make it clear you haven't used it extensively.

• Please include some of the specs too, since not everyone will know the model numbers and names alone.

• For manufacturers - We value your input, but DO NOT pose as a customer. If you want to address any comments on your product or refute the facts, you can use this form, but make it very clear you are responding to those comments as a manufacturer (and leave the sales pitch out please!)

Sample Answers

Be advised that these sample answers for each section are for ELECTRIC GUITARS. Please modify accordingly when doing reviews for other products. guitar-guitar.com staff

Features
• What year was it made? Where was is made? (Japan, Mexico, USA, etc...)
• How many frets?
• Solid-Top? Laminated top?
• Which controls are given (volume, tone, 5-way selector, 3-way, tap, etc...)?
• Pickup configuration? (S/S/H, H/H, S/H, Piezo, etc...)
• Make and model of pickups?
• Active or Passive electronics?
• Body and neck woods? (Maple, Mahogany, Alder, Ash, Basswood, Koa, Plywood, etc...)
• Finish (Satin, transparent, quilted top, flamed top, etc...)
• Body style (strat, tele, dreadnought, cutaway, thinline, etc...)
• Bridge style (Tune-O-Matic, Floyd Rose, Wilkinson, Tele-style, String-thru body, stop tailpiece, etc...)
• Tuners (Locking? Non-locking? brand of tuners - Sperzel, Gotoh, Grover, Schaller, etc...)
• Neck/Scale (Fat, Thin, Jumbo Frets, Rosewood, Maple, etc...)
Any included accessories? (Case, gig bag, strap, cable, tools, humidifier, etc...

Sound
• How does it suit your music style (and what is that style)?
• What amps and effects are you using it with?
• Is it noisy? On what settings?
• Rich/Full sound? Bright sound?
• What kind of sounds can the guitar make? How much variety?
• Likes and dislikes?

Action, Fit & Finish
• How well was the guitar set-up at the factory? (How was the action?)
• How well were the pickups adjusted?
• Properly bookmatched top? Properly routed bridge?
• Did the guitar contain any flaws? (misaligned bracing, poorly filed fretwire, finish flaws, poor quality wood, rusted or oxidized hardware, loose tuning pegs, poorly cut nut, poorly fit saddle, noisy pickup selector, loose controls, etc...)

Reliability/Durability
• Will this guitar withstand live playing?
• Does the hardware seem like it will last?
• Is the finish good enough to last, or does it seem thin and easy to wear off with lots of playing?
• Are the strap buttons solid?
• Can you depend on it?
• Would you use it on a gig without a backup?

Customer Support
• If you've dealt with the company, how helpful/friendly were they?
• Ever try and get it repaired? Was it under warranty
• How long is the warranty

Price Paid
• Don't Remember
• $US
• Other (Please specify currency)
• Say if you bought it used

Overall Rating
• How long have you been playing? What other gear do you own?
• Is there something you wish you had asked before buying this guitar?
• If it were stolen or lost, would you buy it again or get something else?
• What do you love about it? What do you hate? What is your favorite feature?
• Did you compare it to other guitars? Which ones? Why did you choose this one?
• Anything you wish it had?
• Anything else you'd like to share?