Another good cheap one.

hamerhead

hamerhead

Well-known member
Supporter
First it was Epiphone and Squier, then Dillion and Peerless, then onto IYV and Firefly. And now WestCreek:

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This is a WestCreek 333 from Amazon for $249. The Fireflies are really great sub-$300 guitars and this is right there in the same ballpark. After oiling the neck, changing strings and checking the intonation (it was pretty damn close), I would gig this today. Stainless frets, toggle switch in the correct position, and enough beef in the neck to make it really playable. The body is about an inch narrower across the lower bout than a 335 and is very comfortable. The alnico pickups are only fair - usable but not so inspiring, and that might just be an adjustment thing. And the bridge and tailpiece fit more snug on the posts than anything I own (a good thing :)).

The best part is that it's far easier to be disappointed by a $2000-$3000 guitar than one at $250. And its way more fun to try these cheapies and find a gem like this one than spending a lot more and being unhappy. They will never replace the USA guitars here, but this stuff is damn good, stupid good for the money.

ETA: 7.2 pounds of awesomeness.
 
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Nope. No case. But the World Tour bags for a 335 are $40, so not too bad. And the shipping box has a nice full-size hunk of form-fitting foam that, if you had to, with a roll of duct tape, could be made to work. 🐄
 
FWIW, I invested in a Mono gig bag a long time ago. As well as a larger one for semi-hollows. Not cheap, but I don't recall the last time I even used a hard case when playing out. Superb protection. Just swap in/out the guitar you are moving.

Add the "Tick" and you can pretty much carry in everything on your back, amp and cab in your hands, One trip in, one out.

Overkill for a $300 guitar, but I have used them for guitars worth 25 times that without worries. The guys always wonder what I will pull out next time....
 
scottcald said:
Underpromise, overdeliver wins to me over well, you just have to try 497 to get that one really good one. How'd the other ones hold up longer term?
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The Dillion Phoenix (Korean Firebird) is here the longest (10 years maybe?) and still does all those Firebird-ish things it was meant to do, and has a nice fat neck to keep it here. Other than adding a strap button to the back of the neck for better balance I haven't changed anything on it - still bone stock. I gigged it for 5 years or so with only minor tweaks. No issues whatsoever.

The Peerless Bird-of-Prey (Korean LP Signature knock-off) is here nearly as long and currently in getting some fretwork done. Minor stuff but annoying just the same. Otherwise stock and still works pretty great.

The Hamer Slammer Series (Korean) bass has been here the longest and is rock-solid. Never an issue.

The others haven't been here long enough to judge....yet

The Firefly Thinline Tele and the IYV Thinline Tele were bought as modding platforms. The IYV was strung in Nashville tuning and used on some recordings ('Let it Rain' on the HFC record has some during the 3rd verse), then restrung and forwarded to a kid starting out. The Firefly was given to my great-nephew for graduation when I found a great Nashville T-51. Both were completely gig-worthy.

Of all the import stuff, I've only sent 2 D'Angelicos back for workmanship flaws. The current ones - Epiphone LPC, Squire Paranormal JazzmasterXII, Mitchell MS450, Firefly BillyBo, WestCreek 333 and Firefly Baritone Tele (just in) - come from all over (China, Indonesia, Korea and Viet Nam) and while the Korean ones have the edge, the others are catching up FAST. They all need tweaks, but most guitars do. Keeping in mind they range from $200 to $500, the term 'stupid good for the money' applies in a huge way. And you don't have to worry about bashing them around!

And really the best part is I get to try this cheap stuff, mess with it for awhile, then hand it off to somebody who needs it. At this stage of my life being able to help somebody just starting out - who doesn't really have the means - is important. The only rule is they can never sell it (that would be rude :)) but they can hand it forward to somebody who can use it.

Oh yeah - the World Tour bag came yesterday and it's pretty great for the money. Decent padding, big pockets, adequate zipper. Plus, my Kirebird and ChillyBo fit, too.
 
Gino said:
Well, ir ain't that cheap over here! Amazon Germany lists it for 834,43 €. Crazy...
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In Germany you would take the Thomann route and check in for 199,-

www.thomann.de

🎸 Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series

Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Serie, semi-hollow E-Gitarre mit F-Löcher, Ahorn Korpus mit gewölbter Decke und Mahagoni Sustain Block (Entandrophragma cylindricum), geleimter Hals aus kanadischem Ahorn, Laurel Griffbrett, Griffbrettradius 305 mm...
www.thomann.de www.thomann.de

I had seen these at the Guitar Summit. The guitars are very well made. The booth has been busy all days through.
 
hamerhead said:
The Dillion Phoenix (Korean Firebird) is here the longest (10 years maybe?) and still does all those Firebird-ish things it was meant to do, and has a nice fat neck to keep it here. Other than adding a strap button to the back of the neck for better balance I haven't changed anything on it - still bone stock. I gigged it for 5 years or so with only minor tweaks. No issues whatsoever.

The Peerless Bird-of-Prey (Korean LP Signature knock-off) is here nearly as long and currently in getting some fretwork done. Minor stuff but annoying just the same. Otherwise stock and still works pretty great.

The Hamer Slammer Series (Korean) bass has been here the longest and is rock-solid. Never an issue.

The others haven't been here long enough to judge....yet

The Firefly Thinline Tele and the IYV Thinline Tele were bought as modding platforms. The IYV was strung in Nashville tuning and used on some recordings ('Let it Rain' on the HFC record has some during the 3rd verse), then restrung and forwarded to a kid starting out. The Firefly was given to my great-nephew for graduation when I found a great Nashville T-51. Both were completely gig-worthy.

Of all the import stuff, I've only sent 2 D'Angelicos back for workmanship flaws. The current ones - Epiphone LPC, Squire Paranormal JazzmasterXII, Mitchell MS450, Firefly BillyBo, WestCreek 333 and Firefly Baritone Tele (just in) - come from all over (China, Indonesia, Korea and Viet Nam) and while the Korean ones have the edge, the others are catching up FAST. They all need tweaks, but most guitars do. Keeping in mind they range from $200 to $500, the term 'stupid good for the money' applies in a huge way. And you don't have to worry about bashing them around!

And really the best part is I get to try this cheap stuff, mess with it for awhile, then hand it off to somebody who needs it. At this stage of my life being able to help somebody just starting out - who doesn't really have the means - is important. The only rule is they can never sell it (that would be rude :)) but they can hand it forward to somebody who can use it.

Oh yeah - the World Tour bag came yesterday and it's pretty great for the money. Decent padding, big pockets, adequate zipper. Plus, my Kirebird and ChillyBo fit, too.
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Thanks for all the info. I’ve got a Hamer Korean double cut and it’s great, plays great, sounds great, not too heavy.
Protec has a 2 guitar bag for like 100 bucks on Amazon. I saw it reviewed ages ago and the fellow gave it pretty good review for if you’re carrying around like two fender style guitars, bolt on with no or little headstock tilt.
It is always cool when you can pass along something for someone to discover or improve their playing.
I do wonder if any of these companies will actually build a name for themselves. or just be known as companies that build cheap guitars that are pretty good. I know Peerless manufacturers for other brands. Not sure about the others
What was it Eddie used to say if it sounds good, it is good?
 
gorch said:
In Germany you would take the Thomann route and check in for 199,-

www.thomann.de

🎸 Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Series

Harley Benton HB-35 CH Vintage Serie, semi-hollow E-Gitarre mit F-Löcher, Ahorn Korpus mit gewölbter Decke und Mahagoni Sustain Block (Entandrophragma cylindricum), geleimter Hals aus kanadischem Ahorn, Laurel Griffbrett, Griffbrettradius 305 mm...
www.thomann.de www.thomann.de

I had seen these at the Guitar Summit. The guitars are very well made. The booth has been busy all days through.
Click to expand...
I heard the Harley Benton stuff has big necks, so I've got my eyes on those, too. They're more expensive here, though.
 
My Epiphone LPC is a 2004 from Korea with a fatter neck than my real '79 LPC and is about a pound and a half lighter, making it more fun to play. I put one of Josh's Cowpie Customs in the bridge and a humbucker-size Firebird-type in the neck, and it sounds close enough that you probably wouldn't notice switching between the two. Build quality is fantastic.

I had an '01 Epiphone Sheraton (Korean Samick factory build) that was flawless. The skinny neck killed an otherwise great guitar (for me).

Both of those were better than the WestCreek, but only by a small, mostly subjective margin. They were also twice the money (which isn't saying much :)) and MIK. I've played a lot more Epiphones that were far worse than the WestCreek.
 
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