Scout
Reviewed by:
unregistered, on july 25, 2007 3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 110
Purchased from: Al Corey Music
Features: Made in 2004 in China, this guitar came to life with a destiny to be loved by a budding guitarist. And that it has been. 20 frets on a maple neck, not sure of the fingerboard, as it's been painted black, but it looks like a fairly low-grade wood, nothing super-special. It's got a laminate top, some sort of laquer finish, maybe nitro. The body smells sort of like balsa wood, but judging from the grain I can see, I think it's probably a fir or spruce or pine. The finish is probably the best and most impressive part of this guitar. It's a sparkly, shiny, razzle-dazzle blue, and I've seen others in every color of the rainbow, and then some. It's the first thing that people notice on the guitar: "nice sparkly guitar, man!" Having said thus, it is my favorite part. The body is a bit smaller in comparison to other acoustics, but it's a full dreadnought, but the tail end is a little skinnier than ones made by Fender or Dean or Gibson. Tuners are, surprisingly, Schaller. Very nice and smooth, but a little high-geared (they don't tune "fine"). It came with a gigbag, which could be upgraded to a hardcase for an extra 50 bucks. // 8
Sound: I bought this guitar as a first guitar, to start off, see what I could do with it. When this was my only guitar, I played mostly light rock, indie bands and oldies. Modest Mouse was my primary band to draw on, since most of their songs could be played by an acoustic without much sound change. Also in my repritoire was Red Hot Chili Peppers, for the same reason, and Green Day. As my musical tastes evolved over the course of a year, I managed to sound out such bands as Tool, Dream Theatre and Opeth, as far as their lighter, more clean songs were concerned. I also used it to simply mess around, improvise chord sequences to see what sounded good. And for the record, the harmonics on this sound better than on my B.C. Rich Mockingbird on clean. The sound is like many other acoustics, though more saturated at the low ends, I'm not sure why. Many acoustic pickups don't work well with this guitar, once again I'm not sure why. In all, it has a very nice sound for a very modestly priced guitar. // 9
Action, Fit & Finish: It was set up perfectly for an entry-level guitar. It was simple: pick up the guitar, place in lap, grab pick, tune a bit, and play. On that subject, this guitar holds a tuning for months on end, with and without playing. I think that the only complaint I could possibly have is that the action is a little high, but that may be necessary to keep the intonation in tune. Other than that, it's all good. // 8
Reliability & Durability: This guitar is far too low-end to even think of being onstage. It's fine for sitting around with a bunch of friends and busting out a few songs, but for crowds? You're insane. Indiana makes several higher end models, which are just like this as far as value goes. If you think you only get what you pay for, these guitars might just surprise you. The hardware is definitely built to last. Everything here is built to last, if you treat it correctly. It'll withstand being in your kid's back closet, and them trucking it to all their friend's houses on the weekends (well, that's what I've done with it, anyway), and it'll still be going several years down the road (mine is). I've never tried the strap buttons, but they sure look solid. Like I said, I'd never want to use it at a gig, but I might use this as my backup if I were to need an acoustic backup at a gig. The finish is 100% solid. No chance of it deteriorating, ever. Except on the neck, it's started to wear away on frets one, two and three (a year and a half of chordwork add up after a while). // 8
Impression: It's a wonderful starter guitar, in all. If you need a very basic model to try out guitar, this is it. I've been playing this, my first guitar, for a year and a half, and it's still going strong. I'll never regret buying it, and I hope to keep playing it for long time to come. There's nothing to really be the "best" or "worst", it's an entry-level guitar. I compared it to a plethora of other guitars, and chose this one because of my $140 budget, a 5% sales tax, and the fact that I wanted a coffee at the time. Were it lost, stolen or otherwise incapacitated, I would mourn the loss of my first guitar, and then buy a higher end Indiana, and probably a Fender or Dean. Bottom line: if you're looking for a good entry-level guitar, look no further. // 8
Scout
Reviewed by:
austin_m, on march 26, 2012 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 109.00
Purchased from: pavlovs music center
Features: Made in I believe 2004 in China. Its a great first guitar for learning. It has 20 frets. A maple neck and rose wood finger board a laminate black top. It's a pine wood. It is a black painted guitar with a cream colored outline. Its a dreadnought body style. The bridge style is I believe a floyd rose. It didn't come with any accessories when I got it. I love this guitar. // 6
Sound: This guitar suits my music style that I play on it very well keeps op great I play country music on it. Its an acoustic so I can't use any amps or effects on it.it is noisy loud enough to hear it all through the house when I play it. It has a rich full sound and yes it has a bright and clear sound its an acoustic so no special sounds. // 8
Action, Fit & Finish: The guitar was set up well in the factory. You can play almost anything on it. You can just pick it up and go with a little tuning adjustments. This guitar hods tune for months with out being tuned with or without playing action is a little high but I still like it. // 5
Reliability & Durability: This guitar is defiantly not for live on stage performance but great for sitting around the camp fire and playing a tune. I have dropped this guitar 4 or 5 times and is still in good shape it has a few chips and scratches but is still holding up as long as you don't abuse it it will last a long time and hold up. I haven't had a problem with the strap buttons although I would invest in some strap locks. You can depend on it for a small gig in the town I would use it with out a back up without a doubt. I've play this guitar a lot and it has not faded finish is good enough to last. // 6
Impression: I play country and rock it is best with country its a great match for for me and what I do. I've been playing for 2 years one year with this guitar I own a Morgan electric guitar a Behringer amp and a First Act guitar. I don't regret buying this guitar nor would I need to ask any more questions if it were stolen or lost I would miss it but I would buy this style guitar again along with a Gibson. I did compare it to a silver tone but didn't have the money for the silver tone so I got this one.I love the way it sounds. I don't hate anything about this guitar. My favorite feature would have to be the color. If your looking for a cheap or even a good guitar for learning your search should be over. // 8
Scout
Reviewed by:
Spowell8787, on september 03, 2009 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Price paid: $ 65
Purchased from: CrazyHorse MusicStore
Features: This was made in China, I don't know what year. It's got 20 nickel frets and diecast chrome tuners. It's got a Lindenwood top with catalpa back and sides, a rosewood fretboard, and a rosewood bridge. Mine is a beautiful blue dreadnought Acoustic with a high gloss finish and a black pickgaurd. My guitar came with a gig bag, and a 10 year warranty.
Overall its a very basic Acoustic guitar, and I like that. // 10
Sound: I get a nice warm Acoustic sound out of it. It suits my playing very well. It sounds nice with a pick, or finger style. It isn't an acoustic/electric so you don't have to worry about EQ and whatnot. Basically it sounds exactly like an Acoustic guitar should sound like. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: The action on this guitar was fine, I haven't changed it since I bought it. The only flaw I could find on this guitar were a few finish flaws around where the neck and body meet, but you would have to look really close to even notice them. This guitar is pretty much flawless. // 9
Reliability & Durability: This guitar is definitely durable. I let my boyfriend play it and he doesn't watch where he goes so it's been smashed very hard into walls numerous times. My cats have jumped on top of it when I've layed it down. The only thing this guitar has to show of all this abuse is a scratch and a small dent. I would use this guitar live and not worry about a back up. // 10
Impression: I play mostly country, and southern rock. This guitar fits it perfectly. I have had this Acoustic for a year and I don't dream of replacing it. Its a very basic Acoustic guitar, for a very reasonable price, and the best part is that it plays well and sounds even better! // 10
Scout
Reviewed by:
l0rd0ct0d0rk, on june 04, 2008 0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased from: Pawn Shop
Features: I bought the guitar used, so I don't know the year it was made, or where it was made. It has a thick neck, and it has a Dreadnought body. The bridge uses bone pegs to hold the strings in the holes. This is an acoustic guitar, so it has no electronics, what'soever. This guitar has great tuners, but they are factory made. I bought the guitar from a pawn shop, so I did not get any other accessories with it. // 7
Sound: This guitar has a great sound to it. It has no fret buzz yet, and the strings do not buzz open, either. It is a guitar that is well-suited for you to bring to a small gathering.(Backyard BBQ, Sitting around a campfire, Etc. ) It can hold it's own to a bunch of people talking loud. This guitar suits my music styles well. I play mostly classic rock. I also play everything else, too. Like I said, it is an acoustic guitar, which means I can't really use any amps with it. // 10
Action, Fit & Finish: I bought the guitar used from a pawn shop, so I don't know any of the attributes it had when it was made in the factory. This acoustic guitar has a great body, bridge, neck, headstock, and fretboard. The wood is of excellent quality. The only rusted hardware I found on this acoustic guitar were the strings, which I replaced with a Brand New set. It also only has one strap button on it. // 9
Reliability & Durability: This guitar is one of the main guitars I carry around with me to practice with. This guitar has great hardware. However if I were to go hardcore with it, I would replace the tuners. It only has one strap button, which is pretty solid right now. I could depend on it for playing Live, but I always have a backup just in case anything were to go wrong. The finish is rather good for a guitar that I bought for less than $100. // 10
Impression: I play classic rock, and I also play country with this guitar. The acoustic sound does good with classic country songs. This guitar also sounds excellent as a clean guitar in classic rock. If it were stolen, I would probably buy a Brand New one. There's not very much to hate about the guitar. If it needed anything, that anything would be electronics. I compared it to five other acoustic guitars in the same price range, but this one sounded the greatest. // 8
How come all the acoustics look the same? I mean they look the even though they are made by different companies. Anyway thanks for the review =)
it's because the shape of an acoustic greatly affects it's sound. It's all physics, really. The shape of the chamber in the guitar affects the way the string vibrations resonate inside to guitar to create amplification...
it's why a dreadnaught would pretty much always sound better than one of those hideous acoustic Vs that dean makes.
They do have single cutaway acoustics, and a few other styles too. Just they are a lot less common, and nowhere near as popular.
I got my Scout from a friend for free. he got one of Ovation's higher end lines for his birthday, brand new, so he gave me his Indiana because I wanted to learn how to play. He still has his Ovation, and he still asks me if I want to trade every two or three weeks XD
Why such high reviews? I have played on a Scout before and they are crap. And I mean crap. They have absolutely no sustain, the action is is like the Grand Canyon by the time you get to the fifteenth fret, and they are laminate top. If you are looking to get an entry level guitar, I don't recommend a Scout. You could get a used Fender dreadnaught laminate-top for about the same price at a local instrument pawn shop or music store. Bottom line: they suck. Your fingers hurt like hell after an hour or less. Don't buy one.
This was the type of guitar that i started out with, i got it 3 years ago. I played for a week and it was in the closet for 2 years. I finaly gained my intrest back and fixed up the guitar. It needed the bridge glued back on it and new strings, then i never put it back down! They are cheap guitars but you are so right, they are great starters and extremly durable. They can get banged around a bit and still last the clumsy starters(like me) I have now gotten 3 more guitars, a Gibson, Ibenez, and a Framus 12, even though i have them. I still pull out the Indiana for some of my Green Day, Seether, or other country songs... (Martin Mediums sound amazing on it!!)
Im not sure what model it is, maybe a scout, but I have an Indiana, and I have mixed feelings about it. True the action is way too high, and no sustain on notes or especially bends. In my opinion if youre trying to rip sweet solos on acoustic, buy a nicer guitar, but for simple chords and rythym this 1 suits me fine. As far as the "grand canyon" action I agree, its terrible, but I use it to my advantage. I recommend using this as a practice guitar for before gigs or around the house, if you play this first then a good guitar feels likes the chords are holding themselves.
i have an indiana scout, its not bad. i wouldnt gig with it but its a great practice guitar. looks nice to- and it sounds a hundred times better than any fenders in that price range, thats for sure! i think a little bit of work on the action and a better set of strings are in order and it should be very decent. if i were to go and review it id say an 8. really. but still not as good as the ibanez acoustic i got for about the same price.
They are cheap guitars but you are so right, they are great starters and extremly durable. They can get banged around a bit and still last the clumsy starters(like me) I have now gotten 3 more guitars, a Gibson, Ibenez, and a Framus 12, even though i have them. I still pull out the Indiana for some of my Green Day, Seether, or other country songs... (Martin Mediums sound amazing on it!!)