Christian Olde Wolbers Dinky Archtop 7-String Review

Seven-string mahogany arch-top body, three-piece bolt-on mahogany neck, reverse headstock, compound radius ebony fingerboard with no inlays, EMG 707 humbucking pickup, adjustable string-through-body bridge and black hardware.

Features:	9
Sound:	9
Action:	6
Reliability:	9
Impression:	8.5
Overall rating:	8.3
Users rating:	8.1
Comments:	10

Featured review by: unregistered, on september 17, 2007

Price paid: $ 600

Purchased from: Musicians Friend

Features: I recently picked up a COW signature dinky from Musicans Friend. First and foremost, it is a decent guitar for a non USA (Japanese). The basic setup for this guitar is string through, mahogany carved body with ebony over maple fretboard. The coolest feature is the blackness of this guitar (obviously I had the black one) and the reverse headstock. It comes loaded with a single EMG-81 with is pure rawness. Since this is a single configuration, one pickup guitar with that hot EMG in it, your pretty much stuck with playing only metal and rock with it. No clean tones at all, even with volume backed off. // 9

Sound: If you like metal then this is the guitar for you. Mahogany body + ebony fretboard + EMG 81 = very bright attack. Harmonics are excellent and almost effortless. This guitar is a true crunch machine. Just listen to Fear factory and this is what you can expect from this guitar. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: OK here comes the negative part of my review. For the most part, the finish, bridge and everything was good except the setup / truss rod. To it's credit, musicians friend did a terrible job of packing this guitar and I am surprised it actually arrived in tact. Needless to say, there was major fret buzz across the board. The truss rod was way too tight which actually warped the neck. I took this guitar to 2 different shops to get the neck adjusted and to my chagrin, no one could get it right. Bottom line, don't buy from mail order Musicans friend without getting a hardshell case andinsist it is packaged well. // 4

Reliability & Durability: From my limited account, it seems pretty reliable however, I cannot give it an unbiased throrough rating because I only had the guitar in my possession for two weeks in which the majority of the time it was in the shop trying to get the neck adjusted. I think it would have benn better if they gave it a set neck and I couldnt imagine the amount of sustain this thing would have put out. // 8

Impression: This guitar is a bad @$$ metal machine. The tone makes it seem like it was forged in the darkest recess of the bowels of metal hell! I played this through a Mesa Triple rec, a 5150 series one combo and a Spider 3. If it were not for the horrible fret buzz this guitar would have shred! I sent mine back to MF and will definitely get another from a local shop were I can actually play before I purchase (advice to any guitarist). Final thought, this guitar is good for a Japanese made guitar but if you are looking for a true Jackson, save your pennies and go for a USA made soloist. Granted, I was initially attracted to the signature model hook but stick with USA made guitars! // 7

overall: 9.2

Reviewed by: Shredmaster42, on may 07, 2007

Purchased from: Long McQuade

Features: This signature guitar was made in Japan, like most other Jacksons, and is autographed by guitarist Christian Olde Wolbers of Fear Factory. This amazing 7 srting includes an active EMG-707 in the bridge, tone pros bridge with string through body, and a ridiculously large reverse headstock. The all black fininsh makes the guitar look as cool as it sounds. There is only one knob which is for volume. // 9

Sound: I run a DigiTech RP250 and a DigiTech Death Metal to a Line 6 Spider 2 which makes for a huge sound. The guitar has an ungodly bottom end when the 7th string is tuned to A and used on the amp's METAL channel, and produces a sound reminicent to Slipknot and/or Devil Driver. This guitar can satisfy pretty much any playing style, but I wouldn't see anyone playing country music with it. So the guitar is mostly suited for metal and hard rock. // 9

Action, Fit & Finish: The all black finish is a fingerprint haven, but that's nothing a glasses cloth can't handle. There was only one flaw in the guitar, which is some dried glue on the nut, but can be fixed with a little touch up paint. The headstock is a reversed Jackson 7 string that is absolutely huge and I was surprised that it fit in my gig bag, but there is an optional case that Jackson makes. The pickups were perfectly balanced, but was done by the guy at the store. It's a badass looking guitar though, well done Jackson, well done. // 8

Reliability & Durability: This guitar is built like a tank and can kill someone if they get too close to the headstock! The strap buttons are tough as nails and the Jackson tuners keep the instrument in tune for ages. I would love to do a concert with this guitar, and would never need a backup. // 10

Impression: This 7 string is possibly the best one you can buy out there. It will satisfy any metalhead looking to unleash the fury. I love the massive headstock, but they should have put a split coil pickup in it because the clean tones are crap, but that's not why I bought the guitar. If it was stolen, I would find the person Who stole it and kill them, because the guitar is that good! I play really heavy souns and palm muting riffs, and this guitar delivers! // 10

Comments

[DeathByStereo23]

nice man,very nice!

[LoW]

Dude, that was one great review!! I 'm gonna buy this guitar, and u just told me some stuff, that got me even more interested about this guitar \,,/

[Shredmaster42]

I just want to add something to the review I made. I got the guitar for $730.00 Can. If anyone wants to know.

[RG_FANMAN]

I kinda want this one, but would prefer the Six string version. Still sounds cool though.

[chiba666]

I own the 6 string version of this and its a great guitar, no flaws that I can see on teh body, plays very well.

Just me just over £400 which is a brargin as well

[imascreamer]

why have you posted a review for a 6 string with an 81 on here? tool.

[Fender Usa]

cant wait to get this guitar!!!!! 7 string version>>>>6

[Ventor]

I have one but the guitar is not well balanced, and upper fret access is difficult due to the bolt on construction. Those are the only negative points I have about this guitar.

[Shredmaster42]

Well after about a year, the electronics failed horribly on this thing and it took about one month to fix, you know what though, I couldn't wait to play it when I got home!!

[MUSICFIEND21]

i just got this guitar a couple of weeks ago and its amazing.i am gonna post a reveiw in the next week or 2 when i am done putting it threw its paces.