Maison Les Paul Copy Mid '00s
 
We imported this from Japan for a look-see at what that market considers to be a decent starter instrument. It's a Chinese product but made for Japan, not here. The biggest difference between this and the average drop-shipped, never seen a tech's bench, starter guitar here is the basic fact that it feels like a grown up instrument, and the neck feels like it won't be a banana in 6 months.
 
The hardware and electrics are basic, but this is what we all start out with. Through a practice amp or a widely available freeware DI it is perfectly adequate. The neck pick-up may just get you to wind back the distortion and sink into some blues. Is this worth double Donner? This one is as it has been poured over by a fair few technicians and even some experienced luthiers who have made it into the best guitar it can be. It was even the guitar for a chap to practice cleaning guitars so it is extremely clean.
 
A £100 drop-shipped guitar with this amount of time and attention spent on it would easily become a £350 instrument after the luthier bills! We think this is ideal for a local sale so unless you really have fallen for its charms and you are happy to pay to ship it with our usual levels of care and love, this should be collection only.
 
This isn't a Korean Les Piol or a 90's hand-built classic - this is a modern guitar - just a few years old. Maison were a very reputable guitar in the 90's. As with so many of these companies, all done in China now. But, for Japan, not here. There is a difference.
 
Assuming you are local, we will look after it for you for a year (probably longer) for servicing and set-ups as part of the deal. Come and check it out - don't worry about being a beginner - first guitars are the most important.