Samick LP-450 Artist
| Summary |
|---|
| Manufacturer URL | http://www.samickguitar.com/ |
| Features | 9.0 (7 responses) |
| Sound | 9.9 (7 responses) |
| Action, Fit, & Finish | 9.4 (7 responses) |
| Reliability/Durability | 10.0 (7 responses) |
| Customer Support | 10.0 (3 responses) |
| Overall Rating | 10.0 (7 responses) |
*
|
Product: Samick LP-
450 Artist
Price Paid: US $350
Submitted
09/23/2005 at
01:19am by
alan Mcgaughey
Email: almcg2<at>yahoo dot com
Features : 10
This is an update to my 2000 review of my Samick Artist series LP. I have 4 guitars now. Fender Tele Thinline (hot customized - voodoo pups), 2005 Samick AV4, A very hot custom strat (also voodoo pups, and a 2005 Gibson 333. I still love my LP 450. I upgrade the bridge pup (5 years later). I now have a bright Dimarzio bucker in the bridge. Just what I needed. 10 for all the features my guitar already had andI still love. samick lp-450
Sound : 10
IT SOUNDS AWESOME! LiL '59 in neck and Dimarzio Bucker in bridge.... F'n awesome. Very rich, full sound. Wonderfull harmonics and beautiful texture.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
I still stare at this guitar, almost daily, for 5 years. Still so beautiful and I still marvel at hw well made it is. No issues 5 years later. I poliched it the other day. With a rag!..... no polich...just shined it up. Looks stunning. Wow Ilove this axe. Actually.... I sleep with it in a rack about one foot away from the head of my bed. I wake up looking at it everyday. For real! I love to touch it. The finish is so damn smooth. I thought I would have changed the Kluson style tuners by now.. nope, still there and still holding tune. THe neck is smooth as silk and very fast. The frets are showing a little wear... probably from all my bending and hand made vibrato effect, but stil smooth neck.
Reliability/Durability : 10
Built like a rock and beautiful as Rembrandt!
Customer Support : 10
never needed them. Don't need 'em. THis axe is built to be played and built to last... forever!
Overall Rating : 10
Playing since 1973... let's see..... 42 years. Man! Am I that old already? THIs axe is still my favorite and I love to play it. Handles better than any of my other ones. I would try to replace if lost or stolen... and then I would kill the guy if I caught him. If it was taken, I'd cry and be heart broken. I love it and will keep it forever. The best money I ever spent on any of my "toys", and one of the best values I've ever gotten for any of my toys. Samick built a fantastic guitar here. They are a wonderful company. My AV4 is also extremely impressive. GO SAMICK!!!!! 10 10 10 10 10 10 10
Product: Samick LP-
450 Artist
Price Paid: US $350
Submitted
12/04/2003 at
12:12am by
alan Mcgaughey
Email: almcg2<at>yahoo dot com
Features : 10
My Samick is 3 years old. I LOVE IT. So easy to play fast leads. Beautiful shaped neck, very smooth play. As others have sair the finish is "PERFECT". I replaced the neck pickup with a seymor duncan lil 59. Great warm sound. I'll replace the bbridge with something hotter. My strings are set very low, with no buzz. This beauty always stays in tune. I just bought a Behringer ultratwin amp (GX212) and the combo is awesome. I used to own a 1963 Gibson ES335 and this
Purchased $350 I think, new in 2000.
guitar is just as nice and smooth to play. Though I miss the Gibson and regret selling it fo $300 in 1975 (sniff sniff choke). My new setup now is great though and it lessens the pain quite a bit. I love just sitting a nd staring at this beauty, truly an extremely well made guitar. I also love the set neck, just has more class. Vintage tuners, cherry sun burst..... just classic and beautiful. Oh, the mother of pearl Samick and logo are very well done and super classy.
One of the most beautiful and great sounding Les Pauls I have ever seen and played (which is quite a few over 40 years). A solid 10
Sound : 10
THis guitar is perfect for any style. The sound is excellent with stock humbuckers, but out of this world with duncans or whatever suits you.... great sustain... oh yeah...
Sound, a 10 as well.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
Fit and finish is superb. I crack one of the plastic borders around my pickup, but that was my fault after my own pickup install job. Fit and finish is a 10 for sure.
Reliability/Durability : 10
Built solid as a rock. Feels like it can last for ever. Very well built... yeah Samick! This is my only guitar currently. I'm shopping for a Strat but this will be my main axe.
10 on reliability.
Customer Support : No Opinion
NO need... nothing ever happens to it. N/A
Overall Rating : 10
Playing for 40 years with some breaks. Love all music, and this guitar can take it all. If stolen I would replace.. I lve it. Hope I could find the same year. Great look. I shopped hard as I always do for toys and tools. This guitar won out, and I was ready to pay 4 digits. I would never give it back. Fantastic playable, professional quality instrument. Only thing I would ever modify is to upgrade the pickups. There are so many great ones out there, why not? overall a super solid 10.
Product: Samick LP-
450 Artist
Price Paid: US $400
Submitted
06/02/2003 at
09:29pm by
Anonymous
Features : 5
My first upgrade was a Samick LS 450 (cherry sunburst finish) and it sounded WAY better than my series 10 guitar I owned at the time. I eventually put a Seymour Duncan Full Shred pickup in the neck and a Dimarzio Evolution in the bridge and need I say it sounded AWESOME! I since bought another one in all black finish with gold hardware. To me, these are the best guitars samick makes honestly.
Sound : 9
The guitar suited my musical style fine(Rock/Metal) I am a crate amp user GFX 65 watt with DSP effects built in. Other than that no effects. When I switched the pickups in it it sounded way better thsn the stock. The only thing I have had a problem with samicks is the neck I get a buzzing alot cause I pick the strings real hard but it has since been fixed.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Only flaw it had when I bought it was the case kinda wore the p/u selsctor short but other than that the neck but that has since been fixed
Reliability/Durability : 10
This guitar is my backup but I do tend to use it alot I'm getting some work done to it at the moment (Zakk Wylde paint job) I use dunlop strap locks on all my guitars so I know I can depend on it.
Customer Support : No Opinion
Overall Rating : 10
I have been playing guitar for almost 8 yrs and the only upgrade I made in guitar purchasing is a custom made Carvin SC90S which is my main but honestly I play the samick for all my Zakk Wylde/BLS/Ozzy songs I know. If it were ever lost or stolen I'd probably buy it again or buy another Carvin. The thing I love about the guitar is it's a set neck not a bolt on and it sounds awesome. The thing I hate aboutit is also the neck cause I always get a buzzing sound.
Product: Samick LP-
450 Artist
Price Paid: US $199.00
Submitted
02/16/2003 at
06:45pm by
Anonymous
Features No Opinion
This is an update to my previous review. I was going through papers and came across my receipt for my Samick LP 450 Artist. I actually got this for $199, not $299 like I said previously. Thought I'd mention it because it just blows my mind that I found a used guitar this good for such a low price. I have since replaced the neck pickup with a Gibson 490 humbucker and the thing just sounds awesome. I also won a '93 Epi Birdseye Classic LP on ebay. The finish on the Samick is much better. The original pickups in the Epi are probably better than the original ones in the Samick. Still debating on whether the keep the Epi. Someday I might be able to afford the real "Gibson LP" but I'll still keep the Samick.
Product: Samick LP-
450 Artist
Price Paid: US $299.00 used
Submitted
01/24/2003 at
04:44pm by
Steve
Features : 8
Standard Les Paul features. 2 humbuckers, 3 way toggle pickup selector, 2 volume, 2 tone, stop tailpiece bridge, vintage style tuners. Excellent finish. Has the Bubinga would sunburst top and mahogany back. Really beautiful. The figuring of the bubinga top could be deeper but what do you want for a LP copy? I replaced the bridge pickup with a Gibson Burstbucker. Makes a hugh difference! Rate it an 8 just because the pickups were weak and the neck is a little too small for my liking.
Sound : 10
Like I said, the original pickups were weak. The neck pickup has a bit more power and gives a nice bluesy sound. The Gibson pickup just screams. However, I suck a soldering and I'll have to get this re-done as I also replace the pots with 500K (originally 250K) and they're basically just on or off now. I have a little Marshall 15watt practice amp and it sounds good through that (especially in the bridge position). I also just picked up a Peavey Prowler which I'm not crazy about, but this guitar with a Gibson pickup through a 45watt tube amp taught me what sustain REALLY is. Again, 8 only because of the original pickups. With upgraded pickups it's a 10.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
I bought this used and have raised the bridge slightly to prevent some buzzing in the strings. The nut is plastic and might not be original - doesn't look like it fits right. Other than that the finish is beautiful. As nice as ANY Gibson I have seen. The neck is too small and I trip over my own fingers.
Reliability/Durability : 10
Set neck. Nice solid axe.
Customer Support : No Opinion
Bought it used 2 years ago. If I need support (and I will on my pickup installs) I'm just going to find the local Gibson authorized tech and have them fix it.
Overall Rating : 10
I've been playing off and on for 20 years. I had a Hohner Les Paul copy (sucked), an '84 Fender Strat Standard (the kind with one vol, one tone - but made in USA). I have to say the wood and pickups make all the difference in a guitar. I play blues, hard rock, some punk, a little of everything. Other than the neck this guitar suits me fine and I'll eventually play out with it when the pickups are fixed. Solid mahogany and Gibson pickups are THE combo. Have some fun and get a project guitar - one of these Samicks or an Epi Les Paul and customize it. I will definitely keep an eye out for these Samicks, but I think that since Gibson bought Samick they've reeled them in some. Look for earlier version where "Samick" on the headstock is slightly more script, not so square.
Product: Samick LP-
450 Artist
Price Paid: N/A
Submitted
07/29/2001 at
11:11pm by
Anonymous
Features : 10
Made in Korea. You can read about the basic features in previous posts. Bubinga finish. Set neck. Has everything a Les Paul should have, except a high price. So, a 10.
Sound : 10
I love the neck p.u. for jazz. The mid position gives a good twang. The bridge p.u. is great for rock, and for recording solos. Tons of sustain. I mean tons. Love playing this guitar. I even use it for country.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
Finish is great. One very small flaw where the bubinga cap meets the binding, under the finish, to knock it to a 9. Set up for great low action and no buzzes. That bubinga is very nice to look at. This thing plays like a dream. Is very substantial.
Reliability/Durability : 10
Built like a tank.
Customer Support : 10
Samick out in California answers phone calls and is very good about info. Fact is, I have a catalog on the way as I write this.
Overall Rating : 10
Beats out 2 grand Gibsons I considered buying. I happened into a shop that sells Samicks right after Gibson shopping. They beat the Gibsons to a pulp and for a Whole Lot Less Money. Bided my time and found this one on Ebay. Such a deal. There was a time when I thought I'd be a Gibson man forever (70s). That day is gone. If Gibson went out of business tomorrow, I would not lament the day; I would simply say that Gibson's day came and went, and go out and buy a Samick. The technology of great guitar making is a genii out of the bottle.
Product: Samick LP-
450 Artist
Price Paid: Canadian Dollars 375 used
Submitted
05/16/1999 at
06:14am by
Evan Thompson
Email: evanbthompson<at>hotmail dot com
Features : 10
The configuration is a familiar Les Paul style, two humbuckers, rhythm/treble switch, 2 volume and 2 tone pots, classy gold hardware. I believe its body is two-piece mahogany, and the fretboard is ebony. The finish is heritage cherry, and i may be biased, but its the most beautiful guitar I've ever seen. The tuners are no-name but feel good, nothing feels cheap on this guitar. 10 cuz you got everything you need
Sound : 10
This guitar is unbelievable. I went into the guitar store to get an epiphone les paul classic birdseye, saw a Gibson Les paul studio, played them both, and liked this one better. It beat the gibson, which was about 400 canadian dollars more. Both the salesman and the guy who looked over it for me said they were amazed by the sound. I play everything from mellow acoustic-type stuff to grunge and hard rock, and this is the only guitar I need. Great clean tone, rich and full through my squier 15 watt amp, distortion- well, I need a new amp, so can't rate it quite yet, but you can get incredible crunch in Rhythym position and amazing solo sound in treble. An emphatic 10.
Action, Fit, & Finish : 9
The only minute problem I have with this guitar is there is a fair amount of fret buzz, with the low action, but that is to be expected even on a guitar of this quality. A solid 9.
Reliability/Durability : 10
This is not one of those cheap Les Paul rip-oofs that weighs half as much and the finish rubs off when you play it. This is the real deal, it's a heavy hunk of wood and it'll withstand lengthy playing, a live gig and a small nuclear blast. No elevens, so that means a ten.
Customer Support : 10
I've played other samicks, and I didn'rt like them. That, and their website kinda sucks. Got a three-month warranty from the store I bought it from (used), and will never need it. Still a ten, cause it's so solid, who cares about the warranty?
Overall Rating : 10
I have been playing (non-stop) for about six months, but have been obsessed about guitars for much longer. My first guitar was a very respectable Squier strat, and this is light-years beyond it. I looked at every guitar available, and this one played better and sounded better than anything under a thousand bucks. Every morning I wake up and bow at the feet of my guitar on its stand, and if anyone ever stole it, they'd never find all the pieces of the guy that did it. If you're done reading this review, then you're wasting valuable time that could be better spent buying this guitar. Get outta here.
Product: Samick LP-
450 Artist
Price Paid: US $400
Submitted
04/26/1999 at
01:21pm by
Rick
Features : 10
1998 Korean made. Mahogany body & set bounded maple neck, (glued neck like in the best tradition) ebony fretboard, 22 frets, 24 3/4 scale, trapazoid inlays. Flame arch top with a 1/2 cm. lamination of Bubinga African wood (it looks like Donald Trump's hardwood floor {it's really used to make hardwood floor.}) (Dark dark brown wood with lots of veins in it!) Two PFA like passive humbuckers, two volume, two tone, the bridge is stopped tail piece tune-O-Matic, chromed Kluson gears. This guitar looks super Les Paul and it looks like nothing else you have seen before.
Sound : 10
This guitar is a perfect un-official Les Paul, more Les Paul than Epiphone, the Samick's body is made out of 2 pieces of solid mahogany, the Les Paul Epiphone I previously owned was made out of 14 pieces, and it had a "big" time effect on its microphonic sound. The sound? Well if you like Les Paul, but you do not feel to spend a four digit amount of money, this guitar would be perfect. So far I love this guitar, again it has a gorgeous neck! I mainly play Hard/Rock and Blues and this guitar serves you very well either dirty or clean! I'll probably replace the pick ups with Seymour Duncan, but that is just me, because the manufacture pick ups are very good (at least they do not squil like my old Epiphone when the amp.is turned up to 6)
Action, Fit, & Finish : 10
The manufacture set up was (and still is) very very low and it has no buzz at all! I love it! The pick up were adjusted quite well! The bridge is Perfect, what can I say? This guitar is amazing. The guitar is simply great, even the name Samick is made out of mother pearl inlays and it looks great.
Reliability/Durability : 10
I do not see why this guitar should not make it! I replaced the strap buttons with Schaller (I am a Schaller freak what can I do?) I own three guitars, therefore I will always have back up (you'll never know)
Customer Support : No Opinion
No I never did and hopefully I 'll never will!
Overall Rating : 10
I 've been playing for 16 yrs. now, I owned lots lots of guiatrs that left me like a customer leaves a Hotel the next day or so. This Samick looks like is going to become a permanent customer in my collection. If lost (I hate saying "if stolen") YES I would purchase another one big-time. This guitar looks like an Epiphone, but in my opinion is way superior, the Epiphones are good gears but somehow thay are not as cured as this one. Samick really pushed quality and beauty to an unbeatable price. Unfortunately Epiphone are more popular, but check this guitar out first and then judge on your own.
Did I say I love thsi guitar?