Don't forget that apart fom delivery charge, you will have to pay 17.5% import duty (on the delivery charge too if i remember rightly - maybe not) and a 'collection charge' to the UK deliverer (about £15 if it's the Post Office).

I bought a Crate Powerblock from the US before they were available here - it ended up costing not much less than the eventual UK RRP.

http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns

Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.

There was a discussion about this topic, but it was under one of the daily pics, so there is no way to access it. But, I remember Jake giving some pretty good arguments against DiPintos.

Jake?

Massively underwhelmed sounds about right to me. I don't think they feel good either, you can't feel the wood and I don't like the whole wiring pickguard and how that feels(it feels hollow).

I've owned one of the Galaxie 4 Los Straitjacket models for the past couple years, and VERY much like it. FYI I also own a Tokai Hummingbird reissue and a US 62 RI Jazzmaster. The feel of the body and neck (but esp the body) are very JM like, but just a little more compact. I decided to keep this guitar when I got my JM because it is very easy playing and the 4 pickups give a very different sound than the JM. It's about a half pound lighter than my JM. The cosmetics as I got it were flawless; it came with a DiPinto gig bag.

I have never had a problem with any of the hardware - it stays in tune well (right now I have 12-50 gauge on it and tune it down a half step), the trem works smoothly, and the neck is very comfortable. I bought mine new and it came very well set up - I haven't had to mess with it at all.

I have not opened mine up, so I can't really comment on the quality of the electronics, but again I have had no issues. The 4 pickups give a lot of combinations that are fun to experiment and play with. I generally use pickups 1 and 4 together. The rocker switches make it easy. I would recommend this guitar highly to anyone - I think it's a great deal for a unique and good quality guitar.
FYI the Hummingbird (now under the Eastwood brand) was also a great deal, but it is a heavier, much larger feeling guitar - the soapbar type pickups are a bit hotter than standard JM, but very clear.
Hope this helps!

I can't comment on the depintos but they look cool. I have played several of the Italia guitars though and found the quality to be good. They have the same kind of visual vibe. They have dealers in the UK and this model is about £370 or so street price.
image

http://www.myspace.com/thepashuns

Youth and enthusiasm are no match for age and treachery.

I have had a Los Straitjackets Galaxie but I sold it. I loved the looks of the thing but there were a few problems. The 4 pickups stuck up so far and were so close together I was always hitting them with my pick. It's more than likely just the way I play but I like a bit of space between the pickups but I never had a problem with a strat. Also the 4 on-off red buttons for the pickups makes it look like you have massive pickup combinations but really only about 3 combos sound good. The rest are too muddy. I also have a Dipinto Belvadier and I love this guitar. Good pickups, neck, plays well, sounds good. I also have 2 Tokai Hummingbirds. I really like these guitars. Of any of these, the Hummingbirds have super good "surf tone".
Maui

Rio
My music teacher can get great jazz tones out of it, surprisingly... Not my cup of tea, but it says something about their versatility (or my teacher's talent)

I have always believed this is what separates MUSICIANS from people who are just players. Every instrument has weaknesses and strengths to there sound and playability. A true musician can take any instrument and emphisize it's strengths and tone down it weaknesses. I have always looked at guitar playing like crayons and a coloring book. If you have your Strat, Jag,JM, LP and SG for instance is like having a box of24 crayons and you can color some pretty decent pictures with 24 crayons. Ad a Galaxie 4 to your collection is like having 36 crayons and you can color better pictures......add a Hallmark equals 48 crayons ect. I have been looking at the Galaxie 4 for awhile now and will probably get one because it will give me more colors in my crayon box. Now if you will excuse me the attendants are coming to put the straitjacket back on me.

2012-2013: FILTHY POLAROIDS

JakeDobner
Except the extra crayons are a cheap off brand that feel bad and don't color as well.

But surely its not about the quality of the crayons Jake, its the marks you make with them...

(Do not be led by that statement into believing that i am some guitar expert! (just philosophical when it counts)

http://www.myspace.com/surfpunkdiscopanzer

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Last edited: Sep 23, 2009 15:40:47

Yeah... I'm ashamed for playing with the crayon analogy. However, my analogy is based along the crayons breaking and being hard to draw with. Is that possible with different crayons? I don't know.

I guess what I'm saying different guitars hamper playability and comfort, which has an effect on your hands and overall ability to play guitar although your tone may be in the same ballpark.

We are getting off topic on how much I loathe the dipintos.