Cheap First Act axes

[Robert]

See this

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/catalog/categoryinfo.aspx?cid=126&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/catalog/Sheena,127.aspx

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/catalog/Special-Deals,163.aspx

Under $100!

I don't know much about these though. Are they any good?

 

[Jimi75]

These guitars look pretty good to me.

Isn't it great which options young players have today. Thinking back of the time that I started playing the price quality relation was another one, it was way worse than nowadays.

 

[wingsdad]

They sit on display at the front of WalMart, in the toy instrument aisles at Toys R Us and Target. Perfect spots.

 

[Spudman]

You're way behind on this. Last week they had the set neck mahogany Lola for $99 but they are all gone now. Great $400 guitar for $99.

 

[Brian Krashpad]

You're way behind on this. Last week they had the set neck mahogany Lola for $99 but they are all gone now. Great $400 guitar for $99.

^This.

 

[sensei]

I played a First Act Strat copy for about 3 years. No problems. Decent tone, stayed in tune very well. Very sturdy guitar.

 

[Robert]

I am always behind. Sue me. Just DON'T delete my cookies!

 

[Viking Power]

You're way behind on this. Last week they had the set neck mahogany Lola for $99 but they are all gone now. Great $400 guitar for $99.

Seriously?!!!??? If so, I may need to really look at one of these rather than spending $4-700 on my first electric. Wow!

 

[Spudman]

Seriously?!!!??? If so, I may need to really look at one of these rather than spending $4-700 on my first electric. Wow!

Then hurry and get one of the set neck Sheena's before they are gone.
http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/CE2400002-Sheena-CE240-Blue,569,127.aspx

 

[Blaze]

Anybody knows about this 30 watter ..

Curious !!

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/30-watt-1X10-Guitar-Combo-Amp,560,163.aspx

 

[tunghaichuan]

I've got one of those.

What did you want to know about it?

tung

Anybody knows about this 30 watter ..

Curious !!

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/30-watt-1X10-Guitar-Combo-Amp,560,163.aspx

 

[Viking Power]

Then hurry and get one of the set neck Sheena's before they are gone.
http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/CE2400002-Sheena-CE240-Blue,569,127.aspx

I know I sound completely ignorant, but are these really $400 guitars selling for under $100? Really?

What I'm getting at is are they reliable, stay in tune, sound good guitars? Are they equivalent to what you can get in an Epiphone for $400 or so?

 

[Blaze]

I've got one of those.

What did you want to know about it?

tung

Is it good for bedroom practicing .Does it sounds and work like a $80.00 amp ??

 

[sunvalleylaw]

I really wanted one of the Sheenas or Lolas, but just didn't go there.

 

[tunghaichuan]

Is it good for bedroom practicing .Does it sounds and work like a $80.00 amp ??

Actually I have this one:

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/50-watt-1X12-Guitar-Combo-Amp,562,163.aspx

This amp originally listed for $800 or so. They never sold very well, so FA is blowing them out just to get rid of them.

I also have the $20 footswitch.

The amp is not bad for $100. It is very heavy, due to the MDF cabinet. The speaker is a 4 ohm full range type, very hard to find a replacement for.

The amp has four different amp sounds built in. It has a blackface fender, a marshall, a mesa, and a trainwreck setting. None of them sound exactly like the amp they are emulating, though. The amp tones are all analog.

It has digital FX. The reverb is terrible, it doesn't sound like a reverb to me. The echo (digital delay) is actually pretty good, and has a fairly long delay time. The tremolo works as advertised, but I never use that effect so I can't really comment on how good it is or not.

It takes some getting used to as the control configuration is kind of weird.

Mine does not sound all that good. There is some weird artifact when using the distortion voices. It does not sound tube-like at all. I never sent the amp back for warranty work as it it is too heavy.

Clean, it sounds okay, but there is not a lot of headroom. And the amp is kind of noisy. A friend of mine has one as well, and his does not have these problems. He says his sounds very good for what it is.

The 1x10" combo might be a better bedroom/practice amp as it is smaller and lighter. And it is less expensive.

I'm thinking I'm going to either gut it and build a tube amp circuit into the chassis, or just give it to my brother.

Overall, it is a decent amp for the money and would probably make a good practice amp if you could get along with the tones the amp produces.

There are a few postings on the Gear Page, if you want better informed comentary on the amps:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/search.php?searchid=12739952

tung

 

[luvmyshiner]

Are you guys serious? I don't know anything about the electrics, but I've heard nothing good about the acoustics. Word is they won't hold their tune, they don't sound good, and they have horrible problems with splits, cracks, warped necks and other problems associated with poor humidity conditions at Walmart, Target and other places where they're sold.

 

[Blaze]

Actually I have this one:

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/50-watt-1X12-Guitar-Combo-Amp,562,163.aspx

This amp originally listed for $800 or so. They never sold very well, so FA is blowing them out just to get rid of them.

I also have the $20 footswitch.

The amp is not bad for $100. It is very heavy, due to the MDF cabinet. The speaker is a 4 ohm full range type, very hard to find a replacement for.

The amp has four different amp sounds built in. It has a blackface fender, a marshall, a mesa, and a trainwreck setting. None of them sound exactly like the amp they are emulating, though. The amp tones are all analog.

It has digital FX. The reverb is terrible, it doesn't sound like a reverb to me. The echo (digital delay) is actually pretty good, and has a fairly long delay time. The tremolo works as advertised, but I never use that effect so I can't really comment on how good it is or not.

It takes some getting used to as the control configuration is kind of weird.

Mine does not sound all that good. There is some weird artifact when using the distortion voices. It does not sound tube-like at all. I never sent the amp back for warranty work as it it is too heavy.

Clean, it sounds okay, but there is not a lot of headroom. And the amp is kind of noisy. A friend of mine has one as well, and his does not have these problems. He says his sounds very good for what it is.

The 1x10" combo might be a better bedroom/practice amp as it is smaller and lighter. And it is less expensive.

I'm thinking I'm going to either gut it and build a tube amp circuit into the chassis, or just give it to my brother.

Overall, it is a decent amp for the money and would probably make a good practice amp if you could get along with the tones the amp produces.

There are a few postings on the Gear Page, if you want better informed comentary on the amps:

http://www.thegearpage.net/board/search.php?searchid=12739952

tung

Any Clips .....ah! ah!

Well ! does 'nt sound so good to me , thanks Thung !

I ll pass..

 

[just strum]

I am always behind. Sue me. Just DON'T delete my cookies!

Way too many lawyers here to be throwing that comment out.

 

[Spudman]

I know I sound completely ignorant, but are these really $400 guitars selling for under $100? Really?

What I'm getting at is are they reliable, stay in tune, sound good guitars? Are they equivalent to what you can get in an Epiphone for $400 or so?

The set neck guitars are better than or just as good as an Epi.

 

[just strum]

The set neck guitars are better than or just as good as an Epi.

I have never seen a FA guitar, but I find that statement really hard to believe. Since you stated it, I now have to find an FA to see if I concur. When people compare Epi as being close to Gibson (although heavily disputed), that would be saying an FA is close to a Gibson (I know, that is not your intent).

You've played enough guitars that you have to admit, that is a pretty good endorsement you are making.

 

[just strum]

Maybe I should ask to clarify - are you saying that they are as good as Epi in the same price range (although I've never come across a new Epi at $80 to $100)?

 

[Spudman]

The set neck guitars are better than or just as good as an Epi.

The bolt-ons however, I haven't a clue about.

 

[just strum]

Trying to find some info about the guitars, I came across an interesing "man on the street" comment.

One of my personal favorite guitar players, Rusty Anderson (McCartney's touring band guitarist) uses the higher end First Acts. I believe the guitar in this video played by the interviewer is one of them..I haven't had the opportunity to personally check them out but considering the status of some of the players using them, they're probably pretty good..



I have talked to some of the local stores here in the Chicago area and they said when they saw the guitars at the Namm show the high end stuff was nice, but all told them sorry and passed.

They all did this because of the name recognition and it being known as junk. I did buy one of their modeling amps on their site as a $99 blowout and it was far from "Walmart" junk. The Fender channel had too much bass even for a Bassman, but the Vox channel was pretty nice. Easier to carry around than my Twin, but I needed the cash and turned it.

 

[Brian Krashpad]

Trying to find some info about the guitars, I came across an interesing "man on the street" comment.

One of my personal favorite guitar players, Rusty Anderson (McCartney's touring band guitarist) uses the higher end First Acts. I believe the guitar in this video played by the interviewer is one of them..I haven't had the opportunity to personally check them out but considering the status of some of the players using them, they're probably pretty good..



I have talked to some of the local stores here in the Chicago area and they said when they saw the guitars at the Namm show the high end stuff was nice, but all told them sorry and passed.

They all did this because of the name recognition and it being known as junk. I did buy one of their modeling amps on their site as a $99 blowout and it was far from "Walmart" junk. The Fender channel had too much bass even for a Bassman, but the Vox channel was pretty nice. Easier to carry around than my Twin, but I needed the cash and turned it.

Mark, the FA's have 3 levels of guitars, the really junky ones sold in Walmart, the mid-level ones, and really expensive ones. The ones referred to above as "higher end" are the really expensive ones. There are lots of touring pros who are beginning to use those, I know the gal bassist for Drive By Truckers has one. Iirc Rick Nielsen has one of their crazier contraptions as well.

I'd have no hesitation at all playing one of those models, if I could afford it.

 

[Squireman131]

I have some experience with their acoustics.

http://shop.firstact.com/PublicStore/product/38-Acoustic-Guitar,296,93.aspx

My gram and pap bought me this one for my birthday cause i was in need of a acoustic. Its alright for being a hundred dollar guitar. the necks not really fast. I would get rid of it if i had a better acoustic but i dont. But when i first got it i couldnt stop playing it because it was my first full sized acoustic. I guess i wouldnt ever buy another first act but its a great beginners guitar.