Saint Blues Guitars......are special.

Michael Bolt-on · October 2nd, 2008, 07:08 PM

Seriously. They just are. I totally can understand if the looks don't float all guitar players boats, but how can you argue with the feel and playability of these guitars. I played all the models today. The only one I didn't care for was the (2) P90 Bluesmaster. I usually like P90's a lot, but these just seemed to thick and dark for my liking, not enough bite and snarl. Otherwise, the woods used (2 peice select Swamp Ash bodies, AAA Indian rosewood boards, The maple necks were just awesome feeling, maple boards also felt amazing. All come standard with bone nuts. These felt incredibly high end for the money ($600-$700). They felt substantial like my Les Paul, but not too heavy. The rosewood fretboards were probably the best I've ever played and seen. The Wilkinson brass saddle bridge on the traditional tele style guitar was wonderful, the bridges on all other models "looked" just OK, but I'm sure they work just fine.
Put the Fender headstock and traditional look aside, and try these out. I can't even believe how nice these guitars are......

Michael Bolt-on · October 10th, 2008, 01:14 PM

No one else is as impressed with these as I am?

scubadoo · October 10th, 2008, 01:27 PM

I've seen some in a local shop and they don't do it for me. I've never played one but we all know that the most important thing about a guitar is how cool it looks

and they just look fat bottomed ugly.

Michael Bolt-on · October 10th, 2008, 02:21 PM

I hear ya on the looks bro, but you really have to try one. They make pretty much all other guitars of the traditional Strats and Teles feel like toys. Seriously! They're that good.

beach bob · October 10th, 2008, 02:42 PM

I assume you are talking about the recent Korean made St. Blues, the Bluesmaster models? I've read some negative things about the build quality on them, but I haven't seen one in person, so that's just from reading on the internets.

Glad you like 'em, perhaps the build quality issues have been worked out?... It was a cool design 25 years ago, and still is, IMO. FWIW I have a St. Blues from the 80s, it's a strat type thing, and really nice. Here's the thread about it [w/ pictures!], some interesting info about the company there too...
Linky

Michael Bolt-on · October 10th, 2008, 03:28 PM

Yikes! Build quality issues?? I wasn't aware of any issues in the past, as these are the first that I've physically seen and played, and I've heard great things about them as well. What has actually made the awkward looks of these guitars grow on me is was the actual build quality and excellent woods used in these things. I really haven't come across anything under $1250 and up that I liked more in terms of build quality, feel, and playability! I suppose pickups can allways be subjective, but I liked em' which is a money saver I guess..

delta tone · October 10th, 2008, 04:53 PM

Don't know a whole lot about them, but the word is they are about to start production on an Amercian made version. Maybe an initial run of 50 or so. That is what I heard. Not sure when that will begin. But that is the goal.

Momotoro · October 10th, 2008, 06:17 PM

But some folk don't like the shape for sure. The 80's series were better than ANYthing Fender was making at the same time, look at the endorsee list of the time!

The new instruments are fine, too. But an American run would get my checkbook out.

XKnight · October 11th, 2008, 12:20 AM

I've heard of the brand, but have never seen one in a store to try out. Seems like they have limited exposure.

studio1087 · October 11th, 2008, 01:01 AM

We have one dealer in the whole Milwaukee area and I have to say that I think they look very cool. It's like a Les Paul and a Tele morphed together. I love the Thinline-looking model.

I don't know how a Tele lover can hate this design but that's just me....I must be the odd ball here.

I can't buy another guitar. I just bought the Nashville Tele and I'm done buying for a while but if I found one of these used for $300-$350 my skin would be crawling.

The gold model with P-90's also looks like a party waiting to happen. I like this....

John

XKnight · October 11th, 2008, 01:14 AM

I just checked the Saint Blues website and they only have one dealer in the great State of TX. And that dealer is in Alpine, which is literally in the middle of nowhere in West TX. Next time I take a drive to Big Bend, I'll be sure to stop in and see what they have.

Paul in Colorado · October 11th, 2008, 02:14 AM

I had one of the Strat-like guitars back in the '80's. I got it for next to nothing, upgraded the pickups and used it all the time. It was stolen out of my house in Tucson in the early '90's. I still miss that guitar. Word on the street was that it ended up in Mexico. It was black with a cream pickguard and binding and a rosewood 'board.

tiktok · October 11th, 2008, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by studio1087

We have one dealer in the whole Milwaukee area and I have to say that I think they look very cool. It's like a Les Paul and a Tele morphed together. I love the Thinline-looking model.

I don't know how a Tele lover can hate this design but that's just me....I must be the odd ball here.

Well, the top curve of the pickguard's the wrong shape for the body, and the f-hole looks tacked on as afterthought. I remember finding one of the 80's versions of that model (sans f-hole) in a pawnstore in the 80's, and it seemed to be a quality piece, but it still had that pickguard.

October 2nd, 2008, 07:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
Michael Bolt-on TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 27	Saint Blues Guitars......are special. Seriously. They just are. I totally can understand if the looks don't float all guitar players boats, but how can you argue with the feel and playability of these guitars. I played all the models today. The only one I didn't care for was the (2) P90 Bluesmaster. I usually like P90's a lot, but these just seemed to thick and dark for my liking, not enough bite and snarl. Otherwise, the woods used (2 peice select Swamp Ash bodies, AAA Indian rosewood boards, The maple necks were just awesome feeling, maple boards also felt amazing. All come standard with bone nuts. These felt incredibly high end for the money ($600-$700). They felt substantial like my Les Paul, but not too heavy. The rosewood fretboards were probably the best I've ever played and seen. The Wilkinson brass saddle bridge on the traditional tele style guitar was wonderful, the bridges on all other models "looked" just OK, but I'm sure they work just fine. Put the Fender headstock and traditional look aside, and try these out. I can't even believe how nice these guitars are...... Last edited by Michael Bolt-on; October 10th, 2008 at 01:13 PM.

October 10th, 2008, 06:17 PM	#8 (permalink)
Momotoro Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: germantown, tn Age: 56 Posts: 435	They are great But some folk don't like the shape for sure. The 80's series were better than ANYthing Fender was making at the same time, look at the endorsee list of the time! The new instruments are fine, too. But an American run would get my checkbook out.

October 11th, 2008, 01:01 AM	#10 (permalink)
studio1087 Friend of Leo's Join Date: May 2003 Location: Near Milwaukee Age: 44 Posts: 4,215 36 Photos	We have one dealer in the whole Milwaukee area and I have to say that I think they look very cool. It's like a Les Paul and a Tele morphed together. I love the Thinline-looking model. I don't know how a Tele lover can hate this design but that's just me....I must be the odd ball here. I can't buy another guitar. I just bought the Nashville Tele and I'm done buying for a while but if I found one of these used for $300-$350 my skin would be crawling. The gold model with P-90's also looks like a party waiting to happen. I like this.... John __________________ JLG Carry On

October 11th, 2008, 02:14 AM	#12 (permalink)
Paul in Colorado Friend of Leo's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Fort Collins, CO Age: 56 Posts: 4,446 3 Photos	I had one of the Strat-like guitars back in the '80's. I got it for next to nothing, upgraded the pickups and used it all the time. It was stolen out of my house in Tucson in the early '90's. I still miss that guitar. Word on the street was that it ended up in Mexico. It was black with a cream pickguard and binding and a rosewood 'board. __________________ www.tuatha.net

October 10th, 2008, 01:14 PM	#2 (permalink)
Michael Bolt-on TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 27	No one else is as impressed with these as I am?

October 10th, 2008, 01:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
scubadoo Tele-Holic Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Bristol, UK Age: 34 Posts: 955	I've seen some in a local shop and they don't do it for me. I've never played one but we all know that the most important thing about a guitar is how cool it looks and they just look fat bottomed ugly.

October 10th, 2008, 02:21 PM	#4 (permalink)
Michael Bolt-on TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 27	I hear ya on the looks bro, but you really have to try one. They make pretty much all other guitars of the traditional Strats and Teles feel like toys. Seriously! They're that good.

October 10th, 2008, 02:42 PM	#5 (permalink)
beach bob Tele-Holic Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 590	I assume you are talking about the recent Korean made St. Blues, the Bluesmaster models? I've read some negative things about the build quality on them, but I haven't seen one in person, so that's just from reading on the internets. Glad you like 'em, perhaps the build quality issues have been worked out?... It was a cool design 25 years ago, and still is, IMO. FWIW I have a St. Blues from the 80s, it's a strat type thing, and really nice. Here's the thread about it [w/ pictures!], some interesting info about the company there too... Linky

October 10th, 2008, 03:28 PM	#6 (permalink)
Michael Bolt-on TDPRI Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 27	Yikes! Build quality issues?? I wasn't aware of any issues in the past, as these are the first that I've physically seen and played, and I've heard great things about them as well. What has actually made the awkward looks of these guitars grow on me is was the actual build quality and excellent woods used in these things. I really haven't come across anything under $1250 and up that I liked more in terms of build quality, feel, and playability! I suppose pickups can allways be subjective, but I liked em' which is a money saver I guess..

October 10th, 2008, 04:53 PM	#7 (permalink)
delta tone TDPRI Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: MS Posts: 30 1 Photos	Don't know a whole lot about them, but the word is they are about to start production on an Amercian made version. Maybe an initial run of 50 or so. That is what I heard. Not sure when that will begin. But that is the goal.

October 11th, 2008, 12:20 AM	#9 (permalink)
XKnight Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TX Posts: 1,032	I've heard of the brand, but have never seen one in a store to try out. Seems like they have limited exposure.

October 11th, 2008, 01:14 AM	#11 (permalink)
XKnight Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: TX Posts: 1,032	I just checked the Saint Blues website and they only have one dealer in the great State of TX. And that dealer is in Alpine, which is literally in the middle of nowhere in West TX. Next time I take a drive to Big Bend, I'll be sure to stop in and see what they have.