GeorgiaHonk
Tele-Holic
Last week I bit the bullet and ordered a Monoprice “Indio” electric guitar. I selected the Retro Classic, their most budget-friendly T-style. The specs include a basswood body, maple neck and fretboard and a toploading three-barrel bridge. I picked the solid blue body with a black pickguard.
I’d read many reviews and watched many YT videos about these guitars, and was aware of common issues with hardware, pickups and fretwork. I was willing to risk receiving a subpar instrument since I’d like to brush up on my setup, soldering and repair skills. It was really a win-win situation: get a crap guitar and have a project piece. Get a nice one and…..
It arrived yesterday morning. I was too much of a wimp to tell my wife I’d bought a guitar at Valentines Day, so I had it shipped to my office. (I can’t be the only one who’s done that.) Monoprice has an interesting shipping method: they wrap the guitar in thin foam sheeting and put it inside a padded gig bag, then pack that in a smallish cardboard box. This packing enables them to sell guitars with “gig bag included.” The box I received was in fairly rough shape but the guitar was unscathed.
For a guitar that cost less than $83 shipped, I can’t help but be impressed. The neck is essentially straight with the slightest hint of back bow. The frets feel great and there is ZERO barbed wire fret ends. Even the intonation was bang-on.
Of course there are negatives. Chief among them is the nut, which needs its edges rounded. The tuners were sticky and uneven, and will be the first upgrade. There is slight buzzing in the low E string, which I assume will disappear when I raise the saddle and tweak the truss rod.
I have not plugged into an amp yet, so the pickups are still a mystery. The action is nice and low with what look like 9s, and it has a pleasing acoustic tone. Like I said at the beginning of this post, I can’t help but be impressed with the value. These guitars are not for everybody, but for five-and-dimers like me, the bang for the buck factor is off the charts with the Indio Retro Classic. Currently on sale for $76.99 plus tax. For that price it’s kind of crazy if you DON’T buy one.
I’d read many reviews and watched many YT videos about these guitars, and was aware of common issues with hardware, pickups and fretwork. I was willing to risk receiving a subpar instrument since I’d like to brush up on my setup, soldering and repair skills. It was really a win-win situation: get a crap guitar and have a project piece. Get a nice one and…..
It arrived yesterday morning. I was too much of a wimp to tell my wife I’d bought a guitar at Valentines Day, so I had it shipped to my office. (I can’t be the only one who’s done that.) Monoprice has an interesting shipping method: they wrap the guitar in thin foam sheeting and put it inside a padded gig bag, then pack that in a smallish cardboard box. This packing enables them to sell guitars with “gig bag included.” The box I received was in fairly rough shape but the guitar was unscathed.
For a guitar that cost less than $83 shipped, I can’t help but be impressed. The neck is essentially straight with the slightest hint of back bow. The frets feel great and there is ZERO barbed wire fret ends. Even the intonation was bang-on.
Of course there are negatives. Chief among them is the nut, which needs its edges rounded. The tuners were sticky and uneven, and will be the first upgrade. There is slight buzzing in the low E string, which I assume will disappear when I raise the saddle and tweak the truss rod.
I have not plugged into an amp yet, so the pickups are still a mystery. The action is nice and low with what look like 9s, and it has a pleasing acoustic tone. Like I said at the beginning of this post, I can’t help but be impressed with the value. These guitars are not for everybody, but for five-and-dimers like me, the bang for the buck factor is off the charts with the Indio Retro Classic. Currently on sale for $76.99 plus tax. For that price it’s kind of crazy if you DON’T buy one.
