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LTD Georgle Lynch GL-600V
List: $1,650
We know too well how an economical manifestation of the real article often display production warts, enough to make the discerning buyer walk away without purchase considerations. The primary reason for the guitar manufacturer offering a budget interpretation of a more costly (often a higher tier model) make is to entice the spender to forgive the item’s shorcomings as it resembles the real deal. With guitars, if the second-rated model proves to be too repulsive (especially in tone & feel), the manufacturer would be in a lose-lose affair; all that enticement cost falling prey to the buyers’ neglect because they continue to lust for the genuine implement.
The LTD brand name is the subsidiary production label of Japan’s ESP guitar (& bass) company. As the manufacturer started off as a boutique brand name, naturally, its offerings were beyond reach of the budget-restricted aspirants hence the need for LTD wares. Despite being the compromise as it was supposed to be, the LTD catalogue does offer high-end models, the signature designs are among the more extravagant selections, this fresh Geroge Lynch V-type guitar included.
Build/ fit/ finish/ features
The GL-600V, or the Super V as its endorser chooses to call it, is predicatably a V-shaped body guitar whose cutaway angularities have been minimized to promote a more rounded body bout. This ergonomics aside, guitar pundits have deem this offering a mid-life-crisis model due to that, oh so, prickly headstock which isn’t in sync with the more pleasant body outline. Nevertheless, the guitar’s entire satin finish exudes an exclusive feel & the fitting is top notch. The only demerit here is a minor discolouration over at the bass-side upper fret vicinity- this reflects the high standards of production over at the World Music Factory (Korea) which was trusted to handle proceedings (FYI- WMF is also responsible for Ibanez’s Korean Prestige models as well as PRS’ SE makes).
The Super V features some elite hardware/ electronic appointments; Schaller locking tuners & a pair of Seymour Duncan pickups (Phat Cat neck/ Screamin’ Demon bridge, both adorned with chrome covers). What looks like a budget rate set of tune-o-matic/ hardtail bridge is actually a locking Tonepros (T-3BT + T1Z). The features here are more than sensible; in fact, they are the regular appointments of other banrd names’ higher end offerings- apllause to the manufacturer for this consideration.
Rating: 95%
Playbility
A V-type guitar, by any other look, remains to be a sit-down reject, this one included. Unless you are content with playing it in a classical guitar posture, it should be enjoyed strapped-on. The neck profile here has a slightly narrower build than its ESP counterpart (LTD- 43mm vs ESP- 45mm at the nut), sporting a rather rounded rear but nothing too bulky & repulsive. If you can relate to a Gibson ’59 profile, this one’s a slimmed down affair. The extra jumbo frets here also provide plenty of grips for bends, legatos, sweeps & you name it- it’s equally adept to all manner of finger gymnastics. The factory hands made sure the default action was acceptable before it left the manufacturing premises & indeed, the Super V is a joy to play.
Due to the dwarfed Schaller machine heads (to necessitate the absence of string trees/ retainers), we note a reduction in neck tilt; this might seem a trivial account but the headstock seems to be further away upon tuning. It’s all in the mind, yes?
Rating: 90%
Tone
Due to their covered nature, players would deem both default pickups here to be humbucking at a single glance but be informed that the neck unit is the single coil menace otherwise known as the Phat Cat. This is simply a humbucker-sized single coil pickup but tweaked by Duncan to sound, as the name implies, phat & commanding. This tonal enticement is more marked on clean/ crunch settings but the feline is equally ferocious at high drive settings, just mind the hum.
The Screamin’ Demon is the longest George Lynch favoured Duncan unit but newcomers to the Duncan name need to know that it isn’t a high output humbucker as the name would have you believe. The chemistry here is simply that lower midrange effervescence reacting to the less massive mahogany body. What you hear is a defined bottom end in its entirety but a controlled treble response. This is a wonderful voicing for bass notes chugging while the upper end frequency do not give way to a piercing output; it has the best of vintage as well as contemporary ring which is very appealing to say the least.
These pickups sound wonderful together; with the appropriate (guitar) volume manipulation, a crunchy Marshall-esque tone is possible with various amps in use.
Tone test amps:
• Marshall MG15 MS2 Mini Stack
• Crate VTX350H
Rating: 95%
Conclusion
This reviewer isn’t one to fall head over heals for an LTD guitar but this ugly duckling is really a magnificent swan once you let it sing. Despite the endorser specification, the guitar per se is a sensible V-type manifestation. If you are stigmatized by that thorny headstock, it’s all understood; there is only a limited number of players who can really tolerate design quirks, the reason why reticent Fenders & Gibsons continue to be the more sought after units in the market. While the Super V is top notch in the tone & playability department, this LTD isn’t one for those who are dismissive of looks. It is also the wrong guitar for polite music but for those of us who aren’t afraid to be seen playing a kinky LTD, we let the Super V’s tone do the talking.
Overall rating: 90%
Likes:
• Tone
• Playability
• Rigid build
• Not heavy
• Superb hardware/ electronics for the asking price
Dislikes
• Headstock design
• No rear body chamfering for strap-on comfort
Worthy competitor:
• Jackson JS30RR
