Yahoo! A package arrived today from Franklin, TN sent by some guy named Bob. I'm sure you have little doubt what was inside.
I'm pretty impressed overall. The guitar is nice and seems sturdy and the artwork is really first rate! I haven't plugged it in yet, but it played well unplugged. I can't imagine that Bob makes each of these by hand, but then again, that would account for a few of the flaws in mine. Nothing major at all though.
I can see why it is priced lower than other guitars. The overall materials chosen and design are not as high quality as more expensive guitars. It doesn't suck, it just doesn't have the bells and whistles.
I have an Ibanez S540 with a nice fretboard with ivory inlays, it is lighter and has a thinner body - more comfortable to hold, it has a locking nut at the top of the guitar to help keep it in tune, it has fine tuning screws below the bridge for finer tuning adjustments, the wood on the neck is nicer and has a nicer grain and finish, it has two humbuckers and one single coil pickup, the tuning screws at the top are much nicer looking with a marbleized finish, etc. Just some of the things that make "nicer" guitars more expensive. There are a lot of reasons that this guitar is priced lower than other guitars, but at $275 this thing is a steal! I'd say it was worth that or more if it were just a guitar. But the artwork and knowing from whom it came is way worth laying out that much for!
I posted some pictures of my 'Petra 33' on my website, the
Guthrie Home. To see them, go into the Entertainment Room when you get there.
Also, at the bottom of the Entertainment Room is where the link is to hear samples of the new Greg X. Volz CD "No Greater Love" if you haven't heard them already.
I can say that the artwork is great and this guitar is the ultimate memento of the ministry of our favorite Christian rock band. If there is any way you can scrape together $300, no Petra fan will be disappointed with the purchase regardless of whether you can play. Buttons, bandanas, T-Shirts...phooey I say! This thing is the ultimate Petra collectors item!
Even if you have to skip eating at McDonalds for a couple months to save the money, do it! =)