Xaviere guitars from GFS

[mikedem]

Does anyone here have one? I have seen some folks on the agile forums talking about them and liking them.
I almost compare them to a modern day El-Degas. they are ridiculously cheap , they are frowned about by all the gear snobs , yet I have yet to find a review where the buyers don't love them and compare them to the real things , not Sqiuers.
I had planned on buy some parts and build a strat copy for myself. By the time I added up all the parts I found you could buy their guitars for about half of what the parts would cost.
I have some GAS over a strat , I though the Yamaha I picked up would cure it , but it's just not the same. Their strat copy is a XV-870 and comes with a set of their GFS Vintage Alnico Staggers and really nice finshes.
It was late the other night , I was tired. the 50's 2 tone sunburst looked great , my wallet was in reach , my visa card fell out and before you knew it, I had ordered it.
Now I wonder if I get a bill at the door for customs/brokerage? When I have ordered parts , they come via USPS to the mailbox but for guitars you have to use EMS Global Express. At least it's not UPS but I wonder if there will be extra charges?
Pretty decent specs and materials used on these for the crazy price.
Body- Solid 3 Piece Poplar

Neck- Solid Maple with Rosewood Fingerboard with Graphite Nut

Fingerboard Radius- 12"

Tremolo- Vintage USA spaced, Steel Baseplate, Full Sized Sustain Block

Frets- 21 Medium Jumbo Nickel Silver

Pickups- GFS Vintage Alnico Staggers- Calibrated Set

Tuners- Sealed Die Cast 14:1

Scale Length- 25 1/2"

Width at Nut- 1 21/32"

Depth at 1st Fret- 0.75"

Depth at Heel- 1.05"

Average Weight- 7.25 lbs.

Anyways, here is a picture of my new toy...hopefully it arrives in time for Xmas.

[charles]

I personally think the structure for both Agile (Kurt from Rondo) and Xaviere (Jay from GFS) are very akin to El Degas (B&J New York and later Kaman). It's basically the same exact business model - inexpensive Asian guitars spec'd by the N Amican importer at a fraction of the cost of a Made in N America instrument.

The sentiment I've heard on both is that they are quite decent and basically a modder's paradise, as you might end up swapping out some of the electronics and parts to get what you truly desire in an inexpensive axe.

You just might see a little bit of customs & duty if you order a guitar in. Is EMS Global Express its own courier company, or just a fancy name for an international express service from USPS?

[mikedem]

I don't know - I can't really find any info on EMS Global Express. I sent an email to GFS but haven't heard back yet.
The reason I went with this over a build it yourself kit is the GFS bodies they sell for Strat's are Pauwlonia but the Xaviere's are poplar. I doubt it makes much of a difference other than weight.
You would have to think nowadays with the computerized machinery factories use to produce these guitars that the quality difference compared to a real Fender or Gibson must be narrowing and from what I read the finishes on both companies axes are top notch.

I would have tried one from Rondo but the fact the Xaviere uses GFS pickups sold me. I'm not sure what other electronics would need upgrading but I'll peak under the hood and see whats in there. I like the fact GFS says there is a 3-5 hold on shipping on all guitars because they get checked out/set up at their shop before shipping . Not sure if they really do or not but it sounds good. I opted out of the hard case as I have a bunch here already but they really push for the guitar to be shipped in a case. I have read elsewhere and was told at the local shop that most big companies will never ship in a case but rather a double cardboard box with the guitar set in foam for protection so I think they just want to sell you a case.
Have you bought anything from Rondo? Their guitars looks fantastic as well. The Agile LP's look great and the SX is the strat copy and it looks good too.
If I were to get another (hehe) it would probably be the Ibanez copy Rondo sells under the name Douglas I believe.
http://www.rondomusic.com/product2074.html
I just love the look of this thing.

[charles]

The GFS pickups are definitely a selling feature on the Xaviere's.

I think the wood on a lot of the imports is not quite up to par with a MIA, but that's open to a ton of discussion that I really don''t have the stomach for. There's enough of that over at Harmony Central!

One thing I learned about GFS and emails is that Jay uses a very aggressive spam filter, so you have to be very careful with how you word your email's subject line. "Hey buddy" will almost always end up in the bin.

[mikedem]

I always use the subject line with the order number from the email he sends me. I'm sure he gets a pile of them.
I found out what EMS global express is.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Express_mail
basically each countries postal services Express service hands off to the next countries Express service.

So the USPS has Global Express Guaranteed(GXG) - it will hand off delivery in Canada to Canada Posts Xpress Post service.

the whole wood thing...... you have heard my playing.....i really don't need a Eric Clapton sig Strat for $2500. I'm sure Eric would notice the difference with the Xaviere....I wont.

This guy likes them though he upgraded to the GFS noiseless pickups though
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1FI2zWfKjVA

[charles]

frets is the best - I enjoy his vids on HCEG (Harmony Central Electric Guitar forum)

[mikedem]

why doesn't he get around to doing the laundry or at least film in a room that isn't piled 3 feet high with laundry in it??

Oh , BTW Rondo music says their shipping costs include duty and customs so no extra charges at the door, Nice!

[charles]

why doesn't he get around to doing the laundry or at least film in a room that isn't piled 3 feet high with laundry in it??

He's a busy guy, and his playing makes up for it. The messy room has almost become a signature - if he did a video in a clean room he'd hear hell over it!

Oh , BTW Rondo music says their shipping costs include duty and customs so no extra charges at the door, Nice!

But since it's UPS it's pretty pricey. I really like USPS for guitars from the US. Much cheaper, arrives pretty quick, hardly ever see customs & duty charges (or when I do, it's appropriate and not filled with UPS's crap 'brokerage charges' - don't get me started ).

[mikedem]

I think they have switched to Fedex now. I see a pop up when you do an order (just a test order ..easy) that says "this will probably ship Fedex". Maybe they have had some feedback from us north of the border?

[charles]

Maybe he's read the anti-UPS Standard/Ground rants from Canucks like me on Harmony Central

[mikedem]

speaking of HC....whats up with that ? they have been down for 5 days now. Starting to ....shake a bit.....

[charles]

They had a major security breach that compromised the personal information of all their members. I'm thinking of closing my account when it finally comes back online. But I doubt I have any important personal info on there, so it's probably a non-issue for me (I always try to limit the info about myself that's online).

[mikedem]

so I should take my SIN number , all of my credit card numbers and bank passwords off of these forums then?

[charles]

[Barry]

... I would have tried one from Rondo but the fact the Xaviere uses GFS pickups sold me...
Have you bought anything from Rondo? Their guitars looks fantastic as well. The Agile LP's look great and the SX is the strat copy and it looks good too.
If I were to get another (hehe) it would probably be the Ibanez copy Rondo sells under the name Douglas I believe.
http://www.rondomusic.com/product2074.html
I just love the look of this thing.

Never heard of any of these brands, but I gotta agree with you, that the red Douglas is pretty impressive looking! For me, it has strong echoes of late '80's MIJ Matsumoku / early '90's MIK 'Saint Louis Music" Westone . I can't tell if that's a set neck or neck through (probably the former) but it's a beautiful job nonetheless.

(BTW, Ibanez was/is also a white label branding, They don't actually make anything. )