NEW USED GUITAR: Ktaxon HH Strat

[toomanycats]

The other day I paid $30 for this unbranded HH Strat.

I thought this post would be an interesting addition to our AGF archive as I’ve never seen mention of this brand on the forum. There are so many of these off brands floating around on Amazon and Ebay that it's difficult to determine what's decent and what's crap. So here's my take on this thing . . .

A search for “Matt black HH guitar unbranded” immediately revealed an add for an identical instrument being sold under the “Ktaxon” name on Amazon. A little more research found some indication that Ktaxon may actually be an unbranded Glarry.

What I was immediately struck by when picking it up was how light it was . . . I mean like balsa wood light. After discovering that it's constructed of paulownia this made sense, as that is one of the lightest hardwoods. Paulownia is also said to be tonally similar to swamp ash, with an open sound and pronounced high mids. Indeed, this guitar resonates like crazy and has a very lively, airy tone, almost like a Thinline.

I was very surprised by the quality of the tuners. They are super tight with zero slack in the gears.

The fretboard is spec’d as rosewood and looks like the East Indian variety, being quite dark and even with no red streaks. The neck itself is raw and unfinished and on the fuller side for a Strat, though not at all uncomfortable. The rubber spacer between the neck plate and the body was a nice addition.

The frets were perfectly level. While there was no sprouting, the ends felt sharp when I ran my hand up the neck just by virtue of being jumbo and undressed. One hour on the bench of sanding and polishing had them feeling like a $1000 instrument.

The nut slots were cut too high, as they most always are on guitars like this. Addressing that issue makes all the difference in the world. It doesn’t matter if you get the relief, the saddle height, and the neck angle set correctly, because the guitar is not going to feel right for me and for the way I play unless the strings exit the nut just above the first fret. It took me about ten minutes to address this issue.

I usually don’t expect much from humbuckers on cheaper guitars like this, and especially when they have slugs all around and no adjustable screws, but I was genuinely impressed by these. The bridge measure about 12.5 K and the neck about 9.5K. I assume that they’re ceramic. The bridge pup is defined, snarly, and raucous without being harsh, brittle, or overly compressed. The neck pickup is defined while also having body and warmth. The middle position is exceptionally nice, being very percussive, woody, and warm. All three positions have an underlying open and airy tone, perhaps imparted by that super light and resonant paulownia body.

Once I had this guitar set up, with the nut slots lubed, and it was settled in, it stayed in tune exceptionally well. Granted, I’m not using the tremolo, which I never do on Strat with the old style six screw fulcrum. The bones of this instrument are such that if I was to install a Floyd Rose it could be a very respectable superstrat.

All in all, I say color me impressed by this cheap Ktaxon HH Strat.

As a caveat, I say this as a guy who knows how to do the final stages of finishing, tweaking, and set up that are left out of production with instrument in this price range. A total beginner, or even a player who has no experience setting up a guitar, fret dressing, and so on, will definitely find the Ktaxon inferior compared to comparable name brand beginner instruments. The rub is, those name brand lower tier offerings will cost 2-3 times as much as the Ktaxon.

I’ve come to believe that the real beneficially of these dirt cheap imports are guys like us on this forum who know how to do the final set up on these little gems. Heck, I enjoy the hour or so of my time it takes to put the finishing touches on a guitar like this. It’s actually kinda therapeutic, like doing a puzzle or putting together a ship in bottle.

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[andrewsrea]

Sounds like a great buy for someone who is handy with correcting flaws associated with less expensive guitars! It looks great!

[tonebender]

Happy New Guitar Day!

[toomanycats]

Sounds like a great buy for someone who is handy with correcting flaws associated with less expensive guitars! It looks great!

I love the all black look of the this guitar, which is very similar to Strat type guitars made by Charvel and EVH. I also prefer a more traditional, rounded Strat body as opposed to sharper edges and extended horns, as it harkens back to the early 80s HH superstrats which loom large in my mind.

Technically, I wouldn't say this guitar has any flaws per se. I consider a flaw something like a cockeyed bridge installation that makes intonation impossible, a twisted neck, a non functioning truss rod, that type of thing. The body, neck, hardware, and electronics on this guitar, while admittedly not being of premium quality, are of good manufacture and tightly assembled. It's just that the final steps in production, which guitars which cost hundreds of dollars more receive, are completely bypassed on the Ktaxon.

Those final touches include, but are not limited to:

* Filing and dressing of the fret ends.
* Cutting the nut slots for ideal action.
* A basic set up (action, intonation, setting the relief, etc.)

If somebody is handy at these things then you're correct about this being a great buy. But if I was a newbie and received this as a first guitar, and I didn't know anybody who could do this for me for free, then I'd certainly be inclined to say, "This guitar sucks out of the box and I had to pay somebody more than the guitar itself is worth just to make it enjoyable to play."

That's why I believe that instruments like this are like Manna from heaven for guys like us. I can only imagine how somebody like yourself, whose knowledge and skill set is so much larger than my own, could transform this guitar into the ultimate sleeper.

[tlarson58]

I have zero idea how to do that stuff. It's time that I learn. Yesterday I took my bass to a guy who set it up for me. I should have asked more questions.

[toomanycats]

I have zero idea how to do that stuff. It's time that I learn. Yesterday I took my bass to a guy who set it up for me. I should have asked more questions.

When the original Agile Guitar Forum was hostilely taken over by MOMO, the knowledge base about how to do these things was part of what was lost. I learned most of my shade tree luthiary skills from posts on that forum.

[nomadh]

I have zero idea how to do that stuff. It's time that I learn. Yesterday I took my bass to a guy who set it up for me. I should have asked more questions.

When the original Agile Guitar Forum was hostilely taken over by MOMO, the knowledge base about how to do these things was part of what was lost. I learned most of my shade tree luthiary skills from posts on that forum.

Still can't figure out what momo was thinking. He paid money for the board. Without users the only value is the content. He could at least put it back up and get ad revenue when searching it? I wonder if he was so incompetent he lost or damaged it thinking it didn't matter as he was buying ?us?

[peskypesky1]

IMO, these super-budget guitars almost always have good bones....thanks to CNC and other modern building techniques.

They will almost always need some fret-work, and a new nut....and often new tuners and/or pickups.

If one knows how to do basic set-up work (adjusting truss-rod, setting action, setting intonation), these guitars are a steal.

P.S. I myself like one thing that you can't get on budget guitars (and maybe not even in the Fender custon shop): FAT necks

So what I've been doing is buying these budget guitars and putting Warmoth fatback necks on them.

My Donner DST-100 with Warmoth fatback:

strat w pesky headstock decal copy.jpg

[peskypesky1]

When the original Agile Guitar Forum was hostilely taken over by MOMO, the knowledge base about how to do these things was part of what was lost. I learned most of my shade tree luthiary skills from posts on that forum.

yeah, I learned SO MUCH from that old forum. It was a wealth of knowledge.

[toomanycats]

IMO, these super-budget guitars almost always have good bones....thanks to CNC and other modern building techniques.

They will almost always need some fret-work, and a new nut....and often new tuners and/or pickups.

If one knows how to do basic set-up work (adjusting truss-rod, setting action, setting intonation), these guitars are a steal.

P.S. I myself like one thing that you can't get on budget guitars (and maybe not even in the Fender custon shop): FAT necks

So what I've been doing is buying these budget guitars and putting Warmoth fatback necks on them.

My Donner DST-100 with Warmoth fatback:
strat w pesky headstock decal copy.jpg

Funny that you mention the Donner DST-100 because I’ve been watching the price on this pink one steadily go down at a local pawn shop. It’s at around $90 right now, though I’ve recently seen them offered new for even less than that online with free shipping. Did you keep the stock pickups on that one?

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[peskypesky1]

Funny that you mention the Donner DST-100 because I’ve been watching the price on this pink one steadily go down at a local pawn shop. It’s at around $90 right now, though I’ve recently seen them offered new for even less than that online with free shipping. Did you keep the stock pickups on that one?


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Those pink ones have been on sale lately from $60-68 with free shipping. I've been VERY tempted to get one. But I've been holding off because I have too many Strats already. But $60?

As for my DST-100, I have kept the stock humbucker...but I replaced the two single-coils with some inexpensive Guitar Fetish alnicos I had sitting in the parts box.

[peskypesky1]

It costs a bit more ($88!!!!), but I'm very tempted by this guitar because I love the body color and the mint guard.
It supposedly comes with stainless steel frets and an ash body (but I'm not totally convinced of that).

[peskypesky1]

[toomanycats]

P.S. I myself like one thing that you can't get on budget guitars (and maybe not even in the Fender custon shop): FAT necks

There is one exception to that rule, which is the Starcaster by Fender Strat. I see them occasionally and own a couple. One is an HSS silverburst with a rosewood fretboard and the other is a black SSS with a white pickguard and maple fretboard. These Starcasters have full sized Fender bodies, the larger 70s headstock, 21 frets, and FAT neck profiles. They are typically priced even lower than a Squier, or at least they are around here.

[andrewsrea]

I have zero idea how to do that stuff. It's time that I learn. Yesterday I took my bass to a guy who set it up for me. I should have asked more questions.

Ask away, Tommy. Ask away. Lots of capable people here and there is always FB video chat to do live coaching.

I' am now doing repairs for a friend's small vintage guitar and amp shop. I happened to be there yesterday, when a 20 something man came in with a bridge pickup flopping around and 4mm string height (very high action) on his Epi LP. He had a gig tonight and needed it repaired immediately and I did it in 15 minutes at no cost. He thanked me many times and said GC wanted $130 (after tax) to do the same service, except I didn't change his strings). And I am not sure everyone in GC performing that service is qualified.

Nobody should pay $140 for a setup with strings. That is insane!

[andrewsrea]

IMO, these super-budget guitars almost always have good bones....thanks to CNC and other modern building techniques.

P.S. I myself like one thing that you can't get on budget guitars (and maybe not even in the Fender custon shop): FAT necks

So what I've been doing is buying these budget guitars and putting Warmoth fatback necks on them.

My Donner DST-100 with Warmoth fatback:
strat w pesky headstock decal copy.jpg

The affordable imports also tend to be 13" to 16" fretboard radius, which is a dealbreaker for me. They feel like they are digging into the creases of my fingers when doing power chords or reaching.

Warmouth necks are pricey, but IMHO worth the $. I prefer the deeper necks from them like the '59 or subtle 'V'. And to a lesser extent, frets that are medium jumbo or a bit taller.

[peskypesky1]

Warmouth necks are pricey

Not if you choose simple woods and do the finishing yourself.
I've gotten three Warmoth necks. All under $200.

Will be ordering a 4th soon.

I have found it very easy to finish them with Tru-Oil. I would think wipe-on poly finishes are pretty easy too.

[Tiga]

IMO, these super-budget guitars almost always have good bones....thanks to CNC and other modern building techniques.

They will almost always need some fret-work, and a new nut....and often new tuners and/or pickups.

If one knows how to do basic set-up work (adjusting truss-rod, setting action, setting intonation), these guitars are a steal.

P.S. I myself like one thing that you can't get on budget guitars (and maybe not even in the Fender custon shop): FAT necks

So what I've been doing is buying these budget guitars and putting Warmoth fatback necks on them.

My Donner DST-100 with Warmoth fatback:
strat w pesky headstock decal copy.jpg

@peskypesky1 - So are the neck pockets of the Donner the same as Fender? Or do you have to do some mods to get the neck to fit? Thanks!

[peskypesky1]

@peskypesky1 - So are the neck pockets of the Donner the same as Fender? Or do you have to do some mods to get the neck to fit? Thanks!

I can only speak for the one I got. The neck pocket and screw holes on the Donner were Fender spec.

[Buddha Pickups]

I have 3 or 4 GearIT guitars from random Amazon clearance sales. All very good for the price. Ball end frets and good bones. The weak point on these is definitely the saddles

[Tiga]

Walmart has some good prices on Donner's currently - $90. Not sure the model but they are poplar bodies and HSS with coil splitting.

[toomanycats]

An update of the Ktaxon:

After bringing a new instrument into house I typically keep it close on hand so I can set it up, make adjustments, and spend some time playing it. After this honeymoon phase ends (which is usually precipitated by bringing another "new" guitar home), the old flame is moved to semi-permanent storage. The Ktaxon has yet to be so retired. In fact, it's become my preferred instrument for practicing and noodling while sitting on the sofa.

For a while now I'd been thinking about doing something about the over-fulness of the neck, though I'd been hesitant because I'd never shaved a neck before. Yesterday the weather was very mild so I decided to sit outdoors with the Ktaxon, a few different grades of sandpaper, and go at it very cautiously. I plan on doing this slowly and in stages, knowing that it's easy to remove too much though impossible to add it back.

I'm contemplating making an asymmetric profile, similar to my Sterling Sub-Silo 3, where the bass side is more rounded and the treble side is more C shaped. The Ktaxon neck has a lot of "meat on the bone" and is an ideal specimen for attempting this.

[Tiga]

Hearing these have a chunky neck have me intrigued LOL. Is it like a '50s profile? Great to hear you are digging it and good luck on the neck work. Keep us posted.

"Manna from heaven...." Love it!

[toomanycats]

Hearing these have a chunky neck have me intrigued LOL. Is it like a '50s profile? Great to hear you are digging it and good luck on the neck work. Keep us posted.

"Manna from heaven...." Love it!

I've never played a real 50s Strat or a reissue, so I can't say if it's a 50s profile. By chunky I mean round, like a half circle. It has a substantial circumference, though the fretboard isn't overly wide.

While I can understand how somebody with large hands might prefer that extra meat on the back of the neck, for me it has the effect of fatiguing my thumb and being grabby around the area of the metacarpal/phalanges joint of my index finger. Now that I think about it, maybe this is how Clapton came to prefer the V shaped profile, meaning, he wanted the extra depth for a place to position his thumb, but found that the extra meat on the shoulders interfered in the same way I'm describing.

[thepezident]

When the original Agile Guitar Forum was hostilely taken over by MOMO, the knowledge base about how to do these things was part of what was lost. I learned most of my shade tree luthiary skills from posts on that forum.

FU Major Tom