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Raven West - Anyone Remember?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 12:46 pm
by slowhand84
Remember these guys being discussed back in the old AGF days? First hands-on experience with this brand...I've often heard them mentioned in the same breath as companies like Agile which we all know to be quality stuff for a pretty low price.

I got one of those Amazon IYV P90 teles a while back to scratch the semihollow p90 itch and while it was nice it did feel pretty cheap after playing my higher end guitars for a while...so decided to move it to a new home. This one basically seems like a higher end version of that guitar, and I believe these were made in Korea back back in the early 2000s. Ash body, quilt veneer, binding on the neck and front of body, maple neck with an ebony fretboard, abalone inlays, etc.

Nice and light at just over 6 lbs, balances very well, and plays great. All in all it cost me just over $200 with a gig bag.

If I have to nitpick, the inside of the f-holes isn't very cleanly done...but that's really about it. Super awesome guitar with some great specs for a low price.

Re: Raven West - Anyone Remember?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 1:25 pm
by BatUtilityBelt
That looks great! The only reason I stayed away from the brand was the lack of people saying it had great action - very playable, great fretwork. Once I hear that about any brand (from multiple normal people, not shills), I can jump in. I hope yours is all that, and yes, I love the colors.

Re: Raven West - Anyone Remember?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 3:54 pm
by slowhand84
BatUtilityBelt wrote: Sat May 14, 2022 1:25 pm That looks great! The only reason I stayed away from the brand was the lack of people saying it had great action - very playable, great fretwork. Once I hear that about any brand (from multiple normal people, not shills), I can jump in. I hope yours is all that, and yes, I love the colors.
Thanks! Not unlike your avatar guitar's finish actually. I do believe that this guitar has had a fret level (there's a teensy scrape in the board by one of the frets that gives it away) so I don't know what it actually felt like brand new, but the action is almost too low and I had to raise the saddles a bit. Fret ends are nice and rounded too.

Re: Raven West - Anyone Remember?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 6:09 pm
by Rollin Hand
I remember very well. I even saw the guitar player for Kool and the Gang use one live when opening for Van Halen.

Re: Raven West - Anyone Remember?

Posted: Sat May 14, 2022 8:02 pm
by slowhand84
Rollin Hand wrote: Sat May 14, 2022 6:09 pm I remember very well. I even saw the guitar player for Kool and the Gang use one live when opening for Van Halen.
Nice! I havent had any other experiences with 'em but if this one is any indication I wouldn't hesitate to pick up another cheap.

Re: Raven West - Anyone Remember?

Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 10:18 am
by Buddha Pickups
I remember them back in the day, they always had amazing looks but I remember playability reviews being mixed. Either way that's gorgeous and a great deal.

You have an uncanny ability to snag great deals...from gc used I presume.

I've got a ton of great used cymbals from gc used.
I did get my Agile Silverburst through gc used real cheap but you seem to get score after score.

Re: Raven West - Anyone Remember?

Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 2:25 pm
by slowhand84
Buddha Pickups wrote: Sun May 15, 2022 10:18 am I remember them back in the day, they always had amazing looks but I remember playability reviews being mixed. Either way that's gorgeous and a great deal.

You have an uncanny ability to snag great deals...from gc used I presume.

I've got a ton of great used cymbals from gc used.
I did get my Agile Silverburst through gc used real cheap but you seem to get score after score.
Thanks man! And yep, it's pretty much always GC Used for me. I think of the 60ish guitars I've owned probably 50 of them have come from GC Used. That place is a goldmine.

Re: Raven West - Anyone Remember?

Posted: Sun May 15, 2022 4:44 pm
by redman
I remember those seems everyone that had or had played one of them spoke well of them.

Re: Raven West - Anyone Remember?

Posted: Mon May 16, 2022 9:13 am
by slowhand84
redman wrote: Sun May 15, 2022 4:44 pm I remember those seems everyone that had or had played one of them spoke well of them.
Yep, that's my experience with this one too. I think everyone needs a good semihollow P90 axe and this certainly fit the bill :D