HNGD Aristides 020

[David Eastwood]

Originally Posted by EvanB

I wonder how its price point compares, say, to a Blade?

If you check out their store, it looks like an 020 goes for around $2700. Pretty fair, given the tech.

Tough to compare with a Blade, which doesn't exist any more

[Res Ipsa]

A few blades turn up every year, ranging from $1,200 to $2,000. It might cost $2,700 new if they were still in production. I’ve seen used Aristides as low as $1,600. Their Gallery page is chocked full of stunning arium guitars.

[TheChicagoTodd]

Originally Posted by mountainmaster

I don't know if this is the right forum because the guitar is electric and only partially carbon fiber. It does not contain any wood at all though......

I'm very intrigued by these ...did you receive yours already? Did they include those photos of the build, or did you request them?

Tell us a little more, if you would, about how this guitar compares to some of your other electric guitars ...tone, sustain, excetera.

Thx....

Todd in Chicago

[mountainmaster]

Originally Posted by TheChicagoTodd

I'm very intrigued by these ...did you receive yours already? Did they include those photos of the build, or did you request them?

Tell us a little more, if you would, about how this guitar compares to some of your other electric guitars ...tone, sustain, excetera.

Thx....

Todd in Chicago

When I posted those photos I had just received the guitar. They were taken in the factory. Although in the first picture I photoshopped the background away.

By now I can say that it is a great guitar. Everything about the build is flawless.

This the only electric in my collection with a wraparound bridge and two P90 pickups. In theory a one piece bridge should help to preserve sustain. I don't think it beats my heavier Les Paul in that department though but it does leave the Strat and Tele behind.
Not surprisingly these Mississippi Queen P90 pickups make this guitar sit nicely in between the Gibson with its humbuckers and the single coil Fenders. I would describe its sound as bright and creamy. The neck pickup can make some beautiful clean tones while the bridge pickup has more of a bite which is perfect for vintage rock. Both have an excellent note separation.
To my surprise and despite being single coils these pickups do not hum or hiss at all.

I do have another guitar with a humbucker size P90. It is a semi-hollow Duesenberg and it only has one in the neck position. I have not yet compared these side by side yet but I expect them to be quite different due to the different bodies.

Even though the build is flawless, the setup however was not: The action was quite low and there was annoying fret buzz. I guess that must be standard for Aristides because their guitars mostly go to guitarists in heavy genres who like to play fast with lots of distortion.
Fortunately setting up an electric guitar bridge is so much easier than messing with the saddle of an acoustic. So I have raised the bridge and re-intonated the saddles. It still needs to go a little higher, which I am planning to do this week.

[Mark L]

That’s an interesting looking instrument, perhaps a glimpse of the future?

Just curious, OP, what kind of music are you going to make on it?

[mountainmaster]

Originally Posted by Mark L

Just curious, OP, what kind of music are you going to make on it?

Mainly progressive rock, but lately I often play acoustic fingerpicking and I find that my electric style is starting to shift towards that as well.