Let’s talk about Zion guitars!

[ihave27frets]

I’ve seen them for years, but have never played one. I love the 80s graphic ones and I’m surprised the prices are what they are for US made 80s super strat.

What are your thoughts, opinions?

(Pics for reference)

 

[sandman]

I’ve never played one but I like the looks!

 

[stanbog]

TA or Suhr quality 80's superstrat. Quality stuff in all details. Neck is rather fat (at least on those I've played). A lot of guitar for the money.

I also remember another company from that era - Robin guitars. Do they still exist? Haven't seen one for a long time...

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

I owed a pink Picasso 15 or so years ago. Never should have sold it. Neck was amazing small 1-5 then larger the rest of the way. I've owned numerous over the years. Ty tabor model was another one I never should have sold.

 

[cobrahead1030]

I used to see them in the wild on occasion & was always impressed by them overall. I wish I’d snagged one up when they were more common.

Quality wise, I always thought of them as being a step above a nicer MIJ or Prestige Ibanez.

 

[skoora]

They never seem to nail down those endorsement deals with the hotter Gaza players though.

 

[PurityS.L.G]

I can't add anything of value other than I've only seen 1 in person at a pawn shop and thought it was a cheap guitar company. At the time I thought the owner of the Pawn Shop was a dumbass who didn't know anything about guitars and was high on crack for the price he was asking. I didn't realize until later they are actually higher end guitars.

The one I saw looked cheap to me IMO but I didn't even pick up or play the thing so who knows if it was a good guitar or not.

 

[311boogieman]

smokin hot

 

[Shreddy Mercury]

I've always wanted to try a Zion but just haven't pulled the trigger on one. I don't particularly like the looks of the carved top Strats but the rest look awesome.

 

[Devin]

I also remember another company from that era - Robin guitars. Do they still exist? Haven't seen one for a long time...

I think they either just relaunched or at the very least are gearing up to soon:

https://robinguitars.com/

 

[ihave27frets]

TA or Suhr quality 80's superstrat. Quality stuff in all details. Neck is rather fat (at least on those I've played). A lot of guitar for the money.

I also remember another company from that era - Robin guitars. Do they still exist? Haven't seen one for a long time...

Dude, I was saying Zion and Robin are like the only older super strats I’ve never owned. Some Robins were super cool too.

 

[Jeff Hilligan]

Ken Hoover was the original builder and was just about the first custom guitar builder ..right about the time of Schecter and TA leaving.

 

[Anje]

I owed a pink Picasso 15 or so years ago. Never should have sold it. Neck was amazing small 1-5 then larger the rest of the way. I've owned numerous over the years. Ty tabor model was another one I never should have sold.

Ty Tabor was the first time I heard of Zion; I've always been curious about them since then but never had the chance to play one.
I like they vibe.

 

[vultures]

Dude, I was saying Zion and Robin are like the only older super strats I’ve never owned. Some Robins were super cool too.

Robin guitars mentioned. GAS for a Robin Ranger increased.

The thought of playing death metal on one of these things gets me excited in weird places

 

[stanbog]

Yep

I think they either just relaunched or at the very least are gearing up to soon:

https://robinguitars.com/

I'd totally rock a Medley modell. Thanks for sharing!

 

[thegame]

Glad to see you're not an anti-Zionist

 

[heath]

A friend has a radicaster he's tried to sell me a few times. Great guitar though.

 

[ihave27frets]

A friend has a radicaster he's tried to sell me a few times. Great guitar though.

What color is the one he wants to sell?

 

[reignman454]

TA or Suhr quality 80's superstrat. Quality stuff in all details. Neck is rather fat (at least on those I've played). A lot of guitar for the money.

I also remember another company from that era - Robin guitars. Do they still exist? Haven't seen one for a long time...

Great response... all true. Swung way above their weight class. Ken Hoover builds were solid. I however was born with vagina sized hands and anything that doesn't say R2 gets no play... Damn you ESP Kamikaze with your R5 bullshit


Robin's long since gone. Came to the game too late. Cool guitars, QC issues kinda like our boys in New Jersey in the early 90's. I am not sure but there was a company called TTM or something, Devastator axe... rumor was a Robin dude had a hand... ZERO evidence and I am too lazy to google.

 

[Dave L]

I have two Zions now, one Classic Maple from the 90s and one Radicaster I ordered in maybe 2011. I sold another Classic Maple to my brother maybe seven, eight years ago. Absolutely top-notch guitars, I´d put them up against any of the usual suspects.