NGD (80's Superstrat content.)

[THEE HAMMER]

Congrats, the old Zions are very cool. The new ones are cool too, by the way... I ordered one a couple of years ago, but it´s a good thing I won´t be selling it because the resale is nowhere near what it should be. Boy, talk about killer scores on the used market.

Yea the resale is one of the reasons i've never gone for a new one, because some of their tele designs recently have gotten my heart racing. Ken Hoover leaving to Moriah guitars is another reason.

I just love these old superstrats so much more than the reissues, they can still be had for a great deal if you know how to look and do a little dirty work.

Ken has been gone for quite some time, true, but new guy Dale can build a mean guitar too. My Radicaster easily hangs with the stuff I have from more well-known custom builders. Zion has had some trouble getting guitars out on time in recent years, though. I think mine ended up six months over estimate, and others had it far worse. I don´t know if they´re back on track now or not.

Another great buy on the used market are the American-series Kramers that ESP made in Japan, I´ve had a few and they really are ESP quality at LTD money - so to speak.

The new one's are definitely up to par top notch guitars for sure. I haven't heard of too many complaints lately but I haven't really been on tgp.

The ESP made Kramers and 48th st. stuff are phenomenal values, as are the Heartfield Talons.

 

[Dave L]

I haven´t been on TGP much the last couple of years either, but as far I can remember most complaints are on the delivery times. I think Zion is more or less a one-man operation these days, and that´s a recipe for trouble if work starts piling up.

But as for the old Zions, there´s been a few old Radicasters on Ebay that I´ve taken some long, hard looks at. Not pawn shop money, but still a good buy.

I´d love to get my hands on a 48th, I found a really cool Horizon-styled one last year but it had been sold a few days earlier.

 

[threadkiller]

I met Dale about 2 years ago. I was leaving Creative Acoustics in Raleigh and saw the Zion shop and remembered that they made killer guitars back in the day. He was about to leave for the day but he opened the doors and walked me through. I think your right, its pretty much a one man show. He showed me a guitar or two he had built and they were very nice. The building looks like a junk shop and I remember a lot of strowed out mess and general sense of disorganization. I'm sure he's probably struggling to keep the lights on, especially with all of the competition on the custom guitar market. To bad great luthiers aren't necessarily great business men. Anyway, great pawn shop score. Gillis would be proud. See you tomorrow at the gear fest I hope.

 

[THEE HAMMER]

I met Dale about 2 years ago. I was leaving Creative Acoustics in Raleigh and saw the Zion shop and remembered that they made killer guitars back in the day. He was about to leave for the day but he opened the doors and walked me through. I think your right, its pretty much a one man show. He showed me a guitar or two he had built and they were very nice. The building looks like a junk shop and I remember a lot of strowed out mess and general sense of disorganization. I'm sure he's probably struggling to keep the lights on, especially with all of the competition on the custom guitar market. To bad great luthiers aren't necessarily great business men. Anyway, great pawn shop score. Gillis would be proud. See you tomorrow at the gear fest I hope.

You'll be seeing me!, i've talked to Dale twice and he was very cordial, it is a shame that it is so often that one's with extreme talent have the worst financial luck... whether they can help it or not.