NGD X2! Balaguer Semi-Custom & L6 Shuriken Variax

[JerEvil]

These guys just came in! Well, the Shuriken got her Friday but I was out of town and the Balaguer came in today.

EDIT: Some decent pics finally!

Balaguer Archetype Semi-Custom:

Shuriken SR250:

Intitial thoughts, both guitars are insanely nice. They have pretty similar “C” shape necks so switching between the two is a breeze.

The Balaguer is phenomenal. The fit and finish are fantastic. Fretwork is great. Plays like a dream and sounds killer. I LOVE the Monolith stacked single in the neck.

I didn’t get a lot of playtime with either. I’ll take more glamour shots tomorrow and get more info up on the Shuriken.

I agree with what a trusted eBud said about the Shuriken when I was asking about them on another forum. He said it feels damn solid. Apparently the quality of some of the older Variax line was a bit dodgy but this FEELS every bit as good as the price. I really like my KM7 but still not loving with the scale length for leads so when they released the Shuriken in 25.5” scale, I was super interested, especially being so into the Helix. Seemed like a logical combo. Had to pull the trigger.

I am pleased to say the least.

 

[cardinal]

Congrats! Balaguer looks amazing.

 

[mystixboi]

Congrats again man! Looks great!

 

[rottingcorpse]

God, I love that top.

 

[JerEvil]

Thanks guys! I am heading home to sneak some playtime on my lunch break! LOL!

 

[JerEvil]

So I snuck home and got some playtime in with both this afternoon. Ran them both through the BE-100.

The Balaguer sounds killer! Feral is really snappy in this guitar. I assume it's the maple neck and spalt top. Very different than the GAB guitar but REALLY nice. The Monolith stacked single coil in the neck is awesome for clean tones. The Shuriken's magnetic pickup is slightly less output than the Feral. I am guessing between 8-9k. It sounded better than I anticipated. to for any reason than I have never heard a Variax magnetic pickup. The Variax also plays great. The neck feel real similar to the Archetype and my G&L ASAT Classic meaning it took to it right away.

More to come!

Coolest thing about the Variax. With the Helix I can change guitar model, tuning, pickup position, etc ALL from different snapshots in the patch on the Helix. So could be Strat neck for Cleans, a Gretsch w/Filtertrons for a surf sound and Les Paul with PAF for rhythms, all in different tunings and gapless switching.

Living in the damn future.

 

[MetalHeadMike]

Nice man! Love that Balaguer I'm thinking I'll put my order in around end of September/beginning of October; can't wait!

 

[cecilbag]

Those look great. That green one is way hot. Damn you spec a mean guitar buddy. You have such good taste.

 

[JerEvil]

Nice man! Love that Balaguer I'm thinking I'll put my order in around end of September/beginning of October; can't wait!

Nice! This guitar is a ripper for sure.

Those look great. That green one is way hot. Damn you spec a mean guitar buddy. You have such good taste.

Thanks mate! Joe is looking into some interesting new finishes and if the one I want gets the thumbs-up I am doing a wicked shredder with a Floyd next!

 

[JerEvil]

Bump for better pics in the OP!

 

[mystixboi]

Both look absolutely fantastic. I would love to give the BG a spin

 

[LunatiBSW]

What’s Better than one new guitar?

2!!!!

Congrats dude!

 

[JerEvil]

Both look absolutely fantastic. I would love to give the BG a spin

Man if you (or any fellow RT'ers) find yourselves in Sin City, I am always up for rocking out with our.... well, you know! LOL!

What’s Better than one new guitar?

2!!!!

Congrats dude!

Right??? LOL! Thanks man! This is the first time in years where my wife was like, "new guitars huh... whatever!"

I tried to show in the pics, zero gaps at the neck pocket on both of these,

 

[maddnotez]

I cant get over that top on the Archetype. So ridiculously awesome man.

 

[JerEvil]

I cant get over that top on the Archetype. So ridiculously awesome man.

Thanks brother!

Already got folks calling dibs on both! Lol!