ksdaddy Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I stopped in Marden's after work. Marden's is a chain of surplus junk, overstock, fire damage, etc. Every area has them. Maine has Marden's. Sometimes there are bargains, sometimes not. I bought a new winter jacket for $12.99, then I wandered around a little. I rounded a corner and there was a half dozen First Acts. I got this for $45 with all the crappy accessories including a little amp that clips on your belt. I felt like I had blown the family's Christmas money on a cheap lady for hire. Then I tuned it up and played it a little. I can't believe how good this thing plays. Yeah, the fret ends need dressing, but other than that it's fine. I haven't plugged it in yet. Not expecting a lot but it may surprise me. Just doesn't make any freakin' sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AXE® Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I use some First Act cables... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockman82 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I wouldn't expect much from a First Act. But with the right set up and maybe some good pickups, it might not be too bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockman82 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I use some First Act cables... I have a first act cable that is very good. It actually surprised me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksdaddy Posted January 29, 2010 Author Share Posted January 29, 2010 But with the right set up That's the scary part. The nut slots are trimmed right down nicely, the action is dead flat with no buzzes..... I'm sure the intonation is wacky because all the saddles are lined up in a straight row. Luck of the draw maybe. They had about 4 or 5 black ones at $89, which is almost Walmart price, plus two sorta-Daphne Blue ones. The other had a serious scuff and it almost looked like a neck pocket crack, so by default I took this one. I'm a fussy SOB and I don't see much to do on this one. The electronics may be trash, haven't tried it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 First Act has some nice high end stuff. It sounds ridiculous... but they do. That looks like a fun little guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Cool looking guitar. Inexpensive guitars aren't the same as they were 25 years ago. Back then, when you bought a cheap guitar, it was a real POS. Today, you don't have to spend a bundle to get a nice instrument. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basshole Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Jimmy Paige used "Dan Electro DC-59" a cheap Montgomery Wards Guitar? In the 1960's wasn't that the equivalent to a "First Act" of 2009? It's a mental thing I suppose, the more money you put into something you expect it to be good. But sometimes when you don't think about it all that much, it turns out to be not half bad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 That's the cool thing about cheap guitars - you can get a tone out of some of them that works great for certain stuff. It might not work as a main guitar, but it might have a useful sound for some situations. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrvfMSYNqBg Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riffster Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 The only bass I own is a First Act, I got it used for $45. I could swear the body is made of fruit cake and the maple neck is the softest maple I have even seen, the tuners don't hold real well but overall for the price it sounds good and after adjusting just about everything on it it plays fairly well. I would say the sustain is horrible but it does not have any... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveinspain Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 [YouTube] [/YouTube] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dub-T-123 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 [YouTube] [/YouTube] That was so awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwness Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Hey for that kind of money you couldn't go wrong, congrats on the find. CW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I love that color! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rockman82 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 There are cheap guitars you can just go wild with. I mean look at Jack White and his Airline. The thing was made out of resoglass. Jack White's the reason i want a left handed Airline. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duane v Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I stopped in Marden's after work. Marden's is a chain of surplus junk' date=' overstock, fire damage, etc. Every area has them. Maine has Marden's. Sometimes there are bargains, sometimes not. I bought a new winter jacket for $12.99, then I wandered around a little. I rounded a corner and there was a half dozen First Acts. I got this for $45 with all the crappy accessories including a little amp that clips on your belt. I felt like I had blown the family's Christmas money on a cheap lady for hire. Then I tuned it up and played it a little. I can't believe how good this thing plays. Yeah, the fret ends need dressing, but other than that it's fine. I haven't plugged it in yet. Not expecting a lot but it may surprise me. Just doesn't make any freakin' sense. [img']http://i47.tinypic.com/rrtqfd.jpg[/img] I'm usually pretty frugal when it comes to money, but when it comes to guitars/instruments and cars, I'm like a little 10 year old with itchy pockets. If I go to a car dealer without my wife, I'm coming home with a new car..... same thing if I go into a music store[blush] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hlarry14 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 I have one of the First Act "VW" guitars that Volkswagen gave away with some cars a few years ago - it has a high gain pre-amp built in, and has a "unique" lo-fi sound. It does, however, play very nicely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milod Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 Hey, I think that looks like one of the best guitar buys I've seen in a long time... m Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAS44 Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 If it plays well and sounds good I won't b!tch about the maker or the price. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem00n Posted January 29, 2010 Share Posted January 29, 2010 First Act custom guitars are as good as the gibson ones. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichCI Posted January 30, 2010 Share Posted January 30, 2010 That was so awesome. +1 Couldn't understand a word that dude was saying, but he sure can play - really nice touch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
brundaddy Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 People talk a lot of trash about 1st Act guitars. I bought a LP Jr. copy for $20 and it plays killer! In spite of the HB it sounds like a Fender though, even after I put a spare Gibson HB in. Maybe it's the fender-style trem bridge. Mine is a really good surf guitar (or it's good for anything you want to sound quacky) & a dead solid player. my only complaint is the tuners, and they aren't even really so bad if you wind the strings properly. Yours looks brutal with the surfy turquoise/white pg/white speed knobs combo... I'm jealous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hector Arcadius Posted January 31, 2010 Share Posted January 31, 2010 More power to 'ya man! I dig ALL guitars that, designer-wise, are off the beaten track. And since you like it, that'all there's to it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TommyK Posted February 1, 2010 Share Posted February 1, 2010 The only bass I own is a First Act' date=' I got it used for $45. [b']I could swear the body is made of fruit cake and the maple neck is the softest maple I have even seen[/b], the tuners don't hold real well but overall for the price it sounds good and after adjusting just about everything on it it plays fairly well. I would say the sustain is horrible but it does not have any... Probably Acer saccarum Sugar / Water / Soft Maple, among other names, or an Indonesian equivalent. It grows fast with profuse suckers. Only slightly less annoying to landscapers than a poplar tree. Usually fast growing trees are softer than slower growing trees. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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