Hey Average Joe...very good review. I bought a Monoprice Cali Classic Strat in October of 2021 for $79.99. It's my favorite guitar to play. I put Wilkenson EZ Lok tuners on it and replaced the electrics with a loaded 3-ply pickguard with hotrails pickups. I love the white one you've bought, but mine is dark red....now with a mint green pickguard. The gig bag alone is worth $25....I figure the guitar cost me $55. You can't get a better new guitar for that price.
Very informative video! I just bought the Indio Monoprice Cali Classic HSS, the black-on-black Strat with the humbucker in the treble spot, for $89. Hasn't arrived yet, but the interwebs are raving on this line, so I feel pretty good about it. I played professionally in a band for about 10 years, and worked on other projects... I mostly played a '68 Fender Mustang then, and I've worn the frets out on it (and most of the rest of it), and my mexi-strat needs fret work too, but it only has 21 frets, and I really miss that last fret! I'm just not wild about my Epiphone SG, so I spent the princely sum on this fine instrument to maybe get me back into the mood again! Maybe I'll pick up my acoustics again. Thanks for the review! Cheers!
@@AJgeartalk i guess I should figure out how to move some of mine since I have 3 acoustics, 1 A/E, and 6 electrics. Lol-and I’m a self taught player🤪 one of the electrics is the Silvertone/used-like new-came with a practice amp for $50-couldn’t resist.Fabulous guitar. Really can’t decide what one(s) to give up so I’ll just go with the flow for now. One of the best deals I think you ever got was that IYV AMAZON Warehouse used like new guitar. That’s a beauty. Did you ever get the IYV I think it’s the 300-double cutaway jazzbox style guitar? That one looks gorgeous too. Stay well...”see ya” soon.
@@dennismullin3052 Hey Dennis. No- I never got the double cut away IYV. I am constantly "tortured" by dealing with what guitars to move in order to buy more...🤣
Just found out yesterday that at least on my Cali Classic, the tone controls are wired as such. Lower tone knob controls bridge and middle and the upper tone knob controls the neck so tone control on all three pickups which is nice. I did however give in to temptation (and marketing) and bought the Player Strat. Still waiting on the delivery but excited.
@@AJgeartalk How about a Top-5 list. And maybe throw in a few honorable mentions.... I love budget guitars too, and I love to tinker around with some of em.' Some of them.... you don't even need to. But I've had a ton of them. And I am constantly trading / buying / selling... etc. I can think of some that were pretty awesome for the price. It's a big high when you get one in for cheap... and it ends up rocking. Here are a few that I am currently digging a lot: -1 IYV IJZ 300 Jazz Guitar. LOL The thing scorches & is a rocker. I did NOTHING to it -2 Multiple Harley Bentons - I LOVE H-B. My 2 faves: CST-24 P90 & Explorer Vintage -3 Donner Strat - Light Metallic Shoreline Blue. AWESOME. Almost Zero setup -4 Leo Jaymz Union Jack Les Paul. Killer. Currently changing cheap bridge & nut -5 IYV Quilted Red Thinline Tele - The P-90s SMOKE!!! Had to change the horrible neck out. But it was worth it. No big deal, and I had several necks laying around. One ended up being perfect for it, and now it's a great guitar. The original neck came in with strings laying on fret-board. A MASSIVE Truss Rod adjustment, and it was great... for a week. Then.... strings on fret-board again. No more adjustment left, and the neck was just warped beyond. A shame... but also an easy fix for me. The rest of the guitar was phenomenal. Hon Mention #6 - #7 and #8. Two more Harley Bentons. Les Paul SC400 Vintage Gold Top. And the Victory Flames Flying V. Both awesome guitars. I just love Harley Benton. And then the Firefly FF338. Spalted Maple Orangish Brown. I just love it.
Purchased the Black model and for the price - you can't beat it for looks, sound and durability - no flaws out of the box.
your review was really great! and i like the way you played the guitar too
On the web site it said the in house set up was only for the Deluxe or better guitar.
I bought this guitar and gave it to a friend because the neck was really small for my hands almost like it was for kids/beginners.
Hey Average Joe...very good review. I bought a Monoprice Cali Classic Strat in October of 2021 for $79.99. It's my favorite guitar to play. I put Wilkenson EZ Lok tuners on it and replaced the electrics with a loaded 3-ply pickguard with hotrails pickups. I love the white one you've bought, but mine is dark red....now with a mint green pickguard. The gig bag alone is worth $25....I figure the guitar cost me $55. You can't get a better new guitar for that price.
Totally agree George. Fantastic value! Thanks for stopping by. Enjoy your Indio.
Very informative video! I just bought the Indio Monoprice Cali Classic HSS, the black-on-black Strat with the humbucker in the treble spot, for $89. Hasn't arrived yet, but the interwebs are raving on this line, so I feel pretty good about it. I played professionally in a band for about 10 years, and worked on other projects... I mostly played a '68 Fender Mustang then, and I've worn the frets out on it (and most of the rest of it), and my mexi-strat needs fret work too, but it only has 21 frets, and I really miss that last fret! I'm just not wild about my Epiphone SG, so I spent the princely sum on this fine instrument to maybe get me back into the mood again! Maybe I'll pick up my acoustics again. Thanks for the review! Cheers!
Thanks for watching Jeff. Be well brother!
Good review AJR as always. Really dig my Blue Birst Cali Classic also $79.99.
The White is pretty.
How many guitars are now currently in your arsenal?
Thanks Dennis. Currently have (5). 1 acoustic-electric and 4 electrics.
@@AJgeartalk i guess I should figure out how to move some of mine since I have 3 acoustics, 1 A/E, and 6 electrics. Lol-and I’m a self taught player🤪 one of the electrics is the Silvertone/used-like new-came with a practice amp for $50-couldn’t resist.Fabulous guitar.
Really can’t decide what one(s) to give up so I’ll just go with the flow for now.
One of the best deals I think you ever got was that IYV AMAZON Warehouse used like new guitar. That’s a beauty. Did you ever get the IYV I think it’s the 300-double cutaway jazzbox style guitar? That one looks gorgeous too.
Stay well...”see ya” soon.
@@dennismullin3052 Hey Dennis. No- I never got the double cut away IYV. I am constantly "tortured" by dealing with what guitars to move in order to buy more...🤣
Indio bags are the best
Just found out yesterday that at least on my Cali Classic, the tone controls are wired as such. Lower tone knob controls bridge and middle and the upper tone knob controls the neck so tone control on all three pickups which is nice. I did however give in to temptation (and marketing) and bought the Player Strat. Still waiting on the delivery but excited.
I want one but I'm undecided about the color. Which do you prefer, white or blue?
What guitar is better the cali SS or the retro classic?
Now that you have reviewed every affordable guitar from Amazon; if you could only keep one, which would it be?
Probably the one the "got away"--- The IYV Brian May "lawsuit" model.
@@AJgeartalk How about a Top-5 list. And maybe throw in a few honorable mentions.... I love budget guitars too, and I love to tinker around with some of em.' Some of them.... you don't even need to. But I've had a ton of them. And I am constantly trading / buying / selling... etc. I can think of some that were pretty awesome for the price. It's a big high when you get one in for cheap... and it ends up rocking. Here are a few that I am currently digging a lot:
-1 IYV IJZ 300 Jazz Guitar. LOL The thing scorches & is a rocker. I did NOTHING to it
-2 Multiple Harley Bentons - I LOVE H-B. My 2 faves: CST-24 P90 & Explorer Vintage
-3 Donner Strat - Light Metallic Shoreline Blue. AWESOME. Almost Zero setup
-4 Leo Jaymz Union Jack Les Paul. Killer. Currently changing cheap bridge & nut
-5 IYV Quilted Red Thinline Tele - The P-90s SMOKE!!! Had to change the horrible neck out. But it was worth it. No big deal, and I had several necks laying around. One ended up being perfect for it, and now it's a great guitar. The original neck came in with strings laying on fret-board. A MASSIVE Truss Rod adjustment, and it was great... for a week. Then.... strings on fret-board again. No more adjustment left, and the neck was just warped beyond. A shame... but also an easy fix for me. The rest of the guitar was phenomenal.
Hon Mention #6 - #7 and #8. Two more Harley Bentons. Les Paul SC400 Vintage Gold Top. And the Victory Flames Flying V. Both awesome guitars. I just love Harley Benton. And then the Firefly FF338. Spalted Maple Orangish Brown. I just love it.
@@jimmyz2098 Hey Jimmy! Here's a "top ten" budget video I did a while ago. czcams.com/video/Vd9D4rcX80U/video.html