Sterling JV60 Valentine Signature Guitar Review: Marooned By A Truss Rod
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- čas přidán 20. 08. 2024
- Checking out something a little more reasonable today. Today we've got the James Valentine signature guitar from Sterling by Music Man. Sterling guitars are a great gateway into the Music Man world, usually at about 1/3 the price. The JV60 is a cool guitar, but not sure it's the one for me. We'll pick through the details and see what it's all about.
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Actually I think James Valentine is largely underrated as a guitarist.
I'm sure he is a phenomenal player in a band like that. Their music does nothing for me but I'm not knocking his talent. I assume just about any band who plays a super bowl has god-tier musicians with absolutely zero margin for error.
In Summary: "Whatever, it's fine"
Yeah, you nailed it. It's fine. I don't want it. It's also semi defective. Meh.
One of the best in between guitars I ever owned and played. Just became my main stage guitar. It replaced my LP, Tele and my P90 equipped Eastwood fire brand.... I carry a strat for whammy.... no more 5 guitars and 2 backups.... the locking tuners will go on every guitar I own just for string change ease. This guitars boost on board makes it easy to focus on just playing.... the roasted maple neck will be on other guitars I own. It may get oiled and that will be it.... smoothest guitar to play all day long. Mine is buttermilk color. It can cover all music I play. Highly recommend this guitar if you want a lower priced HIGH Quality instrument with loads of tonal possibilities. The tone control works great!! You can turn it all the way down and retain articulation. Probably a .022 style cap. The guitar has a good LP Junior weight and look with a twist!!! Buy it and you will not regret owning this tone machine!
@Casey James the bridge pickup is a tele slanted pole piece single coil in a humbucker cover. Think Keith Richards and Black Crowes style sounds and with that onboard boost… it becomes fat and harmonically rich with overtones. The real beauty is, the off shore guitar plays as good as the American version and the stainless steel frets and roasted maple neck is such a wonderful treat. It is like a Gibson DC meets tele vibe. It is all of that plus!!
@Casey James you will love this guitar as an alternate to having others. There is a guy doing some heavy metal on this same guitar here on CZcams… that bridge pickup is sweet!!
@Casey James I do a strat mod making a master volume and a master tone, wired 50s style like an LP Junior and then the bottom knob is a blender pot. It allows you to control the treble on that horrible bridge pickup and add the bridge and the neck pickup plus all 3 pickups on together which is an amazing full sound. I also love the “tele” sounds on a strat with the bridge and neck . Use a .015mfd cap and you can turn the tone knob all the way off and the bridge will sound like a humbucker and when playing clean, like a piezo electric acoustic guitar….. I do this mod for all strat players and they all tell me they never used their tone knob so much as they find so many useful tones… it makes playing guitar great again having this mod. You would love this if you love strats!! Leo Fender missed the boat by not doing his guitar wiring this way. Then…get some highwood saddles on your strat and never look back!!! Amazing way to live with the strat beast!!!
A student of a colleague bought one. My collegue and I were astonished about how versatile it was. Then my collegue bought one that got me blown away. Now I have one, too. All three are guitars are pretty much bang for the buck, all three are light as a feather and, apart from some metal stuff, you can play almost any style with it. It reacts pretty cool to changes with the volume knob, and I don’t mean the boost! Things like bad screws and the trussrod, however, should not happen! That’s sloppy and bad. My collegue and I teach and play for a living and we both owe high-end guitars as well.
Yeah I get the value here, but I think between the issues and personal taste...meh. Really would like to try the Luke Sterling.
@@TheGuitarPit Won't argue about personal taste 😊
Thx. You've just tempered my desire for one of these with some cold, hard reàlity.,.
Sorry Luey! :P
Man. That Sterling/MM sounds very clear. very nice review mate. 👍
The single coil is pretty cool but I wasn't feeling the middle or neck position.
I think you are underestimating this price point and what you can do with it. The truss rod on mine is maxed out. But the action is low and the .010 -.046 strings do not feel bad to my normal .090-.042. I think if you play this guitar enough, it rings loud in amplified and can be made to be played the way you want it to without pickup changes and all he complains about in this review. Other reviews on YT, depict a much better result and less picking on a fine guitar.... everyone may not like it... I love mine and am a weekly live gig player.... this guitar covers all the tones I love and songs I play.
Hey Chris I've played the Ernie Ball version and I thought it was great. It played well, felt good and the pickups were cool. I only stepped away because of the price point. Its alot of money for essentially a slab of wood with no contour or binding. For less money though its a no brainer. Cheers
Yeah $649 still feels a little steep for this one. I paid $320 (there is a blem on the neck) and I'm still sending it back. Just meh all the way through.
Hey Hack, I’m looking at one on used site $329 but since @Guitar Pit sent his back has me concerned. I just have a coupon gift card thing expiring lol
You can "pre -load" that neck and possibly get the truss rod adjustment corrected ,Stew Mac has video's on the process but,it sounds like you don't like it anyways. Thanks for the review. ( You would still be money ahead if you upgraded the pups.)
Yeah it's just a combination of everything. Not very premium look, meh pickups, little details. It's fine, but if I paid full retail I'd be mad. The Godin, Supro, and many other $300~400 guitars I've had were more exciting, for me personally.
great work buddy!!!! I have a American Fender that had a broken truss rod from new.. It's been a year now and i'm still waiting for my replacement neck. Wish I had just returned it but I live in NZ and stuff is hard to get
Yikes! Sorry to hear, that's brutal. Hopefully they get you one soon!
I ordered a Hardluck Kings guitar from CA a few months ago and paid for the "pro setup." Once I got it in MN the setup was just garbage. I contacted the company and they said "they get tossed around a lot in shipping" and recommended I basically re-do the setup work. I don't totally agree with their response which is the last time I'll buy a cheap guitar like that. Hard to buy in a shop these days but if you can get to feel the guitar before you buy, DO IT! Thanks for making this honest video. I'll probably steer clear of the Sterling line. Those pickups sound sad.
I didn't like the pickups at ALL, playability and quality of the rest of the guitar aside. I guess the pickups are fixable, but you can get a USA music man, used, for about $350 more than this is new. I'd highly recommend going that route, if you don't mind a ding or scrape or something like that. USA Music Man guitars are absolutely bullet proof quality.
These are cool for practice & home defense!! Burglar tries to make off with your Music Man hit em with the Sterling!!
It's a beefy one! haha.
I appreciate that JV has his sig routed for a humbucker housing in the bridge despite his preference of having a single coil there. Throw a hot rodded humbucker in the bridge and this guitar would rock as hard as any other.
Yeah it's nice that the option was left open. Plus it looks better :P
Great video! I still love this guitar and its versatility, do you think that with the right pickups and setup this guitar is good value for money or I should pull the trigger for the american made?
They seem to go for ~1500 used for the USA one, right? If you go with the Sterling model, I'd recommend playing it before hand to make sure it didn't have any of the problems I ran into. The USA one is probably a safe blind purchase though, Music Man's quality is top notch.
The Guitar Pit Gonna save for the american made, thank you!
Nice review.
I've wondered if some of these "Roasted" necks are just tinted.
Conspiracy theory! Yeah I've wondered that myself...
Doesn't look as dark as the RS stingray and Cutlass guitars.
Edit: I checked. it's roasted all the way through I think :)
The Guitar Pit I was kidding... kinda. ;) I mean, terms like caramelized, and special oxygen. Dose make me wonder. Coming from a non conspiracy type. ;) .
Yeah, this is very similar to Ibanez Premium's "roasted maple" - it isn't as dark or caramel-ish as those on their Prestige guitars. OTOH Charvel seems perfectly capable of making gorgeous caramelized maple necks for their budget MIM guitars.
Dude thanks for the honest review. I was ready to pull the trigger on one of these but after watching you put it through its paces ... negative, not getting my money. So here's the question of the evening ... what kind of chair are you using to play in? Thanks again for the post!
Yeah this guitar kinda bummed me out. I'd take a hard pass on it lol. And good question on the chair...it's a weird rubber band thing. It looks similar to this one: www.amazon.com/Bobbie-Adjustable-Height-Swivel-Office/dp/B01NCQKZF7 but I'm sure it was $60 at Ikea or Office Depot or something. I just use it for guitar because it doesn't have arms.
czcams.com/video/ewq6TE7n-w0/video.html
Sounds good, the us version is cool as well. Have you played many Godins?
I've just played the one Godin I reviewed. It was a steal at $299 used. I much preferred it to this Sterling, for example.
This guitar is suited for tele/country style players. Probably the reason you don’t like it. I’d definitely read the specs before I ordered a guitar knowing it’s not gonna be my style. And at 1500.00 less than American I’d say that’s a bargain
Ugh he’s in maroon 5... whatever’s who cares. 😂 classic buddy totally agree... I’ve had my eye on that since it’s release. Another good review
Yeah its mehhh hah. Guess I'm spoiled.
Wdyt about this guitar in term of quality? Is it on par with MIM Fender? On verge between this vs MIM Fender or Squier Tele with humbucker single coil configuration.
Get a Squier lol. This thing is junk.
@@TheGuitarPit thank you! I might save a little more to buy a MIM Fender
I enjoy this channel
Thanks Carmen!
Ay a sterling, thanks for an affordable review! Been looking into these lately to mod for some old school heavy metal, what's your opinion on that? (Essentially a mild mod platform)
I feel like the Sterling Luke III with the real-deal pickups might be a better move for that. Wouldn't need any mods, in theory. If you're planning on swapping everything out, I guess any made in Korea import guitar from a big brand would probably do it? What is your preferred body style and trem and stuff?
I had a stirling cutlass bout a year ago . Problem was the neck was too small and that never happens to me , had that A-symmetrical thing goin on. Easy to squeeze it outa tune w chords ,, not good . Tried a few months to get used to it , didnt happen. Traded on a G&L Tele which ill die playin. Iv played made in america Music Man ,,, Very Nice !
Yeah the USA Music Man guitars are spot on. Never played a bad one. This Sterling left a little to be desired, but that's a combination of some problems with the guitar, and also just personal taste.
Just ordered a Music Man Cutlass SSS..I hope I like it lol. The BFR Valentine looks great too but I really want that Strat sound without buying a Strat
Heard great things about the Cutlass guitars. Let me know how you like it!
I had a stingray and it blew me away. I'm confident you will love the Cutlass! The necks are unreal!
Tried one of the american ones of these some months ago and didn't find it to my liking. One of the Cutlasses i tried though was one of the best feeling guitars i've ever tried, and that despite me usually prefering medium jumbo frets.
American Cutlass? I've heard very good things about them.
@@TheGuitarPit ya it was one with flame maple neck and ss frets. I'd really recommend checking one out
A lil tape on the bridge Vai style will help with the scrapein of the palm :)
That'll probably give me Vai playing abilities too, I better try it :P
I know it's psychological, but I just don't like signature models. I had a ZW bullseye Les Paul in the day and I was aware if him and passively a fan, I just liked the look of it. However people were constantly requesting I play some ZW licks and asked what I thought of Zakk. To the point I was not annoyed and didn't want to take it anywhere. At that point I was dead set on never owning someone else's gear. Dead serious, If someone gave me a John Petrucci Musicman I wouldn't care how awesome it is, I'd sell it.
Ha, yeah I totally get it. Some bug me more than others. The Majesty, for example, just feels like 100% someone else's guitar. Not yours. Too much branding and band inlays and stuff. I think they have a couple that are more subdued, but I get not wanting to associate so strongly with one specific player.
Ditto on the truss rod on mine too
At the retail price point you can get a player series telecaster or a Yamaha revstar Both seem to be better guitars for the money.
Yeah, many other good options. Or, if you're willing to go used, a ton of stuff comes into reach for only $150 more.
@@TheGuitarPit I like the tuners and the neck option on this but those pickups not that great the two I mentioned both have pretty good pickups. The HH player tele has coil splits and the P-90 revstar has a dry switch which cuts out some of the bottom end. Used and new for an extra 150 you can get quite a bit you can get a Tele custom Vintera series which is pretty much what this is modeled after.
I was surprised they roasted the neck and added bent steel saddles. And those pickups are God awful imo but swap them out and it would make for a decent guitar.
Yeah. Not mind blowing but it's decently cool. The pickups just aren't for me at all though.
Neck humbucker, bridge single coil always confuses me, even on Teles. The other way around is great!
Yeah I dig the single coil in the bridge tone, but I wish it could kick into a humbucker in the bridge tone too :P The neck and middle on this thing...meh.
For a "hybrid Tele in disguise" a Steve Morse would be the more interesting option first off it has the more inventive pickup setup and while this is still a signature, at least it is a signature model of an actual god ;) Too bad there are no Sterling Steve Morse Models.
And PS: From what I hear in the video I agree on the Pickups ... the Neck sounds like you could dial in some reasonable tones with it, but it seems highly doubtful those tones would still work with the bridge. So not very well matched, unless maybe you're the Sterling version of Mr. Valentine.
Yeah I have a hunch this is made for playing like...funk rhythm on or something? I can't even attempt that, so it's just a skip for me. Decently built and not a bad guitar, but not my style at all. And the truss rod thing really sealed the deal as a return. Never played a Morse model, but I bet they rock. I wouldn't mind picking up a used one, see them pretty cheap now and then.
@@TheGuitarPit The ones I have seen under 2k were either Floyd Rose versions or had issues (or a combination of the two). But the Steve Morse Standard with fixed bridge is something I would also like to pick up used. Maybe you get one, test it, and sell it to me at a steep discount on your reverb store ;)
Nice review as always. You're assembling quite a few "Black" guitars too. You have more than I do. ;)
It just sort of happened. I'm trying to fix it! Haha.
@@TheGuitarPit Hey, don't be a racist! ;)
Must of got a bad one. I have one and sounds and plays great...stays in tune
This is a stellar guitar by reviewers who are more accustomed to the style of playing and tones this guitar puts out. I'm not digging the strum chords you're doing in this review. Based on what's on your wall, this isn't your jam, so to speak. It's good for jazzy and Tele twang, but holds its own with overdrive. Doesn't sound like you're into clean tones, picking and bending. Try looking into Shijie or Cort.
Yeah, they get paid. This is a non-stellar guitar in every way. Unfixable truss rod is an instant dealbreaker and not up for debate. This was DOA. I'm not the best player, but you can do much better. Skip Shije and Cort, there are real brands out there making great guitars. See almost any of my other reviews.
@@TheGuitarPit I've found Gibson/Epiphone Les Paul, Fender Strats, etc to be meh. Uninspiring for decades. For my preferred sound, I'm having another look at the D'angelico Atlantic. I really like the look of this Valentine. I feel like either you got a 🍋 or the better version really is the Ernie Ball.
@@lynneftw Oh certainly, it was a total lemon. I'm sure people have Sterlings they like, but this thing bummed me out. I love Music Man guitars (have a Luke III and JP6) but this thing wasn't even close. Doubt I'll give Sterling another shot, but Music Man will remain a favorite. And that's cool on the D'Angelico, I had a semihollow a while back that was pretty fun! Got a great deal on it.
Tele in disguise.. Great description!
I THINK that's what they were going for here? Not really sure. Either way, cool concept, just doesn't do it for me.
@@TheGuitarPit Hard to sell them...that was my impression while working at Sam Ash. They get passed over for other imports. I'm surprised you didn't go for trying the Petrucci model.
@@BrianSGuitars $320 shipped out the door cause the neck blem. That's why I actually bought it :P
Nice review. It's perplexing the pick ups aren't reversed. The single coil should be in the neck. Putting a humbucker there and then not giving the option to split it seems two major flops. Well aside from place of manufacture. Still at the price this is in line with many first buy's for beginners. And in that i can think of several in this range that would be a better pick. But that's the strength of the guitar pit. You review it before we make a bad choice. Great as always!
Yeah it was probably obviously this wasn't my favorite guitar. Strange pickups, boring body shape, and a defective truss rod. Meeeeh.
Seems like the pixkups' positions should be switched, putting the single coil in the neck and the humbucker in the bridge position ( the pickups with actually, probably, be replaced with better quality pickups, maybe a P 90 in the neck position, and a medium output crisp and clear humbuxker with some warmth in the bridge position)
i know you have a pet cat
Please do a St. Vincent if you can
If I see a deal one on I will! This one was blemished and only $320 shipped new, so that's why I jumped on it.
All the nice "specs" in the world still doesn't make a nice guitar. Craftsmanship is the most important "spec" imo.
Seeing a lot of these mid range priced guitars with nice specs, and seeing a lot of so-so reviews.
Yeah. This guitar is totally "fine" but the pickups are a hard no for me, and the rest of it just seems meh. I'd rather get the Luke or maybe the JP.
Sorry mate its not my cup of tea as we say across the pond, so you get to keep it buddy lmao Cheers Chris
Me neither buddy! haha.
Wow that neck pickup is real bad 😂😂😂
Wasn't my favorite :P
This is an extremely poor demonstration of what this guitar can do