Saw the Mustaine Vanguards were starting to cut pricing and jumped once they dropped below the 1k mark. I really like the Vanguard carve, with the slight curve to the bevel, but most of them are offset Vs. I figured this was probably the only way I'd have a shot at a full body one without finding a custom shop somewhere.
New family pic:
The case is RIDICULOUS.
There's literally enough room around the headstock my two cats can sleep around it when it's in the case, and there's probably room for another two cats around the end of it.
Aside from the case being an arm killer walking across the parking lot at work, pretty happy with it. I had them put a new nut on it, and they did a great job cutting it. The bridge was too high, but that was an easy solve. Spent some time setting it up for myself last night, then played and jammed with a bud until way too late. That bridge pickup is *WAY* more bass-full than I expected in a Mave guitar. Not a bad thing, but at this point I'm thinking I'll be lowering it a bit to take a small amount of that thickness away. Right now it sounds like it'll curb-stomp the bass in the mix. Probably has to do with the fact that the bridge was so high when I got it and I didn't lower the pickup when I lowered the bridge.
Likes:
Set neck
Mahogany
Pickups are hot but crystal clear
Plays like butter
Ridiculously resonant and full sounding, even not plugged in.
Dat neck. Slickest finished neck I've ever played, thin but not razor thin, shreddy but not hand-crampy
The finish is way more lush in person than online pics would have you believe.
Headstock seems a mix of the explorer hockey stick and the Jackson style pointy. Very cool looking in person
Dislikes:
Mini-Dave on the back of headstock. Meh, but serial. As I said to my buds, "Putting your guitar pose on the back of your guitar is a little like masturbating to yourself masturbating, but whatever."
Dots? DOTS? I'd rather no inlays like the Agile than dots, but at least they aren't blinged out in abalone
I had 'em put a new set of tuners on. In the past I've had good luck with these auto-trim bastards, but these are stiff and rattly feeling. May have to replace them at string change for something better. Been eyeballing Hipshot open gear lockers for it.
Though have been curious about the graphtech ratios too. Guess I'll see.Bridge is on "backwards" currently. I mean, it doesn't hurt anything, but adjustment screws toward the pickups always look
to me when I pay attention to it. May have to swap it around at string change.The logo font. It doesn't hurt the guitar, but it doesn't really help either.
Overall, I really dig it, even with the minor gripes. I spend a couple more nights tweaking it to my preferences and it should fit right into the stable.
Gettin' excited to put it in a mix up against my cheapass Jackson that's been modded to within an inch of its life and beaten to shit over the years. Hopefully have clips this week at some point.
Next on the agenda: Neck-thru V. This is the GGF way. New guitar, already planning the next.
Though I have some other expenses to take care of first. 
If it had the regular Kramer logo I'd buy it. 
