Overall, well worth the price.
Nice action. Lower than my Ibanez Artist and that feels like butter. Good intonation. Beautiful headstock even before the decal was added. Wonderful fretboard with smooth inlay. Ebony isn't expected at this price point. Nice upgrade to a bone nut over plastic BTW. Lightweight overall and a back saver. Big strap pegs, negating the need to install the gold schaller locks I bought for it in advance. Warm sound but still crisp with bridge pickup on. Clean, knot free mahogany. Nice high gloss finish. Quite electronics (no hum, no scratchy pots). Overall, well worth the price.
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I was very happy knowing I may not need to change a thing.
From a 10 minute play on it I was impressed overall the stock tuning keys which seem to keep in tune and I am sure the pickups will sound good plugged in. So I was very happy knowing I may not need to change a thing on it to use it for gigs as is. Also the fit and finish is very good. It arrived without any scratches rubs or finish issues at all. Now i just need to crank it up live for a real testdrive.
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It sounds great, plays fantastically and looks like a million bucks.
I have had my Liger for a while now and I want to thank you for making such a great guitar. It sounds great, plays fantastically and looks like a million bucks. Keep up the good work and thanks again. A Wolph may be in my future!!
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Whoever does the setup did a fantastic job.
Got my Liger yesterday, and I love it. Whoever does the setup did a fantastic job, please convey my appreciation. I'm looking forward to see what the Deadbolt is like. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
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Effects never sounded better.
Got the OBEL up and running after re-wiring my pedal tray. Sounds awesome. Effects never sounded better, guitar is easy to play for a new instrument and very varied in terms of tones I can get. Really happy so far, thanks.
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After just two weeks, feels like I have been playing this forever.
I am blown away. After just two weeks, feels like I have been playing this forever. The sounds I have always searched for in my pedal effects are finally what I always wanted them to be. Years of tone frustration just washing away. I have a close friend who works in guitar retail, used to be in charge of vintage instruments for a major national chain in the NYC branch. He was amazed at how good the Liger feels and sounds un-amplified. He asked if paid $2,000 like it would have been a good deal at that price.
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The OBEL loop works as advertised
I have been fiddling with the pickup configuration switches and tone controls today, possibly too many subtle differences for right now, the middle pickup seems dominant, and the OBEL loop works as advertised. Fit and finish is quite nice, all frets are dressed, and I didn't get any buzzing on strings when I tuned down one step flat.
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This is the best guitar that I have owned.
I waited until Tuesday morning to tune her up, and played scales for several hours; this morning the top two strings were a little flat, but that is not bad for new strings. I have been fiddling with the pickup configuration switches and tone controls today, possibly too many subtle differences for right now, the middle pickup seems dominant, and the OBEL loop works as advertised. Fit and finish is quite nice, all frets are dressed, and I didn't get any buzzing on strings when I tuned down one step flat. Going to keep experimenting. This is the best guitar that I have owned.
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Thanks again for an amazing instrument.
I just wanted to drop a line to say that the new Liger is a work of art!!! The set up is great, the fret action fantastic, and has just the attitude I was hoping for in the playing. It was worth all the waiting!!! Thanks again for an amazing instrument.
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You have a good product...
You have a good product with good support and word got around.
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My guitar arrived and it looks beautiful!! I'm so excited. I'll be getting to know it tonight! Many thanks!
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Got the Liger today. Totally worth the wait! Whoever is doing the fret work, give 'em a raise. Plays like butter.
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I could not put it down for days.
I ordered this guitar essentially as a vanity piece. Loving the music of Jerry and the Grateful Dead I wanted something inspiring to look at and play when I was playing that music or had Jer in mind. I had seen positive reviews online in terms of playability and build so I thought it would be about on level with an Ibanez Artcore or similar Chinese import guitar (...which of course it is.) However, when the guitar arrived I was totally floored. I could not put it down for days. There were some minor finish irregularities as Fred had clearly shown and described. But the setup was so amazing, and the playability was so right on. The basic ingredients of a guitar like this are all there; The 25.5 in scale, the ebony fretboard. The high mass in the body and headstock. The neck joint, which is totally solid. All this got me much closer to the actual Jerry guitar sounds than I expected. So clear and with real pop if you dig in. (I got the Swamp Ash body option) And a very consistent sound and volume up and down the 24 frets, with lots of natural sustain. No dead spots. Not only that, so far I love the pickups. And the pots, switches and hardware are all totally solid. I'm not making any mods or changes for a while. I know I can't say this will be true of all of them, but for me this is a guitar that just sings. It's more than the sum of it's parts. I've spent a lot more on guitars that should have been better, but just didn't have ""IT."" For me this guitar has ""IT"" in spades. I'm not trying to say Jerry would come back from the dead and pick this guitar over Rosebud. But this is a dang good guitar in it's own right I personally like mine a LOT. Also importantly Fred is totally chill to do business with. No funny business, hidden costs or other weirdness. Which is easy to forget when it's not there. So I don't know how you did it, Fred but keep doing it!
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The ebony fretboard is amazing.
I'm not sure how to articulate just how impressed I am with my Liger. I am absolutely blown away by the value. The tone is phenomenal - I opted for the brass nut and a Super 2 in the middle position, but the stock pickups sound good as well. I have recently been playing a Strat into a Fender Twin which has allowed me to approximate a pretty decent Jerry tone, but plugging the Liger into my rig - without changing anything - brings me significantly closer, it's crazy. The ebony fretboard is amazing, the neck feels great, the guitar is heavy, solid, and balanced. Very impressed with the natural sustain and the tech who set it up is a straight up luthier, a pro - and it comes through. It's also gorgeous. The sculpted body is gorgeous. The stain is beautiful, with the wood grain really coming through. A weird comparison, but when you see someone that you thought was attractive in a picture anyways, but then you see them in person and they are even better looking? It's sort of like that. If you're on the fence go for it. I can't think of many other opportunities to get as good of a deal. It's a no brainer. Hats off to Freddy and his team for doing what I thought could never be done.
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It has a wonderful feel, action, and tone!
I just got my Liger delivered! What a beautiful guitar! I tuned it and played it for several minutes (in my office!) and can’t wait to plug in later! It has a wonderful feel, action, and tone! Thank you very much, I have a feeling I will be looking for a Deadbolt and/or Wolph soon!
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I play without an amp often and every note rings like a bell.
This guitar is amazing. It has everything needed and it's controllable. I love the ergonomics and the neck is killer. It's as good as any guitar considering electronics can be changed to personalize ones preferences. I play without an amp often and every note rings like a bell. It's lively and even. This thing has soul and it's something lacking in a big part now even in the 10k guitars.
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I received my Liger and I Love it!
The neck and headstock are among the prettiest I've ever seen, she is a beauty! She is heavy and has great sustain, sounds great even when playing it acoustically.
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Holy cow, Batman!!! If you can handle waiting on something up to the better portion of a year, this is the way to go! I have owned everything from Fender to Gibson and many brands in between but this does it for me. It really has that happy medium to it's overall feel. From weight to action to tonal possibilities, this axe is gorgeous to boot! The setup quality was spot on and it's definitely worth the extra dough to get as many of the upgrades as you can afford. I didn't have the money initially to get them but was able to add them as I went through the waiting process as the funds became available to me and when you consider what your average local luthiers may charge, it's a no brainer. Even the custom hard shell case had that old familiar new case smell! Can't say enough good things about Freddy and his crew! Peace
by: Guest | 1/4/2019 9:30 AM Was this review helpful? Yes No (4 /0 )
I received my Liger about a week ago, and I haven’t put it down since. Plays like butter, sounds incredible, and so versatile. Everyone who has played the guitar since i recieved it has had nothing but great things to say about it. This instrument is just fantastic. Huge thank you to the Phred instruments team, great guitars, and outstanding customer survive. I think I see a Wolph in my future.
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More Than Worth The Wait!
After waiting 5 months, I received my Liger this week, and it has exceeded my every expectation. Plays and sounds like it cost 5 times as much! I upgraded the wiring but kept the stock pickups. Looks better than the pictures. You absolutely want to buy this guitar no matter how long you have to wait for it!!
by: Guest | 6/28/2019 9:02 AM Was this review helpful? Yes No (1 /0 )
This guitar is absolutely fantastic!!
My Liger finally arrived and I have no words! Freddy kept sending me updated pictures until it was completed and sent. First off, working with him and his company was such a great experience. I went for it all with all the upgrades except the pickups which I'm glad. This guitar sings when it's in the case. No pictures do one bit of justice until you open up the case and there it is! The tones are incredible as well as just the feel of the guitar. I have them all from Fender, Gibson's, Schecters and many more. This guitar is now my new daily player. The switches, knobs and all electronics are perfect and smooth. There is no Hum or scratchy sounds. The weight and balance of this guitar again perfect. Freddy was the best during this build and I'm forever GRATEFUL!!!!! Don't listen to any nay Sayer, If you want a guitar that will blow you away - Order this right away.... Ken Wood NYDEADHEAD
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Thank you so much - forever Grateful!
Can’t thank you enough... just arrived yesterday. Holy f****** smokes!!! The tones that come from this baby are unparalleled. The fretboard is like running my fingers over a stick of butter. The finish of the wood, the consistency of the tuning... I could go on and on. This is a true piece of art. This will carry me for many, many years!
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I wanted a guitar that approximated the sound on the best Altheas. I'm not a fan boy -- having a guitar that "looks like Jerry's" seemed a bit embarrassing. So, I delayed a long time between learning of Phred Instruments and placing the order. It was a bit weird waiting for the long interval between placing the order and the guitar actually arriving. My wife and I would joke that it was probably on a container ship circling the Long Beach port (it being a "pandemic" and all). Would it be a great guitar or a silly "replica"? Would it even show up? Then again, we read Jerry waited 5 yrs or so for the Tiger ... I don't have any high-end guitars, but I have a number of decent-ish low end versions. All my guitars are "custom" in the sense that I am left handed and therefore cannot walk into a guitar store and pick a guitar that suits my playing -- I have to order a left hand "stock" guitar and hope I get a decent one (paying full retail, of course). As others have noted, the Liger is beautiful, but that's not really the point for me. (Well, it is part of the point, of course, so the guitar gets a place of honor in the living room!) The weight and construction of the guitar give it wonderful sustain and control, even if you didn't happen to plug it in yet. Playing endless jams on my looper, the control I have over the sound is fantastic. The electronics provide a range of interesting variations, though I tend to find settings I like and stick with them. As for OBEL, I didn't really understand what it was until the Liger showed up. I didn't get an OBEL box, but I was able to utilize it with a "balanced" (stereo) cable I had. And, it solved an issue, b/c I have a modeling effects pedal AND a voice / looper box that didn't play nice together. I run the OBEL jack to the effects pedal and the guitar jack to the looper. Done. With the OBEL switch on, the signal goes to the effects, back to the guitar and out to the looper. With the OBEL switch off, the raw guitar signal goes to the looper. The raw guitar feed has extreme & wonderful clarity along with unenhanced sustain (compared to my other guitars). I shouldn't tell Feddy this, but my Liger was cheaper than my stock L/H famous guitar company guitar that I do not "love a lot" (but which I purchased chasing the action and sound I get from the LIger). I have only one regret -- that I did not order the Liger the day I first found the Phred Instrument website!
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