chimi

Saw this thing on ebay. Did not bid but boy was i tempted. This thing just looks stunning http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&_trksid=p4340.l2557&hash=item27ca440dee&item=170897182190&nma=true&pt=Guitar&rt=nc&si=VzqnGAYZ3OIbAntr9WO%252FSIT4smI%253D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc#ht_11913wt_1271 Made me wonder just how good these things are? Are we talking epiphone quality or higher? Also what's the difference between Aria, Aria Pro II etc.? Never got that.

Seems like they were quite a popular cheapish brand a few years ago but lately no one really mentions them much. I know they still have a strong ebay presence but not sure if they have a rondo type website (maybe this is a problem?) Has the quality gone down or was it just not that good in the first place? I got one of those $20 strats off Amazon a while ago for my god son and i have to say it's one hell of a guitar for even 5-7 times that much and the neck is killer.

Lately i've been gassing for an archtop bad and when looking through some ebay auctions i came across a byrdland. I love the fact that it is a huge guitar with that les paul like cutaway. Something about it really appeals to me. I would love to get a similar guitar and turn it into a metal/hard rock beast. Unfortunately i'm pretty broke. Can anyone point me to some cheap alternatives?

So i'm close to pulling the trigger on an aria II guitar. It's a superstrat with a humbucker and 2 single coils. Got a pointy headstock too. I've never really heard much about these guitars. What is the quality like? Are they hit or miss or all pretty much crap?

I mean the predator, patriot, etc. Seems like they're dirt cheap but are VERY good guitars and most of them are made in the USA if i'm not mistaken. So what gives?

So i'm looking at this Samick/ Greg Bennett strat on ebay. It's an MB3 which stands for malibu i guess. It's burgundy with 3 single coils. I was wondering what the consensus was around here about these guitars. Comprable to Sx or Jay Turser?