ST-20HH Active SBK : Gothic Root

For £109, you can't get better but it does come with the usual budget guitar disclaimer....you will very probably need to get it set up!

If you're OK with power/open chords and want to put your fingers through a bit of a work out when soloing, then you're good to go. If however you want to do a bit of shredding, then a hex key and/or a shim are your friends. The tele I got needed a fret leveling, truss rod adjustment and a shim, this I feel is pretty good from the box with just a shim and an intonation set up.

Fret edges are smooth, no flaws in the paint work, pickups sound good but as usual for HBZ actives require a gate at high gain. The nut, tuners and strings do their job, I won't be modding these!

The bodies on this matt black range isn't as thick as a Fender but then again it doesn't seem as skinny as an Affinity Strat (need to get calipers out). Seems petty but I do prefer a full thickness!