SC-1000 SBK Progressive Line : Satisfied!

Honestly I have nothing bad to really say about it. The guitar came in good shape and overall the craftsmanship is very nice. The guitar came out of tune but otherwise the setup is perfectly fine for me although a more experienced guitarist would want to look into it to get it up to spec. I would also say that for a beginner like myself not wanting to spend a lot on a guitar for what you're getting is a bargain. I have an ESP LTD EC-50 and this guitar is definitely replacing it.

The gold hardware is aesthetically pleasing and acts as a nice accent to the body and pickups/knobs and I haven't had any issues with these components so far.

The pickups are great for what you're paying for; you're able to achieve some really nice tones and the tone knob definitely responds well to handling whatever you throw at it. Furthermore, with my EC-50 having passive pickups, it's very nice to hear the difference between active and passive pickups, and I'm definitely learning towards active pickups from now on.

The only downsides I could really say are more specific to QC and packaging:

- It would've been nice to see more packaging material inside the cardboard box it was shipped in to further ensure that there will be absolutely zero damage to the guitar.

- Fret ends are a little scratchy and may prove to be a little uncomfortable for some players.

- One of the knobs on my model specifically is put on incorrectly and the numbers don't match up. Easy fix but figured I should mention it anyway.

In conclusion: if you're looking for a budget metal guitar, this has got you covered. All it needs is a little bit of love and care and higher quality pickups and components, then you've got yourself a pretty great guitar.