[King Knall]

I've found one used from someone local. Are they any good?

 

[King Knall]

Anyone? Anyone at all?

 

[darren wilson]

I don't know about specific Valley Arts models, but for a while, the company was owned by Samick, and i believe all of their guitars were made in Korea. Then Gibson bought them back and set them up in Nashville. So if it's a pre-Samick or post-Samick model, it's probably really good for the price. Even if it's a Samick, it might be a decent guitar, but do some research and be sure of what you're buying.

 

[Chris From Singapore.]

If it the old valley arts guitars, when Steve Lukather was still endorsing them, I'd say get it. But if it's the new ones made now by Gibson...please think twice.

 

[King Knall]

Its not the Samick Korean one. Its a '95 model made in California.

 

[jim777]

The old ones were silly good; just astounding really. I remember being flat out stunned by the first one I played back in the 80's. And I've played a LOT of guitars in my nearly 35 years playing. Definitely, definitely, check it out yourself. If it's special you'll know instantly. If it was good to begin with, and has been treated well, then it's certainly going to take care of you. But make sure you check it out yourself, don't get it on my say so. They were very high quality guitars back when. Pensa/Suhr good.

 

[King Knall]

I've found one with a Schaller Floyd. Are these any good?

 

[jim777]

Have you played it?

 

[King Knall]

Apparently the one that was selling locally was just sold off. So I'm looking at one from the US (the local one didn't have a Floyd). So no, I haven't played it yet.

 

[darren wilson]

One thing to keep in mind with Valley Arts is a lot of them had 24 3/4" scale necks... they were going after a bit of a "hybrid" audience and were wooing a lot of traditional Gibson players (like Larry Carlton) over to the "Strat" world.

 

[shredfreak]

I would like to get an old Custom Pro but they are rare guitars now days and I can't find them from Finland. I believe California Pro is also good if it's made in USA.

 

[jim777]

Valley Arts was one of those companies that did fantastic work, and then was bought for the name. Schecter is another example. If the VA was an 80's guitar, I wouldn't hesitate to grab it. I haven't played a newer one, because I haven't had the chance.
The original was a '95, do you know anymore about the newer one you're looking at?

 

[King Knall]

I know that its made in California, not Korea. It has 24 frets and a Schaller Floyd. Here's some pics of it:

http://cgi.****.com/ws/****ISAPI.dl...ndexURL=0&photoDisplayType=2#****photohosting
http://cgi.****.com/ws/****ISAPI.dl...ndexURL=3&photoDisplayType=2#****photohosting
http://cgi.****.com/ws/****ISAPI.dl...ndexURL=4&photoDisplayType=2#****photohosting
http://cgi.****.com/ws/****ISAPI.dl...ndexURL=5&photoDisplayType=2#****photohosting

 

[King Knall]

Just replace those **** with the name of that auction site.
By the way its item 7354491740.

 

[shredfreak]

So it has that 7-8 body, smaller than average strat. Otherwise nice guitar but I don't like that headstock.

 

[fettouhi]

Just replace those **** with the name of that auction site.
By the way its item 7354491740.

Man that thing looks nice, gold hardware, 24 frets *drool*!!!

Regards

André

 

[darren wilson]

I may be wrong, but i'm pretty sure that Valley Arts guitars that have 24 frets are 24.75" (Gibson) scale.

That's also a really odd headstock. From the early years and even through the Samick period, i don't remember the headstock being any different from the headstock they're using now, which you can see on their models at the Valley Arts site.

 

[ScottB]

Warmoth built their necks for a number of years. I believe they also built the bodies for the 24-3/4 scale V.A. guitars as well.

 

[jim777]

What time frame are we talking here for the Warmoth components? Was Warmoth in business in '85?

 

[ScottB]

Warmoth was around in '85. One of the big selling points among the Valley Arts dealers during their peak of popularity ('88 - '91ish) was that they came standard with the Warmoth Compound Radius neck.

Here's a quote from the current Warmoth website:

"At Warmoth, "Quality is Paramount". Our entire operation is geared toward crafting excellence. That's why we're number one. Others talk it; we deliver it. We have supplied necks to Yamaha (900 Series Pacifica), necks and bodies to Valley Arts (Custom Pro Series), Pensa-Suhr, Sadowsky Guitars and many other quality-conscious builders. Be assured, we won't send you anything less."

A friend of mine used to be a V.A. dealer. He had a guitar shop in Annapolis, MD called Master Musicians from about 1985 to 2001. He sold quite a few USA models before the California business was sold to Samick in 1992.