I was looking for an inexpensive acoustic-electric for a project we're working on and to complete an audition kit, and posted about it on another forum where I hang out. My choice was pretty much made and I was actually waiting for the guitar to arrive...
As it turns out, that first option, a Washburn, had a defective pick-up and I had to send it back.
As I was examining my options and mentioned Fender as NOT being one of them, a guy mentioned one Fender I hadn't even checked out, that is, the Hellcat Tim Armstrong signature. I'm usually not big on signatures, but what the heck...
Even though at that point I was pretty set on an Epiphone EJ200 Jumbo on which I had a great deal, I thought the Hellcat was worth investigating - maybe it was those cats inlays... :P
So I went to GC to try one this pm, and the minute I picked it up, it was a done deal. That neck, man... Not only that, but it reminded me of my good old Norman guitar, which I used to be so very fond of. I never was much of a fan of acoustic, but that old Norman worked great for me.
Another advantage is that it's a bit thinner - which is most welcome because of my bad right shoulder. The closer my arm remains to my body, the better. In that respect, the Jumbo was probably a very bad idea...
Furthermore, the room in which I tried the Hellcat and a bunch of big guitars on display, including the big Gibson after which the Epi is modelled. And suddenly, even though the price difference may be a bit exaggerated, I understood why the Epi was so much cheaper, even just looking at the Gibson through the glass...
Anyway, an hour later, my wife picked me and my new guitar up. I love it, and so does she - visually, it's a perfect fit for our rockabilly/goth swing project... I mean, even just the name: "Hellcat"...
Big guitars:
The very affordable but very fine Hellcat and its inlays...
