yo heretic, awesome guitar, it simply looks amazing.
have you actually recieved the guitar yet, or has it just been completed?
if it has been completed, how does it play and sound. if you havent recieved it, when will you get it?

btw, you arent by any chance a fan of lamb of god are you...?

o yea, post video and/or audio clips of it

Heretic, that guitar is beautiful!! Is that just a clear satin finish on the neck?





I have one. 7 string flying V...its in here somewhere or you can check the ran users site: http://ranguitars.floriandecher.de/UserRans.html

The shipping cost and all that bullshit are a pain, but overall it is pretty cheap for guitars like this, compared to BC Rich/ESP/Jackson....

__________________

Do you know of any other custom guitar shops in the US that are as cheap as Ran (<2000 USD for a custom guitar)?

Yeah recieved the guitar about a week ago after payine $300 dollars customs. It sounds absolutely amazing. I have the invader on my other guitars and it had the problem that the 6th string would over take all the other strings when playing fast string skipping riffs etc... but this guitar does not have this problem at all. The neck pickup is a jazz and it sounds amazing for solo's. Overall i could not be happier. Haha i thought somebody might pick up on the mark morton connection. Yeah i sort of designed this guitar off of the Jackson Jazz guitar that he uses on killedelphia dvd. The instant i saw that guitar i feel in love. There is definately some of my own ideas put into it though. My band is currently recording a demo and i am using the guitar so once thats done i can post some clips.

And yes phillkilla - it is just a clear satin finish on a mahogany neck.

I doubt you'd find one in the US.

Ran are cheap simply because they are from Eastern Europe where everything (wages, material, utility bills etc) is cheaper. However since Poland has joined the European Union, their economy will slowly rise to match the rest of Europe, so it won't be much cheaper for too much longer.

The US has higher everything (including tax) and so naturally you'll see higher prices.

__________________

400 euros is exactly 508$ USD. For that much you can fly over to Poland for a weekend, watch Vader in their hometown, get drunk off your ass, greet Dariusz and snatch your guitar and and fly back home smuggling some high grade kielbasa. And you'd still probably have cash left over.

__________________

I guess that also explains why Ran's prices have increased compared to a few years ago.

So anyway, I'm not sure yet whether or not I'll get a Ran guitar, but I have come up with a concept that involves an EXP-shaped Explorer with "Man to Wolf" inlays (Hetfield, anyone?). Dariusz's quote was 1440 euros (about 1920 USD), which was actually less than I expected.

Would anyone care to comment on the specs below?

Also, what is the exact procedure when you want custom inlays? Should I be really specific and send him sketches, or can I just send him a couple relatively decent pictures (like the link in the quote below... not the best quality pic but I have some better ones) and expect him to produce something almost or exactly close? Reason I ask is because I'm not the greatest artist, so even sketching inlays of a man turning into a wolf is difficult for me

And lastly does the shape of a guitar affect its tone? Cruiser versus Explorer, for example?

"The EXP guitar in your specification will cost 1440 euros...Man to Wolf
inlays included.

Best regards
Dariusz Kuczynski

> R or L handed : right handed
>
> Scale length : 24.75
> Scale length other :
>
> Body shape : other
> Body shape other : ESP Explorer EXP
>
> Construction : all access neck joint (bolt-on)
> Construction other :
>
> Body material : alder
> Body material other :
>
> Top wood options : no
> Top wood options other :
>
> Body binding : none
>
> Binding material : N/A
> Binding material other :
>
> Pickup configuration : H-H
> Pickup configuration other :
>
> Finish : solid
> Finish other : Black
>
> Custom finish : none
> Custom finish other :
>
> Headstock shape : other
> Headstock shape other : ESP Explorer EXP
>
> Neck material : maple 3P
> Neck material other :
>
> Headstock : regular
>
> Truss rod cover : plastic (b/w/b)
> Truss rod cover other :
>
> Headstock finish : match body finish
> Headstock finish other :
>
> Neck finish : match body finish
> Neck finish other :
>
> Fingerboard material : indian rosewood
> Fingerboard material other :
>
> Number of frets : 22
> Number of frets other :
>
> Fret size : Dunlop 6100
>
> Fingerboard inlays (MOP) : other
> Fingerboard inlays (MOP) other :
>
> Custom inlays : yes
> Custom inlays other : \"Man To Wolf\" inlays, see additional instructions
>
> Inlay at 12th fret (MOP) : other
> Inlay at 12th fret (MOP) other :
>
> Fingerboard side inlays : plastic dots
> Fingerboard side inlays other :
>
> Fingerboard binding : none
> Fingerboard binding other :
>
> Headstock binding : none
> Headstock binding other :
>
> Nut : locking
> Nut other :
>
> Width : 1 11/16(43mm)
>
> Hardware color : black
>
> Bridge system : Schaller Floyd Rose Tremolo
> Bridge system other :
>
> Tuning machines : Schaller M6
> Tuning machines other :
>
> Straplocks : Schaller
>
> Pickups : EMG
> Neck : Neck: EMG 81
> Middle :
> Bridge : Bridge: EMG 81
>
> Pickup rings : none (direct mounted)
>
> Control knobs : 2 x volume, tone
> Control knobs other :
>
> Other controls : none
> Other controls other :
>
> Pickup selector : 3-way lever
> Pickup selector other :
>
> Flight case : no
> - - -
> Additional instructions : Hi, these are the inlays
> Is this possible? I can try to get more pictures later...
> http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d.../manToWolf2.jpg
>

I'd got for a set neck or neck thru (which costs a lot more tho), mahogany body maybe ? And James has EMG 81 and 60.. I myself am going for 81 and 85. Also, why not get 24 frets while your at it, it won't be exactly like James' with that trem on it anyway

A flight case would be quite convenient as well

oh, and:

http://www.freewebs.com/montyjay/mtwespexp.html

Hey, thanks. Are those pictures from the website enough for Dariusz to completely recreate the inlays? I doubt I can draw them...

well, the more pics the better of course... but you don't have to draw it, I'm sure he can do a great job. The more pics you have the more it will resemble James' inlay, but I think it will look awesome either way

Got the tracking number for my Ran

__________________

I'd really try and find clearer pictures, or get a freind who can draw to recreate it on paper for you, so Ran can use that as a template.

I personally wouldn't want to leave it to chance that anyone else would get them spot on, you might end up with an interpretation, and when it's done, it's done.

__________________

yeah but it's not an exact replica of the guitar anyway and I'm sure Dariusz will do a good job... But of course the more pics the better, if you don't have more/better pics, drawing it won't really help, cuz Dariusz can do that just as well as any of your friends.

Anyway, this should be mine :

http://img361.imageshack.us/img361/...ustomredmu3.jpg

Nice guitar. What website or program did you use to make the design picture?

I took a picture of a Bernie Rico Vixen and edited it with Paint Shop Pro

the model is a Vixen btw and my custom will be a Kruos, like on the RAN site... the models are quite similar but the Vixen is stretched a bit more

Nice! What kind of Ran is it? It might have been mentioned before but I can't remember.




That's pretty similar to my future Ran:
http://www.cc.puv.fi/~e0300583/Fina...ised_design.JPG


I've provided Dariusz a shitload of pictures to help them make my guitar. I've changed a lot of little details on the way and I thought it would be wise to provide them a "checklist" with all the little details.
http://www.cc.puv.fi/~e0300583/Fina...s/checklist.txt

My Ran is supposed to be finished late february.

See-thru black bevels? Are you having a very thick top then? Because obviously bevels would go through the top wood into the main wood, and you'd see the line where they are glued.

Also, it would mean using two dyes, and hoping they don't spread into each other. Becuase dyes are rubbed on and not sprayed, they soak into the wood, I imagine they would bleed into each other and you wouldn't get a hard line.

Has Dariusz discussed it with you, and ok'd this?

__________________

I showed Dariusz these pics and he said they can do it.
http://www.cc.puv.fi/~e0300583/Fina...thru_bevels.jpg
http://www.cc.puv.fi/~e0300583/Fina...hru_bevels2.jpg

I would imagine the top will be thick enough. I think I'll ask Dariusz about it just in case. But I'd presume he knows what I mean by looking at those pics.

That one, the first on MT with a maple fretboard Due to arrive tomorrow

Yours is gonna look killer- doesn't seem like it was that long since you ordered it!

__________________

Thats cool then. I guess he will use a fairly thick top (1/2" or more) whereas my custom only has a 1/4" top. because I'm have a black burst, so it doesn't matter as much visually.

__________________

Oh yeah, that one. Looks killer! I really like the maple board.




Yeah, time has passed surprisingly quickly. Three more months to go if all goes well.

Awesome! A bit too basic for my tastes but that's a good choice of pickup placement(farther from the bridge), it'll surely sound a hell of a lot more chunky!

__________________

The Economy might have had something to do with it, but I think realy it was because they had an influx of new orders, and they needed to employ more people, buy new tools etc etc.

Prices rising as demand increases is a standard business studies thing.

__________________

you could try KXK, they are relatively cheap and are supposed to be great guitars:
http://www.kxkguitars.com/

btw: is it just as expensive to order a guitar from the US in europe?

I think I may be obsessed, last night I had a dream were I ordered a Ran and I was sat in my room playing it, I need help (and a job )

__________________

Finally got it through Fucking amazing, i got a flightcase with it too!

__________________

KXK's will cost you a minimum of 2500$ so that's not in your range.

__________________

pics cunt!!

__________________

Presumably you ordered a flightcase? Or was your guitar subject to some mistakes (and the flightcase was a way of saying sorry?)

__________________

Well, i only ordered a standard hardcase, and there was a couple of 'discrepancies' with my guitar, so perhaps it is a bit of a peace offering Anyway, it is very neat, and im thankful to Ran for it!

Phil: pictures of the guitar and the flightcase here

__________________

Ah yeah, I remember which guitar is yours now! The pickup rings... well it's good that they did their best to make it up to you.

__________________

nice guitar. That flightcase is some serious shit too...I'll be getting one with my next ran I believe.

__________________

you ordered?

well, I think I'm not getting my custom RAN....

Cuz I just bought a used RAN It's a custom neck thru, string thru Invader with an EMG 81. It's pretty much like the one that was for sale in this thread not long ago, except this one has 24 frets (instead of 21) with diamond inlays (instead of dots at the top of the neck) and 1 volume knob instead of only 1 killswitch.
oh, and it was cheaper

Should be here on Tuesday, and then I'm gonna build in some LED lights under the pickup and replace the volume knob with a skull shaped one... can't wait

no they wont! a custom SHAPED one would be around that price, but not if you take one of their standard shapes (you can customise those guitars of course).
they just recently introduced a new 7-string superstrat model (dont see it on the page yet) and for a limited time they had an introduction offer at 999$ for that guitar with standard options

Rob even built a prototype 8-string V that he said would be (with the standard options) at around 1500$ if I remember correctly

isit that one that was on the esp guitars forum
i think it was £400

yeah it was. It was £450 but ended up being 450 shipped Still can't wait till Tuesday

That's 1000$ for you yanks, damn the pound is fucking expensive...

Give us some pics so we can masturbate to it!

__________________

__________________

How heavy are those cases? I hate heavy cases. The case for my BCR Ironbird weighs about 3 times more than the guitar! It's insane. Plus it's big and clumsy... I wish they used that military grade lightweight plastic on it...

__________________

It won't be light. I do crew work for a local venue so I have to carry around loads of those.

I had a birch ply bass case for my Warlock and that was really heavy.

__________________

It's light, about the same weight as the Ran, and the guitar is light, being Swamp Ash with a maple/mahogany/maple neck... very well made case too, only thing it is missing is locking butterfly catches

__________________

I think it's more about 850 dollar
anyway, I put some comments and pics in this thread at the ESP Forum:

http://p222.ezboard.com/fespguitars...cID=44372.topic

Dammit I wan't my Ran now! Can't wait to see the pics....

Congrats ont eh ivader duder looks hot...

My next ran will likely have a maple board...

Ozz

update about my custom:



good news: woodwork has started
bad news: christmas this week

I'm gassing for something maple too...

__________________

We'll i'll likely get the fixed GOTOH or Schaller bridge and sperzal's, 24 frets bolt on hum hum toggle and volume, I need to decide a coluir that will match the fretboard, candy purple will be a cool idea....

This next one will kick ass though....

Might switch the EMG's in this one and my RR...

Ozz

what kind of wood will the fretboard be?

no.


I'm tossing ideas around still. As of now I 'm thinking a baritone 7 string in an RG shape possibly...not sure.

It will be a bari for sure though.

I asked dariusz about 8 strings...but the answer is still no.

__________________

Maple is the way forward, maybe Ran will make more than 3 maple fretboards in as many years

__________________

I asked about 8-strings and fanned frets, too but the answer was no

Why not wait til Ibanez put out their 8-string? Or get a Conklin.

By the way fellas I suggest you check out Lootnick.com customs, also a Polish manufacturer, I'm guessing their guitars are much cheaper than Rans.

I heard that early standard Rans were made from a hard foam-like filler material, completely synthetic, not wood or anything. They're said to have sounded really good and they were really light and hard, not susceptible to climate changes too.

__________________

there is also PAS guitars (also from poland) who will do 8-strings, even with fanned frets if you want

I really want to try out the Ibanez RG8 once its out

as far as american makers go, KxK also build 8-strings, at least he has build a prototype 8-string V with fanned frets

y the hell wont ran do 8 string or fanned frets?? fanned frets are pretty easy to build, xept you need some bridge modifications, but with some wilkinson saddles and a piece of wood for the bridge plate it all solved, i mean so far even i could build a fanned fret guitar... not thats its done yet but anyway :rolleyes

__________________

woah, lootnick have my vote. once i get the money, im ordering a custom RG similar to mick thomsons black custom shop model.
lootnick are the only custom shop i have seen that have managed to nail the rg shape. ran's RG lower horn is not sharp enough. i love the look of their neck joints as well.

they seem really neat and tidy, unlike shamray who are totally unprofessional.

the looknick inlays are pretty shabby though, definitely not custom shop material, but i plan to get a blank fretboard anyways, so it doesn't matter.

You can ask Ran to do it exactly like the Ibanez RG if you wanted...

And the RG's they have up at lootnick are customer customizations of original RG's not copies.

__________________

yea, im sure they do customizations, but im sure they also make custom rg's because there are RG shaped guitars in both sections of the custom page.

for example this one:
http://lootnick.com/gallery.php?gid=60

im pretty sure thats a full custom

yeh must be custom build, since i cant imagine ivanez using burl tops, and also look at the neck joint, doesnt look like anything ibanez would ever make.

__________________

yea, it looks like a set neck taking the appearance of an ibanez aanj, which is awesome. its just what i want.
i dont want a neck through for my guitar because you cant have an all mahogany body unless the neck is mahogany aswell. i want a maple and mahogany neck, so that means the tone would be altered signficantly (if i got a neck through) as the pickups would be over maple & mahogany, rather than just mahogany.

i dont like gibson style setnecks, but this looks perfect.

actually, i dont think i will get a lootnick. their guitars look fucking amazing, they have neat and tidy woodwork, they nail the rg shape, but i can help but notice their shoddy inly, binding and paint job's.

poor paint job:
Paint

poor inlay: (look at all that filler around the letters, ran's lettering inlays are awesome)
Inlay

poor binding:
Binding

i would only order a custom from them after a few years and once i've seen they have improved their paint, binding and inlaying techniques.

haha you can make your guitar only have two frets

__________________

The binding on the headstock pic isn't shoddy at all. You have to magnify the pic, otherwise it'll look like it's cheaply done.

The filler thing is just the glue that holds the inlay in place, that could be from before they finish the neck giving all the fretboard some polish, scraping away the excess glue.

The RG one is weird though, looks like they tried to paint over the guitar without removing the binding.

By the time they pick up their craftmanship skills, they'll probably be wicked expensive.

__________________

ok, compare these inlays, then tell me which one is better:

lootnick

http://lootnick.com/config/thumb2.p...27901.jpg&w=810

with this:

ran

http://ranguitars.floriandecher.de/KRUOS/7.jpg

btw, the binding on this pic is dirty, and the paint overlaps the binding a bit near the high e machinehead at the corner.

http://lootnick.com/config/thumb2.p...10760.jpg&w=810

NO guitarmaker that wants to stay in busyness will have the exact Ibanez RG-shape as a standard modell! on custom orders, ok, but not as standard. copying the shape exactly isnt a problem really and you can get that from RAN (or other companies that are willing to do such things) but their standard-modells will look different even if they are superstrat-shapes, too. (look at jackson, ESP, BC Rich, whatever, they all offer superstrats and they all are shaped differently)

whos talking about standard models?
im talking about custom shops...
ran's custom rg is slightly different to ibanez rg's because of the lower horn. lootnicks is pretty much spot on.
lgm do an awesome rg copies and so does ekg, but theyre in america and they have long waiting lists.

ah, I see

could you show me a pic of a RAN RG? I dont think I have ever seen one so far. I think coppying a shape like the RG should be relatively easy. at the worst you'd have to get an original one and just take all measurements you need...

there are only two that i have ever seen
here they are:

http://ranguitars.com/imi/katalog/d05.jpg

http://ranguitars.floriandecher.de/dariusz/viper2.jpg

as you can see, the lower horn is slightly more rounded than this:

http://www.theguitarboard.com/image...necks%20110.jpg

Ran > Lootnick.

__________________

i agree

The inlays and binding are alittle shoddy you can get sub $300 guitars with decent inlays and binding...

I can't wait for my next ran to be finished it should be wicked...

The RG's are a little pointier on the lower horn this makes them a little more different to jackson dinkys and esp mirage's....

Ozz

how much do those lootnick guitars go for? are they cheaper than Ran?

but isnt that the RAN Vision model (or the HI-Vision, dont know what exactly is the difference between those)?
and that third pic, I may be corrected, but I dont think thats an actual Ibanez. it has the "monkey-grip" that a JEM has and only 1 humbucker routing (which the JEMs dont have as far as I know)

I see what you mean though

the first pic is definately an rg copy, the guy whos guitar it is specified for an rg body. hes posts on these boards from time to time.

the second picture is also an rg copy, it almost looks identicle to an rg, minus the lower horn.

the hi-vision's that your talking about are similar to jackson DK's: http://ranguitars.floriandecher.de/...ng/P2170160.jpg

the third pic is a jem replica body which has been routed to have one pickup. i think this body was going to be used as a jem/evh cross over.
jems and rg's have the EXACT same body, minus the monkey grip and lion claw trem routing.

i only chose that third pic because it clearly shows that im talking about (lower horn) the ibanez website has too much shadow to clearly show it.
that third pic is a very good replica body.

lol, look at me fussing of the sharpness of a lower horn. im just an ibanez rg nut, and if im paying £1000+ on a guitar, i want the right shape dammit

The pointy lower horn differentiates the RG from mirage's/dinkys imho, dammit...

"Why is the Ran always gone"

Haha a little silly quote some of you might know it, I am really stoked about my new Ran though...

Owain

Wow, I registered because of this thread. It really made me make up my mind if I should order a Ran or not, and I decided I should

Prolly going to order it today, too bad I'll have to wait til' May or something because of the waiting list, or at least I think I'll have to wait.
Really sick guitars here!

Specs of mine, if somebody is curious:

Right handed
25.5" Scale
ESP Horizon NT-II Body shape
Neck Thru
Alder body
H-H pup config
Solid Black finish
ESP Horizon NT-II Headstock
3P Maple neck
Regular headstock
Dual Action Truss Rod
Headstock Finish; Match Body Finish
Clear Satin neck finish
Ebony fretboard
24 frets
Dunlop 6110 frets
Custom PRS "Moon" inlays
12th fret MOP block w/inscription DL1
Side inlays plastic dots
Fretboard binding; white
Graphite nut
1 11/16" (43mm) nut width
Black hardware
Schaller Stop Tailpiece/T-O-M
Sperzel Locking tuners
Schaller Straplocs
EMG 81 and 89 pickups
No pickup rings
2 x volume, tone knobs
EMG PA2
3-way toggle

Tilted headstock.
2 strap buttons on the bottom of the body.

Basically. 1880 Euros with Flightcase

Cheers!

1880€? which of the specs made it that expensive?

no headstock-binding? i know opinions vary, but personally I always feel a guitar with fingerboard-binding should also have a bound headstock...

Actually, I don't know. Seems like a pretty simple guitar too me..

Yeah about the headstock binding, good you said that, I almost forgot

well ran is getting more expensive obviously, i mean, everyone wants one, so they can prettymuch ask whatever they want. and then efw years from now, their liek al those other builders that charge 3500 for a pretty basic guitar lol.

__________________

Does anyone know how much those Lootnick usually go for? They look nice...

only "unusual" things I see in the specs are the Sperzel locking tuners (RAN usually use Schallers) and those inlays, but I dont know what those look like or what they are made from

the Sperzels cost about 30 extra and those inlays aren't that special

Guys, look at this:

http://rekguitars.com/main.php

pretty

__________________

Hopefully by mid feb i'll have another custom ran in my hand to shred on...

W00t gotta order another custom for my teacher though I was meaning to build him one but i'd mess up something, and ran will make an excellent gutiar that will last years and years....

That'll talke me afew weeks to save for but it's more than doable...

Ozz

its not eraly makign it faster i think, just a bit more easy, since the string wont slip out the tunerhole once you locked it, and its more stable when it comes to staying in tune.

__________________

plus dont you just put your string through the hole (you dont have to wind it) and lock, then tune? it makes it way easier.

__________________

The website's gallery has been updated with some new cool pics... check it out!

www.ranguitars.com

Some of that new stuff is absolutely stunning.

__________________

Woo, mine's in there

__________________

wow, some really really nice stuff there!

this: http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=50
is pretty much exactly what the headstock of my future RAN should look like (except with 7 strings of course)

EDIT: oh, and I'm getting white binding of course

http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=55

Look at that inlay

Pretty clean job.

Hopefully only a month to go untill I get mine.

Looks like they updated the pics....damn they are doing some fine work.

__________________

http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=146

BAM!!! My guitar made three spots in there!!! *click previous twice*

__________________

She's a beauty... I'd only change the inlays... otherwise she's perfect

Looks a bit like mine, except mine is all black and has a single 81

i've had it for almost a year now...i'm flattered he still had the pics and put them up on the gallery.

__________________

well im not suprised he put up pictures of yours, i mean, how could he NOT put up pictures of such a hot guitar on his website.

im sure those pictures alone have convinced a few people to go with ran.


im thinking about getting that same guitar, but with a floyd or kahler.

http://www.ranguitars.com/gal1.php?z=94
Mine made 6!!!
(forward 6 times)