Balaguer Custom Order Experiences?

[Lechmere]

Was thinking of palcing an order for a semi-custom/MIK Balaguer, and thought I might ask here first if anyone's had any recent experience with them that they might want to share?

Thanks.

 

[Buffnuggler]

i got a custom guitar through their online builder, fantastic service and everything as expected, great guitar too. it has a certain feel that i'd associate with very nice import guitars. they also have some cool shapes that are not represented in other areas of the market. i wouldn't say i was blown away by the guitar but like a Kiesel it was serviceable in every respect.

 

[kriff]

i got a custom guitar through their online builder, fantastic service and everything as expected, great guitar too. it has a certain feel that i'd associate with very nice import guitars. they also have some cool shapes that are not represented in other areas of the market. i wouldn't say i was blown away by the guitar but like a Kiesel it was serviceable in every respect.

Any pics?? What shape neck did you get?

 

[lattjeful]

I have a rainbow sparkle Diablo that I ordered from them a few years ago. It's been my number one ever since. Quality is very good. Kinda around upper tier MIK or Kiesel stuff, maybe a little above that.

Mine has their Thin D profile and it's really comfortable! Kinda unique. I'd almost describe it as a Wizard neck for people who don't like Wizards (i.e. me LOL) Think a Wizard but with a flatter middle and more rounded off shoulders to compensate for the slightly thicker neck. Neck is still very thin though; thinner than a Fender medium C. If you like Ibanez Wizards but find your hands cramping up or like the shape but wish there was a little more meat, the Thin D is gonna be perfect.

I also ordered their in house pickups and they're surprisingly nice! I have the Feral bridge and Evergreen neck. Feral is this chunkier medium output PAF type of thing. Splits really well. Has this Tele-like twang to the split. Evergreen is a mediun output pickup that sounds gorgeous for cleans. Basically a lower wind Feral. Super pristine, versatile, and sounds good for leads too!

The big reason why you get a Balaguer though imo is for the company itself. Their customer service is top notch. Friendly, responsive, and they're always trying to do right by their customers. I could've gotten a Kiesel for a tiny bit cheaper, but imo the quality of service is worth the upcharge.

 

[Perge]

Talked about my order a couple of times. Great experience from beginning to end. Thin D neck as well, similar experience as above. Thin, but some meat and shoulders to accommodate said meat. Only thing I've considered changing is the pickup. Thinking of getting a white Jupiter and switching out the Polaris that's in it.


Definitely recommend jumping on their FB group if you haven't. They are super communicative.

 

[trem licking]

I've ordered one. Excellent experience and quality. Would recommend, they also do some options out side of the builder if you ask (they used to offer 8 string floyd option, it's not on the builder anymore but you can still get it if you ask... Just for example)

 

[nightsprinter]

Those ones you guys posted look sick. If I get a clean bill of health in the near future, I'm ordering one.

 

[armsliketeeth]

Not technically a semi-custom, but I've got this 7-string Diablo from their standard series, which are small production runs out of the same factory as the semi-customs. This is the nicest guitar I own and I paid $1100 for it. I swapped the stock pickups out for some Bare Knuckle Black Hawks, but the stock pickups were their in-house pair the Hypernovas. Personally I didn't like these, although I've hated every ceramic passive humbucker I've tried (side-note: the Black Hawks are the best pickup I have ever used and it's not close). I seriously adore this guitar, it's also my first 7-string and I have never bonded this tightly with an instrument in my 14 years of playing.