CHAPMAN GUITARS DIDN'T WORK FOR ME...(WHY I GAVE UP ON THE BRAND)

[@paulhendershott667]

I never tried a Chapman, but I was entertained by the craziness a couple years back with KDH and others. He seemed like a bit of a tool, and I think he didn't react well to what was likely his first dose of online criticism. After seeing more of him over the past subsequent years I've softened my view of him and chalked it up to a super bad day and not knowing how to handle the firestorms with introspection once the controversy spiraled out of control against him. I have a lot of respect for anyone that tries to create something in the business world. It's super competitive and an immense amount of work and risk... I hope he turns it all around if he tries it again...

[@bearmadden1776]

I'm just gonna go ahead and post another comment. The Andertons channel (without which both Chapman the brand and Chapman the guy wouldn't be recognizable) is not like guitar youtubers who get gear one way or the other and review it for the love of gear. They are a marketing platform for the Andertons store that's supposed to drive sales. That was the original idea. Of course the channel became much more than that with all the success they've had, and that's great for them because it's a separate income source now, and all the internet fame they got certainly made a lot more stuff possible for them. Great marketing and management, they deserve all the praise for it. I don't have a problem with Andertons, I just wish more people realized that the channel is more a product advertisement platform than a guitar enthusiast channel. Nothing wrong with that, but the viewer should always keep it in mind. On top of that, thanks to andertons we got to see the world's most mediocre guitarist reach international fame. (sorry, had to. Not sorry.) And where else are you gonna see PRS talk about SCARF JOINTS ON A $5000 GUITAR IMPROVE THE TONE all in glorious 4K?

[@NJTRAF]

Agreed to an extent, however, I will give Andertons credit with their blind tests - THAT is the really helpful series because more often than not a more affordable guitar will be in the Top 3, and with Pedals and Amps, a lot of the time the more affordable ones tend to Win or again finish in the Top 3. The rest of their videos, not worth paying any attention to, but the blind tests I think are good and you can see it on Lee Anderton’s face sometimes the “oh fuck” moment when like the Boss Blues Driver (not even the Wazacraft one) won the Best Drive Pedal test, and that’s a £90 pedal I think? And it beat out £150+ boutique pedals

[@denniswilliams2385]

Rob Chapman is a freakin joke and I would say the exact same thing about anyone who rises to fame on KZbin and then outsources his brand to the lowest bidder.

[@richardsmith9615]

@@denniswilliams2385 Based on what? Seems like you just have an axe to grind. Anybody in their right mind would have taken the Guitar Centre contract if that's what you're referring to.

[@octb109]

Back in the day we went and played a guitar before we bought. But I’m just an old man.

[@TopShelfGear]

haha yep that makes sense! tough in this day and age with brick and mortar stores closing down though.

[@sytharnia1717]

@@TopShelfGear yep .. mind you they are shutting down because no one goes in and tries stuff!! everyone wants the cheapest thing they can get so we now live in a high risk world of hit and miss

[@brandonbryson3317]

Not really an option for the majority of people these days. It’s going to go almost entirely online in the near future.

[@NoCoverCharge]

The nickleback of guitars

[@TopShelfGear]

Lmao

[@nigelsmith721]

Guitar buyers these days have either too much choice, too much money or both. A trend I've noticed over the past few years is that YT guitarists / reviewers are never in a purchase for the long haul. Every purchase is expected to be moved on in a month or two if not sooner. Plastic and hang-tags always in place so that it can go straight back. For better or worse, my guitars are in a "used" condition two months in and I'm fine with that. I've been a player / owner of guitars since the 80s and I have always bought from a store so I know what I'm getting and if I take it home I'm keeping it (or traded on one occasion when something on the bucket list became available). Literally none of the guitars I have were perfect off the hanger...Gibsons, Fenders, Charvel, whatever...they all needed an experienced guitar tech (someone with expensive tools) to bring them to their potential. But I knew what they could be and the shops I bought them from had them setup before I left the store. Another thing is the nitpicking over cosmetic manufacturing flaws. I little bit of finish bleed onto binding or a few tool marks on the board...really , who cares? If you're going to actually play the thing those will be invisible in a year or two (and forgotten about in a few days). A few comments have touched on depreciation...of a fucking guitar! Unless you're a vintage collector that needs to be so far down your list as to be irrelevant. The above is not a critique of this channel - this video is well put together and very watchable - but you bought four Chapman guitars and found fault with them all. Everything from too heavy to wrong neck profile to insufficient arm cutaway to "residue" and then a baritone (which seemed an odd choice when you said you were after a modern S-type guitar) which was neck-heavy (who knew?). All were sent back. Maybe buying from a store where you can try first might work better. This will all sound like boomer-complaining to all you new guys who invented guitar playing last year but it's just a point of view (without a dedicated YT channel to spread it).

[@TopShelfGear]

Nigel I appreciate your comments man. Thanks for stopping by and sharing your input. -Totally agree trying out guitars in a brick and mortar store is ideal when possible -Totally agree a professional setup is critical. Everything I own gets setup my by local luthier -Totally agree most people should get what they want in a guitar for practical purposes like sound and playability (yeah I'm not a vintage collector either lol) -I'm good with normal wear, scuffs, dings on used gear. Doesn't bother me at all. But when you buy new out of the box and there's QC issues like sloppy fretwork, etc. I don't think that's acceptable IMO -Yeah unfortunately all 4 Chapmans I mentioned didn't work for me but its not to say they aren't suitable for others. It's no secret they have had plenty of QC issues over the years. The standard series was the worst of the bunch but I saw Rob posted an update recently that series is no more. They're new lineup will be all Indian made so hopefully better than whatever Indonesian factory they were using. - All good on the Boomer complaining I am always open to counter points and reasonable discussions -Cheers

[@nigelsmith721]

@@TopShelfGear It will definitely be interesting to see how the manufacturing restructuring works out for the brand.

[@Centipede_Solaire]

This channel is something I’ve waited on for awhile. Keep sharing your experience with these brands, especially some of the more expensive or harder to obtain guitars. At minimum it’s very interesting

[@TopShelfGear]

Great to hear! I really enjoy sharing these experiences especially on the less common brands. Definitely more videos to come! Thx

[@harlandowens8312]

You should try the latest - Chapman ML1 Pro Modern.

[@guitarsarebest6565]

Great info, man. I could really tell you were excited to like the Chapman brand. Rob and the Captain have done so much for the music world through the Anderton's store and channel, most people (excepting KDH) want to root for them. I would hope if they saw your video (as well as the forum discussions) they would see it as constructive criticism and continue to work toward improving quality and achieving the modern specs the younger generation wants. The idea of the types of guitars they want to sell is sound, all they need is for the execution to meet the level they envisioned and what customers would like to see and play.

[@TopShelfGear]

Very well said! I definitely hope to see some improvements in the future. I know one key element with chapman guitars has always been their collaborative design where they would have polls on what specs people would prefer. Hopefully they can fine tune some things and make the right adjustments.

[@somestupidwithaflaregun7149]

What is a KDH?

[@guitarsarebest6565]

@@somestupidwithaflaregun7149 He has a channel where he pretty much goes after other musicians with criticism. If you type KDH in your KZbin search bar you'll find him.

[@justice100forwin2]

@@somestupidwithaflaregun7149 It's a YT channel.

[@corbanjames8216]

I don't know if youve ever owned a solar guitar before but if u have I would love to see a breakdown of that considering I just bought an A2.7 neon green cannibalismo+ like literally 2 days ago

[@TopShelfGear]

Never tried one! I do like Ola's channel been following him for years. A little more pointy for my taste but I hope the brand is doing well

[@bearmadden1776]

youtuber guitar brands, man... To me the fact that they declined to provide review models to some of the best gear reviewers in the business (Henning Pauly for example) speaks volumes. They knew very well their indonesian line just wouldn't be able to get a good review from people who speak their mind regardless of getting paid. And then there's the whole controversy both with the guy and the UK custom shop... yeah, whatever, I can just get a Schecter if I needed a guitar in that price range.

[@TopShelfGear]

All good points 👉 didn't know that about the reviewers... yes that Indonesian model was a disaster. I totally agree once again just grabbing a $500-$1000 schecter would be better overall.

[@1-eye-willy]

you would be better off buying an ibanez GIO than taking a crap shoot with those chapmans. hell you can buy five GIO's for the price of a chapman and still have some money left over

[@BallisticKnifeJesus]

To be fair Paul is notoriously hard to work with and has a very huge fee which doesn't equate to the value he brings

[@Releasethebats123]

Your channel is extremely underrated. I can’t wait to see it blow up

[@TopShelfGear]

Thanks man! Appreciate your support 🙏

[@sushio4357]

Can you share your experience on the cheap stand berg models?

[@TopShelfGear]

I've never bought one because they use that odd asymmetrical neck shape I just don't like.

[@MascarasMil]

I bought a new B-stock ML3 gold top, and two used ones for less than $500 each. I’m pretty happy with all 3 and I haven’t had any tuning issues. The fret work on all 3 is a solid 8.5. Until the quality gets better, I’m not willing to drop $1200-1600. But at $750 and below, I am willing to take a chance.

[@TopShelfGear]

Can totally understand that. The standard series was the most lacking in terms of QC. Now since discontinued, so we'll have to see what the future looks like. No complaints on the Korean make models though. I am a bit concerned about their plans with the new Indian factory though.

[@MopsLife]

I got a V1 standard back in 2017 and it’s been my main guitar ever since, modded it and upgraded it to my tastes. Kinda like my first child, I very much click with it. Maybe I lucked out it and got a very good guitar out the factory? Who knows, it’s a shame people have so many issues with the guitars they got

[@TopShelfGear]

Glad yours worked out well! Yeah Korean made no complains. Really the Indonesian factory series now discontinued was where things got rough. Interesting to see how the new factory in India their using is.

[@finaljesus]

I have a Chapman ML1 pro modern with tosin abasi fishman fluence pickups neck through very beautiful guitar i love it stainless steel frets hipshot tuners and bridge i bought it that way came with the hard case strap and strap locks too it’s the only one i have i actually want more lol

[@TopShelfGear]

@@finaljesus glad it's working for you! I bet you could find a deal on another one out there 🙂

[@Randyplaysguitars]

I got one of the blue Ghost Fret Pros on reverb for a deent deal like 5 years ago. I love explorer style guitars. This one looks great, plays and sounds great; but its got a good amount of neck-dive which is odd for this style of guitar so unfortunately it stays in its case most of the time.

[@TopShelfGear]

I really was excited when those Ghost frets came out! Very cool looking guitars indeed. I can definitely see lacking in the balance department though.

[@B_Wolfen]

I had that Rabea Baritone and it was indeed quite a neck diver! Other companies like Reverend would probably enlarge the body to balance better.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yup! Definitely was a bummer. The guitar had potential but just missed the mark.

[@PC85X]

I nearly bought a top of the line ML3 second hand, but decided to pay more and got a Reverend Eastsider T - the Gibson scale one in faded cherry. Basically a Gibby in telecaster format. Literally can't stop playing it. Best investment I have ever made. I would recommend Reverend to anyone. You can see how much they try to put out quality instruments. I'm sure there are duds out there, but I bet they're the exception and not the rule.

[@TopShelfGear]

you know I'll admit I am probably a little to "modern" of a guy to really get into the style of those, but they do look like very nice instruments. Sounds like an underrated brand for sure!

[@apostolispaspalakis2627]

I never had a Chapman but i was looking for a baritone and the new lagacy spec/money ratio looked rediculous. I bought it and beyond the gig bag being very low quality, the craftmasnship on it is superb (new indian factory). Very satisfied with it and one of the best guitars i have ever played at the 1100 euro range

[@TopShelfGear]

Very nice! glad that one worked for you. I really like the idea of the more affordable series but was so disappointed in the ones I had I just don't think I would roll the dice again. Hope to see better developments in the future though!

[@tPostee]

First and only Chapman I ever played was a used cap10 model. Picked up and strummed one not. The neck was a baseball bat and I set it right back down

[@TopShelfGear]

Yup! Such a disappointment unfortunately

[@LLSicilia]

i have the series 2 and it plays and feels great. neck is a modern C

[@dluten100]

I picked up a B Stock Chapman Norseman Svart around 2018 and love it. The only thing is the weight but I don't mind heavy guitars. I think Chapman has pulled away with a large group of cosumers though with thier prices. They were known for a decent guitar at a reasonable price. Now I'm not so sure. I think for the price of most new Chapmans, there are better optinos out there. I have not played a Solar guitar yet, but from what I've read they are pretty darn good.

[@TopShelfGear]

Ohhhh yeah I remeber that old Norseman! Super cool guitar. I do remember back then people mentioning how heavy they were. Very concerned about the QC on the Indian made models. Always felt like WM korea has proven to be reliable.

[@marmadukewinterbotham2599]

After the umpteenth reorganisation, they're now all going to be made in India. That'll be interesting. I bought a new ML3 a while back, then spent a lot swapping out all the hardware and pickups. I still haven't bonded with it, so sooner or later I have to move it on and crystallise the loss. 😢 Also, I never got used to the 'clangy' sound, no doubt due to the steel frets.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah.... I will agree that also is a concern for me. That Indonesian made standard series in my experience was a disaster. I suspect that was a reason to pull out of that factory. Never had any QC issues from WM Korea, so wish they would have just stuck with that. Perhaps they needed to hit a price point and they just got too expensive IDK. Suppose we shall see what the future brings. I also don't care for the new model naming. Just doesn't really tie in that well with instruments IMO. Though the ML monkey lord thing was amusing but I guess it was time for an update.

[@simonpark843]

I had a Chapman Hot Rod, and it was good...but it was extremely heavy (the Floyd Rose obviously contributed to the weight). I liked the way it sounded, and I did like the neck, but I ended up selling it.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah cool guitar for sure, but that early run especially was just ridiculously heavy.

[@IamMedicine]

If you want to lose 50% on resale buy a Chapman. Will never buy one.

[@LukeKo79]

Buy second hand ;)

[@edwardtcrump5312]

On the other hand, if you enjoy the second hand market, you can get a very high spec and well made guitar for a fraction of the cost. Significantly more than 50% off at times also

[@seancook2264]

just don’t buy one at full price. Always on sale in the UK.

[@LLSicilia]

I bought two second hand and they are fantastic, both MIK. Q/A and specs outstanding

[@gunnar1797]

You crave being a hater and getting any kind of attention from it. I bet you love those 9 likes

[@volanterodas]

j just bought the ghostfret bloodgoblin pro line ( korea 2023) production and no issues at all ( fantastic neck and specs) my first chapman and im quite impressed with playability sound etc.. i think this days we quite spoiled. i got guitars with fat slim necks etc,, i play them all dont bother me.

[@TopShelfGear]

glad its working well for you! :)

[@volanterodas]

@@TopShelfGear guitars are like women sometimes u need to adjuste

[@TopShelfGear]

hahaha nice lol

[@cameronpoulter2099]

My experience with two indonesian ones is that they are hands down fantastic. I could of just been lucky but both left amd right handed ones I tried were amazing fret jobs. Pickups fantastic too lovely matt (not glossy) neck feel liek super super smooth and the dark wood (not sure if its rosewood) looked amazing too

[@TopShelfGear]

Glad they worked for you 👍

[@cameronpoulter2099]

@TopShelfGear thanks man. Hopefully you might have some more luck in the future :)

[@killianlpc]

The thing about Chapman Guitars is it was almost they were trying to do too much too quickly. In fairness they were trying to make their mark but when push comes to shove most players at that price would trust PRS, Ibanez, Shecter etc, where you know you will get a great quality instrument. I think it's a mistake now to axe the so called budget range, as the Standard ML1 and ML2 were fairly good guitars, it really wasn't worth getting the Pro Models as the cost was almost double. The Standard models were really good guitars, and relatively good value for money. I have to say the ML2 Pro Modern from about seven years ago, especially the Fireburst model was aesthetically superb, and they made a major rick when they brought out the next ML2 models a few years back which were really inferior from a design point of view, they seemed to be price cutting those newest ML2's constantly. So now they have revamped and done away the names ML1, ML2, ML3 etc, and are now using an Indian factory, and called new models after fighter pilot call signs. OK fighter pilot call signs are cooI, never made the connection with the Herald, The Guardian and The Sun-Downer all being newspapers but it is a rather amusing coincidence and very naff!

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah in my experience the standard series was sub par in terms of quality control. No complains from anything out of WM Korea. They seem to have things dialed in nicely. I like the concept of the brand but as mentioned there is room for improvements. I do like the idea of re naming the guitars as opposed to the usual ML1, 2, 3 etc. I don't feel super excited about the fighter pilot names, nothing against it but just doesn't seem that interesting IMO. I am pretty iffy on the idea of this new Indian factory. Again WM Korea proving to be so consistent making so many brands I don't see why they switched unless maybe rising costs forced them to in order to hit their price points. We shall see!

[@68halfcab]

I tried a Chapman ML-3 (t style) could not get on with it, shitcanned it for a Gretch boxcar which I love!!!

[@richardsmith9615]

Well, Resonator's are extremely cool, but they're totally different guitars. Clearly one Resonated with you more than the other, but probably suited the application you use it for more anyway.

[@danidcr]

I haven't tried any Chapman... but I don't like: the logo, headstock shape and that ♾inlay.

[@TopShelfGear]

Definitely glad I tried them, hope to see some improvements in the future!

[@gunnar1797]

At least it’s honest reasons!

[@fraenkiboii]

Thank you! Finally there’s someone else with the same experience. I’ve had 4 different chapman models in different price ranges over a period of 5 years. All of them had annoying neck dive, were too heavy and were uncomfortable to play over all. First one was a 18 ML3 modern. best overall but worst neck dive. 19/20 ML1 modern pro. nice finish, okay craftsmanship. 22 ML1 storm burst in regular and one as a baritone. just too heavy, bad neck dive.

[@TopShelfGear]

Thanks for sharing! Yes I really wanted to like these guitars having always been a fan of Rob and the Andertons guys. For me it wasn't about needing to hit a budget price point, but just to get a basic guitar as something extra to have in my collection and also support brands/channels I enjoy watching. QC issues, neck dive, neck shape were all deal breakers for me. Some have criticized me for trying 4 different ones however at the same time if I only had 1 of them people would also accuse me of not giving the brand a fair chance. I feel that there was potential here but there are obviously some issues that need to be resolved. Seeing them recently announce they are switching factories AGAIN now moving to India is a concern for me. For QC I didn't have any issues with anything out of WM Korea so I wish they would have stuck with that.

[@adamhunt397]

Several years ago I tried a Chapman Ghost Fret and… it was okay. It wasn’t super but it wasn’t awful. However, if you’re looking for more of a modern performance / shred guitar I would point you towards looking at a used Carvin. Very high quality, extremely well made, roughly comparable to some older US made Hamers or US made Core Model PRS. Save up a little cash and I think you will be much happier.

[@TopShelfGear]

Well said, yeah I actually mainly play kiesels nowadays lol you'll see several unboxings on this channel 😉

[@12to3Guitars]

I love zzounds. They have taken back everything I have requested a return on. So simple.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah totally! This was my first time buying from them. They took care of it no problem.

[@lharmy]

Didn't like mine. Sold it after a while. Not sure what it was, just didn't feel good. Also want to say that every time I see one of your reviews, you've tried multiple guitars of the same brand and aren't just trying one and straight away talking about it. Really appreciate that even though it must make these kind of videos much harder to make.

[@TopShelfGear]

Thx for sharing! Yeah man, same here. I really tried to like them but wasn't a good fit. I always try to give guitar brands a fair chance with different models before reaching a conclusion. This is a tough way to go about it but glad to share these experiences!

[@kevliao]

Similar experience with my Chapman ML3 Pro Traditional (the semi-hallow with P90s). It was built fine, as it came from WMI Korea, but the play and feel was just off. It had terrible neck dive, and the neck was not comfortable at all. As it was my first P90s, I can't say much about the sound. It didn't stay long with me. I get that not every guitar will gel with a player, but I couldn't believe some had designed a guitar that was just not a joy to play.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yep, nothing about any of the 4 chapman's I had felt right. The QC issues mentioned were quite unacceptable. There's something special when you pick up a guitar and everything just "clicks". I get this feeling every time I pickup my OD or Kiesel. I know everyone is different and I am not entirely committed to one particular brand but I have reached a point where I know what I like, and what I don't lol Thanks for watching

[@milotin2755]

I had a ml1 modern v2, to put things into perspective I'm 5"3 with extremely small hands and never found the neck to be thick at all wasn't an ibanez but extremely comfortable for me.

[@TopShelfGear]

I can understand that for sure. Often times it just boils down to what you are used to. For many years I played PRS wide fat profile and it just became the normal to me. Then I got into some Kiesels with the "thinner" profile and it just felt so much easier to manage. I would not be opposed to a medium C shape for what is basically a tele type guitar, however in these instances some of these models were marketed as "modern" series, so IMO they should be a bit slimmer and not so chunky. Especially on the 28" baritone where you already have frets further apart. Just shaving off 1mm would have made it perfect.

[@whoracle82]

I agree on the neck profile. Too chunky for my taste too. One of the Chapman that I owned was the BEA standard guitar. Sounds AMAZING but the neck is too chunky. Really liked the ML3 Modern Pro line but don’t think I’ll get one of those looking at the price and the neck profile. I guess the neck profile is made to Rob’s specs which works for him but not most of us 🤷🏻‍♂️. It’s a great video and thanks for sharing 👍🏻

[@TopShelfGear]

Thanks for sharing your experience! Yes, really was a bummer. Obviously saw potential in these models but like I mentioned in the video, If something is marketed as "modern" I'm not looking for a deep chunky neck profile. Not saying it needs to be a wizard copy, but lets slim that down for the "modern" crowd. Hope to see improvements in the future but I'll admit the plans with the new Indian factory have me worried.

[@stinkykittylaur]

Chapmans have very thick necks even their modern ones I had an ML3 and I couldn't really use it because of the neck profile, which gave me cramps all the time. 😑

[@TopShelfGear]

Agreed! They really should revise that "modern" neck profile. Hope to see some improvements in the future.

[@Halfaloaf599]

Thank you!

[@TopShelfGear]

You're welcome!

[@matforsbon]

A quote comes to mind watching this video "Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results"

[@TopShelfGear]

Sure you can say that's insanity, but what if I only tried 1 model? then the same people would be complain in the comments that I didn't give the brand a fair chance. I tried different models within different series to sample a broad range for what the brand had to offer. I wouldn't exactly call that insane. 🙃

[@bluematrix5001]

Honestly I do not understand why you were so obssed with Chapman..... twice is enough...any sterling by MM will kill any Chapman, just find a model that is not a chunky neck that they tend to be more like that... but the quality is amazing

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah not really obsessed. Used to watch those channels way back in the day so I'd see reviews for chapman models. Always seemed interesting but still mid level guitars. I tried the first 2 models several years ago. It wasn't until a couple years later I tried the other 2. Sterling is ok. I have owned 2 American music mans they were great overall. I'm just not that into their narrower necks. Lot of them have too round of a radius and 22 frets. Not really into them. I've also had 2 SUBS and man they were awful. Sent them back due to poor QC. I mainly play Kiesel now just because I prefer the ergonomics and total freedom to customize how I want.

[@ahabshell3571]

Poor resale value means a great value on the used market (if it's a good guitar)

[@TopShelfGear]

Totally agree 👍

[@LLSicilia]

the MIK stuff is probably the one you want to look out for

[@davedavis7589]

mine's great MP3 Modern ...

[@andrewbecker3700]

Had my eye on an ML3 pro in Burnt Orange for quite awhile. The reverse headstock and odd hardcase fitment, kept me at bay. After acquiring all the staple models for my collection, and a few other, more specialized guitars. I can't justify such an oddball spec'd model for any logical reason? Guitars are tools to me. Beyond that, I'm just not into owning guitars that serve no practical purpose. I can swap a P90 into a guitar I already own, like my black Yamaha Revstar Element.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yep, definitely saw potential in these chapman's, but overall the brand just was a miss. Maybe we'll see some improvements in the future.

[@bukwok]

4 guitars ,one got quality control issue ,thats Chapman fault ,but the guitars model name "modern" just not that whats you think the "modern" means, but you can check the spec right..? or the spec not very accurate or misleading ? like neck profile is way different than the spec listed , looks didnt work for you mainly the neck too chunky , if the guitar spec neck profile way off , then Chapman fault totally understand , other wise you cant blame them, just taste thing, some like it some dont, no right or wrong ,nothing they can do to improve, guitar neck profile kind of tricky, better try it in person, even spec said same C shape, can be slightly different on every brand ,sorry for my poor english.

[@TopShelfGear]

Thanks for checking it out, I appreciate your input. Yes there were definitely some design aspects that in my view did not align with what a "modern" guitar should be (example the super chunky neck shape) ML-1 (first guitar)- outrageously heavy (that's poor selection of body woods on the manufacturers part) ML-1 Pro Modern (second guitar) - defective peeling neck finish, lacking modern ergonomics ML-1 Standard Modern (third guitar) - tons of defects (see the part of the video where I emailed zzounds customer service) ML-3 BEA (fourth guitar) - better quality from world music korea, but again not very good choice of woods as the design need to be mindful of balance especially with extended range baritones

[@DavidJosephBoth]

There are tons of modern guitars with that hard edge, that are modern guitars. Anybody try the KM7 1 when it came out by schecter? Some people loved it, my forearms can't even play it for 5 minutes. Awesome guitar though in every other respect.

[@DavidJosephBoth]

also the ibanez az's have chunky necks. Modern doesnt' equate to thin. The wizard came out before i was born. No neck is really slimmer than that one. Again came out before I was born. Sounds like you need an ibanez RG guitar. Or charvel so cal, or jackson soloist type. Maybe a japanese or usa custom shop version of those.

[@TopShelfGear]

I agree way too many guitars with that sharp, hard edge. Just simply not comfortable.

[@SUPER8_GUITAR]

The chunky neck on a modern guitar to me sounds really interesting as thin profiles on modern guitars are actually more than common. I've played only one chapman ( a purple sparkle thinline with p90s) and it was really good and it did sound ok . ... but thats hardly any sort of relevant experience with the brand so the video is appreciated.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah unfortunately this was a big miss for how these were designed. Not terrible of course but these guitars certainly had room for improvements. Doesn't need to be crazy thin like an Ibanez but just a slimmer C or D shape would have been fine for the "modern" guitar crowd.

[@jroobz]

great insight

[@TopShelfGear]

Thx for watching

[@mrbarbelbarbello2332]

I've never played one but I liked the look of the fat telecaster. I read somewhere that these are (or were) designed via the website to suit the consensus of potential buyers, so maybe they like the bulky neck? Chapman oozes sincerity and humility, the Tony Blair of rock and roll. I think Blair played guitar so maybe they could do a tribute model.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah its certainly not the worst tele type guitar out there or anything. I wanted to like these models but as I mentioned in the video having a "modern" series really should have a revised neck profile so its not so chunky. Doesn't need to be crazy thin like a wizard but slimming it down would make it perfect for the "modern" player IMO.

[@denniswilliams2385]

The main reason that I never even bothered to look at Chapman guitars = Rob

[@thenovicenoisemaker]

I have owned 35 chapman guitars both pro and standard, models from 2012 to current. Only had minor issues with 3 of them. I like the specs in the main, the rolled finger boards and the overall fit and finish. There’s a fair choice of models with different feels, like all brands. But one try it and return it if you’re not keen. You’ll get back 40% on resale vs fender equivalent which is about 50-55%, Ibanez resale can be 40% too, epiphone around 50%. As for the whole ‘Rob Chapman thing’ that’s a boring irrelevant topic. I’ve said this so many times before. Do you know the MD of Gibson, Fender, Ibanez…??? No, tonight not. Do you know any high position staff at guitar companies or how they treat their staff etc?? No thought not. What about fender and Gibson both being fined for price fixing? What about Starbucks? Happy to buy a coffee aren’t you evening they pay no tax in the UK. What about ANY product you buy, if you knew half of what goes on in big companies it would make your toe nails curl but you still buy good in ignorant bliss. Point is, if you like the look of Chapman guitar then buy and try one. It’s nothing to do with Rob, it’s about a product that might suit you. They’re certainly better value than £700 from a pretty much bog standard I’ve fender Mexican

[@TopShelfGear]

Glad most all of them worked out well for you! that's really nice to hear. Yeah I really have zero issues with the guy. Always enjoyed his channel and his bands music. The old saying of "people buy from people" is true. I never wanted/needed a chapman guitar because of the price point, I have plenty of more high end guitars, for me it was more so because I enjoyed the Andertons videos etc and wanted to give them a try. I like that they were traditional but with some updates. I know I may be a little picky but if for some reason they did come out with something that aligned with my desired specs wihtout QC issues, I'd consider another try. cheers

[@Johnny-oy9fh]

It's a price point thing...the new range is clearly way better

[@TopShelfGear]

The new range made in India? .... hmmmm we'll see about that

[@richardsmith9615]

I don't mean to be rude, so don't take it as such, but for you to criticise the C profile, when they're clearly listed in the specifications of each guitar as a "C" profile, is not especially sincere. You would have known when purchasing/choosing these guitars that they were all "C" Profiles. It would be like purchasing an Ibanez and complaining that it had a Wizard neck. With that being said, it would be in their best interest to offer at least a couple of models with V profiles given there are many people who dislike the chunky Fender style C Profile necks. Thank you for the upload, the indonesian models did seem lower quality, I guess it's to be expected for the price and maybe they were aware of the issue, given that they have now chosen to transfer production to India. All the Best!

[@TopShelfGear]

No worries at all. I hear what you're saying. To be clear I'm not in any way opposed to a "C" shape neck. That's not a problem at all. I am simply making the point that with having 2 series of guitars being labeled "modern" vs "traditional" I'd just expect a slimmer "C" shape for the Modern versions. Another thing to note on the older version of the website they were not very clear on exact neck dimensions. Yeah that Indonesian made model was a train wreck. Always had good experiences with WM Korea. I am concerned going forward with this new plan of the Indian factory. We shall see! Thx

[@martinclayton7260]

Everyone has their own requirements, I find that my Chapman's neck is too thin? I still love it, and it's fatter than my Ibanez, but I like fat necks.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah overall quality was disappointing. I just felt like their "modern" specs did not align with what I would expect from a modern design.

[@kiezersosay49]

WM korea can make guitars as good as anyone. My bc rich mockingbird legacy ST is top Fn notch. The fact chapman guitars come from there, but suck speaks volumes. They ask for there guitars to be made with cheap quality, but sell them at a higher premium.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah I agree WM is super relaible, never had any QC issues from dozens of guitars made there. Very weary on the new Indian factory chapman plans on using going forward.

[@titanandrews]

Now they build them in India. No thanks… it absolutely does matter where the guitar is made.

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah that's a red flag to me

[@treasonoftruth7065]

Ok... First, the obvious question that everyone is thinking would be Why in the hell would you buy 4 guitars if youve just gotten through sending the others back? Next. On the one you said didnt fit your idea of modern, did you not see the pictures? And finally, the neck heavy baritone. Its a baritone. Being neck heavy is a common problem. All depends on if the body of the guitar is made with heavy woods and of course the neck wood. Not a Chapman issue. You didnt do your homework before ordering it. As for the production inconsistencies go. Chapman just joined with Trev Wilkerson and has moved all production to one of the best companies outside of the US or Japan. HMI in India is the new home for Chapman. They have a long history with many great names. Fender / Squier and Dean being a couple of them. As for my experience, my Black ML1 Pro Mod plays & sounds amazing. The Seymour Duncan Sentient & Pegasus Humbuckers give amazing clarity with some really ballsy gain. And then theres Hipshot Tuners. Its not a $3000 Les Paul AAA Standard but its a helluva lot more than the $900 I have in it.

[@TopShelfGear]

Some will say it's my fault for trying 4 different models of the same brand. Can you imagine if I only tried one model before posting a video? Would be even more folks throwing a tantrum in the comments section saying "I wasn't fair with the brand" or "I didn't give them a chance". Yeah, I'd say for sure that standard series "modern" ML-1 didn't feel like a modern players guitar. The extra chunky neck was something I'd expect to see on a more traditional style S shape guitar. Not so much for the modern player. Not all websites & listings post exact neck dimensions. Keep in mind to in these lower end import models you can have less consistency with spec accuracy. You could have one worker sand much more or less on a neck. Same can be said for the OG ML-1 that was 9.5 lbs. These are not things one can tell by a photo or "homework" as you say. WM Korea made models have been very consistent in my experience, I was crystal clear on that. The Indonesian made standard series was a QC mess. The fact that the series was discontinued and they stopped using that factory proves my point. Yeah we'll see how it goes with the newer Indian made series. I can only hope for the best. I'll say as well I have always enjoyed Rob's channel, his bands, his music etc. Absolutely nothing against the guy at all. I would definitely consider trying again assuming we were seeing some newer models hit the market with significant improvements.

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

Agreed 100%. After playing for over 20 years and owning like...... too many guitars haha. Getting older sucks. You often find yourself not playing just because at the end of the day, leaning over, reaching for that heavy guitar... Ugh lol....... F that. Recently made up a warmoth strat and light weight was a big factor. Turned out to be 6.5 pounds. And omfg I love it sooo much. Weight matters lol

[@TopShelfGear]

Very well said! Lol

[@soyborne.bornmadeandundone1342]

Lol you look like a guy who spent all his cash on guitars haha there's like nothing else in your room hahahaha Jokes aside lol good video. Chappy suuux lol

[@TopShelfGear]

😂 hahaha thx for watching man lol

[@kantahihats]

I just bought one😔🥲

[@TopShelfGear]

Yeah.. Hope it works for you!