GROTE Guitars, Beautiful and AFFORDABLE Semi-Hollow Body Guitar

After many requests, I've decided to check out one of the latest offerings from Grote Guitars! They have many models available and this one is really a standout. With a deep red transparent flame maple finish, and a great tone, this is a guitar that will turn heads without breaking the bank. Only about $200 for this guitar! Let's unbox is and review it!
You can get these guitars on Amazon: amzn.to/3gr1HTV
Backing Tracks by Tim Channel: / backingtracksbytim
Here's the amp I'm using, the Fender GTX100: amzn.to/33mp8sT
My instructional programs: sellfy.com/max...
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Rubric: -5 points for Danzig references. -5 points for not reading the description. -5 points for not watching far enough into the video to answer your own question. -5 points for misquoting me in your comment. 20 points possible. Everyone starts with an A!

[@richbird23]

My 16 year old grandson was looking for a 335 style guitar to play in Jazz Band at school. After watching your video I started looking around. I was amazed when I found an older Grote 335 (no transparent top) in like new condition for $50 on Marketplace. Of course I jumped on it and now my grandson is venturing into blues and jazz (a departure from heavy metal). We are both subscribers and enjoy your videos very much.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

That's fantastic!

[@chrismeinke-rl8sr]

​@@GuitarMAXMusic 😮

[@freddycolunga7262]

Only at the 3 minute mark and I can't stop laughing. Glad you're enjoying life, man. Merry Christmas 🎄

[@ozoneswiftak]

What are you laughing at?. Curious. I'm like a fish and biting.

[@ELVISRN1]

saw.

[@timbmusician]

The commonfolk have spoken ill of Sir Shredsalot???? Nay! It cannot be! Say it tis not so!!

[@markdemell3717]

Tis so, they are mere fools!

[@shredwithdignity1378]

Loved that things tone!! It sounds and looks like it would be at least a $600 guitar!!

[@davenewton4862]

I have a Grote hollowbody with a P90 in the neck. Love it...awesome guitar.

[@carlbaumeister3439]

You are TOO FUNNY! No sword, but reciprocating saw! And goggles. LOL LOL LOL. I’m am laughing so hard now, only 2 minutes into vid!

[@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84]

Easy there champ

[@carlbaumeister3439]

@@AllTheCoolNamesAreTaken84 Good thing I read your advice. I was about to start hyperventilating! Ha ha.

[@eldritch6871]

when simping has permeated so deeply into society that now male guitar reviewers get them

[@kcrich1310]

When he put those goggles on I thought he was going to use a torch............just sayin'..............

[@kenimiller3896]

I'm waiting for the day Max uses explosives to open the box.

[@DMSProduktions]

Then don't!

[@DMSProduktions]

@@kenimiller3896 Ala Keith Moon?

[@BuffaloC305]

Kcrith, and I for one was mightily disappointed - a welder's helmet and gloves... fire up the ol' acetylene... Fire Dept on standby... oh well... I think in one of these, he's going to use a thrown battle-ax. Well, that's what I heard...

[@mattbauckman9907]

I wonder if the same factory that makes Firefly guitars makes these? Honestly I used to be dead against Chinese guitars, but man they have really upped their game. Hard to beat a deal like this. I bought a similar es335 copy from Firefly for $175 and cannot believe they’re making money at these prices. Gibson take note......

[@nikomahal]

Chinese manufacturing isn't just about cranking out cheap happy meal toys anymore. The technology and training is there to create quality goods..

[@SaschaLeib]

I bought a few Chinese guitars in the last few years (including two Grote-branded) , and while they all were not the luxurious perfection that I would expect from certain manufacturers that charge 10 times the money, I never got one that wasn't very playable and definitely worth more than what they cost. Week point was always the tuners, which are of course easily replaced. Even the PUs are usually very OK!

[@StopFear]

There is no reason to be prejudiced against Chinese made guitars or products generally speaking unless you know a particular seller or manufacturer did something unethical like stealing designs and ideas without compensating original product inventor or rights owner.

[@thisnameistaken]

This is proof most guitar companies, Fender, Gibson, etc., and especially those retarded "custom boutique" companies with their fucking disgusting prices are all just operating out of sheer fucking greed.

[@allguitar3349]

..from a guy who has American ,, Korean, Indonesian, Japanese, and Chinese guitars ..... .I speak sarcasm also my friend and wholeheartedly agree. SOME of them are completely a ripoff of American designed Guitars.

[@dixonjernigan1534]

You had me rolling with that unboxing! Thanks for doing what you do, Max!

[@mark5150ty]

I noticed you gave a funny look when you said that they were established in 1989. Groat has absolutely been around since 1989. I was born in 1981 and my second guitar was a Groat. I got it around 1992 when I was 11 years old.

[@ws8080]

I think the point was it isn't much to brag "since 1989" vs. other manufacturers.... Just a weird thing to put on the bag, not arguing the factual nature.

[@mark5150ty]

@@ws8080 so you think that being in business for over 30 years is nothing to brag about? They should absolutely put it on their packaging and be proud of it. I mean there is lesser companies that brag about being open since 2009.

[@keithhutchison7657]

@@mark5150ty and .. I noticed.. you misspelt the guitars brand name. Maybe they went by a different spelling when you were 11 yrs old..? Or perhaps it's an auto correct issue? Groat like 🐐 ? Or Grote like 🎸 ?

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: I wish my old Gibson looked that good. You clearly get some good tones out that guitar. . Sounds like the Grote could use 15 minutes with some fret erasers to polish them up. Where were these great value guitars when I was young (and broke)?

[@brentg2241]

Bought the purple one a couple weeks back--super happy with it so far. Neck and frets are great but I did polish them up and put new strings on. Nut is cut well and works fine but I'll probably upgrade it at some point. I expected to need to upgrade the pickups and tuners also but to my surprise, not necessary. Tuners work fine and the pickups are surprisingly useable. My only real issue is that the bridge posts were not fully seated when it arrived. They were firmly mounted and no buzzing or anything but not flush with the surface...had to tap those into place. For $200, I couldn't be happier...and as you can all plainly see, these are beautiful instruments. 2 thumbs up for sure!

[@TheTrueStevieK]

Just finding this video. One year later, do you still have a positive opinion?

[@ryharuto]

I was considering buying that one too. How much did you pay for yours.

[@chrismeinke-rl8sr]

99uuy​@@TheTrueStevieK

[@JakeSlavik]

FINALLY! Enough of the silly sword unboxings.... Thank you for brining it back to reality.

[@joebloggs4754]

drugs kill,wimpy...just saying.

[@timshuckhart1998]

Hey,I own one of the hollow body with a single pickup at the neck and I think its a great guitar for the money. I think I paid around $150 for it about a year ago

[@benjaminfowler4513]

That's the one I want, but want to add another pickup to it and don't know how hard that would be

[@bradg2078]

@@benjaminfowler4513 Extremely difficult to add another pickup. The best you could do is get a surface mount pickup but you'll have to pull all the controls through the F-holes on the guitar and rewire from there. Grote makes a dual P90 guitar that resembles an Epiphone Casino/Gibson 335 that may be worth looking at instead.

[@henrypeterson2040]

Anybody ever tell you you look like John Travolta from pulp fiction? Awesome video, rock on!

[@jasonc1899]

I didn't see it till you said it 😂

[@ShadeHope1969]

I have bought Two of theses Guitars and they are great.

[@braddakimo1954]

Looked up this video today, because I saw it at our local guitar store for $99! For that price, I could wait to get it home and plug it in. What do you know, it works!! A definite score!

[@AtariForeva]

More than a few people got heart attack after seeing carnage from 1:35-2:07.

[@Gin132456]

Please stop making these videos I keep buying all these guitars

[@johnsee7269]

You're a great guitar player but it's tough to fake the blues. Hard to hold back the shred! There, it came out! 🤟 (Nothing critical about this. Just an observation.)

[@juanziegler1471]

less is better ,play w feeling. sry its hard to describe ..yet good to know it shreds .not unlike the guitar its based on lol love the budget stuff !!!!

[@mark5150ty]

I was going to say the same thing but I see you got there first. The tone was totally wrong also. It's nice to see him try something out of his wheelhouse though.

[@shanewalton8888]

No need to go to the supermarket to get cheese. Just watch one of Max's videos.

[@SaschaLeib]

I actually have a Grote 335 here - very similar to the one in the vid, just a different tailpiece and not quite as beautiful flamed wood (I should really have paid for the "premium"!). I bought that with very low expectations and thought, well, if it is crap it might still be a good project fixing it … what can I say, this is my absolute favourite guitar (of quite a collection now ;-) Maybe has some details where you can see the cheaper production, like small issues around the binding or so, and yeah, I replaced the tuners, but playability is absolutely top-notch and that's the most important for me. With that experience I also got myself a Grote Thinline Tele and while there is nothing wrong with it, it is just a reasonably good guitar. Really nothing wrong, but not that perfection of the 335. So maybe I got lucky, but at the price level you can't do much wrong.

[@chrismeinke-rl8sr]

😅

[@enzomoretti6192]

Greetings ! I like his style presenting this video, good voice tone, good speech, no bias, and good vibes. He rips the foam off, ready to watch the goodies...LOL. The color and details look gorgeous, I am sold, I am purchasing a Grote semi-hollow....! Thank you

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Thank you! 😃

[@SultanOfTwang1956]

@@GuitarMAXMusic Hi there. I have been on the prowl for quite some time for an inexpensive yet decent quality ES-335 style guitar, as the likelihood of ever being able to drop bank on the big daddy Gibson isn't gonna be in the cards. Anyhoo in the course of this journey I happened to stumble across this here video, and I'm very happy and pleased that I did. I found it to be very comprehensive, straightforward, informative, and highly entertaining to watch. I just wanna say that I really dig your style of presentation a lot, along with your extremely mad, mad, mind blowing playing skills, you absolutely plain flat out rock dude 👍In closing I'd like to say thanks a million for posting this review, and as a result you inspired me to jump off the fence and pick one of these sticks up, and I subbed to your channel and look forward to catching more of your content.

[@SultanOfTwang1956]

@@GuitarMAXMusic Hey there once again. I was just kindly wondering if maybe you could give me some advice/recommendations on what the best string gauge is for this type of guitar? I forgot to mention in my previous comment that I am a beginner guitarist, so not knowledgeable about this sorta stuff quite yet. I sincerely thank you in advance, and would be most appreciative for any feedback.

[@SmallADVentures1973]

New subscriber here. I've watched a few older videos and enjoyed them (being a "knife guy" myself, LOL, I loved the intros with the unboxings with swords and such, and I busted out an LOL at the intro to this video 😂 Love the cheesy humor, my friend! 🤘). Anyways, I played bass growing up (I wouldn't call my buds and I a "band", LOL, but it was the glorious 80's and we were metal freaks). After threatening to my wife that I was gonna buy an electric guitar and start learning to play every year since the early 90's, LMAO, I finally bought one a couple weeks ago and started (no "formal training" going on, at least as of now, just playing around and watching LOTS of videos). Anyways, have a great week, looking forward to next video ✌

[@glenclarkchidley3637]

I bought the purple one 2 months ago and wasn’t to sure about the red pick guard, but I’ll be damned if it doesn’t get prettier every day. I hated the look of the telecaster until I bought one ! Beauty is indeed “ In the eye of the beholder”! Be safe and be well Brothers and Sisters! 🤟🏼

[@Nellosphere]

Black pick gaurd $12.99 ☑️

[@Damaged262]

I just ordered a solid red, and you got me thinking. Maybe a purple pick guard and all the women at my soon to be moved into an underaged ( I'm under 65 but my wife won't quit drinking and this sucks) assisted living community might have giant panties flying at me?

[@dlmullins9054]

Yeah, i almost didn't get the Tele model, but that thing plays and sounds great. Glad i got it now.

[@chriswich0071]

Great looking, great sound to it -- and some very tasty guitar playing, too. One of my favourite demos on this channel so far.

[@robertyoung7027]

Used to be cool before all this dumb crap with knives, helmets and foolishness

[@jonnycakemusic]

that power saw gave me so much anxiety

[@raymondpaskiewicz5176]

Great demo, this guitar looks and sounds great and the price is amazing.

[@teemoleague907]

Like mentioned before to you max, I should of bought this one instead of the Walmart best choice product cherry semihollowbody . The BCP has back neck angle. Design sucks. This one sounds nice.

[@HigzyTeflon]

Star Fox! 🤩

[@graxjpg]

I got the purple one for free, someone was literally throwing it away. Set it next to the dumpster in my apartment along with a fender mustang amp. It’s so Ugly with the thinnest veneer flame maple (looks like a picture just put on there) and red marble pick guard and the pickups don’t sound very good but it was a free guitar so I’m loving it!!

[@tat2hoot]

I bought mine about a year and a half ago. I got it because I got tired of waiting for a "Firefly", which at the time, everyone was so hot to get. It did not come with a gig bag. I got the tobacco sunburst model. I was blown away by the appearance.... of course, anyone can pick anything apart and find something to gripe about. But really, I would say, flawless. Sits next to 2 brand new from the box, Epiphones, and a Seagull 12 string. People consistently pick it out first and say "Wow!, that one is beautiful!". The action is sooo low it's almost too low. But because of that, it's super easy to play. New strings are a must. That being done, it's one of my favorite guitars of all time. I do recommend these guitars. And I was pleased to run across this video review of it. Kudos! I agree! You could pay a lot more, and do worse....

[@CoyoteDuran1]

Half of me is yelling, "THE CALIFORNIA RECIPRICAL SAW MASSACRE!" The other half is yelling, "WAR HARBOR FREIGHT!" (All my tools are from Harbor Freight. Love their coupon catalogs.) Oh, and the review was awesome too. I dig the Grote although I'm not hot about trapeze-style tailpieces. I'd love to see if they have a stoptail to go with the tune-o-matic. Thumbs up as always, Sir Shreds-a-Lot!

[@anthonycheman9930]

I was thinking the same thing about the tailpiece lol. Also harbor freight my adult playground

[@CoyoteDuran1]

@@anthonycheman9930, well done, my excellent friend! Where else can one get (with a coupon, naturally) 10 pairs of really nice Hardy mechanic gloves for 15 cents (limit 40 pairs)?

[@8stringwrshpleader]

This guitar reminds me of the Ibanez Artcore I sold to cover the venue for my wedding. It would be awesome to snag a replacement for it. Think you could find a budget bigsby trem to throw on it? It looks awesome and sounds great for the price! Thanks for pushing out such awesome content bro!

[@tonycross4519]

Grote makes one with a Bisby Style trem

[@shredwithdignity1378]

Was I actually first for once??

[@Babybugex]

YOU WERE THE FIRST TO SAY FIRST..LOLZ I BEAT YOU.

[@johnnywolfe2021]

i was first😝lol at least i think

[@Babybugex]

@@johnnywolfe2021 I SAY 3 WAY TIE....OR JUST A 3 WAY IF YOU ARE IN TO THAT...LOLZ

[@shredwithdignity1378]

@@Babybugex Ok Mr. Orange man! Lol

[@MrEllgato]

i have the grote tele plays and sounds awesome for 145 not bad

[@JonDeth]

I fired up mine this morning that has the same fancy curly flamed maple top but in purple. Even running stock everything it's just a phenomenal guitar with a jaw dropping finish *but mine has one huge problem; the neck is slightly warped!* It's a simple fix with my heat press but annoys me that a couple months after I bought it, the twist set in. From inspecting it, I think the glue was still soft when they unclamped the fingerboard which is unfortunately common with guitars being built at break neck speeds. When I heat pressed my Les Paul hollow body, I boldly saw the fingerboard was somehow down flusher with how it sandwiched to the other half of the neck and I even had some glue squeeze out. *In the end, cheap guitars generally share the problem of "squirrelly" necks which due to under cured wood or premature clamp removal without heating them for time conmpensation.* There's a fortune to be made off high end cheap lookers with rushed construction defects.

[@yendorcire]

Getting the one without the tail piece. So excited. Been waiting for it to arrive and found your post here. Thank you so much for validating my choice! I thought the picture looked great but didn't know about the nice details. Loved the review. Just getting back into playing after years of going without so I wasn't sure what to get. Decided on a semi hollow body as I hadn't had one before. I don't have a lot of money so I picked this one. I think my wife is getting me the mini blackstar to practice. (We only have a 1 bedroom apt so I can't get it too Loud) That has a delay feature which I noticed you used to great effect. Will mostly be playing blues and some acdc kind of rock so I think I made a good choice. The backing tracks is a great tip! Loved the video and the humor. Thanks again! Really enjoyed and appreciate the video! RH

[@ricmel8008]

Grote vs Firefly?

[@supersmurf64]

When you said you were going to "demo" the guitar, I thought for sure you were going to hack it up with that saw. You're going to need to do another video 😏👍

[@BringTOBIWANback]

I should stop talking about this but where has all your hair's volume gone? Go back to your old shampoo man. Enjoy your hair while you can.

[@gato7908]

Not very impressed with 1989 huh?

[@edgeofeternity101]

I bought one of these, had a flame top with this model had Gib style bridge. The guitar was over all nice, but i didn't like pickups, very aggressive. I set it in my second story store room, which is unheated, so it gets maybe in the mid 30's in there. I remembered it one day and got it out, took it to a friends house to jam with it. Dam I discovered if I turned down the pots to below halfway, it sounded pretty darn good and I can't complain, I like it. Mine had no bag with it.

[@GrupoChucumite]

The top is not actual flame maple, it is apparently a printed laminate over wood. From Grote's site: "Nature's Imitation, Earth's Respect: Immerse yourself in the allure of simulated maple wood grain, made possible through advanced printing techniques. This guitar resonates with echoes of nature while reflecting your commitment to environmental responsibility. "

[@Colhogan06]

I got one of these last Christmas. In fact it was the exact one in this video. The sad part about it was roughly two weeks before Christmas I broke my arm and when I opened this guitar all I was able to do was look at it. It is a stunning guitar. I don't think I got to actually play it until the first week in February. It was really terrible to have and not be able to play. Once I was able to play it, I still could only play it for 5 or 10 minutes until my arm would star hurting. Had it been my fretting hand arm, it would have been easier. Anyway, it plays really nice. I did have to polish the frets. There were a few that were pretty rough, but other than that it was good.

[@timothypotter2133]

As always, great video Max, beautiful guitar, and great price. And as usual, it sounds great in your hands...don't they all? Love you work, I will be researching these guitars as I need a 335 in my collection. BTW, my collection is an affordable one that I built most of, or at least modified all of. Keep up the good work!

[@DCOM20.]

on tv shows in the 70s they would drink a can labeled "beer" same concept here. Its wood.

[@mannyflo209]

Awesome video I’m buying my son his first guitar 🎸 for Christmas 🎄 so excited for him

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

That is awesome!

[@williamsherman1089]

@@GuitarMAXMusic Hey Max great review, I thinking of going with this semi. Do you know if the neck on the Grote semi with the stopbar tailpiece is the same width and thickness?

[@garymcaleer6112]

Don't worry about the complainers, GM because we both know they would lose in a jousting match! :^) I recently purchased the same Grote w/a tobacco finish. W/gold hardware & Fender 10's the tone is nice. But the best sounding guitar among all of my guitars is an older Grote 12 string/setup for 6. Its a semi/w/bold flame & pick guard having flower vine inlay in ebony. At just over $300 the harmonic balance and resonant melodic quality far surpasses my Epi Prophecy w/Gibson's top p/ups & Squire strat w/Fender's top p/ups & Tele. But the Tele comes in 2nd. The wider neck is perfect for my fingered arpeggios. Track this axe down, bro. You won't regret it.

[@retroquest3579]

Loving that decent guitars are so much cheaper these days then the rip off Fenders and Gibsons. You really are paying thousands of extra dollars for that name and not the guitars themselves.

[@riffsnoleads]

Never have I seen as much gatekeeping outside of metal than with blues snobs.

[@patrick-1957]

Always love your videos, your expertise and the infusion of humor makes watching ever more enjoyable.

[@JohnSoldano]

It's awesome... When you hear the b.s. that the Gibson factor goes through to put binding on one of their guitars, and see the rubber America made??? B.f.d.. there a rip off. Lol 10x Gibson, shame on you.Since I bought a 3000.00 Gibson l.p. and a Schecter tempest for 1200.00 lol again. I would NEVER buy a guitar over 1000.00. OH no I have to polish the frets?!?! Do I use 40 grit sandpaper for that? It has binding in the front, back, fret board, and the Holes. Oh no the binding is off??? Can you see the off binding from 100 feet away? Or do I need a microscope? You can't even get a d.i.y. guitar for 200.00, by the time you buy glue, files, and paint??? Good luck.. thanks for the awesome video, I especially enjoyed you opening the box with a sawzzzzallll.use a table saw or a chop saw next time.. Oh no did I miss spell something?

[@loufher284]

Looks like the high E string is off the bridge when he's first playing it..

[@JamesPatton12]

I almost dead in laughter after I seen him bring out the saw to open the box 😂😂

[@TaxPayingContributor]

Confirmed purshaser here to verify that indeed the center block is made of wood. Looks to be 5/8in maple top from the pick up pockets. Love the unplugged resonance. Frets needed love and I'm dropping P90s in.

[@rhino3332]

Thank you for the reviews. I generally don't go by price when I buy an instrument. I go by how the guitar feels and sounds, so I appreciate your reviews.

[@shanewalton8888]

Already out of stock and no love for lefties.

[@arlo12345678910]

What amp and head are you playing through? Tubed/Valved? or solid state. Dual 12's? quad? Trying to find a quick guitar that rings out.

[@Str1ng5]

i bought ths guitar. plays great. i have been using it for live gigs where there is moderate toloudvoume,ivebeenplaying highgain-ish stuff like metallica and alice in chains covers, and so far this guitar has been way more versatile than i expected....even sounds better than an epiphone semi hollow es 335 mdel....i am very impressed. however i did have to polish frets, hdrate fret board or recondition, string change and tighten screws here and there ans set intonaion.... guitarisnw one of y favorites to gig locally with. excuse my english is a bit bad. use the guitar several nights a week ,playing queen, nirvana, beatles, guns n roses, moorohead, cranberries, david bowie, danzig, eric clapton, the cure and many styles played withthis same guitar and humbuckers are not microphonic

[@realpool]

Thanks Max! I purchased one of these based on your review and I'm extremely happy with it. Setup was great out of the box!

[@jonathanhandsmusic]

Really nice especially for two hundred bucks and a trapeze tailpiece. The only thing bad about Grote is the name. Where did they come up with that!! It sounds like a disease. For a super budget semi hollow body guitar this is very nice. Kind of looks like an artcore Ibanez. Nice review as usual.

[@BuffaloC305]

It's the name "Grote"... (and my dislike for large inlays)... it reminds me of George Harrison's scene in HARD DAY'S when he walks into a marketing office, claims their 'starlet' is a joke, that their products are "grotey, as in 'grotesque'." Then, there's Firesign Theater's alternative breakfast - "grote-cakes". Oh well... those probably were better than Loosner's All Weather Flakes.

[@orejotus]

great guitar review

[@pktheelement6630]

This my first video by you I ever watched and I have to say that intro made me subscribe

[@makocha55]

買いました。 ただペグが精度低いからゴトーに交換した。オクターブチューニング5セント以内で完璧。 音はなかなか良いです。

[@gregoryhall3156]

I know this is annold video-but just wondering if the flame maple tops on these Grote 335 style guitars are really flame maple veneer that has been stained or instead one of the old “photo” flame tops harking back to the 90s. Having owned two of the flame top Firefly guitars (V and Explorer) i can attest that Firefly is using legit maple veneers with decent bookmatching and as is expected from real wood veneer-actual variability not only from one guitar top to another but also somewhat in fields of the top on a single guitar. Some of the photos I’ve seen on line of the flame and quilt Grote guitars (LP types) look fake to me-they are so very heavily figured and lack some of the chatoyance (variablify in appearance from different angles) that one expects from real flamed maple wood. Plus in terms of cost for flame or quilted maple veneers they are graded as to prominence and symmetry kf the figuring and priced accordingly--veneers with heavy and detailed beautiful figuring cost more-sometime a lot more. It is similar to what you see in price difference between a PRS “10” top flame maple guitar and a flame maple top PRS SE guitar. Also can anyone confirm difference in body size between Grote 335 and Firefly 338-the Grote body appears wider across body at lower bouts and also slightly deeper (from front to back). Will a Grote 335 fit into usual cases deisgned for 335 semi-hollow (Firefly 338 seems to fit well in most of them)?

[@glahome1]

So Max, order of preference? Harley Benton, Firefly or Grote? Anyone else want to chime in?

[@michaelolz]

I think it depends on the pickups. The Firefly ones on their 335 knockoff were shamefully microphonic, even though the rest of the guitar was alright, especially the nut. Since ordering the HB35 Plus from Harley Benton is such a pain in the butt unless you live in Europe these days, I’d probably order this one. I swear I think I heard the pickups on this Grote scream twice as I’ve been writing this. It’s during the latter 25% of the sound sample segment.

[@popsfereal]

I have some of each. FF's are awesome, HB's depend on the model you get, and my Grote strat is nothing better than a Glarry/Mahar/Austin. For an awesome strat, offset with P90's or telecopy- Indio for the Win.

[@MrJavasan01]

I would like to hear his preference as well, and the reasons for the ranking. These guitars will use similar parts and are likely coming from the same factory so it will be hard to judge. At this price point it can also be hit or miss from guitar to guitar. Nonetheless Max, would love to hear your views.

[@anthonycheman9930]

@@popsfereal i kinda wish i went indio instead of glarry for my tele

[@jayliberman5331]

@@michaelolz Just a heads up on the Harley Bentons...I ordered one on the 3rd from Thomann and it came yesterday! 4 days from Germany to North Carolina. I could not believe it. I have never bought from them before, assuming it would be a giant pain and take forever. Unreal

[@erik8674]

looks like you pinch on melodic stuff, so did I, till i grew up and learned to play.

[@robgray4188]

😂😂😂😂 I love the way you said Grote since 1989 mmmmm.. and the look on your face.. priceless

[@troythompson1621]

Some people. Lol. My 2nd basic philosophy of life: joke'm if they can't take a f#€k! 😁 thanks for doing these. I'm looking at the purple one w/splits.

[@scottbrown4534]

This guitar finally ticked all the boxes for me and it is on the way via your link. Hmmm... All the boxes... Well, its red, definitely a 335 type GSO, hopelessly Chinese, and I've got enough sense to trust you... Odd that... Did I mention it is red? By the way, that is more paint job than anything "flamed maple," sort of like a pretty print on Maple (maybe top layer in the plywood), but it still looks nice to me. Way enough to make this old guy smile a bit! We're talking used car money for a real one.

[@dannywilliams3928]

Now that's funny as hell. Lol. I've got that same exact sawzall does a great job doesn't it. Lol. Don't play the guitar with it though cuz you'll sound too much like Eddie Van halen. Lol. Beautiful guitar love the video these are awesome cheap 335 style guitars man that anyone can afford even poor people like me. Lol.

[@loripaulsen4861]

I love the sense of humor. The guitar sounds great but I suspect you could make a guitar made of pressboard sound great. I am curious about how you think the Grote compares to Firefly as both are great guitars for the price.

[@jamesceraso4972]

After looking at many guitars and reviews on the Grote guitar 🎸 I am going to get it. I have been playing since 1955 and am so glad to have a good guitar for such a great price. Brand name guitars are expensive and I can't afford it. Name brands don't make the sound it's the guitar. Why pay 1000s $ and get the same sound as a 250.$ guitar

[@njsteere]

That stank face at 2:45 LMAO. Been eyeing one of these and of course you've already reviewed it. Thanks Max!

[@patrickkilduff5272]

I bought one of these since I am a broke bastard and love it! Mine came with a roller bar stop instead of the trapeze one your has. I like it better without the pick guard as well. The only problem with mine is the nut was a tad uneven...the big E string sits to low in it...I just got a bone one...works great.

[@andreknaebel9537]

What are tour thoughts on the Grote vs. Fireflys? Similar? Is one better sounding, better playing, or better quality?

[@elcab33]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 i knew something was coming when you mentioned some ppl didn't like the way you've been opening boxes

[@benisplayin]

Apologizing for your unique and profound undoing routine and then the sawsall . Excellent. Who cares what some random want to be critic thinks any way.. Nice work.

[@llednop]

Hey Max, what do you thing about Monoprice axes? Great channel content, by the way.

[@GuitarMAXMusic]

Hey there. Yes, the Monoprice guitars are good! I've reviewed a couple of them on my channel here.

[@llednop]

@@GuitarMAXMusic I'll check them out. There is this (apparently new) Indio 66 Classic V2 model which I don't know if you've given it a try. It doesn't look bad.

[@thomasradcliffe298]

200.00 dollar guitar, spend your money on an amp 2,000.00 plus boutique tube ,hand wired. You will sound killer. ✌️

[@oliverkuehn7576]

They seem to be more like $499-$899 CDN right now on Amazon. I guess too many positive reviews has upped the price?

[@donaldallen4349]

I want one. I have to have left handed though. will check it out. I have a Left handed Fender stratocaster mexico, then I also have a Epiphone Les Paul in Left handed. I also have a Left handed Ibenez bass and play through a Fender Ultimate Corus amp with 65 watts with 2 twelve in speakers.

[@nazmoking3171]

This guitar is Groting on me! (I know - don't quit my day job😅)

[@gertvanpeet3120]

It looks like the real 335 with that tailpiece....later models did not have that...but think of what is inside... different bracing...

[@MarkSchuster-ym3iy]

Harbor freight tools man I was a home builder for 50 years and never bought cheap tools, seems you’re into cheap everything. Lol

[@richbuege6491]

It would be interesting to see if the trapeze was replaced with a Bigsby and roller bridge. The two Grotes I already have, the pickups are fine, but no vibrato on them. A cheap whammy bar isn't the answer either. But the necks , pickups and frets, no complaint at all.

[@tomwilson4353]

Are the pickups microphonic on this? I've seen demos of the Firefly 335 style and they are terrible microphonic feedback machines.

[@brucepritchard7505]

I noticed another variation of this guitar with the tuneomatic bridge and P90 pickups. Do you think the P90s would be an upgrade?

[@jaguar616]

If you wish to sell the Firefly 338 spalted maple and ship to the UK, I'm interested. Cheers Max

[@christophernoia5197]

The horns and flamed maple top throw it off to me. For some reason, any 335 style guitar that doesn’t have the Gibson shaped horns looks wonky to me. I’m also just not into flamed maple at all except vintage tint on the back of the neck. They headstock is cool though! Still a pretty rad guitar for that price point.

[@ppg19782]

Beautiful guitar 🎸looks expensive 😎😎😎😎👍👍👍

[@supernatural9r406]

👍

[@phillipholt6005]

I'm thinking I've got to buy one for the heck of it.

[@terryadams3489]

looking for a smaller semi hollow guitar. maqybe compared to a Es 339 size. is there a smaller body Grote. thx

[@chrisapollo6676]

...playable? If the bones are good,it would be worth dropping $500 on new hardware and electronics.

[@simonc5407]

I’ve ordered a really pretty version of this To motivate myself to learn faster. Unfortunately I caught the beginning of the Chinese New Year and it could be weeks before my guitar arrives. Meanwhile I watch this every other day or so ! It’s the closest I’m going to get for awhile!

[@shakeorefined2514]

"I am Grote"