5.0 out of 5 stars IYV 6 String IYV-IRK-300 Semi Hollow Electric Guitar 3T Sunburst, Right, (IRK-300)

V.V. · January 17, 2024

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } Hello everyone.First of all, let us get this out of the way. When someone purchases a guitar (whether it is used, refurbished, displayed model, with minor imperfection, or a new one) at some point you are going to set the action, set the intonation, treat the fret board, file the fret ends, replace/modify the knobs/switches/bridge/strings/pickups/neck/etc. to your preference.It is no difference when you buy your vehicle. Eventually, you are going to change/add/replace/modify items on your vehicle to your liking. And that is fine. With that said, please do not count these components as a negative criticism towards these guitars.Let us just focus on the guitar itself. With minor tuning and neck adjustments, these guitars are ready to play right out of the box. As you know, minor tuning and neck adjustments are common with any guitar you purchase.The finish, quality, and construction of these guitars are awesome. The headstock is eye-catching. The neck is straight. The frets do not have dents/divots and are smooth (no sharp edges). The fret board is fine. The body is beautiful. The joints/seems are connected to satisfactory. The hardware (pickup selector or switch/output or input jack/volume & tone knobs or controls/bridge/pickups/pick guard/tuners/electronics/screws/nuts/strap buttons/fret or inlay markers/fret nut) are nice, functional, and tight.There may be some small blemishes or cloudy finishes here and there, fret board might have some kind of dye on it, but nothing really significant that would cause you NOT to play the guitar immediately.I’ve made NO modifications or changed any components on this guitar and had no major issue with feedback noise, guitar getting out of tune from hours of play, components getting loose or not working, breaking strings, electrical issues, etc. Again, everyone has their option on what they consider feedback, guitar out of tune, components getting loose or not working, breaking strings, electrical issues, etc. And that is okay. It also varies on the equipment (amps/stacks/pedals/cables/etc.) you use and how you play these guitars.In conclusion, these guitars are attractive, feel great, look fabulous, sound terrific, entice you to play them and definitely fun to play.I am sold, and I am a HUGE fan of the IYV Guitars! I wished I could have purchased the earlier models when they first came out. If I had the money, I would buy all the IYV models.For an electric guitar under $200.00 and with no shipping fees, these guitars are an excellent investment! I will say it again. Not only are these guitars gorgeous, but they are also a pleasure to play.I hope IYV will continue to produce new models or have older models available because I am excited in purchasing them in the future.Thank you IYV Guitar company/staff for producing this magnificent product!

5.0 out of 5 stars Wow, incredible for less than $170 (I got the one pictured)

D.D. · January 27, 2025

Review of IYV 6 String IYV-IRK-300 Semi Hollow Electric Guitar 3T Sunburst, Right, (IRK-300)I received the one pictured (the fireglo sunburst type model) and I am very pleased at that. It is a beautiful guitar. There are a couple of minor finishing QC type issues. There is a little residual polishing dust near the neck pickup around one of the screws and along the edge of the pickup near the neck. No big deal. Mine is intonated very well, action is low, and the neck relief is spot on with no buzzing. There are no sharp fret ends. The frets are not polished as well as they could be, when you do a bend you can feel some roughness as the string moves (I’ll fix it when I change the strings). Tuners are basic sealed economy type tuners, but mine holds tune pretty well, new strings and some graphite in the nut slots will improve that I think.The fretboard is Jatoba, a wood I was not familiar with, but from what I’ve since read it is an inexpensive, but very acceptable perhaps more sustainable alternative to some of the common boards, such as rosewood, ebony or maple. The bridge and tailpiece both look great and are solidly made and set. The wood used in the top and back is attractive and visible through the finish. They even put clear coat inside the sound hole.Electronics seem to work fine. The volume and tone knobs both make considerable difference across their ranges. The pickups sound great to me. They are not real powerful, the clean tone is a bit jangly and has a vintage vibe to it, especially at performance volume. Using a little OD distortion the tone is tight and pleasant and sits well in the mix with a bass, flute, drums and keyboard. The band was complimented on the overall sound today.Overall, I like the sound. With the single coil pickups, the pickup design and the hollow space in the body the guitar has an airy resonate tone that actually sounds like it comes from a hollow body guitar (some semihollows just sound like solid guitars, not this one). It reminds me of the airy tone (that I like) of a cheap strat with a canoe cut under the pickups and pickguard, almost a natural reverb tone.Really nice for less than $170 US.

5.0 out of 5 stars Incredible value for the money

L.H. · February 12, 2025

I had an '88 Ric that I sold in the early 90's, because I needed something with more versatility and have regretted selling it ever since. I wanted to hear that jangle sound again, but couldn't justify the cost of a new Ric. I saw the reviews and photos of the IYV and figured for the price, why NOT take a chance on it. I am already a firm believer in Firefly guitars and figured, why not give a chance to another brand. Damn, this thing is good. Beautiful and playable right out of the box. I haven't even changed the strings yet. Action and intonation is spot on. Minor blemish on finish but who cared at this price point. And, it bangles, just like I wanted. For the cost, it is extraordinary. I own Gretsch, Fender and Gibson guitars. Is this like them? No, but for $160 bucks, I was pleasantly surprised at the quality.

Good value but expect a bit of work

S. · May 16, 2025

(function() { P.when('cr-A', 'ready').execute(function(A) { if(typeof A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel === 'function') { A.toggleExpanderAriaLabel('review_text_read_more', 'Read more of this review', 'Read less of this review'); } }); })(); .review-text-read-more-expander:focus-visible { outline: 2px solid #2162a1; outline-offset: 2px; border-radius: 5px; } In my experience, inconsistent QC is one of the things that go hand in hand with buying inexpensive guitars. One can be nearly perfect and the next one, not so much. What makes this guitar good value is less to do with price versus quality and more to do with the relative lack of options for a Rick-styled guitar. If this were a Strat or LP style guitar, at this price point there are lots of options and as a result, I'd be less forgiving of an imperfection in the finish or some fret sprout or a high fret but for a Rick-styled guitar, I do forgive those things.The finish on mine was perfect and it sounds great. It had a number of frets that weren't fully seated and after addressing that I ended up doing a full fret level, crown and polish. I swapped the tuners (and I usually don't unless they're really clunky). Also not a fan of these bridges but they're part of the vibe of guitars like this so it's fine.In conclusion, you may get a perfect one or you may not. Even if you get one that needs some TLC and don't feel comfortable doing the work yourself, it's probably worth it for this style of guitar (certainly you'll spend way less than you would for the guitar this is styled after).