Abasi Concepts Larada Master Series 8 Review Revisited - Unsponsored
19Abasi Concepts Larada Master Series 8 Unsponsored Review Revisited. I’ve owned this guitar for several years now. As I’ve played it, enjoyed it, and maintained it, here are some long term insights into how this instrument performs.
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00:00 Intro
General Maintenance
00:33 Truss rod adjustments over time
00:43 Adjust intonation over time
00:58 String change and fretboard conditioning
01:05 Strings are elixir 10s, tuned 1 step down
Misc things
01:27 Pick flies out of lower strings easily if you store it there
01:54 Wear the guitar strap medium to medium-high
02:10 Battery charger plug becomes unstuck with the slightest pressure
Playability
02:50 Excellent playability as expected for the price point
03:03 Neck profile is wide thin C, not a flat U or D
03:32 Neck profile within the single cut slants up towards bass side
03:46 Need to be comfortable with thumb behind the neck string bending
04:14 Lower horn doesn’t get in the way usually
Feel while Playing
04:36 Emotionally feel to play overview
04:49 Light weight and compact formlets you focus
05:31 Deep bevels don’t fight your forearm
05:36 Bottom cutaway allows any seated playing
05:50 Output jack is out of the way and prevents cable pull
06:17 All this plus huge note range make it very fun to play
06:43 Octave below standard E sound demonstration
06:52 Modern metal is possible but isn’t my typical style
07:01 Palm muting lowest strings
07:11 Lots of tones with 5 way switch
07:27 Fun to play unless you dislike the features
Playing Feel and Materials
07:35 Stainless steel frets smooth and durable
07:56 Roasted maple neck is fast
08:10 Volume knob smooth and knob stays on when push pull
08:16 Pickup switch is janky but has held up
08:49 Can be fun to hit that pitch drift
08:56 Pitch drift sound demonstration
08:59 Strings pop out of saddles if you play very hard
Availability
09:23 Random Abasi models only available through limited runs sporadically
09:59 Website takes a few minutes to update and guitars sell out in seconds
10:19 Online scalpers
Sound and Sound Demo
10:43 Active pickups with nice midrange are good for more than metal
10:58 “Passive” voice isn’t that much different, indistinguishable from “Active” in a mix
11:07 “Active” and “Passive” voice sound demonstration
11:30 Difference in isolation in specific cases but active setting works in my mixes best
11:51 Split coil tone thoughts
Tone Demo
12:00 Title card
Distortion:
12:01 Bridge
12:19 Neck
12:27 Position 4 neck split
12:38 Bridge/neck
12:51 Position 2 bridge split
13:20 Bridge
Clean:
13:36 Neck
13:53 Position 4 neck split
14:02 Bridge/neck
14:11 Position 2 bridge split
14:24 Bridge
14:36 8th string all positions clean
Recording Usage
14:51 Number of strings and multiscale is a blessing and a curse
15:12 High output pickups and more strings makes muting technique challenging
15:33 Higher and lower strings have vastly different vibration amplitudes
15:56 8th string preamp clipping demonstration
16:00 Watch your preamp levels and plan accordingly
16:12 Watch out for pitch drift on the 8th string
16:22 Multiscale bridge slants away from hand, changing palm muting, picking, etc. technique
16:29 Tuning stability is decent
16:50 Cylindrical tuning heads are awful to use
17:26 8th string confuses many tuners
Usage
17:40 Use low string sparingly
18:06 Tonal options for many genres
18:43 Don’t get tunnel vision in using full range
19:21 6 string stuff will always be more comfortable on a 6 string guitar
20:36 Very convenient using one 8 string guitar for lower and higher range playing
20:59 Multiscale is ideal on paper yet comes with challenges in practice
21:56 Will always feel like a different instrument
Verdict
22:35 Is this guitar worth it after a few years? Yes if it has the specs you want
23:01 If you’re not sure, it’s not worth it
23:24 Minor annoyances will be compounded with heavy usage
23:40 Multiscale bridge adds nice tension where it’s needed and isn’t Evertune
24:03 Easy playing on 25.5 inch treble side
24:22 Overall positives
24:35 Thumb behind the neck playing
Alternatives
24:49 More and more manufacturers are providing competition
25:08 ESP and LTD
25:12 Ibanez
25:18 Solar
25:25 Baritone 6 strings
25:36 Ormsby
Right for you?
25:56 Need to want the features and be ok with not getting your first choice of color
26:15 When you do get one, the possibilities are endless
Full Mix Demo
26:35 Harmonized neck cleans
26:48 Bridge low power chords and leads
27:00 Bridge low string chorus with leads
27:07 Bridge power chords and leads with neck cleans
27:19 Bridge guitar solo
27:32 Bridge pickup distorted bridge song section
27:39 Position 2 split bridge with synth and cleans
27:52 Clean outro
28:00 End screen and cat