Samick Malibu MB-1/MR Reviews 
2 / 5 based on 1 reviewsI bought this guitar from Waco Vintage Instruments in Mansfield, Texas for $170. It was my first guitar, so I didn't really know what I was looking for, so I bought it mainly because of its looks(cherry red) and because I wanted something with a whammy bar.
It is a good beginner's guitar. It is durable, affordable, and nice to look at. There isn't too much I personally like about this guitar, except for its strat-like shape, which makes it comfortable, and the fact that it stays in tune well, even after heavy whammy bar use. In fact, I only tuned it once once a week, and even then it was only a few cents out of tune.
THE TONE. I now have a Fender Fat Strat, which has a way stronger and thicker tone, even when the single coil pickups are being used. When I use the humbucker, it blows the Samick away. The Samick just sounds weak compared to it. I was also dismayed by its high action. It's like trying to play the Tom Delonge Strat. If you have never played the Delonge Strat, it's like trying to play a tree, as another author put it.
This guitar is very durable. I have banged it into a couple of walls,and left it outside in the sun but it still does not show any signs of wear. For $170, it is a great instrument. The pickguard is still unmarked, although I tried to scratch it a few times.
Overall, this is an excellent beginner guitar. It is affordable, and although the tone and action are not so hot, a beginner is not going to notice that or care anyway.
If you are an intermediate to advanced player, however, this guitar wouldn't cut it.
Hans Du Vandershmock rated this unit
on
2003-12-31.
