RYDER R3 semi solid guitar

RYDER R3 semi solid guitar £179.99
(Reviewed by John Verity)

Ryder guitars are new to the market. Designed in the UK/ built in China they are marketed initially through larger 'Sue Ryder' outlets, but there are plans to make them available in high street stores. I believe that direct sales to education are also in the pipeline.., Watch this space!

THE GUITAR
A familiar shape to many, this classic semi-solid format has been popular with players in many styles from jazz to blues since the 1950's, and is currently in vogue with many famous and influential players of today... The review guitars maple laminate body was finished in 'vintage sunburst' with the two f-holes bound in cream . The set, neck is also maple, with cream binding and an ebony fingerboard on the review model which apparently is to be replaced by rosewood on production models. The dot markings here will remain for production models. In common with established brands, the body has an internal centre block (maple in the case of the R3) which reinforces the body/ neck join, and houses the two hum-bucking pick-ups. All hardware is chrome-plated, with the familiar tulip-style tuning pegs in a type of strong plastics. The bridge is fully adjustable. And strings are retained by a stop tail-piece - generally considered to be the best formula for sustain and tuning stability. The package is completed in classic style with two volume and two tone controls, and a three-way pick-up selector switch.

TIME TO PLAY!
I have to say that I was amazed at the quality of this guitar particularly considering the price, when I first picked it up. Similarly the sheer playability is on a par with instruments costing much, much more. I was not disappointed when I plugged it into an amplifier to discover that all the sounds were there too - warm and mellow from the neck pick-up, to sharp and aggressive from the bridge pick-up