Review: 2024 Monoprice Indo Series 6 String Basswood-Body Electric Guitar, Right, Sunburst
Review by Al Handa
One of the surprise developments in the current "Tariff War" is the alleged exposure of luxury goods made at low cost in China. Interestingly, a similar situation has been occurring in the guitar world for a few years now, with the flood of inexpensive guitars generally receiving good press.
Granted, some of that press is probably paid for, but user comments show many positive reviews and satisfaction with these instruments. So much so that major companies don't criticize the existence of these guitars, evidenced by the recent release of Squier Telecaster and Strat models that only cost $130, which is an acknowledgment that the inexpensive guitar market is here to stay and has widespread support.
One can't really claim that these companies are simply copycats (which many companies are guilty of, not just overseas manufacturers). Still, this rise in low-cost instruments isn't occurring in a vacuum. It's almost certainly related to the move towards manufacturing in Indonesia and Vietnam, which gives companies like Epiphone and Squier a cheaper place to build their economy lines.
That means at least some of the Chinese factories that were making guitars for companies like Squier are seeking new markets to keep their factories running. This has also expanded the counterfeiting (or imitation) scene, as one can go on eBay and get a custom-made copy of just about every special edition guitar ever sold in America, from the Buck Owens-style Telecaster to other models that would otherwise be out of the reach of any average consumer.
I personally draw the line at buying outright counterfeit guitars, so while I would love to have a Special Edition Buck Owens Telecaster, I'm not going to buy a cheap copy of one. However, since it's accepted that as long as one isn’t committing fraud with these custom copies, if properly identified, I won't judge the market. I'm simply talking about my personal preference.
One other development that has reached the economy line makers is that we're seeing more and more of the "offset" guitars that Fender-inspired made popular a few years back and has continued strong as a trend.
It was a smart move, tapping into the aftermarket culture that's always been there for Fenders and Squiers. Regarding basic guitar types, the designs haven't changed much. You're not seeing wild designs like the Flying V in the '50s.
That makes the current age of inexpensive guitars similar to the sixties and seventies, when Japanese companies often created guitars with all sorts of interesting, some might say weird, shapes and configurations.
This current crop of inexpensive (aka Amazon or YouTube guitars) guitar manufacturers and resellers offer traditional bodies and models with the addition of offset configurations, but the market now has companies that offer a wider variety of shapes and sizes, just like the 1960s and 1970s. I'm speaking in general terms; I'm aware that there are exceptions.
The popularity of inexpensive guitars has never waned since the beginning of the catalog guitar era. There's always been a market for inexpensive guitars, and though attitudes towards them have fluctuated quite a bit from acceptance to outright snobbery, there's no denying that getting a decent guitar at a good price has always had its own special mojo.
The Monoprice Indio is one such case that combines a Jazzmaster body with a Strat-like HSS pickup configuration. One could say it's modeled after the Jaguar, at least in terms of the body. The neck is very Jazzmaster-like, and it has the same scale length as a Telecaster.
The guitar has received some positive reviews on YouTube. Like some other Chinese guitars, its price point makes it irresistible to quite a few guitar buyers, particularly those looking for inexpensive but decently made guitars to add to a collection or base models for upgrades. The current price on Amazon has dropped to 130.00, down from 149.99 (and down from 160.00).
I’ve bought a few of these inexpensive guitars to add to my collection, mainly those that add a little versatility or give me a different type or sound that I may not use a great deal, but would be nice to have.
In the case of the Indio, what attracted me was that I always liked the Kurt Cobain Jaguar, but to me, it's a severely overpriced HH version. Having owned some Jaguars in the past, I found that the shorter scale hasn't necessarily been the attraction that I thought it would be. So, a Jazzmaster body will do. I did go through a period of wanting shorter-scale guitars for my hands and my age, but I'm finding that that's not necessarily a big deal.
In the case of the Indio, in my mind, it gives me a basic Jazzmaster body and neck with a humbucker in the bridge position, which is the primary type that I would want in a souped-up Jaguar/Jazzmaster. In other words, it gives me the part of a Kurt Cobain Jaguar that I want without having to pay the price for a Squier HH configured Jaguar (which has stayed relatively high in price even used).
After unpacking it, I noticed that it's a very decently built guitar. In fact, if you stuck the Squire logo on the headstock, it would fool quite a few people. It did need some setup, but mainly a basic neck adjustment and some work on the bridge. There were a couple of uneven frets, which were easily fixed, but overall, it presented no more difficulties than I've ever experienced with a Squier.
The tuning pegs and tremolo bar are adequate, and the guitar stays reasonably in tune. I will say, though, that while I rarely use a tremolo bar, I prefer to have one, perhaps because I like the tone. The stock pickups are pretty good, and the humbucker in the bridge is quite decent. It's good enough that I've no intention of replacing it with an aftermarket pickup, and the two single coils give you a decent Strat sound.
Another thing I liked about the Indio is that it's a relatively light guitar compared to a Jazzmaster or Jaguar. One reason is the basswood body, which has become a mainstream alternative material for bodies.
I remember decades ago when that wood was considered the mark of a "cheap" guitar, though that was when people still thought tone woods heavily influenced an electric guitar's sound. That attitude began to change as the Japanese and Koreans, the biggest users of the wood in the 80s, came out with excellent versions of Fenders and Squiers
I remember many commentators saying this type of wood had a "darker" or "muddy" sound, though we now know it's more due to the pickups. Some objected to this wood because it was softer, so one had to be careful about accidentally stripping screw holes.
These days, basswood is a matter of taste, more or less, though I'm sure some would prefer materials associated with higher-grade guitars. I think it's an excellent alternative for those who prefer lighter guitars (like me).
So, does the Indio give me the same sound as a humbucker-equipped Jazzmaster? In my opinion, pretty much so, though it has many of the characteristics of an HH strat, too. The fact that it doesn't completely duplicate the sound of a Kurt Cobain Jaguar isn’t a big deal to me, as over the years, I've realized that I'm not a grunge guitarist.
I like having a guitar with a lighter Jazzmaster body with a decent range of sounds, from bridge humbucker Strat/Jazzmaster to some nice Strat tones with the middle and neck Strat pickups. Also, with some adjustments on your amp, you can get a traditional Jazzmaster/Jaguar-type tone. The sound isn't quite as clear and articulate as stock Fender pickups, but it is competitive with a Squier set-up.
What I liked the most was adding these sounds to my collection for only $150.00. I suppose if I had a preference for high-end guitars, but in this day and age, which many people call the Golden age of inexpensive guitars, there's plenty of mojo in price.
There is another important difference between these inexpensive guitars and their counterparts in earlier decades; there's no comparison in quality, even if some of the older pickups have some appeal to collectors and retro guitarists. The fact is, many of those old cheapies are barely playable. You have to have a mint or near-mint copy to have a guitar as good as a modern Squier or Epiphone. There are exceptions, but as a general rule, many old inexpensive guitars simply aren't of the same quality as today's equivalents.
At worst, the Indio is a very good copy of a Squier. In my case, it took less set-up work than some of the name-brand economy and medium-priced guitars I bought in the last couple of years.
One underrated factor in owning the current crop of economy guitars is that, because the word of mouth is generally good, they're eminently salable if you don't like them and want to get rid of them or trade them. The used price will be at a price range where you'll have some takers, probably more than if you were trying to sell a Les Paul, and the pain will be infinitely less.
There are some economy brands that I don't have a high opinion of, but Indio isn't one of them. Companies like Indio offer more choice. In some cases, they sell guitars to people who probably wouldn't buy another one because they're heavily invested in name brands and are happy with them. I have enough that if I never bought another guitar, I'd be quite set. But with the current crop of inexpensive guitars, adding new sounds is affordable, which is always welcome.
Specs:
- Brand: Monoprice
- Color Sunburst
- Top Material Type: Basswood
- Body Material Basswood
- Back Material Type: Basswood
- Neck Material Type: Maple
- Two single coils and a humbucker: OS-20 classic guitars feature two single coil pickups and a humbucker at the bridge.
- Material: basswood body and a fast-action maple neck.
- Vintage styling: Os20 offset
- Gig bag included
- controls: 3-way blade switch, volume knob, tone knob
- String material type: steel
- Guitar bridge system: Adjustable
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