STOAKES GEAR TALK – MAGNETO US SONNET MODERN US 2300

Let me begin this review by saying, and you may think this is a strange way to start; I am not a fan of Strat type guitars. I don’t like S type single coils, I am a Les Paul guy and love nothing better than a big fat humbucker to chew on!

So, why on earth is he looking at the Magneto US Sonnet Modern US-2300 you may ask! It’s just another Strat type guitar that does exactly the same as all the others, right? Well, that’s what I thought when it first arrived and let me tell you, how wrong could I be!

If I’m honest, I didn’t know much about Magneto guitars before this arrived, only that Eric Gales plays one of there guitars. Aside from that, I knew nothing. I’ve since looked into them and traditionally they have been hand built and have only recently moved into the mass production guitars market. But that attention to detail and quality control isn’t lost on these cheaper guitars.

Upon getting it out of its box, the first thing I will comment on is just how great it looked. It looks bespoke with its wooden pickguard and that flame top is gorgeous. The guitar has two single coils and a humbucker and is equipped with Magneto’s own tuners, a tremolo system, maple neck and just one volume and one tone knob. 

The moment you plug it in, you will be hooked. The pickups are outstanding, they are Magneto’s own single coil and humbucker; the single coils are USC-200 and the Humbucker is a MHN-200. They will blow your socks off! I’ve never heard single coils quite that beefy, with the volume on 10, it easily goes toe to toe with some of my Les Pauls for pure meatiness! And if you select the humbucker with the volume at 10, you’ll just melt your face.

The neck pick up, when the volume and tone are down to about 6 sounds stunning. Really warm meaty sound that has a tiny bit of stratty twang, the tiniest amount though! When you play clean, the sound just wraps you up and hugs you! I’ve spent most of my time in this position whilst playing it. I love it. 

The middle pickup is nice, a little bit more ‘stratty’ – with a bit of dirt and overdrive you’re in Blackmore territory, not quite as hot or meaty as the neck pickup, but it certainly packs a punch. And, for those dedicated Strat fans, this is where you will sit and you’ll be more than happy!

The humbucker, as I mentioned is earlier is on another level. So the single coils, especially the neck pickup, are hotter than some of the humbuckers I have in some of my other guitars; the Magneto humbucker is a monster. It will blow your mind. Crank the amp up with a bit of distortion and you’re in hardcore metal territory. Amazing. I absolutely love it. It’s fat, meaty and sounds incredible. I’ve blasted out a few Metallica riffs and Diamond Head tunes with the humbucker, much to the delight of the neighbours and let me tell you, it just roars!

So how does it play? This is the first guitar I’ve had with a satin neck, even my strat and tele’s are slightly glossy and for the first few days, I felt the neck was a bit dry which I didn’t like. But, I’ve found that the more I’ve played it, whether I’ve got used to it or, or my playing has actually made the neck a little bit slicker, the more I like it. After a week or so, I was gliding all over the slick neck, and actually this thing plays itself, it’s a real dream! The tuning stability is amazing too, especially given it’s got a tremolo, I’ve not encountered any tuning issues, I can work that trem for hours and it’ll hold its tune steadfast! 

I have had this guitar now for about a month and in all honesty I’ve not been able to put it down. It out plays my strat, out performs some of my Les Pauls and on top of that it looks outstanding. Would I buy one? Absolutely, without a second thought, at a little over £350, this guitar is the bargain of the century! Don’t let the low price fool you, this will outplay and out perform guitars four times the price! I am in love and need one of these in my collection.

Specs:

• Body Wood: Basswood, 2-Piece with Figured Veneer Top
• Pickguard: Finished Wood
• Neck Wood: Hard Rock Maple
• Headstock: Magneto Sonnet Headstock
• Fingerboard: East Indian Rosewood
• Scale length: 648mm / 25 ½”
• Nut: 42 mm / 1.650” (Synthetic)
• Frets: 22 Narrow Jumbo Frets
• Neck Profile: Medium C Shape
• Radius: 12” / 305mm Radius
• Neck Heel: Tapered
• Truss Rod: Double Truss Rod (Classic Top Loaded System)
• Bridge: Classic Tremolo
• Tuners: Magneto Tuners
• String Retainer: Vintage Style E and B String, G and D String
• Neckplate: Standard
• Hardware Finish: Chrome
• Pickups: 2x USC-200 Single Coils, 1x MHN-200 Humbucker (SSH)
• Pickup Switch: 5-Position Switch (Standard Switching)
• Controls: Volume, Tone (Audio Taper Pots)
• Strings: 009-042
• Bag: Magneto Bag

S.R.P: £379.00