NGD: Caparison Horus - Everyone Still Hate These?

[Code001]

I know these aren't very popular on this forum, but I figured I'd post it anyway. I just got this from Japan. Contrary to EWSEthan's experience, I did not have to pay a single cent in customs fees despite it coming from the same shipping company and going through the exact same customs hub. As you can tell from the pictures, it's not 100% perfect (pitting on the hardware), but it plays amazingly well. I know a lot of people dislike the stock bridge pickups in these, but I thought it sounded pretty good. Maybe they swapped the bridge pickup with a PH-R; who knows? The neck pickup is a bit bright and kinda bland, however. I'll be replacing that at the very least. Sure, it's not the craziest finish Caparison offers. I already got that covered with my original Red Sunset TAT. However, I think it still looks pretty cool. I was actually trying to buy a Snow Cloud model, but the stupid fucks from Ishibashi wouldn't respond to my email (I even wrote it in both English and Japanese), so I picked this Scarab model up.

 

[tekbow]

I'm still reaonably new, so going to keep an open mind, these have been getting good press in guitarist etc.

hows the build quality and craftsmanship in general? quality of the wood?

 

[Code001]

I'm still reaonably new, so going to keep an open mind, these have been getting good press in guitarist etc.

hows the build quality and craftsmanship in general? quality of the wood?

Same as a high quality Jackson, Ibanez or ESP. I'd say Suhr, Anderson and Tyler are a step above, but you're also paying more for that premium. The new prices aren't worth it, but you can get some good deals on these used, and for the used price, I think they're great guitars.

 

[cyndicate]

Grats on the purchase! how are the necks on the Horus? I had a TAT II previously and that neck was Fat.

 

[tekbow]

It looks stunning actually, again another guitar that gold hardware stands out on. the new prices on these do seem high (not suhr high), i think we have a few dealers in the uk for them, i think guitar guitar in edinburgh keeps them, i migh check one out.

Is the company newish or does it come from an established brand?

 

[Anonymous]

Contrary to EWSEthan's experience, I did not have to pay a single cent in customs fees despite it coming from the same shipping company and going through the exact same customs hub.

I have bought three guitars from Japan and they all came directly to my house without me having to fill out any forms or pay any customs fees...

However, when I recently bought a used Cameron CCV from a guy in London, I had to badger the UK shipper to give me the name of their "US agent", who never contacted me to tell me they had my amp awaiting customs importation. I had to hire the US agent as my customs agent, fill out several forms that required me to give out my SS# and provide scans of the actual card. My amp sat around for 5 days while this company took their sweet time getting my amp to me. I paid $176 in customs fees, however, with the customs agents own fees and other random bullshit fees I paid $316 to "import" a used, AMERICAN-MADE amp. Fucking pain in the ass, stupid expensive and just completely wrong to me...

I'd love someone to explain why the complete difference in my experience between Japan and UK???

Oh yeah, nice guitar, btw... Not into gold hardware though myself...

Steve

 

[Motorpud]

Nice score Tom I LOVE Caparisons. I've been meaning to pick one up for a while but I just haven't gotten one yet, I will for sure have one in the future though

 

[Digital Jams]

The base plate of the Floyd looks very simular to the one on my Hamer, very thick and the same shape.

Congrats!

 

[jonny toetags]

Nice Horus!
And no...I love 'em.
I still miss my Snow Cloud

I had replaced both pickups and also installed a 3 way switch.

 

[Code001]

Grats on the purchase! how are the necks on the Horus? I had a TAT II previously and that neck was Fat.

Thanks man. Yeah, the neck is medium-ish. It's actually thicker than my original TAT and a little less of the sharp D shape that my TAT has. The Caparison neck shape changes constantly, so it's kinda hard to compare models when the years are so far apart. This one is a 2007, and my TAT is a 1996. It's actually just a tad thicker than my ESP M-II's "Thin U" neck. I think the recent M-IIs are using the "Extra Thin U" today, though. I can't remember.

It looks stunning actually, again another guitar that gold hardware stands out on. the new prices on these do seem high (not suhr high), i think we have a few dealers in the uk for them, i think guitar guitar in edinburgh keeps them, i migh check one out.

Is the company newish or does it come from an established brand?

They've been an official company since 1995, but the main luthier has been in the scene for a long time and worked for Jackson over in Japan. Just to give you an idea as to how much it was, it was under $1500 shipped from Japan to Florida, USA. That's like £1000ish, and that's actually a somewhat average used price. If you're willing to hold off (and if the guys will respond to you), you can get some good deals used by checking Digimart's site.

http://www.digimart.net/dsearch/dsearch.do

 

[Code001]

Wow, a barrage of replies! Thanks a ton, guys. I'm surprised nobody has posted the infamous elf shoe yet!

sah5150 - It seems like a crapshoot. EWSEthan bought a Kotzen Tele from Japan, and it was shipped via EMS and went through the JFK hub. That's the exact same route my guitar took, but he had to pay customs fees. He lives in NJ, so that might have something to do with it... Oh, and they have these in both Gold and Black hardware.

 

[Jay Strange]

The Caparison Angelus is a KILLER guitar! I think Caparison's are very cool guitars.
I have a Angelus FS only because I am a Les Paul guy no way around it.
For low tuning heavy stuff it's hard to beat.
Build quality is great IMHO and unique.
Congrats dude

 

[tekbow]

mmm, i do like the gold a lot, think i'd stick with it, whats the colour?

 

[Motorpud]

Wow, a barrage of replies! Thanks a ton, guys. I'm surprised nobody has posted the infamous elf shoe yet!

Dude, I love the elf shoe, that's my favorite part of the guitar

 

[Code001]

mmm, i do like the gold a lot, think i'd stick with it, whats the colour?

It's called Scarab. They have quite a few finishes to choose from:

http://www.caparison.jp/caparison-eng/e ... horus.html
http://www.caparison.jp/caparison-eng/e ... smfef.html

The Snow Cloud is a discontinued finish, along with Iris Violet and a few others I can't remember.

 

[mrp5150]

Looks sweet Tommy. If that's a stock BH-IIR, it's not a terrible pickup. I think the PH-R sounds better, but both are nice IMO. The new Custom Line Horus and Dellinger models and the TAT Specials are the best looking guitars they've ever made IMO. I can't wait to see some more pics of them when dealers start getting them in stock.

 

[Code001]

I'm too poor to afford the new ones. ;_; I did play the new Angelus FR over in Japan last week or so, and it was pretty tits. I'd really like an Angelus, but I'll probably get a Les Paul as my next guitar.

 

[mrp5150]

Yeah, those new ones are way too expensive. It's a shame though, because they look epic. I love the sponge finishes as much as anyone, but I've been waiting for them to put figured maple tops on the Horus and Dellinger for years. I love how Itaru listens to what the players want and he always seems to deliver. Next step would be for them to open the custom shop to the public, although that seems doubtful.

 

[Motorpud]

Looks sweet Tommy. If that's a stock BH-IIR, it's not a terrible pickup. I think the PH-R sounds better, but both are nice IMO. The new Custom Line Horus and Dellinger models and the TAT Specials are the best looking guitars they've ever made IMO. I can't wait to see some more pics of them when dealers start getting them in stock.

Whoa......

 

[shred-o-holic]

That looks sweet!!