Grote Guitars 7-string semi-hollow single cutaway with ceramic humbuckers and a laminate flame maple top, finished in transparent red and made in China circa 2014. This peculiar thing is a product of China's operation Grote Guitars, which is possibly one of the worst names we've heard yet. Thankfully, this one was spared from a headstock logo so it can be whatever you like instead, a Smeg or BMW perhaps? Whichever path you choose, at heart it's a jazz-box with extended range. This one comes with some pretty humble specs at the price point. You get a three-piece mahogany cutaway body with a set-neck style join. The carve on the join feels natural and comfy, which makes reaching those high frets pretty easy, even on the 7th string. The neck's an intuitive slim U profile and with a modern 12' radius you've got fast extended range on tap. The pickups are the stock ceramic 7-pole humbucker bridge and neck, which sound reasonably good and LP-style controls for independent volume and tone. Plugged in, you get warmth in abundance, which really reinforces those extended lows. The highs are balanced are airy, mids are clear with just a little bite with the bottom-end taking centre-stage. It gets a pretty thick and gooey clean tone, enjoys various degrees of drive, and with some truely high gain, chugs and wails just like you'd expect. Metal-heads will hate its appearance, and jazzers can't use the notes they already have responsibly. Are you somewhere in the middle of this twisted Venn diagram?

Model: Grote Guitars 7-String Semi-Hollow HH Single-Cut
Made: China, 2014 approx.
Finish: transparent red, blonde flame maple top, gloss poly
Body: three-piece and chambered mahogany, flame maple veneer top with f holes; single cutaway
Neck: two-piece mahogany, slim D profile, tapered set-neck join; rosewood fretboard, 24.75" scale, 12' radius, 22 jumbo nickel frets; 47.25mm nut width; 62.5mm at 12th fret
Weight: 3.38kg
Mods: upgraded to black Gotoh SG360-07 tuners
Pickups: 2 x ceramic humbuckers
Controls: 2 x volume; 2 x tone; 3-way switch
Accessories: none (may we recommend one of these Mono-style padded bags?)

Cosmetic condition notes: used guitar with minor wear. Starting at the headstock we have minor flea bites in the finish around the finish and light scratches on the front face. There are a few light scratches and dimples on the rear face and a very light scuff on the top edge. Down the neck is smooth with some very light scuffs you can feel beyond the 15th fret. No visible damage to the fretboard or frets. On the front of the body there is nothing of note besides very faint surface scratches and play wear on the guard. Around the sides there are light scratches with a dent in the elbow area and scuffs in the jack area. On the back we have some biggers scratches and scuffs and widespread light scratches. There are a few dimples around the edges. Overall, it's pretty tidy!
Very good condition (8/10)

Playing Condition Notes: Action is low, neck is straight, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electronics tested and working properly. Wearing fresh 10-56 strings.
Fret Life: 8/10, minor wear only