Cool Z ZSG-1, cherry finish, made in Japan in 2012. Cool Z is a house brand for major Japanese instrument chain Shimamura, who have stores all over Japan. They're made at the legendary Fujigen Gakki plant, the very same factory that made all those famous Fender Japan guitars from 1982-96, the famed Epiphone Japan models from the mid 2000s as well as producing Ibanez Prestige and other tasty biscuits to this day. This is based off the classic 1961 style Gibson SG Standard, so it's got a bound board, trapezoid inlays and the 4-ply half guard. First up, the finish is amazing. The two-piece, tightly grained mahogany body is stained to a rich cherry hue and then finished in a thin satin 'TV style' open pore clear coat, so the subtleties of the grain are on full display as the catch the light. The finish style also allows the timber to breathe and keeps the weight down, so this feels amazingly alive in the hands. The neck is a fairly chunky tapered shape, similar to the Gibson '61 Reissue models, and again, it feels very responsive in the hands. The tone on offer is awesome: the neck pickup sings with brightness and clarity, with a percussive punch and a gooey low end, while the bridge pickup growls like a well tuned engine and offers sparkling note separation on even the densest chords. This one will scare USA made offerings at three or four times the dime, it's very good indeed. So coolz, rightz?

Model: Cool Z ZSG-1
Made: Japan, 2012, Fujigen plant (serial C121959)
Finish: cherry, thin TV-style open-pore poly
Body: mahogany, two-piece centre join
Weight: 2.975kg
Neck: mahogany, rosewood board, 24.75" scale, 12" radius,'43mm nut, '61 style taper
Mods: none
Pickups: History BH-1n/b humbucker x2
Case: basic hard case

Cosmetic condition notes: minor finish wear. The headstock is pretty clean, no major marks. The neck is clean and smooth in the hands, minor rub wear on the back only. The back has no major marks, just some scuffs near the cavity and some dimples in the elbow area. The sides have no major marks, just some rub wear in the elbow area and some dimples on the back edge near the jack. The front has some rub wear in the elbow area and some light play scuffs on the guard and horns. Overall: excellent condition (9/10)

Playing condition notes: Neck is straight, action is low, intonation is good, truss rod works. All electrics tested and working properly. The frets have minimal wear, 9/10 for fret life left. No headstock breaks. Setup with fresh 10/52 Moonshiners strings.