Monoprice 610261 Electric Guitar: Full Review

to the Monoprice Indio Classic Electric Guitar

The Monoprice Indio Classic is an entry-level electric guitar manufactured by Monoprice, a California-based company that specializes in budget gear and electronics. Monoprice is known for making affordable products available to musicians and other consumers.

This classic single-cutaway design electric guitar features a solid basswood body paired with a bolt-on maple neck and 22-fret rosewood fingerboard. It comes equipped with dual Monoprice humbucking pickups, which Monoprice states are designed to produce warm, rich tones suitable for blues, rock, and heavy metal. Hardware includes die-cast sealed tuning machines, a tune-o-matic bridge with stopbar tailpiece, and chrome metal knobs.

The Indio Classic aims to provide beginner guitarists with a quality instrument for learning and playing while remaining budget-friendly. Monoprice positions this model as an affordable alternative to more costly Gibson and Epiphone Les Paul-style guitars. While Monoprice is not primarily a musical instrument company, they focus on delivering good value. This review will go over the guitar's main features, sound, playability and hardware to determine if the Indio Classic lives up to its promise as a quality entry-level instrument.

Construction & Hardware

The Monoprice Indio Classic Electric Guitar features solid hardware and construction quality, especially considering its budget-friendly price point.

The body is made from basswood, which is known for being relatively lightweight while still providing good sustain and resonance. Basswood is a common choice for budget-friendly electric guitars as it keeps costs down without sacrificing tone.

The neck is crafted from maple, adding brightness, snap, and definition to the sound. Maple is also a durable, stable wood that provides a great foundation for the neck.

The fretboard is rosewood, which complements the maple neck nicely by adding some warmth and sweetness to the tone. Rosewood is an excellent fretboard material with smooth playability.

The hardware components seem rugged and well-made for a guitar at this price. The tuners, bridge, pickups and other parts appear to be decent quality that should hold up well. Overall, the Indio Classic looks to provide great construction and hardware value considering its accessible price point.

When examining the construction and hardware of an electric guitar like the Indio Classic, it can be useful to compare it to other popular models on the market. The Fender 970115021 is a comparable electric guitar from one of the most iconic brands. Looking at how the hardware and build quality compares can help evaluate if the Indio Classic punches above its weight class.

Like the Indio Classic, the Fender 970115021 features a basswood body and maple neck. Basswood provides good lightweight tone while maple offers brightness and stability. The fretboard on the Fender is laurel rather than rosewood. Laurel has similar warmth and playability to rosewood. Overall, the woods and construction seem on par between the two models.

Hardware-wise, both guitars have chrome tuners and a tremolo bridge system. The pickups on the Fender are alnico single-coils rather than ceramic pickups on the Indio. But both provide classic electric guitar tones. The hardware specs seem broadly equivalent despite the Fender's higher price tag.

When looking at build quality, the Fender may have a slight edge with its name-brand reputation. But the Indio Classic looks to deliver comparable construction and hardware for a fraction of the cost. While the Fender has brand cachet, the Indio gives you great value without cutting corners on quality.

Considering its budget-friendly pricing, the Indio Classic punches well above its weight class in terms of hardware and construction. While the Fender 970115021 retails for over 5 times more, the Indio holds its own in providing quality components and build. For beginning and intermediate players, the Indio is a great choice that doesn't sacrifice on tone and playability.

Sound & Tone

The Monoprice Indio Classic produces a very good sound and tone for its price range. The guitar features a basswood body, maple neck, and rosewood fretboard - all tonewoods that are known for providing balanced and articulate tone.

The pickups are Monoprice's own brand Humbuckers which are designed to be vintage voiced. They provide a warm, rich sound when played clean but also have enough output and mid-range to handle higher gain playing. The tone is not going to be as nuanced as boutique pickups but they perform well beyond expectations for stock pickups.

The electronics seem solid and allow for versatile tonal options between the neck pickup alone, bridge pickup, and both pickups together. There is a 3-way toggle switch to easily move between these configurations. Volume and tone knobs provide further tonal shaping.

Overall, the Indio Classic provides impressive sound and tone that belies its affordable price point. The combination of quality tonewoods and decent stock pickups gives it a full, balanced voice that works for various genres and playing styles. The Fender CC-60SCE 970153006 is another great affordable acoustic-electric guitar option worth considering. It has a solid spruce top with mahogany back and sides, which provides a balanced and warm tone. The guitar comes equipped with a Fishman preamp system that includes a built-in tuner, tone controls, and pickup for amplifying your acoustic tone. It's comfortable to play with its slim neck profile and cutaway body shape. The Fender CC-60SCE delivers great bang for your buck if you're looking for a quality acoustic-electric guitar on a budget. You can check out more details on this model here: Fender CC-60SCE 970153006.

Playability & Feel

The Monoprice Indio Classic electric guitar features a modern C-shaped neck profile that is comfortable and easy to grip. The neck is crafted from maple and has a smooth satin finish that allows for fast, slick movement up and down the fretboard.

The fretwork on the Indio Classic is very good for an instrument in this price range. The medium jumbo frets are nicely finished and polished, providing a smooth feel during bends and vibrato techniques. There were no sharp fret ends or uneven spots across the rosewood fretboard.

In terms of balance, the Indio Classic feels natural and comfortable when strapped on in playing position. The double cutaway body design allows easy access to the upper frets, aided by the smooth neck heel joint where the neck meets the body. The weight and thickness of the body is nicely balanced, not too heavy or too thin.

Overall the Indio Classic offers very good playability and feel for a sub-$150 electric guitar. The neck profile, fretwork, and body ergonomics come together to provide a comfortable and enjoyable playing experience even for long practice sessions. Intermediate players looking to upgrade from a beginner guitar should be pleased with the feel and playability factor.

Hardware & Components

The Monoprice Indio Classic electric guitar features quality hardware and components that punch above its price point.

Bridge

The guitar has a tune-o-matic style bridge with a stopbar tailpiece. This is a classic design used on many Gibson style guitars that provides stable tuning and intonation. The bridge itself is well constructed and sits securely in the body.

Tuners

It uses open gear tuners with a vintage look. They have a decent 18:1 tuning ratio for accurate tuning adjustments. The tuners are smooth and hold tune reliably.

Nut

The nut width is a comfortable and playable 43 mm. It is cut from black plastic which is typical for guitars in this price range. The slots are cut well and there are no major issues with string binding.

Strap Buttons

The Indio Classic comes equipped with two strap buttons - one at the bottom horn and one at the neck heel. They are mounted securely and work as expected for attaching a strap.

Aesthetics

The Monoprice Indio Classic Electric Guitar comes in several striking finish options including transparent blue, transparent red, transparent purple, and classic sunburst.

The transparent finishes allow the wood grain of the basswood body to show through for an attractive look. The colors are bold and eye-catching. For players who want a more traditional style, the vintage sunburst finish has an elegant, retro vibe.

The Indio Classic features a contoured body for comfort as well as a sleek double cutaway design for easy access to the higher frets. The headstock is G-Force style with straight string pull for increased sustain.

The chrome hardware including the bridge, tuners, and controls provide some nice reflective accents against the colorful body finishes. The single coil pickups also have a chrome cover.

Overall, the Monoprice offers several unique finishes and just enough styling points to give it some visual flair while still keeping a relatively straightforward and classy look. Players who want a guitar that stands out should be pleased with the aesthetics and finish options.

Accessories

The Monoprice Indio has all the essentials to get a beginner up and running. It comes with a 10-foot guitar cable so you can plug into an amp right out of the box. A basic nylon gig bag is also included to protect the guitar during transport and storage. While not a high-end padded case, the included gig bag gets the job done for protecting the guitar from dings and dust.

Several extras make this a very playable package for a beginner guitar. It comes with a pack of 3 guitar picks of varying thickness, allowing you to experiment with different pick feels and tones. An adjustable fabric strap is included as well, providing a comfortable way to stand and practice with the guitar. The addition of these key accessories alongside the guitar itself make this an excellent starter kit for new players.

Pros

The Monoprice Indio Classic electric guitar punches above its weight class in many regards despite the budget-friendly price tag. It features quality construction and hardware not often found on entry-level models.

• The basswood body and maple neck provide a solid, resonant, and balanced tone. The two single-coil pickups and one humbucker offer versatile tonal options from sparkling cleans to meaty distortion.

• The tremolo bridge stays in tune remarkably well even with heavy use. Tuning stability is impressive for this price point.

• The neck has a smooth, fast feel that facilitates quick lead playing and soloing. The C-profile neck is comfortable and accessible for most hand sizes.

• The guitar comes with sealed die-cast tuners that hold their tune through changes in temperature and humidity. No need to upgrade the hardware down the road.

• The fit and finish is clean and consistent, with smooth fret ends, quality electronics, and solid structural components. The quality control punches above other budget models.

• It includes a gig bag, strap, picks, and cable so new players have everything they need to start playing right out of the box.

• The classic double-cutaway style looks great on stage and complements many music genres from rock to blues to pop-punk.

Cons

The Indio Classic is a budget electric guitar, so it understandably has some drawbacks compared to more expensive models. Here are some of the main downsides to consider:

• The pickups are lower quality and can sound a bit muddy or noisy with distortion. Upgrading to higher quality pickups could significantly improve the guitar's tone.

• The tremolo bridge system is very basic and may not hold tune as well under heavy use. It also doesn't allow for fine tuning or adjusting string tension.

• The neck may benefit from more smoothing and finishing work. Some users report sharp fret ends and uneven frets that can cause playability issues.

• The tuning machines work adequately, but are unbranded and feel a bit flimsy. They may need to be replaced sooner than higher quality tuners.

• The overall hardware, electronics, and components are cost-cutting. While functional, they are prone to faster wear than premium components.

• The fit and finish lacks refinement. Tooling marks, uneven paint lines, and other small blemishes are not uncommon due to the low cost production.

• It's a fairly heavy guitar for its size and construction. Lower weight could improve comfort and playability during longer sessions.

• There are limited color and finish options. Customization potential is restricted compared to guitars with more options.

• The guitar may require more frequent maintenance and set-up work to play its best, compared to better made instruments.

Summary

The Monoprice Indio Classic is an affordable entry-level electric guitar that delivers impressive value for the price. It has a solid build quality with a basswood body, maple neck and rosewood fretboard. The pickups provide decent tone and versatility across a range of genres.

The playability is quite good out of the box, especially considering the budget price point. The slim neck profile and medium jumbo frets make it comfortable for both lead and rhythm playing. The hardware performs reliably, staying in tune nicely.

Visually, the Indio Classic has an elegant, minimalist style. The stylish white pickguard and vintage body shape give it some flair. It even comes bundled with a free gig bag, strap, picks and cable - a nice bonus for a beginner package.

Overall, the Monoprice Indio Classic punches above its weight class. The quality craftsmanship and array of appointments make this a great choice as a first electric guitar or solid backup option. It may lack the prestige of expensive models, but delivers impressive performance and reliability for the very reasonable price.

For guitarists on a strict budget or wanting to try out an electric before investing more, the Indio Classic is easy to recommend. While the tone may not blow away a discerning pro, it provides a solid platform for new players to learn and develop their skills.