We already know Gary Levinson's work on these Swiss guitars. All our test-bench experiences show us solid, well-made guitars that rank among the most competitive on the market. Also well known is the distinctive VSC system on Blade guitars, a technological addition that adds attack and color to their pickups.
Design, body and electronics
It's more than obvious where the creative origin of this design lies: the body and concept of the instrument are identical to those of the Stratocaster. Contoured edges to avoid discomfort in the strumming forearm and an inner curve for a better fit against the body, exactly in line with the Fender model mentioned. At a glance you can see some details that set it apart from the Strat, such as the VSC switch, the piece inlaid at the start of the fingerboard and the headstock design characteristic of Blade guitars.
The layout of the output jack, pots and 5-way pickup selector, as well as the number (3) and type of pickups (single coil), are likewise along those lines.
The neck joint has a personality of its own and the overall finish is excellent. This model is sold in different finishes and, as you can see in the photos, this time we have a "pastel blue" lacquer.
Although we've already mentioned the features of the VSC system in other reviews, it's worth underlining, as it adds entirely new electronic and sonic elements compared with the classic visual design on which it's based. Likewise, it's worth noting the effectiveness of its floating bridge, as added value for the price.
Our impressions and the sound
As always with Blade, the feeling when you pick up the guitar is one of solidity, a sturdy guitar. That idea always appeals to me because it conveys reliability. Perhaps it's tied to my feeling of stability and of holding a dependable instrument. By dependable I mean it won't leave you hanging in terms of tuning or when you ask it for sounds. This is very important, because playing an instrument when you don't know how it will respond, or one that has some kind of problem, takes concentration away from your playing and diverts it to avoiding "bad vibes," both live and in the studio. Nailing perfect takes, with feeling and that really communicate, requires the guitarist to be comfortable and totally immersed in what they're doing, and if the guitar "gets in the way," it shows.
I gave this explanation to try to convey those good vibes from the Blade in terms of "reliability," the concept I used at the start of the paragraph.
Even without VSC, the guitar would be powerful. My first test-bench steps were to test the instrument "dry," that is, without the VSC engaged, going through the pickup selector from position 1 to 5. The range of timbres and tones is similar to a Strat's, starting with the selector down, in the highs, and moving up to the darker tones, except for position 5 which, as on the Fender, gives a full-bodied, thick but sharp and cutting sound. Now comes the VSC system, adding variables to each tone and richly expanding each of the positions you'd find on another guitar.
As with the other guitars I test, I like to play takes through a slightly overdriven tube sound, looking for lots of body in every note but with a good level of definition and, above all, with special attack if I "pinch" the string or go for a harmonic. For me, this setup is ideal, because you have a good range of resources for an expressive solo. The highest selector position (5) is the one I like most for this kind of sound, especially with the VSC on top. The guitar gave me exactly what I was looking for.
Next, I ran the tests with distortion and found the same thing, body and definition, in the brighter positions, plus another element I find attractive: the instrument's natural sustain. This second characteristic makes it easier to sustain notes and, above all, to produce harmonics, feedback and tonal variations as notes decay (when called for).
The third part of the test, complementing the previous ones, is to look for versatility in arpeggios or rhythm parts. Going through the thinnest sounds and, by contrast, the thickest, to see how the instrument would respond in different sessions. Once again I concluded that it's a complete instrument, given the good results.
Conclusions
For some time now, because of its quality, I've had a soft spot for this company. It's an interesting option that combines many of the excellent qualities of a Stratocaster®, keeping a classic line as well, but with Blade's own technological innovation. The instrument handles our demands decisively and has the three most important things: body, sparkle and attack. You have to consider its price to understand that, although some things could be refined, such as the body wood, moving to exquisite materials, etc... to get a good product at an accessible price, certain things have to be sacrificed. So, in conclusion, I think that for the retail price of this instrument we get a perfect combination of materials and sounds, which sums up to it being, as I said at the start, one of the guitars competing most fiercely on the market.