The Bullfighter Guitar finally arrived today, braving a snowstorm and a detour at a UPS hub. Despite the shipping box bearing a rather alarming hole and minimal internal protection beyond the gig bag, the guitar itself emerged unscathed. Unboxing it after dinner brought a few surprises, as it differed slightly from the online listing. The tuner buttons were black instead of the expected white, and the string posts followed suit in black. A welcome surprise, however, was the battery access door on the back – a feature not mentioned in the description. Regrettably, the promised capo was absent, but thankfully, I have spares aplenty.
Initial setup checks revealed passable intonation, action, and neck relief straight out of the box. Attempting to adjust the truss rod proved somewhat limiting, yielding only about .005 inches of movement. Despite this, the guitar plays comfortably without any noticeable fret buzz or high frets.
The bridge appears to be in good condition, although I’ll be vigilant for any signs of lifting, a recurring issue highlighted in several online reviews. The factory strings remain untouched for now, and the included “economy extra set” will likely remain unused. The fret ends, however, are another story. A brief playing session left my hand feeling quite raw – they will definitely require attention to smooth out the sharpness, earning them a rather unflattering “cheese shredder” descriptor.
Contrary to some reports suggesting the Bullfighter is a heavy instrument, my scale reads a comfortable 6 1/2 pounds. The finish is visually appealing, and the neck feels comfortable in hand. The nut width, measured at 1 13/16ths inches, is slightly narrower than the advertised 1 3/4 inches, which is a minor discrepancy.
Sound-wise, further exploration is needed. My initial attempt through an acoustic amplifier was underwhelming. However, plugging into my Fender Deluxe Reverb yielded a much more pleasing tone. Of course, the Deluxe Reverb tends to flatter most guitars!
Overall, my first impressions of the Bullfighter guitar are positive. Only extended playing time will truly reveal its strengths and weaknesses, but for now, I’m intrigued and looking forward to spending more time with it.
