Reviews


Necroliterati on 07/09/2022 Purchased: SALVUS - 6 String, 27" Baritone, Evertune, Black
My buddy bought a very similarly equipped Solar guitar G-type baritone with Evertune and Fishman's a couple months ago and once we dialed in the amps it was just brutal, so naturally I had the gas. After scouring the web for a similar guitar, weighing the pros and cons of my top choices I decided to go with this Halo Salvus baritone 6 string and I am impressed.
This guitar has the best first fret sound/feel of any guitar I've ever played, which is important for the 0's and 1's of modern metal lol. Access to the 24th fret is the most comfortable thing as well. I may actually start playing leads again because of it. I'm in love with the Evertune system and palm mutes are just as easy as with any other bridge. Once I dialed in my rig with this guitar the riffs just started flowing. Inspirational to say the least. I have complete confidence in purchasing a custom shop Halo guitar and plan to do so in a few months.
  • Overall Rating5
Tony Koussa on 07/01/2022 Purchased: SALVUS - 6-string, 25.5" Scale, Evertune, Natural
Nice guitar. Great company to work with. Communication was great.
  • Overall Rating5
Johnny Faison on 07/01/2022 Purchased: SALVUS - 6-string, 25.5" Scale, Evertune, Natural
I have dealt with the best in the Guitar and Bass business. I have had over 300 instruments in my career and am a collector who knows when things are done right. The service and communication that I got was exceptional all the way to getting the guitar and truly appreciate the quality and professional packagig. Now let's get to guitar! First WOW!! What a gorgeous guitar and checking over the quality fit and finish to find perfection?? I can't find any flaws?
Frets dressed and polished set up was excellent. Fishman and Evertune. I am in heaven! This is a class outfit and I am sure to be back again. For now I can't put it down! Great guitar, great price, great people and great shipping, what else is there? Oh yeah the guitar sounds great too!
Thanks,
Johnny Faison
  • Overall Rating5
Justin Thigpen on 06/28/2022 Purchased: INVERTED - 6-String, Baritone, Multiscale, Hipshot, BKP
Best guitar I've ever owned or played, hands down. I can't find one single thing to complain about. I was contacted multiple times to ensure I was satisfied with my order and to make sure my guitar was setup to my liking. Top that off with the masterful craftsmanship and the amazing customer service and you have a winning operation.
  • Overall Rating5
Nick G. on 06/18/2022 Purchased: SALVUS - 6-string, Wilkinson, Fluence, Natural
Excellent guitar. Customer service was fantastic!
  • Overall Rating5
Lucy on 06/13/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Guitars - Customization Tool
It's a phenomenal instrument. Couldn't be more pleased with it. Fits beneath my fingers the way you'd expect a guitar built just for you would do, and there is magic in the bridge pick-up especially.

Communication was sparse and delayed. A more functional updates page or more frequent updates would help during the long build process, just to allay any fears or worries.
  • Overall Rating5
David M. on 05/24/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Guitars - Customization Tool
Ordered a custom 7 string... Halo did a great job. Completely worth every penny, and does exactly what I wanted it to. I'm honestly surprised at how good it is. Pinch harmonics are unique on it, I think because of the way the pickups are spaced and the length/scale of the neck. They take a lighter touch than I'm used to, but there's an extra kind of resonance that I haven't really heard before. Everything else is perfect. Switching between pickups clean shows the range of tone it's capable of (bareknuckle black dogs). Love the 7 string 27 fret range as well. Sustain and resonance are great (string through). Sings like nothing I've heard with the neck pickup, and screams with the bridge distorted. Action and neck speed are amazing. Smooth finish on the neck is incredible. And it stays in tune. Seriously 10x better than any Les Paul, ESP MH, or anything else I've ever played and has the best of both worlds. I can tell the bridge is cheapish. Will probably replace it.
  • Overall Rating4
Robby Betlejewski on 05/22/2022 Purchased: SALVUS - 6 String, 27" Baritone, Evertune, Black
The product specs are all exactly what any modern guitarist could be looking for! The customer service was fast and extremely helpful and friendly! The guitar was shipped in perfect condition and was very safely packaged. Not to mention it also played PHENOMENALLY right out of the box! Jeff was an amazing help through the ordering process!
  • Overall Rating5
Grady Pursel on 05/19/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Guitars - Customization Tool
I received my guitar after a little over 2 years of being given multiple new estimated dates that kept falling through. I understand that unexpected things happen but I think that saying you will reach out to your customer on a certain date to give updates and then silence for weeks or months after said date has passed only to give them a new date and have that repeat is kind of ridiculous. I'm understanding of the COVID situation but I had this same issue a few years before with my previous guitar I ordered so I know this isn't the root of the problem.

The neck pickup on my guitar ended up breaking not too long after receiving the guitar but thankfully I was told I'm still under warranty. I am however at the 4 month mark of waiting for an update on that and have messaged them at the 2 and 3 month marks respectively without any response. I'm assuming that they will eventually send me one but I don't know if it'll be in a month or next year.
  • Overall Rating3
Christian Mayfield on 05/12/2022 Purchased: SALVUS - 6 String, 27" Baritone, Evertune, White
Ordered the Salvus Baritone after drooling over it for so long. Couldn’t stress enough how much this guitar has exceeded my already high expectations. The neck is insanely smooth, the Evertune lives up to its name, the pickups are incredibly versatile, and the craftsmanship is beyond words. Couldn’t be happier and looking forward to the next one.
  • Overall Rating5
I own two halo merus 7 string guitars now and am not looking back on anyone else when it comes to extended range guitars. I’ve been playing for 30 years and professionally for 16. You name it and I have played it for the most part. I was going back to esp for a group of new guitars for a new project i play for called Bury the Witness. Don’t know why I did but I swerved at the last second and bought two halos on a whim. Boy I’m glad I did. The craftsmanship is the best it can get and the tone on all of them is unreal. Pound for pound halo smashes ever other company for build quality to money ratio hands down. If you’re on the fence just jump in and buy it, you’re not gonna get let down believe me. Peace
Lee Lee Lee
  • Overall Rating5
Nick Giambruno on 05/04/2022 Purchased: SALVUS - 6 String, 27" Baritone, Evertune, White
Guitar was packaged very well. No dents or dings from shipping. Fret edges are incredibly smooth, and no sprouting at all. Couldn't find any dead or buzzing frets, and the polish on the frets was the most impressive thing I noticed. Intonation was spot on, and neck relief was great. The evertune was also set up and tuned before it was sent, which is always nice. Great job on this one guys!
  • Overall Rating5
Chubba on 05/02/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Bass - Customization Tool
Wanted to believe...
So when I ordered this 5 string short scale bass 2 and half years ago, as nobody was making this type of instrument, which they now do.
It appealed to me to have a custom bass made, thinking customization was taking place in California, but it doesn't seem to be the case.
Three months ago made final payment, being told everything was finished, only to find out it wasn't.
It turns out my custom pickguard comes from overseas as well?? and has been delayed due to lockdowns.
Honestly, I would have thought that they would have been able fabricate it at their facility.

Keep in mind I never badgered them as to when it would be complete, so when they said they are ready to ship it, and don't because it has issues to be resolved,
and the months go by, it starts to concern me, hence the review.

*** Hi Chubba - we only perform final fret work, component assembly, and setups in our California shop. Everything else is done at our factory in China (as mentioned on our FAQ page https://www.haloguitars.com/store/FAQ.html). We strive to offer very high customization and to deliver the highest build quality we can. This can sometimes result in lengthy delays and we apologize, but we are working hard every day to do better. - Halo Custom Guitars ***

  • Overall Rating1
Tom Cline on 05/02/2022 Purchased: MERUS - 7 String, Poplar Burl, Fluence, Evertune
Amazing instrument, and outstanding customer service. Will certainly do business again with Jeff and Halo guitars.
  • Overall Rating5
Matt D. on 04/26/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Guitars - Customization Tool
The guitar came in on Friday night and I haven’t set it down since! Lovely work on the neck and it plays very smoothly. It is simply amazing! Thank you so much for the guitar!
  • Overall Rating5
Verified Customer on 04/26/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Guitars - Customization Tool
It would be nice if they were quicker... however it sounds and plays amazing, so I can honestly say it was worth the wait! Thank you so much!
  • Overall Rating4
the guitar is in good condition, would recommend. one thing halo could improve is giving more color options to the customer,althoug there is a customize tool,the price gets very high,i wanted the salvus baritone guitar in black gloss finish but halo only have it in black satin,so i used the customization tool to change the finish but the price was of 3500 dollars instead of the 1300 that cost the in stock black satin finish
  • Overall Rating5
Brattynn Thompson on 04/16/2022 Purchased: MERUS - 7-String, 27'' Scale, Evertune, Juggernauts
My Merus 7 is the nicest guitar I own currently. The quality is outstanding and the instrument plays wonderfully. I can find nothing wrong with this instrument functionally or aesthetically. It was a great experience buying from Halo. The folks over there keep you informed about everything during the entire process. I can’t wait to do business with them again!
  • Overall Rating5
Violet Breslin on 04/12/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Guitars - Customization Tool
The custom guitar I received from Halo is absolutely beautiful and feels perfect in my hands. I don't think I've ever been more satisfied with a purchase, and I've never held a guitar like this before. Every detail is precise and the woodwork and paint and everything is just stunning to look at and feel. Just overall a spectacular job. I honestly feel any critique I could make is ultimately acceptable given the nature of their work and the quality of the product they produce. They're well worth the wait and every penny spent.
  • Overall Rating5
Jeremiah Michels on 04/08/2022 Purchased: MERUS - 6-string, Claro Walnut Burl, Hannes, Natural
Beautiful instrument. Quality is on par with much more expensive guitars. Great communication. Would definitely do business with this company again.
  • Overall Rating5
Dustin Judice on 04/05/2022 Purchased: MERUS - 7 String, Poplar Burl, Fluence, Evertune
Great dealer. Beautiful guitar
  • Overall Rating5
Jeff Mitchell on 03/30/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Guitars - Customization Tool
I ordered a right-handed six string Altus w/ Alumitone Lace Sensors and a Dimarzio Crunchlab pickup at the bridge, custom vine inlays in the neck, clear finish, neck-thru construction & black hardware. The guitar is absolutely beautiful and of the highest quality construction. After playing it for about 10 days I've found the tonal range and tones within that range extremely satisfying and versatile; the cleans are crisp and ringing, the overdriven tones and distortion tones are deliciously meaty with clearly defined tonal core (a very slight intonation adjustment on my part was required to really dial in the nice tight tonal core - an adjustment I'd chalk up to personal preference). Overall I'd say I am extremely pleased with the instrument.

For the most part I'd say Halo was good to deal with, Jeff was always an email away. If I could offer a friendly critique of anything about Halo I'd simply say that you guys may be so close to so many beautiful custom built instruments that the "unique special place" a buyer holds for their custom build, might be getting forgotten. For most of us any one-off custom build of anything is a very special occurrence. We want to be involved as much as possible. I know that catering to every customer's desire to constantly get updates and make changes would seriously undermine Halo's ability to through-put its production.

Here's what I would suggest: monetize the option for customers to receive a photo and/or video record of their custom build, and include 2 in-build customer reviews where the customer gets to review and approve the build's progress. Many people who have something custom built will gladly pay an additional premium for this value-added option. Halo need only determine its cost to provide this service, devote an employee (or employees to this function) and decide what kind of mark-up they want for providing the service. Make more off the instruments you're building anyway, and improve Halo's customer interaction.

I would have paid a premium to have a permanent record of the build's set-by-set progress, photos of the builders, etc. to show-off in addition to the instrument itself, and I would have felt more personally involved in my very personal one-of-a-kind instrument. For instance I would have loved to have a record of the Halo paint guru's comments on the custom black-cherry pearl paint I used on build 8879 (Reckoner) when he got to use a new paint additive.

No complaints guys, just some hopefully helpful feedback - monetize the cumbersome add-on services your customers want and get paid for the additional aggravation that those wants cause toward hampering your build through-put. Thanks again for a beautiful instrument.
  • Overall Rating5
Erik Hicks on 03/25/2022 Purchased: SALVUS - 6 String, 27" Baritone, Evertune, White
Value for money is off the charts!
Superb workmanship (flawless as far as i can tell), Evertune bridge and Fishman Fluence pickups with rechargeable battery at this price point is just amazing.
The tele shape modernized with forearm bevel and tummy cut is a huge improvement above the traditional tele slab.
  • Overall Rating5
Thomas on 03/23/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Guitars - Customization Tool
Ordered a 6 string V style guitar with EMG active pickups. Playability of the guitar is a 9.2 as I had to make very minor adjustments to the the bridge. Very beautiful guitar but hard to admire unless under specific lighting as it is pretty dark.

I only get the perspective of the consumer and would prefer more communication, but I don't know the daily challenges of this business so I can't see all aspects. with an 18-35 month production turn around mistakes and details can get lost more easily. There were things forgotten in my build but I was accommodating and understanding of the situation. Part of the thought process behind paying extra money to designing a guitar was that I would get exactly what I wanted. For the price of upwards of 3,000 dollars there are a lot of guitars that are already very well built that play well, sound well, and are good to look at. The customization feature is what really sells going down this road, but with my experience it really was kind of a mystery of what I was getting until I opened the box.

Overall I am proud to have a Halo product and look forward to seeing this business grow and be successful. I have learned more about the process of guitar building, and am excited to do business in the future again.
Thomas Thomas
  • Overall Rating4
Verified Customer on 03/23/2022 Purchased: Halo Custom Guitars - Customization Tool
I’m in love no imperfections and brilliant finish. Would highly recommend to anyone looking for a touring guitar and a guitar with unique specs and a outstanding building tool
  • Overall Rating5