I own both the ST-Modern HH Plus, and this non-plus version. This is to comment on both models as a comparison, and with that context. But I'm focusing on this particular guitar.
PROS:
*The out of box feel and playability are very good. Nice set up and action for the most part -- even better than expected.
*The looks are flawless. Great finish on the neck and body.
*The neck looks incredible and feels at least as good as it looks. ZERO issues. The fret ends are not sharp.
*The design is seriously cool. I'm glad that it's inspired by a guitar we all love, but that it's unique and fun, yet still simple. Two beefy pickups with a tone pot and volume knob? Yes! Add the push/pull split that you can either use or ignore? Absolutely, yes!
*Great hardware and specs -- impressive. The bridge is one of the best things to rest my hand on. Haha but really. High quality bridge and saddles. All the way.
*Very nice tones -- both dirty and clean. Nice and full and rich.
*Nice strings
NOT CONS, but things to comment on: the frets aren't highly polished, but they are playable. I don't have any issue with this. The output jack isn't super solid, but it's functional. The string trees are pretty basic. Rollers would be better, but I can easily upgrade them myself for next to nothing. The split tones could be better. Honestly, though, who buys a guitar like this to play single coil tones? I have more traditional layouts for that. It's still a cool added feature. A treble bleed circuit would be awesome. Maybe I'll install one.
Overall, I really have a hard time believing I got this guitar for so little money. Compared to the PLUS, I think they both have their place and roles. I think this is a great alternative if you want to save a few bucks. But, the PLUS has a lot of added value and specs, so maybe get both. Use this for a backup, or for sketchy gigs and use the PLUS in the studio? It's up to you, but you can't really go wrong with either guitar. I will say the QC was best on this one, vs. the PLUS. But, that doesn't mean everyone will share that experience.
