DBZ / Diamond Guitars ROYFM-BC Premier Series Electric Guitar, Black Cherry

Very thin, very light, very well made with beautiful scrape binding (which beats plastic binding any day of the week IMO), very good hardware, very decent stock pickups though no coil split like in the bigger Imperial (which you should also get), a very playable soft-v-neck, like all the DBZs - just a great guitar, a joy to look at and to play.The headstock on mine is the 2012-or-prior version (as pictured). After the departure of the name-sake founder (a genius guitar designer, responsible for some classics, and the Royale will be another one, I am sure) sometime in 2012, DBZ added the Diamond moniker for 2013 and switched to a plainer (actually better looking IMO) headstock. The flame black cherry finish is not very light but not as dark as e.g. a Schecter black cherry finish - you can easily see the flame finish.

When I saw the design for this guitar I knew I had to have one. It is very light about 7lbs maybe less, and with the arched top and back it is very thin at the edge and when playing while using a strap standing it is really comfortable. The pickups are surprisingly good and I am able to get a very good variety of tones. Also for a light guitar it has the sustain of a much heavier guitar, it gets that warm mahogany maple top sound with good pick sensitivity. The back cherry finish reminds me of a Gibson L5S that I used to own very dark but I like it. I have to admit this guitar has taken me by surprise and I will most likely buying another one In a different finish.