It is my understanding that international shipment via ocean cargo, and reduction of handcraft manufacturing facilities due to COVID, continue to put stress on companies such as IYV, and I am happily assured with my IYV investment in a finely handcrafted guitar, made in Vietnam (not China!).

IYV Guitar | Reverb IYV Guitar | Reverb

I’ve owned an IYV 8-string lap steel for several years now. The build and tone are excellent! The company informed me that it was built as a prototype for the 2013 NAMM convention in California. Thank you for an excellent new guitar, IJZ-300 semi-hollow copy of the very expensive Gibson ES175D.But what could one do, should he or she decide to branch out a bit? What lesser-known brands might be worthy of exploring? There’s nothing wrong with the Strats and Les Pauls of the world. However, if you want to explore something you’re far less likely to see other people playing, there are some fantastic options available. In fact, there are far too many to count.

IYV Jazz 2021 Tobacco Burst | Reverb IYV Jazz 2021 Tobacco Burst | Reverb

All these guitars are made by hand, which means you’re getting an instrument that’s entirely unique. That’s a lot of value, especially when you’re getting parts you’d be inclined to mod into other guitars that don’t have them. Diamond Guitars saves you the trouble, getting it all to you up front at an affordable price.

IYV ILS-300 EGR Les Paul Solid-Body Electric Guitar, Emerald Green The images in the ad are of my personal guitar. Your guitar will be factory sealed. What a lot of boutique guitar builders will do is take an established body shape, like the Tele, and use it to make their own version of a custom guitar. The guitar sports several components that were used for Dillion lap steels (which were built by IYV) including the roller nut, fully fretted fretboard, and the rosewood bridge. The greater share of guitar players, myself included, will see a lot of value in that. Plus, you know you’re getting something entirely unique that nobody else will own.