I own a Washburn Maverick and a “western-style” Abilene LP knockoff from the Indonesian plant. (Abilene is a discontinued Samick line.) The Maverick has Grovers and Tune-o-matic. The Abilene has the familiar PRC tuners and saddle-bridge: It’s a future “project guitar.” Fit and finish for each is quite beautiful. The Abilene and Maverick do seem to share the same pickups–better than average, generally, than those found on lower-end colleague electrics. Both guitars stay in tune quite well.

Dean and other such makers use Samick often, too. See “Indonesia” somewhere on a guitar?: it’s a Samick! More used guitars, featuring merely the Samick name and logo, pop up in GC, small independent-minded music stores, and pawn shops now, too. I saw one even with Floyd Rose installed. (Why the “coy” disguises with other makers’ names and logos, anyway!)

Samick is known also for its long-time Silvertone brand budget electrics (they still make those, too). I’ve been interested in GB Samick guitars for quite some time. I noted a used one (a humbucker “double-cut” LP-type) in GC–I was quite impressed–but so unfortunately short of dollars! Thanks for everyone’s attention here to the Malibu–I know now to consider that as a quite good Strat knockoff! I’ll purchase one someday, soon! (I was interested merely in pricier GB humbucker models before. No one here retails new GB (or, even Silvertone)–I must order and get it shipped. It’s a quality Samick, though–I “know without seeing!”)

Samick: They now fabricate most new electric guitars, an increasing number of quality new acoustic guitars, and they now own Steinway Piano (that’s mighty financial heft)!: What’s next? World domination?!

(Thanks to the thread initiator and to everyone who contributed here: You prove so enlgihtening about the Malibu! Guitarists and other musicians who focus endlessly upon others’ gear will carp–continually and all-too predictably–most never have owned (or even picked up) a Samick product, though! (The ’70s or 80s may have been the last time they picked up an import guitar. Lower-end and mid-level guitars, amps, and, certainly clever guitar-oriented tech have changed so much for the better since then–not to mention guitar fabrication!) I think that we know something now, all too well, though!: It’s really up to players to buckle-down and steadily improve–not to lose focus–questioning their instruments’ heritage! It’s time now for me to pick up, tune up, and practice on a Samick!)

Just came from Tower Grove Music here at Gravois Bluffs (MO) where I played a Malibu for the very first time. Been a musician, guitar player mainly, for over 45 years and bought a brand new 1963 Fender Strat for $360 back in the day, including the famous Fender red satin lined, rectangular case and clear “Bodyguard.”

Man! Even tho I still have a Strat in my studio (not the orig ’63 darn it!) I played this Malibu guitar for almost 2 and a half hours and didn’t want to put it down! Afterwards, as I walked out to my car I realized my fingers didn’t feel any different than when I first picked it up. What a guitar!

I played about every style of music there is from blues to rock to country to even a little jazz. Like I told the fella’ at Tower, this guitar did everything I asked it to do and did it effortlessly! I played through a Roland 40 which in and of itself, is a pretty good amplifier but this guitar really performed.

Soon as I can, I’m adding this one to my collection of great guitars!

I been playing guitar for about 15 years now, Mostly I play some blues and Rock over my Marshall amp,
I have Gibson ES355, fender stratocaster 69, and squier bullet series on my studio. And I think I play the malibu more often then any of my guitar (I beat the guitar the hell out, and have change the tremolo arm 5 times, change the midle pick-up with lace-sensor blue). the malibu just have the feel and warm of it own. I try to find a review on the net, and find almost zero review on it. And when I see this review, I just can help it to give two thumbs up!!!!!