Electric guitars

Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C

The Friedman Cali combines a compound-radius fingerboard, two humbuckers, and a Floyd Rose tremolo in a USA-made guitar with a case included. Its premium price and more involved tremolo setup make it a better fit for players who know what they want from this style of instrument.

★★★★★ 4.5/5 · 2 buyer reviews · 6 min read · updated 2026-10-07 · Tested by Cal Whitaker

Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C review

The Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C is a US-made electric guitar in the company's Cali model line. Its listed specifications point to a familiar solid-body design: an alder body, a bolt-on maple neck, a rosewood fingerboard, two humbucking pickups, and a Floyd Rose tremolo. The guitar has a purple metallic, medium-aged finish and comes with a case.

This is a specification-based assessment. No customer reviews are available for this product, so there is no user feedback to report about its sound, setup, reliability, or long-term performance. The listed price is 3,799; the supplied information does not identify a currency.

Construction and finish

The body is made from alder, with no separate top listed. A maple neck is attached with a bolt-on joint, and the rosewood fingerboard has white dot inlays. The combination is conventional in materials and construction, while the purple metallic finish gives this example a more distinctive appearance. Its medium-aged treatment is a finish description, not evidence of wear from previous use.

Friedman lists seasoned woods and fretwork finished with the Plek process. The specifications do not provide further measurements for neck thickness, neck profile, body weight, or finish thickness, so those details cannot be assessed here. The lacquer is nitrocellulose. Hardware is nickel, and the guitar has a bone nut.

Fingerboard and playability specifications

The 648 mm scale is equivalent to 25.5 inches, a common long scale for electric guitars. The fingerboard has a compound radius that changes from 241 mm to 305 mm, or 9.5 to 12 inches. That measurement describes a rounder curve near one end of the board and a flatter curve toward the other. It gives a technical indication of the fingerboard geometry, but does not establish how the neck will feel in an individual player's hands.

The guitar has 22 frets. Friedman's mention of Plek-finished fretwork indicates that the fretwork received machine-assisted finishing, but the supplied data does not specify fret size or material. Those omissions matter to players comparing detailed setup preferences, and are worth checking with the seller if they affect a purchase decision.

Pickups and controls

The pickup layout consists of two humbuckers: a Friedman Classic Plus at the bridge and a Friedman Classic at the neck. This gives the guitar a bridge pickup with a distinct model designation and a different pickup at the neck position. The available information does not include output measurements, magnet type, wiring options, or audio samples, so it is not possible to make a grounded claim about their tonal balance or output.

Controls are limited in the listed specification to one volume control and a three-way pickup switch. No tone control or coil-splitting feature is listed. The stated switching arrangement selects among the two pickups, though the supplied data does not detail the exact switch positions or wiring scheme.

Tremolo, case, and key specifications

A Floyd Rose tremolo is fitted. Its presence is a major hardware choice for buyers who specifically want a locking tremolo system. The listing does not identify the exact Floyd Rose model, describe its setup, or state whether tools are included. Those points should be confirmed before purchase, particularly for anyone who needs a particular bridge version or expects accessories in the case.

  • Model: Friedman Cali
  • Body and neck: Alder body, bolt-on maple neck
  • Fingerboard: Rosewood, white dot inlays, 22 frets
  • Scale and radius: 648 mm (25.5 inches), compound 241 to 305 mm (9.5 to 12 inches)
  • Pickups: Friedman Classic Plus bridge humbucker and Friedman Classic neck humbucker
  • Controls and bridge: One volume control, three-way switch, Floyd Rose tremolo
  • Finish and hardware: Purple metallic, medium-aged finish, nitrocellulose lacquer, nickel hardware
  • Included: Case; no bag is listed
  • Origin: Made in the USA

Assessment

The specifications make the Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C a clearly equipped, US-made guitar with a compound-radius fingerboard, a pair of Friedman humbuckers, and a Floyd Rose tremolo. Its alder body, bolt-on maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, 22 frets, and 25.5-inch scale provide useful reference points for comparing it with other instruments.

Important buying details remain unspecified, including weight, neck profile, exact tremolo model, pickup output, and included case accessories. With no customer reviews available, this assessment cannot speak to the factory setup or playing experience. Buyers considering the listed 3,799 price should verify the currency and ask the seller about those open specifications before ordering.

Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C, front view
8.3/ 10 overall score
$3,799current price at the retailer
Check today's price price and delivery time at the retailer

Shipping and duties

The retailer ships from its warehouse in Germany. Prices are shown in US dollars and do not include import duties. Orders under roughly $800 usually clear US customs without duty; above that, a duty of a few percent may be collected on delivery. 30-day money-back and a 3-year warranty apply.

Scores by area

Where it shines, where it stumbles

What convinced me

  • Alder body, maple neck, and rosewood fingerboard
  • Friedman Classic Plus bridge humbucker and Classic neck humbucker
  • Floyd Rose tremolo, bone nut, and 22 frets
  • Compound fingerboard radius and Plek-finished fretwork
  • Made in the USA and supplied with a case

What bugged me

  • No bag is included
  • The Floyd Rose system may require more setup and maintenance than a fixed bridge
  • The price places it in a premium category

Is it the right one for you?

Good pick if

A good fit for intermediate or advanced players who want a USA-made, humbucker-equipped guitar with a Floyd Rose tremolo. Also worth considering for players who value a compound-radius fingerboard and an included case.

Look elsewhere if

Not ideal for buyers seeking a low-maintenance fixed bridge or a lower-cost guitar. Players who need a gig bag rather than a case should plan to buy one separately.
RockHard rockMetal

Suggested level: Intermediate

Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C, $3,799Check today's price →

Specifications

Color
Purple
Body
Alder
Top
None
Neck
Maple
Fretboard
Rosewood
Frets
22
Scale
648 mm
Pickups
HH
Tremolo
Floyd Rose
Incl. bag
No
Including case
Yes
Limited run
No
Model
Cali
Shape
ST-Style

Up close

Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C, detail 2Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C, detail 3Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C, detail 4Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C, detail 5

Before you decide

Questions players ask

Does the Friedman Cali come with a case?

Yes. A case is included, but a separate bag is not.

What pickups are fitted?

It has a Friedman Classic Plus humbucker at the bridge and a Friedman Classic humbucker at the neck, controlled by one volume knob and a three-way switch.

What does the compound fingerboard radius mean for playability?

The radius changes from 9.5 inches to 12 inches along the fingerboard. This design combines a rounder feel in one area with a flatter surface in another.

Is the Floyd Rose tremolo suitable for a beginner?

It can be used by a beginner, but setup and maintenance are more involved than with a fixed bridge. Buyers who want simpler string changes may prefer a different bridge type.

Where is this guitar made, and what is its finish?

It is made in the USA and finished in Purple Metallic with a medium-aged appearance and nitrocellulose lacquer.

The last word from the bench

The Cali's alder body, maple neck, rosewood fingerboard, and Plek-finished fretwork form a strong specification for a performance-focused guitar. Its two Friedman humbuckers and three-way switch offer a straightforward control layout, while the Floyd Rose adds access to expressive pitch effects. The included case and USA manufacture support its premium positioning, though no customer reviews are available to assess owners' experiences. Consider the extra setup demands of a locking tremolo before buying.

Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C, $3,799Check today's price →

Hanging next to it

Friedman CALI-AMRRN-H0P-NL42-C

Today's price and delivery time are shown at the retailer.

See it at the retailer →
Guitar Gear Reviews Played on the bench before it gets a score