Friedman CALI-SCMRN-Q0O-NQ42-BBL

Friedman CALI-SCMRN-Q0O-NQ42-BBL review

The Friedman CALI-SCMRN-Q0O-NQ42-BBL is a U.S.-made Cali model in a blonde, medium-aged finish. Its listed price is 3048, with no currency specified in the supplied information. The model has a bolt-on maple neck, maple fingerboard, 22 frets, and a Floyd Rose tremolo system. A case is included; a separate bag is not.

There are important conflicts in the supplied specifications, so some details cannot be confirmed from this data alone. One section identifies the body as alder and lists the pickup system as SS. A more detailed description instead names swamp ash and two humbuckers: a Friedman Classic Plus at the bridge and a Friedman Classic at the neck. The body wood and pickup configuration should be verified with the seller before purchase. The review below distinguishes the clear, repeated details from those unresolved points.

Neck, scale, and fretboard

The neck and fingerboard are both listed as maple, with a bolt-on construction. The scale length is 648 mm, equivalent to 25.5 inches. That is a familiar full-length layout, but the supplied specifications do not state the neck profile, fret size, or neck finish. Players comparing neck comfort should seek those details rather than infer them from the model name.

The fingerboard has black dot inlays and a compound radius that moves from 241 mm to 305 mm, or 9.5 to 12 inches. The flatter upper section can accommodate lower action for bends, while the rounder lower section offers a more curved playing surface near the nut. That describes the geometry, not a guarantee of a particular setup or playing feel.

The instrument has 22 frets, and the fretwork is described as Plek-machined. This indicates machine-assisted fret leveling and finishing, though the listing does not provide measurements for fret height, action, or relief. Those setup details still matter when assessing an individual guitar.

Pickups and controls

The pickup information needs particular care. The short specification lists "SS," which usually denotes two single-coil pickups. The detailed entry contradicts that, describing one Friedman Classic Plus bridge humbucker and one Friedman Classic neck humbucker. It also specifies a three-way toggle switch and one volume control. No tone control is listed.

If the detailed pickup description is accurate, the controls provide three pickup-selection positions and a single master volume. However, the available data does not describe coil splitting, pickup output, magnet type, or wiring options. Do not assume those features are present. Confirm the pickup layout before ordering, especially if the distinction between single-coil and humbucker sounds is central to the purchase.

Floyd Rose system and construction

The Cali is listed with a Floyd Rose tremolo and a Floyd Rose locking nut. Together, these components are designed to secure the strings at the nut and bridge during tremolo use. The listing does not identify the exact Floyd Rose model, explain its setup, or specify whether replacement parts are included. A locking system can also involve more involved string changes and tuning adjustments than a fixed bridge, so buyers should consider their maintenance preferences.

The hardware is nickel, according to the detailed description. The finish is described as medium aged, with nitrocellulose lacquer, in Blonde. No top wood is specified, and the data explicitly lists no top. The body wood remains uncertain because alder and swamp ash both appear in the supplied details. Weight and body contours are not provided, so neither balance nor overall heft can be judged from this listing.

What the listing establishes

• Model and origin: Cali, made in the United States.
• Neck and scale: Bolt-on maple neck, maple fingerboard, 648 mm scale, and 22 frets.
• Fingerboard details: Black dot inlays and a 241 to 305 mm compound radius.
• Bridge hardware: Floyd Rose tremolo and locking nut.
• Finish and accessories: Blonde, medium-aged nitrocellulose finish, nickel hardware, and an included case.

Verdict

The listed configuration points to a traditional full-scale, bolt-on guitar with a compound-radius maple fingerboard and locking tremolo hardware. Plek-machined fretwork and an included case are useful specification details, while the finish and U.S. Manufacture give the instrument a clearly defined presentation. Those facts make the Cali worth considering for players seeking this general hardware and neck layout.

Still, the unresolved body-wood and pickup discrepancies are substantial. They affect the guitar's materials and core electronic configuration, not minor catalog wording. There are no customer reviews available for this product, and the supplied information offers no firsthand playing impressions or sound demonstrations to fill that gap. Before paying the listed price of 3048, confirm the body wood, pickups, currency, and exact Floyd Rose model with Friedman or the seller. Until then, this is a useful technical outline, but not a fully settled specification sheet.