GUITARS GUITARS....TOO MANY GUITARS...?

0Dannyboy · December 2005

HEY guys I have a problem...Its a great one to have but I still need some advice...I finally got feed up with my cheap a$$ korean mini humbuckers and sold my only electric guitar a epi Firebird. I pooled some christmas cash about 500-600 bucks and I need the best replacement for the money. I am homeless this month while I wait to close on my new house so I figured since I cant plug in I might as well take this time to sell and find another fiddle mostly for studio work but I do put a live band together every now and then to play a gig or two so it will be a club giger as well. Ok I know Gibson and fender practically all USA made guitars are out of my reach as far as the money goes but the Koreans are making some cool stuff to pick from these days. Heres what i am looking at so far at Guitar Center.

The new PRS SE custom flame maple (no wammy)
The Epiphone Les Paul. list for 999 but I see one for 500 on sale its grey
the schecter diamond series guitars ( they play really nice.)
and some Fender Jap phat strats.
I also played a cool gretch but the pickups were kinda weak.
I freekin hate the floyd rose shite these days as I am really a rythm kinda guy anyway so that leaves out most dinkys.

any sugjestions would be great and i will be sure to checkem out and let you know what i get. Thanks in advance for all youguys help. D.

angryasalways · December 2005

Here's a couple of ideas. I own a G&l Legacy and am extremely satisfied with it's playability,feel, and tone. These are USA made and have the more sought after 3 bolt neck plate.

http://cgi.ebay.com/G-L-S-500-S500-USA-Rare-Finish-N-R-Free-Shipping_W0QQitemZ7377924166QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/96-USA-G-L-Legacy-Stratocaster-w-Case-Leo-Fender-Strat_W0QQitemZ7377442716QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Just an idea from an average Joe that has had more guitars than I probably deserve.

Rock on 'bro!

Terranaut · December 2005

I also have a G & L Legacy and can attest to their virtues. Great, very playable ax. I've been making the rounds, looking for another guitar, (not to replace the G&L, just for variety), and here's a few in that price range that interest me.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/518184/

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/navigation?q=innova+synth+guitar

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/511914/

The Schecter seems pretty versatile.

I like the Innova for the synth access and one piece construction.

The Godin is a striking guitar, and offers piezos.

Yamaha RGX A2 is interesting and only 6 lbs. Nice tuners.
http://www.yamaha.com/guitars/products/productdetail/0,,CNTID%3D62690%26CTID%3D600004%26CNTYP%3DPRODUCT,00.html

Parker has some new low priced stuff that are well made.
http://www.parkerguitars.com/code/models/models_pseries.asp

If you don't mind a little electronics work or pickup replacements, Agile guitars makes some fine quality PRS type guitars that are downright cheap! http://www.rondomusic.net/electricguitar.html

There's lots more out there to choose from. Let us know what you settle on. Good luck.

ne1roc · December 2005

Schecter's are really nice. Check out Carvin guitars. Although I have never tried one, I have heard nothing but good stuff about these guitars.
www.carvin.com

D.Alexander · December 2005

I own this one in white and freaking love it.
http://www.burnsguitars.com/product.php?product_id=1
This is a good general rule for inexpensive very high quality guitars

Most anything out of Japan in the 70's and 80's with an original price of $250 or more (This includes the Jap Fenders made by Tokai.... they are getting pricy bu you can still get em for nder $500 on Ebay).... here are some names: Burny, Aria, Tokai, Electra, and more obviously Fender Yamaha, Ibanez, Epiphone

Korean guitars in the 90's through to today. The higher end Samicks (pretty much made all the name brands coming out of Korea then)

I own a re-issue Burns and love it.
here is a better one than mine been sold on ebay through Guitar Center
http://cgi.ebay.com/BURNS-LONDON-BISON-GUITAR-TOTALLY-COOL_W0QQitemZ7376974298QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Today there are some really good guitars coming out of Nuclear China
the re-issue Hagstrom's are being produced there and are a fantastic value with the Hagstrom class and vibe. You might want to look in on the origianl ones made in Sweden though. Sometimes they go for less than $500. Check the Swede out (made in Sweden) you might do a search for more
http://cgi.ebay.com/Hagstrom-Swede-Patch-2000-guitar_W0QQitemZ7377740596QQcategoryZ2384QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

here are 2 that i am selling right now. Don't buy them unless you are into fixing up vintage stuff.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7377880781&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7377934535&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMESE%3AIT&rd=1

ednrg · December 2005

I bought a used EPI Les Paul on ebay a few years back for $200. It was in poor shape. The frets were rusted, the neck was dry, but the neck was perfectly straight. The guy lived about 30 mins from work, so there were no shipping charges, I just picked it up. I brought it home, and put it on the dining room table, and started taking it apart.

My wife asked me if I was crazy buying such a P.O.S. I simply said \"Give me an hour, you wont recognize it.\" I cleaned all the chrome parts, the frets, and the neck. I treated the neck with Doctor Ducks.

After seeing all the parts all over the dining room table, my wife again asked if I was crazy. I simply laughed and said \"you'll see.\"

After busting out the buffer head for my drill, I cleaned up the rest of the body. Then the assembly began. As each chrome part was placed back in the body, the guitar was looking spectacular. Even my wife said it was a stunning transformation.

But the real test was how it played. I still had to do a setup on the guitar. After the setup was done, I was amazed how it felt. I also have a Gibson LP, and the Gibson workmanship is definitely superior, but I was amazed at how well made the EPI really was. I started playing and wasn't thrilled with the pickups. But this is a personal preference. I replaced the PUPs with Gibson PAFs.

The guitar is now my main guitar. It sits next to my desk at all times. The total cost was less than $400 total. Over the past few years, I did a complete rewiring and changed the toggle switch to a Gibson. But all in all it is still my main axe, even with the real Gibson sitting in the case.

Several of my friends are now proud owners of EPI Les Pauls because they came over and tried my guitar. They are no longer a \"poor man's Les Paul\", they are truly good guitars.

This was definitely long winded, but I just wanted to give you hope that there are deals out there. You will be amazed at the number of options you have once you \"think outside the box\".

Tal Rules · December 2005

Danny,

How can you have too many guitars...

GuitarKidd · December 2005

One of the guitars that I would seriously look at would be one of these...

http://cgi.ebay.com/2005-ESP-EC-1000-EC-1000-LTD-DELUXE-ASB-UNPLAYED_W0QQitemZ7377141084QQcategoryZ33038QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I played one a few months back when I bought my new ESP and wish that I would have saved up a bit more for it... I have seen these go on Ebay for a little over $500.00 before if you keep you eyes open...

They also come in Red, Black, and have EMG 81/85's..

0Dannyboy · December 2005

Thanks for all the advice guys. the Epi Les Pauls and the ESP pauls look very cool. I think the ESP is lighter too, gonna have to go play one. :twisted:

on the other end those G& L Strats and a few of the fenders custom strats look very cool as well just cant beat those strats for range of twang-tones so they are a must play as well.

Not into the vintage stuff as I want this guitar to be a workhorse and very versital tone wise. but i would love to collect those someday.

a few of the cheaper one surprised me when I played them the shectors were made very well and were set up the best out of the box for sure.

you can never have too many guitars but you can get a bit overwhelmed when you have to pick just one.

clunky cannuck · December 2005

The other guitarist in my band has a Shec. as I refer to it and he loves it I've tried it out a couple of times and it has a nice feel to it.

Dobb · December 2005

Hey 0Dannyboy;

I've owned a schecter C-1 xxx for about three or four months. I admit the duncan coil tapped 'buckers are a little muddy for my taste, but overall I'm very impressed with this guitar, for its pricepoint. I have also recently acquired a few of fenders mexican offerings, both a tele and a strat, both of which I think are good value for the price. I have a few much more expensive guitars, but I find myself often reaching for the schecter or one of the mexi's. Best of luck on the new axe!

Peace,
Dobb.

COMBODRIVE · December 2005

ODB save up a little more and get a Gibson Sg special $ 650- you wont be disappointed.

Some cool Jacksons also for around $299-

COMBODRIVE.

dawg4 · December 2005

<div style="displaynone">fiogf49gjkf0d</div>I could never bring myself to buy anything other than Gibson, Jackson, or Carvin until I picked up a Schecter. I've got a C1-E/A semi-hollow body with a piezo bridge that can keep up with my 1970 Les Paul Custom.

Schecters are outstanding values. It's very quickly becoming my main live guitar.

SydeKiK · December 2005

I just got one of these http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/516680/ and its one great sounding/playing guitar. The 5 position switch is wired for both series and parallel so you get a large variety of tones going on with it.

glp_78 · December 2005

I suggest you look at what type of music you will be playing and what genre. You can get pretty versatile but I would pick the axe that suits what kind of a set list you will be playing. I have a Epi LP and a Mexi Strat which are both absolutely fantastic. You will have to put some extra money and time into setup but once you do you will not regret it. Both the Epi and MIM strat are pretty good stock, the Fender is better stock. But once you put in high quality pickups, set your intonation, good strings, switches, pots, and wiring, you you will get a professional instrument for the 500-600 dollar range. Ebay or Instrument Exchange has lots of Epi's and Strats and also offer all the upgradable parts for reasonable prices. If metal is your taste then get something like a Schecter or ESP. I wouldn't suggest ESP unless you get the real ones, not the LTD's, which are in the high thousands. The lower priced models don't hold tune well and are hard to intonate correctly. This will annoy you in the long run. Good luck in your search.........I know it's exciting.

0Dannyboy · January 2006

:twisted: Hey guys thanks for all the great feedback. I playedem all this weekend. It was very hard to Choose I had my heart set on this beeyootifool grey Epi Lespaul. 8) ...

:shock: That is until I picked up this SG. I had to have it. :!:

The SG for me was a way more versital tone machine the pups on this fiddle are amazingly hot . As great a blues guitar as it is a rawker. Its a funky model though I cant seem to find specs on it. It looks just like the Elite series exactly exept for the Double pickguard it has...also on the back of the headstock right obove the neck is a small round painted logo that says \"Epiphone limited edition proshop\". None of the others SGs had this on the back of the headstock. I went to the epihone websight and could not find the exact model. The \"Elitist 61 SG standard looks just like it except for the pickgaurd mine has the a full black pickgaurd not the smaller one. The guy said the GC was one of the only stores that carry that edition... well I gotta know more about whats up with the proshop logo on the back. Anybody Know whats up with that ... if its a good thing. and if so whats the diffrence other than the fact it cost a bit more than the others and plays and sounds just a bit Sweeeter! :twisted:

Thanks again for all your help in making my choice I played so many awsome guitars and I found one to fit my finaces as well as my taste :P
I am currently \"homeless\" right now

staying with the folks untill I can move into my new home next month. So I will have to wait to record any new tunes with it . I can't wait to crank it up a bit in the new house. 8)

T L F · January 2006

I'd look at the Ibanez SZ series too. I got an SZ320 for short money recently and fell in love with it. It's a littel fat sounding becasue it is mahogany and set neck, etc. But the scale length is in between a strat/ RG series Ibanez and a Les Paul/etc. The first time I picked the thing up I played it forever and didn't even think about plugging it in. In fact I bought it without ever plugging it in...It had great resonance even without an Amp. I will say that it is a great clean and crunch guitar sounds but muddy's up a bit when totally cranked (Probably due to scale length, pickup (stock Ibanez-Seymour Duncan) and tone woods, etc....

GUITARS GUITARS....TOO MANY GUITARS...?

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