Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Do you particularly like the Jackson neck profile? If not, I'd much rather have an LTD in that price range.
$1500 Made in China Jacksons
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I have an M1000 that I really like the neck. It still has a "heel" that feels great when you get up there, but the downside is that because of that heel, it won't fit in most form fitted guitar cases, and there isn't a custom ESP case for it either.
I have questions about the Jacksons. I haven't played the necks so I don't know how they feel, but anything between Ibanez and Fender is OK profile.
But I am concerned with the neck finishes. The SLX indo series are painted, and I haven't used a painted neck in ages. Unknown if its fast or sticky. Also unknown how I would feel owning a guitar where the back of the neck is some bright color.
And the pro series.. the neck is oiled wood. How does it feel? How does it hold up over time? I don't really like the fret markers on these, so I am leaning towards the SL3X. But if I'm going to spend 800, might as well stretch a little bit and get a Korean LTD.
Maybe I should be looking for as used SL3X, they can't have much resale value.
Phantasmagoria
watch where you point that sabre
Maybe i'm lucky but I've had so many great Chinese guitars that played awesome out of the box it's not funny (and none that had more than extremely minor issues)
My Axl LP style ($150 new) played better out the box (ie perfect....right down to the pickup height) than my MIJ S-540 LTD when I bought it new in '94 (It had a high 13th fret I had to file down). My BC Rich Ironbird Pro played fantastic. Did'nt have to do a thing to it. My $200 Grote Semi-Hollowbody ...again perfect. Same with the Ibanez SA I just bought ..which was a bit higher priced ($650 or so) and is undoubtedly one of my shreddiest guitars.
Personally, speaking strictly from experience..... (if I could afford it) I'd pay w/e for a good guitar ..wherever it was made.
My Axl LP style ($150 new) played better out the box (ie perfect....right down to the pickup height) than my MIJ S-540 LTD when I bought it new in '94 (It had a high 13th fret I had to file down). My BC Rich Ironbird Pro played fantastic. Did'nt have to do a thing to it. My $200 Grote Semi-Hollowbody ...again perfect. Same with the Ibanez SA I just bought ..which was a bit higher priced ($650 or so) and is undoubtedly one of my shreddiest guitars.
Personally, speaking strictly from experience..... (if I could afford it) I'd pay w/e for a good guitar ..wherever it was made.
Blille
New member
Those price tolerances are arbitrary. It’s like saying you don’t pay more than $300 for purple instruments. I get the point about political and environmental issues, one can do whatever with their own money, don’t get me wrong.
The Indonesian LTD you mention could have had the nicer hardware and ebony fretboard. It’s all about the specs. I have a few American and European instruments but my Indonesian Strandberg Guitar and Ibanez Bass can absolutely compete with them.
The price tolerances are MY tolerances.
Maybe it is because of tradition, but I always assigned more value to USA/JP -> Korea -> Indo -> China.
A $1500 Chinese guitar would have to be stunning in every regard. Best hardware, best inlays, binding, woods, perfect finish, etc. And I doubt that is the case.
solspirit
Ultimate Post Liker
Of course it wouldnt be the case, does a $1500 guitar from anywhere have the best hardware, best inlays, binding,woods, perfect finish, etc?
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
It's pretty sad, but these days, a $1,500 guitar is mid-priced. Perhaps at the top end of mid-priced, but plenty of LTD's go over that price.
The thing is these days, some companies want to slap Evertune bridges, Fishman Fluence pickups, Hipshot open gear tuners and whatever is in fashion that's expensive on an husk that's made to a price point. Many companies try to offer better specs and less quality husks.
I remember when you could buy $450 LTD's that would DESTROY.
The thing is these days, some companies want to slap Evertune bridges, Fishman Fluence pickups, Hipshot open gear tuners and whatever is in fashion that's expensive on an husk that's made to a price point. Many companies try to offer better specs and less quality husks.
I remember when you could buy $450 LTD's that would DESTROY.
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abunai.j
New member
Honestly, I've had enough issues with guitars at a number of price points that I don't look at where they're made anymore. I've played $3k Gibsons made in the US with enough issues that I wouldn't buy them, and $600 Ibanez Iron Label guitars that were great right off the shelf, so I don't bother about country of origin. Bottom line is that any factory is going to produce to the standard that the company commissions them to, and you just can't trust most QC these days. It's why I learned to do basic guitar work myself. If I'm going to have to level the frets and file the nut whether the guitar is $2k or $500, might as well split the difference and learn to do the work myself, cause on a $1k guitar or so, a little love after purchase is understandable, if annoying. But on a 'premium' guitar for at least twice the price, it's inexcusable.
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I have a theory that guitar wood changes the most in the year after the guitar is built. So those high end Gibsons that are plekked, the guitar is still changing, you get fret sprout, and a different fret profile, etc, so it won't play well.
Best results are to keep the guitar a few years then do a level. Of course it helps if it comes to you in great playable condition. If not you have to get in there right away.
Following on your original comment, I bought two LTD guitars a couple years ago. A $600 indo, and a $1200 Korean. The Indo played great out of the box, the Korean, afaict, didn't have a level. They just slapped the stainless frets on there and hoped for the best. It required some spot fretwork to get it playable to a good standard, but it still would benefit from a level/dress. I haven't done it yet for a variety of reasons, mostly because I don't want to mess it up. I have had no problem diving into cheap guitars with the leveling beam.
Which reminds me of the other thing you get with "higher end" guitars: Better fret wire. The Chinese guitar came with really soft fretwire. My playing over long periods of woodshedding wore down the frets and it got two levels to where it sits now.. the medium jumbos could use replacing. Unknown if the indo guitar frets are better. The korean frets are stainless and the best.
Would hate to buy a 1500 Chinese guitar and get soft junk frets. Its just unknown stuff.
The thing is though, that the $1500 LTDs generally have stainless frets, binding, ebony boards, and a better bridge. Also made in Korea.
That is why I think a 1500 Chinese quitar would have to be boutique level quality for me to consider it over a LTD or equivalent Ibanez.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
That's the thing for me. I've had like 7 LTD's from the World factory, all solid guitars. Some better than others, sure, but nothing with attrocious problems. All pretty good-souding and very playable.
I've had 5 PRS SE's from the very same factory. Only one of those I'd consider was an actual good guitar, and that one might have been slightly-above-average-sounding at best. Good playing, though, and very pretty-looking. The others all sounded dull, thin, and/or dead and had underwhelming tops. One had SEVERE, QC issues. All priced more or less the same as the equivalent LTD's, just way under spec'd too.
That is being as objective as I can. Honestly, I prefer the looks of LTD's as well as the neck profiles, but I'm trying to keep that out of my evaluation.
Have you tried the Ibanez Premiums? From an Indonesian factory, but IMO, well on-par with LTD Deluxe as far as build quality. Maybe not specs, true, but the quality is there if you want to mod them. And the Ibanez design ethos is really different from LTD too. BTW, there are a few neck-thru Ibanez Premiums too.
I mean... I'm not trying to defend Jacksons. I, for the most part, agree with you. 1,500 seems a bit steep for a Chinese guitar... but Fender has an overall better track record than most for finding cheap ways to produce a decent guitar.
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I have enough bolt ons. I like Ibanez and some of their new designs caught my eye. I wouldn't go with anything less than an Edge and thats the problem with their Premium line. Not parts compatible.
Jackson or ESP/LTD, or maybe BC Rich WMI. Don't know anyone else making neck through.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
Solar!
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I used to have a WMI Chapman that was neck-thru too. Nothing to write home about, though. Decent guitar, just not my best.
*EDIT* Oh, realized you are looking for a trem! Yeah, well. That limits your options even more. Especially since they're slapping the crummy lower-end Floyds on almost everything these days.
*EDIT* Oh, realized you are looking for a trem! Yeah, well. That limits your options even more. Especially since they're slapping the crummy lower-end Floyds on almost everything these days.
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Im actually OK with the FRS. Upgrade the block and buy replacement saddles and they are fine. But I'd prefer at least a 1000.
Rex_Rocker
Well-known member
I wish they'd start slapping Gotoh on more stuff. Not as expensive as Floyd Rose brand, and way better than the FR stuff that costs the same.
larryguitar
Active member
My favorite guitars of all time are the 1990's and 2000's MIJ Jackson's. Most had Duncans stock, and the quality level is simply stunning for the prices you can pick them up for. I'm down to only four now, from 12. 
Larry
Larry
My favorite guitars of all time are the 1990's and 2000's MIJ Jackson's. Most had Duncans stock, and the quality level is simply stunning for the prices you can pick them up for. I'm down to only four now, from 12.
Larry
My experience is that people let go of the ones that have neck problems.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Most of the Solars are set-thru, just for clarification. However, $1500 (or thereabouts) is about the top for them. The model with stainless frets and a Floyd is around $1k, cheaper if you get a blemished outlet guitar.
