advice for budget guitar

[EmiAba]

Hi
I need to buy a budget guitar, something with acceptable good features but under 300 euro. I need something that can cover different genres and must be easily transportable. I find out two good deals: an Epi 1966 G400 pro (200 euro) in vintage white and a Mexican strato HSS (300 euro) in alpine white. But I am not able to decide. I already own a gibson SG special and an american stratocaster (SSS). I have read many reviews. Some really good others totally negative.
What do you think about?

 

[Blille]

advice for budget guitar

IMHO a HSS strat will cover more territory than an SG. That said if you want something flexible my two recommendations would be:
- 335
- Tele
Particularly if you already have an actual SG and Strat.

Epi (Dot) and Fender (MIM, Squier CV) have budget models.

 

[FuseG4]

Re: advice for budget guitar

I have a real soft spot for white SG shaped guitars.
But for me Strats are most comfortable and versatile.
The made in Mexico neck finish is not as smooth as American that is the main difference I would feel in day to day playing, plus I do not like the ceramic pickups they come stock with.
The Epiphone have a different headstock angle making them less prone to breaking if mishandled, but does this change the tone? I don't know lol but Epiphone stock humbuckers sound "more like the real thing" than Fender Mexican ceramic single coils.

Build quality on both should be decent, both might have some sloppy cutting off the nut slots, sometimes fret ends poking out a tiny bit but usually I hear others complaining about fret ends and I have not had this problem with Epiphone or fender.

Sort of a taste thing at that point... The g400 has that SG bark and midrangey focus. The strat has chime cleans and more clarity but more brightness usually. The fender scale length makes me want to slow down my playing a little, the Gibson scale length makes me want to play a little faster up and down the neck. Both have good upper fret access.

Sent from my SM-G930U using Tapatalk

 

[EmiAba]

Re: advice for budget guitar

It is not easy to find a Tele in a good shape around 300 euro. If I go with a MIM Tele I will add undred of euro at least. The pickups are not a problem. I have a couple of 59 and PIO caps waiting in a drawer and a custom custom spare. My very first concern is to have an affordable guitar with good quality. I put out Indonesian Ibanez or low hand schecter because they have in my experience really poor quality if compared with an epi or MIM fender. I

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: advice for budget guitar

Have you looked at the G&L Tribute Series?

Bill

 

[Mincer]

Re: advice for budget guitar

If I was looking at a 'do it all' guitar, I'd need either an HSS, or an HH with a super switch that allows for some split combos. The right pickups are key here, and usually stock pickups on cheaper guitars aren't great. So get the best feeling guitar you can find, and budget for good pickups, even if you buy one at a time.

 

[Adieu]

Re: advice for budget guitar

Buy old used Japanese, add used Duncans Dimarzios or Fender CS's if needed

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: advice for budget guitar

Harley Bentons at Thoman

sirus

 

[chadd]

Re: advice for budget guitar

Given the options, I would take the HSS strat. The versatility of the HSS setup makes it a pretty easy call. They're also easy to improve with a pickup swap and or some tweaks on the workbench, but they are generally usable right out of the box.

 

[Open lane]

Re: advice for budget guitar

i got an amazing HH olp guitar for $180 last month. I upgraded the pups to an air norton and a tone zone i had laying around. Also had the frets leveled.

All in all i’m in it about $400-450 parts and labor (including initial purchase). The thing plays better than my $1000 guitars.

What i just described is more of an all out shred layout, but i’d urge you to do similarly if you can find an hss OLP guitar

 

[blind1]

Re: advice for budget guitar

My vote is in for an HSS Strat. Most versatile option and good all-arounder.

 

[Lovegun]

Re: advice for budget guitar

I would buy used guitar. The Epiphone Pros should have coil split in both pickups with push/pull pots.

 

[Old Guy]

Re: advice for budget guitar

Harley Bentons at Thoman

sirus

Yep. And since you're in Europe, if there is an issue with it, you can return it easily.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: advice for budget guitar

Go with the Strat.

 

[Discharged]

Re: advice for budget guitar

Hi
I need to buy a budget guitar, something with acceptable good features but under 300 euro. I need something that can cover different genres and must be easily transportable. I find out two good deals: an Epi 1966 G400 pro (200 euro) in vintage white and a Mexican strato HSS (300 euro) in alpine white. But I am not able to decide. I already own a gibson SG special and an american stratocaster (SSS). I have read many reviews. Some really good others totally negative.
What do you think about?

Get a second-hand Yamaha Pacifica 112 V and you'll get an incredible sounding strat costing less than € 150,00. If I was you, I'd go for a 212 VFM for around € 200,00, all costs included.

https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/mm/a_yamaha-pacifica-212vfm-pari-al-nuovo_id6024253.html

Hell, a new 212 costs € 300,00!

https://www.mercatinomusicale.com/m...wn-sunburst-chitarra-elettrica_id5954642.html

Here's a new one in your neck of woods. In my case, I bought a 112J and I changed the ceramic p'ups with alnico ones and I made about a dozen of studio dates with it. Try it with an open mind, you can thank me later!

 

[dpaterson]

Re: advice for budget guitar

Here:

https://www.thomann.de/gb/jackson_js32_dka_m_dinky_blk.htm

The stock Jackson pickups in this thing are great (they're a different model to all the other JS Series "Jackson high output humbucking pickups" as usually stated by Jackson).

The Basswood body with Maple neck and fretboard give the thing the most awesome resonance and full bodied tone. Raunchy and with full mids. and nice bottom and tops. Nothing overbearing or shrill.

For best results though: replace the stock Jackson pickups with Invaders. And you WILL thank me!!! LOL!!!

And that stock Jackson FR: is better quality than a FR Special series. Just be gentle when tightening screws is all. Gently does it!!! Only two fingers required!!! Ask me how I know??? LOL!!! But if you DO mess up: replace ONLY with ORIGINAL FR (which needs to be shimmed because of the compound radius but otherwise a perfect fit).

Fretboard is bare so would recommend having it coated (mine done with some or the other silky stuff by a luthier).

Oh and it's available in white too (like mine).

And I have a +$4K USD guitar to compare it to as well as another more expensive Jackson. Just trust me on this one i.e. not suggesting this merely because it's a "budget" guitar!!!