Are part built guitars better than store bought ones?

[Xeromus]

Re: Are part built guitars better than store bought ones?

Generally, I believe you get what you pay for. Although Fender and Gibson have been guilty of sneaking some second rate materials into their instruments in the past, the new guitars are first class. Yes, Gibsons may be overpriced to some, but you're guaranteed good wood and components these days. Fender offers guitars at every price level, from imported entry level players, up to VERY personalized, extremely fine-tuned Custom Shop guitars made from hand-made, matched components.

I understand your point with this post, but I still don't see plastic tuners on gibsons as being "first class", nor the uneven finishes on most of them. It seems like they really don't care what they put out anymore. I'd like to own a nice Les Paul, but "nice" and "gibson les paul" often contradict. For the price they ask it's just not worth it, they don't deliver on the goods. It's the reason I don't own one anymore after getting my ESP. Just disagreeing with the Gibson part is all.

 

[Hellion]

Re: Are part built guitars better than store bought ones?

I agree with LewGuitar. It all hinges on how it comes together. Let's face it, they can't all be my Bastardcaster!

 

[Curly]

Re: Are part built guitars better than store bought ones?

It really depends how it all comes together.

ditto

I love my parts guitars, but that's no guarantee that everyone else would.

the greatest parts don't necessarily mean a guitar will have the "X Factor" ... we've probably all played expensive guitars that were unimpressive, and cheap ones we couldn't put down.

and, no the parts companies aren't stealing business from the big boys, IMO ... they are, as someone suggested, different buyers, and it's a big market

 

[tone?]

Re: Are part built guitars better than store bought ones?

thanks to all your replies!

i think that if the model is straightforward enough and you have pretty good skills of putting a guitar together you can create a great guitar that will rival custom shop ones. but then again the time you put into putting the thing together can also be calculated as money.
i just agree with some people that i dont think most guitars iare worth being over 1000$ exspecially the bolt-on ones.
i understand that vintage pieces are expensive because of their collectability but not a new good instrument.

 

[tone?]

Re: Are part built guitars better than store bought ones?

bump!

 

[rspst14]

Re: Are part built guitars better than store bought ones?

thanks to all your replies!

i think that if the model is straightforward enough and you have pretty good skills of putting a guitar together you can create a great guitar that will rival custom shop ones. but then again the time you put into putting the thing together can also be calculated as money.
i just agree with some people that i dont think most guitars iare worth being over 1000$ exspecially the bolt-on ones.
i understand that vintage pieces are expensive because of their collectability but not a new good instrument.

I don't think bolt-on guitars are any better or any worse than set necks...just different. A well-designed bolt-on guitar will sustain every bit as well as a set neck. There is a difference in tone though. A bolt-on has a brighter, snappier sound, whereas a set neck has a warmer, looser sound.

In most cases, parts guitars aren't built to save money. They're built because you can get a guitar that's built 100% to your specs, down to the smallest detail, without paying ridiculous custom shop prices.

Ryan

 

[TheArchitect]

Re: Are part built guitars better than store bought ones?

Can be. Warmoth and USC make good stuff. The rest boils down to your skills as a builder.