Best Bang For Your Buck Ever?

[beaubrummels]

I bought a Rickenbacker 450-12 for $200 with a case back in 1986. They go for $2500 - $4000 now.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I did get an EC-400VF for the equivalent of around 350 USD. Almost mint condition. Man, it's become my favorite guitar, LOL.


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[80's_Thrash_Metal]

If we're talking used stuff:
I bought my first Mode Four for like $300

I got my beloved Gibson Faded V at a pawn shop for $525 out the door!

Once I bought an esp EC1000 for $300.

 

[Chistopher]

After further thought, the $150 Bullet Mustang is probably the best bang for your buck instrument on the market, now they have a rounder radius and taller frets and referred to as Sonic Mustangs. While uninspiring, the quality is on par with instruments that cost considerably more. They make a great platform for mods too.

 

[Mincer]

In the early 2000s, MIM Standard Strats were around $250, and that was a great buy.

 

[Securb]

In the early 2000s, MIM Standard Strats were around $250, and that was a great buy.

I saw one for $500 on Saturday and was tempted to grab it seeing that it is about $100 below average pricing these days.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Probably my Ibanez Roadstar RS525 in none more black; I got it for $150 a decade ago.

Now all of these old Ibz have gone up since Gen X has been bitten by the 80s nostalgia bug and general inflation.

 

[Chistopher]

That body is just a cooler Gibson Victory

 

[Securb]

Probably my Ibanez Roadstar RS525 in none more black; I got it for $150 a decade ago.

I had that exact guitar finish and hardware in the 90s, and I regret selling it. I did find a wineburst of the same configuration about 20 years ago for $250. I play it all the time including recently in the studio. I have a Black Winter in the bridge, but the rest of it is stock. LOVE THE TREMELO!

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[Ashurbanipal]

^^ Yeah, Securb, was waiting for you . It's a fun one, for sure! The slightly extended upper horn on this and the 530 model (wouldn't mind one of those in white!) gives a nicely balanced feel.

I had to replace the jack and switch out of the gate, and then turned it into a hardtail and put a 59/Jazz in the neck. I need to refret it (they were already pretty mowed down when I got it) and do a couple of other things. Been also thinking a Parallel Axis set might be fun to turn it fully into a contemporary type axe :33:.

I know it's possible to get the trem working (seen Paul Gilbert play 'em to effect, even the Hard Rocker versions) but I've got other trem guitars, and being hardtail means I can drop the tuning easily. I do like the fine tuners on the bridge though, much more practical to make adjustments in mid play.

 

[Securb]

^^ Yeah, Securb, was waiting for you . It's a fun one, for sure! The slightly extended upper horn on this and the 530 model (wouldn't mind one of those in white!) gives a nicely balanced feel..

I just looked at the prices of these guitars $600-$1900 depending on the model. I did see a white one on Reverb for $1300, you could get a lot more guitar for that money. I wonder what is driving up the prices of these models so much outside of 80s nostalgia.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Yeah, this is like more than they would've cost new back in the day. People have similarly funny notions about what an old RG550 should cost - seen so many that are pretty trashed, with cracked necks, replacement pups and people unironically want 1k. Pfft, you can get a new one for that, and they made the neck so it won't easily get fked up like old ones. I know, I know, has no 'mojo' though .

I expect, some of it is also general inflation - I noticed during covid they spiked, have come down some since but still high. Reverb also on the 'more' side generally.

Agree on the whole. For that kind of money if looking for a Japanese guitar, you can get a new Vola, for instance, now that they've gone to direct sales.

Love that white 530 though, the red/black pinstripe binding is *chef kiss*.

 

[Mincer]

I wish they would reissue the 540R.

 

[Artie]

ive gotten two nice amps for free, a 69 dual showman reverb from a friend, and a later model musicmaster bass amp from someone at a music store i was working at. he brought it in to trade, but it didnt work. i hooked him up with a good discount on what he wanted. at the end of the transaction, i gave him back the amp and he said "why do i want that thing, it doesnt work" you keep it. so i did. took me all of five minutes to fix it once i opened it up. he was happy and i had a new fun amp. i used it a lot as my small club amp with a reverb unit. still have em both but the guitar i loved with that setup was stolen so dont use it as much these days. i use the dual showman reverb through a 4x10 as a bass amp more than i use it as a guitar amp

I completely forgot about something very similar that happened to me. A forum bro gave me a Yamaha Fifty-410 combo amp because he needed to clear out a storage area, and I had a pickup truck. I've since lost contact with him.

Another friend was down-sizing from a house to a small apartment. He gave me an older Peavey TKO 115 bass amp, and a non-working Crate Blue VooDoo 60 amp, with matching 412 slant front cab. The only problem was the input jack had broken free from the board solder connections. Not exactly a 5-minute fix since you had to completely disassemble the amp, including the chassis to get the circuit board out.

But three cool free amps.

 

[jeremy]

nice when there is an easy fix, even if it isnt a quick one. i liked those old peavey bass amps!

 

[Ascension]

Walked in a couple pawn shops and stole stuff over the years. One of the best was the 2008 Royal Blue PRS Custom 24 in 2010 for 800 OTD. Played it for a few years, then sold it a couple of years ago for $3K to fund another guitar.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

I wish they would reissue the 540R.

This is a correct opinion.