Best Guitar Under $400...

Butch Snyder

Butch Snyder

ObsoleteChickenPickingologist
Okay guys, I'll try this again....

I sold my Variax due to its playablilty and I became very afraid of any internal probelms which I cannot fix. I sold it for $500. The bottom fell out of the 500 series when they came out with the Variax 300. Well, I need to get another guitar and I need it to be $400 max. You guys know my playing style and what I like, for the most part...

Give me some ideas. I need some help quick. The $400 amount is because my son is going to Belize on a church youth mission trip and I need to give him a little money to travel with. I could really use some help here... I need something that's going to have some decent stock pickups. I can't drop Duncans in right away.

Thanks, in advance...
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

under $400...hmmm...?!

you could try to find a used mex or mij tele or strat on ebay already loaded with upgraded pups!?

a used Hamer Daytona or T-51 would be ideal...but it would be really hard to find for $400, probably closer to $600

uhhh...maybe a Washburn semi hollow?

i tell ya what...there's a local store that carries some Aria Pro II stuff and it ain't too bad?

a Schecter Pt...i just got a steal on an old one of those?

maybe something from the Rondo site or a Dillion?
 
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Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

Dean EVO Special or Special Select. I think the street price is around $400.
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

Butch, have you looked at the new Squier series? The Esprit is really nice, it's like old Fender Robben Ford model. I tried one at a local store and almost bought it on the spot. Comes with a decent set of Duncan Designed pickups. Under $400, super nice guitar.
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

Here's the website listing the models, http://www.squierguitars.com/buzz_feature.php?feature=yes&features_id=22

I tried one exactly like this, could have got it with a little dealing for about $350, stickered at $399

features22_large_pic1.jpg
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

My MIM Tele Nashville was ~$300 on eBay, and the pickups in it were surprisingly good. If I hadn't already had a "vision" for this guitar, I could have happliy kept it stock. As it was, I ended up upgrading the bridge & neck pups to Duncans, but I'm happy with the stock TexMex Strat it has in the middle position.

With all due respect to Hoss, his "PT" was a steal because he found an old USA model that he got for a made-in-Korea price. The PT's you'll normally find in your price range are newer Korean ones. If the goldtop PT I just bought ($300) is any indication, you will HAVE to replace the pickups ASAP, even though the are supposedly Duncan-Designed.
 
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Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

That's an interesting looking Squier. I wonder how it plays.

Butch, regardless of your opinion on big-box guitar stores like Guitar Center or Sam Ash, that may be your best bet in terms of getting a deal. I was in the GC at Cincinnati Mills last night and noticed they had a decent amount of used gear in right now.
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

I've been super impressed with the OLP MM1 (Music Man Axis copy). They're not perfect, but if I was buying new, and couldn't spend over $400, that's the guitar I would get. It's very playable, and is decent sounding if you need to wait a while on new pups. You can get the one with the strat style trem for around $200 or the Licensed Floyd equiped one for around $400 (I think). I guess if you went with the strat style trem, you'd have money for pups - or more money to give your son.

Otherwise, I'd try to go for a good used one, though time is a big factor with finding good used gear. Good luck with your decision.
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

I played a Dean '79 series ML yesterday and was very impressed with it, and even more impressed that the price was $417. Killer guitar for that price- I played it through an Orange combo, and the pickups weren't bad neither. I'm thinking of picking one up just because it's a great deal.
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

I have an Agile AL-3000 LP copy with a hardshell case and Seth in the neck '59in the bridge ive been considering parting with not sure if i wanna sell yet but gimme a pm if your interested
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

Godin has good guitars for around $400 and all or alot of them have duncan's stock
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

Best?

There are a number of quality guitars available at that price point. Which one is "best" depends on your needs and the individual instrument.
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

definately not new.

if you buy new then you are a complete moron.
if you want a guitar for under 400 that is good, buy used 80's and early 90's guitars, such as jackson professionals, charvel model series etc etc
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

Butch, A lot of players' players seem to be getting the Squier 51 and making a few mods for a real sleeper. The cool thing about those is they use Basswood not some of the cheaper stuff. THey are $149 everywhere.

I just got one and I'm gonna drop in an Antiquity humbucker I had wired with a 4 wire leads, so's I can split it. Still deciding on the single coil Tele neck pup to go in. Swap the pots and switch out which is dirt cheap. Then you've got an expensive guitar with some horsepower for probably $250. I will say I have a 91 Am Std rosewood neck on a partscaster I'm gonna put on here too, but some of these Squire necks are actually as decent as some of the better MIM necks.
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

jmh151 said:
I played a Dean '79 series ML yesterday and was very impressed with it, and even more impressed that the price was $417. Killer guitar for that price- I played it through an Orange combo, and the pickups weren't bad neither. I'm thinking of picking one up just because it's a great deal.
Click to expand...

+1 on the Dean '79 series. I just picked up a V w/ hard case for $500. If pointy guitars are your thing you really can't go wrong with these. The play great, very well built and the pickups are really good. Not super hot or anything but they definitely nail the '79 vibe.
 
Re: Best Guitar Under $400...

Heu guys, thanks for all the feedback. I really appreciate it. I have been going round and round with a lot of ideas. I am more of a classic/traditional guy. I was looking for something that I could get for $400 or less. I want to fix it up and install a set of killer Duncans and start ripping. This is what I got... Don't laugh too hard....

av-3-cs_medm.jpg
I really wanted the RL-3 but it's more than I can spend right now....
 
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