Best Guitars in the $300-$500 range

[PFDarkside]

Re: Best Guitars in the $300-$500 range

IMO, the rules for shopping on a budget are:
-Buy used. (Its a given)
-Know what you want and what you want to pay for it.
-Wait for that deal with money in hand.
-Know how to spot and fix setup issues. (My friend got a 15 series Martin for a song because “this thing is kind of hard to play”, and the seller couldn’t argue. A setup later and it plays like a dream)

I’d probably look for something made at the World Music Instrument Company in Korea (Things like PRS SE, Schecter, LTD) or MIM Fender. The line of Fenders above the Standard are really outstanding instruments. Also Japanese Epis, but those are rare and out of the range I think. As others have said, you never know when a MIA Fender or Gibson Studio might drop in your lap for $500.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Best Guitars in the $300-$500 range

I love this thread! So, so many great, great guitars in this range and I agree with practically all listed-

One big addition would be Reverend- Picked up a double agent that's mint for $500 a few weeks ago and the rest of my gts are jealous of the time its getting-

Another recent love is the Gretsch 5230- beautiful mahagony and blackie pups are a bit more gibosnish than the standard gretsch sound- Thick and powerful, very much like a good LP Deluxe with minis.

Yamaha certainly belongs on the list and my MIM strat gets played more than I would have expected considering it's more expensive brothers

 

[dotsdad]

Re: Best Guitars in the $300-$500 range

Chapman guitars play like guitars twice the price. Drop in some Duncan's and you've got a great axe. I have two and am saving for another. Love em!

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Best Guitars in the $300-$500 range

Chapman guitars play like guitars twice the price. Drop in some Duncan's and you've got a great axe. I have two and am saving for another. Love em!

Chapman actually says that the only reason they include pickups in their guitars is because you can't sell them without any. They are truly excellent guitars except for the pickups. I got the chance to play a ML3 Pro with a Twisted Tele set and really enjoyed it, I was kinda miffed the guy wouldn't let me buy it off of him.

If Chapman sold versions of the guitars without pickups, but with an SD Liberator, I think they'd sell quite well. And then they could sell oodles of aftermarket pickups on their website too.