Best HSS Guitars?

[Butch Snyder]

I'm looking for a good HSS guitar for under $1k. Here are some of the specs I'd like to see:

1. No pickguard, if possible
2. 22 frets
3. Rosewood fretboard
4. Locking trem

Anyone got any ideas? The one that I have liked for a long time is Mark Knopfler's Pensa-Suhr model.

Cheers,

 

[C-Martin]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

no pickguard.. try Carvin or Schecter, i saw some pretty cool looking Carvins id probably hit if i had the finance for annother guitar

with pickguard.. Highway one strats are great workhorse guitars

those are the names that come to mind, theres always Ibanez too but i personaly dont like their necks, or you could always try a warmoth project.

 

[C-Martin]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

my bad, i didnt notice you said locking trem, then you can pretty much scrap fender...

try Schecter, Ibanez, ESP, LTD, Schecter, Jackson, Kramer

if your willing to go used you could however find some good deals on old fender strats with floyds


btw as soon as i saw that guitar it reminded me of Carvin.. and i was right, it looks remarkably like the Carvin DC135, wich is under 1k, maybe you should take a look at it

 

[Kostas]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

...Anyone got any ideas? The one that I have liked for a long time is Mark Knopfler's Pensa-Suhr model...

Knopfler's Pensa-Suhr model was a carved top body, this makes it pricier. Pensa-Suhr were working with Warmoth parts. If you can assemble a guitar or have an experienced luthier close to you for assembling, the closest you can get is Warmoth http://www.warmoth.com/guitar/bodies/soloist.cfm?fuseaction=carvedtop_soloist





These are examples from Warmoth gallery, you can order yours HSS with binding and I think they have a small upcharge for the Pensa-Suhr headstock despite not mentioning that in the site. I'm pretty sure though that the cost will be over $1000, depending on your selections.

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

i would say the carvin dc series would be a good bet. you can get one for under 800 stock

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Charvel/Jackson are some of my fav's with locking trems... maybe look for a used usa model...

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

My HSS Strat is awesome...so i'd say it's the best one.

If I was in your shoes I'd just hit up Warmoth. easiest way to get exactly what you want.

 

[AzCat]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Charvel/Jackson are some of my fav's with locking trems... maybe look for a used usa model...

+1 though HSS is usually a Soloist and they have 24 frets rather than the 22 the OP is looking for. That said late 80s / early 90s USA Soloists are screamers and can usually be had fairly reasonably.

 

[gnoj_LL]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Floyd Rose DST-3

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pdf/spec/511822.pdf

Finishes: Red, Retro Blue, or Black
Body: Basswood
Neck: Bolt-on Rock Maple 1.65" nut width
Fretboard: Rosewood, 12" radius, 22 jumbo frets
Hardware: SpeedLoader Tremolo
Pickups: One hot humbucker and two high output singles
Pickguard: White Perloid (Black Perloid with Black Finish)


I had this for a year now and I love it! =)

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Wouldn't one of the old MM Lukather siggy's fit the bill? You could always swap out the EMG's!!!

 

[ErikH]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Me thinks you'd have to look at a used Jackson or Charvel for that. Heck, an old Kramer Pacer would fit the bill too.

If you get the itch to make one from parts, I still have a HSS routed Warmoth Strat body that I'm trying to unload. It's routed for a non-recessed Floyd Rose too. It is top-loading and to be honest, I think you may have to include that in your search to keep enough options out there.

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Actually, I got to thinking about it. A white, off-white, type of finish with a black pickgaurd would be cool. I believe Rid has a Kramer pacer like that. Here's one from a dude's website that I thought was cool....

 

[ErikH]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Yup, Rid does have one. Those are great guitars.

Just an FYI, the body I have for sale is silver.

 

[J Moose]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Years ago I had a Guild Liberator... exactly what you want!

Thick, quilted flame maple top on mahogany, 24-fret... neck through... floyd... H/S/S with on/off switches, volume & tone. It was a beast but I could never hang with the neck and eventually sold it because I never played it. Thinking back, new frets probably would've done wonders... never seen another one. Not like mine anyway.

Then there's this thing ~ http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-USA-Gui...oryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I'd get a used USA made shredder like a Hamer or something before a new Schecter. Warmoth might be a good route... esp. if you want something like the Pensa.

 

[Kosh Naranek]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

1. No pickguard, if possible
2. 22 frets
3. Rosewood fretboard
4. Locking trem

Look into Valley Arts,
Washburn USA
Robin,
Zion,
and Hamer USA,
all on the used market of course.

Under $1K new, +1 on Carvin. You can order one with all those features. The DC 127 or 135 are under $1K new. A Contour 66 might be over $1k. You don't specify whether you want bolt on, neck through or if you have a preference.

 

[Uk Ant]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Jackson Dinkies come in under £500 over here, so that's less than $1k
Ibanez have a huge range in that sort of price bracket, depending on what you want. Just don't bother with the JEM 555, really not worth it.
Second hand your world is your oyster really.
I keep thinking about getting a proper superstrat, and what I really want is a kramer.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

+1 for Carvin.

At 22 frets A BOLT+ or a Contour 66 will fit your bill to a T.

 

[papersoul]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

How is the Carvin feel and quality????

What about G&L?!?!?!

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

Carvin feel and quality is excellent...

 

[NoOnesFang13]

Re: Best HSS Guitars?

carvin quality... well lets put it this way they are only inexpensive because they deal factory direct (no dealer markup ie. gibson fender). I belive they have 5 stores, and are only in Cal. I have gone to the Sacramento Store and let me tell you the feel is amazing. the action is always good. They have somthing called "rapid play" necks, which i think is an accurate description, very fast. Nothing about these guitars is bad... except the pickups are a little... well not as good as duncans, but that should not set u back too far.
Basically they are custom guitars at low prices, and i would say that the build quatlity of a custom guitar is most likely very very good.