best sub $500 guitars you have owned
- Thread starter buckethead
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wanmei1
New member
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
Gotta be my white MIJ 72 reissue Strat that I ordered from Japan several years ago.
Equivalent quality to a custom. ( though the Texas special pups weren't my thing. )
As far as planks of wood go....this ones a keeper.
....."move over Rover and let Wanmei take over. "
Gotta be my white MIJ 72 reissue Strat that I ordered from Japan several years ago.
Equivalent quality to a custom. ( though the Texas special pups weren't my thing. )
As far as planks of wood go....this ones a keeper.
....."move over Rover and let Wanmei take over. "
mrturtle_91
New member
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
My Squier strat, which I've upgraded the saddles on, which has made it a pretty decent sounding axe. My MIM Tele of course, is nothing short of amazing, and my Gretsch BST1000, even though it's old (70's), has a neck repair on it, and a crappy refinish is a very nice sounding and playing guitar.
My Squier strat, which I've upgraded the saddles on, which has made it a pretty decent sounding axe. My MIM Tele of course, is nothing short of amazing, and my Gretsch BST1000, even though it's old (70's), has a neck repair on it, and a crappy refinish is a very nice sounding and playing guitar.
FamousForSustain
New member
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
Peavey HP EXP. Just play one.
Peavey HP EXP. Just play one.
T
theodie
Guest
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
Yeah, those are stupid good for the money! I love the PRS SE's for that price point but, the Peavey HP EXP's are right up there if not a notch above. They are stupidly good!
Yeah, those are stupid good for the money! I love the PRS SE's for that price point but, the Peavey HP EXP's are right up there if not a notch above. They are stupidly good!
ImmortalSix
John Mayer's Mankini
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
I just bought a used PRS SE Soapbar (Singlecut) from a local guy and it vibrates more and sounds clearer and fuller than any electric guitar I own --- It sounds pretty good plugged in, too --- my #1 go-to around the house and for recording, and I have gigged with it twice.
I also love my Squier '51 --- Honestly, it's not very resonant (luck of the draw I suppose) and the humbucker sounds icepicky to me (no tone control either) but it has a big fat neck and it is a guitar I would gig (and have) without a backup --- $99 shipped
I also have an Epiphone Dot Studio --- ES-335 style guitar. It was (no ****) my #1 gigging guitar this summer. Even after putting Duncans in my MIA Stratocaster, I was still gigging my Dot Studio with the Strat as the backup. I really like the pickups (don't judge me! :laugh2: ) and it's full full full and warm warm warm! I didn't know what it was when I bought it, I didn't really know it was a cheapo. I asked the guy at the store to pull it down for me because I liked the way it looked, and after I played it I just said "I'll take it." Turns out it was $269.
I just bought a used PRS SE Soapbar (Singlecut) from a local guy and it vibrates more and sounds clearer and fuller than any electric guitar I own --- It sounds pretty good plugged in, too --- my #1 go-to around the house and for recording, and I have gigged with it twice.
I also love my Squier '51 --- Honestly, it's not very resonant (luck of the draw I suppose) and the humbucker sounds icepicky to me (no tone control either) but it has a big fat neck and it is a guitar I would gig (and have) without a backup --- $99 shipped
I also have an Epiphone Dot Studio --- ES-335 style guitar. It was (no ****) my #1 gigging guitar this summer. Even after putting Duncans in my MIA Stratocaster, I was still gigging my Dot Studio with the Strat as the backup. I really like the pickups (don't judge me! :laugh2: ) and it's full full full and warm warm warm! I didn't know what it was when I bought it, I didn't really know it was a cheapo. I asked the guy at the store to pull it down for me because I liked the way it looked, and after I played it I just said "I'll take it." Turns out it was $269.
lex666
New member
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
1. MIM Fender Strat
2. I've bought 3 Epiphone Les Pauls (not at the same time) - 2 classics and 1 standard. Say what you will about Epi, but they were all great guitars. The 2 I kept still give my Gibson LP's a run for the money.
3. ESP LTD KH502
4. Epiphone G1275 double neck ala Jimmy Page. I don't play it much, but got a great deal on it and it sounds amazing.
5. Gibson SG faded. Got a great deal on this becuz I bought it at the same time I bought one of the Epi LP's listed above. Great guitar, and is still played on a regular basis.
1. MIM Fender Strat
2. I've bought 3 Epiphone Les Pauls (not at the same time) - 2 classics and 1 standard. Say what you will about Epi, but they were all great guitars. The 2 I kept still give my Gibson LP's a run for the money.
3. ESP LTD KH502
4. Epiphone G1275 double neck ala Jimmy Page. I don't play it much, but got a great deal on it and it sounds amazing.
5. Gibson SG faded. Got a great deal on this becuz I bought it at the same time I bought one of the Epi LP's listed above. Great guitar, and is still played on a regular basis.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
My 1988 Kramer Baretta. I paid $279 for it back in 1994.
Late 80's/early 90's Gibson SG Jr. Paid $399. Wish I still had that one.
Early 90's Gibson Les Paul Studio. Think I paid $450 for it.
Early-mid 90's MIM Tele. Paid $200.
Out of those 4, I still have the Kramer.
My 1988 Kramer Baretta. I paid $279 for it back in 1994.
Late 80's/early 90's Gibson SG Jr. Paid $399. Wish I still had that one.
Early 90's Gibson Les Paul Studio. Think I paid $450 for it.
Early-mid 90's MIM Tele. Paid $200.
Out of those 4, I still have the Kramer.
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andrizzle
New member
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
+ 1 to MIM Teles... it's my #1 and I believe even with pickup (see my sig) and electronics upgrade I'm sitting just shy of $500
and I recently upgraded the pups (to Vintage GFS) on my Squier Strat which I'm becoming fonder and fonder of every time I pick it up... It's just so resonant... wish I had done this a long time ago and not let it sit around for so long! .... now to get some knobs on her :scratchch
+ 1 to MIM Teles... it's my #1 and I believe even with pickup (see my sig) and electronics upgrade I'm sitting just shy of $500
and I recently upgraded the pups (to Vintage GFS) on my Squier Strat which I'm becoming fonder and fonder of every time I pick it up... It's just so resonant... wish I had done this a long time ago and not let it sit around for so long! .... now to get some knobs on her :scratchch
DMR
New member
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
Just ordered the Ibanez RG4EXFM1 last week for $400. I had been watching my Satriani live dvd and got some Ibby gas. It's out for delivery as we speak so i'll get to play it tonight. I said i'd never own another guitar w/ a floating trem but I caved on it.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-RG-Electric-Guitar?sku=481915
While my other guitars aren't under $500 I will say that my LTD V500 and LTD EC-1000 have put my Gibson Explorer in its case and it hasn't been played in months. In fact, i'm selling it. And both the above-mentioned LTD's felt, played, and sounded every bit as good as the early 90's model ESP Horizon I had until I sold it.
Just ordered the Ibanez RG4EXFM1 last week for $400. I had been watching my Satriani live dvd and got some Ibby gas. It's out for delivery as we speak so i'll get to play it tonight. I said i'd never own another guitar w/ a floating trem but I caved on it.
http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-RG-Electric-Guitar?sku=481915
While my other guitars aren't under $500 I will say that my LTD V500 and LTD EC-1000 have put my Gibson Explorer in its case and it hasn't been played in months. In fact, i'm selling it. And both the above-mentioned LTD's felt, played, and sounded every bit as good as the early 90's model ESP Horizon I had until I sold it.
karpathion
New member
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
my esp/ltd fx-260. cant go wrong with an esp. especially for the price. $399.00.
my esp/ltd fx-260. cant go wrong with an esp. especially for the price. $399.00.
H
H8Red442
Guest
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
I once scored a used ESP Custom for $500. Actual ESP too, not LTD. That was a great guitar that I managed to completely destroy over 10 years.
I once scored a used ESP Custom for $500. Actual ESP too, not LTD. That was a great guitar that I managed to completely destroy over 10 years.
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
I'm not sure if my opinion counts, since *all* of the guitars I've ever owned have been under $500, but both my Ibanezes (RG5EX1, RG3EXQM1) and my Squire Jagmaster have been good guitars. The Jagmaster is surprisingly resonant for a Chinese-built 3-piece body guitar. Or maybe it's a 4-piece body, I forget. I can never find the darn joining seams on the body as they're well hidden in the alder's natural grain. You pluck a string and you can just feel the neck and body vibrating. It's also much louder than both my Ibanzes unplugged, and the Duncan Designed picksups I found to sound surprisingly good, despite my previous experience with less expensive pickups.
My only real complaints is that the short 24" scale is a bit too short. 9s, and even 10s to a degree feel a bit loose. Also, the volume knob also gets in the way of the tremolo arm, and the pickup selector switch doesn't like to stay up or down -- It'll flip back to the middle position even when the guitar's resting.
But despite these things it still plays well.
Pic:
I'm not sure if my opinion counts, since *all* of the guitars I've ever owned have been under $500, but both my Ibanezes (RG5EX1, RG3EXQM1) and my Squire Jagmaster have been good guitars. The Jagmaster is surprisingly resonant for a Chinese-built 3-piece body guitar. Or maybe it's a 4-piece body, I forget. I can never find the darn joining seams on the body as they're well hidden in the alder's natural grain. You pluck a string and you can just feel the neck and body vibrating. It's also much louder than both my Ibanzes unplugged, and the Duncan Designed picksups I found to sound surprisingly good, despite my previous experience with less expensive pickups.
My only real complaints is that the short 24" scale is a bit too short. 9s, and even 10s to a degree feel a bit loose. Also, the volume knob also gets in the way of the tremolo arm, and the pickup selector switch doesn't like to stay up or down -- It'll flip back to the middle position even when the guitar's resting.
But despite these things it still plays well.
Pic:
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bungalowbill
Luckybastidologist
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
1989 japanese 62 re-issue Strat....$300.00 brand new!
1989 japanese 62 re-issue Strat....$300.00 brand new!
krankguitarist
Krankitupologist
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
My Seagull S6+ spruce acoustic. 200 bucks and it sounds **** good. Not as good as my taylor, but @ about 1100 less, it's got a whole lot more bang for the buck.
That, and my old Kramer Focus 1000 that I picked up for $100 a while back. It was beat to hell, but it sure played nice.
My Seagull S6+ spruce acoustic. 200 bucks and it sounds **** good. Not as good as my taylor, but @ about 1100 less, it's got a whole lot more bang for the buck.
That, and my old Kramer Focus 1000 that I picked up for $100 a while back. It was beat to hell, but it sure played nice.
F
Forbes
Guest
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
Can't remember whta i paid for it off xssive but i'm think it was under $500.
Warmoth strat, CC/PG, it's been through countless gigs and is solid as a rock.
Can't remember whta i paid for it off xssive but i'm think it was under $500.
Warmoth strat, CC/PG, it's been through countless gigs and is solid as a rock.
sosomething
Seymour Duncan Customer Support
Re: best sub $500 guitars you have owned
Last cheapo guitar I owned was a Jackson DKM2 in white. Might have cost a little more than $500, but I don't remember. It was dece. A little "thunky" in the mids and the knockoff floyd gave the string attack kind of a sloppy, slow feel but it wasn't a bad guitar.
Last cheapo guitar I owned was a Jackson DKM2 in white. Might have cost a little more than $500, but I don't remember. It was dece. A little "thunky" in the mids and the knockoff floyd gave the string attack kind of a sloppy, slow feel but it wasn't a bad guitar.
