Budget Guitars

R

ramonasbroke

New member
Hey guys,

I've been thinking of selling my jazzmaster and getting a couple of lower-end under-$800 guitars. I'm looking for more of a barebones humbucker or p90s guitar. I'm into rock like the pixies and gun club and jazz like grant green and kenny burrell. I need a guitar with well defined low-mids. I play a lot of inverted chords and the way I play makes the sound vulnerable to MUD. But I plan to tailor the Pups of whatever I get to complement that. The jazzmasters really bells and whistles and its just not my thing anymore. Plus I'm not into the neck.

Ive seen some things on this list that interest me http://www.musicradar.com/us/news/g...-electric-guitars-in-the-world-today-529461/3

I'm really liking the Hofner Colorama, the Hagstrom Swede, and kinda liking the vintage v100 and the washburn idol. Also not on this list that caught me eye are the Hagstrom Viking and an Agile Harm 1 http://www.rondomusic.com/harm1hum2ts1.html.

Anyone ever get to play any of these or have any thoughts/suggestions? My ideal guitars are the PRS Hollowbody (best neck for me) and the Hamer Artist (never got to play it :disappoin ). I would like to just get a used Hamer Artist but i'm tying to save some money and I want to get a single coil banger too. I'm really going for quality build for the money (i know it wont be on the level of PRS) and playablilty. I dont care for the Pups can I plan to swap them anyways. Thanks guys!
 
Re: Budget Guitars

I agree with your choices. That Hofner Colorama looks great. The Hagtrom Swede is also an excellent guitar. Don't know anything about the Harm, but some of the Agile Les Pauls are very fine.
 
Re: Budget Guitars

How about a PRS SE Semi-Hollow and then install a pair of P-Rails pickups in Triple Shot mounting surrounds?
 
Re: Budget Guitars

I own a Hagstrom Ultra Swede and it is SWEET! On the used market check for the Epiphone Les Paul 1956 model. It can come in goldtop or black. It has P-90's. I've been wanting one for a while, but life, money, and stuff has gotten in the way. But honestly, I'm not exactly hurting for guitars at the moment.
 
Re: Budget Guitars

PRS SE
main1.jpg

secustom_semihollowsb.jpg

Hagstrom
deuce-f-blk_hori_2e04601cdd019b773b5850f30d6dcce6.jpg

Ibanez
AR620_BK_12_01.png


AM153_DBS_12_01.png


You have plenty options to choose.
 
Re: Budget Guitars

tc said:
What Jazzmaster do you own?
Click to expand...

Its a '62 American Vintage RI with a few blemishes on it. Not sure exactly on the year I believe its a 2004 (I dont trust myself with taking the neck off). I can send you some pics if you would like.
 
Re: Budget Guitars

Thanks for the replies guys! Much appreciated. This is going to be a hard decision as I don't even have access to most the models to test them out. Im liking this as well:


1358286221tg_3TB_main.png


/\ Korina body and a bass contour

Hamer and Cort are other brands I might go for. When I got my jazzmaster I was torn between that and a Hamer artist. I might just go with that since I hear such good things. Ive only played a cheap cort acoustic and I was pretty impressed. I think I'm going to get a Cort G210 and swap the Pups for single coil needs. Thanks everyone!
 
Re: Budget Guitars

If you truly dislike the neck profile on the Fender AVRI, go ahead and sell it. If the only issue is the sound from the stock pickups, consider replacing them with SD Antiquity I for Jazzmaster. http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/electric/specialized/jazzmaster/1103431_32_neck/

Alternatively, consider borrowing the bass cut filter switch idea from the Fender Jaguar. Replace your stock Tone pot with a push-pull pot. Engage the capacitor when the control knob is pulled out.
 
Re: Budget Guitars

You'll find plenty under $800. Not really a low budget in my opinion. And you can tailor the sound by swapping the pickups regardless of what/ how the guitar is made of.

Have you considered Samick and Stagg? They have a broad selection under $500.
 
Re: Budget Guitars

ramonasbroke said:
Hamer and Cort are other brands I might go for. When I got my jazzmaster I was torn between that and a Hamer artist. I might just go with that since I hear such good things. Ive only played a cheap cort acoustic and I was pretty impressed. I think I'm going to get a Cort G210 and swap the Pups for single coil needs. Thanks everyone!
Click to expand...

I have a Cort M200 that I love. I can't believe how nice this guitar is for the money. (The G210 looks nice too.)

Cort-M200b.jpg
 
Re: Budget Guitars

You can get some surprising features with budget guitars. The trick is to find that optimum cost/feature balance to suit you.
 
Re: Budget Guitars

I think a PRS SE is what you need.

Good P90, 25" scale….nice price.

Lot to love there.

What do east woods run? MAybe a used Reverend w/ P-90's?
 
Re: Budget Guitars

Always trade up, not down. I'd sell the Jazzmaster, plus whatever else you can part with, and shop Craigslist for a $2200 guitar being sacrificed for $1300.

That's not to say there's no good budget guitars out there, but you may as well use the opportunity to get a lifetime keeper.

Just my 2 cents.
 
Re: Budget Guitars

Thanks for all the replies guys. Im going to try to make it to a bunch of guitar shops to check some out, but I work 55 hrs a week and interviewing for other jobs at the moment. :butkick:

Funkfingers - its kind of both. I think its mostly the action on it. I have the original bridge jazzmaster bridge and I can't just bang away like I want. I heard getting the mustang bridge makes it a new guitar. And I find the neck a bit "sticky" (I keep my guitar clean, i just think its the finish on it).

Brian - (I'm a big fan of your show btw) I havent. Thanks for the suggestions! I'm going to look into those brands.

Artietoo - Corts do look nice a great value. I looked into the semi-hollowbody 'M' guitar they have that comes with an SD '59 and JB. But thats looks a good solid body deal.

Gearjoneser- I' completely get where you are coming from and I'm actually testing the waters now to see if I can get an PRS McCarty with a wide-fat neck, a Heritage, a Hamer or another handmade-caliber guitar. I do have some pedals I have no use for anymore.

This leads to me a tangent. Not to Hijack my own thread, but has anyone ever played a Kurt Wilson guitar? Hes a luthier from Chicago. I cant find much info on him other than a handful of internet forum threads saying his guitars are amazing which I guess is a good sign...

https://reverb.com/item/93418-custom-handmade-kurt-wilson-electric-guitar-neck-through-korina-and-flame-maple

Not sure if I'd take the risk on such an obscure guitar. Im GASing all over the place right now lol. PRS S2 Miras, Heritage semi-hollowbodies, Hamers, Agiles, Reverends. I am a wreck! Thanks for the conversation guys, I appreciate it! I'll see what happens in the next couple of days
 
Re: Budget Guitars

The good thing about local luthiers are that they are very dependent of local custom....and I'm talking small business guys here, not big builders who just happen to be local to your area.

You can often get more creative control and a pick of woods/hardware etc. The downside is that they don't have the bulk buying power so most things will be more expensive when new. Used of course, you can either get a bargain or spend a lot more that normal depending on the builders reputation and wait time.
 
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