Cheapest guitar you actually play

firebirdV

firebirdV

New member
Just came up with this idea, what is your cheapest guitar that actually gets play time? Pics are welcome.

I use an old Japanese Hamox f-100. It is made of some weird plywood with a spruce veneer on top, the action is horrible and some day the necks going to pop off, yet somehow it sounds ok (not good by any means). In other words, it's good for slide.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

Music-Yo! Kramer Baretta that I bought used for $125 and put EMGs and an active bass/treble control in. Neck-through, black, reverse headstock, Floyd. It's my Slayer guitar.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

I was given my acoustic for free, but in terms of actual value of the guitar, my MIM Tele.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

Mine is the Ibanez AF-85 VLS Jazz guitar. You would not know it though.

Best bang for the buck IMO.

IbanezArtcoreAF85.jpg

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Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

Jessie Sammler said:
Music-Yo! Kramer Baretta that I bought used for $125 and put EMGs and an active bass/treble control in. Neck-through, black, reverse headstock, Floyd. It's my Slayer guitar.
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I remember when the music shops were getting $800.00 for that guitar. That is when Eddie VanHalen was using one.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

Probably my Squier JV '62 Stratocaster. Paid £180 for it. Sold the DiMarzio FS-1s that came on it. Fitted some Duncans and Sperzel "slot top" machineheads that I already had in the parts drawer. Nett outlay, £100. ($140US)
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

I've got $110 into the orange one. Guitar was $40, $40 for the Mo' Joe pickup, $20 for the tuners, $10 for the primer and paint.
 
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Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

DLT said:
I remember when the music shops were getting $800.00 for that guitar. That is when Eddie VanHalen was using one.
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I don't think this version was ever getting $800 at retail. It was after Gibson bought the name and "resurrected" Kramer as an online brand distributed by Music Yo!. These guitars were Korean and decent, but they weren't real Kramers by any stretch. I'll post a pic later.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

Jessie Sammler said:
I don't think this version was ever getting $800 at retail. It was after Gibson bought the name and "resurrected" Kramer as an online brand distributed by Music Yo!. These guitars were Korean and decent, but they weren't real Kramers by any stretch. I'll post a pic later.
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Okay...thanks for the info. It is hard to keep up with all the history about guitars.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

dominus said:
I've got $110 into the orange one. Guitar was $40, $40 for the Mo' Joe pickup, $20 for the tuners, $10 for the primer and paint.
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Orange and black hardware go together like cookies and milk!
Love it!
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

Cheapest Construction:
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Old Torella model 50, laminated top, back and sides, ash fretboard, alder neck. Cost my parents 100DM (back then about 40$) in 1984.

Cheapest price: Tied between
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Eko S-100 archtop. Was given to me as a gift. originally cost something like 1 thousand dollars or so IIRC.

And the Ibanez S-470 I acquired in the summer as payment for Occide´s half of the studio costs. Still don´t have a pic of that one...

Cheapest Electric I actually bought myself, both construction wise and pricing:
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Jackson JRS-2. Originally paid 150€ for it as the only bidder on an eBay auction that I bid on just for ****s and giggles on the first day. Sold it to a friend, at some point in time he owed me money so he gave it back to me together with a 20€ practice amp. Is actually bone stock save for replaced tuners, and is one of my go-to instruments. IIRC they cost about 1500 DM back in 96, at the time about 900$ US
 
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Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

I have a cheap classical, of which I don't know the value. I only paid a whopping ten bucks for it though.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

Well, I only really play 1 guitar... so that is a hard question, but I will play my squier Jagmaster when very drunk, or in the rain, or at a party. So yeah, that gets my vote.

If you are thinking actual guitar that I play on a regular basis, probably the Takamine G series acoustic-electric I got a few weeks back.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

I'd guess a Crafted in USA Peavey Predator. Certainly the cheapest that I've purchased.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

Late '70 MIJ Vantage 790. Got it for € 15,00 in terrible state:

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Put Grovers, Gotoh Hardware, a couple of Humbuckers I've made from some asian p'ups, CTS pots, Sprague caps and Switchcraft toggle and jack.

A complete refret was in order, I've used Dunlop 6105 wire and I've replaced the brass nut with one made from bone.

I get instant Angus Young tone with this guitar...
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

i use a bunch of cheapies... but the one i use a hell of a lot is a 1999 MIM Strat... bought used for $199... threw a $40 used Duncan Custom in the bridge and bam, R&R is in that guitar... i've thought of upgrading parts like the trem and tuners but so far i just use it as is...
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

Very cool thread.
This is mine:
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It's cheap only because it's one of those "best kept secrets". It's a high quality, made the Chicago factory, Washburn USA model MG-70 or 90 or something. It gets played a lot. It's a great player, and with the great tone woods, hardware and electronics (Duncan SSL-5's and JB), it gets all the tones I need when playing out too. It's my "Trigger" and it's developing an area of finish that's worn away like Willie Nelson's Trigger.
The previous owner did a lousy job packing it when he shipped it to me but I lucked out and it arrived without damage. $250, off Evil Bay.
 
Re: Cheapest guitar you actually play

This is actually my first guitar(1987/$50 for the guitar, Gorilla amp and a Arion Metal Master. OH YEAH!) that I still have and play. I've pulled her out at a few gigs too! It's a Yamaha SE110 that started out pearl white(you can see it in the worn spots) and then the 80's kicked in and I gave her a killer lime green paint job (I'm sure you'll all agree!). If you look close you can see the paint runs because we were all soooooo patient in our younger years were'nt we? Check out my "custom fitted" locking trem nut w/no locks. Stays in tune! The PU is out of a Kramer something of other. And yes,, I am a D'Addario Guitar Wizard!

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