Do you level your own guitars?

[Top-L]

For me, a fretjob is almost always a necessity with guitars below 1K-ish.

The only exceptions I've found where they don't need it is *usually* new LTD's.

But at this point, LTD's are getting ridiculously expensive. Nowadays, a really high-end LTD is more expensive than an entry level Gibson, PRS S2, or even Japanese Ibanez.

As much as I love LTD and as bad experiences I've had with PRS SE, I wouldn't buy an LTD over a PRS S2 given they cost about the same, for example, personally.

Ltds top out around 1400-1500. Same as indo ibanez premium. The ibanez prestige fugigen guitars are 2k. Same as most of the prs s2.

The guitars that really went through the roof are the esp eii. I agree that 1500 for a ltd is expensive, but its in line with ibanez.

I dont want birds on my guitars.

 

[ehdwuld]

Either you lead a charmed life or have low standards.

Thank you
a bit of both i think

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Ltds top out around 1400-1500. Same as indo ibanez premium. The ibanez prestige fugigen guitars are 2k. Same as most of the prs s2.

The guitars that really went through the roof are the esp eii. I agree that 1500 for a ltd is expensive, but its in line with ibanez.

I dont want birds on my guitars.

The RG Genesis is like 1K, no? And the S2 Satins are 1.5K.

I'd much rather have a stripped down Japanese Ibanez or PRS than a decked out Indo Ibanez... hell, even LTD. It honestly pains me to say it, but anyways, I've always had better luck with the 400 series LTD's than the 1000's, personally.

The S2 Satins don't have birds. I agree. Fuck birds.

 

[Top-L]

The RG Genesis is like 1K, no? And the S2 Satins are 1.5K.

I'd much rather have a stripped down Japanese Ibanez or PRS than a decked out Indo Ibanez... hell, even LTD. It honestly pains me to say it, but anyways, I've always had better luck with the 400 series LTD's than the 1000's, personally.

The S2 Satins don't have birds. I agree. **** birds.

My m400 has perfect frets, didnt need any work. My m1000, nicer neck, binding, and wood top, but frets needed some attention.

The m1 custom i returned, had perfect fretwork but trem issues.

I guarantee the m1 custom at 1200 is a nicer guitar than the genesis rg at 1k if you can even get them. The ebony board, binding, neck thru and paint on the m1 were realllly nice. From what ive read, the genesis guitars are not prestige level, just mij. And i dont want a square heel guitar. Or a satin one. those prs dont have a floyd.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I don't love Ebony. At least not the cheapie stuff they use in the mid-priced guitars. I actually kinda prefer the tone of a bolt-on as well over a neck-thru. However, you are right, those are more expensive premium specs viewed by the majority as "better".

I like the Satin finish they use on the lower-end Gibsons and I assume the PRS stuff is similar. Really bare-bones. Really thin which (not always, obviously) may translate to better tone. Two of my best-soundin guitars have had the paper-thin finish. The Ibanez RGA121 and my Gibson Les Paul Tribute.

The thing that I like about the PRS S2 stuff is the kind of Mahogany they use is more akin to what Gibson use than what LTD use. You can argue that's a whole lot of BS as to how it translates in tone, but the thing is, it looks MUCH prettier. Especially because they use like 2 pieces at most, where as if you get those see-thru finished LTD's, you usually get horrible mismatched multipiece backs.

I'm not trying to knock on LTD. I love LTD. I would have no hesitation in buying another LTD if I found one for a good deal. But a new satin LTD EC-1000T is even more expensive than a Gibson Les Paul Tribute. No way I'd be willing to justify that. Even if it has binding, I mean... the locking tuners are mehh generic locking tuners. The TonePros bridge is the lowest end Zamac stuff. The Fishman Fluences are nicer, I'll give you that, but the veneers they use are more often than not super underwhelming (for a guitar that expensive). The Mahogany they use is certainly not the same kind. And even if it both come with arguably good fretwork, the Gibson is plek'd, which I honestly kinda trust more.

I think that's where we're disagreeing. I like different guitars than you do. I like Super Strats as much as anyone, but I don't want a Floyd (95% of the time, I avoid Floyds), I don't want an Ebony board, I don't need a guitar to be neck-thru. The rest of the stuff, I'm going to swap anyways because I like experimenting and modding my guitars' hardware and pickups.

I've never tried SS frets, though. And I do thing that's where LTD might have Gibson beat. But I don't know about PRS. I know they use a fancy fret material as well.

 

[LRS]

If there was a plek machine in driving distance with a luthier I trusted, I might still be getting them plekked. I have had three different places do pleks for me. One guitar came out exceptional, two of them, there were issues. Plek machines and stainless frets don't stop the ravages of time, unfortunately. And they let the luthier take shortcuts. That once exceptional plekked guitar needed another level a few years later.

Prices have gone up. $300 base, they add extra for a Floyd guitar, then shipping. It ends up around $400-500 and you have to worry about if your guitar will be damaged in shipping. I'd rather just buy a new cheap guitar and level it myself.

I get your point. Here in Holland I pay €140,- for a PLEK setup. Considering the 40 minute drive, for me it’s a no-brainer

 

[Top-L]

Plek can be used to hide issues with a neck. I dont trust it on a newly build guitar. In two years it will need another anyway.

I dont believe resonance, light weight wood, bolt on necks translate to better amplified tone. I used to. I have guitars that already do that. Thats why im seeking another neck through.

Gloss bodied can be buffed out and made to look new again 20 years later.

I would love an explorer or ml shape body, but i know they would hit my chair and desk all the time. and they take huge cases. Dont care for les paul shape. Not good for classical position.

Ltd is not perfect. Ike you said, im not sure asian mahogony is the same thing. Or asian alder. And they do have defects. I like my m1000, but its not perfect.

Im not sure a bare bones usa model is the way to go.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Plek can be used to hide issues with a neck. I dont trust it on a newly build guitar. In two years it will need another anyway.

I dont believe resonance, light weight wood, bolt on necks translate to better amplified tone. I used to. I have guitars that already do that. Thats why im seeking another neck through.

Gloss bodied can be buffed out and made to look new again 20 years later.

I would love an explorer or ml shape body, but i know they would hit my chair and desk all the time. and they take huge cases. Dont care for les paul shape. Not good for classical position.

Ltd is not perfect. Ike you said, im not sure asian mahogony is the same thing. Or asian alder. And they do have defects. I like my m1000, but its not perfect.

Im not sure a bare bones usa model is the way to go.

For you, maybe not. For me, I think it is.

I don't believe bolt-on necks translate to better amplified tone either just for the fact that they're bolt-on, but by those standards, I don't really think neck thru does much for the amplified tone either. At least not when the whole neck is Maple and we're speaking for the tone that I like. More for playability in the upper register. But while I do hate thick necks and round fretboards, I've come to learn that for myself, I can really get used to almost any guitar if I spend some time with it. And I also have like 0 interest in bending notes on the 24th fret either, so for me, meh.

I don't mind a guitar looking a bit worn. I do think relics look stupid when they're not done right. But I like my guitars looking like I don't baby them either. Not to say I'm one of those people that have their guitars all dusty and the hardware all tarnished. Yuck. Luckily, I'm not one of those people with really corrosive sweat, and I do wipe my guitars after I play the, especially because I don't want to have to change strings as often, but I don't mind a couple of dings here and there either. My turning point was when I was in junior high, and I was jamming with a friend, and his mom told me not to sit on his amp because it could damage it, LOL. And I do think those thin cheapie Nitro finishes look a bit cooler when they're worn than on LTD's where they're 99% pristine, but just all of a sudden have this huge ding calling all your attention to it, LOL. Also, the LTD satin finish looks horrible once it wears in a bit too.

But I do like Les Paul and Les Paul types. Ever since I started playing guitar, that's what I've really wanted to play. And I kinda like the PRS thing, but I don't like it as much as to aspiring to own a 5K Custom-something. If I were going to spend that much on a guitar, I'd much rather get a CS Les Paul, and add black hardware to it and active pickups just to piss everyone off, LOL. But I also don't like PRS SE's because they look so cheap in person and I've had so many QC issues with them.

 

[Top-L]

Am i wrong, but werent you on the ltd bandwagon just a month ago? Now you are holding up inexpensive lp and prs models as your personal ideal? I mean, thats great if its your thing. I wasnt an ltd fanboy and tried to get a jackson, but was turned away. Besides the trem problem the m1 custom had, it was a much highre quality instrument than the similarly priced jackson. For shred and metal guitars, i think ltd n schecter hold a value advantage over jackson and ibanez. Only other mainstream brand building in this style is...kramer.? Maybe charvel if you think they are better than jackson, but they are all just fender.

 

[GuitarDoc]

nope i pay for expertise.

With a little time, patience, and work YOU could be the expert.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

Am i wrong, but werent you on the ltd bandwagon just a month ago? Now you are holding up inexpensive lp and prs models as your personal ideal? I mean, thats great if its your thing. I wasnt an ltd fanboy and tried to get a jackson, but was turned away. Besides the trem problem the m1 custom had, it was a much highre quality instrument than the similarly priced jackson. For shred and metal guitars, i think ltd n schecter hold a value advantage over jackson and ibanez. Only other mainstream brand building in this style is...kramer.? Maybe charvel if you think they are better than jackson, but they are all just fender.

Nah, I am still firmly in the LTD bandwagon, LOL.

I'm all over the place, TBH. But I do love Les Paul Tribute I have right now. But all of the LTD's I've had have been solid, at the very least. A couple of them have been extraordinary. However, the LTD's that I like are more around the 400 series range. Like I said, I like to swap out pickups and hardware, and I prefer rosewood boards and solid finishes on mid-priced guitars. It's just the 1000 series and how expensive they're making them right now that I don't like. But I'd still very much buy an EC-400AT if they made one without hesitation, but they don't make any full thickness EC in the 400 range.

But as far as quality and fretwork, LTD has been the best out of the mid-priced stuff coming from Korea that I've tried. It's just that I don't look for a highly-spec'd guitar, personally, since I'm know I'm going to swap everything out myself just for the sake of experimenting. I would like to try the SS frets on the 1000 series, tho, but at the same time, I don't know if I really need them.

 

[Clint 55]

I also think fret levels are something everyone can learn to do well. Not everyone wants to tho.

I taught myself over a couple of years and got it dialed. Every single note on my necks play perfectly at any action. Learned to get the fallaway right in the upper frets, crown them correctly with intonation point in the center line of the fret, round the fret ends which many luthiers neglect, radius is uniform (no flat leveling beam - radius block!), bring them to a polished grit.

If you're scared, just practice on pos necks until you get it right.

 

[Top-L]

Nah, I am still firmly in the LTD bandwagon, LOL.

I'm all over the place, TBH. But I do love Les Paul Tribute I have right now. But all of the LTD's I've had have been solid, at the very least. A couple of them have been extraordinary. However, the LTD's that I like are more around the 400 series range. Like I said, I like to swap out pickups and hardware, and I prefer rosewood boards and solid finishes on mid-priced guitars. It's just the 1000 series and how expensive they're making them right now that I don't like. But I'd still very much buy an EC-400AT if they made one without hesitation, but they don't make any full thickness EC in the 400 range.

But as far as quality and fretwork, LTD has been the best out of the mid-priced stuff coming from Korea that I've tried. It's just that I don't look for a highly-spec'd guitar, personally, since I'm know I'm going to swap everything out myself just for the sake of experimenting. I would like to try the SS frets on the 1000 series, tho, but at the same time, I don't know if I really need them.

LTD charges more for the active pickups. The 400s have passive pickups and no extras. The 1000s usually have active electronics, binding, wood top. I like my 400 almost as much as the 1000. The 400 is actually more perfect, although simpler.

 

[JMP/HBE]

With a little time, patience, and work YOU could be the expert.

nah not my thing.
Im expert at too many things already and not getting any younger.

"A mans got to know his limitations" Dirty Harry.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

LTD charges more for the active pickups. The 400s have passive pickups and no extras. The 1000s usually have active electronics, binding, wood top. I like my 400 almost as much as the 1000. The 400 is actually more perfect, although simpler.

The EC's have EMG's. I have no issues with those, but what I have issue with is there are basically 2 variations of the EC-401 and like 75947957495 of the EC-1000.

 

[Top-L]

That is their bread and butter. I'm surprised how few versions there are of the M-series. If you want a Floyd you have three color choices in the M1000, and only one in the M400. The price difference between the M400 and M1000 is only a few hundred bucks. I see what you are saying, they want you to buy a 1000.

 

[GuitarDoc]

I also think fret levels are something everyone can learn to do well. Not everyone wants to tho.

I taught myself over a couple of years and got it dialed. Every single note on my necks play perfectly at any action. Learned to get the fallaway right in the upper frets, crown them correctly with intonation point in the center line of the fret, round the fret ends which many luthiers neglect, radius is uniform (no flat leveling beam - radius block!), bring them to a polished grit.

If you're scared, just practice on pos necks until you get it right.

Right on.

 

[GuitarDoc]

nah not my thing.
Im expert at too many things already and not getting any younger.

"A mans got to know his limitations" Dirty Harry.

Yeah, I get you. Not everyone's thing. Nothing wrong with that. It helps to keep me in business.
But if someone wanted to do their own, it's nothing to be afraid of...and not a bad skill to learn.

 

[playas]

I've done some levelling on a couple of necks. Still just at the start of the learning curve, but it's something I have wanted to learn for some time, but had been nervous about it, so it's good to finally get stuck in.

 

[Explorer84]

I don't. Wish I had taken the time to learn how.