Expensive vs cheap

[kramersteen]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

I don't see how it would not stay in tune. Learn how a floyd rose bridge works for an example strings pull up and springs pull down. It's just finding the right balance with strings and springs. Floyd rose has its own quirks and learning those will help you to stay in tune. I also recommed how to set up your own guitar. That way you'll get more bang for your buck.

Nothing worse than a cheap FR imo. Rather me a hardtail if i was aiming for cheap at least that way you don't have to deal with ****ty quality metal knife edges.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

Providing both can play/stay in tune, the necks feel right, and ergonomically it works for me, I honestly don't care. I won't pay for an expensive guitar that I have to mod, but I will buy a cheaper one and make it my own. I also don't like fancy bling everywhere, so that always saves me some $$.

 

[Willy25]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

I went to GC, and i will never buy any gear from them. I showed a guy two guitars, i told him which one had better quality, and instead of looking at the specs and stuff, he just looked at the price and said that i should go for the expensive one. The cheaper one had better trem and tuners. Ill just look for used guitar instead. Also i wanted to try another guitar with trem, but i couldnt because it wont stay in tune! And had really high action! I told the employee what if i purchase it, will the basic set up be included? He said no! I think if they put guitar up on the wall, they should stay in tune!

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

Yep, box stores are heading south fast. Lots of inexperienced, commission driven sales folks are not adding value and we can learn more by ourselves online. There's definitely room for boutiques with gurus adding value in the store.

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[devastone]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

What Ibanez models are you looking at?

I've played Ibzs for years and there are some significant differences between the MIJ and the lower end ones, mostly, if it has a trem, the MIJ version will have an Edge, Lo-Pro Edge, or Edge Pro unless the last letter of the model number is "Z". If it is a lower end model it probably has the a Lo-TRS bridge which is very meh, unless it is one of the new MII Premiums, which will have the Zero Edge then it will have the Edge Zero along with any Prestige model that ends in "Z". The Edge Zero is a decent and very functional bridge, light years above the Lo-TRS but it has one weak spot, the saddle lockdown screws, which have very fine threads, screw directly into the cast metal baseplate, which is quite soft. If these screws are overtightened they can strip out, it's a relatively easy fix if this happens, the hole will need to be drilled out and have a helicoil insert installed, and it should never strip out after that. The other Edge models are also cast metal (part of what gives them a warmer tone than a OFR), but they have a hardened steel plate on the bottom that the saddle lockdown screws screw in to. It's not a deal breaker for the Edge Zero, but something to be aware of.

And yes, the pickups are usually better on the Prestige models, although the MII Premiums usually come stock with made in US DiMarzio/Ibz pickups.

My <$0.02, hope it helps

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

I went to GC, and i will never buy any gear from them. I showed a guy two guitars, i told him which one had better quality, and instead of looking at the specs and stuff, he just looked at the price and said that i should go for the expensive one. The cheaper one had better trem and tuners. Ill just look for used guitar instead. Also i wanted to try another guitar with trem, but i couldnt because it wont stay in tune! And had really high action! I told the employee what if i purchase it, will the basic set up be included? He said no! I think if they put guitar up on the wall, they should stay in tune!

While it kind of sucks that you can't rely on their employees knowing their butts from holes in the ground, it's not really a reason to not shop there. As long as YOU can tell the difference, who needs them?

 

[Demanic]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

I go into GC every once in a while just to check things out. I usually wind up buying some strings, or picks. Occasionally a cable. The new stuff is usually overpriced AFAIC.

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[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

I go there for things my preferred store doesn't have. I frequent the used section and have come up on some decent deals and other stuff I don't normally see around.

 

[Securb]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

Go online and look at some Ibanez Roadstar IIs, MIJ from the 80's. You will find a killer axe for $300 - $400.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

I found a VBT 700 for $700, and I considered it a good deal.

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[Willy25]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

What Ibanez models are you looking at?

I've played Ibzs for years and there are some significant differences between the MIJ and the lower end ones, mostly, if it has a trem, the MIJ version will have an Edge, Lo-Pro Edge, or Edge Pro unless the last letter of the model number is "Z". If it is a lower end model it probably has the a Lo-TRS bridge which is very meh, unless it is one of the new MII Premiums, which will have the Zero Edge then it will have the Edge Zero along with any Prestige model that ends in "Z". The Edge Zero is a decent and very functional bridge, light years above the Lo-TRS but it has one weak spot, the saddle lockdown screws, which have very fine threads, screw directly into the cast metal baseplate, which is quite soft. If these screws are overtightened they can strip out, it's a relatively easy fix if this happens, the hole will need to be drilled out and have a helicoil insert installed, and it should never strip out after that. The other Edge models are also cast metal (part of what gives them a warmer tone than a OFR), but they have a hardened steel plate on the bottom that the saddle lockdown screws screw in to. It's not a deal breaker for the Edge Zero, but something to be aware of.

And yes, the pickups are usually better on the Prestige models, although the MII Premiums usually come stock with made in US DiMarzio/Ibz pickups.

My <$0.02, hope it helps

I was looking at the ibanez rg470ahm and the jackson js34q dinky. The jackson had a better trem and stayed in tune.

 

[Demanic]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

Then get the Jackson.

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[Willy25]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

Then get the Jackson.

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Im thinking about it because i dont wanna deal with a trem system. At first it looked cool but after thinking about changing tunings , strings etc.. Not so lol

 

[Demanic]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

I have one. It's not that bad.

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[Willy25]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

I have one. It's not that bad.

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Any benefits? Or its only used for that whammy effect?

 

[Demanic]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

The one I have has a later model lo pro licensed to Jackson bridge. It holds tune and after 9 months of use, the knife edges still seem fine. Up 2 steps, down to spaghetti. Haven't broken a string yet either. And aside from the high E, all the rest came with the guitar.

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[Lovegun]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

Nothing worse than a cheap FR imo. Rather me a hardtail if i was aiming for cheap at least that way you don't have to deal with ****ty quality metal knife edges.

Well I' had my low end Jackson for about a year and a half and there's no sign of wear tear on the knife edges. Then again I don't go whammy crazy a lot. I had a Kramer v in the early nineties and I had no problems with the knife edges. I wish I hadn't sold that one. Not sure of the model but it looked like this.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

Well, a little (a lot) late to the party and I mostly agree with pretty much all the answers here, however here's my take:

When I was young and had more time, I'd spend hours upon hours at the various guitar stores in reasonable proximity to me and try their guitars. 9 out of 10 times I wouldn't know their brand, yet 9 out of 10 times I'd prefer them over the ones I did know.

I've played Schecters (before they were a thing) that blew Ibanezs out of the water, Carvins (when grandpa Kiesel was still alive and Mark ran the company/division) that completely annihilated Fenders, Gibsons AND Jacksons and Korean no-names (like my baby Izzy, a Swing EZ-10) that very plainly stated "I Rock!".

Point is, no advice from us will ever be as good as the ability to take a guitar in your hands, not look at the price tag and be able to tell if it's good or not (and THEN look at the price tag to see whether it is inexpensive, overpriced or just about right) and that comes with experience.

Best advice I could ever give you is go out of your comfort zone and your local guitar center and try as many and as varied guitars as you can, the less known, the less familiar to you, the better. Many times you'll get to play lemons, many others diamonds (either polished or in the rough) but in both cases you'll get a better understanding of what makes you happy to play with and, hopefully, get an awesome deal as well.

Finally, do not shy away from used guitars, unlike used cars they show their maladies pretty proudly and you don't need a mechanic to find them for you. 3 of my guitars were bought used and I can honestly say that it simply was a great way to buy a great guitar I wouldn't have been able to otherwise.

 

[evan47]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

Sometimes it is wise to hold back until a mid price guitar line gets a product refresh like when the 2017 prs se models had a different headstock logo and slightly higher output pickups which meant that larger stores were getting shot of the earlier ones at a good discount (a new guitar with warranty for the price of a used one ).
Ex demo and b-stock can be bargains too.
Be wary of ebay unless you pick it up in person and try it first.
Keep an eye on the local classifieds as well as often a gem will turn up when you least expect it to ( happened to me recently, I bought a guitar online and two weeks later the one I really wanted came up used, local, in great condition and too nice to resist so I ended up selling the online bought one and taking a hit in the wallet ),

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Expensive vs cheap

A couple of years ago I had an Ibanez Prestige RG655 and an Indonesian made RG450M. I still have the cheaper 450M. I sold the Prestige model. Yes, the hardware, pickups, and fret polish on the Prestige model was a little better, but I can change pickups and polish frets. In the end, the cheaper 450M plays and sounds just as good, and I like the slightly thicker neck on it better. I don't go crazy with the tremolo bar, so take that into account, but I don't think there is anything wrong with the 400 dollar RG450's. I like mine as much as my Gibson Les Paul.