Hoss
Joyfulnoiseologist
So...me and my buddy Richard went on a guitar store tour for the ages yesterday...we went to like 6 stores and played everything from Squire Vibe Strats & Teles to a $15,000 62' Strat to Rics to Pauls to Sgs to ESPs and everything in between!
I learned something...well...it's something i already knew actually...i have Filet Mignon tastes and a Bologna budget!!! LOL!!! But in reality, i found some SERIOUS diamonds in the rough!
I know there was a thread about these a few days ago...but i can't tell you guys enough how great of a deal that those new Squier Vibe Strats are!!! They look, sound, and feel just as good or better than any of the MIM's i played and they weren't that far off from some MIA strats...now don't get me wrong...i know that there's a difference...but there's a HUGE difference in $$$ and not enough difference in other areas to warrant the gap for me. The Vibe tele, otoh...i've played several of those now and they don't do it for me...just don't feel good...frets haven't been consistent and etc. For $299 you can have a gorgeous strat with aged cosmetics, decent pups and a one of the ones we looked at looked like it had a 1 piece quartersawn maple neck/fretboard!!!
Another suprise for me...and one that i soon won't forget is what i found on my SG search! I love the feel of the SG necks and their looks are growing on me as well...but this guitar takes the cake!
ESP LTD Viper 1000 Deluxe
This guitar looks like a million bucks and it has all the options i love...Tone Pros Locking bridge and tail, Sperzel locking tuners, Earvanna nut, SD pups, and the fit and finish was FLAWLESS!!! This thing played like a million bucks and i found one used for a great price (my wheels are turning)!
I also played some Gibby SGs in between stops where i played the Viper 1000s, and while the neck on the SG felt a little thinner (which i liked), it wasn't that big of difference, and the Viper was balanced a whole lot better than the SG and it had alot more features for HALF the price!!!
Have i really been that hung up on the MIA stuff that i've just refused to really even try the import stuff?! Have i been hanging out on TGP too much...lol?! I mean good solid guitars are good solid guitars regardless of MI? right?!
I think i'm gonna buy that Viper in the pic above and maybe one of those Vibe Strats as well and pic up an Epi Valve Jr...all three for around $700 bucks!
I also learned that i still like Rics ALOT and i don't even know of an import alternative to them...and the Tiny Terror has a delicous CRUNCH!!!
all in all...it was an AWESOME DAY...even though my GPS straight up lied to me once and took me to the middle of a subdivision ans said "Congratulations you've arrived at your destination"...uh...NO!!! lol!
I learned something...well...it's something i already knew actually...i have Filet Mignon tastes and a Bologna budget!!! LOL!!! But in reality, i found some SERIOUS diamonds in the rough!
I know there was a thread about these a few days ago...but i can't tell you guys enough how great of a deal that those new Squier Vibe Strats are!!! They look, sound, and feel just as good or better than any of the MIM's i played and they weren't that far off from some MIA strats...now don't get me wrong...i know that there's a difference...but there's a HUGE difference in $$$ and not enough difference in other areas to warrant the gap for me. The Vibe tele, otoh...i've played several of those now and they don't do it for me...just don't feel good...frets haven't been consistent and etc. For $299 you can have a gorgeous strat with aged cosmetics, decent pups and a one of the ones we looked at looked like it had a 1 piece quartersawn maple neck/fretboard!!!
Another suprise for me...and one that i soon won't forget is what i found on my SG search! I love the feel of the SG necks and their looks are growing on me as well...but this guitar takes the cake!
ESP LTD Viper 1000 Deluxe
This guitar looks like a million bucks and it has all the options i love...Tone Pros Locking bridge and tail, Sperzel locking tuners, Earvanna nut, SD pups, and the fit and finish was FLAWLESS!!! This thing played like a million bucks and i found one used for a great price (my wheels are turning)!
I also played some Gibby SGs in between stops where i played the Viper 1000s, and while the neck on the SG felt a little thinner (which i liked), it wasn't that big of difference, and the Viper was balanced a whole lot better than the SG and it had alot more features for HALF the price!!!
Have i really been that hung up on the MIA stuff that i've just refused to really even try the import stuff?! Have i been hanging out on TGP too much...lol?! I mean good solid guitars are good solid guitars regardless of MI? right?!
I think i'm gonna buy that Viper in the pic above and maybe one of those Vibe Strats as well and pic up an Epi Valve Jr...all three for around $700 bucks!
I also learned that i still like Rics ALOT and i don't even know of an import alternative to them...and the Tiny Terror has a delicous CRUNCH!!!
all in all...it was an AWESOME DAY...even though my GPS straight up lied to me once and took me to the middle of a subdivision ans said "Congratulations you've arrived at your destination"...uh...NO!!! lol!
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