Ok, so what $1000 guitar would you buy?

[Rex_Rocker]

I have two Fugijen Ibanez s540s that in today's dollars would be 2K guitars. Its kinda amazing that the lo pro edges still have perfect return to zero after 30 years. They are both a bit bashed up, the necks are not perfectly straight, but recently leveled they are currently my best players.

But do I like them more than my M400 and M1000? Not really. The original finish quality and fretboard materials were 10/10, where the LTDs are more in the 8.5/10 range. Put another way, I would rather have three 1000 series LTDs than one E-II.

What I'm looking for now is another neck through in the 1K range. I liked the painted neck on the M1, probably because I don't have any other painted necks. I don't think that jump up to 3K gets much extra. If I was making a 3K purchase it would be a new Uberschall or UFX III.

I used to have an Ibanez RG570 from '98 (Fujigen-made, not Prestige), and a RGA121 from like 2005 or 6 (Fujigen-made, Prestige), and the Prestige was definitely a step up in quality of woods, and, most importantly, attention to detail and craftsmanship.

I agree. The RG570 wasn't really better than an LTD. Just with a better-regarded trem (which I didn't really love, personally) and a much nicer neck than any LTD I've ever owned had, but not really "better". Especially, not better-sounding.

But the RGA121 was.

 

[Rex_Rocker]

I still have two really nice LTDs I bought a few years back, so I haven't given up on the brand.

I think the LTD I recently returned was B-stock. It didn't have inspection stickers and I feel like they were trying to unload B-stock. ESP has something they call "player grade" which are scratch/dent/returns that they sell as new. Again, I can't imagine that guitar would pass ESP inspection.

I really do think that right now, the shelves are clogged with a bunch of bad stock they are trying to flip. Stuff that gets returned, sent to the factory, repackaged, and sent to some other store to sell. The last four guitars were all absolute stinkers with serious manufacturing defects. Maybe the last guitar shipment from China unloaded 12 months ago and now all that is left is companies trying to re-sell leftover junk.

Like I said in my edited post before, maybe what you're looking for is a higher-end guitar, then. And sadly, these days, 1K doesn't really buy you a high-end guitar. So maybe keep saving up for a Japanese or American Jackson?

 

[Artie]

I'd like to put another Gretsch in my stable. Then again, I'd love a Yamaha Revstar.

 

[Top-L]

I used to have an Ibanez RG570 from '98 (Fujigen-made, not Prestige), and a RGA121 from like 2005 or 6 (Fujigen-made, Prestige), and the Prestige was definitely a step up in quality of woods, and, most importantly, attention to detail and craftsmanship.

I agree. The RG570 wasn't really better than an LTD. Just with a better-regarded trem (which I didn't really love, personally) and a much nicer neck than any LTD I've ever owned had, but not really "better". Especially, not better-sounding.

But the RGA121 was.

I had an RG565 and it was Fujigen, but not Prestige quality. The s540s are considerably higher quality than the RG565 was. Nicer fretboard material, inlays, binding, metal pickup rings, body, pickups. Everything really. The 565 was bare bones like the genesis reissues. Didn't even have AANJ. The japanese 565/570s weren't prestige.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

What about these. A bit over your budget but not by a whole lot. They seem to tick most of your boxes specs wise. RG Premium (I guess Indo made) neck through- maple neck/basswood wings, stainless frets, Edge trems. fretboard is ebony, if I remember correctly you had some gripe w/ that....not sure if it's a deal breaker.

I was looking at buying one of these myself (the blingy one w/ the gold hardware ) a while ago but they were'nt in stock yet locally...they may be now. I'm torn between this one and the even blingy-er (is that a word?) S series with the fanned frets/chameleon finish & gold hardware :lmao:.

 

[Top-L]

I think those are great! I like them very much except for the flat finish. There is a bit too much bling, no binding, but I do like them. $1500 too much for Indonesian imo, though.

And they have a bit of that "goth" Schecter vibe. Ibanez is on the right track though.

 

[Phantasmagoria]

Ya, the burl top/flat finish is getting a bit old. Those are still very pretty looking axes though :bigthumb:

They told me $1300 at the store here (?). Guess it'll be a different story when they're actually "In stock" :laugh2:

 

[80's_Thrash_Metal]

https://www.samash.com/dean-cadi-select-quilt-top-floyd-ocean-burst-electric-guitar-dcadisfqo-p

 

[NegativeEase]

Maybe an LTD or Gretsch -both companies QC and quality itself seem to be ruling these days

 

[Aceman]

Send me the money and find out.

 

[beaubrummels]

If I didn't have a particular model in mind I was searching for, I might look into finding someone who could build me what I want. Boo-teek like.

 

[Top-L]

Send me the money and find out.

OK, so hookers and blow.

 

[solspirit]

OK, so hookers and blow.

The pro package