Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

[Jackson Distortion]

Anyone here dig their lower end guitar a little more than their higher end axe?

I just thought about that because those of us who own guitars well constructed (not to say lower end axes are always poorly constructed) know the grand feel of these, but just for specific reasons, your low cost axe is 'better'.

My Jackson DKMG can just plain feel shoddy sometimes (which was one reason for me to go high end) while my Jackson RR1 feels flawless.

If I plug the DKMG in the tone is open (due to low grade wood and construction) and warm sounding. Very good to my ears.

If I plug my RR1 in, the tone gets very focused in a way that isn't open. I'm not too big on this.

The DKMG (I named 'Skyrider') model being an offset strat shape, which is my favorite, in a eye catching graphic finish, with great woods to compliment my pickup choice, make this my favorite guitar ever in 13 years. El cheapo.

The RR1 (I named 'Blue Bomber') with great constuction period, produced by some of the best guitar makers in the country (the states by the way) somehow just comes up short in being my #1.

Can you sympathize or am I just nutz?

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

I totally can. Of all the guitars I own My cheap ass 335 clone from rondo (shm-91) Gets played more than any of my other guitars. For some reason it just feels and sounds better to me, than anything else I own.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

I love all my guitars pretty much equally, and there is quite a price difference between some of them. A good guitar is a good guitar, regardless of cost.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

I have some Nice axes and i mostly use my cheaper ones!!!! I have a Les Paul, and American Fender strat, a nice Warmoth...... i end up using my cheap Jacksons, MIM Fender's more then anything... jamming at clubs i use a MIM 1994 Squier Strat with Hotrails.... cheap guitar but does it's job and i don't care if it takes a few hits and dings either.....

I have tons of nice amps.... 5150, JCM 800, 65 Deluxe..... so on.... i mostly use a Classic 30 combo i scored for a few Hundred bucks and a few used cheap=O Boss pedals.....

 

[Zerberus]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

No 2 pieces of wood are the same... You can get 100$ guitars that tonally blow 10K guitars away (for ýou)... but your chances of actually finding a decent one increase exponentially with cost

 

[krankguitarist]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

I got me a schecter C-1 stealth that kicks it like some of my more expensive axes. Though, I gotta admit, my more expensive axes tend to get the most play time.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

As Rather said, a good guitar is a good guitar.

I agree with Zerb too, good wood is good wood

I sold the guitars that weren't satisfying me. Now I just have those I really love and their price range is quite wide. My '70s Japan '335 copy is just incredible sounding and playing....

 

[JeffB]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

Lotta truth in that...my go-to axe right now cost me less than $500. Although it's not built as well as any of the $2K+ axes I had recently nor does it have the wood quality, I enjoy playing it as much or more than I did those...it just "fits" :bigthumb:

In general I believe you get what you pay for in guitars, however having been forced into the "el cheapo" route lately and trying alot of inexpensive imports, I can say there are some very, VERY good values out there if you keep an open mind.

 

[AniML]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

All of my guitars are cheap, some cheaper than others.

Lately, my favorite has been my SX SJM-57. We're still newlyweds, but this guitar is so fun and has so many tones that can be dialed in.

At $139, plus another $50 for new pickups (by choice, not need), it is the most fun my money has bought in a guitar:

 

[SeraphimTN]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

A little while back befor eI got my Schecter Damien 6 with ZW EMG's, I had my OLP MM1 that I decked out with a dimarzio Tone Zone and locking tuners and my Epi Black Beauty triple pickup with a SD JB. I always loved the LP but when I got that olp and put that dimarzio in it....I learned what a good guitar sounds like. My OLP has been a staple for a long time with me. I think basswood tends to my tastes a lot more too. But the OLP just felt better, and it's pretty cheap with the fretwork and hardware but I don't care. I take real good care of it.

 

[JeffB]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

A little while back befor eI got my Schecter Damien 6 with ZW EMG's, I had my OLP MM1 that I decked out with a dimarzio Tone Zone and locking tuners and my Epi Black Beauty triple pickup with a SD JB. I always loved the LP but when I got that olp and put that dimarzio in it....I learned what a good guitar sounds like. My OLP has been a staple for a long time with me. I think basswood tends to my tastes a lot more too. But the OLP just felt better, and it's pretty cheap with the fretwork and hardware but I don't care. I take real good care of it.

You really should have tried a pup other than a JB in the Epi. Absolute Worst Match there is AFAIC for a LP. Though the wood very well may have been crap, I think a different pup would have improved the Epi alot.

Ok there's my random post for the day :bigthumb:

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

My el cheapo axe is a piece of junk. I'm using it to practice refinishing and repair.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

All my el cheapos are gone - ebay'd away for close to what I got them for, and I'm happier for it. Between my '63 SG Junior and my Carvin Carve Top, I'm happy for now. I've got two good, well-made pro-level instruments where I used to have many medium-grade ones. I think I'm better off this way....

Though I HAVE HAD some cheapos in the past that just did it for me, so I know what you're talking about.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

+1 one an all the good wood is good wood! Or as my wife says -Wood id good! But that's another story...

I'd have to say that my most expensive is the best, but there are some really good el cheapos. In my old age if it feels solid, plays decent (or even well), and has good pups that's all I really need. I'd say my Construction wise my axes rank:
79 LP (An amazing speciment from that era!)
GTX 36- El cheapo
Studio
Dean - budget/midline
Epi LP

Tonally:
79 LP (480/DD)
Epiphone (PG/CC)
GTX - DMZ TOne Zone
Dean - stock
studio - P100's

Feel:
79 LP
GTX
Studio
Dean
Epiphone

El cheapo made top 2 twice.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

All of my guitars are cheap, some cheaper than others.

Lately, my favorite has been my SX SJM-57. We're still newlyweds, but this guitar is so fun and has so many tones that can be dialed in.

At $139, plus another $50 for new pickups (by choice, not need), it is the most fun my money has bought in a guitar:

I love that guitar! I have been thinking of picking one up someday.

EDIT: looks like the lefty one is no longer available

 

[Jackson Distortion]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

Whoo... thanks guys for confirming I'm not crazy!

But, don't take me wrong as saying my el cheapo skyrockets past my RR1, oh no... I'm just sayin' el cheapo takes the special fit as my #1.

 

[DeadSkinSlayer3]

Re: Sometimes 'el cheapo' finishes first!

I had the same issue with the RR-1 - amazing playing axe, sounded like ass .

In hindsight, I should've tried my beloved EMG's in it, but I'm glad I got a 7 string instead.