The best cheap gear you've had.

[The Owl]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

This was probably my favorite cheap electric, a Dean Chafin Del Sol:

I remember the guitar playing really well and sounding really good with a pickup change (I think I had Dimarzio Virtual PAFs in there).

THAT is a cheap electric I would be proud to play!

 

[Axemoron]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

My Douglas and SX guitars from Rondo Music. They are cheap new and way underpriced used. Incredible axe for the money.

 

[allbutromeo]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Forgot about this one, it's a late 90s Squire Stagemaster HSS. This is what it looked like when I bought it (pulled from google)

a
and this is after.

I still want to change the pups, and make a new pickguard, either black of tortise shell
bought it used at GC for $100, but I don't remember them being very much to begin with. And the previous owner put a brass Big Block on the term so that alone was woth the purchase

 

[BleedingFingertips]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Charvel Desolation DS-3, I think. Install a pair of good pickups in it (Black Winters in my case) and it doesn't feel/sound cheap at all.



My first electric (cheap Ibanez) was one pile of sh*t though. The neck was set improperly (the high E string was barely above the surface of the fretboard closer to the neck pickup). Pickups were directly mounted (HSH) but one of the holes was stripped, so the middle single coil kept popping up and mute strings LOL

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Fender Modern Player Strat.
I bought mine on closeout for $299, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen so much Strat for the money. Silverburst, tinted maple neck, nice dark rosewood fretboard, vintage-style trem and tuners... I might rate mine a bit unfairly, as it has Texas Specials and seven-way switching, but the essential musical qualities are inherent to the guitar itself. It’s easily my favorite of the Strats I’ve owned.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Metal Zone, I actually use two. Just one doesn't have the gain or high end response I'm looking for.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

My Ibanez RG2 EX1
New pickups and it came to life
I have since put locking tuners on.
But mostly stock and incredibly nice to play

The necks are an acquired taste

My Epiphone Hummingbird is awesome . Again just changed the strings .
Plays like a dream

 

[PS412]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Ibanez RG220

 

[6stringerguy]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Ibanez sz320, plays nice for $180 will probably put a SLUG/Jazz combo or a set of war pigs in it

 

[Clint 55]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Ur mom

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

w/o question my Zakk Wylde made in korea LP. Its worth, waht, 6 hundeed? I would never sell it for that. Thats about as cheap as I go, but most of my guitars are in the one thousand dollar range. To me, thats as cheap as I wanna go, but many are used parts guitars I built with a lot of TLC and vaule added premium parts, so they werent exacly off the shelf 1000 dollar guitars. Still cheap though as far as resale value , maybe a bit more parted out.

 

[Jacew]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Peavey Raptor series I: used for 80€

Body is plywood, but it has brilliant neck and better, more solid trem I've seen in Fenders.

Switched GFS block for it already from my pile of old parts, and picked up Affinity strat body for 20€.

There was a white 1985 MIJ 57 reissue Squier for sale about 200 miles away from me on craigslist. It was loaded with 3 Duncan rails and came with a hard case for $200. Emailed the guy as soon as I saw it but I was to late. It still haunts me that I did not get it.

Those MIJ guitars have ridiculous price level in used market here. 600-800€...

 

[PierceOkken]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

back in 02' I got a squire strat for my birthday, it was a cheaper model but I kept it for almost 15 years, just sold it last year. Fantastic guitar for the money

 

[dystrust]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

In the summer of 2013, I bought this for $150:

1987 Charvel Model 1A
It didn't include pickups or the case, but still a great deal IMO.

 

[Plessure]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Tanglewood stratocaster with rosewood fingerboard + Peavey rage 112. About 200 $, about ten years ago.

I've tried other super cheap strats and they don't compare. However, i sold that strat because my junkie thrash metal head friend screwed with it and i knew nothing about setup.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/ampl...mustang-gt-40-40w-2x65-guitar-combo-amplifier

Bought my son a Fender Mustang GT guitar amp this past Christmas. With the many amp models and effects it allows for many hours of play and with decent quality sound and tone. For just over a couple hundred dollars probably the best single piece of music equipment I've bought. I wouldn't trade any of my tube amps for the digital amp but it seems lots more fun for beginners and young players. Keeps them playing and a great toy for old guitar players too!

 

[n1kk]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Charvel TE-070 which I purchased for just $135 including shipping. It needed some input such as pots, one knob, a couple of saddles and a visit to luthier to even the frets. +$75 approx. The greatest deal I ever made!

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Just picked up this poor thing last weekend for $50. After a little TLC, turned out to be a player instead of just a novelty!

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Also this one... 2015 Epiphone LP Special I P-90. Bought it new 2 years ago for $99. Replaced the crap bridge and tuners and this guitar turned out to be a pleasure to play!

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: The best cheap gear you've had.

Well if you've still got it I'll give you $200 for it... I'm just across the pass from you and if I leave now I'll be there about 8ish. After all you'd still make a profit

In case you couldn't tell that was sarcasm.

Unfortunately, I had to sell that 1960 Strat after my divorce in 1990. Really regret letting it go, but got $1,000 for it. In retrospect, the guy got a great deal. But, I was locked in with my Music Man Sabre IIs at the time. And then I found my G&L Legacy a few years later, which is for me a better guitar than the Strat in every way imaginable.

Sometimes things have a way of working out.

Bill