The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

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fuzzyratfarts

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I just want a simple guitar that simply sounds and plays well, but isn't super common or seen all the time. Preferably double humbucker or HSH configuration, some brand or model that isn't way overdone, just a great guitar. I care about a resonant toneful body, and looks are obviously opinions, so don't worry about that. So the question is:

What is a great cheap guitar that (with pickup and electronic changes) can sound and play spectacularly?
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Late 90's DeArmond. The M-72 and M-75's are similar in quality to a Les Paul Classic, and have US made pickups. They're like a Guild/Gibson/Gretsch hybrid that you can find on Ebay for around $275.....yet they play like $1000 guitars.

Agile
Sammick
Ibanez
OLP

and, always keep your eye out for used Warmoth project guitars, because sometimes the parts are all top notch, the guitar has had hundreds of dollars worth of work put into them, and you can find them in the $400-$500 price range.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Well, what do you consider cheap? You can get a killer late 80's Charvel model series for $300 or less. Those things play as nice as anything you'll find out there. They don't do H/S/H. But you can find a model 3 with H/S/S or H/H. Those are some of the best playing bolt on guitars out there, regardless of price. Also check into an old Ibanez RG550. If you can get past the ultra thin neck, it's quite possibly the best playing H/S/H guitar out there for the price.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

dude, epiphone les paul standard or custom

they are reputable, decent quality, plentiful, and used they are super cheap - talking $250!
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Yes, those DeArmond's are very appealing. The Peavey T-60 has interested me for a while, but I've heard it's a bit heavy.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Its really hard to beat a mid 80's MIA Peavey Patriot. Just a good basic dual humbucker guitar. It actually comes with humbucker-sized singles, like "rails" Phat Cats, that are outstanding. I prefer the hardtail, but they also come with tremolo's.

I've seen 'em go for as low as $65, but $150 is more typical. As far as I'm concerned, its as good as any Fender ever made.

Artie

Edit: And they come stock with CTS pots.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

The PRS SE series are some of the best value guitars I've ever known.

They come in around $500 (but plays about equivalent of a $700 guitar)

Even stock, they are awesome.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Tru_Slice said:
The PRS SE series are some of the best value guitars I've ever known.

They come in around $500 (but plays about equivalent of a $700 guitar)

Even stock, they are awesome.
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I was about to post the same thing. Just played an SE custom the other day and it really did play and sound great. Cant imagine what they would sound like with a couple duncans and new electronics. Im thinking about one being my next guitar.. hmm.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Yeah, way back when I was a nOOB, I got the SE Soapbar on account of it's sensitivity and quite good P-90's.

I thought it was a rock guitar.

Then recently I played the SE custom.

With some new tuners and new pickups, it could easily outclass some higher-end guitars out there.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

DeadSkinSlayer3 said:
Schecter.
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+1, although I consider schecter's best stuff to be their midrange stuff, their cheapest stuff is head and shoulders above the competition.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Squier. I love the affinity strats. Squier stagemaster is sweet. They dont make them anymore but they pop up on ebay.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

ArtieToo said:
Its really hard to beat a mid 80's MIA Peavey Patriot. Just a good basic dual humbucker guitar. It actually comes with humbucker-sized singles, like "rails" Phat Cats, that are outstanding. I prefer the hardtail, but they also come with tremolo's.

I've seen 'em go for as low as $65, but $150 is more typical. As far as I'm concerned, its as good as any Fender ever made.

Artie

Edit: And they come stock with CTS pots.
Click to expand...

+1 these are great guitars. And the stock pickups are Good enough to not change out IMO. But there is a downside to them. They have a 23 1/2" scale lenth. So playing em makes ya feel a bit like a giant. On the plus side The shorter scale lenth, means you can put way heavyer strings on it without haveing excessively high string tension (so bends are still easy).
They also Have Quite large frets stock, a Super wide Nut (1 3/4"), They're a little on the heavy side, And the stock pickups are a Tad narrower than Actual humbuckers. So if you wanted to put some buckers in you'de have to chisel a little off the walls of the routes.
But still Great guitars regaurdless of price, and the few odditys about it.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

ArtieToo said:
I've seen 'em go for as low as $65, but $150 is more typical. As far as I'm concerned, its as good as any Fender ever made.
Click to expand...


Then why is yours in pieces? (according to your sig)
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Tru_Slice said:
The PRS SE series are some of the best value guitars I've ever known..
Click to expand...
They certainly are - even in the UK where EVERYTHING is a fukcing rip-off!

Squier. I love the affinity strats.
Click to expand...
Me too - one of my mates just bought one for his daughter as a first guitar - I cringed when he told me what he'd bought - but when I actually played it I was quite impressed. They're OK at list price, but you can pick 'em up for peanuts off Internet companies and s/h.

EW
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

I dig the Dean Vendetta series. If you like neck-thru guitars, they've got two. The 3.0 is a mahogany bodied, maple neck-thru guitar in solid colors. Then there's the 4.0, which is the same as above, except with a quilted maple top and back. Thin necks on those bad boys, too. If you like bolt-on necks and Floyd Rose trems, they've got the new Vendetta 1F, it's got a basswood body, similar to Schecter's Damien FR, except about $100 less.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Ernie Ball/Music Man SUB1- awesome USA made guitar, for around $400.
 
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