The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Voxman said:
See if you can find one of those "Hagstrom" reissues.
Hagstrom super swede and Hagstrom swede are great guitars.
Some Americans got a licence to make reissues of these famous vintage swedish guitars.I think they are crafted in corea.
If you are looking for a cheap "les paul" this is your guitar.
Go find one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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+1 If you can find the Select Super Swede even better.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Epi Dot Studio in piano black for $180. Bought it to put in GFS Mean 90's for blues. But when I plugged it into a Micro Cube to try, I couldn't resist setting on the Recto setting with mid-level gain and ripping into "Cat Scratch Fever." The stock HB's sound fun enough that I haven't gotten around to swapping them out yet.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

fuzzyratfarts said:
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?
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Used or new?

The kings of this in the used segment are Ibanez Blazers and some Roadstars from the 1981-1983 timeframe, the new headstock and 21 frets. Almost all need new pickups and the hardtails should probably have a 6-point vintage trem put in, but high quality playing-wise and sound-wise is right there. For $200-$350 depending on how ugly you can take.
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

I have one of each of the holy grail cheap guitars:
26888_852344148393_6201882_46544221_4880173_n.jpg

Left to right:
MIA Strat (ignore)
PRS SE Soapbar ($250 Used)
Epiphone Dot Studio ($269 new)
Squier '51 ($99 new)
Guild D30 (Ignore)
P-Bass (Ignore)

And of course, my current #1, the SX STL50 ($109 new):
17363_819472343753_6201882_45426798_7058275_n.jpg


The secret?

Good nut, good bridge.

I put a good nut and a good bridge on every guitar I get. And they all play SOUPER STHWEET.

There's a TUSQ nut, a decent bridge, and upgraded pickups, switches, jacks, etc. in all that you see above. That's the easy part.

The hard part: I lovingly set up each guitar, as if it were my final exam for guitar tech school. I have gotten good at it.

I had a buddy play my SX Tele, and him, noting the non-Fender headstock and not knowing that SX was a bargain-brand, said "Man, I don't know how you can afford to buy handmade boutique guitars like this."

Yeah, seriously.
 
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Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Considering the OP put this thread up four years ago, I wonder what he bought? You there, dude? FILL US IN!
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

Laguna guitars range from cheap to not really cheap. GC carries them. (That is, if they haven't been mentioned already)
 
Re: The holy grail of CHEAP guitars...

One of the best cheap guitars I've ever come across.

DeArmond Jet-Star
This thing plays like a dream and sounds great!

P4020006.jpg
 
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