What guitar and how expensive?

[Robert Delahunt]

I own a Lite Ash Stratocaster and a Showmaster FAT HH. I want to buy a mahogany guitar soon (mahogany body), and I like maple neck, but rosewood is ok.

However, I had some thoughts and questions. First, my guitars retail right now for $699.99 etc. I would like one-piece body guitars, but is their price worth it in terms of how much I get back in tone?

And in terms of the quality of wood I get out of a guitar in terms of tone, whether one piece or not, at what price range would you consider that I'm getting good tone, again in terms of bang per buck? Is the $700 mark the place where usually you're getting a better tone from the instrument in terms of quality? Or should I set my goal towards the $1000 mark? etc.

Anyways, back to the guitar recommendation: I do not like the very thick neck guitars: the Lite Ash has an almost V shape width neck (even though it's supposed to be "modern C") and it's my limit in terms of neck thickness: it's just about right. The Showmaster line has thinner necks which also work well for me, but it's almost too thin in terms of ergonomics, so anything in this range of neck works good. I love the feel of unfinished maple necks too, but it's not absolutely necessary. I also prefer Seymour Duncan pickups (Jazz/JB would be a plus since I miss owning this combo), but it's not absolutely necessary.

My goal is to have four guitars some day (one swamp ash body, one basswood body, one mahogany body, one alder body) that all represent excellent wood tone and Seymour Duncan pickups, in case you're wondering about my goals. So far, I think I've gotten my basswood and ash selections taken care of.

Thanks for reading all this!

 

[JumpMarine]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

When I read your specs the first thing that came to my mind was any of the C1 series Schecter's. They hit everything in your specs and the quality is top notch.

I would look them over closely and they range from $450 to $700

 

[uOpt]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

I am not sure that plan works out so well. There are too many individual factors involved and guitars with the same wood can sound drastically different.

If you need to mailorder, can't pick after playing and you want a nice mahogany guitar around $700 I would have a look at Les Paul copies by ESP/LTD (EC-* named) or the Gibson faded series. The faded comes as SG, Les Paul or Flying V, your choice. As you spend more, the Les Paul Studio or a non-faded V or Explorer come into range. Some of these have thick necks, though.

I would not get a mahogany body with a bolt-on Strat neck. That can work out to get a "typical" mahogany sound, but with a very low probability.

ETA to add to the forget about the one-piece body. If you want to ensure good wood without playing I think you'll have to get on the phone with Warmoth.

 

[Gearjoneser]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

Look at Schecter C-1's, PRS Singlecut SE, and if you see any Michael Kelly guitars, give them a chance.....really well made for that price range.

Ultimately, spend the weekend at some big music stores, and you'll find out for yourself what makes you pull out your wallet.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

Get the one-piece body thing out of your mind. There's very little chance of you finding one, and it really doesn't make that much difference.

Schecters are a lot of guitar for the money. If you want a mahogany guitar, I'll give you a super sweet deal on an Ibanez SZ

 

[big_black]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

If you want a mahogany guitar, I'll give you a super sweet deal on an Ibanez SZ

"Five dolla, make you holla."

JB will love you long time, for realz.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

When I read your specs the first thing that came to my mind was any of the C1 series Schecter's. They hit everything in your specs and the quality is top notch.

I would look them over closely and they range from $450 to $700

Yeah I've had my eye on a Schecter C-1 Classic (Jazz/JB, transparent blue). I figured as much, just wanted to ask if anyone knew about anything else, so thanks bro!

I am not sure that plan works out so well. There are too many individual factors involved and guitars with the same wood can sound drastically different.

If you need to mailorder, can't pick after playing and you want a nice mahogany guitar around $700 I would have a look at Les Paul copies by ESP/LTD (EC-* named) or the Gibson faded series. The faded comes as SG, Les Paul or Flying V, your choice. As you spend more, the Les Paul Studio or a non-faded V or Explorer come into range. Some of these have thick necks, though.

I would not get a mahogany body with a bolt-on Strat neck. That can work out to get a "typical" mahogany sound, but with a very low probability.

ETA to add to the forget about the one-piece body. If you want to ensure good wood without playing I think you'll have to get on the phone with Warmoth.

True. I'm just not wanting a bolt this time, but the ESP LTD EC series isn't shoddy. But in your opinion, where does the quality increase, i.e. how much do I spend? I'm wondering where the price and quality go up a notch. Say I wanted to rate wood qualities in stock guitars as poor, adequate, decent, good, nice, excellent, etc, what level quality of woods do my Showmaster and Lite Ash have, and then what would be comparable in quality level but in mahogany?

Look at Schecter C-1's, PRS Singlecut SE, and if you see any Michael Kelly guitars, give them a chance.....really well made for that price range.

Ultimately, spend the weekend at some big music stores, and you'll find out for yourself what makes you pull out your wallet.

Yeah I should. The C-1 classic is definitely calling my name, I've played it in the music store many times and I've always wanted to take it home, but alas my wallet can't justify it yet.

Get the one-piece body thing out of your mind. There's very little chance of you finding one, and it really doesn't make that much difference.

Schecters are a lot of guitar for the money. If you want a mahogany guitar, I'll give you a super sweet deal on an Ibanez SZ

LOL well it depends, but I'm not necessarily an Ibanez fan. Somehow most their lineup is too generic, and I'd really like to get a guitar that comes stock with Seymour Duncan pickups, due to my bad experience with my EC-100QM and Ibanez RX240. I don't want a project guitar again, even if I can solder and wire confidently. Still, I was more interested in the quality level opinions, but thanks!

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

My advice would be to buy something used and have your money go at least twice as far.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

My advice would be to buy something used and have your money go at least twice as far.

HAHA ok then, fine, tell me about your ibanez sz or whatever it is

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?



I didn't necessarily mean my guitar, but you really will get a lot more for your money if you go used. But, since you asked, mine is described in the Trading Post

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

I didn't necessarily mean my guitar, but you really will get a lot more for your money if you go used. But, since you asked, mine is described in the Trading Post

Described Shmescribed... I want pictures!

 

[uOpt]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

True. I'm just not wanting a bolt this time, but the ESP LTD EC series isn't shoddy. But in your opinion, where does the quality increase, i.e. how much do I spend? I'm wondering where the price and quality go up a notch. Say I wanted to rate wood qualities in stock guitars as poor, adequate, decent, good, nice, excellent, etc, what level quality of woods do my Showmaster and Lite Ash have, and then what would be comparable in quality level but in mahogany?

That's really too difficult to answer, I don't even know country and year of your guitars and even if I knew the answer would be "random".

In general, almost all guitar makers come over with "random" wood quality, or screw something else up that ruins the vibes even with good wood.

There are really no hard rules here except that I haven't heard/played post-1986 Gibson USA "standards" (in the wider range meaning the non-cheap ones, say LP Standard, SG standard, normal Explorer/V) that weren't sounding like good wood and the same for American set-neck PRS. But these are pretty expensive, not to mention you will easily find people right here who have heard bad ones. And even though I say the wood was good that doesn't mean they play well.

Epiphone is entirely random and Ibanez rarely places this at high importance. I would certainly say that among the Far East makers ESP/LTD comes in with the best woods when it comes to modern looks and a Japanese Tokai if vintage looks are your thing. For cheap US-made unamplified tone the Les Paul Studio might be your best bet.

Today there is generally no chance that a maker's non-primary country receives top of the line woods.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

That's really too difficult to answer, I don't even know country and year of your guitars and even if I knew the answer would be "random".

In general, almost all guitar makers come over with "random" wood quality, or screw something else up that ruins the vibes even with good wood.

There are really no hard rules here except that I haven't heard/played post-1986 Gibson USA "standards" (in the wider range meaning the non-cheap ones, say LP Standard, SG standard, normal Explorer/V) that weren't sounding like good wood and the same for American set-neck PRS. But these are pretty expensive, not to mention you will easily find people right here who have heard bad ones. And even though I say the wood was good that doesn't mean they play well.

Epiphone is entirely random and Ibanez rarely places this at high importance. I would certainly say that among the Far East makers ESP/LTD comes in with the best woods when it comes to modern looks and a Japanese Tokai if vintage looks are your thing. For cheap US-made unamplified tone the Les Paul Studio might be your best bet.

Today there is generally no chance that a maker's non-primary country receives top of the line woods.

Ok, so, Les Paul Studio, since I'm not familiar with that line do you know which one comes with the non-baseball-bat neck and with a better sculpted high fret access?

 

[uOpt]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

Hmmm, none Sorry, I forgot about your neck requirements.

 

[KeeperOS]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

Talking from experience, when I started out I strongly felt more drawn to the "new" new guitar, but after I got my "new" used guitar, man, I'm telling you, getting EXACTLY what you want without paying what it'd cost makes it all the sweeter... Especially if you're not one to care for cosmetic flaws (being used that is...)

 

[chuckbat]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

I own a Lite Ash Stratocaster and a Showmaster FAT HH. I want to buy a mahogany guitar soon (mahogany body), and I like maple neck, but rosewood is ok.

However, I had some thoughts and questions. First, my guitars retail right now for $699.99 etc. I would like one-piece body guitars, but is their price worth it in terms of how much I get back in tone?

And in terms of the quality of wood I get out of a guitar in terms of tone, whether one piece or not, at what price range would you consider that I'm getting good tone, again in terms of bang per buck? Is the $700 mark the place where usually you're getting a better tone from the instrument in terms of quality? Or should I set my goal towards the $1000 mark? etc.

Anyways, back to the guitar recommendation: I do not like the very thick neck guitars: the Lite Ash has an almost V shape width neck (even though it's supposed to be "modern C") and it's my limit in terms of neck thickness: it's just about right. The Showmaster line has thinner necks which also work well for me, but it's almost too thin in terms of ergonomics, so anything in this range of neck works good. I love the feel of unfinished maple necks too, but it's not absolutely necessary. I also prefer Seymour Duncan pickups (Jazz/JB would be a plus since I miss owning this combo), but it's not absolutely necessary.

My goal is to have four guitars some day (one swamp ash body, one basswood body, one mahogany body, one alder body) that all represent excellent wood tone and Seymour Duncan pickups, in case you're wondering about my goals. So far, I think I've gotten my basswood and ash selections taken care of.

Thanks for reading all this!

I had a Lite Ash Strat. I loved it. I just traded it towards a PRS SE Singlecut and that is one awesome piece. I had the bridge pickup changed to a JB and left the neck pickup stock. I can't afford the real deal PRS but for the money you can't go wrong. I also just got off eBay a ESP LTD EC 400 AT gold top. It is their version of a Les Paul. Stock with JB in Bridge and '59 in neck. Once again amazing for the money. These are some quality guitars for under $700. This month's Guitar World also does a review of the 10 best guitars for under $750. You don't need to spend $1000+ for good tone. I tell you what, I have a Fender Telecaster Highway One that still has the stock pickups and a bolt on neck and it rocks too. That was one of the reasons the Lite Ash went down the road. I can get my strat sounds from the Tele with the pickups in it. I played a Faded SG and I think the ESP or the PRS blow it away for the money and features and finish. Sorry to ramble but just my opinion. Good Luck

 

[tc]

Re: What guitar and how expensive?

C-1 classic, or PRS SE?

btw, even though bolt on and 25.5 scale might not get the "Les Paul" tone, it gets way tighter chunk than set necks. FROM WHAT I'VE PLAYED....