| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
 Posted - 11/16/2007 : 07:58:51
|
If you have around US $4000 for spending on new guitars, would you choose one expensive good quality guitar or 8-10 Korea (or Indonesia/China etc) made guitars?
I have seen and owned many really good Korean guitars, you get lots of guitar for prices around $3-500 in my opinion. Especially if you handpick them from the store, selecting the best ones.
On the other hand if you buy one high quality guitar you have a really good instrument, and that is a very satisfying thing to own in my opinion. Guitars like these you have a tendency to keep for the rest of your life, but the cheaper ones are more easy to trade or sell.
I like to have a lot of guitars to play so I think I would go the Korean way. What I like a lot is to work on thoose guitars so they play nearly as good as the high-end ones, this is just as fun as to play them. If I find some cheap, but good, used pick ups I install them and hear what happens to the sound. Korean pick ups per definition is not bad pick ups, I�ve heard great ones. Work a bit on the frets, filing the nut etc etc
But on the other hand a nice Custom Shop Strat or Tele.....
|
Edited by - Goran on 11/16/2007 08:05:48 |
|
|
pedals 4 pv
Platinum Member
Canada
1351 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 09:12:02
|
| One of the primary reasons that High end guitars are more expensive to buy is that these little details have all been done. You can handpick, say a MIM strat, spend some time and a bit of money on it and your fingers and ears can't tell the difference from the USA strat. The problem arises if you want to sell, no one will pay for that attention that you gave that guitar, so you can only get what the next guy wants for his stock one. Entry and intermediate level guitars are often purchased by people who end up quitting guitar, and are willing to take a loss to get rid of it so these guitars lose a greater percentage of their value than high end instruments, which in some cases can appreciate over time. I always have a old guitar that I am trying to fix or restore and it's a big part of my musical hobby, but if I was to spend $4000 and they had to be new guitars I would go for the high end guitar as an investment and buy my lower end guitars used, when I see a good deal. |
Edited by - pedals 4 pv on 11/16/2007 09:16:00 |
 |
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 09:23:20
|
I would probably go for a high end guitar as i have some of both already and like pedals4pv and yourself goran,i have done the leg work to get the jap squiers etc up to a high standard for gigging......i find you can get carried away end putting a lot of money in to them and find i could of got an american strat/tele in the secondhand small ad's for maybe 100/150 euro more.... but i learned a lot from rewiring them with new pickups,coil splits and putting on new tuners,i also got a lot of enjoyment out of it as well as getting a 'customised guitar'... so can you really put a price on that...???.......... |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 11/16/2007 10:24:52 |
|
|
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 09:57:30
|
The intention with this topic was that assuming you had no guitars before and should not buy any after spending the $$$$, I know this does not happen I the real world.
But the core of it is, do you prefer one really good high-end guitar or several good but not high-end guitars.
|
|
|
|
bossarea
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
3652 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 10:07:36
|
I'd go for quality before quantity.
If I had one great guitar I probably wouldn't miss any Korean made guitars. If I had a lot of cheap guitars I would still miss having at least one really good guitar.
In reality I might however have bought 4 used top of the line guitars  |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 10:23:24
|
| sorry.....in that case i would defo go for a quality guitar or as bossarea pointed out you could get a couple of them secondhand for $4000.....i was lucky that my first electric was a fender coranado mk II ...very hard to down grade after...plus how many people gave up on the guitar as their first one was a plank....?? |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 11/16/2007 10:24:32 |
|
|
|
visserman
Platinum Member
1072 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 11:58:48
|
All very good points by all of you.
What Pedal 4pv mentioned initially is very true, you will NOT get back what you invested intially in the upgrade.
Another point: You will NEVER be able to get a budget Fender to sound and feel like a vintage one. REad for Fender any brand really such as Gibson, Gretch, etc. etc.
What Bossarea mentioned is also very true, if you just had 4 budget guitars you would still be curious to see what higher-end ones would feel and sound like. The other option is true as well.
I myself had for the fist years only high end stuff, and was usually surprised by the cheaper guitars, in terms of how good they felt and sounded like. In reality I like a mix of cheap and higher end ones.
About 6 yrs. ago I did this experiment with acoustics: bought a few cheap ones, played them a lot for over two to three years, then after that period did get some higher end ones, and off course, the higher end ones feel- and sound much better. By knowing what the cheaper ones feel-and sound like, I appreciate the quality ones much more.
A common error in thinking is: People with cheap stuff tend to think they have rubbish, but often their guitars are not set-up, they may have old strings, amps with issues, ect. ect. I see this on a daily basis, and keep pointing out to them to get their guitars set up properly and to think about what it is what they claim is not so good about them in the first place.
On the other hand, you give someone who is only used to budget stuff, a higher end one, and they may not necessarily notice in which ways the higher end model is better.
With the vintage stuff [late 60s, 70s and early 80s] we are in a different ballgame: The budgetstuff of those days is still in todays market of better quality and it usually does have a nicer feel. I tend to think the budgetmodels of that period where more original in approach as well [ I have a late 70s Ibanez, supposed to be a Les Paul copy, but nothing like it really] todays copies are much closer.
Goran $4000 is a lot for a guitar, with this money you are into the "special market enty" Something like Parker Fly and other high end stuff with special features.
For around $2500 you should still be able to get a good 70s Strat, set-up well I think this is still what I would go for.
You see, after all my talk of the cheaper models, I find myself playing my better guitars all the time, the cheaper ones are used now and then, come in handy for recording etc., but usually they see a lot less milage than the higher end ones. |
|
|
|
Goran
Double Platinum Member
Sweden
2203 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 12:17:07
|
I can agree with about everything above, from time to time.
Visserman talked about acoustic guitars, I didn�t think of them, and I would be much more careful and spend more money to get a good one. Acoustics are hard to get better sounding by adjusting etc, compared to electrics.
I have a couple of high-end Fenders, a few low-priced Fenders and Gibsons and quite a few Asian made electrics. But I play at least 80% of the time on the cheaper guitars, and I don�t know why really. The high-ends are of course better guitars in many ways, but some of the cheaper ones have �it�. My favourite Strat is a 1987 Squier (made in Korea) with better pick ups installed, my favourite Tele is a Highway One also with better pick ups (this one is a killer!). I pick up pick ups (!) on the used market for very low prices when I see them.
One thing I have done to both of the above is that I have relicted them, my wife thought I was crazy�. This was a lot of fun and took some time (not finished yet) but the result was in some way that they got the feeling of vintage guitars. As it was cheap guitars I thought I give it a try, and I�m very pleased with the result. Much more with the feeling than the look.
Relicting is like painting with oil colours, you do a little at a time, and I would never dream to do it on my 1952 RI tele for example. The result is very unpredictable, and it�s hard to undo a "bad" relict.
|
Edited by - Goran on 11/16/2007 12:17:43 |
|
|
|
StratoSphere
Double Platinum Member
Canada
2232 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 13:44:20
|
yup these are all great points. although overseas guitars, (particularly Korean guitars) are gaining a reputation for having superb build quality. i own a Korean made Agile Hornet and it is one of the best Gibson humbucker style guitars ive ever played. in fact it well exceeds the Epi LP's ive played.
if i were to pick between a bunch of cheap ones and an expensive one though, i would probably get 2 well priced ones for around 2,000 each. the only problem with one guitar is that theres the other end of the spectrum that it probably wont be able to reach. for some players thats not important but to others its everything. the ideal mix for me would be a Fender Strat and a Gibson-ish guitar.. sometimes single coils arent enough
or i would go straight for a Gibson ES-335 |
|
|
|
4evrnewB
Silver Member
Canada
322 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 14:24:13
|
Tricky question. Assuming this is all the money you can ever spend, so you have to "do it right" the first time, I would say one of each. I definitely agree with the idea that if you don't buy a high-end guitar you will always wonder - and likely find something in the future that just "feels better" than your budget models.
I think it's also true that if you have just one, you will always want "the other", that strange piece of axe...
In a way, Goran's scenario was much like the one I had: I owned a '72 Strat that was a beautiful thing to look at but not a player at all and was a great deal in 1980. When I finally actually took up guitar a few years ago I sold it. First I bought a (new) Seagull acoustic to start learning on. Then I bought a (new)'01 Am. Std. Strat and a little Peavey practice amp. Then a used Godin SD. Then a used Norman 12-string.
The '72 Start paid for all these, and I love them all dearly. The new Strat is perfect, the acoustics are excellent value and I have had fun modding the Godin. I couldn't be happier! (well, ok, I want that ES-335 too...) |
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 15:15:53
|
Hi Visserman, Goran & Guys
Really great thread!
you have all brought up really interesting points guys.
I purchased a 20th Anniv. Squire, & I have been gravitating to it more & more, the neck just feels so great, & the pickups are to die for.
I don't know what p/ups they used, but they are louder than some humbuckers.
I had it setup professionally & haven't looked back.
I was going to Frankenstein it, but couldn't after hearing & playing it into my tube amp.
The body is a bit thinner than a US Strat, but it's very hard to put down, once you pick it up.
And I only paid $100au NOS for it from a pawn store, they guy even threw in a cheap new canvas gig bag.. which made the deal around $75au.
Goran, on your Hwy One tele, what pickups did you install?
And in your Tele 52RI do you have info or Schematics for the,
difference between the Vintage & modern wiring or wiring KIT.
If you have can you please PM it to me.
Visserman, are you now mainly using Vintage or modern Jap Korean guitars?
Franzoni, what did you do to your Jap Squires?
regards Dr. Bob
|
|
|
|
DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 16:09:40
|
We've got two Schecters, one mine, one my son's. The fit & finish are absolutely top-notch. I've seen rivals such as $2000+ PRS & Schecter's build quality & feature-set is absolutley comparable at $650.
Neck-Thru, Mahogany body & BEAUTIFUL 3-Tone Sunburst Quilted Maple Top, Multi-Ply Maple & Walnut/Rosewood neck w/24 Jumbo frets 25.5" scale, Abalone "Vine of Life" inlays, authentic Seymour Duncan JB (SH-4) & Jazz (SH-2n) pickups, 5-Way Mega switch, TonePros Tune-O-Matic w/thru-body for Googolplex sustain, Creme (neck/headstock) bindings, Grover tuning machines, & Gold hardware.
Its loa-oa-ded. 
take a gander:
http://gamefreaks.net/defrag/personal/graphics/c1-classic.jpg
Now my son's Aria acoustic against my Martin OMC-15E is a different story altogether. |
Edited by - DeFrag on 11/16/2007 16:12:42 |
|
|
|
Dr. Bob
Moderator
Australia
6593 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 16:39:13
|
Hey DeFrag
That is one really Beautiful looking guitar.
I must check them out, next time I visit, the music store in town.
Sounds & plays as good as it looks?
GooglePlex Sustain -- Love it --  
Regards Dr. Bob |
|
|
|
DeFrag
Moderator
USA
3409 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 18:46:08
|
quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Bob
Hey DeFrag
That is one really Beautiful looking guitar.
I must check them out, next time I visit, the music store in town.
Sounds & plays as good as it looks?
GooglePlex Sustain -- Love it --
Regards Dr. Bob
Sounds like she looks.. phenomenal. Neck-thru & strings through body, she really carries a tune. My son's is the HellRaiser with active EMG pickups for his metal music but its just as beautiful. Really, I think Schecter must be one of the best VALUES going today. Thanks for your interest. |
|
|
|
jack
Platinum Member
USA
1418 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 21:53:25
|
| Hard question to answer. If I had a blank check, I'd go for broke on 1 guitar since I've never been able to do that before. However, with that being said, there are a lot of nice guitars out there for under $700 or less, like Schecters, high-end Squiers, and most Fenders, and personally, I find I just don't see a reason for spending more than $700 on 1 guitar, but thats just me. My Schecter Damien 6 is one of the best instruments I have ever owned, and it was only $350, and thats when I started thinking that anything over $700 is just overkill when you can get such quality for less than that. |
Edited by - jack on 11/16/2007 21:55:32 |
|
|
|
FRANZONI
Double Platinum Member
Ireland
3543 Posts |
Posted - 11/16/2007 : 22:11:04
|
Hi all..... Dr Bob asked whet i did to my jap squiers...i put vintage fender tuners on the strat with some vintage noiseless pickups and the fender clapton mid boost system (active) i basically made it into a clapton strat and it rocks....strato you should think about this bro' it gives you a nice single coil sound with the option of dialling in the gibson les paul/335 thing when you want it.... it cost including the guitar and parts about 500 euro.... a lot less than a real clapton strat and i like it so much that the laquer is starting to wear away on the maple fingerboard just like eric's 'blackie' strat...... the tele is a silver series squier with a lovely grade of maple in the neck, i put some sperzel locking tuners on it and some seymour duncan pickups in it a hot vintage in the front and a hot rails in the back with a coil split for both(the hot vintage is a stacked single coil).... this was my first foray into 'mods' on guitars and to be honest i'm thinking of when i have the time and some spare cash of sticking some fender pickups back in and some vintage tuners on it....i would be interested in 'relicing' ...if goran reads this...any help 'bro... i find the duncan pickups a little dark sounding even with the coil split and i don't think they do the guitar justice....it has a really nice sound unplugged.. |
Edited by - FRANZONI on 11/16/2007 22:11:37 |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
One or many guitars?
