Is Expensive Gear Better? My Rant On This Matter. The Anti-Gear Review
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2024
- No, this is not a PRS Commercial. They didn't pay me or ask me to do this. I am trying to prove a point, and am using this guitar. Don't believe that a better instrument will make you a better player. Believe that when you become a better player, you will be able to feel the differences in guitars. There are differences among guitars, and manufacturers, and these differences only make a difference to you when you learn your style and what you want out of an instrument. Let me know in the comments below, what gear you believe in that isn't expensive and why!
Hear this guitar being played: • HOW TO PLAY GUITAR FRO...
And thank you PRS for sending me this guitar to show, that quality can come in inexpensive packages.
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I'm an archaeologist and have traveled for work a ton. I used to pick up cheap pawn shop guitars - fifty bucks - and play and pass them around the campfire, and always ended up giving them away to someone. More love and good times in those beaters than in my more expensive instruments!
That's an awesome story, man.
I am the opposite, I will only play a Gibson or Martin if playing acoustic, I wont even borrow another brand if round a campfire etc. I also would NEVER let anyone even play any of my guitars (me with my mini Martin in my profile photo btw- amazing guitar). I guess we all travel a different road towards musical enlightenment. Just as long as we all enjoy the journey is what is most important ey.
Btw I'm the same with electric guitars! Never even played a les paul or humbucker! Always use Fender, and American made, just think they are perfect, I dont want more or less, so why play another brand?
@@mrtambourineman6107 So if Clapton stopped by you wouldn't let him strum your guitars? I mean I might be hesitant to pass my axe to Pete Townsend... but jeez : D
Because some people would agree on music is about opening your mind and trying new things not being stuck on the same old confort zone...
I agree. Guitar skills over guitar bills.
Nicely put 😀
I recently bought a used MIM Stratocaster, only a 2017, for about a third the cost of what it goes for new. Couldn't be happier with it! I suspect I'll always look for used instruments first going forward.
@@anotheryoutubed Yup exactly.... I bought a new mim in 2016 for 500 and sold it last year for 500. The price of them now you might as well buy an American.
Started with a busted up $80 Squier strat from a pawn shop. Thought it was just incredible, probably because I honestly didn't know better stuff existed. When I finally upgraded to something nicer (Fender Toronado deluxe, so nothing too crazy) the feeling was just amazing. Perspective. Thanks for doing what you do!
Walked into a Guitar Center a few years back and saw a Fender MIM SSH Strat in Lake Placid Blue that had been marked down to $399 and pounced on it. Added a bone nut, Fender locking tuners, Custom Shop ‘69 neck & middle pickups, a TV Jones Classic bridge pickup, and mint pick guard. About $700 invested for an awesome one of a kind guitar.
Thank you! Fiddler not the Fiddle!!! That says it all! Of course you will get more guitar for $1000's, but you can get very good for $100's! Great message! BTW. You are a great teacher! Thanks for sharing that gift on TH-cam as well.
Some people can play a bloody broomstick and give it soul ! So yes for sure, expensive guitars are pretty cool though, I do love a great Gibson or Martin. I'm lucky enough to have fine examples of both, and I definitely get my money's worth from both!
I love my humble PRS Private Stock 594 Graveyard. It's only a $10,000 guitar so it's a joke compared to a real '59 Burst, but I love it and think it's pretty good for the money.
The man the myth the legend! Holy crap! Your back baby!
Check out Godin, 5th Avenue Kingpin, great guitars for the price, made in Canada. Picked up an Acoustic Electric for $300 used, and amazing guitar. I own over 30 high end guitars, this gets a lot of use.
Iv been playing blues for forty years. I play on a squire strat. It's all I need. The case it rides in cost as much as guitar. Setup is key to a good guitar.
Interesting. When I moved back to the United States last year, I bought a squire Affinity. I put $100 and some time into it. I now have a great guitar and a lot of experience in what makes a guitar work.
Ibanez Artcore series. They sound great and are very playable. All under $1000
I'm the same with online reviews, I cant tell shit till I get a guitar in my hands and groove out for a few hours!
It's not what you rock, it's how you rock it.
It's not the cock in the fight, it's the fight in the cock!
I have two guitars. An American anniversary model Fender Tele and an Epiphone Casino. The Tele was €2000 and the Casino was €400.
They are both great guitars. But the Casino for the money is an outstanding guitars. So versatile in tonality in Jazz, Blues, Rock, County, Funk. It's a true hollow body and it can feedback a little, but that is a small price to pay for such a great reasonably priced guitar.
Plus, if it was good enough for The Beatles, who would argue.
Great video
I´ve realized exactly the same with my photography. There is no end to all the gear you can buy, super sharp lenses and then all kinds of stuff to distort it. In the end its the photographer and not the camera that makes a photo worth looking at.
And while we are at it: Many years ago I went to a show with a German blues singer, Hans Brunkhorst. His guitars and other gear looked like something from a scrapyard, but man he could play guitar. It didn't matter that his speaker cabinets were repaired with glass fiber, and his guitars looked shitty. I had a wonderful night.
I totally agree. I have a PRS Core P-22 (Piezo + 2 Humbuckers) and a PRS SE Custom 22 Hollow Body, and sometimes I think I like the SE more than the core. Incidentally, I also play them mostly through my Ampero 100. Love your lessons. I've been playing for over 50 years (I'm 68) and find you can always learn something new. Keep up the good work.
You make an excellent point. I don't have a big budget for guitars but I like some variety. I buy second hand to further keep costs down.
I agree with you on PRS SEs giving good value for money. My most played guitar is a PRS Santana SE. it's not my most expensive guitar, it cost £150 a couple of years ago.
All my guitars are set up by me, the learning funded itself by me buying cheap junk guitars, fixing them and making them play nicely. They were then sold on to fund the next project. Each guitar continued to develop my confidence and skills.
I still have a few of the cheapies I worked on. One is a Wesley Telecaster. It has an alder body, maple neck it cost me £25 and I like it very much.
I’ve just tried the SE in my local store. I can agree it is very, very good. Also looking at the Yamaha Revstar - another strong contender for an inexpensive but quality guitar
YES... To a point.
When I was a teenager, I wanted a guitar that I could play with an Amp and without an Amp, so I got an Ibanez Artcore for $400, which as a full hollowbody Jazz guitar and for YEARS I tried to learn on that thing but it was so difficult I actually gave up playing for a few years, cut to last year and my cousin came up and wanted me to tune a Jackson he bought from Guitar Center and when I was getting reacquainted with a guitar I noticed how much easier it was playing the Jackson vs my Ibanez, so I decided to buy a solid body and landed on, funny enough, a PRS SE, after playing a standard 24 like this one in GC, I bought a Custom 24 SE and in the last year my guitar playing has literally SKYROCKETED because I can actually play the PRS lol.
I got my Ibanez out just earlier today because I haven't played it much since getting my PRS and honestly, I still can hardly play the darn thing lmao.
Long story short: you might just be too small a person, like me, for full size hollow body Jazz guitars and you should stick with a smaller, solid body guitar, because a hollow body may literally keep you from being able to learn and play.
But other than that, NO. The guitar doesn't matter, I have an $850 PRS SE guitar and a $250 Guitar Center brand guitar. The PRS **IS** better yes, but the Mitchell (GC Brand) is still great and I love it just as much, well ok, the PRS doesn't leve my room and the Mitchell was bought to take around and possibly ding up, but I still love it anyways! XP
I have 4 levels of prs. SE, S2, bolt-on, and a Core model. All of them are great and i wouldnt hesitate to gig with any of them. I use them all for different things. Gear doesn't make the player, play with what you have/can afford.
I have a PRS custom 24-08 $4K, PRS CE 24 DW $2K, Two Ibanez Prestige around $1400 each, two Schecter's 1K each, and a PRS SE FLOYD for $900 bucks. The cheaper PRS is ONE OF THE BEST Guitars I have ! I only changed out the 85/15's for the PRS \M/ PU and I love it to death.
I was considering buying a second cheaper guitar, out of whim. I happened to stumble on to a friend who plays for a living and asked him.... You have to consider your needs. If you are a pro you want the best sound possible. You want to improve always. If you have a decent guitar why go down with a lesser instrument, only if for security reasons you don't want to take out your main guitar. Then I stumbled upon yet another pro! He said for that price get a pedal instead on sale at the shop. I did. Thanx guys!
First of all, I never buy new guitars. There are SO many used guitars in great condition (or players grade) for sale and you end up saving 20-40%. You also don't take as much of a hit if want to sell it later. Guitar center takes returns on used gear if you are worried you won't be happy. And I don't want to worry about my guitar getting its first bump or scratch when playing. If you want a museum piece to hang on the wall fine but that means it is not getting played.
Ten years ago, I saw Transatlantic in concert and did a "meet and greet" with the band after the show. I asked Roine what model tele he was playing because he sounded great. He said it was an off the shelf stock MIM Fender tele. Since then, I do not put too much weight in the price of a guitar. If you like it, you will play better. That could mean $2000 or $500. I have realized that I did not practice as much as I should have because I thought if I spent a bunch of dough on a guitar I would improve. Big mistake on my part. I have heard many times, "(insert your favorite player) would sound great even on a cheap guitar" or "He could make a broom stick with strings sound good".
I have found the PRS SE guitars are the best bang for the buck for "budget" guitars. If you want a single coil, go with MIM Fender.
Thanks for the video! I learn a lot from this channel. Everyone should subscribe.
P.S. - the same goes for amps!
3 month ago, i tried my friends guitar. A cheap 150$ dreadnought guitar (don't remember the name). The sound was really inspiring for me. I invented new stuff and it was so fun to play and i became addicted to this little guitar. More then to my own one (cost about 450$).
Its not about the cost. Its about how you feel it and how inspiring a guitar is for you. And everybody feels different.
I want to try out electric guitar and i am looking for a nice beginner guitar :-)
Thanks a lot for your channel
The wifey found a 91 USA squire strat being thrown out during her morning run....it had no pick guard or electronics. So after Tex mex pickups and labor I’m about $300 into it. Its my new number one!
I couldn't agree more! Just get a guitar and amp (or modeler) that make you excited to pick it up and play. The more you play, the better your tone will be.
My dad has been looking at PRS and I told him that you play PRS as well I’ve been getting him to watch your channel
My Jay Turser Strat uses electronics found in, expensive guitars, $169.00 from a music store in Sandpoint< Idaho. Recently bought a new Grote-ES-335, new from eBay, $162.00 delivered. It arrived with a tiny dent in one of the humbuckers, one of the high hat knobs has a burn-like defect. They are sending replacements. I didn't measure the gauge of wire inside but they appear to be 1/8th inch thick. The amp cable they sent was junk and wasn't aware it came with it. I suggested they increase the quality of the cable or not include it. The guitar itself sounds fantastic. Yardsale acoustic, Yamaha F105, Like new-$80.00. I looked up the price of what your demoing, Closest store to me is in Seattle, $849.00. Besides learning from you, Ian, I learn from Sean, he's shown quality sound from Donner. Pet the dog. PEACE!
Totally agree that the best of the best guitars and amps etc aren't necessary. Though to be honest, I'd encourage electric guitar enthusiasts to save for mid level equipment. I've had cheap electric guitars and amps for years, and have only recently invested in what I think of as "mid level" equipment (a PRS guitar and a Blackstar amp) and the difference in audio quality is just too huge to ignore...I wish I saved for the slightly better equipment years ago. I personally find there to be much less of a sound quality difference when comparing acoustic guitars - it's much easier to get away with playing a cheaper acoustic and still sounding okay.
I've been playing since 1978. There's always been people who look down their noses at 'budget' guitars. I've owned Gibsons (and still own a 1967 LG-0 acoustic), Fenders, and other more expensive guitars. But, the best mileage I got was from the budget guitars. I would modify them like crazy and they seemed to take to being customized better. Plus, the risk was low. Budget guitars were my mains for gigging/touring. 2 to 4 pedals (one of them an EQ) into a simple tube or solid state amp. That was my rig. Currently, my favorite budget guitars BELOW.
- Firefly Les Paul 'Elite' (Les Paul Custom) - MEGA customized with Seymour-Duncans, pro wiring harness + switch, GraphTech Tusq Nut, GraphTech locking tuners. (THE Elite is THE best Les Paul I've ever played - and that includes Gibsons!) - Cost: $400 with everything I did.
- Epiphone Les Paul Modern - Locking tuners, heel cutaway, Grover locking tuners, Probuckers, Ebony Fretboard. Awesome! Cost: $600
- Jackson JS11 and JS22 - Tie between these two. Jackson stock pickups are awesome for that 80's sound. Cost: $150 and $200
- Samick Torino TR1 'Greg Bennett Designed' - Bought for $50 used on 'OfferUp'. It had a repaired headstock and was pretty beat up. I cleaned it up and put a $18 Guitar Madness DiMarzio-clone pickup in the bridge and put in some dove inlay stickers to goof on PRS. AWESOME! Cost: $68
- Dean Thoroughbred X-QM - Just got this one Friday (12/3/21). I had to do NOTHING to it other than the basic set-up I usually do. Didn't even have to touch the truss rod or touch up ANY frets! Cost: $430
There are many more - since I own around 47 electric guitars. I have a PRS SE Standard 24 and it's excellent! It cost me $400 as a blemish (I couldn't find the blemish! Maybe it was a mis-labeled return?) It didn't come with the truss rod wrench kit. So, I contacted PRS and told them. Normally they charge $10 for them. They sent it to me FREE of charge. The first one they sent ended up getting delivered elsewhere and whoever got it KEPT MY MAIL! So, I told PRS and they IMMEDIATELY sent out another and made sure it got where it was going! THAT is customer service!
Sorry for the long reply. But, all my life, guitars and music have been my #1 passion!
With the exception of my Seagull acoustic, all of my guitars cost less than $400. One of my best playing, best sounding guitars I bought as a basket case and rebuilt myself.
I am in my mid 50's, been playing for 40+ years. I own over a dozen guitars, why, as my wife asks, because I Love them, I have high end and low end. When I want to show off, I grab the LP Traditional or Taylor 414ce, beautiful instruments that are inspiring to me but also very expensive. My go to guitars hanging around the house are a Schecter Damian Omen Extreme and Washburn palor guitar, both under $500 and both pound for pound excellent guitars. Back in the the day you had to spend $ to get a quality instrument, not so much today.
Cool video and topic. I agree with all of your points in the video and in the description.
For me, the biggest change in my taste in guitars was when I went from playing at home to playing live in front of people.I learned a lot. I prefer a Gibson scale. PRS is fine, but even our bass player commented once, 'you were really fighting that strat'. Balanced output is important if I'm going to be changing guitars. Switch and knob placement is important. I got rid of my PRS 24 because I kept hitting the volume knob when I was playing, too close to the bridge pup. There are some songs where two volume knobs are important. I don't like flat , thin necks. Doesn't matter if it's wide or skinny, but if it's flat/thin, I don't like it.
Can I hear the tone difference when I switch my guitars? You betcha, immediately. Can anyone else? Not really. To me they are like a pair of jeans. You can have 10 pair in your closet, but you always grab the most comfortable pair first. Doesn't matter if they cost $20 or $200, if you like em, you like em.
After waiting almost a year, I just got my Phred Dockstar, and it was worth the wait. Less than $1,000, and it's all the guitar I will need for quite a while. I first heard about the Phred shop on this channel, so thanks for for that Ian!
Awesome to hear! Glad you love it! Phred is great!!
Couldn't agree with you more, I snaged a prs soapbar 11 se for $100 so smooth. . You're holding my next guitar or the Santana tough decision
I don’t know your age but I wish I’ll be as vibrant, passionate and youthful at your age! Your channel is great for expanding my musical vocabulary every time I feel like I’ve reached a plateau.
Right. He's sweet and kind too. A good role model eh
Love my SE Custom 24! Looks and plays great, even straight out of the box. Great budget guitar. Even if you have nicer. more expensive guitar an SE could be a good back up, or for gigging.
New, that guitar goes for like 850$ I don't call that budget
My thing these days is building parts casters. I like to pick up old parts by horse trading, yard sales, craigslist, wherever I can find what I need. I have found that if I pay attention to the details, really sweat the small stuff, I can put together some guitars that work and sound exceptionally good without breaking the bank. It's mostly Strats and Teles, The more you do this, the easier it gets.
I say let the vintage snobs and cork sniffers have all that stuff. Do you know how many of those guys don't even play? How many don't even want to? They're just brokers and hustlers. I used to get all excited about that kind of thing, but those guys just get on my nerves now. I say, less obsession about the tools and let's get back to actually playing music.
By the way if Carlos Santana is quite happy using that guitar then it must be good!
I think that guitar also has split coil, which your humbucker can be played as single coil pick-up.
Other than spending money om expensive guitar, you also need to spend money on amps, guitar effect, looper and most important of all, also on good training. Thanks Ian.
Cheers from Indonesia.
It mattered when I was starting out and a bad guitar stood in the way of learning and the ability to practice, but after 40 years of playing, any guitar that plays in tune and is set up ok is fine. Of course we all like to have that high end shiny trophy guitar that plays like butter and sounds fantastic, but it is not required.
I like inexpensive guitars, I leave them out on stands and don't worry about keeping them in perfect condition. A few dings can drive you nuts on a 3K guitar, but you don't worry about it on a cheaper guitar. I have an inspired by Gibson 61 SG that I actually like as much as a Gibson SG I used to own. I play the Epi much more because I leave it out where I can easily grab for for a few minutes of playing time. I sold the Gibson because I ran low on cash. You don't do that with an inexpensive instrument, you hold on to it because the value is in playing the guitar not in it's trade in value. I also own a Squier classic vibe 60s Tele that plays easy, looks great and didn't bankrupt me when I bought it. It plays as good as my butterscotch Fender tele.
And when you accidentally spill your beer on it as it falls over, hey, its all part of relicing, and you dont even have to pay extra for that....
I completely agree. I’ve been building my own, parts caster, parts tele and Epi Les Paul that I brought back to life. Learned a lot in building them and would not give them up for any price.🎸
Jack Pearson has played with Allman Brothers Band and many other artists and he occasionally plays a Squier Strat that he bought for less than $200. Bernie Marsden who owns a '59 Les Paul plays his PRS SE signature when he plays live. Personally, I think there are tons of great guitars in the $400 to $1,200 range. I have a Yamaha Pac 612 VII FM ($650) that is an excellent strat type guitar and a prs s2 satin singlecut ($1050, but I don't think they make them any more) that is my favorite. I have a Schecter PT Special ($600) on order but haven't played it yet. Loads of great inexpensive guitars.
I one hundred percent agree with you that it's the fiddler. What stood out more was this. How does a 13 yr old get a Les Paul?!! I got a Hondo and a Guitar buddy amp at the same age. Also the worst PRS is better than a lot of mid tier guitar's.
I just picked up a G&L Limited Edition ASAT Classic (think Telecaster) for $250 and it is so great! I love every chance I have to pick up this guitar because it’s versatile for whatever style I’m in the mood for. It’s also my first maple neck which has a different and enjoyable character to it.
I bought an SE a few years ago and love the shape of the neck but it moves so much in the north east I had to learn to do my own setups. When my fully loaded Phred neck through wolf came in it was a game changer. Twice the sustain, powerful pickups and holds tune forever.
I noticed all your guitars are pretty sweet.😊😂❤ I think a used MIM Strat can be a good buy.
Amen. A good budget guitar with a good neck with a good setup job can be a terrific way to go. My every Sunday guitar for church is a $200 Squire Tele which feels great to play and sounds great.
I got a Zach Meyers in Jan, my first SE model and I was truly blown away. Paul and his team has done a phenomenal job working with Cort to produce some amazing instruments at a very nice price!
Since you asked - I’d say the Fender GDEC is another one of those things that can be bought used on eBay that has improved my playing a ton. With the foot switch it has a built in looper and comes with a hundred pre-programmed backing tacks and amp tone settings. It’s a great guitar gizmo.
Loved my GDEC, gave it to a student to enjoy
My Yamaha Revstar 502 is similar in terms of knobs and quality (I guess) and price, I fkn love it. I also have Squier Stratocaster and that one does feel cheap (although it's possible because I haven't lowered the action and it goes out of tune quickly because I don't play it a lot). I am no expert but I suspect with Fender and the like you pay a lot for just the name.
The answer is: Miss Scarlett did it with the monkey wrench in the ballroom.
I win! Send me that guitar. 😀😀😀
As long as your guitar is comfortable to you and stays in tune, you're good to go. I also think we are in a wonderful period of time where some truly GREAT gear can be found in that $500-800 price range. My PRS SE is awesome. So are my more expensive guitars (Ibanez Prestige, PRS CE24, etc). All fit me well and stay in tune. I'm happy.
I have good friend who is a professional guitarist in the music business. He told me “it’s all about feel, sound, tones, move ability up and down the neck, not the price.”
Harley Benton CST24, a PRS clone, and TE-52 NA a tele with a beefy neck and surprisingly great pickups.
Prices have gone up a little and shipping can take a while, but really great for modest cost, especially if you know how to do your own setups.
The PRS SE pickups to me are by far the best sounding that I have played. You really have to try them.
I second that.
My 99 dollar Squier Bullet feels amazing. After 20 years of practice, I put some 64 vintage pickups in. It now cost me 279 dollars, but I can hear the difference, and the feel is refined from years of intimate play. I compare my higher end instruments to what I feel from the Squier. My S2’s and Core models and American Pro’s have to meet this bar, or they aren’t worth it.
I've been toying with Squiers for years, but recently got a MIM strat (plus a MIM duo sonic), and honestly couldn't be happier, no need for the thousands, but it is worth saving up and getting the lower-end "expensive" brands. Oh, and a Ditto looper, essential for practice.
My friend bought his son a PRS SE, I tried it out and I too was astonished at that price LOL!
I wish they had guitars this good at these prices in 1980 when I was young!
My #1 is a PRS S2 Custom 24. Backup is SE Custom 22 and Gibson LP Trad. Love my PRS guitars. Continue looking for PRS #3. Great guitars from low to high$$.
Classic vibe telecaster is cheap and awesome. It is a great built guitar with amazing tone imo.
Squier classic vibe btw
I've owned a great PRS, loved it. My go to guitars are EPIPHONE - I've had my EPI'S pleked, added Graph Tech Ratio Tuners and roller bridge - love them!
As a lefty, I can’t go to a guitar shop and try out a particular guitar. I have to buy sight unseen. I have found buying less expensive guitars and modifying to fit me has worked well. I have bought some more expensive models and find myself going back to my less expensive guitars because I have made them into what I want. For some reason, likely resale, I am not as keen on modifying my expensive guitars. Having said that I just need to practice more and worry about gear less.
Point taken I have a mid grade. Epiphone les paul I love. My buddy I jam with has a high end gretch I do not sound better on the gretch it's. The fiddler not the fiddle thanks
What and when is the competition? I wanna join too! Thanks! God bless your channel!
I have the Harley Benton SC24 knockoff version. I agree though- gear doesn't make you better. It just makes you have more gear. You could make the argument that a more expensive instrument has a better fit and finish, therefore it would be more comfortable to play and less likely to have issues like budget guitars have, but I lean toward getting the cheaper guitar and understanding how to make it better. That could be because I've been playing for a while and I know what sound I like and how to dial it in. With technology where it is, I can make my guitar sound like EvH, but that doesn't mean I can play like him.
Swanky gear didn't make me a better player, StichMethod did! And God bless ya for it, my man!
So, PRS discontinued the Standard 24, but they still offer the Standard 24-08.
One of my favorite guitars is my Charvel San Dimas Pro MOD 2 (mim) . Bought it used for $300. Also my Squire classic vibe 50s Telecaster. Got it used for $200. I also have a Squier Bullet telecaster (seafoam green) that I love. It did take a little setup, and I swapped out the tuners for Fender MIM tuners I had in a drawer. I own more expensive guitars, including a Peavey Wolfgang, and a Fender Pro Strat and Tele, but these 3 are the guitars I play the most. If you play what you like, you'll enjoy it more, so you'll play more, and you'll surely improve.
It’s really cheap and pretty easy to build your own electric guitar, with basic wood working and wiring skills/tools, and it feels great to play something that you make yourself.
I have a Schecter C1 E/A. It’s the semi hollow with the F-holes. I got it pre-Phred, so y’know, going after a certain red headed guitarist. Anyhow, every drummer or piano player I’ve ever jammed with calls it a PRS. Lesson there: no one pays attention to the brand of your guitar. Except other guitar players, and you’ll never make them happy.
I had a schecter semi hollow and LOVED it
The new “inspired by Gibson” epiphones are pretty damn good for the price. Mexican strats are also quality guitars. I don’t think there’s a need to spend more than $500 on a guitar unless you’re a serious professional or buying an heirloom.
I've been playing guitar since the mid 80s. In this time I've owned a lot of guitars, from extremely high end to low end. I happen to think some of the best guitars I've ever owned are budget friendly. My favorite guitars right now in my collection are a PRS SE Custom, a double bucker Mexican strat, and a Schecter Deluxe that cost barely over $200. Now, I did soup up the strat and the PRS. I installed Grover locking tuners and in all three of these guitars a Duncan Custom/Jazz combo, which is my favorite pickup combo of all time. These guitars are absolutely superb, and they play, look and sound amazing. I say avoid gimmickry. If a guitar sounds and plays great, then what more can you ask for? If it sounds great right off the rack, then leave it as is. Too many players, young and old, get hung up on gear. I love gear as much as anyone, but gear should help you make your music, not be a retreat from getting things done. No, you don't have to buy a US made Jackson Soloist for five grand to become a better player. Save the money. Get a good guitar, good amp, and buy yourself a nice steak dinner with the change.
I have an Epiphone dot, Ibanez afj85 that I put a Duncan 59 in the neck , I reach for those two guitars all the time. I have a GB 10 , Gb 200, American standard telecaster and they’re all awesome as well.
I have a PRS SE22 and I love it. I have received many compliments on it. I also have higher end guitars but gravitate to this one.
I adore my PRS SE Tremonti--and it was also a low ender $. I LOVE the neck. But even lower in price and just as enjoyable to play and supremely beautiful is the Wolf WLP 750T from All-In One (AIO) guitars. Under $500, solid case and three options of set-ups to you and they do a Great job. Excellent sound and again-Beautiful. And I have Much more expensive Gibsons and Fenders but I float between these two a lot.
I'd be surprised if that PRS beats my Firefly. But I'd love to compare them. Send me that guitar.
That guitar is beautiful and sounds incredible! Wish I could afford one of those! I've got everything crossed for the competition 🤞🤞
Tbh I've used crap gear & I've used some of the best out there. While yes, u can fight crap gear & sometimes if u have too then u have too. If u do have the ability to save up & buy the best gear that u can. I can promise u as long as u try as many as possible out 1st. Different brands with different options & u can do this while u are saving up for it. Then u will be much more satisfied with ur choices. Plus there are a lot of manufacturers out there today who are making way better products now than ever before. So don't get caught up in buying something just because someone else said they liked it. Each piece of gear is different in every combination of settings. Also don't buy a great guitar & a great amp & then buy a set of crappy signal cables. In the end it is still mostly as the old saying goes..."crap in, crap out" Just play as many different options of everything u can get ur hands on & play the crap out of them. No matter what kind or type of instrument u may have right now. Things will get better as long as u stick with it. Make Music & Spread Love & Inspiration wherever you go. Have fun everyone & play for yourself in the beginning. If u like it then other people will too.
I bought a department store guitar (Aldi UK)... strat copy... threw the strings away... setup wasn’t bad out of the box... but I bought it initially to teach myself setup... then I set it up sweet... and honestly, it’s fine... It’s my ‘mess around’ guitar...doesn’t matter if I take it somewhere, have a few beers, whatever... not scared of a ding or two... a guitar for using and abusing... great for practicing on... cost me £40 with 15watt amp (never use it), stand (use it), strap and bag (both unused) included!... They machine stuff by computer these days, lots of the super cheap guitars will not have quality materials, but the build is probably more accurate than a guy in factory in 1957. (I have other, vintage, guitars and love them, but the Aldi Special has earned its place on the rack).
Best value piece of gear I have is the Joyo American Sound. Great Fender style preamp pedal. Goes from blackface clean to no-headroom tweed. Very loud.
I've a harley benton te52 cheap looks and sounds great through my yahama thr
My ESP TL-6, thin line acoustic is in the same price range as that PRS. The TL-6 has turned into my favorite guitar.
Ive never like the cheap pickups that the SE prs guitars have, Once you switch them out, then you have a great sounding and playing guitar.
Great lesson. When I started learning to play I bought an Epiphone Les Paul. Couldn’t afford the Gibson. My Epiphone is a great guitar and was significantly less.
@Mike Y Yes I do.
I love my cheap-ish used MIM strat, feels great and sounds awesome...
Full disclosure though, I totally upgraded the pups within a set of Lindy Fralin pickups that cost almost as most as I bought the damn guitar for.
I agree man just started this past year been getting by more than fine with my Squire Classic vibe 50s strat, along with my thr10ii.
Thanks.
My Phred Liger w/MIDI should be here in a couple months, the year-long wait has been excruciating but fun 😊🎸
Ibanez as53 along with a boss katana mk2 amp makes a sweet combo for around $500. Maybe not cheapest gear but definitely got my dollars worth
I was looking at PRS Guitars last night and researching who PRS is. He has a remarkable story and is what I would consider to be a Great Guitar player as well. Also I was looking at that very Guitar ! Its Beautiful
Check out harley Benton guitars, wolf guitars. .both great bangs for the bucks...I have a prs se custom 22 and it's awesome. .get a used one very reasonable. .
Epiphone makes some fine guitars nowadays. ..
Got a 2012 mim strat for $360 seven years ago.....love it....
I feel the same way about MIM strats vs MIA strats.
I played one PRS and it was easy on the hands and sounded great.
Ive just bought one!! Same one
I have a Gibson Les Paul Studio and a PRS SE 24 and I play the PRS way more often. I'd buy another one if I had any money.
I've got a board full of cheap pedals. Some have better build quality and sound than others, but they get the job done. I have $20 pedals that aren't as nice as the $200 pedals, but are the expensive pedals $180 better? I can get good tone for what I pay.
I bought a Epiphone Les Paul SL for $99 because... $99! The tuners are crap, but it stays in tune. Sounds great. Plays OK. I leveled and crowned one fret and the action dropped down to a really good spot.
The other thing is all the $25-$40 pedals on Amazon. Just buy them. Even if you don't like it, what's to lose? I bought a Klon clone and it sounds fabulous, for $22!
I guess the birds on the fret board are kinda cool, I don't know what do you guys think?
That guitar looks awesome! What color is that? All the burst PRS SE I've seen fade to black and I can't stand it.
Yes, absolutely... but damn, their 594s are dreamy.