A lot of these review videos are actually just marketing. There is product placement and demonstrations. We get caught in the trap and overpay. You’re spot on.
Jayce - appreciate your video here. It's a solid argument. One thing I would say I have picked up from watching guitar reviews is what to look for in a guitar. Or more importantly, what to watch out for. Fret sprout, bad fret jobs, badly cut nuts, cheap tuners, neck dive etc. But also things like how different thickness and profiles of neck feel, the weight, accesability of the controls, and so on. If I ever buy another guitar (see my other comment), I will go into it a lot less blind than before.
I appreciate that. I guess lately I've felt like a broken record, all the guitars are so close that it almost feels like they are coming from the same factory. The Auriga was the only guitar that I've bought in probably two years that had fret sprout, so of course I did a video on how to fix it. But the rest, pretty much the same. I'm not saying I'll never do another guitar review, but I will probably start looking for guitars that are different than the same ole strat style. Thanks for watching.
@@JayceAllanGuitar I've recently seen a lot about the Fender Player series and BAD fret sprout I've never seen it in person and I own 3 DIY guitars with $50 necks bought on ebay/ali Yet I love guitar reviews. I like to see what is out there and if their stuff is worth upgrading I;d rather make an instrument my own and exactly what I want, then pay $$$$$ for an instrument I'm too afraid to play because I don't want to damage it
Some good points and advice mentioned there for sure, I'm not a fan of marketing hype or artist models-endorsed etc likewise. I've got a few very special guitars which have tripled and more than that since bought them from new, I only bought them to suit my playing styles and the truth is I knew I bought them only because they were right for my needs, it wouldn't have mattered if the were 30 times their initial outlay of $3 each, they simply are stable for my requirements, I knew what I was listening for from I checked them out unhurried in the first place, they are unique and irreplaceable, my main instrument is the perfect extension of my skill set on it.
All I can add is, most of the latest "reviews" seem to be some guy doing a music video discuised as a guitar review. I usually skip the 3 minute intro and then give him a couple minutes to get to the facts. Then move on. I do agree with your assessment of the products available today. And I've found that some of the cheaper stuff is decent. But shortcuts like cheaper tuners, sub-par electronics, and questionable wood choices, are things that I can recognize (after 60 years experience) and tend to avoid. It would be interesting to hear someone investigate and then explain the American price structuring that has resulted in some of the extraordinary prices being asked by domestic manufacturers. Thanks for your time.
I got a guitar on Amazon for $98 and it’s amazing. I like my fancy $2-5k guitars too, they’re all really good. The sound has to be legit, otherwise it’s not gonna cut it. New sound is not the goal, it’s old, classic, legit sound from a newly constructed guitar regardless of name and origin.
Everything is cut out on Chinese made CNCs. Virtually every manufacturer in China, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan are licensed to produce OEM parts and products for virtually every name brand.
Excellent video. I’m 70 yrs old, been playing electric guitar in various garage bands over 50 years (yes, 50). Been using the same Guild S-100 since 1973. It’s very similar to Gibson SG. That’s all I need. The new digital amp technology is fabulous ‼️😍🎸🔥🎼
Everything you say is absolutely correct and I totally agree with you. (Of course no one in the business will like you for saying these things). Indeed, guitar 'reviews' are pretty pointless; it's all down to how much money you have or want to pay, or whether or not you have the basic technical knowledge for setting up/modding/repairing guitars (in case you do, you just know which cheap used Squier to pick up and how to make it play like a 2,000$ guitar).
I guess if you're super brand new to guitar, it can seem overwhelming, there are so many brands out there and the imported brands come and go almost weekly. So in that case, reviews might be of some service. But after you buy a few guitars and get to know them, reviews just start to sound generic.
I have the same Gibson firebird I bought used in 1992. And the same Musicman Stingray bass I bought in 1993. I also, have a cheap Mitchell acoustic I bout fifteen or so years ago for around $30 at a Pawn shop on clearance. Same Ampeg SVT III head I got around 1995, or so. Only thing I changed; now I own two Jazz basses because the tone for the Musicman is a bit harsh. Bought those seventeen years ago. Once you find what works, there's not much need to upgrade or change your equipment.
I agree 💯 percent! I’ve been blessed to have owned many American made guitars and High End Japanese guitars throughout the years. The past few years I’ve realized how good the new inexpensive guitars have gotten and have actually sold off many of my older expensive guitars and sold my tube amps as well 🙂
Ouch, you are not alone. I feel your pain. I picked guitar 4 years ago after not playing much for decades and did the same thing. And still am doing the same thing. A video on why we do this would be interesting! I think keyboard players and camera people do the same gear thing....
Great video, valid point! I would only add that you if you are new to guitars, you should either save up 100 extra bucks or so for a good setup or to have your guitar teacher at least look over the guitar, especially but nor only, when you want to buy a used one.
Consider the violin. Basically the same since the second half of the 1500's, now distilled, usually, into two basic models; Stradivari and Guarneri.Some instrument designs just work better than others and are appreciated by players, and those players who come after. But variation abounds, as exceptions do. Given that each instrument is different, a review is really about the commitment of the maker to produce a high quality musical instrument, as judged by one example of the work.
Interestingly, I've also ben wanting to post a video with the exact same title, Guitar Reviews Are Pointless, for a while, but for completely different reasons. It's been my opinion for quite a while that guitar reviews are pointless, yet, I still post them because they attract viewers. We live in a consumer society, and most people are bored if they don't go shopping. That's why taking your friends to the mall, when they visit, is somehow an entertainment activity.
I would argue that whatever makes you happier is worth the persuit. Be either playing / collecting or both or watching review videos and obsessing about specs. Its all ok really.. there are worse ways to spend your time and money. I've gone through intense buying sprees and obsessing over guitar specs and guitar practice and playing better and it all keeps me happy. Focusing on guitar reviews I just watch them for the fun of it.. i really know by now that i'll like the guitar for sure only when i play it... sometimes I'll gel with the simplest affordable guitar (love my epi junior) or with an expensive custom shop (in love with my CS 52 tele)
i think you hit the hammer on the head we are all searching for the holy grail guitar when in fact you are playing it now i have been playing now for 54 yrs got well i lost count 30 /40 guitars and i love all of them all
Heh. I just figured out yesterday that I didn't need the distortion pedal because my Orange amp has a decent distortion built in. I do like my looper pedal since I can't figure out how to plug my guitar into my computer. I don't know why the Focusrite box isn't easier to use. I have an acoustic and an electric and figure that's all I need. However, guitar problems need fixing. So, yeah, you can get a cheap guitar, but then you'll need a tech to fix it up (that's what I did anyway). I also got a free guitar and started learning how to do repair work myself since it doesn't matter if I break it. Now I need to learn how to solder.
Most guitars and guitar parts are basically using tech from 1935-1965 and that's it. Parts MAY be made better, but the tech isn't new. In fact new technology is usually crapped on before it is accepted. Edit: the reason that most S style guitars sound the same has more to do with the geometry of the instrument. Even swapping pickups yields (mainly) small to slightly moderate changes. Again this is because of WHERE the pickups are and the scale length of the guitar. Hence moderate changes.
Yer observation is spot on ! Us guitar players are vulnerable to all the manufacturers "hype" about there products, and our vanity kicks in. I equate it to a bunch of women (no offense to women) in a shoe store. They all do the same thing (protect yer feet, but look good at the same time) but "look at all the different colors and sizes", and if it's Italian leather an not Spanish leather they "must" be better right ? Haaaaaaaaaaa The ONLY thing that has changed, is... The NAME BRANDS are not as relevant as they once use to be, and even though they demand a crazy price for a copy of their products developed in the late '50's, players (especially young players) are waking up to the quality of inexpensive guitars, even for gigging out.
Very interesting commentary on guitars although I have always been fascinated by guitars that you can't find in a guitar shop such as Explorers, Firebirds, flying V's Coffin body guitars, headless guitars or some of the different variations on the strats such as humbuckers or noiseless pickups.
And I think that's what I will be going for in the future. Something different. I feel like I've reviewed the same Strat style guitar over and over again. But that's because I have been reviewing the affordable guitars and they tend to be plain jane strats or LP's. Why don't these companies copy a Brian May guitar or a Firebird or a legit SG style with the set neck? So maybe I've just been reviewing the wrong guitars!
A suggestion, try reviewing older guitars out of Asia. You can buy review and sell them without a loss in most cases. The history and comparisons with its equivalent of the era are incredibly interesting and folks like the story.
@@ThomasGilmore-fi6gb it hasn’t made me a better player. I was playing acoustic gigs regularly and played an Eastman acoustic. Got it in my head I needed a Martin because I wanted to be a “serious” guitar player. Sold it after a couple weeks. My $600 Eastman is awesome. I’ve owned that acoustic longer than any other I’ve bought over the years.
@BillLaBrie Very true, but I've never heard of a sax player that buys a new Selmer and has a "professional" scratch, dent, and beat it up so that they can pretend to be a seasoned roadhouse warrior.
@BillLaBrie I've known a few truly bad ass sax players. One of them has a bari, tenor, alto, soprano, flute, G flute, piccolo, and clarinet. He's not a "collector" and he improvises and sight reads with all of them. Other instruments just don't seem to attract soooo many wannabes.
The pickups are 100% the sound/tone of a guitar It literally does not matter what is holding the pickup or strings, as long as the magnets can read the string vibrations it will sound the same Pickup technology is similar "Cheap" pickups can sound amazing I'll keep rocking my Schecter C1-P SLS with my Peavey Vyper VIP II
@@JayceAllanGuitar Yeah. The Electronics are the sound. You're right. I meant the guitar itself pickups are the sound, but overall the Amp and effects and all the electronics are what makes the sound. You can make bad pickups sound ok with enough effects
If you think about the birth of the electric guitar, it facilitates the birth of rock and roll. The sound of rock and roll (and modern jazz, funk, and modern country) is the technology that was developed at that time in the guitar. That’s really why guitars haven’t changed because any tech that has radically changed that sound has been ignored by the consumer (think synth guitars). Really all a review does is tell you what features a guitar has (that you can find out on the website selling the thing), and the quality control of the instrument which really doesn’t mean anything as your reviewing a product made from wood that varies within each guitar. I guess you could argue beginners don’t know about the basics of a Squier, but then they aren’t watching guitar channels and the best way to learn about tone pots and whammy bars is to play around with them for real.
I couldn’t have said it better. I was thinking about quality issues. Someone had mentioned that they like reviews because they reveal any quality issues a company might have. I got a Firefly Strat back in November and it’s amazing. But I was a member of a Firefly Facebook group and lots of people complained that they had to send theirs back because of quality issues. I’ve owned a few Squier guitars from various decades and they’ve all been great but some people have commented how bad the QC is one them. You really can’t judge the quality of an instrument by watching a couple reviews. Especially sponsored reviews.
Exactly... I buy what I like to look at. Yeah I know, it's a fault..., go and play... I just love looking at the finishes and hearing /seeing ooo's and eyes widening! My playing? Most people who've heard me have suggestions and tell me to practice. 😂 It's okay, we're all here for different reasons but we all love guitars! 👍👍
I'm more 5 watt than 5 Watt World. I have a Fender HSS Strat with a couple of personal mods on it, and I love it. It looks good, sounds good, stays in tune, plays nicely and suits my style. It's all I need in electric guitars. Yesterday, I saw a review of a Harley Benton SC Custom lll, which by the reviewer's account is an all-round geat guitar, and have for the first time in years been sorely tempted to buy it. Why? It's looks so beautiful! But, to me, that's no reason to buy a guitar. They're tools. I have a hammer that works perfectly well, why buy another hammer just because it's so pretty?
You kind of illustrate my point, and so did Guitar Maxx's video (Are you a guitar player or a guitar collector). I guess I'm a little of both, but would like to be more of a guitar player. I don't like to see so many guitars on my wall not being played.
V E R Y G O O D P O I N T S. There are subtle differences in the tone of all guitars. At the end of the day, your point about being further ahead by practicing instead of reviewing guitars is, sadly, spot on. Thanks for putting this out.
Its true man. I bought the Fender Ultra Luxe. $2900. Sorta told myself it'd be an investment. Nah.. The resale value is horrible. I loose 30% the value of the instrument. Lucky for me.. I got this guitar cause it's the odd ball with FLoyd Rose and locking nut.. on a FENDER. So for me.. It was like an awesome Charvel.. In a tuxedo ;) So love the thing.. Not selling it probably ever. But if I did... Looks like Id get ripped off. Ive got an Fender American Deluxe from 2004 I was POSTIVE.. Would be worth money, And honestly the guitar is fantastic. Thing is 20 years old now. NON Relic'd ;) kept it in great condition. So it has that aged but kept in a guitar case look if that makes sense. How did it LOOSE Value man.. Thin is selling for half of what I bought it for 20 YEARS AGO! Blind tests.... People can't tell the difference... hahah.. Yeah man True that. I mean Reaves Gabrels, David Bowie's Guitarist in the 90s main guitar was made from Epoxy.. Made by "Parker Fly". I mean... Call epoxy what you want.. That dude was playing a plastic guitar IMHO.. And sounding fat and huge and awesome!!! Or Kurt Cobain who played cheap guitars exclusively.. Usually to be baaten to a pulp on stage. Happy Sunday !! Funny you say this topic.. Just got back from Guitar Center.. And realized not one guitar is better then the 14 I have lol... Time for me to practice.
Great explanation of the non evolution of the guitar. I think I will start building one to sell. I'll call it vanity's revenge. And price it about a billion bucks.
I think that it’s worthwhile to do guitar reviews bc what you say isn’t entirely true: Epiphone is better than getting a pricey Gibson say an ES-335 or SG bc too many times the headstock will crack and break. Some models of the Flying V have poor paint jobs; people want to know about specs, pickups, etc.
CNC cut labor way back. To the point china and over seas markets can push out identical carves to fender sourcing cheaper woods which maybe matter by weight. Perhaps paint is cheaper. Parts are surely cheaper. But fender and Gibson along with boutique pride themselves on the Name. Shock value of price. We live in a time of egos and complacency with marketing brands ruling buying power for bragging rights. Thank GOD i could care less. Im individual and am repulsed by group think as it is ramped today. Your video absolutely NAILED it. Harley Benton is banking on this philosophy....Fender is great. But they are absolutely staying relevant by price gouging.
I dig these comments. Very well thought out. I got an email from Fender just the other day for these super fancy acoustic guitars in some really unusual colors. I couldn’t help but wonder who buys this stuff? I wonder if Fender is manufacturing on a just in time or per order basis. I have to assume their dealers are in the hook for the products they order. If you look at Sweetwater. They have about 6 or 7 of the same models of Fender in stock. I assume they had to pay wholesale for those which means Fender gets paid no matter what.
If the guitar world we're not so stuck in the past I firmly believe Headless is the real future. There are enough Stratocasters in the world we need innovation not imitation. We need new music not old music rehashed. If everyone keeps looking for tone who is going to write and compose new music.? One of your best videos. It's hard to tell the truth. You have really raised above all other channels that only want you to buy rehashed guitars. Thank You
Thanks for the comments. I’ve been going down some rabbit holes and I think I’m going to be focusing on some different types of guitars for the next several videos.
I think you are right about the brand. But I am still trying to find a guitar that has 22 stainless steel frets with smooth fret ends, well cut nut, a thin, fast neck. And that I don't have to use my social security number - like on paypal.
I have to disagree strongly with the clam that all guitars are the same. I have tried tons of guitars and even with different specimens of the same model, I sometimes love one and strongly dislike another. The idea that all guitars are basically the same goes totally against my experience. I am pretty fussy about necks and I wouldn't even consider buying the vast majority of guitars that I try. Not that they are bad; they just aren't for me. When it comes to sound, I have two teles that sound very different from each other. One has a Squier body and the other has a Mexican Fender body. Both have Warmoth necks. Neither is better than the other, but they are very different.
I think a lot of effects pedals reviews are pointless bc they don’t show all the tools or settings or one video the pedal sounds great and on another not so great.
@@djacobmadrigal I’ve done a few videos on pedals and they don’t seem to get the same amount of views as the guitar reviews. Every pedal I’ve ever bought I’ve sold, except for a tuner and a noise suppressor.
I really disagree with a lot of this. At the end of the day, there is a law of diminishing returns. Is a $12,000 Murphy Lab Gibson LP better than a $2500 Les Paul Standard? Not really. But there is a serious difference in a $350 Epiphone LP and a Gibson. Telling new guitarists that "it's all the same" is really demotivating. The nuance in the feel of a great neck, or a guitar that has killer tone right out of the box does make a difference. When it comes to amps and pedals, if you're never leaving the house, then I suppose a Crate and a Boss DS1 are all you need. But if you plan on gigging, it's not just the tone that matters in your gear, it's reliability, consistency, the amount of noise that you generate between your rig and front of house. I've played with young guys who don't realize how much work goes into building a strong tone to front of house, especially on a silent stage. Again, if you're a bedroom player, maybe the gear collecting is a fun part of the hobby, but unnecessary. If you plan to play live...long term, you're going to want reliable gear that sounds good. And that's not always cheap on Amazon or at the pawn shop.
@@jburdsinfuse I half agree with you. I’ve only ever used guitars up to around $3000. I’ve owned American Strats, MIM Strats, Gibson LP Studio, LTD LP, cheap Chinese knockoffs, Taylor’s, Martins, and Yamahas. Every guitar I’ve played and owned from the $2200 American Strat to the $700 Schecter to the $90 Auriga from Amazon all played and sounded pretty much the same. But again, they’re all Strats or strat style. I am in a band right now and will be gigging with my cheap Amazon guitars just to see how they hold up. My guess is just fine. I just left a band that I was in for two years and we gigged all summer the last two years and my Squier bass did just fine. Our lead singer has played the same Squier Strat for 10 or more years. Granted I don’t gig four times a week, but every guitar I’ve owned has done just fine playing out and practicing a few times a week. If I was a professional touring musician, maybe I’d play higher end guitars but everything I’ve owed over the years would serve a casual player just fine. Now, that said, the guitar that I’ve played that I’ve noticed the biggest difference in? The Epiphone Inspired By Gibson SG standard. It’s a great guitar. Solid build. Great setup. Just under $600.
The guitar itself is as much as a hobby, than playing it. Its like people with similar hobby enjoy guitar review content. There's probably a lot of small details and nuisances that a person tends to prefer one guitar over another. The search continues for the perfrct guitar that fits the players needs. I definitely need to practice more, and less time watching guitar tubers. Its nice to be able to buy cheap guitars to try though or to mod. Those Chinese counterfeiters are giving poor guitarist what we yearn for...lol.
There are definitely both players and collectors, certainly nothing wrong with that. I agree that I have been chasing tone and looking for that "perfect fit" as long as I have been playing. But in that search I think I've overlooked the point of guitar and that is to make music. I'm not saying collecting guitars is wrong, certainly not. I will most likely continue buying and selling. I will probably not buy any more strat style guitars though. I think that topic has been thoroughly covered!
Status and ignorance. While status is an obvious reason people buy "the real thing" or "the thing the other guy has", natural ignorance (that thing we were all born with) is the other reason to stick to the renown name, be it a guitar or a washing machine. It takes some experience to know that Strat' copies are basically the same as the original, that they can be set up just as well and won't bend, warp or look bad after a year (these were the issues of cheap instruments in the 1960s). People watching reviews lack that knowledge and that's what they need to be told first or they will believe in the original by default.
I think also mythology. There is a certain thinking, especially among folks of my age, that USA made means quality, Asian made equals poor quality. There's also this notion that the more money you spend on something, the better it is. Which is not the case.
@@JayceAllanGuitar All true. But this is amplified by people's ignorance that solid body electric guitars are actually simple things with primitive electronics. On a complexity scale from a hammer to a Swiss watch, a Strat' is at bicycle level. Then as you say, most don't realise the sound is mostly shaped by the amplifying chain.
If it's an opinion then it's not a fact. The thing is that a player starting out may not have the ability yet to determine the differences, or be able to overcome them, so it may not concern them which is valid, but in time those differences will become apparent and it's not a good idea to state a falsehood that folk find the truth about later on. Makes no sense.
With electric guitars, the amp does MOST of the work for sound and tone. Pickups DO matter if you spend much of your time playing without gain or distortion. Now, the difference between a $100 electric guitar and a $500 electric guitar is the feel and the basic quality control. Now, if you want to talk about acoustic - THAT is where steps up in price point matter. Beyond a certain price point, yeah you're paying for looks and brand name. But until you cross that threshold it's not hard to hear the difference between the "you can afford it" and the "I WISH I could afford it."
I can’t argue with that. Although I did just buy a used Epiphone AJ 210CE acoustic that has a laminated top. But it sounds really good and also really good plugged in. It’s no Martin or Taylor but it doesn’t sound like a cardboard box either. Paid around $150 for it with hard case. Just need to sand down the saddle a bit to lower the string height. I owned a Martin D28. And while it was a great guitar. I felt the cost wasn’t justified. Maybe if I was a touring musician. But playing at the farm market, naw. 😜
True on all points!!!💜🎸😎 I left Play and Trade Guitars channel after their PRS ass kissing homage and never looked back. They kiss the butts of Zzounds and the companies that butter their bread. I love your channel Jayce!!!
@@JayceAllanGuitarI have bought a boatload of gear from Goodwill auctions, and I've been very lucky thank goodness. And this goes against the tone wood argument, I read an article just a few weeks ago in fact that Leo fender was quoted in saying that he used all kinds of different woods.... Usually what was available at the factory when he first started making guitars. Skylark guitars were awesome!!! They were actually made by matsumoku in Japan.... The same people that made Aria pro II.
@@Earthshaker1965 Thank you. Yes. Leo didn't really buy into tonewood. He used what was available and affordable. I did a video review on the Skylark. Great guitars. Matsumoku put out some great guitars.
Excellent, excellent commentary. I've known for some time that guitar reviews are basically pointless but, I really enjoy just seeing guitars in use and listening to intelligent and well-based commentary such as yours. Thanks Jayce I will continue to watch, sir.
Thanks so much for the comment. I'm glad some people find the reviews useful. I think when I do reviews from now on I will be more thorough and detailed. I've kind of been going through the motions. I want to make content of value and not waste anyone's time.
hekk yaa brother! the chinese guitar builders put love and passion into the guitars the build...i have 3 chibbys to prove it lol! and mine arent "special builds"....theyre "off the rack/shelf" units....
They learned how to make excellent copies. When a USA made guitar is $3000 and a Chinese made guitar is $300 and people are struggling to pay bills. I think the $300 guitar wins. Not to say I wouldn’t love to have a USA made Gibson, again, because of the status and the history. But that $300 guitar plays just fine while sitting on the couch.
@@JayceAllanGuitar mine costed right at 200bux each...including shipping/taxes....i caught each one on sale... i changed out the pups in 2 of them...still figuring out what to put in the 3rd one lol!
The big channel reviews of the latest guitars I find of zero interest. You are going to get a mostly good review because the big channels want to stay in good graces with the companies to keep getting access. Also, I can’t afford those guitars anyway.
My goal is to get an actual Gibson SG (probably used) and do one final review where I compare it to the Epiphone I got, I’m guessing there won’t be major differences. Then put guitar reviews to bed unless I find something unique of unusual. I think I’ll shift the channel toward techniques to memorize the fretboard and go from an intermediate player to an advanced player. Might be more valuable to players.
That Ibanez is a superstrat not a strat. But kay. I love how you just danced around the Extended Range Guitars, MIDI Guitars or things like Optical Pickups describing them as a "novelty". Heck, you literally ignored any other guitar shape other than literally 3. Channel that desperate for comments?
So why watch you if you are so bitter and don't want to lose money reviewing guitars as you stated? I'm serious, I'm 74 and just recently subscribed to your channel and enjoyed your reviews. This is America and status does mean a lot to folks. I don't have the money anymore and enjoy the reviews on the cheap guitars. I think you have a real talent as TH-cam creator. Many don't. Thanks
This is a wild set of statements. I didn't detect any bitterness in this video. Just plain facts. You watch because Jayce is entertaining and makes good videos with fair and valid points. Like this one. That doesn't change if you're 74, 54, or 14 years old. The point is that status doesn't actually matter to your instrument or how you play, regardless of where you are. Because Gibson and Fender and the Made in America brands don't just market to Americans. So when you say "This is America", that doesn't matter a jot. What does matter is what Jayce decides is worth taking the time and money to make videos about and his value quotient that comes from it, because that has a direct correlation to why you watch and if there are even videos to watch.
@@SonicChronicle Last time I checked, we are both entitled to our opinions. Maybe this isn't a channel about guitars. I haven't been watching long enough. Thanks for straighten me out. I am bitter myself but I don't have a TH-cam channel.
@billhoppe2991 I didn't say you weren't entitled to your opinion. As you say, we both are. I won't speak for the creator here, but to date this is indeed a channel about guitars. In all aspects including the market and, as this video is, the challenges woth running a guitar based youtube channel. As to being bitter... Well, there's nothing I can do about that. Gods Speed.
I didn't think I was being bitter. Maybe. I appreciate the criticism. I guess I would want people to watch because I plan to cover more actual guitar playing, learning scales, memorizing the fretboard. I don't know these things either so you can learn as I am learning. I'm not saying I'll never ever do another review. I just feel like a broken record. I want to create videos that have value and give you something for your time. Maybe that's reviews. But hopefully I can find guitars other than the same ole strat style guitar. I don't think I'm bitter, maybe just frustrated. Also, it just isn't sustainable to keep buying and selling guitars just to lose money. Maybe I'll do some giveaways. Again, I appreciate the feedback.
![[안방1열 풀캠4K] 베이비몬스터 'DRIP' (BABYMONSTER FullCam)│@SBS Inkigayo 241110](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AQ4RIghEvUs/mqdefault.jpg)
A lot of these review videos are actually just marketing. There is product placement and demonstrations. We get caught in the trap and overpay. You’re spot on.
@@daveduffy2823 sometimes yes.
Funny thing with Strats, you can pay $600 for a player Strat or you can pay $4000 for a custom shop Strat and have the same guitar.
I agree. But some people get so mad when I say that.
Brutally honest. Brave.
Not brave...maybe slightly stupid! LOL🤪😜
@@JayceAllanGuitar 😯😯
💯
Jayce - appreciate your video here. It's a solid argument. One thing I would say I have picked up from watching guitar reviews is what to look for in a guitar. Or more importantly, what to watch out for. Fret sprout, bad fret jobs, badly cut nuts, cheap tuners, neck dive etc. But also things like how different thickness and profiles of neck feel, the weight, accesability of the controls, and so on. If I ever buy another guitar (see my other comment), I will go into it a lot less blind than before.
I appreciate that. I guess lately I've felt like a broken record, all the guitars are so close that it almost feels like they are coming from the same factory. The Auriga was the only guitar that I've bought in probably two years that had fret sprout, so of course I did a video on how to fix it. But the rest, pretty much the same. I'm not saying I'll never do another guitar review, but I will probably start looking for guitars that are different than the same ole strat style. Thanks for watching.
@@JayceAllanGuitar I've recently seen a lot about the Fender Player series and BAD fret sprout
I've never seen it in person and I own 3 DIY guitars with $50 necks bought on ebay/ali
Yet I love guitar reviews. I like to see what is out there and if their stuff is worth upgrading
I;d rather make an instrument my own and exactly what I want, then pay $$$$$ for an instrument I'm too afraid to play because I don't want to damage it
Good to know. Thanks.
Some good points and advice mentioned there for sure, I'm not a fan of marketing hype or artist models-endorsed etc likewise.
I've got a few very special guitars which have tripled and more than that since bought them from new, I only bought them to suit my playing styles and the truth is I knew I bought them only because they were right for my needs, it wouldn't have mattered if the were 30 times their initial outlay of $3 each, they simply are stable for my requirements, I knew what I was listening for from I checked them out unhurried in the first place, they are unique and irreplaceable, my main instrument is the perfect extension of my skill set on it.
All I can add is, most of the latest "reviews" seem to be some guy doing a music video discuised as a guitar review. I usually skip the 3 minute intro and then give him a couple minutes to get to the facts. Then move on. I do agree with your assessment of the products available today. And I've found that some of the cheaper stuff is decent. But shortcuts like cheaper tuners, sub-par electronics, and questionable wood choices, are things that I can recognize (after 60 years experience) and tend to avoid. It would be interesting to hear someone investigate and then explain the American price structuring that has resulted in some of the extraordinary prices being asked by domestic manufacturers. Thanks for your time.
I am actually planning a video about USA guitar prices. Stay tuned.
I got a guitar on Amazon for $98 and it’s amazing. I like my fancy $2-5k guitars too, they’re all really good. The sound has to be legit, otherwise it’s not gonna cut it. New sound is not the goal, it’s old, classic, legit sound from a newly constructed guitar regardless of name and origin.
Yes. Agreed.
Good point. If you like the SG get a nice leather strap it will stop the nose dive. Cheaper guitars are so much better than they used to be
Everything is cut out on Chinese made CNCs. Virtually every manufacturer in China, Korea, Vietnam, Indonesia and Japan are licensed to produce OEM parts and products for virtually every name brand.
I know the Cort factory (not sure where it is) makes guitars for other brands.
Excellent video. I’m 70 yrs old, been playing electric guitar in various garage bands over 50 years (yes, 50). Been using the same Guild S-100 since 1973. It’s very similar to Gibson SG. That’s all I need. The new digital amp technology is fabulous ‼️😍🎸🔥🎼
Awesome story. Wish I had kept my first electric guitar.
This video should be required viewing for anyone with more than 3 electric guitars and 2 amps. I own 70+ guitars and 15+ amps.
@@adambilge2834 😱 wow!! I have three amps, three acoustics, 6 electrics and one bass and I feel like I have too many guitars! Hahaha.
Everything you say is absolutely correct and I totally agree with you. (Of course no one in the business will like you for saying these things). Indeed, guitar 'reviews' are pretty pointless; it's all down to how much money you have or want to pay, or whether or not you have the basic technical knowledge for setting up/modding/repairing guitars (in case you do, you just know which cheap used Squier to pick up and how to make it play like a 2,000$ guitar).
I guess if you're super brand new to guitar, it can seem overwhelming, there are so many brands out there and the imported brands come and go almost weekly. So in that case, reviews might be of some service. But after you buy a few guitars and get to know them, reviews just start to sound generic.
I have the same Gibson firebird I bought used in 1992. And the same Musicman Stingray bass I bought in 1993. I also, have a cheap Mitchell acoustic I bout fifteen or so years ago for around $30 at a Pawn shop on clearance. Same Ampeg SVT III head I got around 1995, or so. Only thing I changed; now I own two Jazz basses because the tone for the Musicman is a bit harsh. Bought those seventeen years ago. Once you find what works, there's not much need to upgrade or change your equipment.
I agree 💯 percent! I’ve been blessed to have owned many American made guitars and High End Japanese guitars throughout the years. The past few years I’ve realized how good the new inexpensive guitars have gotten and have actually sold off many of my older expensive guitars and sold my tube amps as well 🙂
Until I feel the neck in MY hand, I have no idea if I'll like it.
It's ALLLLLL about the neck to me.
Ouch, you are not alone. I feel your pain. I picked guitar 4 years ago after not playing much for decades and did the same thing. And still am doing the same thing. A video on why we do this would be interesting! I think keyboard players and camera people do the same gear thing....
For sure. I follow a ton of camera and video gear channels. Most of it I can’t afford! 🤓
Great video, valid point! I would only add that you if you are new to guitars, you should either save up 100 extra bucks or so for a good setup or to have your guitar teacher at least look over the guitar, especially but nor only, when you want to buy a used one.
I got a new Ibanez recently and I didnt watch any reviews. I played a similar one that my friend had and got one with a hardtail.
@@sole__doubt I like hardtail guitars. I rarely ever use a tremolo.
I bought a second hand ‘84 Ibanez Roadstar back in 1990, for £40.. I think I would make some money if I sold it
Consider the violin. Basically the same since the second half of the 1500's, now distilled, usually, into two basic models; Stradivari and Guarneri.Some instrument designs just work better than others and are appreciated by players, and those players who come after.
But variation abounds, as exceptions do.
Given that each instrument is different, a review is really about the commitment of the maker to produce a high quality musical instrument, as judged by one example of the work.
Well said.
Interestingly, I've also ben wanting to post a video with the exact same title, Guitar Reviews Are Pointless, for a while, but for completely different reasons. It's been my opinion for quite a while that guitar reviews are pointless, yet, I still post them because they attract viewers. We live in a consumer society, and most people are bored if they don't go shopping. That's why taking your friends to the mall, when they visit, is somehow an entertainment activity.
Interesting perspective. But definitely not wrong.
I would argue that whatever makes you happier is worth the persuit. Be either playing / collecting or both or watching review videos and obsessing about specs. Its all ok really.. there are worse ways to spend your time and money. I've gone through intense buying sprees and obsessing over guitar specs and guitar practice and playing better and it all keeps me happy. Focusing on guitar reviews I just watch them for the fun of it.. i really know by now that i'll like the guitar for sure only when i play it... sometimes I'll gel with the simplest affordable guitar (love my epi junior) or with an expensive custom shop (in love with my CS 52 tele)
Well said. I'm sure I will continue to buy and sell, I just can't help it! LOL
i think you hit the hammer on the head we are all searching for the holy grail guitar when in fact you are playing it now i have been playing now for 54 yrs got well i lost count 30 /40 guitars and i love all of them all
Well said. Thank you for the comment.
Heh. I just figured out yesterday that I didn't need the distortion pedal because my Orange amp has a decent distortion built in. I do like my looper pedal since I can't figure out how to plug my guitar into my computer. I don't know why the Focusrite box isn't easier to use. I have an acoustic and an electric and figure that's all I need. However, guitar problems need fixing. So, yeah, you can get a cheap guitar, but then you'll need a tech to fix it up (that's what I did anyway). I also got a free guitar and started learning how to do repair work myself since it doesn't matter if I break it. Now I need to learn how to solder.
@@joshuagodinez5867 it’s very rewarding to learn how to do your own setup and repairs for sure.
Most guitars and guitar parts are basically using tech from 1935-1965 and that's it. Parts MAY be made better, but the tech isn't new. In fact new technology is usually crapped on before it is accepted.
Edit: the reason that most S style guitars sound the same has more to do with the geometry of the instrument. Even swapping pickups yields (mainly) small to slightly moderate changes. Again this is because of WHERE the pickups are and the scale length of the guitar. Hence moderate changes.
Yer observation is spot on !
Us guitar players are vulnerable to all the manufacturers "hype" about there products, and our vanity kicks in.
I equate it to a bunch of women (no offense to women) in a shoe store. They all do the same thing (protect yer feet, but look good at the same time) but "look at all the different colors and sizes", and if it's Italian leather an not Spanish leather they "must" be better right ? Haaaaaaaaaaa
The ONLY thing that has changed, is... The NAME BRANDS are not as relevant as they once use to be, and even though they demand a crazy price for a copy of their products developed in the late '50's, players (especially young players) are waking up to the quality of inexpensive guitars, even for gigging out.
I couldn't agree more. It's Moore's law! I have ten guitars but I want...more! LOL
Very interesting commentary on guitars although I have always been fascinated by guitars that you can't find in a guitar shop such as Explorers, Firebirds, flying V's Coffin body guitars, headless guitars or some of the different variations on the strats such as humbuckers or noiseless pickups.
And I think that's what I will be going for in the future. Something different. I feel like I've reviewed the same Strat style guitar over and over again. But that's because I have been reviewing the affordable guitars and they tend to be plain jane strats or LP's. Why don't these companies copy a Brian May guitar or a Firebird or a legit SG style with the set neck? So maybe I've just been reviewing the wrong guitars!
A suggestion, try reviewing older guitars out of Asia. You can buy review and sell them without a loss in most cases. The history and comparisons with its equivalent of the era are incredibly interesting and folks like the story.
It’s funny you mention that because yesterday I was looking at Aria Pro II guitars from the 70’s and 80’s!
There's no amount of spending that will buy the ability to play the guitar, which seems to really be a key element of a musicians status.
@@ThomasGilmore-fi6gb it hasn’t made me a better player. I was playing acoustic gigs regularly and played an Eastman acoustic. Got it in my head I needed a Martin because I wanted to be a “serious” guitar player. Sold it after a couple weeks. My $600 Eastman is awesome. I’ve owned that acoustic longer than any other I’ve bought over the years.
Amateurs worship gear. It’s the same in every field.
@BillLaBrie Very true, but I've never heard of a sax player that buys a new Selmer and has a "professional" scratch, dent, and beat it up so that they can pretend to be a seasoned roadhouse warrior.
@@ThomasGilmore-fi6gb This is only because saxophone isn’t as popular these days.
@BillLaBrie I've known a few truly bad ass sax players. One of them has a bari, tenor, alto, soprano, flute, G flute, piccolo, and clarinet. He's not a "collector" and he improvises and sight reads with all of them. Other instruments just don't seem to attract soooo many wannabes.
The pickups are 100% the sound/tone of a guitar
It literally does not matter what is holding the pickup or strings, as long as the magnets can read the string vibrations it will sound the same
Pickup technology is similar
"Cheap" pickups can sound amazing
I'll keep rocking my Schecter C1-P SLS with my Peavey Vyper VIP II
I would argue pickups are 50% of the tone. Your amp is the other 50.
@@JayceAllanGuitar Yeah. The Electronics are the sound. You're right.
I meant the guitar itself pickups are the sound, but overall the Amp and effects and all the electronics are what makes the sound.
You can make bad pickups sound ok with enough effects
@@the_algorithm ah. I see. Got it.
If you think about the birth of the electric guitar, it facilitates the birth of rock and roll. The sound of rock and roll (and modern jazz, funk, and modern country) is the technology that was developed at that time in the guitar. That’s really why guitars haven’t changed because any tech that has radically changed that sound has been ignored by the consumer (think synth guitars).
Really all a review does is tell you what features a guitar has (that you can find out on the website selling the thing), and the quality control of the instrument which really doesn’t mean anything as your reviewing a product made from wood that varies within each guitar. I guess you could argue beginners don’t know about the basics of a Squier, but then they aren’t watching guitar channels and the best way to learn about tone pots and whammy bars is to play around with them for real.
I couldn’t have said it better. I was thinking about quality issues. Someone had mentioned that they like reviews because they reveal any quality issues a company might have. I got a Firefly Strat back in November and it’s amazing. But I was a member of a Firefly Facebook group and lots of people complained that they had to send theirs back because of quality issues. I’ve owned a few Squier guitars from various decades and they’ve all been great but some people have commented how bad the QC is one them. You really can’t judge the quality of an instrument by watching a couple reviews. Especially sponsored reviews.
Exactly... I buy what I like to look at. Yeah I know, it's a fault..., go and play... I just love looking at the finishes and hearing /seeing ooo's and eyes widening! My playing? Most people who've heard me have suggestions and tell me to practice. 😂 It's okay, we're all here for different reasons but we all love guitars! 👍👍
I’m kind of in the same spot. There’s just something about them I love. Playing is sometimes more frustrating than fun
I'm more 5 watt than 5 Watt World. I have a Fender HSS Strat with a couple of personal mods on it, and I love it. It looks good, sounds good, stays in tune, plays nicely and suits my style. It's all I need in electric guitars. Yesterday, I saw a review of a Harley Benton SC Custom lll, which by the reviewer's account is an all-round geat guitar, and have for the first time in years been sorely tempted to buy it. Why? It's looks so beautiful! But, to me, that's no reason to buy a guitar. They're tools. I have a hammer that works perfectly well, why buy another hammer just because it's so pretty?
You kind of illustrate my point, and so did Guitar Maxx's video (Are you a guitar player or a guitar collector). I guess I'm a little of both, but would like to be more of a guitar player. I don't like to see so many guitars on my wall not being played.
V E R Y G O O D P O I N T S. There are subtle differences in the tone of all guitars. At the end of the day, your point about being further ahead by practicing instead of reviewing guitars is, sadly, spot on. Thanks for putting this out.
I appreciate that.
Its true man. I bought the Fender Ultra Luxe. $2900. Sorta told myself it'd be an investment. Nah.. The resale value is horrible. I loose 30% the value of the instrument.
Lucky for me.. I got this guitar cause it's the odd ball with FLoyd Rose and locking nut.. on a FENDER. So for me.. It was like an awesome Charvel.. In a tuxedo ;) So love the thing.. Not selling it probably ever.
But if I did... Looks like Id get ripped off.
Ive got an Fender American Deluxe from 2004 I was POSTIVE.. Would be worth money, And honestly the guitar is fantastic. Thing is 20 years old now. NON Relic'd ;) kept it in great condition. So it has that aged but kept in a guitar case look if that makes sense. How did it LOOSE Value man.. Thin is selling for half of what I bought it for 20 YEARS AGO!
Blind tests.... People can't tell the difference... hahah.. Yeah man True that.
I mean Reaves Gabrels, David Bowie's Guitarist in the 90s main guitar was made from Epoxy.. Made by "Parker Fly". I mean... Call epoxy what you want.. That dude was playing a plastic guitar IMHO.. And sounding fat and huge and awesome!!! Or Kurt Cobain who played cheap guitars exclusively.. Usually to be baaten to a pulp on stage.
Happy Sunday !!
Funny you say this topic.. Just got back from Guitar Center.. And realized not one guitar is better then the 14 I have lol...
Time for me to practice.
Great comments. I appreciate that.
Great explanation of the non evolution of the guitar. I think I will start building one to sell. I'll call it vanity's revenge. And price it about a billion bucks.
One of a kind! Only one in existence! Rare! 🤓
I think that it’s worthwhile to do guitar reviews bc what you say isn’t entirely true: Epiphone is better than getting a pricey Gibson say an ES-335 or SG bc too many times the headstock will crack and break. Some models of the Flying V have poor paint jobs; people want to know about specs, pickups, etc.
@@djacobmadrigal it’s definitely useful to expose flaws. I haven’t really had any guitars with severe problems yet though.
This video is total truth.
I appreciate that.
You are so on point sir!
Thank you.
CNC cut labor way back. To the point china and over seas markets can push out identical carves to fender sourcing cheaper woods which maybe matter by weight. Perhaps paint is cheaper. Parts are surely cheaper. But fender and Gibson along with boutique pride themselves on the Name. Shock value of price. We live in a time of egos and complacency with marketing brands ruling buying power for bragging rights. Thank GOD i could care less. Im individual and am repulsed by group think as it is ramped today. Your video absolutely NAILED it. Harley Benton is banking on this philosophy....Fender is great. But they are absolutely staying relevant by price gouging.
I dig these comments. Very well thought out. I got an email from Fender just the other day for these super fancy acoustic guitars in some really unusual colors. I couldn’t help but wonder who buys this stuff? I wonder if Fender is manufacturing on a just in time or per order basis. I have to assume their dealers are in the hook for the products they order. If you look at Sweetwater. They have about 6 or 7 of the same models of Fender in stock. I assume they had to pay wholesale for those which means Fender gets paid no matter what.
I do not want any guitar endorsed by taylor swift , paul mccartney, or van halen.
If the guitar world we're not so stuck in the past I firmly believe Headless is the real future. There are enough Stratocasters in the world we need innovation not imitation. We need new music not old music rehashed. If everyone keeps looking for tone who is going to write and compose new music.? One of your best videos. It's hard to tell the truth. You have really raised above all other channels that only want you to buy rehashed guitars. Thank You
Thanks for the comments. I’ve been going down some rabbit holes and I think I’m going to be focusing on some different types of guitars for the next several videos.
Have you seen the video by Jim Lill> Where does tone come from in an electric guitar?
I have. Yes. That’s a great video.
I think you are right about the brand. But I am still trying to find a guitar that has 22 stainless steel frets with smooth fret ends, well cut nut, a thin, fast neck. And that I don't have to use my social security number - like on paypal.
Excelkent commentary !
Thank you.
I have to disagree strongly with the clam that all guitars are the same. I have tried tons of guitars and even with different specimens of the same model, I sometimes love one and strongly dislike another. The idea that all guitars are basically the same goes totally against my experience. I am pretty fussy about necks and I wouldn't even consider buying the vast majority of guitars that I try. Not that they are bad; they just aren't for me. When it comes to sound, I have two teles that sound very different from each other. One has a Squier body and the other has a Mexican Fender body. Both have Warmoth necks. Neither is better than the other, but they are very different.
I think a lot of effects pedals reviews are pointless bc they don’t show all the tools or settings or one video the pedal sounds great and on another not so great.
@@djacobmadrigal I’ve done a few videos on pedals and they don’t seem to get the same amount of views as the guitar reviews. Every pedal I’ve ever bought I’ve sold, except for a tuner and a noise suppressor.
Epiphones hold 0 value, do not buy one unless you wanna keep it.
Uh oh. You mentioned getting a guitar and amp from 1995 and it being fine. My amp is from 1994. Should I get something else? 🤣 Seriously, great video.
Hey. Who am I to deny you new gear?! 😜
@@JayceAllanGuitar A new amp would pair nicely with the new guitar I bought yesterday 🤣
I really disagree with a lot of this. At the end of the day, there is a law of diminishing returns. Is a $12,000 Murphy Lab Gibson LP better than a $2500 Les Paul Standard? Not really. But there is a serious difference in a $350 Epiphone LP and a Gibson. Telling new guitarists that "it's all the same" is really demotivating.
The nuance in the feel of a great neck, or a guitar that has killer tone right out of the box does make a difference. When it comes to amps and pedals, if you're never leaving the house, then I suppose a Crate and a Boss DS1 are all you need. But if you plan on gigging, it's not just the tone that matters in your gear, it's reliability, consistency, the amount of noise that you generate between your rig and front of house. I've played with young guys who don't realize how much work goes into building a strong tone to front of house, especially on a silent stage.
Again, if you're a bedroom player, maybe the gear collecting is a fun part of the hobby, but unnecessary. If you plan to play live...long term, you're going to want reliable gear that sounds good. And that's not always cheap on Amazon or at the pawn shop.
@@jburdsinfuse I half agree with you. I’ve only ever used guitars up to around $3000. I’ve owned American Strats, MIM Strats, Gibson LP Studio, LTD LP, cheap Chinese knockoffs, Taylor’s, Martins, and Yamahas. Every guitar I’ve played and owned from the $2200 American Strat to the $700 Schecter to the $90 Auriga from Amazon all played and sounded pretty much the same. But again, they’re all Strats or strat style. I am in a band right now and will be gigging with my cheap Amazon guitars just to see how they hold up. My guess is just fine. I just left a band that I was in for two years and we gigged all summer the last two years and my Squier bass did just fine. Our lead singer has played the same Squier Strat for 10 or more years. Granted I don’t gig four times a week, but every guitar I’ve owned has done just fine playing out and practicing a few times a week. If I was a professional touring musician, maybe I’d play higher end guitars but everything I’ve owed over the years would serve a casual player just fine. Now, that said, the guitar that I’ve played that I’ve noticed the biggest difference in? The Epiphone Inspired By Gibson SG standard. It’s a great guitar. Solid build. Great setup. Just under $600.
The guitar itself is as much as a hobby, than playing it. Its like people with similar hobby enjoy guitar review content. There's probably a lot of small details and nuisances that a person tends to prefer one guitar over another. The search continues for the perfrct guitar that fits the players needs. I definitely need to practice more, and less time watching guitar tubers. Its nice to be able to buy cheap guitars to try though or to mod.
Those Chinese counterfeiters are giving poor guitarist what we yearn for...lol.
There are definitely both players and collectors, certainly nothing wrong with that. I agree that I have been chasing tone and looking for that "perfect fit" as long as I have been playing. But in that search I think I've overlooked the point of guitar and that is to make music. I'm not saying collecting guitars is wrong, certainly not. I will most likely continue buying and selling. I will probably not buy any more strat style guitars though. I think that topic has been thoroughly covered!
Status and ignorance. While status is an obvious reason people buy "the real thing" or "the thing the other guy has", natural ignorance (that thing we were all born with) is the other reason to stick to the renown name, be it a guitar or a washing machine.
It takes some experience to know that Strat' copies are basically the same as the original, that they can be set up just as well and won't bend, warp or look bad after a year (these were the issues of cheap instruments in the 1960s). People watching reviews lack that knowledge and that's what they need to be told first or they will believe in the original by default.
I think also mythology. There is a certain thinking, especially among folks of my age, that USA made means quality, Asian made equals poor quality. There's also this notion that the more money you spend on something, the better it is. Which is not the case.
@@JayceAllanGuitar All true. But this is amplified by people's ignorance that solid body electric guitars are actually simple things with primitive electronics. On a complexity scale from a hammer to a Swiss watch, a Strat' is at bicycle level.
Then as you say, most don't realise the sound is mostly shaped by the amplifying chain.
@@Leo_ofRedKeep That's a great analogy.
I can see the glow from the mushroom clouds now of heads exploding
🤯😂I know right?
😂😂😂
The part where you said 'in fact they are all the same' you lost me.
Fair enough. But consider it an opinion piece. Your mileage may vary.
If it's an opinion then it's not a fact. The thing is that a player starting out may not have the ability yet to determine the differences, or be able to overcome them, so it may not concern them which is valid, but in time those differences will become apparent and it's not a good idea to state a falsehood that folk find the truth about later on. Makes no sense.
Fair points.
Much appreciated.
With electric guitars, the amp does MOST of the work for sound and tone. Pickups DO matter if you spend much of your time playing without gain or distortion.
Now, the difference between a $100 electric guitar and a $500 electric guitar is the feel and the basic quality control.
Now, if you want to talk about acoustic - THAT is where steps up in price point matter. Beyond a certain price point, yeah you're paying for looks and brand name. But until you cross that threshold it's not hard to hear the difference between the "you can afford it" and the "I WISH I could afford it."
I can’t argue with that. Although I did just buy a used Epiphone AJ 210CE acoustic that has a laminated top. But it sounds really good and also really good plugged in. It’s no Martin or Taylor but it doesn’t sound like a cardboard box either. Paid around $150 for it with hard case. Just need to sand down the saddle a bit to lower the string height. I owned a Martin D28. And while it was a great guitar. I felt the cost wasn’t justified. Maybe if I was a touring musician. But playing at the farm market, naw. 😜
True on all points!!!💜🎸😎 I left Play and Trade Guitars channel after their PRS ass kissing homage and never looked back. They kiss the butts of Zzounds and the companies that butter their bread. I love your channel Jayce!!!
Thanks. I appreciate that. Just trying to find my way and figure out what to make videos about.
@@JayceAllanGuitarI have bought a boatload of gear from Goodwill auctions, and I've been very lucky thank goodness. And this goes against the tone wood argument, I read an article just a few weeks ago in fact that Leo fender was quoted in saying that he used all kinds of different woods.... Usually what was available at the factory when he first started making guitars. Skylark guitars were awesome!!! They were actually made by matsumoku in Japan.... The same people that made Aria pro II.
@@Earthshaker1965 Thank you. Yes. Leo didn't really buy into tonewood. He used what was available and affordable.
I did a video review on the Skylark. Great guitars. Matsumoku put out some great guitars.
Excellent, excellent commentary. I've known for some time that guitar reviews are basically pointless but, I really enjoy just seeing guitars in use and listening to intelligent and well-based commentary such as yours. Thanks Jayce I will continue to watch, sir.
Thanks so much for the comment. I'm glad some people find the reviews useful. I think when I do reviews from now on I will be more thorough and detailed. I've kind of been going through the motions. I want to make content of value and not waste anyone's time.
hekk yaa brother!
the chinese guitar builders put love and passion into the guitars the build...i have 3 chibbys to prove it lol!
and mine arent "special builds"....theyre "off the rack/shelf" units....
They learned how to make excellent copies. When a USA made guitar is $3000 and a Chinese made guitar is $300 and people are struggling to pay bills. I think the $300 guitar wins. Not to say I wouldn’t love to have a USA made Gibson, again, because of the status and the history. But that $300 guitar plays just fine while sitting on the couch.
@@JayceAllanGuitar mine costed right at 200bux each...including shipping/taxes....i caught each one on sale...
i changed out the pups in 2 of them...still figuring out what to put in the 3rd one lol!
Gibson cork sniffing traditionalists keeping guitar 🎸 technology in the past
YAMAHA TRANSACOUSTIC IS BY FAR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ACOUSTIC YOU CAN PURCHASE, DON'T CARE HOW MUCH YOU SPENT ON YOURS.....
OKAY! THANKS FOR THE COMMENT! WHY ARE WE YELLING?
The big channel reviews of the latest guitars I find of zero interest. You are going to get a mostly good review because the big channels want to stay in good graces with the companies to keep getting access.
Also, I can’t afford those guitars anyway.
My goal is to get an actual Gibson SG (probably used) and do one final review where I compare it to the Epiphone I got, I’m guessing there won’t be major differences. Then put guitar reviews to bed unless I find something unique of unusual. I think I’ll shift the channel toward techniques to memorize the fretboard and go from an intermediate player to an advanced player. Might be more valuable to players.
@@JayceAllanGuitar that does sound like something I could benefit from
It's the adrenaline, man!
I can't argue. New guitar day is a great feeling.
Get ya a tele and a fender tweed champ, princeton, or deluxe and you'll be good to go. Also a few kmise, joyo, or behringer pedals.
I am new subscriber .l really like your channel ss you review affordable guitar
I appreciate that.
That Ibanez is a superstrat not a strat. But kay.
I love how you just danced around the Extended Range Guitars, MIDI Guitars or things like Optical Pickups describing them as a "novelty". Heck, you literally ignored any other guitar shape other than literally 3.
Channel that desperate for comments?
@@DeltaPi314 nope.
So why watch you if you are so bitter and don't want to lose money reviewing guitars as you stated? I'm serious, I'm 74 and just recently subscribed to your channel and enjoyed your reviews. This is America and status does mean a lot to folks. I don't have the money anymore and enjoy the reviews on the cheap guitars. I think you have a real talent as TH-cam creator. Many don't. Thanks
This is a wild set of statements. I didn't detect any bitterness in this video. Just plain facts.
You watch because Jayce is entertaining and makes good videos with fair and valid points. Like this one. That doesn't change if you're 74, 54, or 14 years old.
The point is that status doesn't actually matter to your instrument or how you play, regardless of where you are. Because Gibson and Fender and the Made in America brands don't just market to Americans. So when you say "This is America", that doesn't matter a jot.
What does matter is what Jayce decides is worth taking the time and money to make videos about and his value quotient that comes from it, because that has a direct correlation to why you watch and if there are even videos to watch.
@@SonicChronicle Last time I checked, we are both entitled to our opinions. Maybe this isn't a channel about guitars. I haven't been watching long enough. Thanks for straighten me out. I am bitter myself but I don't have a TH-cam channel.
@billhoppe2991 I didn't say you weren't entitled to your opinion. As you say, we both are.
I won't speak for the creator here, but to date this is indeed a channel about guitars. In all aspects including the market and, as this video is, the challenges woth running a guitar based youtube channel.
As to being bitter... Well, there's nothing I can do about that. Gods Speed.
I didn't think I was being bitter. Maybe. I appreciate the criticism. I guess I would want people to watch because I plan to cover more actual guitar playing, learning scales, memorizing the fretboard. I don't know these things either so you can learn as I am learning. I'm not saying I'll never ever do another review. I just feel like a broken record. I want to create videos that have value and give you something for your time. Maybe that's reviews. But hopefully I can find guitars other than the same ole strat style guitar. I don't think I'm bitter, maybe just frustrated. Also, it just isn't sustainable to keep buying and selling guitars just to lose money. Maybe I'll do some giveaways. Again, I appreciate the feedback.
@@JayceAllanGuitar I'll keep watching. Thanks.
Great, so no more silly reviews from you then, as you've pointed out, they're POINTLESS.