I'm kind of the opposite, always trying to save funds by getting an Epiphone or lowered end Fender which just left me on the continual search. Recently about six months ago I was looking for a 335. Tried out various Epiphone 335's even owned three '56 goldtop w/p90 Epiphone's which were good guitars but I sold them all because I'd swap pickups, etc only to still be left unsatisfied - chasing a tone which just was not there. Then a few months ago I purchased a Gibson 335 (Warren Haynes) model and for me there's no craftsmanship/feel/responsiveness compression, the Gibson is worlds better than any Epiphone I played and worth the expense. The Epiphone's I've played/owned left me continuing to search, where the Gibson is inspiring. Same goes with one of the new Fender '52 Pure/American vintage telecasters I have - just worlds above anything else (this was actually a gift from my father in-law). I also have a handbuild stratocaster (modled after a '56 Fender strat) and it too is great to play. That being said my daughter has a $150 Fender Squire that plays real nice. There's certainly good guitars in all price ranges the key is to find the ones that inspire you to play. For me I knew if I got an Epiphone 335 I'd always be wondering what the Gibson would be like, now that I have a Gibson I never wonder what an Epiphone would be like

Last edited: Jul 07, 2014 19:54:25

guyguy wrote:

Anyone else lucky / blessed enough to have the funds...

Oops, that leaves me out.

...but unlucky enough to struggle for every ounce of musicianship ( I say that very lightly based on how good a lot of the contributors are here) come to the same conclusion?

OK, I can identify with that part. Might be fortunate I tend to bond with an electric guitar playing it acoustically and bought a Mexican Strat based on the neck & general feel and it resonated with me. Fixing the pickup situation & heavier strings didn't change that & I love it as much as a superb '62 reissue I had a few decades ago. Amps are a different deal so I have simply decided that I will continue to save pennies to be in a position to "pull the trigger" when it comes along, or to have it built by Dario or Allen or someone. (I've recently heard what I want so I know it can happen on this planet.)

Back in the southern rock/blues bar-band days overdrive & bends & what-not could cover for lack of craft & still get paid. Nothing has improved my playing like returning to instrumental surf rock - so I practice, while the coffee can in the gunsafe gets a little fuller each week for "that amp" when it's time. The amp gurus here keep educating me & I'm grateful for that.

Funny though, reading what Derek and Jake said, the other happy anomaly is a Squier VM Jazzmaster that is an awesome guitar after a $25 bridge swap and a proper setup; go figure. So I'm trying to focus on the playing part. Otherwise I'll keep thinking about that '60 Strat I played the other day whose scientific name is Unobtainium. I played that & said, "ahh, I understand now." But it was that guitar only, not all guitars. Some speak to you, others not so much I suppose.

Flashback: Looks like 28 yrs ago was a Taco Tuesday as well; probably still nursing a sore back after hauling the TR around & up & down the flatbed at the Harley dealer's customer appreciation weekend...

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Some things I've learned through owning and working on some extraordinary guitars over quite a few years, summed up in a few phrases that I end up repeating to my customers often:

"The neck is the heart and soul of the instrument" - if it feel "right" to you the rest falls into line much easier

"Keep you ears and minds open" - Each and every individual guitar is different in it's own ways. Some, no matter how expensive or affordable or what brand is on it are great, others.....not so much

And last but certainly not least as well as relating to the above statement-

"Stay away from absolutes in describing guitars and especially beware of people who use absolutes" - You've heard it before, ALL brand X guitars do this or don't do that, ALL Jags don't sound good for...., This or that pedal is unusable..........it goes on and on and I've found that folks who think that way usually have an exceptionally myopic vantage point as well as limited experience.

Instruments and amps and music making tools are so personal. We want to put concepts regarding these things into neat little boxes so that we might narrow down choices, make selections easier or even justifiable but it seems to me that the truth in the end is "what works for you works for you"

and, that's my 2 cents, FWIW

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

CrashHardtop wrote:

Well said, Jeff. You really put the topic in the proper perspective.

He was like a Masterbuilt Strat through a Klon Centaur. Creamy and smooth.

CrazyAces wrote:

It must be my organic coffee

Move to Seattle, you dirty hippy.

Vashon is amazing!

Apologies for getting so off topic! LOL

http://www.facebook.com/CrazyAcesMusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/crazyacesrock
http://www.reverbnation.com/crazyacesmusic

CrazyAces wrote:

Apologies for getting so off topic! LOL

We need a coffee thread.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

I bought a used Squier Affinity Tele, soley based on how comfortable and playable the neck is. Being that it was used, it's possible the neck had had some work by a previous owner. The pickups are the only (slight) drawback. The bridge pickup tends to get a bit too much on the "tinny" side, when playing in the high ranges. I still plug it in, fairly regularly 'cause it's a rather fun one to jam on, and I'll eventually get around to changing the pickups...once I ever decide what replacements to go for.

Fast Cars & Loud Guitars!

Best buy I ever made was my 65 JM, cost me 200 bucks and had a new neck with no decal, but it was the first "real" guitar I'd ever bought after a couple of years of Tiescos, I spent hours in the music store, but finally decided that a Fender that I'd never heard of (it was 1985 or so) but that I loved the sound of was better than any Ibanez clone I could afford.
I didn't know anything about surf music back then, other than that I'd loved it for about 10 years. I actually bought the guitar because it was the closest I could get to REM and the surf instrumentals that I liked in one guitar. I still remember playing "Driver 8" and "Pipeline" before deciding to take it(I'd actually gone to the store looking for a sunburst strat clone).
It took the internet, and sites like this, to explain to me what single coil pickups and Fender guitars were all about. (not to mention explaining the rythym switch)
I wish I had my semi-hollow body Tiesco still (got sold by her brother when the girl I left it with broke up with me)
After all that, I have to say, I played an Epi Dot about six months ago and was amazed at how great it felt. I think that in 15 or so years, those guitars ) as well as Squier tele semihollows and Epi wilkats - are the inexpensive guitars collectors are going to treasure.)

"We're lousy, we can't play. If you wait until you can play, you'll be too old to get up there. We stink, really. But it's great," Johnny Ramone .