Of your acquisitions, name some stand-outs which still offer some "bang for the buck"

[craigny]

My Blacktop Jag....ive owned the Tele version too, but this thing feels looks and plays so nice...i upgraded the pickups to a set of DiMarzio's..(but the stockers are not bad at all)Tone Zone in the bridge, PAF 36th Anniv. in the neck, and now this thing is a GREAT guitar...forget about for the money....its a GREAT guitar!

[Grantus]

+1

And my Fender Cyclone as well.

Originally Posted by craigny

My Blacktop Jag....ive owned the Tele version too, but this thing feels looks and plays so nice...i upgraded the pickups to a set of DiMarzio's..(but the stockers are not bad at all)Tone Zone in the bridge, PAF 36th Anniv. in the neck, and now this thing is a GREAT guitar...forget about for the money....its a GREAT guitar!

[billythegoat]

[Tupelo Son]

MIJ Tokai Love Rock...has been Bigsbyfied since this pic.

[photon9]

My Reverend Jetstream 390. Got it used for $350. It's been one of my faves since I picked it up.



My Peerless Casino ain't bad either! Though I probably did overpay a little on that one.

Oh and the Bugera... Love that thing. Got it used for under $270.

[Skyforger]

Could someone quickly clarify "bang for buck" for me? To me, it means a guitar I have a lot of fun with despite its cheap origins or how little I paid for it. However, I see a lot of guitars here that I'd never be able to afford in my lifetime

[Presc]

Bang for the buck is all relative...something can be expensive but still represent good value.

My Heritage 535 is probably my best value. Bought if off a Berklee professor for $1250, really well taken care of and set up. It's a beautiful guitar that absolutely sings, and given what a new/used Gibson 335s go for, a great deal for a semi with a ton of vibe.

[Skyforger]

So... Is

[Blackface]

If I'm going to keep a guitar for the rest of my life, I'm interested in getting what I want, not bang for the buck.

[GAS Man]

Originally Posted by Blackface

If I'm going to keep a guitar for the rest of my life, I'm interested in getting what I want, not bang for the buck.

When I included "bang for the buck" in the thread title, I didn't intend to limit the discussion to inexpensive guitars. Whether inexpensive or expensive, I was referring to a guitar that you think sounds better than many guitars costing more. Like the one I posted in the OP was a bit over $700, but I've bonded with it more than my American Deluxe or '52 RI. Not saying it's "better", but I'm getting a lot of satisfaction out of it for not as much cash as I'd normally expect to pay for that much playing pleasure.


This one was another hit for me, or I could call it another "glad I did it"




On that one, maybe it psychological, but the bridge tone seems more vibey than I get from the bridge of my '60s Tribute or Classic SG


If I was going for least expensive "bang for the buck" I'd have probably put up my trusted traveling friend, my Squier Telecaster Custom II.

[Blackface]

 

Originally Posted by Blackface

If I'm going to keep a guitar for the rest of my life, I'm interested in getting what I want, not bang for the buck.

 

Ok, that being said, my favorite guitars are a '52 RI Telecaster, my Thurston Moore Jazzmaster and a '73 Gibson Hummingbird, none of which I got a particularly good or bad deal on. I also like buying cheaper guitars occasionally and getting rid of them after a few months/years and I don't see anything wrong with that. But the guitars that I will always have and play are much better deals regardless of the price.

[cratz2]

Hrmm... well, I guess in pure value terms, I'd have to vote for my Pacifica PAC604. I bought/partial traded for it to the tune of about $73 and, while it's not the greatest guitar ever, I could easily live with it as my only guitar and it would serve all my needs. Very minor setup tweaks and she plays 90% as good as my best guitar and sounds probably 80% as good and is certainly more versatile. At some point, I'll add a mini toggle switch to get the neck+bridge split tone going but I'm in no hurry.



On the other hand, my surf green partscaster is... well... it's my favorite guitar that I've ever owned. It came with the surf green MIJ Fender body, a ~2002 MIA Fender neck, CS69 pickups, pearl pickguard and HSC for $325 and three hours of driving, round trip. I traded the neck for a Cray Signature plus $50 coming my way, eventually moved the pickups to another guitar and sold the set that was in that guitar for $125, installed one of those Wilkinson trems with the pop in arm, ditched the pearl for all cream stuff and bought a set of Duncan Antiquites from Doc Morbius. I think all told I have between $300 and $400 in it and other than wanting to get a custom pickguard with only two pot holes, I'm completely and utterly happy with it. I've owned guitars that cost 5 to 6 times as much and I always had some beef with them, no matter how trivial. This guitar, with Thomastik flats installed, is pretty much perfection for me.

[Ravelleman]

 

Originally Posted by Skyforger

So... Is

[stormin1155]

I've gone through 50+ guitars in the last three years, and have been thinning out my stable so about all I have left are ones that are a good bang for the buck. Some of my more notable best bangs are my Fender Showmaster, Raven West RM300, and my two XT series Hamers (Echotone and Sunburst A/T-P90).

[billythegoat]

Originally Posted by GAS Man

Quoted for simplistic beauty!

That is one sexy SG!

[SpiritOfTheAge]

Like above a Yamaha PAC604, but mines a redish burst finish and has the yamaha vintage bridge rather then the wilkinson. Got it for

[Jkater]

Best-bang-for the buck among my guitars is my Pacifica 904. I bought it new for 965

[Jkater]

blueridge br163... all solid woods... great sounding acoustic... play it every day

 

That's a sweet acoustic!

[Spike Li]

My Blacktop Jag....ive owned the Tele version too, but this thing feels looks and plays so nice...i upgraded the pickups to a set of DiMarzio's..(but the stockers are not bad at all)Tone Zone in the bridge, PAF 36th Anniv. in the neck, and now this thing is a GREAT guitar...forget about for the money....its a GREAT guitar!

 

Ive always wanted one of these, but everyone Ive picked up was stupidly heavy

Whats yours like?

[dabbler]

My Switch Wild 4. Theres not a splinter of wood in it, but out has great tone, is unaffected by weather, and with coil splits in both pups, is quite versatile. Got mine on closeout.

 

[dabbler]

My Switch Wild 4. Theres not a splinter of wood in it, but out has great tone, is unaffected by weather, and with coil splits in both pups, is quite versatile. Got mine on closeout.

 

[Elessar [Sly]]

Guitarwise that I have purchased: Gibson SG standard with SH5/59 set.

Pupwise: The bare knuckles in my strat and Ibby.

Ampwise: Laney IRT60H

Cab: The Laney cab in my avatar (only

[kayd_mon]

I thought that my PRS SE (bought at a pawnshop for $300) was higher quality than I expected. I play it a lot, especially for gigs, though it isn't my favorite guitar.

 

[thecornman]

Best bang for bucks for me is the just over 500 I put into this Strat parts build I did! Owned many Strats in my life, but never had one that sounds and plays better for me!

[Mo' Cowbell]

Epiphone '56 Goldtop. $250 private sale, no case. Bridge pickup is awesome. Neck is decent Jazz with the treble rolled back. Close second, MIM Tele, $250 at pawn shop. All twang, all the time.