Members radomu Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 I just tried a Hofner Galaxie today at a store (costed somewhere around 400 dollars) and it stunned me at how well it played and sounded for a guitar so cheap. It sounded somewhat like a fatter stratocaster, but I liked the sound of it than any strat that I've played. You see Josh Homme from Queens of the Stone Age use the guitar sometimes too. Maybe it stays intact. There are guitars by PRS and Gibson that are intentionally expensive because their names automatically sell themselves, while I have yet to play a Gibson Les Paul that even compares with the pre-$1000 Edwards Les Paul. Are there any other notable guitars that are extremely cheap but sounds, plays, and lasts as well as a "professional" guitar that usually costs over a 1000 dollars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DavidMgT Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 Try a G&L SC-2 and/or a G&L Legacy - both are excellent and can be found new for under $1000 and for much less used - I got my Legacy for $575 in 2001 and it remains one of my favorite guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members roygbiv Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 I sold a MIA telecaster because I found myself picking up my Squier CV tele every single time I went to pick up a guitar. a good guitar is a good guitar, regardless of what's on the headstock. You don't play the headstock, do you? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 +1 on the Hofners. Their CT series is comprised of some nice pieces. EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members radomu Posted January 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 I sold a MIA telecaster because I found myself picking up my Squier CV tele every single time I went to pick up a guitar.a good guitar is a good guitar, regardless of what's on the headstock.You don't play the headstock, do you? People say Squiers have a "cheap sound", but what the hell is a "cheap" sound? It's about whether it sounds bad or good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scuzzo Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 i cant find much difference in my cheap as dirt guitar and some high end fenders that some cats on here boast about.. i think its up to the player to make the guitar a player you need to know how to set up stuff... . i hear lots of fluffy talk about fit and finish and how level sunken screws all add up to tonal qualities.. placebo.. mho there just are not that many real crap guitars out there.. sure there are still some.. but ever one i have purchased fully knowing they have every chance of being dead and lifeless have just knocked me out as to how good these cheap guitars really are.. all this other fuffy talk and about tone woods and aged volume knobs and all.. i just dont see it.. i cant really hear it at my level.. i will say the nicer guitars have a more pretty finish... nicer paint and varnish techniques. but then again..JMHO.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pak066 Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 ...not this again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sk8centilli Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 Eastman makes a helluva thinline for less than half the cost of a Gibson ES. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ChineseKnockoff Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 Might depend on just how cheap "cheap" is. There are currently quite a few instruments available with price to quality ratios that would have been unimaginable "back in the day". Especially some of the Japanese or Korean models from the '90s that are available used. The Epi Elitists would be high on the list if you're using Gibson as a benchmark. Used Hamer USA or Yamaha would be fertile too. New, there have been some recent PRS SEs that have really impressed me, and this place is just full of recommendations for internet brands that some people just love. Great time to be alive, isn't it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members radomu Posted January 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 Might depend on just how cheap "cheap" is. There are currently quite a few instruments available with price to quality ratios that would have been unimaginable "back in the day". Especially some of the Japanese or Korean models from the '90s that are available used. The Epi Elitists would be high on the list if you're using Gibson as a benchmark. Used Hamer USA or Yamaha would be fertile too. New, there have been some recent PRS SEs that have really impressed me, and this place is just full of recommendations for internet brands that some people just love. Great time to be alive, isn't it? The middle aged guys say "well, they sold Telecasters and stratocasters from the 50's and 60's in pawnshops for very little money so it was better back then". But yeah, it is a good time to live in, especially when Chinese-made guitars are getting better every year Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Special J Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 I sold a MIA telecaster because I found myself picking up my Squier CV tele every single time I went to pick up a guitar.a good guitar is a good guitar, regardless of what's on the headstock.You don't play the headstock, do you? I do. You can do those cool pedal steel licks by bending behind the nut. I like those little psychedelic faux sitar glisses you can do up there too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kit_strong Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 Well, not exactly cheap but Reverends in general are pro-quality guitars for well under $1k. On the cheap end, I am very pleased with both of my Maldens. The Bulldozer in particular has a great unplugged sound quality to it, the stock pickups are pretty good on their own and an upgrade would only make it better. THe looks definitely aren't for everyone and even I wouldn't go so far as to call it attractive but it's a hell of a lot of guitar for $200 and I wouldn't hesitate to play it on stage. My Karma is also great but I didn't really spend enough time with the stock pickups to say much about the stock quality. They were definitely functional but with my upgrades it's a completely different animal. Although still a bargain considering my total investment is under $550. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 There are guitars by PRS and Gibson that are intentionally expensive because their names automatically sell themselves, while I have yet to play a Gibson Les Paul that even compares with the pre-$1000 Edwards Les Paul. This is not a dig at all, and not a flame, but...have you ever played a PRS? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 Might depend on just how cheap "cheap" is. Very true. For example, I think that Carvin represents an exceptional value, and a couple of their models are certainly an homage (at the very least) to Gibby and PRS. Even though it may cost $1500 to build, it's half the price and the quality is certainly close. In some instances, the quality may even surpass that of the original, but at a much lower price point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members radomu Posted January 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 This is not a dig at all, and not a flame, but...have you ever played a PRS? A few from the high end ones, and I played the Santana signature one. They're great obviously, but I'm definitely not going to pay that price for that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bob411 Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 I sometimes think about changing my user name to Cheap Bastard. Dash Riprock would be really neato too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 A few from the high end ones, and I played the Santana signature one. They're great obviously, but I'm definitely not going to pay that price for that. Oh, I certainly understand that. They're crazy expensive, but I just don't think all of that price is in the name. But I suppose that dead horse has been beaten enough... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 I sometimes think about changing my user name to Cheap Bastard. Dash Riprock would be really neato too. Chest Rockwell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Elias Graves Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 I sometimes think about changing my user name to Cheap Bastard. Dash Riprock would be really neato too. Bolt Upright FTW! EG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members radomu Posted January 10, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 Oh, I certainly understand that. They're crazy expensive, but I just don't think all of that price is in the name. But I suppose that dead horse has been beaten enough... And adding to that, I would NEVER pay more than a 1500 dollars on a Gibson Les Paul Standard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 And adding to that, I would NEVER pay more than a 1500 dollars on a Gibson Les Paul Standard. Neither would I, but that too is another thread... My "LP" is an Edwards with a neck repair. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JTEES4 Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 I have many cheap guitars and with some not too expensive mods they are fantastic. Hohner G2T with new pickups and controls, total about $400. Peavey Vintage EXP with Dimarzo Area T and GFS locking tuners, total about $350. Great, not good guitars after I had my way with them including my own set ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members trenolds39 Posted January 10, 2011 Members Share Posted January 10, 2011 I sold a MIA telecaster because I found myself picking up my Squier CV tele every single time I went to pick up a guitar.a good guitar is a good guitar, regardless of what's on the headstock.You don't play the headstock, do you? Amen to that. I bought a CV Tele while studying abroad with the intent to flip it before leaving, and it plays, resonates, and generally sounds very impressive. I would say it has been on par with some MIM and MIA teles I've played. The only things that reflect its price are the tuners and electronics (minus pickups, which are actually decent). I've got a Parker Fly Mojo Quilt and PRS McCarty IRW that are much more expensive than my Ibanez RGA121 and '93 Jackson Kelly Pro (as a rather odd comparison), and although they do feel, look, resonate and sound better overall, I find it difficult to justify a price tag three times as much other than I could simply afford it at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members enb141 Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 In my opinion my Parker Fly Deluxe is expensive but worth every cent, if I compare my Parker with those expensive models from Ibanez or Jackson I feel the price of my Parker is ok, but if I compare my Parker with a cheap model of those brands obviously I will see that the 3 times of the price is a whole difference but still I think that my Parker is good enough for what it costs me. Then back to the thread I think the cheap models from Ibanez or Jackson are good for its price, some of this guitars with new pickups and some tremolo fixes are really a good shred guitars. So after all this I think the difference between an expensive model and a cheap model is that instead of getting one instrument for zillions, you get an instrument for just a few lucky guys that are able to pay that difference of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members almightycrunch Posted January 11, 2011 Members Share Posted January 11, 2011 Eastman makes a helluva thinline for less than half the cost of a Gibson ES. wow, first time I read that post, I thought you said "Esteban" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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