Members Radar-Love Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 +1 on the MKs. I lubs me some cheapies. I sold all the expensive ones. If I were in your place, I would have done the opposite. But, that's just me. The Michael Kelly models that are Made-In-China or Made-In-Vietnam (like the Standard) are pretty solid guitars that are on par with Epiphone's better models, but the higher-end models like I mentioned above (Made-In-Korea) have fretwork and fingerboards are as good as Gibson or USA-made PRS models. The grade of mahogany is excellent, the binding is very well done, inlay work is great, Tone-Pro and Grover hardware is used where applicable, and the finish work is very nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 67mike Posted January 12, 2011 Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 Take me back 23 years Well, Ford released the AWSOME 1987 Mustang GT (which I bought in black/silver), Gold and Real estate were dirt cheap, Mullets were the rage, and {censored} was {censored}! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members radomu Posted January 12, 2011 Author Members Share Posted January 12, 2011 That's it, I'm NEVER going to pay more than a 1000 dollars on guitar Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members modavis99 Posted January 13, 2011 Members Share Posted January 13, 2011 Mid 90s used Hamer USA Special, either the all mahogany with P90s or the FM with Seymour 59 and JB. Trading now around $500 used. Seems hard to beat that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Brian Krashpad Posted January 13, 2011 Members Share Posted January 13, 2011 But yeah, it is a good time to live in, especially when Chinese-made guitars are getting better every year I have been very pleased with my MIC Fernandes Ravelle Deluxe, has stock Duncan Jazz/JB. Bought used for $400 and I have seen them go for even less.Of course, there's plenty of USA-made used guitars that can be had for not much dosh also. I bought my Hamer Special for $450 about 10 years ago:And don't get me started on the old USA Peaveys. While they've crept up a bit, these are still way underpriced. I have this great T-60 ($200 w/ohsc):And this T-40 bass ($275 w/hsc):I also have a USA Predator Strat ($100), similar to the '90's MIM Fenders:And a Fury bass (basically a rebadged T-20, $125):I also have/had tons of MIKs I've been happy with: an Agile Valkyrie P-90 SG ($99 + shipping, just sold to pay med bills), Epi WildKat ($300), Epi Thunderbird bass ($100), several MIK DeArmonds (bought for around $200-250), Schecter Tempest Special, Brownsville Choirboy, Dano Hodad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Mel Cooley Posted January 13, 2011 Members Share Posted January 13, 2011 Hanson Cigno Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oaksong Posted January 13, 2011 Members Share Posted January 13, 2011 I'll say it over and over again: BENFORD GUITARS. American made, excellent quality, and CUSTOM... for ~$500. You can't go wrong. You get to talk DIRECTLY to the builder. Turn around time is quick. You can choose your pickups. I have my hellicaster and it is AWESOME. Granted, that level of custom work isn't $500, but it was still under 1k, and is a guitar unlike anything you would EVER find in a store. A pretty straightforward tele or strat on the other hand is American quality at MIM style prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members scolfax Posted January 13, 2011 Members Share Posted January 13, 2011 My buddy just bought an Ibanez Prestige RG for $699 with case. Made in Japan. It's so great. I just can't see how the $1299 RG's could be twice as good. Only possible improvements I can imagine are pickups and stainless frets. Maybe not "cheap", but I can totally see it in the "pro" category. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Tubefox Posted January 13, 2011 Members Share Posted January 13, 2011 Let's see here. I have an Ibanez RG370 I got used. I paid a little under $300 for it, and it's a lot better than you'd think for that price. The only problem is the Edge III trem, but it's fine as long as you don't really use it. And even if you do use it, it's better than the whammy on a cheap strat. Also, I have a MIK B.C. Rich NJ Deluxe that was 800 bucks, and easily ties 1200 dollar Gibsons. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Guitar Heel Posted January 13, 2011 Members Share Posted January 13, 2011 Hanson Cigno I've wanted to play one of these since they came out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Philfixit Posted January 13, 2011 Members Share Posted January 13, 2011 I picked up a Peavey T-40 @ a pawnshop for $125. Had a little pitting on the bridge but mostly just old. Changed strings, cleaned it up, polished the frets a little, and it plays and sounds pretty darn good. Rolling it over for $250, hopefully next week. Also a PRS Tremonti SE that I got at the same shop for $200. Had a bad volume pot. This is my only guitar right now and I'm not really, seriously gassing for another. I'm NOT! But the bargains ARE out there. I don't know if the PRS would be attractive at the $500+ price point new but the SC models are pretty nice. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JTEES4 Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Mid 90s used Hamer USA Special, either the all mahogany with P90s or the FM with Seymour 59 and JB. Trading now around $500 used. Seems hard to beat that. I agree 100% on the Hamers...but I think the prices are a little higher than that these days. I especially like the Special FM but those go for $600+ except in a few rare cases. Still great values IMHO. Even the Hamer Studios can be had for $700 sometimes and they are great at that price also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Edward Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 It would be lovely to have the money to go and buy something from the Fender Custom Shop.... though tbh I kinda get more of a buzz out of finding something fun and cheap than out of finding something much more expensive where it damn well better be great for what you pay... There was a time when I wanted only cheap, then I only wanted expensive..... when I finally matured as a guitar player (and elsewise), I just wanted good guitars at sensible prices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members KidEh Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 It all depends on what I want at a time. Ive GASed for some strange little guitars that are under a few hundred bucks, but I also just bought a 1600 MIA Jazzmaster because... I wanted a 1600 MIA Jazzmaster. That being said, the collector in me will always subconcously lean towards the more valuable guitars, and sometimes when I play a cool cheap guitar I still wish it had that extra something that typically more expensive models are expected to have, and sometimes five times what you paid is worth the peace of mind (dont get me wrong, there are expensive guitars out there that are straight up dogs). Plus, I would always rather buy Made in Canada or US because I like to support the economies. Wont say no to any good value though, and Godin is always a great bet. Made in Canada/US, sound great, and have exceptional build quality. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members gdsmithtx Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 I picked up my 2006 Ibanez SZ520QM from ebay last year for $250 shipped, then put in another couple hundred in new pickups and electronics (Dimarzio Bluesbucker in the neck and Air Zone in the bridge) and it is the best sounding and playing guitar I've ever laid hands on, and that includes my old $1200 (1992 dollars) Gibson MIII superstrat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JMR Posted January 14, 2011 Members Share Posted January 14, 2011 Hamer specials and G&L SC-2s. I want Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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