"Bang for the buck" guitar under $1000

[whiteop]

For $750 you can get used American G&L

 

I forgot about G&L. Good guitars too.

[ugameus]

Talk to Steve Benford. Go custom and get exactly what you want! His prices are fanastic and has an excellent reputation. At least get a price quote from him and go from there.

 

 

http://www.benfordguitars.com/

[gasolinefight]

 

disagree. these are american made and thus have an inflated price. it's a fact of nature. like gravity. it just a law. the topic about bang for the buck. look for a higher end korean made axe. those tend to be fantastic.

 

 

I'll agree and disagree at the same time. The guitars listed are all sub $800 guitars, in fact the hwy 1 tele is currently selling here in canada for under $600. I wouldn't call that inflated, in fact that makes it cheaper than their mexican series, or almost all korean guitars on the market.

 

That said, my original post was done before the guy said he wanted to play metal, so I would take out all of my choices and replace them with anything from the Ltd line. (p.s. I play tons of metal with my Tele, that bridge pickup really cuts through when it's distorted.)

[alphamarquis]

G&Ls and Heritages

Both used.

So much guitar for the coin.

[guitarcapo]

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carvin-DC-All-Koa-Wood-wilkinson-trem-ebony-board-case_W0QQitemZ150410302640

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/Carvin-DC-All-Koa-Wood-Floyd-Rose-ebony-board-case_W0QQitemZ150410305372QQcmdZViewItemQQptZGuitar?hash=item2305271f5c

 

http://cgi.ebay.com/80s-Carvin-DC400-Solid-Koa-wood-w-active-electronics_W0QQitemZ290396481871

[ExiledCrow]

There's a good selection of used Charvels on the bay in that price range ... as I know from doing some GAS-type browsing yesterday ....

[Ouzhewen]

For metal, http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/ESP-LTD-KH602-Kirk-Hammett-Signature-Guitar?sku=516641 is a great guitar and it meets the price requirement.

[Poltergeist]

Fender '72 Telecaster Deluxe with 500K pots.

 

Gibson Les Paul Studio with upgraded pickups (or used Standard).

 

Gibson SG Studio with upgraded pickups (or used Standard).

[jedisb]

Godin Redline series?

[ExiledCrow]

The new Charvels are MIA under $1000 and a good deal if you aren't paying MAP ...

[artiem]

Check out Agile. I just received my first Agile, and have been very impressed with the quality of my AL-3100, especially considering its $400 price tag. There's a reason Agile has such a dedicated fan base.

[bdegrande]

 

Talk to Steve Benford. Go custom and get exactly what you want! His prices are fanastic and has an excellent reputation. At least get a price quote from him and go from there. http://www.benfordguitars.com/

 

 

I second this enthusiastically, Steve builds great guitars.

 

If you want something else, used Peavey Wolfgang Special. Great guitar for metal - Floyd Rose, locking nut, and terrific pickups for high gain, they stay clear even with lots of distortion when many humbuckers turn to mud, It also has the D-Tuna for quick changing to drop D tuning.

[bigconig]

You could get a used Carvin and have enough left over for an amp or get a new one if you just keep the options list short. you'd be hard pressed to find a better playing guitar at any price.

[AxAxSxS]

Metal...... Hmmm, how about something like this-

 

[ExiledCrow]

Quality choices abound!

[guitarcapo]

I think I just blew this thread out of the water:

 

 

 

all koa double neck Carvin. Both setneck. Ebay selling around $600 now but I bet it won't break $1,000

[ExiledCrow]

Holy crap, that's a good deal for a double-neck .... now if only I had any desire for one!

[FinkPloyd]

Get this and don't look back.

Retail $1200

Direct $480.

 

[GCDEF]

 

I think I just blew this thread out of the water: all koa double neck Carvin. Both setneck. Ebay selling around $600 now but I bet it won't break $1,000

 

 

I'm not really sure what the point of guitar and bass on the same instrument is. 6 and 12 string maybe, but guitar and bass? Why?

[bsman]

I think I just blew this thread out of the water: all koa double neck Carvin. Both setneck. Ebay selling around $600 now but I bet it won't break $1,000

 

Jesus - I'll bet that's a backbreaker!

[Mudder1310]

You can pretty regularly find Robin Wranglers and Rangers under $1k, and they're simply top notch.

 

For something new look on ebay for Lowel guitars. He sells nice walnut SGs for good prices. I almost bought one when I found a used one instead. Killer necks.

[d_dave_c]

Also, the drum city/ guitarland clearance section has a ton of good deals, a number of which are less than a grand.

 

Hard to beat the 09 Charvels on clearance for $699.

[vcnyls]

ESP/LTDs are a good call. As a matter of fact.... See below.

[metallica_00]

Go used!

 

Under 1000, you can find uses USA g&ls, USA hamers, sometimes a heritage h150 will sneak down under $1k, even a used mcinturff base model like a polaris will be under 1000 sometimes! Take advantage of smaller companies having lower resale due to lack of name recognition. Those guitars are all much better than your typical import or low end American guitar.

 

To contradict the argument of high end Korean guitars being a better value than low-end American, I offer this - take a look at some of the top-end ESP ltds, schecters, etc. Most of them are really blinged out cosmetically - abalone everywhere, binding, fancy tops. I'd rather have my money go to build quality and components, not cosmetics. Those guitars are intentionally spec'ed to fall below the top end lines (why would a company ever let their cheap stuff surpass their higher margin high end?).

 

In fact, used at $1000 I would argue is the best value price point period.

[pvwolfgang5150]

Used Charvel So-Cal.