When I was playing for living, I invested in some serious gear. Not a lot of stuff, but I made sure what I had was top quality. I had a few Les Pauls, a Strat, a 335, a Boogie, and some rack mount stuff. However, once I settled down (read - got married, had kids, and took on a mortgage payment), I pretty much retired from playing and sold amost everything.
Now I'm playing again, mostly composing music and recording, and I've needed to buy some replacement gear. As I have almost no disposable income, and though I've made a little cash from music lately, it hasn't been much, I've pretty much just bought MIM...or actually MIK/MIC (made in Korea/made in China). I have an Epi Les Paul that's really pretty decent, especially considering the price. I had a Gibson Les Paul once where the first night I played it (after forking out $2000+) a knob fell off the thing during the first set.
My favorite guitar is still my Ibanez Artist (I've had that one for 20 years).
I just bought an Epi mandolin - OK, it's not great, but for $150 it's amazing how good it is.
I'm old enough to remember when the import guitars were really, really bad. I guess my point is, you can find really decent guitars at $300-$500 new, and of course, don't forget to look at used. My purchase choices are now dictated soley by budget, so I went for the "copy" and have no complaints...BTW - I"ve been playing 25+ years, so I guess I've been around long enough to tell the difference between a cheap instrument and an expensive one. But do what you can do....and as someone said, try the guitars out in a store - don't let the name on the headstock be the only factor on your purchase.
Excellent advice everyone. I figured I'd get the "try'em all" thing. I give the same advice.
I really like hearing from guys like dsparling who have been playing for a long time. Someone who has played a large amount of guitars over a long period of time. When they tell me that the imports are pretty darn good, well, it helps. I mean, at this point, all I know for sure is that a Tele will be my next purchase. I guess when it all boils away, MIM, MIK, MIA, none of that really matters. Just like teleplayer has said in another thread, even Squier has got some darn good guitars out there.
Now if I could only get one NOW. :D
"Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution"
My favorite guitar is still my Ibanez Artist (I've had that one for 20 years).
The original solidbody version? Still kicking myself for trading mine away about 20 years ago.
I'm old enough to remember when the import guitars were really, really bad. I guess my point is, you can find really decent guitars at $300-$500 new, and of course, don't forget to look at used.
I will always associate the advent of the good, low cost guitars with Ibanez. My first, quality electric was an SG lawsuit copy for which I paid about $150 in mid 70's. It replaced my much loved, but absolute POS Teisco.
-=tension & release=-
I bought my first guitar late in life also (around 40). I picked up a Washburn strat copy real cheap at about $125 US. Albeit I had no idea what I was talking about, but I really loved the way this guitar felt right from the start, and how it played as I progressed.
My guitar teacher is a close friend who's played for about 40 years. When I showed it to him, he noodled a bit and then strapped in on and played for about 10 - 15 minutes. You could tell he was enjoying it and told me it played and felt exactly like his American Strat.
-- John
"Hip woman walking on a moving floor, tripping on the escalator.
There's a man in the line and she's blowin' his mind, thinking that he's already made her."
'Coming into Los Angeles' - Arlo Guthrie
My favorite guitar is still my Ibanez Artist (I've had that one for 20 years).
The original solidbody version? Still kicking myself for trading mine away about 20 years ago.
No, I've got the hollowbody (two, actually)...I remember those solid bodies, though. And I"m still kicking myself for trading off my Gibson 225...think it was a '59.
I will always associate the advent of the good, low cost guitars with Ibanez. My first, quality electric was an SG lawsuit copy for which I paid about $150 in mid 70's. It replaced my much loved, but absolute POS Teisco.
The Ibanez SG was my first electric too - and it really wasn't bad, even way back then. Oh yeah, I had a Teisco or two. That's what I'm saying, the cheap guitars of today are a lot better than the ones from "my day." :)
On one hand I'd love to get an American made guitar of good quality
Thats your problem right there. Just because a guitar is made in the US doesn't mean its good quality or better than the others. For instance those ESP Navigator MIJ copies will blow any current Gibson or Fender out of the water... Or Tokai, Fender Japan, etc. etc.
BTW, don't forget rondo: http://www.rondomusic.net/electricguitar.html 8)
Stairway to Freebird!
On one hand I'd love to get an American made guitar of good quality
Thats your problem right there. Just because a guitar is made in the US doesn't mean its good quality or better than the others. For instance those ESP Navigator MIJ copies will blow any current Gibson or Fender out of the water... Or Tokai, Fender Japan, etc. etc.
True. It is hard to get around the USA vs. Others debate though. Just about everything I read puts the USA made guitars at the top of the list. So you end up getting a little biased.
BTW, don't forget rondo: http://www.rondomusic.net/electricguitar.html 8)
Oh, I haven't. I've got several guitars there bookmarked. The Agile TC-630 is on the top of my list. The price is certainly right.
"Rock And Roll Ain't Noise Pollution"
