These are gaining in popularity, but the Michael Kelly line of guitars are excellent values for the money. $350 gets you a real pretty guitar with top-notch hardware, made in Korea. They have Les Paul and Semi-Hollow styles...
-=- Steve
"If the moon were made of ribs, would you eat it?"
Gitane Guitars have really good quality for the dollars. I have a DG-250 and it sounds as good as selmer style guitars costing much more.
"The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There's also a negative side." -- HST
The Greg Bennett guitars are pretty good guitars. I myself have an acoustic-electric Samick D-5 BCE which i bought for 280 dollars, although it really truly sounds like and looks like a 700-800 dollar guitar. The only thing i can say is that it has a few very very minor errors in the gluing and lamenations (a little too much in a spot a two), but i must say, i will keep this guitar for life.
The Greg Bennett guitars are pretty good guitars. I myself have an acoustic-electric Samick D-5 BCE which i bought for 280 dollars, although it really truly sounds like and looks like a 700-800 dollar guitar. The only thing i can say is that it has a few very very minor errors in the gluing and lamenations (a little too much in a spot a two), but i must say, i will keep this guitar for life.
+1+1+1+1 :)
I think the GB/Samicks are the best Bang for the Buck out there. :roll:
Research is what I'm doing when I don't know what I'm doing. - Wernher Von Braun (1912-1977)
A post like this cannot exist without mentioning Agile guitars. Simply the BEST bang for the buck...and THEN SOME! 8)
I love my agile w/ 2 humbuckers so much, I am also probably going to try one of their P-90 equipped guitars. If I could get their Tribal Green Agile w/ P-90's..........
It is a small world for metal fanatics. I welcome you fellow musicians, especially the metalheads!
Godin Exit 22, HSS pickups, solid mahogany body, maple neck, 5 way swiching, stays in tune for days at a time, strap buttons fit schaller strap locks, no cosmetic flaws that I can find, sounds great, It is like many of these guitars a tad heavy but the sustain is great...$429. at online marketers
Robbie
a link to show the guitar..not a ptch for musicians friend:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Godin-Exit-22-Electric-Guitar?sku=511922
97Reb, I LOVE Agile's P-90s! :D
I've got an AS-820 semihollow with a pair of them, and my boy has one of their AL-2500 goldtop LPs with three of them.
"A cheerful heart is good medicine."
Thanks for the info Ric, now I'm gassing even more. An Agile with P-90's and a 4x12 or two for my 2 Epi heads. Not that I need to be spending ANY money on gear anytime soon.
It is a small world for metal fanatics. I welcome you fellow musicians, especially the metalheads!
These are good stuff:
They've got a cool retro vibe, great tones, playability and great customer service -- some are under 5 bills; some are a bit over 5; every one is worth the price.
Why play what every one else does?
... and Ricochet, these P90s are hot and nasty!
-=tension & release=-
I was reading a review about the Wilson Brothers Guitar Ventures VM75 Solid Body in issue 280 of Guitarist magazine the other day and its one of those mags that has sound bytes on a free cd of gear on test and these little devils really do sound nice (P90s). check them out
http://www.wilsonguitarventures.com/ Very reasonably priced with a great retro look. there is also a VMB75 which is a bass version
Be excellent to each other & party on dudes!
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=686668
Here's a little review i wrote on my guitar:
Samick D-5 BCE - I've only seen a D-5 CE on samick's site. From the looks of it, the B might mean bright because the picture they have of a D-5 CE has a noticeably darker top than mine.
Specs:
Top: Solid Bookmatch Sitka Spruce
Back, Sides, Neck: Solid Bookmatch Striped Sapele (Type of Mahogany)
Fingerboard and Saddle: Indian Rosewood
Finish: Satin
Shape: Dreadnought Cutaway
Tuners: Grover Machines
Electronics: ClearWaver10 EQ/Tuner, 4-band
Rosette/Inlays: Synthetic Abalone/Dotted
Binding: 5play Cream
Cost: About 300 USD
Before i bought this beauty, i had to use my sister's pretty bad, laminated top guitar which was a decent beginner guitar, but after playing guitar for a couple years, i wanted to go up a step. I already had an electric guitar (ny pro strat copy), and i really was more into the acoustic scene, so i opted for an acoustic-electric. So, i walk into the local store and this guitar catches my eye. It was being sold for roughly 300 USD, and after some bargaining, we were able to get picks, solid case, set of strings, and a strap pin installation for 349.80 USD, and my budget happened to be 350 USD so i was extremely happy.
Playability:
When i picked this guitar off the rack, i started to play a couple songs i knew. It felt so much easier to play than my sister's guitar. The action was a very good height, and things from chords to lead parts were a very easy handle. The neck was a good width for me, my fingers felt natural for both my left and right hand.
Sound:
This guitar was pretty loud and sounded really warm, yet distinct. Many of the chords i played gave me a nice rush of overtones which i enjoyed so much. Since i wanted to be smart about my purchase, i played some other guitars, even ones double my price range. I picked up a $700 guitar, i'm not sure which brand, but it was a brand that hand made every single guitar in their lineup. Surprisingly, i hear no difference between the quality of this $700 guitar and the one i eventually bought. The sound seemed just as full with the overtones. The only thing i noticed, was the samick guitar had a deeper bass, which is exactly what i wanted. Also, the comparison stayed the same when plugged into an acoustic amp.
Looks:
Just wow. I wouldn't have expected such an inexpensive A-E to look good, let alone sound good. Who cares if the abalone is synthetic, looks like the real thing. I would know, i have a cello bow with real abalone inlay at the frog. The cream binding and light top went so well with the sides, pickguard, and rosette. The fact that they took the time to cut out the fingerboard with a curvature to match the sound whole makes a huge visual difference. I would later learn that Samick is the company that manufactures all the Gibson, Epiphone, etc. being the largest musical manufacture in the world. So they know what they're doing and how to do it cheap.
Recommendation:
I would definitely recommend this guitar to anybody that wants an amazing guitar for an amazing value. It's definitely not limited to a being a starter or second guitar, but definitely one you go out and gig with for life - i sure as hell am. I've only had it for a month, so i'm hoping the guitar will break-in in a couple of months and sound even better.
Pictures: Here's some pictures, my digi cam is pretty bad, so excuse the quality. The pictures don't justify the actual guitar in real life. I think i found a good one on the net though.[tab]
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Gordon Smith Guitars in the UK -
http://www.fairplay.demon.co.uk
Hand made excellence at very reasonable prices for what you get (my actual guitar is on the site - the GS1.5-40, a slightly different variation on their theme and certified bu themselves as being the first of this type made). Mine cost £430 uk, had to wait a few months but well worth it. 1 tapped humbucker at bridge, 1 single at neck, maple neck. Sounds beautiful even in my ham fists, a real player would make it sing. Had it made for my 40th last year - check out all their other stuff too.
Gordon Smith GS1.5-40 Marshall VS65R
These are good stuff:
They've got a cool retro vibe, great tones, playability and great customer service -- some are under 5 bills; some are a bit over 5; every one is worth the price.
Why play what every one else does?
... and Ricochet, these P90s are hot and nasty!
I like the looks of the Reverend, but I find it hard to find them at stores or online...
-=- Steve
"If the moon were made of ribs, would you eat it?"
Like Carvin, Reverend sells direct. Gotta call the number. They have a return policy, except on demo deals.
You will also find Joe Naylor (founder) and his guitars at larger instrument/guitar shows, including NAMM and the Vintage Guitar expositions.
-=tension & release=-