good Low budget electric guitar

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Melodic Master Mind
Member Since: Apr 19, 2004

Hi,


well first to start off....the only store in my home town that sells electric guitars, only got 2 guitars there, some biscayne (fender stratocastor knock off) and a Behringer V tone. so i don't have a wide range to test from....and down here an electric cost more than 2wice the price...so the only option i got is for a relative in the states to buy one for me...well i want a guitar with a nice clean clear sound tha i could do anything with, distortion and so on...and kinda bluesy sounding.....i mainly play reggae and blues....this will be my first electric..... my price range is 150 - 240.....well the ones i look at online and interested in are: Ibanez Grx20z, Silvertone SSL3, Epiphone Les Paul Special II, Ibanez GRG170DX, ESP EC50, Ibanez GSA60.............i really like the silvertone ssl3 cause of the looks and the les paul-ish body and i like the epiphone les paul too.......but also more important to me is the quality, sound and the price also.....Please help me make a decision......Thanks HRC!

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eeeeeeemo.
Member
Since: Oct 30, 2003


Jul 26, 2005 06:39 am

although it isn't on your list i'd recommend checking out the yamaha pacifica. i've heard nothing but good things about that guitar!

Hello!
Member
Since: Jan 12, 2004


Jul 26, 2005 07:21 am

Id say if you're looking for a good, relatively cheap (range) Of guitars you go for:

EITHER (depending on your preference):

The Epiphone Line (also, check the difference in price between a Special and a Standard - the standard is VERY VERY good - I have one and in a road test next to my new Gibson, it sounded good when considering the price I paid!).

So, an Epi Les Paul is good...built well and plays well (mine does anyway).

OR

The Squier (by Fender) line but as yer after something more meaty, maybe the LP it would need to be.

Good luck anyways man

Coco.

Dub head
Member
Since: May 03, 2004


Jul 26, 2005 09:03 am

If you're playing reggae and blues check out Ibanez's Artcore models. I've heard very good things about them. It's worth your time to atleast look into them on the internet.

Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jul 26, 2005 09:04 am

ESP has some decent entry-level guitars.

Banned


Jul 26, 2005 11:10 am

www.rondomusic.net/electricguitar.html

ive heard great things about the "agile" brand guitars @ rondo

Member
Since: Apr 27, 2002


Jul 26, 2005 11:24 am

i own a couple of the ibanez artcore models...they are some awesome sounding guitars...let me tell you that much, very versatile....great clean, thick when distorted....i love them....ARTCORE ALL THE WAY

Melodic Master Mind
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2004


Jul 26, 2005 11:26 am

the yamaha looks interesting and the reviews seem good. some of the best reviews i saw for a guitar......and i know their reputation for good quality and sound for entry-level stuff..and its proof from my first guitar which is a Yamaha C40 nylon.....coco i can't afford the standard only the special.. (and i don't want no Squier by the way)...albert, i don't want a semi hollow body....yea dan i looked at them too but i not so sure......man this is confusing!!!!! lol.....i asked for help in choosing one and u all come with 6 different guitars! .............LOL...

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jul 26, 2005 03:42 pm

I don't think that there's a higher quality entry-level guitar than the Yamaha Pacifica. Not a particularly stylish guitar, but apparently it's build quality is higher than anything else in its range.

Squier guitars are a good deal in that price range, but I wouldn't buy one before playing it first. The quality control is just not consistent enough to trust that you're going to get a defect-free guitar. Play 20 of them,and you'll probably find one that rivals the quality of the true Fender lines. But the other 19 probably have weird flaws in the fit and finish.

Stay away from Epiphones in that price range. Below the $250 mark, I dont think that Epi has much to offer that's not just a toy.

Take a look at Agile guitars. Lots of copies of other styles. They're made by Rondo guitars. I bought an SX bass from them, and it was extremely cheap but a nice bass for the money. In the sub-$300 range, they're definitely one to research.

Also check out Aria, Aria Pro and Aria Pro II. You can probalby find a good used one in your price range.

The most important thing in this price range is to play the guitars, or at least make sure that you have a good return policy. The quality control isn't the same as high-end guitars where you're 90% sure that everything that comes off the line will be in good shape.

Answer:On a good day, lipstick.
Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004


Jul 26, 2005 04:14 pm

Quote:
..and I don't want no Squier by the way...

I'd have to agree with Tadpui on their quality control consistency, but I have one - $99 by the way - that plays like a dream. One of my favourite guitars. Try a few.... My frind bought one of those "Squier Pack" packages for his son, and the (70's style - big headstock) strat isn't a patch on mine. Just not as playable.

Also, are you so dead-set on something new?
There are a million used guitars out there of excellent quality going for a song. You might get more value for money.

Another brand to look at is the Schecter Diamond Series. Again, there can be some inconsistencies, but there are some gems floating around. Mine's a joy to play.

Have a look at the Artcore's. I've been drooling over them for a while. Very nice guitars.


Administrator
Since: Apr 03, 2002


Jul 26, 2005 04:17 pm

Ya know, the most honest answer I can give this:

Go to every music store and pawn shop in your area, try every cheap guitar you can find. Any brand, any model from any maker has it's occassional "great find" that just happens to be cut from a good chunk of wood and the pieces just all feel from the gods. They are not common, but if you look, you can get a real gem for little money.

I've played a couple P.O.S. Squiers, and one or two really nice ones...it's just the patience to look and play as many as you can.

Melodic Master Mind
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2004


Jul 26, 2005 05:26 pm

those rondo guitars look cool and they giving more info about there products than the 'normal' branded guitars.......looking into it

Banned


Jul 26, 2005 06:07 pm

www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Agile/

agile reviews


Melodic Master Mind
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2004


Jul 26, 2005 11:12 pm

man look at this www.audioconmusic.com/ind...p;cPath=548_552 and thats one of the cheapest, of the few musical stores we got in the country..(i put it in US currency mode, thats Us dollars u seeing there)...its there i bought my first guitar ( yamaha c40 acoustic ) <in person>.....but tha was the only guitar there similar in price to the sites (zzounds.com, musiciansfriend.com and so on) or close to it....... look at the yamaha pac112 its twice the price compared to the american stores..... and if i buy it a music123.com which has world wide shipping.....i might have to pay all this tax and thing man this is pure *bleep*.....it feels almost hopeless...........

I am not a crook's head
Member
Since: Mar 14, 2003


Jul 27, 2005 11:36 am

yikes. $150 for a SM57? They're crazy!

Melodic Master Mind
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2004


Jul 27, 2005 12:16 pm

man i guess i will just save up and be patient and get a Standard Strat or a standard les paul or something....like wait until a friend or relative coming down or something u know....thanks

Member
Since: Jul 27, 2005


Jul 27, 2005 03:49 pm

Fyah,

Check out the PRS Soapbar SE II. It is in my opinion the best guitar under $1,000 USD. And it only costs $500. It is the same guitar the Gibson sued PRS for being a "copy" of their Les Paul. And I think the only reason they sued them for it was because these guitars are much much better than their SG line which features P90 pickups, the same kind of pickups these guitars have. This guitar is so much better in all aspects than a lot of guitars costing 3-4 times more. Check out the web for reviews. I bought one and have not put it down since I got it. I've been gigging with it the last 3 months now and I've never had any problems nor issues with it.

www.prsguitars.com/showca...sesoapbar2.html

Check out the reviews at Harmony Central here:

www.harmony-central.com/G...apbar_II-1.html

Cheers!

Draegon

BTW thats my first post in here :) Next one would be questions regarding recording and stuff :)

Prince CZAR-ming
Member
Since: Apr 08, 2004


Jul 27, 2005 04:17 pm

Welcome to HRC Draegon, pitching in with useful info already, good start =)


Melodic Master Mind
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2004


Jul 27, 2005 07:46 pm

Thanks Draegon. And Welcome to HRC! =)

Melodic Master Mind
Member
Since: Apr 19, 2004


Jul 27, 2005 08:58 pm

www.rondomusic.net/al2900.html <<< check at this....i am interested in this one, i read the couple good reviews on harmony central. well only 2 reviews it had......if i had the chance to make a signature guitar it might be similar to this....and it seem to got good pick ups too....and i like the thinner neck, its thinner than the normal les paul, only 1 5/8" compared to the 1 11/16..and its semi hollow.. good weight too..wish it had other colors to choose from but black is nice....tell me what u all think. ok?....blessed....(i have until b4 christmas when my bro is coming down to decide, well i have to decide lil b4 december for him to get it)

eeeeeeemo.
Member
Since: Oct 30, 2003


Jul 31, 2005 03:02 pm

ahh wow, draegon's post reminded me of my prs santana se v2, which i believe is pretty cheap these days! and it sounds BEAUTIFUL.

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