When I first started learning guitar a friend convinced me to buy a good quality American Strat’ and it was the best advice he gave me. Because the guitar was well made and looked cool, I played and practised more so I got better quicker. I’m not a brand snob but I do think you enjoy playing more if you have the best guitar you can afford at your disposal so it’s false economy to start on a super cheap instrument just in case you don’t continue.
I bought a hofner bass in 1970 and a Kustom amp. It was a great purchase, but only by luck I was a HS soph and did not really know much about musical instruments. three years later I "saved a friend and bought his Gibson EB-2 bass. It is a great instrument which I still have with the kustom amp. But I also had a cheap silvertone and it was cheap but worked and I did not need a fender, although It would be worth a bundle today. I think High-end stuff is a luxury. It the guitar cost more than your bi-weekly income it is a luxury. Best buys today are the Squiers CV's, PRS Se's, G&L tributes, epi's and the Masterworks and Artist from Alvarez, also Orangewood guitars. My limit these days are down to $800. Are high ends worth the money charged...Yes. But are they good value buys......NO! Consider this gigging musicians, the guitar should earn it purchase price.
@@richardroyster6631 I totally agree that the best value for money comes from the guitars you mentioned (Squier Classic Vibe, Epiphone Inspired by Gibson, PRS SE) because they offer a great balance of quality vs cost. The guitars I think represent false economy are those in the bargain basement - the £99 to £149 “own brand” Fender and LP copies. With very few exceptions these tend to be made with poor components and from inferior materials, and setup so badly that they would never inspire any new player to pick them up and practice. In reality though, all guitars are luxuries unless you make your living as a musician but my advice to any beginner would be to save enough money to buy the very best you can afford, whether that happens to be a Squier CV or a Fender American Pro, and it will make the playing experience much more rewarding.
@@richardroyster6631 I got tired of explaining that my gear was "just as good as" every time I turned around. I finally bought my first Gibson Custom Shop and it was like someone finally gave me the secret. I felt more confident. The guitar felt amazing. I finally felt like I imagined my guitar heroes felt. I played better. I played much more. I wanted to learn more. And this was after 15 years of playing.
The best guitar you can afford is the right tip, a lot of new learners can't afford a nice American Strat but something like a classic vibe is a good investment, and if the budget is lower they should do some research.
The three guitars I love are my 68 D-35, I bought in 1976 for $700. My teacher (shopowner) steered my away from a new Sigma that was the same price. God Bless him.
Everyone in my life told me wtf when I said I spent about $1500 on my Jazzmaster about 5 years ago. I have absolutely no regrets. Exactly what I wanted. I don't even want another electric. A lot of people don't get the appeal of having a nice guitar, but it's all about the feel, the sound, the look. Why wouldn't you want the best guitar possible? Especially if you already know you're a lifelong guitarist, it's worth the money.
I totally agree with what you say in that video. I have been dreaming about a Gibson Les Paul Standard limited Edition Manhattan Midnight Blue for more than 3 years before finding it… it’s been 2 years I own this guitar and I want to play it each time I see it. Each time I open the fly case I’m as excited as the first time I saw this… as you said, having an expensive guitar is pretty reachable for many people and it can be a good goal to practice more guitar
I just got a Murphy Lab Les Paul custom. And I had to sell 4 guitars and an amp to get it. But 100% worth it. You’re totally right. It just makes me want to play more. I’m excited about it. And it makes me to practice and write more.
Awesome! I'd love to get my hands on a murphy lab someday. I've played a few, but don't have the urge to go buy one at the moment. Nor could I without selling some stuff
I did something very similar, sold some guitars and gear and purchased a Wildwood Gibson Custom Shop R8 Les Paul. It is my number one and that’s coming from a guy for over 35 years of playing. I am extremely happy I did it. I know exactly how you feel and these guitars are not talked about enough. You are basically getting your dream guitar for a fraction of the cost. Make your own history. I’m sure you love your Axe.
I see that very differently. I bought a used Squier guitar and replaced the critical parts with better ones until I reached a point, where no improvement was needed anymore. In that context I can seriously recommend to "Plek" the guitar, as it brings a "lower quality" guitar to a completely new level! Since then I concentrate on improving my playing - never forget that by far most of your guitar sounds are created by the fingers, not the hardware.
@@joeking433 Not true. I've had lots of plek'd Les Pauls over the years but there is a big difference between Gibson USA and Custom Shop/Murphy Labs. I have a special Std from way back that I will never get rid of but my reissues are amazing.
Before clicking play, yes, i have a guitar that by my skill level I have no right to have according to the elitists, but it's just such a gorgeous piece of art and plays so comfortable that it's literally made me a better player because it has been inspiring me to play, and keep playing. And yeah, it is a boutique brand that I didn't even know existed 2 months before I actually bought one. 😂 Came into the store "yo I wanna buy a 1600-2000 euro Gibson or Fender, get my first real fancy guitar, what you got" store clerk goes "well, try this mayones" "What, mayonnaise? " "No, it's from Poland, seriously, try it." And that's all she wrote. Also indeed, I did not buy it with re-sale in mind.
My friend bought a mayones bass at guitar summit in Germany last year. It is one of the best instruments I have ever played. But we played a shit ton of basses those two days and this was really the best, not even the most expensive by a long shot. They build very nice instruments. But still, you should play before you buy anything above 300€! Price is just an indicator of many, not the most conclusive one! But I agree with many of the points in the video… don‘t be a snob, when it comes to gear but also appreciate the manufacturers efforts!
@@PlasticStrawInATurtlesThroat yep I hunted down a store that had this model in stock.... And then custom ordered one new cause I didn't like the neck pickup 😇
Appreciate the video Ethan and wholeheartedly agree. I saw my first les paul when I was 12 wayback in 1966 and fell in love. I always swore one day, one day, and now I have two of them both high end and I've never been happier. One is a Frampton custom shop and the other is the 60th anniversary '59 standard which I was pretty much able to have exactly what I wanted, eg. choice of top, colour, fretboard wood, finish etc. It is an absolute joy to have and play, straight out of the box it felt just right and IMHO the neck is a dream. So as you say it you want it, can afford it and it makes you happy and want to play ........... then money well spent.
I can’t agree more when you say ‘if it makes you feel good, you play better’. I got my dream guitar, late 80’s Suzuki Strat for $150 and replaced the whole pickguard and electronics with a 2023 player series fender Strat. I play that thing better than any of my other guitars because I feel awesome playing it. The resale would be around $150, maybe less. But it’s the greatest guitar I own! And I have a good amount now
The guitars that serve as templates for what people play today were designed and built as work tools for the musician who depended on them to keep an income stream. They had to be functional and reliable for continued gigging and sessions. If you make your living working with your hands, as any pro guitarist does, your tools have to be the best you can afford. Looks are cool but not the priority. Many, perhaps most of today's players do not depend on their instruments to pay the bills, so for the ones with big wallets, Custom Shop and vintage price points aren't a barrier. For the ones with normal-sized wallets, Epis and Squiers look the part enough for most tastes. Neither group of players is likely to need their guitars to do anything more than jam with friends, so their guitars don't have to stand up to roadwork and dive bars.
This all strikes me as consumerism. It's wood and strings. The craftsmanship in high end really doesn't go that much farther than lower end; especially nowadays(compared to vintage, another discussion) Really, the moment you have any semblance of guitar tech know-how, these "high end" guitars really lose their luster and just become another form of trendy consumerism. This is why people are satisfied with their epiphone's and squiers; because they know how to do themselves the actually simple things that make a guitar get priced at "high end".
I agree completely with your point in "You'll want to play" section. After waiting for about five years, I finally get my dream electric guitar. The first thing on my mind is how can I improve my playing to justify buying this guitar. So I learn and finally can play electric guitar. I come from acoustic guitar. After ten years of owning that guitar, I still want to improve my playing, but my reason changes. Being able to play properly on my dream guitar is a satisfaction.
There is something cool, and inspiring about a new guitar (whether it was new or used) Every guitar has a story, some are better than others, but that’s okay I has two dream guitars in high school, i got one the summer before my last year, and the other about seven years after I finished. They have value that way, and both were great deals. But the one I play the most is my most recent purchase from over a year ago. It’s the one I paid the least for, and if you adjust for inflation it falls way behind. A big part of that is the neck. I didn’t plan it that way, it just gave me a different flavour.
About 10 years ago I tried every guitar in the store to see which sounded the best… Sadly for my wallet it was Gibson Les Paul Custom, it sounded like a dream to me! Eventually I found one in Wine Red with gold hardware for about half the retail price ($2k instead of $4K at the time) and I had my dream guitar! I get some serious street cred from anyone who knows about guitars, and I love playing it!
I have three electric guitars: a '93 Fender American Standard Strat that I paid $950 for back in the day (current replacement cost is about $1,700); a Carvin California Carve top that's very similar to a Les Paul, which I paid $1,400 for in 2008; and a Mexican Telecaster that I recently bought for $600. I gig with the Telecaster because it's versatile and it has great tone. I think a Mexican-made Fender is probably as low as you want to go if you're serious about your guitar playing.
My dream was to always get an original ‘59 Gibson Les Paul. Problem with that is they are $250k on the cheap for starters. Why such a price hike? All of our guitar hero’s played one and they all knew what they were doing. Back in 2020 with Covid around I had decided to get my dream guitar. At this time I couldn’t go to a store and try them out, the sales expert I was dealing with was incredibly patient and helpful. I had him try out different Custom Shop Les Paul’s R8 to R0 and the best one was an R8. What amazed me was when I finally got it, I didn’t have to change a damn thing. It was like going to the store picking it up and hitting the first note. I have not looked back since it’s my Number 1. Maybe my story is not for everyone but it worked for me and that’s what counts. When choosing carefully you will have a story to tell as well. I know a lot of us are strapped on cash but there are ways you can get a year or 18 months zero interest for possibly a guitar of your dreams. I am for spend the money, you can feel the difference and guitar playing is all about feeling. I have been doing it for over 35 years.
I have been playing since 1983. Have played and owned many, many guitars. Iv'e had Gibsons, Fenders, Jacksons, PRS, Schecter, ESP etc. All kinds of high end stuff. To this day my favorite, most durable and reliable axe is my Road Flare Red Ibanez RG550 that I bought in 1988 for around $400. The only guitar I would never consider selling. The reissues are going for a grand and just aren't the same.
I agree with the points in both videos. The last two guitars I purchased were a $1700 Wylde Audio Nomad Norse Dragon, then a $250 affinity strat. Both stay in tune very well, both have excellent fret work, fit, and finish (albeit the maple top and paint on the expensive guitar look epic). They are both excellent guitars to play. The cheap strat did need work on the nut after I changed the strings to a 10-46 set. And the neck pickup is the only pickup that sounds particularly good without a ton of EQ changes. I ended up buying it because it just felt great in store, the non-lacquered neck and fretboard really gave it the edge over many MiM strats in the feel department. I am slowly upgrading and customizing it because the white plastic parts were UGLY and Tex Mex pickups are a cheap upgrade. Conversely, I didn't play the expensive Wylde Audio in a store before purchase. It did not, and has not needed any adjustments since I purchased it 7 months ago. I will never think this guitar *needs* something. There are a few reasons I still buy inexpensive guitars. Having a workhorse guitar REALLY helps the shelf life of your better guitars, and I can try new things for not a lot of money!
Very good points. I can’t agree more… a higher end guitar that you want makes you want to play more. I’ve played for a long time and pretty much kept most of my guitars in cases for the last 15 years or so, until I made the jump on a 2021 Gibson LP Standard. I’ve been playing more than I ever have since I bought that guitar. And I’ve added 3 more Gibsons to my collection that all get played regularly.
Loved this take and almost agree fully, but let me just give my 2 cents. I’ve been fortunate enough to have all of my dream guitars. And I found that, between a master built custom shop strat with hand wired pick ups and an American vintage II strat I find myself 90% of the time playing with the AVII. I love the masterbuilt, of course, but the AVII is just “amazing enough” that I feel all the great almost custom shop quality build and sound but it’s not a rarity piece so I feel completely at easy playing it and it being my working horse. The masterbuilt is just so expensive and rare that I’m so worried and lose some of the joy, I can’t imagine what it would be like owning an original 60’s strat. That does not happen with the AVII. Love em both tho. Conclusion: Expensive instruments are worth it, but maybe the best guitar for you, or your dream guitar is not the most expensive one
I started buying Fenders in 2013 and over the last decade and it was mainly Mexican made models I bought. In 2018 I bought my first USA made model and now I’ve 7 Fender USA made models and I must admit overall I prefer them and play them more than my Mexican models. While I’ve never owned a Gibson, I plan on buying a few over the next couple of years namely a LPJ, LP Standard and SGJ. Deep down I know that the cheaper Epiphone option isn’t good enough because of the veneer and cheaper parts. While I’ve also had my fair share of Squiers, I think they’re great for starting out and incredible value for money, but like some people say they’re better than Mex and USA, the truth is they’re not. If they were I wouldn’t have sold them all would I?
I love Foo Fighters! My brother works at a music store. He ordered the DG-335 as a gift for me way back in early February. He came over after his shift on June 27th & surprised me with it. Within 4 days of getting that guitar I wrote music for 6 songs I actually like. If you can save up to get your dream guitar go for it. The only thing that will suffer is your bank account!
@@ethanhusak I love that guitar & after playing it, I realized that I like HUGE chunky necks. WAY bigger than my other guitars. That guitar has a 43.5mm nut, my other guitars range from 42-42.5 any smaller & I get frustrated because it feels like it's fighting me.
After owning many Gibsons I have realized Epiphones stay in tune better and considering the price some Epiphones are just as good. Gibsons look nicer but the bottom line is you need to hold the guitar and play it first before you will know.
Short answer: Nope. When a Squier Classic Vibe Strat costs a third of what an American Standard Strat costs, and sounds so fucking good, you have to ask yourself, "Am I just paying for a logo? Am I THAT big of a bozo?"
yeah I mean I always say those things to me, but at the end are just excuses to the acquisition syndromes , the never ending cycle, but tbh is so fun to do the search and comparison of equipment
Whether its just a hobby, or you're a professional guitarist, you should go with what moves you. Its ok to want something nice sometimes lol. And if you're willing to pay a little more for that, go for it. Calling something "a waste of money" is pretty subjective most of the time.
I get that people care about resale value, but it has never been a factor in my case I buy a guitar to play it. One thing is brand A might have a higher resale value than brand B, but percentage-wise Brand B might still work out better For example if brand A costs $5000 & brand is $1000, and you sell brand A for $4000 and brand B for $500, you “lost” $1000 on brand A and $500 on brand B. But at the end of the day, buy them to play them and if you like it, cool.
I have gibsons and fenders made in USA and I have g&l’s and sires made in Indonesia that I paid 6-700 dollars for and the cheaper ones are just about as good. Who’s gonna take a $3000 guitar into a stinky bar? I still have a couple gibsons in the case at home. Guitars are tools meant to be used, not investments. I’ve sold all high end ones but a couple and thinking of selling those too. If that’s what you want, go for it. I can buy 5-6 of my guitars for one of yours. 😂
whats the specs on your pelham blue custom? I too have a pelham blue custom and its my number one. on the matter of buying higher end guitars, yes go higher in quality even when starting out cause it will encourage that new player to continue playing and not be fighting with a guitar that gives him issues (this doesnt have to be a Gibson it could be a high end Epiphone or a Mexican strat)
@@ethanhusak highway one tele, lp studio, yamaha acoustic, peavey classic 30 and roland micro cube have me covered. I'm a gear minimalist though! wouldn't mind a good strat and some p90s though!
If you know anything about wood, electronics and basic luthiery, it all comes to assimilating parts together in a way that allows a musician to play as well as they can. Often, swapping out inferior pickups, having a neck pleked, frets crowned and the action adjusted will achieve impressive results on most low to moderately priced guitars. Fender's Mexico, Cort, Harley Benton, Ibanez, PRS and Yamaha Indonesian build guitars are quality instruments that cost a fraction of their top-end cousins. If head-stock syndrome is the root cause of choosing a USA made instrument over a well-built, well-priced foreign import the buyer is probably suffering from a complex.
My biggest dream is to actually own an American fender telecaster, but it is expensive and import fees are a bit much here where I live. Also good videos mate. I will be excited to see more from you.
I wanted a Gibson Les Paul, the Slash signature one, with the skull logo on the head stock, found a used one in mint condition on reverb, and paid about 3500.$ for it. I don’t regret buying it, it’s a great guitar, and the price is not really ridiculous for a quality instrument. I’m glad I have no desire to buy a big ticket guitar were someone would pay 50K for, it’s just not worth it to me. But to each his own.
I dont know if its just my relatively small experience of having owned 10 guitars by now. One thing that i feel expensive (mostly) guitars have above the cheaper ones. Is the less amount of maintainance they need. Usually i feel the finish wont chip or rub off as easily and especially the frets on higher end (might just be the fretboard) have had 8/10 be guitars below 2k and all have had problems with either unevenness or sprouting. And my High end also keep tuning, despite having floyds vs my ibanez having to be tuned every time i pick it up.
You should purchase high end guitars, if you get them at a low price. I’ve never bought an instrument as a financial investment, but have now purchased a few on which I got good deals. And so I ended up making money on them when I sold them.
I'm lucky, my first dream electric guitar was an Ibanez Xiphos. I'm mainly an acoustic player so I got one in 2002 for $200😂 NOW Ibanez sell the sexavt same guitar that I already have as an 'iron label' Xiphos....for $1800 Canadian. Time machines are the secret folks. Without one you're throwing money away. Or you just like expensive things because theyre expensive. I don't ..I just care about having something that plays well. You can change pickups...you can't do much about a neck you don't like
Absolutely they’re worth it. I’ve wasted SO much money on lower end guitars and mid range guitars just to eventually end up buying the higher end guitars “for life” for more than they would have cost years before. It’s better to save and buy one really good guitar and play it like crazy while you save for brother really high end guitar. Lots of cheap ones are a waste of money.
I just got an Epipiphone Joan Jett Olympic Special a guitar I've been wanting since they came out snd i haven't put it down for two days I'm in love with this one
High End certainly are "forever" guitars, and can be sold easier than a modded inexpensive guitars. You probably won't recoup even the cost of the mods
Is it fair to say this argument for high end becomes completely irrelevant and moot if you plan on keeping and playing it like it's actually your dream guitar? Furthermore, wood and steel don't just stay put forever. Eventually every guitar will need extra work here and there especially if they get regular use. Lots of vintage guitars out here had no TLC and play poorly because they never actually had the attention all guitars need because of the illusion of perfection.
The only thing that really matters is are you having fun with your instrument? Does it make you happy? If yes, then it's worth the money or it doesn't matter that it's a budget guitar. You only get one life, so get the most out of it. If a $5,000 guitar does that for you then god bless, go for it. If a $200 does the same, go for that one. There are some really good budget or just guitars on the market. Just enjoy yourself and don't overthink this stuff.
Get a Rivolta, Dennis Fano design, made in Korea (Mirr factory) but inspected and set up in Nashville at Novo Guitars. Great quality, affordable price (from 1300 to 1500$$) Also Duesenberg, a little bit more expensive but great looking and sounding axes, same factory but assembled and set up in germany, they also die cast *all* their hardware and make their own pickups.
I’m not against using cheap instruments and I know you don’t need to slap 10k on a guitar to make great music. However I feel you should at least ONE instrument that is in 1k or 2k price range. I spent over 2k on my jazzmaster and it was the best investment I ever made in my life. It will be with me for life and I have 0 issues with it. Electronics and hardware are impeccable. Also is addicting to play and it’s given me so many songs and made me a better guitar player. I have squires that are great and I use to own a MIJ Mustang but none of them had the pull like that guitar has on me.
I have a 2nd hand LP standard I bought for 1400 a few years ago. The way Gibson market their guitars now they treat the standard like it's a starter guitar. Is a sub 3k Gibson even a Gibson?
I'd love to own an R9. I could afford one, but I'd never take a $6k guitar to a gig in a bar, and playing it all alone at home seems kinda silly. I don't record often enough to justify owning it either, so realistically it'd mostly just sit in the case. I have a couple LP Standards that get me 95% of the way there and I got them used for about $1500 each. Not cheap, but I can actually use them for the music I play and the situations I play in. Plus I don't have to worry about a headstock break taking $3k out of my investment.
Why wouldn't you play an R9 in a bar? I've played bars for decades...I just make sure I always have it with me, in line of sight or have a bandmate watch it when I pee!
@@michaelthompson9070 It's too much to stress out about for me. The Standards are more than good enough for the gigs I play, and my stage fright is bad enough as it is. If I were touring with a national act or something on that level, sure.
I like your opinion. Nice guitars are worth it. Find the inspiration. That's what really matters. If a $250 Squier inspires me, then cool. But if a $2500 Fender Custom Shop inspires me even more? Then cool if I can afford it.
Absolutely worth it, and for much more than just re-sale. If I see another video on these unethical POS chibsons and comparing them to a real Gibson I'm gonna scream!
@@ethanhusakIt's hard to trust those sort of videos due to confirmation bias and people not wanting to admit they made a mistake, whether it was a $200 chibson or a $2000+ gibson no one wants to feel like they just wasted money...from my own experience, I've wasted more money on cheapos than on legacy stuff
You can buy an Epiphone custom with a Gibson headstock and 490R/498T pickups, mother of pearl inlays, and mahogany bodies. The fit and finish on those is fantastic for $1300. It’ll get 90% there. You’ll be missing the nitro finish and fret nibs, that’s about it. The unfortunate thing is the nitro finish is what really make the difference. You can’t recreate the feel and sound you get with the nitro finish. You’ll also lose a lot less value in the Gibson over time. If you can accept that you won’t exactly be getting Gibson custom shop levels of feel and sound, the Epiphone are well worth it.
Unless your are a professionnal with guitar deal with on of the big three or want resale value.the quality of the budget version has increased ten fold throughout the years.Even the pros don't bring their prize axes on tour(especially the vintage ones) and use less expensive ones on tour or even in the studio. I'm not saying don't buy the expensive ones...what I'm saying there are better budget solution on the other end of the spectrum.But saying that you will feel better because of the nice guitar....that's one opinion and it is respected. On the other hand Sreve Jones of the Sex Pistols played with a vintage Les Paul(that he later Admitted to have stolen)seeing as he wasn't much of a talent on guitar,I doubt that having such a wonderful instrument had any bearing on his playing or mood.
People buy what their budget allows. What is expensive to you is cheap to someone else. When I was in my 20’s and starting a family, I had one inexpensive guitar. In my 30’s I made more money and less debt, so I owned many guitars of various value. I’m now 50 and I only own the guitars I always wanted. Gibson les paul standard 60’s, charvel so cal USA and fender avri 62 Strat.
I spent 3 years buying the latest and greatest flavor the week guitar. 99% of them were fine, but not great. I now only own high end custom shop guitars. I don't love them because they are expensive. I love them because they are just right in the ways you want a guitar to be. The only exception I found after buying 30 guitars is with PRS. Never buy a Core. The S2 models are perfect and 1/2 the price.
I dream about that Firebird behind you. I already have a Firebird Studio, but I would love to also get a true Firebird because of the different pickups. Is it the 2016 or 2017 model? I see a good price difference between the two, but can't figure out why. But yeah. I'm a beginner. I already have a great guitar and I love it! I don't NEED to buy that other Firebird. But in a few months or years, I'd love to get that other model as well. It's different. It's really cool! But then would I just be acquiring more guitars (GAS) or would this make me play differently, or enjoy playing guitar differently? Not sure.
I love that guitar. It's a 2017. Pelham blue is my favorite guitar color if you didn't notice😂 I snagged that one for a bargain a few years ago. For some reason those ones really shot up in price the last couple years
Increasingly exclusive and expensive gear and accouterments are intrinsically a part of every creative and competitive human endeavor. The top-tier gear is usually about achieving that last two percent of marginal utility, precision, or advantage in competitive settings. Unfortunately, massaging that last one or two percent of perceived perfection unavoidably costs two hundred plus percent or more to achieve. So even though bellyaching and kvetching about price versus utility isn’t a helpful way to think about it, that unfortunately isn’t going to stop anyone from doing it. For most of us, it’s a coping mechanism, not to mention just plain human nature.
its wierd that guitar reviewers only review what they can afford and give opinions based on their 'bargains', having never owned the top end of town. Cars and cameras are reviewed the same way. I hope you have owned more than a gibson in you playing career.
Where I live these guitars go for something similar to 40K dollars, if you make a fair economy comparison. But we can get custom guitars for something similar to 15K dollars, that are WAY better than a Gibson or Fender. So it is pretty hard to see an original Gibson around here. Normal people usually play 500 dollars guitars and professionals play guitars from 800 to 1500 here. These 3 to 10K guitars are too far out of our reality, unfortunately. So there is no reason for one to buy except the guy is rich af.
If you are just a bedroom player like me, high end guitars are a waste of money. I have two "expensive" guitars: a 98 USA Fender strat and a Gibson tribute of 2017 (both second hand and very cheap). I also have a LP-style Harley Benton, a Yamaha 612 and others. I don't feel no big differences, I like to play them all. My best strat is the Yamaha, then a 98 Squier, both have necks I prefer to the Fender neck, maybe somebody else will feel the opposite. It all comes to personal preference. And yes -you have to play any guitar first, not taking for granted that a famous trade mark will be the much better guitar for you.
@@iancurrie8844 Oh, thanks for the kind comparison! If I'll have to end up as bacon, please let it be Francis at least! But was he really a guitar player?
@@user-abcxyz-xr2eg I did not mean it to be insulting. It’s a biblical reference. It means that the more expensive guitars are best not used by someone who will not appreciate them. If that’s you, that’s ok.
I just don't think it matters anymore. When I was young the difference between the affordable stuff and less affordable stuff was obvious. I had a very bad mexican strat followed by a very good american strat. An ok eppy LP followed by a good Gibson LP (which I sold and my back thanks me for it). But nowadays I pick things up at the shop and they all feel good. No sharp frets like the mex-strat had. Pickups are fine. I snagged a J.Mascis jm for a cousin who said she wanted one and I plugged it in... It's as good as anything Fender I have. Plays and sounds great. I just can't care anymore.
@@captainprivate3768 I agree totally that the quality of what used to be considered “budget brands” like Squier and Epiphone has improved dramatically over time - your experience of the Mascis JM exactly mirrors my own. The poor quality price point now lies in the £99 to £149 range which the lowest price “own brand” guitars inhabit. False economy comes from buying something so cheap that any beginner isn’t going to be inspired to actually pick it up and practice.
worth it? NOPE I love that todays sub $600 guitars are just as good as the "high end" as far as playability. so maybe you don't get the fancy finishes, tuning machines or fret end finish.
@@ethanhusakactually, not true. It’s a common misconception that Epiphone Les Pauls don’t have a solid maple cap but in fact they do. The maple cap is carved just like a Gibson but, because it’s a cheaper, plain piece of wood, they then top it with a flame maple veneer for the aesthetic.
I’m 38, been playing forever. I’ve only bought a few guitars and inherited a few. I don’t care about resell becuase I by for life, it’s a slippery slope to be concerned with resale, people will keep them in the case, think of them as investments. These are YOUR guitars, not some financial decision.
I definitely buy to play and keep, but I also had an LP Custom a few years ago that just wasn't doing it for me after a while. Selling that helped me get a different one
@@ethanhusak it’s a “nice to have” with the resell but it seems like a lot of people it’s literally the primary deciding factor they use for their purchases. I just bought an Eastman t59 and somebody was like “that has garbage resell” but so far after 25 years of playing, I’ve never had a guitar I needed to “trade” I love them all. Everyone is different but some people make the hobby buying and selling and that’s fine but my hobby is playing. Look at Trogly, dude sounds like a 12 year old that’s been playing for 6 months lmao, his hobby isn’t playing guitar, it’s buying and selling them. That’s fine, but he isn’t a player, he is a collector and in that case, resell is most important.
(1) I would like to reiterate another commenter’s point about RESALE, with a caveat. If you can wait, do so, because the current guitar market isn’t sustainable. Guitars are overpriced in general. My 79’ ES 335td was purchased for 1300, my 80’ ES 347 for 1700 in the last decade. (2) Look to smaller guitar companies rather than Gibson, for instance Dunable is making guitars every bit as good as high end Gibsons or Fenders at half the price. I can name 20 other large luthiers our smaller production companies that create guitars that are excellent. (3) Used MIJ is a wealth of potential value. I can’t imagine spending 1200-5000 on a Strat when there are thousands of MIJ copies that fit Fender parts available for 500 or less. (4) Check out guitars made by the best Indonesian and Korean factories. The Yamaha, Reverend, G&L, (I can’t believe I am saying this) PRS, and many others are making high quality instruments for sub 1k. Maybe you have to switch pickups in some of them, but a LP Custom still comes with the same set of 498/500 that the Epiphone does. Korean guitars in general have gotten so much better in the last decade and 10-20 years down the line we will look at this era of MIK guitars as we do the MIJ stuff from the 80s on.
I don't see the need in buying high priced guitars especially for someone like me who works and doesn't have the time to play them. All 29 of my guitars are fenders in the $1500.00 no more than $2500.00 price range.... I've basically collected them as an hobby and in hopes of one day retiring and learning to play' then maybe I could justify buying/owning a nice custom shop stratocaster and telecaster after learning to play instead of just having all that money tied up in them and sitting around.
Thanks for the comment. The last few years I've gone from affordable to nicer guitars, but my collection has stayed around the same size. To argue your point, if high priced guitars aren't worth it, why are 29 (!!!) guitars worth it
@@ethanhusak A hobby' I collect them' It's been my job' guitar tec for a little over 45 years get a good deal on them or trade out work and repair/upgrade them..
Higher end guitars have higher end materials, that's the whole thing. Epiphone uses local market woods from China that are way worse than Gibson's true mahogany. I like to compare it to cars, both a Golf and a Mercedes can get you to point A, but you're gonna have a hell of a better time in that Mercedes
If you are talking expensive as 1500 then I agree. Anything over 1500 is a waste of money. Learn to work on guitars, its not rocket surgery, and a 500 dollar guitar will play like any other great guitar.
u do not need a 5000 guitar to enjoy urself ive owned fenders/gibsons and my $900 ibanez is 4x better then ALL(100%) of them find a guitar u like, not a guitar with the name brand u like ended up selling them and lost alot of money from it
@FreeEngland1 the reason is the brand and "I got a expensive one" Don't get me wrong my dream guitar is a ebmm majesty but I ain't paying 7k for it ill get a sterling for 1600
Same, especially when you're not too lazy to do some of the easy ass work yourself , it saves you quasi-thousands for literally exactly the same result, AND if you've done work on it yourself like add hardware or pickups with basic tools, then you can repair it yourself and avoid putting the burden of repairing "precious instruments" on someone else. Also amps are more important anyway, most guitars in general are overrated and make no sound without amps.
Yeah, that's typical. I have a couple sub-$1000 guitars that you won't find a better one no matter how much you pay. And people talk about Gibsons holding value but they depreciate 25% right when you walk out of the music shop.
@ascgazz 😂😂😂 I've been in the same job for almost 8 years, so I've had a few raises. Been smart about not having debt so that frees up a lot of money every month. I shop for deals too
@@ethanhusak not having undiagnosed adhd is clearly helpful for anybody wanting to get along! Took me until I was diagnosed adhd at 43yo and medicated before I could even save, let alone plan. I’ve done a lot of fun stuff in life, but fun stuff doesn’t really pay. lol. Don’t forget to do people as well as buy things tho. Guitars are great, but they can’t hug you when you need it. 👍👍
You're in a hopeless death loop. You will NEVER be satisfied! You will ALWAYS be looking for that guitar that is just a little bit better! There will ALWAYS be that one note on your fretboard that doesn't sound perfect!
@@ethanhusak That makes you a liar. You know you'll always be looking for something better! That guitar that is better is OUT THERE, all you have to do is find it! I know because I have 15 guitars, all of them fairly high priced, and some as close to perfect as you will find but I'm always buying and replacing, LOL!
@joeking433 I honestly haven't even been looking at other guitars for a while. Been pretty happy with what I have. But I'm sure someday I'll want something else
@@ethanhusak try one out you'll be surprised about how good they are they are like magical or something it's almost creepy in a way but I like it. These guitars are so easy to play and they make you sound better than what you really are.
@@ethanhusak yeah I have a schecter demon six with Floyd Rose, schecter Damien platinum six with Floyd Rose, And a lower end schecter avenger Synister Gates avenger signature model. And I can't believe how good these guitars are Les Paul and fender don't have nothing on schecter guitar's. Played several Les Paul and fender before and schecter stands out from all the rest. Haven't tried a PRS yet but I hear they are awesome also. Have to try one out one of these days.
You really did not say anything in this video. Waste of time. My collection spans Fender and Gibson Vintage as well as Custom Shop Guitars, as well as vintage tweed amps.
Golden rule: get hands on before you buy
That definitely helps
When I first started learning guitar a friend convinced me to buy a good quality American Strat’ and it was the best advice he gave me. Because the guitar was well made and looked cool, I played and practised more so I got better quicker. I’m not a brand snob but I do think you enjoy playing more if you have the best guitar you can afford at your disposal so it’s false economy to start on a super cheap instrument just in case you don’t continue.
Agreed
I bought a hofner bass in 1970 and a Kustom amp. It was a great purchase, but only by luck I was a HS soph and did not really know much about musical instruments. three years later I "saved a friend and bought his Gibson EB-2 bass. It is a great instrument which I still have with the kustom amp. But I also had a cheap silvertone and it was cheap but worked and I did not need a fender, although It would be worth a bundle today. I think High-end stuff is a luxury. It the guitar cost more than your bi-weekly income it is a luxury. Best buys today are the Squiers CV's, PRS Se's, G&L tributes, epi's and the Masterworks and Artist from Alvarez, also Orangewood guitars. My limit these days are down to $800. Are high ends worth the money charged...Yes. But are they good value buys......NO! Consider this gigging musicians, the guitar should earn it purchase price.
@@richardroyster6631 I totally agree that the best value for money comes from the guitars you mentioned (Squier Classic Vibe, Epiphone Inspired by Gibson, PRS SE) because they offer a great balance of quality vs cost. The guitars I think represent false economy are those in the bargain basement - the £99 to £149 “own brand” Fender and LP copies. With very few exceptions these tend to be made with poor components and from inferior materials, and setup so badly that they would never inspire any new player to pick them up and practice. In reality though, all guitars are luxuries unless you make your living as a musician but my advice to any beginner would be to save enough money to buy the very best you can afford, whether that happens to be a Squier CV or a Fender American Pro, and it will make the playing experience much more rewarding.
@@richardroyster6631 I got tired of explaining that my gear was "just as good as" every time I turned around. I finally bought my first Gibson Custom Shop and it was like someone finally gave me the secret. I felt more confident. The guitar felt amazing. I finally felt like I imagined my guitar heroes felt. I played better. I played much more. I wanted to learn more. And this was after 15 years of playing.
The best guitar you can afford is the right tip, a lot of new learners can't afford a nice American Strat but something like a classic vibe is a good investment, and if the budget is lower they should do some research.
The three guitars I love are my 68 D-35, I bought in 1976 for $700. My teacher (shopowner) steered my away from a new Sigma that was the same price. God Bless him.
That's awesome! Would love to see it
What brand?
Everyone in my life told me wtf when I said I spent about $1500 on my Jazzmaster about 5 years ago. I have absolutely no regrets. Exactly what I wanted. I don't even want another electric. A lot of people don't get the appeal of having a nice guitar, but it's all about the feel, the sound, the look. Why wouldn't you want the best guitar possible? Especially if you already know you're a lifelong guitarist, it's worth the money.
Absolutely!
I totally agree with what you say in that video. I have been dreaming about a Gibson Les Paul Standard limited Edition Manhattan Midnight Blue for more than 3 years before finding it… it’s been 2 years I own this guitar and I want to play it each time I see it. Each time I open the fly case I’m as excited as the first time I saw this… as you said, having an expensive guitar is pretty reachable for many people and it can be a good goal to practice more guitar
Awesome! Thanks for the comment
I just got a Murphy Lab Les Paul custom. And I had to sell 4 guitars and an amp to get it. But 100% worth it. You’re totally right. It just makes me want to play more. I’m excited about it. And it makes me to practice and write more.
Awesome! I'd love to get my hands on a murphy lab someday. I've played a few, but don't have the urge to go buy one at the moment. Nor could I without selling some stuff
For a while.
I did something very similar, sold some guitars and gear and purchased a Wildwood Gibson Custom Shop R8 Les Paul. It is my number one and that’s coming from a guy for over 35 years of playing. I am extremely happy I did it. I know exactly how you feel and these guitars are not talked about enough. You are basically getting your dream guitar for a fraction of the cost. Make your own history. I’m sure you love your Axe.
I see that very differently. I bought a used Squier guitar and replaced the critical parts with better ones until I reached a point, where no improvement was needed anymore. In that context I can seriously recommend to "Plek" the guitar, as it brings a "lower quality" guitar to a completely new level!
Since then I concentrate on improving my playing - never forget that by far most of your guitar sounds are created by the fingers, not the hardware.
Thanks for the comment!
Yeah, a Plek'd guitar is as good as a Custom Shop guitar.
@@joeking433 Not true. I've had lots of plek'd Les Pauls over the years but there is a big difference between Gibson USA and Custom Shop/Murphy Labs. I have a special Std from way back that I will never get rid of but my reissues are amazing.
Before clicking play, yes, i have a guitar that by my skill level I have no right to have according to the elitists, but it's just such a gorgeous piece of art and plays so comfortable that it's literally made me a better player because it has been inspiring me to play, and keep playing. And yeah, it is a boutique brand that I didn't even know existed 2 months before I actually bought one. 😂 Came into the store "yo I wanna buy a 1600-2000 euro Gibson or Fender, get my first real fancy guitar, what you got" store clerk goes "well, try this mayones" "What, mayonnaise? " "No, it's from Poland, seriously, try it." And that's all she wrote. Also indeed, I did not buy it with re-sale in mind.
Heck yeah!
My friend bought a mayones bass at guitar summit in Germany last year. It is one of the best instruments I have ever played. But we played a shit ton of basses those two days and this was really the best, not even the most expensive by a long shot. They build very nice instruments.
But still, you should play before you buy anything above 300€! Price is just an indicator of many, not the most conclusive one! But I agree with many of the points in the video… don‘t be a snob, when it comes to gear but also appreciate the manufacturers efforts!
@@PlasticStrawInATurtlesThroat yep I hunted down a store that had this model in stock.... And then custom ordered one new cause I didn't like the neck pickup 😇
wow happy to see my painting in the background in the first half of the video! Hope you like it! :D
The van halen one?
@@ethanhusak no, at the begining of the video, Slash's les paul painting
@@popcultposters oh cool. I've had that one a few years. Good stuff!
@@ethanhusak thanks!
Appreciate the video Ethan and wholeheartedly agree. I saw my first les paul when I was 12 wayback in 1966 and fell in love. I always swore one day, one day, and now I have two of them both high end and I've never been happier. One is a Frampton custom shop and the other is the 60th anniversary '59 standard which I was pretty much able to have exactly what I wanted, eg. choice of top, colour, fretboard wood, finish etc. It is an absolute joy to have and play, straight out of the box it felt just right and IMHO the neck is a dream. So as you say it you want it, can afford it and it makes you happy and want to play ........... then money well spent.
Awesome! Thanks for watching!
I can’t agree more when you say ‘if it makes you feel good, you play better’.
I got my dream guitar, late 80’s Suzuki Strat for $150 and replaced the whole pickguard and electronics with a 2023 player series fender Strat. I play that thing better than any of my other guitars because I feel awesome playing it.
The resale would be around $150, maybe less. But it’s the greatest guitar I own! And I have a good amount now
Good stuff!
You should definitely not regret the blue one. I have told you way too many times how much I love that color!
The guitars that serve as templates for what people play today were designed and built as work tools for the musician who depended on them to keep an income stream. They had to be functional and reliable for continued gigging and sessions. If you make your living working with your hands, as any pro guitarist does, your tools have to be the best you can afford. Looks are cool but not the priority.
Many, perhaps most of today's players do not depend on their instruments to pay the bills, so for the ones with big wallets, Custom Shop and vintage price points aren't a barrier. For the ones with normal-sized wallets, Epis and Squiers look the part enough for most tastes. Neither group of players is likely to need their guitars to do anything more than jam with friends, so their guitars don't have to stand up to roadwork and dive bars.
True
This all strikes me as consumerism. It's wood and strings. The craftsmanship in high end really doesn't go that much farther than lower end; especially nowadays(compared to vintage, another discussion)
Really, the moment you have any semblance of guitar tech know-how, these "high end" guitars really lose their luster and just become another form of trendy consumerism. This is why people are satisfied with their epiphone's and squiers; because they know how to do themselves the actually simple things that make a guitar get priced at "high end".
Thanks for sharing your opinion
@@ethanhusakthank you for the response! I also watched your counterpart video, so have seen both sides of it. Great work man.
@@atonofspiders awesome! Thanks for watching
I agree completely with your point in "You'll want to play" section. After waiting for about five years, I finally get my dream electric guitar. The first thing on my mind is how can I improve my playing to justify buying this guitar. So I learn and finally can play electric guitar. I come from acoustic guitar.
After ten years of owning that guitar, I still want to improve my playing, but my reason changes. Being able to play properly on my dream guitar is a satisfaction.
Awesome! I think that's the biggest difference it makes
I really love my Martin! It was on the cheaper side and I love it. The neck is very comfortable.
Awesome!
There is something cool, and inspiring about a new guitar (whether it was new or used)
Every guitar has a story, some are better than others, but that’s okay
I has two dream guitars in high school, i got one the summer before my last year, and the other about seven years after I finished.
They have value that way, and both were great deals.
But the one I play the most is my most recent purchase from over a year ago.
It’s the one I paid the least for, and if you adjust for inflation it falls way behind.
A big part of that is the neck.
I didn’t plan it that way, it just gave me a different flavour.
Thanks for the comment!
About 10 years ago I tried every guitar in the store to see which sounded the best…
Sadly for my wallet it was Gibson Les Paul Custom, it sounded like a dream to me!
Eventually I found one in Wine Red with gold hardware for about half the retail price ($2k instead of $4K at the time) and I had my dream guitar!
I get some serious street cred from anyone who knows about guitars, and I love playing it!
Awesome!!
I have three electric guitars: a '93 Fender American Standard Strat that I paid $950 for back in the day (current replacement cost is about $1,700); a Carvin California Carve top that's very similar to a Les Paul, which I paid $1,400 for in 2008; and a Mexican Telecaster that I recently bought for $600. I gig with the Telecaster because it's versatile and it has great tone. I think a Mexican-made Fender is probably as low as you want to go if you're serious about your guitar playing.
Thanks for the comment
My dream was to always get an original ‘59 Gibson Les Paul. Problem with that is they are $250k on the cheap for starters. Why such a price hike? All of our guitar hero’s played one and they all knew what they were doing. Back in 2020 with Covid around I had decided to get my dream guitar. At this time I couldn’t go to a store and try them out, the sales expert I was dealing with was incredibly patient and helpful. I had him try out different Custom Shop Les Paul’s R8 to R0 and the best one was an R8. What amazed me was when I finally got it, I didn’t have to change a damn thing. It was like going to the store picking it up and hitting the first note. I have not looked back since it’s my Number 1. Maybe my story is not for everyone but it worked for me and that’s what counts. When choosing carefully you will have a story to tell as well. I know a lot of us are strapped on cash but there are ways you can get a year or 18 months zero interest for possibly a guitar of your dreams. I am for spend the money, you can feel the difference and guitar playing is all about feeling. I have been doing it for over 35 years.
I have been playing since 1983. Have played and owned many, many guitars. Iv'e had Gibsons, Fenders, Jacksons, PRS, Schecter, ESP etc. All kinds of high end stuff.
To this day my favorite, most durable and reliable axe is my Road Flare Red Ibanez RG550 that I bought in 1988 for around $400. The only guitar I would never consider selling. The reissues are going for a grand and just aren't the same.
Thanks for the comment
I agree with the points in both videos. The last two guitars I purchased were a $1700 Wylde Audio Nomad Norse Dragon, then a $250 affinity strat. Both stay in tune very well, both have excellent fret work, fit, and finish (albeit the maple top and paint on the expensive guitar look epic). They are both excellent guitars to play.
The cheap strat did need work on the nut after I changed the strings to a 10-46 set. And the neck pickup is the only pickup that sounds particularly good without a ton of EQ changes. I ended up buying it because it just felt great in store, the non-lacquered neck and fretboard really gave it the edge over many MiM strats in the feel department. I am slowly upgrading and customizing it because the white plastic parts were UGLY and Tex Mex pickups are a cheap upgrade.
Conversely, I didn't play the expensive Wylde Audio in a store before purchase. It did not, and has not needed any adjustments since I purchased it 7 months ago. I will never think this guitar *needs* something.
There are a few reasons I still buy inexpensive guitars. Having a workhorse guitar REALLY helps the shelf life of your better guitars, and I can try new things for not a lot of money!
Great point. Getting to try things out is a lot of fun
Very good points. I can’t agree more… a higher end guitar that you want makes you want to play more. I’ve played for a long time and pretty much kept most of my guitars in cases for the last 15 years or so, until I made the jump on a 2021 Gibson LP Standard. I’ve been playing more than I ever have since I bought that guitar. And I’ve added 3 more Gibsons to my collection that all get played regularly.
Awesome!
Loved this take and almost agree fully, but let me just give my 2 cents.
I’ve been fortunate enough to have all of my dream guitars. And I found that, between a master built custom shop strat with hand wired pick ups and an American vintage II strat I find myself 90% of the time playing with the AVII.
I love the masterbuilt, of course, but the AVII is just “amazing enough” that I feel all the great almost custom shop quality build and sound but it’s not a rarity piece so I feel completely at easy playing it and it being my working horse.
The masterbuilt is just so expensive and rare that I’m so worried and lose some of the joy, I can’t imagine what it would be like owning an original 60’s strat. That does not happen with the AVII. Love em both tho.
Conclusion: Expensive instruments are worth it, but maybe the best guitar for you, or your dream guitar is not the most expensive one
Thanks for the comment!
I started buying Fenders in 2013 and over the last decade and it was mainly Mexican made models I bought. In 2018 I bought my first USA made model and now I’ve 7 Fender USA made models and I must admit overall I prefer them and play them more than my Mexican models. While I’ve never owned a Gibson, I plan on buying a few over the next couple of years namely a LPJ, LP Standard and SGJ. Deep down I know that the cheaper Epiphone option isn’t good enough because of the veneer and cheaper parts.
While I’ve also had my fair share of Squiers, I think they’re great for starting out and incredible value for money, but like some people say they’re better than Mex and USA, the truth is they’re not. If they were I wouldn’t have sold them all would I?
Thanks for sharing!
Yeah, American Fenders are well worth the extra money of a MIM Fender.
I love Foo Fighters! My brother works at a music store. He ordered the DG-335 as a gift for me way back in early February. He came over after his shift on June 27th & surprised me with it. Within 4 days of getting that guitar I wrote music for 6 songs I actually like. If you can save up to get your dream guitar go for it. The only thing that will suffer is your bank account!
I would love to get my hands on one! I love pelham blue guitars
@@ethanhusak I love that guitar & after playing it, I realized that I like HUGE chunky necks. WAY bigger than my other guitars. That guitar has a 43.5mm nut, my other guitars range from 42-42.5 any smaller & I get frustrated because it feels like it's fighting me.
@Canadianwheelchairguitar sweet. I have a LP Special with a really fat neck on it
After owning many Gibsons I have realized Epiphones stay in tune better and considering the price some Epiphones are just as good. Gibsons look nicer but the bottom line is you need to hold the guitar and play it first before you will know.
Thanks for the comment
Short answer: Nope.
When a Squier Classic Vibe Strat costs a third of what an American Standard Strat costs, and sounds so fucking good, you have to ask yourself, "Am I just paying for a logo? Am I THAT big of a bozo?"
Thanks for sharing your opinion. I talked about that in my last video!
But guitarists ARE bozos! They don't want a $100 Amazon guitar that plays as good as a $5k Gibson Custom Shop, they WANT to pay $5000 for a guitar!
yeah I mean I always say those things to me, but at the end are just excuses to the acquisition syndromes , the never ending cycle, but tbh is so fun to do the search and comparison of equipment
Haha yep!
Whether its just a hobby, or you're a professional guitarist, you should go with what moves you. Its ok to want something nice sometimes lol. And if you're willing to pay a little more for that, go for it. Calling something "a waste of money" is pretty subjective most of the time.
Agreed!
RESALE. That's the bottom line with high end.
It makes a big difference
@@ethanhusakMakes people not play the instruments
@@atonofspiders not always
I get that people care about resale value, but it has never been a factor in my case
I buy a guitar to play it.
One thing is brand A might have a higher resale value than brand B, but percentage-wise Brand B might still work out better
For example if brand A costs $5000 & brand is $1000, and you sell brand A for $4000 and brand B for $500, you “lost” $1000 on brand A and $500 on brand B.
But at the end of the day, buy them to play them and if you like it, cool.
I have gibsons and fenders made in USA and I have g&l’s and sires made in Indonesia that I paid 6-700 dollars for and the cheaper ones are just about as good. Who’s gonna take a $3000 guitar into a stinky bar? I still have a couple gibsons in the case at home. Guitars are tools meant to be used, not investments. I’ve sold all high end ones but a couple and thinking of selling those too.
If that’s what you want, go for it. I can buy 5-6 of my guitars for one of yours. 😂
whats the specs on your pelham blue custom? I too have a pelham blue custom and its my number one. on the matter of buying higher end guitars, yes go higher in quality even when starting out cause it will encourage that new player to continue playing and not be fighting with a guitar that gives him issues (this doesnt have to be a Gibson it could be a high end Epiphone or a Mexican strat)
Mine is just like the black or white LP Custom with the custom color. It was a dealer special
Highway one and studio series are good enough for me!
Good stuff! I think I had to dip into custom shop to know what it's like. I could be happy with something more affordable
@@ethanhusak highway one tele, lp studio, yamaha acoustic, peavey classic 30 and roland micro cube have me covered. I'm a gear minimalist though! wouldn't mind a good strat and some p90s though!
If you know anything about wood, electronics and basic luthiery, it all comes to assimilating parts together in a way that allows a musician to play as well as they can. Often, swapping out inferior pickups, having a neck pleked, frets crowned and the action adjusted will achieve impressive results on most low to moderately priced guitars. Fender's Mexico, Cort, Harley Benton, Ibanez, PRS and Yamaha Indonesian build guitars are quality instruments that cost a fraction of their top-end cousins. If head-stock syndrome is the root cause of choosing a USA made instrument over a well-built, well-priced foreign import the buyer is probably suffering from a complex.
I have a video about this!
American>Japanese>Korean>Mexican>Indonesian>Chinese.
My biggest dream is to actually own an American fender telecaster, but it is expensive and import fees are a bit much here where I live. Also good videos mate. I will be excited to see more from you.
Where you from? Thanks for the support!
Yeah man. I have an Epi and a Gibson LP. Although I like the Epiphone, there's really no comparison. Not even in the same ballpark
Careful, someone might come after you with an opinion like that😂
I wanted a Gibson Les Paul, the Slash signature one, with the skull logo on the head stock, found a used one in mint condition on reverb, and paid about 3500.$ for it. I don’t regret buying it, it’s a great guitar, and the price is not really ridiculous for a quality instrument. I’m glad I have no desire to buy a big ticket guitar were someone would pay 50K for, it’s just not worth it to me. But to each his own.
My sunburst LP is one of the Slash Standards
@@ethanhusak nice, they are sweet guitars at a reasonable price, you can’t go wrong.
I dont know if its just my relatively small experience of having owned 10 guitars by now. One thing that i feel expensive (mostly) guitars have above the cheaper ones. Is the less amount of maintainance they need. Usually i feel the finish wont chip or rub off as easily and especially the frets on higher end (might just be the fretboard) have had 8/10 be guitars below 2k and all have had problems with either unevenness or sprouting. And my High end also keep tuning, despite having floyds vs my ibanez having to be tuned every time i pick it up.
Thanks for the comment
You should purchase high end guitars, if you get them at a low price. I’ve never bought an instrument as a financial investment, but have now purchased a few on which I got good deals. And so I ended up making money on them when I sold them.
My two boutique guitars are my favorite. Have to admit.
Nice!
I'm lucky, my first dream electric guitar was an Ibanez Xiphos. I'm mainly an acoustic player so I got one in 2002 for $200😂
NOW Ibanez sell the sexavt same guitar that I already have as an 'iron label' Xiphos....for $1800 Canadian.
Time machines are the secret folks. Without one you're throwing money away. Or you just like expensive things because theyre expensive. I don't ..I just care about having something that plays well. You can change pickups...you can't do much about a neck you don't like
Thanks for the comment
Absolutely they’re worth it. I’ve wasted SO much money on lower end guitars and mid range guitars just to eventually end up buying the higher end guitars “for life” for more than they would have cost years before.
It’s better to save and buy one really good guitar and play it like crazy while you save for brother really high end guitar. Lots of cheap ones are a waste of money.
Thanks for the comment
I just got an Epipiphone Joan Jett Olympic Special a guitar I've been wanting since they came out snd i haven't put it down for two days I'm in love with this one
Awesome! I love how some of the simple guitars just rock
High End certainly are "forever" guitars, and can be sold easier than a modded inexpensive guitars. You probably won't recoup even the cost of the mods
Definitely true
Is it fair to say this argument for high end becomes completely irrelevant and moot if you plan on keeping and playing it like it's actually your dream guitar?
Furthermore, wood and steel don't just stay put forever. Eventually every guitar will need extra work here and there especially if they get regular use.
Lots of vintage guitars out here had no TLC and play poorly because they never actually had the attention all guitars need because of the illusion of perfection.
@@atonofspiders 100% true. If it sounds good and feels good to you then you’re not going to care if it was 100 or 1,000 bucks
@atonofspiders it's hard to really know if it's your forever guitar until you spend some time with it. Thanks for the friendly conversation guys!
@@ethanhusak I have 6 forever guitars🤣…..well I think 3 definitely forevers
The only thing that really matters is are you having fun with your instrument? Does it make you happy? If yes, then it's worth the money or it doesn't matter that it's a budget guitar. You only get one life, so get the most out of it. If a $5,000 guitar does that for you then god bless, go for it. If a $200 does the same, go for that one. There are some really good budget or just guitars on the market. Just enjoy yourself and don't overthink this stuff.
Yeah!
Get a Rivolta, Dennis Fano design, made in Korea (Mirr factory) but inspected and set up in Nashville at Novo Guitars. Great quality, affordable price (from 1300 to 1500$$)
Also Duesenberg, a little bit more expensive but great looking and sounding axes, same factory but assembled and set up in germany, they also die cast *all* their hardware and make their own pickups.
Thanks for the comment
I’m not against using cheap instruments and I know you don’t need to slap 10k on a guitar to make great music.
However I feel you should at least ONE instrument that is in 1k or 2k price range.
I spent over 2k on my jazzmaster and it was the best investment I ever made in my life.
It will be with me for life and I have 0 issues with it. Electronics and hardware are impeccable.
Also is addicting to play and it’s given me so many songs and made me a better guitar player. I have squires that are great and I use to own a MIJ Mustang but none of them had the pull like that guitar has on me.
Thanks for the comment
I have a 2nd hand LP standard I bought for 1400 a few years ago. The way Gibson market their guitars now they treat the standard like it's a starter guitar. Is a sub 3k Gibson even a Gibson?
😂😂
I'd love to own an R9. I could afford one, but I'd never take a $6k guitar to a gig in a bar, and playing it all alone at home seems kinda silly. I don't record often enough to justify owning it either, so realistically it'd mostly just sit in the case. I have a couple LP Standards that get me 95% of the way there and I got them used for about $1500 each. Not cheap, but I can actually use them for the music I play and the situations I play in. Plus I don't have to worry about a headstock break taking $3k out of my investment.
Thanks for the comment
Why wouldn't you play an R9 in a bar? I've played bars for decades...I just make sure I always have it with me, in line of sight or have a bandmate watch it when I pee!
@@michaelthompson9070 It's too much to stress out about for me. The Standards are more than good enough for the gigs I play, and my stage fright is bad enough as it is. If I were touring with a national act or something on that level, sure.
I like your opinion. Nice guitars are worth it. Find the inspiration. That's what really matters. If a $250 Squier inspires me, then cool. But if a $2500 Fender Custom Shop inspires me even more? Then cool if I can afford it.
Absolutely!
Absolutely worth it, and for much more than just re-sale. If I see another video on these unethical POS chibsons and comparing them to a real Gibson I'm gonna scream!
I agree. It's a very polarizing topic it seems
@@ethanhusakIt's hard to trust those sort of videos due to confirmation bias and people not wanting to admit they made a mistake, whether it was a $200 chibson or a $2000+ gibson no one wants to feel like they just wasted money...from my own experience, I've wasted more money on cheapos than on legacy stuff
You can buy an Epiphone custom with a Gibson headstock and 490R/498T pickups, mother of pearl inlays, and mahogany bodies. The fit and finish on those is fantastic for $1300. It’ll get 90% there.
You’ll be missing the nitro finish and fret nibs, that’s about it. The unfortunate thing is the nitro finish is what really make the difference. You can’t recreate the feel and sound you get with the nitro finish.
You’ll also lose a lot less value in the Gibson over time.
If you can accept that you won’t exactly be getting Gibson custom shop levels of feel and sound, the Epiphone are well worth it.
Yeah definitely
A $3k Gibson will drop to $2200 on Reverb. They depreciate like cars.
@@joeking433 That's why it's best to buy a used Gibson. Most of the time you can turn around and get back what your paid for it.
Unless your are a professionnal with guitar deal with on of the big three or want resale value.the quality of the budget version has increased ten fold throughout the years.Even the pros don't bring their prize axes on tour(especially the vintage ones) and use less expensive ones on tour or even in the studio. I'm not saying don't buy the expensive ones...what I'm saying there are better budget solution on the other end of the spectrum.But saying that you will feel better because of the nice guitar....that's one opinion and it is respected. On the other hand Sreve Jones of the Sex Pistols played with a vintage Les Paul(that he later
Admitted to have stolen)seeing as he wasn't much of a talent on guitar,I doubt that having such a wonderful instrument had any bearing on his playing or mood.
Thanks for the comment
People buy what their budget allows. What is expensive to you is cheap to someone else. When I was in my 20’s and starting a family, I had one inexpensive guitar. In my 30’s I made more money and less debt, so I owned many guitars of various value. I’m now 50 and I only own the guitars I always wanted. Gibson les paul standard 60’s, charvel so cal USA and fender avri 62 Strat.
Awesome!
My dream guitar is a gibson les Paul studio in Starburst, i know generic but pure art.
Awesome! Nobody can question your taste
ESP guitars forever!
Haha nice!
I spent 3 years buying the latest and greatest flavor the week guitar. 99% of them were fine, but not great. I now only own high end custom shop guitars. I don't love them because they are expensive. I love them because they are just right in the ways you want a guitar to be. The only exception I found after buying 30 guitars is with PRS. Never buy a Core. The S2 models are perfect and 1/2 the price.
Thanks for the comment!
I dream about that Firebird behind you. I already have a Firebird Studio, but I would love to also get a true Firebird because of the different pickups. Is it the 2016 or 2017 model? I see a good price difference between the two, but can't figure out why.
But yeah. I'm a beginner. I already have a great guitar and I love it! I don't NEED to buy that other Firebird. But in a few months or years, I'd love to get that other model as well. It's different. It's really cool! But then would I just be acquiring more guitars (GAS) or would this make me play differently, or enjoy playing guitar differently? Not sure.
I love that guitar. It's a 2017. Pelham blue is my favorite guitar color if you didn't notice😂 I snagged that one for a bargain a few years ago. For some reason those ones really shot up in price the last couple years
@@ethanhusak Nice! It's absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for the fast reply!
Increasingly exclusive and expensive gear and accouterments are intrinsically a part of every creative and competitive human endeavor. The top-tier gear is usually about achieving that last two percent of marginal utility, precision, or advantage in competitive settings. Unfortunately, massaging that last one or two percent of perceived perfection unavoidably costs two hundred plus percent or more to achieve. So even though bellyaching and kvetching about price versus utility isn’t a helpful way to think about it, that unfortunately isn’t going to stop anyone from doing it. For most of us, it’s a coping mechanism, not to mention just plain human nature.
Thanks for the comment!
its wierd that guitar reviewers only review what they can afford and give opinions based on their 'bargains', having never owned the top end of town. Cars and cameras are reviewed the same way.
I hope you have owned more than a gibson in you playing career.
Well how could we review anything we can't afford?
Where I live these guitars go for something similar to 40K dollars, if you make a fair economy comparison. But we can get custom guitars for something similar to 15K dollars, that are WAY better than a Gibson or Fender. So it is pretty hard to see an original Gibson around here. Normal people usually play 500 dollars guitars and professionals play guitars from 800 to 1500 here. These 3 to 10K guitars are too far out of our reality, unfortunately. So there is no reason for one to buy except the guy is rich af.
If you are just a bedroom player like me, high end guitars are a waste of money. I have two "expensive" guitars: a 98 USA Fender strat and a Gibson tribute of 2017 (both second hand and very cheap). I also have a LP-style Harley Benton, a Yamaha 612 and others. I don't feel no big differences, I like to play them all. My best strat is the Yamaha, then a 98 Squier, both have necks I prefer to the Fender neck, maybe somebody else will feel the opposite. It all comes to personal preference. And yes -you have to play any guitar first, not taking for granted that a famous trade mark will be the much better guitar for you.
Thanks for the comment!
Pearls before swine, I guess.
@@iancurrie8844 Oh, thanks for the kind comparison! If I'll have to end up as bacon, please let it be Francis at least! But was he really a guitar player?
@@user-abcxyz-xr2eg I did not mean it to be insulting. It’s a biblical reference. It means that the more expensive guitars are best not used by someone who will not appreciate them. If that’s you, that’s ok.
@@iancurrie8844 No problem, my friend! We have the same proverb in German and I know what it means. I was just joking! Greetings from Austria!
DUDE! ❤️
Thanks!
High-end guitars are also art pieces
Yeah!
I know Visa and Mastercard appreciate that players feel high-end guitars are worth it?
😂😂
I just don't think it matters anymore.
When I was young the difference between the affordable stuff and less affordable stuff was obvious. I had a very bad mexican strat followed by a very good american strat. An ok eppy LP followed by a good Gibson LP (which I sold and my back thanks me for it).
But nowadays I pick things up at the shop and they all feel good. No sharp frets like the mex-strat had. Pickups are fine. I snagged a J.Mascis jm for a cousin who said she wanted one and I plugged it in... It's as good as anything Fender I have. Plays and sounds great.
I just can't care anymore.
Yeah the "budget brands" have gotten really good in recent years
@@captainprivate3768 I agree totally that the quality of what used to be considered “budget brands” like Squier and Epiphone has improved dramatically over time - your experience of the Mascis JM exactly mirrors my own. The poor quality price point now lies in the £99 to £149 range which the lowest price “own brand” guitars inhabit. False economy comes from buying something so cheap that any beginner isn’t going to be inspired to actually pick it up and practice.
worth it? NOPE
I love that todays sub $600 guitars are just as good as the "high end" as far as playability. so maybe you don't get the fancy finishes, tuning machines or fret end finish.
Like I said. I think ego comes into it
The Epiphone, in most cases, won't have a full maple cap. It'll have a flame veneer, which is cool and still looks beautiful, but it's not the same.
True
@@ethanhusakactually, not true. It’s a common misconception that Epiphone Les Pauls don’t have a solid maple cap but in fact they do. The maple cap is carved just like a Gibson but, because it’s a cheaper, plain piece of wood, they then top it with a flame maple veneer for the aesthetic.
@JacobS-q7c Its not a sticker, it's a real piece of wood, it's just very thin. It's not like a photo flame though!
Not to mention when you spend so much on a guitar, you better play it day and night to justify the purchase and make yourself a worthy owner/player.
Thanks for the comment
I’m 38, been playing forever. I’ve only bought a few guitars and inherited a few. I don’t care about resell becuase I by for life, it’s a slippery slope to be concerned with resale, people will keep them in the case, think of them as investments. These are YOUR guitars, not some financial decision.
I definitely buy to play and keep, but I also had an LP Custom a few years ago that just wasn't doing it for me after a while. Selling that helped me get a different one
@@ethanhusak it’s a “nice to have” with the resell but it seems like a lot of people it’s literally the primary deciding factor they use for their purchases. I just bought an Eastman t59 and somebody was like “that has garbage resell” but so far after 25 years of playing, I’ve never had a guitar I needed to “trade” I love them all. Everyone is different but some people make the hobby buying and selling and that’s fine but my hobby is playing. Look at Trogly, dude sounds like a 12 year old that’s been playing for 6 months lmao, his hobby isn’t playing guitar, it’s buying and selling them. That’s fine, but he isn’t a player, he is a collector and in that case, resell is most important.
Nice video. I am a beginner and want a nicer guitar in the future. But space is always an issue.
Thanks for the comment
Am l trippen or is this an Eddie munster look alike?
You aren't the first to say that😂
You got it!
What a fantastic video have a wonderful day also today is my friends birthday ❤😊
Thank you!
(1) I would like to reiterate another commenter’s point about RESALE, with a caveat. If you can wait, do so, because the current guitar market isn’t sustainable. Guitars are overpriced in general. My 79’ ES 335td was purchased for 1300, my 80’ ES 347 for 1700 in the last decade. (2) Look to smaller guitar companies rather than Gibson, for instance Dunable is making guitars every bit as good as high end Gibsons or Fenders at half the price. I can name 20 other large luthiers our smaller production companies that create guitars that are excellent. (3) Used MIJ is a wealth of potential value. I can’t imagine spending 1200-5000 on a Strat when there are thousands of MIJ copies that fit Fender parts available for 500 or less. (4) Check out guitars made by the best Indonesian and Korean factories. The Yamaha, Reverend, G&L, (I can’t believe I am saying this) PRS, and many others are making high quality instruments for sub 1k. Maybe you have to switch pickups in some of them, but a LP Custom still comes with the same set of 498/500 that the Epiphone does. Korean guitars in general have gotten so much better in the last decade and 10-20 years down the line we will look at this era of MIK guitars as we do the MIJ stuff from the 80s on.
Thanks for the comment
I don't see the need in buying high priced guitars especially for someone like me who works and doesn't have the time to play them. All 29 of my guitars are fenders in the $1500.00 no more than $2500.00 price range.... I've basically collected them as an hobby and in hopes of one day retiring and learning to play' then maybe I could justify buying/owning a nice custom shop stratocaster and telecaster after learning to play instead of just having all that money tied up in them and sitting around.
Thanks for the comment. The last few years I've gone from affordable to nicer guitars, but my collection has stayed around the same size. To argue your point, if high priced guitars aren't worth it, why are 29 (!!!) guitars worth it
@@ethanhusak
A hobby' I collect them' It's been my job' guitar tec for a little over 45 years get a good deal on them or trade out work and repair/upgrade them..
@@BryanClark-gk6ie ok that makes more sense
One of the primary functions of a guitar for any musician is having an instrument that inspires you to want to pick it up
Exactly!
I agree
Thanks for the comment
Higher end guitars have higher end materials, that's the whole thing. Epiphone uses local market woods from China that are way worse than Gibson's true mahogany. I like to compare it to cars, both a Golf and a Mercedes can get you to point A, but you're gonna have a hell of a better time in that Mercedes
Good point
Ok that dude is 13 or 14 period.
😂
The only high end guitar in my book is a PRS Core model.
Awesome!
I agree :)
Thanks for the comment!
Sorry but at least the Epiphones we get in Japan are pretty much crap. Finding a Good Epiphone is like finding a virgin in a brothel.
Interesting. I wonder what makes the difference
If you are talking expensive as 1500 then I agree.
Anything over 1500 is a waste of money. Learn to work on guitars, its not rocket surgery, and a 500 dollar guitar will play like any other great guitar.
u do not need a 5000 guitar to enjoy urself
ive owned fenders/gibsons and my $900 ibanez is 4x better then ALL(100%) of them
find a guitar u like, not a guitar with the name brand u like
ended up selling them and lost alot of money from it
Everyone likes different things
@@ethanhusak if you only like it's price tag idk what to tell you
@FreeEngland1 the reason is the brand and "I got a expensive one"
Don't get me wrong my dream guitar is a ebmm majesty but I ain't paying 7k for it ill get a sterling for 1600
Same, especially when you're not too lazy to do some of the easy ass work yourself , it saves you quasi-thousands for literally exactly the same result, AND if you've done work on it yourself like add hardware or pickups with basic tools, then you can repair it yourself and avoid putting the burden of repairing "precious instruments" on someone else.
Also amps are more important anyway, most guitars in general are overrated and make no sound without amps.
Yeah, that's typical. I have a couple sub-$1000 guitars that you won't find a better one no matter how much you pay. And people talk about Gibsons holding value but they depreciate 25% right when you walk out of the music shop.
Dollar per hour played is how I look at it.
Are you paying for your own guitars, at such a young age?
Really?
Yes I am
@@ethanhusak fair play.
Next and obvious question.. How??
And can I get on it? 🤣🤣🤣
@ascgazz 😂😂😂 I've been in the same job for almost 8 years, so I've had a few raises. Been smart about not having debt so that frees up a lot of money every month. I shop for deals too
@@ethanhusak not having undiagnosed adhd is clearly helpful for anybody wanting to get along!
Took me until I was diagnosed adhd at 43yo and medicated before I could even save, let alone plan.
I’ve done a lot of fun stuff in life, but fun stuff doesn’t really pay. lol.
Don’t forget to do people as well as buy things tho.
Guitars are great, but they can’t hug you when you need it. 👍👍
@@ascgazz haha yeah
You're in a hopeless death loop. You will NEVER be satisfied! You will ALWAYS be looking for that guitar that is just a little bit better! There will ALWAYS be that one note on your fretboard that doesn't sound perfect!
😂😂😂
@@ethanhusak That makes you a liar. You know you'll always be looking for something better! That guitar that is better is OUT THERE, all you have to do is find it! I know because I have 15 guitars, all of them fairly high priced, and some as close to perfect as you will find but I'm always buying and replacing, LOL!
@@ethanhusak WTF, is my comment going through???
@joeking433 I honestly haven't even been looking at other guitars for a while. Been pretty happy with what I have. But I'm sure someday I'll want something else
Abso-fucking-lootly ... The higher end it is, the better .. always.
😂😂
yeah if you can play. if you're at an intermediate or lower level, then no, save your money.
Thanks for the comment
$5k Custom Shop guitars go for $3k used. ;)
Not always
@@ethanhusak There are a bunch of Custom Shop guitars on Reverb right now for $3k. If they originally cost $8k of course they will be higher priced.
@@ethanhusak There are a ton of $3k Gibson Custom Shop guitars on Reverb right now.
Don't really need expensive guitar schecter demon six Fr are only about 500$ and they are better than fender or Gibson guitars.
Thanks for the comment
@@ethanhusak try one out you'll be surprised about how good they are they are like magical or something it's almost creepy in a way but I like it. These guitars are so easy to play and they make you sound better than what you really are.
@patrickshannon4516 I have a schecter sun valley super shredder that I've been really happy with
@@ethanhusak yeah I have a schecter demon six with Floyd Rose, schecter Damien platinum six with Floyd Rose, And a lower end schecter avenger Synister Gates avenger signature model. And I can't believe how good these guitars are Les Paul and fender don't have nothing on schecter guitar's. Played several Les Paul and fender before and schecter stands out from all the rest. Haven't tried a PRS yet but I hear they are awesome also. Have to try one out one of these days.
More dollars isn’t going to make most people sound or play better
But it might make you play more
You really did not say anything in this video. Waste of time. My collection spans Fender and Gibson Vintage as well as Custom Shop Guitars, as well as vintage tweed amps.
Thanks for watching anyways