I don't have tons of money to drop on new stuff, so I look for used. A guitar (like most things) is going to get dings and scratches over time anyway, so the most important thing is function. Even if you have to buy upgraded or replacement parts, it will save tons over buying new. I only own one guitar that I bought new (Explorer copy) and after upgrading a few things, I still saved a ton of money. Name brand is not as important as function if you are buying it just to play anyway. I'll take an Epiphone or Squire over Gibson or Fender any day.
A good setup will do WONDERS, so.... Specially these days, there are a ton of cheap guitars that are gig worthy. Back in the 90's there were no good cheap guitars, you either bought a yamaha pacifica or you had to spend money
@9unslin9er yes I agree, but if the wood and the instrument are decent it will definitely improve playability and make the instrument more desirable to play
New Bill Kelliher LTD signature is $1999, at this point you just order off brand, get lucky with a used older guitar, or get gouged. "Fender" DeLong signature models made next to Squiers. Caveat Emptor.
@@sir.shreddington I've always been "used gear guy" and nothing has made me change my position recently. In fact, the harsh seller climate made me hold onto my primary acquisitions. Buy $2000 Chinese stuff if you want to, it's your life.
As expensive as you can justify, always. If you’ve been playing for a decade, you should find a forever guitar. No reason to have 10+ $200 beaters around when you can have an instrument you genuinely love for the same amount you spent on all that shit.
Cheap guitars (or amps for that matter) are great until you've played an expensive one... then you're ruined.. Whether it's the PRS SE vs A Core/or Private Stock, or a $500 Fender China amp vs a $4500 Matchless Chieftain 40W ... once you've experienced the nice quality ... you are ruined. The idea that you don't get what you pay for in musical equipment defies logic and the principals of the free market.. things don't sell for prices that don't justify their value over the long term.
“Muh free market justifies the price.” The Bad Monkey was considered a cheap joke pedal, then someone on YT directly compared it to a $3000 Klon Centaur, showed it sounded comparably good, and overnight people were selling Bad Monkey’s for hundreds of dollars. Free market my left nut, consoomers are morons and guitarists are morons amongst morons.
I can disagree with that. I have an american PRS, a korean SE made, an old Yamaha pacifica 112m and others. While you can feel the difference in certain aspects, i am consistently suprised at some cheap things i come across. So, even though I have nice things, i am a sucker for good budget items. And i find myself looking for "what feels more expensive than it actuslly is," and there are for sure some surprises out there. That yamaha that i paid $150 has been one of my favorites for years. The spilt neck and mid pickup are perfectly stratty, neck is great. Though the bridge pickup is a bit dirty/driven sound even when clean, i have grown to appreciate as personality of the guitar.
I disagree. It’s certainly doable. I was still able to buy expensive stuff when I was in my twenties and not making much at all. Even if someone can save $50 every biweekly pay period, a nice piece of kit can be gotten within a year or two
@@sir.shreddington that makes sense, but 1k still isn’t cheap, especially when guitars for around $450 are basically the same thing (at least from fender and Gibson).
That’s fair. Nice thing is that there are great options for the sub $500 market. I still want to check out a Harley Benton and see what they are all about
I personally dont care on what the cost is.. just needs to feel/play like a dream.
Feel is definitely the most important for me too. Looks are the added bonus.
Im a beginner. These cheap guitars are good enough for me in my bedroom. Love having a variety too.
Cool video
Thanks dude!
I don't have tons of money to drop on new stuff, so I look for used. A guitar (like most things) is going to get dings and scratches over time anyway, so the most important thing is function. Even if you have to buy upgraded or replacement parts, it will save tons over buying new. I only own one guitar that I bought new (Explorer copy) and after upgrading a few things, I still saved a ton of money. Name brand is not as important as function if you are buying it just to play anyway. I'll take an Epiphone or Squire over Gibson or Fender any day.
A good setup will do WONDERS, so....
Specially these days, there are a ton of cheap guitars that are gig worthy. Back in the 90's there were no good cheap guitars, you either bought a yamaha pacifica or you had to spend money
For sure. It’s an important skill that I think every guitarist should learn
Good setups can't save junk wood/warped necks.
@9unslin9er yes I agree, but if the wood and the instrument are decent it will definitely improve playability and make the instrument more desirable to play
This video could be 1 minute long if he acknowledged the existence of Harley Benton. Knocks it out of the park in terms of price and playability
I don't have any experience with them yet.
Depends on the guitar.
A good player can make a cheap guitar sound expensive, a terrible player will make every guitar sound cheap.
I don't disagree!
A good guitar you enjoy, that plays properly.
Very cheap stuff might not be good enough to gig with.
New Bill Kelliher LTD signature is $1999, at this point you just order off brand, get lucky with a used older guitar, or get gouged.
"Fender" DeLong signature models made next to Squiers.
Caveat Emptor.
A lot of good deals in the used market right now
@@sir.shreddington I've always been "used gear guy" and nothing has made me change my position recently.
In fact, the harsh seller climate made me hold onto my primary acquisitions. Buy $2000 Chinese stuff if you want to, it's your life.
As expensive as you can justify, always. If you’ve been playing for a decade, you should find a forever guitar. No reason to have 10+ $200 beaters around when you can have an instrument you genuinely love for the same amount you spent on all that shit.
I can't argue with that!
Cheap guitars (or amps for that matter) are great until you've played an expensive one... then you're ruined.. Whether it's the PRS SE vs A Core/or Private Stock, or a $500 Fender China amp vs a $4500 Matchless Chieftain 40W ... once you've experienced the nice quality ... you are ruined. The idea that you don't get what you pay for in musical equipment defies logic and the principals of the free market.. things don't sell for prices that don't justify their value over the long term.
“Muh free market justifies the price.” The Bad Monkey was considered a cheap joke pedal, then someone on YT directly compared it to a $3000 Klon Centaur, showed it sounded comparably good, and overnight people were selling Bad Monkey’s for hundreds of dollars. Free market my left nut, consoomers are morons and guitarists are morons amongst morons.
I can disagree with that. I have an american PRS, a korean SE made, an old Yamaha pacifica 112m and others. While you can feel the difference in certain aspects, i am consistently suprised at some cheap things i come across. So, even though I have nice things, i am a sucker for good budget items. And i find myself looking for "what feels more expensive than it actuslly is," and there are for sure some surprises out there.
That yamaha that i paid $150 has been one of my favorites for years. The spilt neck and mid pickup are perfectly stratty, neck is great. Though the bridge pickup is a bit dirty/driven sound even when clean, i have grown to appreciate as personality of the guitar.
People acting like $1,000 is cheap are delusional tbh. A cheap guitar is sub $500, and $4,000+ is borderline unobtainable for an average person.
I disagree. It’s certainly doable. I was still able to buy expensive stuff when I was in my twenties and not making much at all. Even if someone can save $50 every biweekly pay period, a nice piece of kit can be gotten within a year or two
@@sir.shreddington that makes sense, but 1k still isn’t cheap, especially when guitars for around $450 are basically the same thing (at least from fender and Gibson).
That’s fair. Nice thing is that there are great options for the sub $500 market. I still want to check out a Harley Benton and see what they are all about
FU-Tone > Charvel
Blasphemy!! Honestly, I’d love to try a FU-Tone guitar