i need a new ax, suggest one!

[postalblue]

ok, it's gotta be cheap. i don't mind it being japanese, korean, mexican, whatever, as long as it's a lot of bang for the buck, and very 'upgradeable'. i'm trying to stay under $500, but about $300 would be great, if there is a good enough guitar at that range.

so my case is i play indie jangle pop, not much room for distortion there. i haven't actually used any distortion or overdrive in my records. i'm not big into soloing either. my only guitars are a rickenbacker 360 and a g & l asat tribute telecaster. my amps are a crate vintage club 25w and an ampeg reverbrocket 50w. after doing a 4-song single with an american strat and an epiphone les paul i got rid of both guitars to get my rick, which i love btw. but then i did a new single and an album with only that guitar, and i've come to the late realization that i need more guitars if i'm not to bore my audience to death with only one or two guitar sounds.

so now i got the g & l tele, which is not even here yet, and i'm already looking into getting at least another guitar to cover as much ground as i can. feel free to suggest more than one guitar, as i'm sure i'll be getting more than one in the future, as i haven't really bought any guitars in years. i will now though, especially if there are cheap ones that are worthwhile.

i like vintage/classic/retro looking guitars, btw. that'd be a plus, if at all possible.

[Chill]

How about something with P-90's like an Agile DC or LP or an Eastwood HiFlyer or Sidejack. You might find a Gibson LP jr or SG jr but probably not for $300...

Eastwood: http://www.myrareguitars.com/Eastwood.html

Agile: http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/category.html;$sessionid$ZRZMQVQAAA0OLTZENUFZPQWPERWRJPX0?UCIDs=940498

[Hard2Hear]

Sounds like you need a guitar with humbuckers. You could go with an Epi Les Paul, or G400 for the SG style, you can check out the PRS imports. There are tons of import Les Paul copies out there, I can't vouch for them because the only ones I have played are Gibsons and Epis.

H2H

[postalblue]

Originally Posted by Chill

How about something with P-90's like an Agile DC or LP or an Eastwood HiFlyer or Sidejack. You might find a Gibson LP jr or SG jr but probably not for $300...

Eastwood: http://www.myrareguitars.com/Eastwood.html

Agile: http://www.rondomusic.bigstep.com/category.html;$sessionid$ZRZMQVQAAA0OLTZENUFZPQWPERWRJPX0?UCIDs=940498

p-90's would be cool. maybe a casino with p-90's? or a les paul gold top? i was just looking at jay turser's guitar. i wish i could try them.

i had heard about eastwood. pretty cool looking guitars. the stormbird has 3 p-90's.

the agiles look good. how do they play and sound? how do they compare to others?

[postalblue]

Originally Posted by Hard2Hear

Sounds like you need a guitar with humbuckers. You could go with an Epi Les Paul, or G400 for the SG style, you can check out the PRS imports. There are tons of import Les Paul copies out there, I can't vouch for them because the only ones I have played are Gibsons and Epis.

H2H

yes, humbuckers would be nice for a change. i'm running a search right now to see what i can find about cheaper les paul copies for example, to see what brand makes the best affordable version. seems to be jay turser. i've seen a few claim they're better than the epiphones.

[Buck62]

Samick Ultramatic UM-4

It looks just like a PRS with a flamed top. It has Grover tuners, Wilkinson tremolo, 500K pots, two strap-buttons on the bottom and Duncan-Designed pickups. It has a neck that feels just like a Les Paul and the sustain is incredible.

You can get one for around $450.

I've owned one for about two years now.... it's an awesome guitar for the money.

[lascalaboy]

I don't know the price... but Maton Mastersound is a great guitar and has humbuckers... maybe morea rock guitar though..

[postalblue]

that samick seems good, but the prs design is one i really don't care for. it might be a contender though if i decide to get a studio only guitar.

[postalblue]

Originally Posted by lascalaboy

I don't know the price... but Maton Mastersound is a great guitar and has humbuckers... maybe morea rock guitar though..

hey, those matons look really nice. have you played them? what's with the weird switch selector?

http://www.somethingabout.net/mastersound/image18.htm

[cstockdale]

Epi Wildkat : P-90s

[postalblue]

Originally Posted by cstockdale

Epi Wildkat : P-90s

those are pretty nice. are the pup's good?

[postalblue]

i'm really this close to getting an agile. they're so cheap, and have been receiving so many good reviews that i'm thinking of getting a couple actually. i have bad GAS. somebody please stop me!!!

[Outlaws]

Ummmm......an acoustic?!

[Imaduck]

Ibanez Artcore's -- simply the best guitars for under $800, and they only cost $300 .

I'd also look into the Fender Thinlines, they rock like no other, and, with enough searching, you can find 'em pretty cheap.

Good call on the Rick and the G and L, btw.

[Adam P]

Go around to guitar stores and try to find a cheap ripoff of one of the bigger guitar types (Paul, Strat, Tele, etc), or something thats totally bizarre. Keep it in the $150-$250 range. Who knows...you may find something that you would've never looked at otherwise.

[ibanezrocks]

ibanez noodles signature
amazing pickups

[postalblue]

those artcores look sweet, especially this one:
http://www.gbase.com/gearlist/guitar...?guitar=555260

i'll hit harmony central for some reviews.

[Imaduck]

Yeah, I have an AM-73 and my friend has that model you mentioned; we both love them to death. I have yet to meet an expienced guitar player who hasn't shat themselves after I told them it was only $300. My apartmentmate constantly has mine in his room, and he can't put it down. The only guitars I've found that come close to it are Gretch's, and even then it's just personal preference; both have their own unique style and awe-inspiring sound. Every time I gig with it I get a million and one comments. Go out, try one, and fall in love with 'em.

[Treeline]

It's an old style axe - not a guitar. An axe. Great old axe, about 75 years old. I've had it for a long time and use it for cordwood and such. I replaced the handle three times and the head twice. Best old axe I've ever had.

[postalblue]

i checked with my local dealer, and i might be able to get an epiphone alleykat for a decent price.
i'd rather get a wildkat, but they're sold out here, and they don't know when they'll have it. i wonder how the alleykat sounds. anyone here tried one?
i wonder how easy it would be to find suitable upgrade pick ups?

[mshilarious]

How about a Danelectro DC3? Those are going for around $250 used.

[chris-from-ky]

Ummmm... If you're going to buy a cheap-O guitar and then upgrade the pick-ups, why not just buy a decent guitar? Pickups are 50-100 bucks a pop so, you could invest that into a better "all-around" guitar. One thing I've learned, when you cut corners in your gear, you cut corners in your sound.

Food for thought,
Chris

[postalblue]

Originally Posted by mshilarious

How about a Danelectro DC3? Those are going for around $250 used.

that crossed my mind too. i'm actually considering getting a couple guitars instead of one. provided that i can stay with the more inexpensive ones. a strat would be an option too, like the agile 802. it's not really a guitar i like to play, but it usually records well.

as for cutting corners, i really wouldn't be able to get a couple of great guitars with the money i have. i'm interested in getting a couple of decent axes for different flavours, as i already have a main guitar that i love, which is my rick. i'd love to play it in every song and every overdub, but it doesn't work that way.

i need a (or a couple of) new guitar now, because i'm already recording a new cd. renting (or borrowing) is not an option. upgrading the pu's is something that would be nice in case i got a good guitar that might benefit a lot from a pu change. there are better pickups than epiphone's stock ones in the market for much less than $100.

[MLS276]

Try a Switch (www.switchmusic.com). I have a vintage Strat and am completely satisfied with it, but I bought a Switch because it is so crazy. They are completely synthetic, which means they are one piece. Incredible resonance and even better tone. Check them out if they are in your area. They have a copy (Tone...NOT LOOKS!) of about every major guitar out there.

[punkin]

Ibanez...any RG series...the necks and bodies are all very nice and consistent but the lower end units have run of the mill "ok" pups. They're kind of a hot rod guitar but with a good selection of replacement pickups they make great instruments. A good value in my book. I have an old 270 and a 320 (I think) which make great players and greatly improved when I replaced the pick ups.