Are expensive guitars overrated?

  • Thread starter Thread starter GT
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Kjam - that's a great sound on that recording. How did you mic it?

The mother of one of my friends has played country music her whole life. She owns 4 Martin guitars. One of them has custom inlays, etc. Another one was a "plain jane" model - the plain jane (it was years ago - I don't remember if it was D28 or what) had the most amazing sound I have ever heard from an acoustic. When you find the right Martin, they are hard to beat.
 
James Argo said:
...next time I buy some with Les Paul shape, I'll read it carefully. It won't happen again, they won't cheat me twice. It should be GIBSON not BIGSON.


...ouch dammit!!!
:mad:
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You spelled Heritage wrong.
 
Kjam - How did you mic it?

Thanks.... I miced it stereo x-y axis. Using a Studio Projects C1 and an ADK 51s.

I know you're suppose to use matched mics... but you go with what you've got.
 
The years that they last has to be considered also. My 72 strat still plays like new. I had a 12 string from canada that I bought for $250 at the same time. It only lasted 10 years before buckling. I guess when you buy new, anything will sound good and play well. But what happens if you keep it for years.

On the other hand, I did a lot of my writing on my $75 clasical. Of course when it came to recording, I used my ovation 12 and gibson sg, and did it just for the tonal qualities of each.

I guess it comes down to who you talk to or look up to. How many MTV videos have musicman or washburns in them. Does clapton play a squire? When did you ever see frampton playing an epiphone? Could you picture jimmy page with anything but a gibson in his hands. Do you think there may be a reason for it?

It all comes down to playablity and product consitancy. I know that when I buy my top end fender or gibson, I will get a product that uses the best components and will hold together over the years.
 
juststartingout said:
Could you picture jimmy page with anything but a gibson in his hands. Do you think there may be a reason for it?
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I sure as hell could.

It all comes down to playablity and product consitancy. I know that when I buy my top end fender or gibson, I will get a product that uses the best components and will hold together over the years.
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You too mispelled Heritage.
 
Gosh gee, guitar man.....we get it already....you hate gibson products..........

We get it.......

We get it........

We get it.......


Sheesh...................................................gibs
 
gibs said:
Gosh gee, guitar man.....we get it already....you hate gibson products..........

We get it.......

We get it........

We get it.......


Sheesh...................................................gibs
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I wont stop until you realize that Heritage owns you.
 
Yo... Guitar Man!

You gotta be at least 18 to have the word "man" in any part of your name.

You will now be referred to as "Guitar Boy". :D
 
if you think about it....expensive guitars are expensive because people are willing to pay high prices for them. cheap guitars are cheap because people arn't willing to pay high prices for them...so in that respect expensive guitars arn't over rated.

i've been playing my '66 strat since i was 16 years old..it was a cheap guitar cause i got it for $150..now its considered an expensive guitar. its my favorite guitar so i guess i would say its not overrated...in the cheap OR expensive catogry/
 
IF you look up heritage on musiciansfriend all that comes up is Gibson products.


Wow.....that should be a sign.
 
jimistone said:
i've been playing my '66 strat since i was 16 years old..it was a cheap guitar cause i got it for $150
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Spending $150 in '66 would be the same as spending $810.30 today.
 
Just some random observations,

I have found that guitars that have not been adjusted, either neck bow or string height, offer a poor experience for evaluation purposes. Almost 75%, maybe more, of guitar store products are not set up correctly and this makes it hard to evaluate the guitar.

Sometimes you can pick up a $200 guitar that just feels great because someone has adusted it correctly. On the other end of the stick sometimes those reissue Fenders in the $1500 range just are impossible to evaluate because the necks are so often out of adjustment for the string guage.

One tip I have discovered through the years, the neck and string height is not constant across different guages of strings. Readjustment is necessary to get the proper response when you change guages. This will effect the playing experience.

I have played cheap guitars that really felt great in my hands but when you plug them into an amp and go from low to high volumes you hear a difference sometimes that equates to not cutting through the band in a live situation.

Overall I'd say low volume studio work makes a rack of inexpensive guitars viable. Live stage is another issue and less expensive guitars for the most part just don't punch up well at higher volumes. Pickups are the primary reason. .
 
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juststartingout said:
IF you look up heritage on musiciansfriend all that comes up is Gibson products.


Wow.....that should be a sign.
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MF is basically a music superstore. If they don't advertise in the big guitar mags, they wont sell it.
 
"Spending $150 in '66 would be the same as spending $810.30 today."

i bought in in '76/ I ain't THAT damn old. LOL...that was when Carter was president...$150 didn't go very far. hell gas was damn near $2.00 a gallon.
 
Spending $150 in 1976 would be the same as spending $474.85 tomorrow morning.
 
I'd have to say it's a case by case thing. I have seen it both ways. I don't think I would be very satisfied with a electric for under around $1000.00 new or preferrabley used. On the other hand I played a $250.00 bass the other day that blew me away with it's sound and playability.... I want one:D!!! Basses are one place that modern electronics have kicked ass!!!

Some brands of 6 string electric do only seem to look better not play better past the $500.00 range or so. Ibanez seems to be that way not to say they suck just that the cheaper ones are very good for the money and the pricey ones seem just ok for the money unless you count looks.

Just my opinion.


F.S.
 
The Middleman

Hey Middleman you know your stuff. I just spent 4 hours doing the intonation on 3 of my guitars. You are completely right that most guitars aren't set up right in the store. the other thing I would add to that is that alot of what guys say in the store (sales guys, ets.) and alot of the things they do are incorrect. I suggest to everyone who really wants to know about guitar set up to buy a book called: Guitar Player Repair Guide, by: Dan Erlewine. Once you know then you have power when it comes to our favorite instrument. Know one will be able to tell you that your trade in neck aint straight and know one will be able to tell you that there is too much bow in your neck when really there is actually relief. Remember what they say: "Knowing is half the battle" and it is true!

PS. Don't just let anyone set up your guitar, they may not have a clue but because they sell stuff to you they want you to believe in them so they try to act as though they are helping or that they know all about it. Just be careful and KNOW.
 
I have an old Guild F-45CE,$1300 way back when and still sounds great.
I also have a Mexican Tele,$350 and sounds great.
Picked it out of a bunch rangeing up to $3000.
Just sounded the best to me.

If you play it and it sounds right,it's priced right.
(Now if I can only come up with $2500 for a HD-28,not!):D

Pete
 
Guitars are like Golf Clubs. Lots of people say that their set of Wilsons they bought at Walmart hit just as good as any club out there. Of course Tiger and Sergio don't think so..... but to each his own.

Then others might rave about their Chevy Cavalier.......
 
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