Buying new guitar

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booyah14

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Alright I should say that I have been playing a PRS Custom 24 for about 5 years now and I think I am going to surprise a family member with it as a gift. So I am starting to think about new guitars I am interested checking out. I should say that I am playing mostly metal/core. So basically all heavy riffing and tons of lead. The sounds I like for reference are bands like Killswitch Engage, Unearth, God Forbid. Basically I like the real heavy tones that are still audiable. Granted a lot of this comes from the amp but having a nice tone from the guitar will get it started.

I have been really hearing good things about ESP models but have yet to check them out. One thing I must emphasize is that I absolutely hate Floyd Rose systems and will not purchase one at all. Even a custom modeled guitar would be alright as long as I can keep it around $1200 or less. Any suggestions are welcome. Thanks a lot guys!
 
Please consider Carvin. You can order one with colors, fretwires, fingerboards, headstocks, woods, etc., to you taste. If you don't want to wait for them to build you one, they have some in stock, or you can visit one of their stores.
 
If you're going to be spending money like that, why not just buy your family member the guitar, rather than giving them your PRS?

Anyway, for your style, ESP, Jackson, and Ibanez are good, as long as you don't get the cheap models. With $1200, you won't be able to afford a custom model, but the high end models from these companies are all good. Are you looking for anything in particular other than a lack of a Floyd Rose? If you can stretch your budget out to around $1500, you can get a really nice guitar that will last you quite a while.
 
Thanks for the suggestion of the Carvin. I will definitely have a look around.

The reason I am giving my guitar away is because even though I absolutely love this guitar, I don't really need a lot of tones since I've really gotten into metal. I basically just need a nice recording guitar for all the metal that I do. The PRS can be shaped to just about any tone you want and my bro plays a lot of styles. I actually have 1500 for a guitar but I am trying to save a little bit to either put down for a tube amp or other recording gear. But 1500 I could do if you have any suggestions.

Floyd Rose I absolutely hate. I had a cheap Dinky Reverse back in the day and absolutely couldn't stand it. As far as what I want in a guitar, as long as it has a good sustain and tone to the notes I'm happy. I downtune a lot and a lot of guitars don't seem to handle this too well. Typically tune down to drop C or C. I have checked around a little bit and a lot of bands that I like their sound typically use high model ESPs, Jacksons, and some Ibanez.

Keep 'em coming!
 
apl said:
Please consider Carvin. You can order one with colors, fretwires, fingerboards, headstocks, woods, etc., to you taste. If you don't want to wait for them to build you one, they have some in stock, or you can visit one of their stores.
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+1 on that. Carvin guitars are very nice. One of theirs is definitely on my wish list.

:)
 
YES ESP is a good choice

well i have a VIPER ESP and ive played another esp though forgetting wich one, the thing is i played the 150 versions of the guitars, and i was suprised at the sound coming from both. IT wasnt bad could be better around the pickups but yea, i didnt buy the guitar to play metal, i didnt know much when i was buying my first guitar, but it suprised me how much u can do to tweak that little viper 150. anyways good guitar, IM sure the ESP models are fantastic, just not my genre.

good luck.
 
I owned 3 late 80s/early 90's ESP Horizon customs at one time. All 3 had floyd type bridges. The awesome thing about the ESP lisenced floyds is that they came with a built-in system for blocking it off. There is just a setscrew in the block that you unscrew until it touches the body of the guitar, then just tighten the crap out of your spring claw and you're set.

I tuned from straight C# to dropped B with those guitars for ages. No hassle since the bridge didn't move.

Just for the record, these were made in Japan. Throughout the mid 90's to very recently, I actually preferred the Japanese ESPs to the US ones. For a long time, the US didn't make any neck through ESP models. The Korean LTDs had neck through models... but not the custom US models? That makes sense... I promise.

But now, the US models seem to be nicer, though their variety lacks compared to the Japanese selection. In Japan you can select between 5 or 6 different types of Horizons, each with various colors. In the US, I think there are two models, one with only one ugly brown color, and both not having tremolo systems.

I love my last remaining ESP Horizon. I will never sell it. I will also never sell my Parker Fly Supreme. I might off my Parker Deluxe to try out a PRS Custom 24, but finding a hardtail C24 is a bitch.
 
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