Cheap guitar vs. Expensive guitar

  • Thread starter Thread starter Robertt8
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AMEN! ...and if people learned how to play they wouldn't even need effects.
 
what is a good guitar?

It is really hard to tackle any subject, especially if you are comparing two things when you have not defined what the standard is.

We must first agree or define what a good guitar should be. We must agree on what matters first - the neck? the frets? the bridge? the wood? the tension? the fretboard? it's speed? weight? electronics? their combination or the sound: thin, thick, harsh, warm, smooth, substantial, etc., etc.

Once we have agreed on what matters, then, I guess we could compare each guitar on how it measures up, irrespective of its price.

But then, all that is just IMHO.

I own several guitars, some more expensive than others. And there are those which are my favorites. This forum made me think of why I prefer one from the other. Since price is no longer a part of my choice why I pick one to play over the others (since I already own them), I found out that I choose them because:

1. For the music I would be playing, whether it would give the right tonality required.
2. For the piece I will be playing, would I need a faster neck?
3. I may prefer a more defined, smooth tone for the piece or one with more grunge to it.

So basically, I discovered that the sound and playability plays an important role for me. Not price.

How about you, why do you pick one over the other?
 
Re: what is a good guitar?

tonyA said:
It is really hard to tackle any subject, especially if you are comparing two things when you have not defined what the standard is.

We must first agree or define what a good guitar should be. We must agree on what matters first - the neck? the frets? the bridge? the wood? the tension? the fretboard? it's speed? weight? electronics? their combination or the sound: thin, thick, harsh, warm, smooth, substantial, etc., etc.

Once we have agreed on what matters, then, I guess we could compare each guitar on how it measures up, irrespective of its price.

But then, all that is just IMHO.

I own several guitars, some more expensive than others. And there are those which are my favorites. This forum made me think of why I prefer one from the other. Since price is no longer a part of my choice why I pick one to play over the others (since I already own them), I found out that I choose them because:

1. For the music I would be playing, whether it would give the right tonality required.
2. For the piece I will be playing, would I need a faster neck?
3. I may prefer a more defined, smooth tone for the piece or one with more grunge to it.

So basically, I discovered that the sound and playability plays an important role for me. Not price.

How about you, why do you pick one over the other?
Click to expand...

Ya, but this thread isn't comparing a Les Paul to a Strat...its comparing Lean Cuisine to a 5 Star Resturant.
 
So who said something about LP and Strat?

LP and Strat do not own exclusive rights to their acknowledge dtonality and playability.

Post your standard then....
 
The thread is about cheap vs expensive. Not Maple verses Ash
 
I know mexican strats are POPULAR wood and american are ALDER or ASH so I might have misspoke...........maple and Mohagany being the LesPaul / PRS
 
Some people have a hard time understanding abstract matters and need concrete of graphic illustrations, so here goes:

Among the guitars I own, I have a double fat strat - american made. I also own a double fat strat - mexican made. American more expensive - mexican - cheaper. American neck - wider (is that good or bad? why wider? I don't know) than the mexican. For certain piece of music, I choose the American made, but for playing solos, I use the mexican.

Simple illustration, but not the only reason or occasion (or even guitars I own) when I sit down and pick one up to play.
 
ummmmm ya...........you can get mexican or american necks at either width Einstein.
 
Besides.......I might need a V neck instead of a U. Hey....those are available too........who woulda thought.....
 
Besides.........the thread WAS NEVER about the size of the portion. It was about how good it tastes.

Later, I'm done.
 
My point precisely. Wow, you got it! A little off-tangent, perhaps, but got it! :p
 
I think I might have started the whole LP vs Strat thing, Sorry didnt mean it. And who every said something about the set-up is completely true! I think there is to many variables to answer this question, and its all opinion anyway! I say if you like the guitar and it feels like it plays itself, doesnt need to have to much done to it to set it up, looks decent, then who cares what the cost was. who ever thought that EVh would be playing a Peavey guitar or better yet the Earnie Ball music man before that, I am not taking anything away from these guitars, cause they are very nice, but it just goes to show you could give eddie a Hondo strat and he would still wail!
peace
 
you know what, i have a book by that luthier guy benedetto, and in a certain page he has a picture of a semi-acoustic made of construction pine, and he says it plays and sounds just like all other guitars he makes, it just doesn't look as good.
 
I have been playing guitar for 20 years. But I owned only 1 guitar for 17 years. It was a cheap Japanese guitar. I played well still, even though I did not know the difference between a good and a bad one. Then i got an Ibanez 320DX for about $400.00. It was like night and day. My playing improved with it. I have had this for 3 years. Last month I got an IBANEZ JEM IVWH. And it's totally awesome. With this my playing ability has increased dramatically. Shredding and sweep picking is a breeze on this guitar.

SO, AN EXPENSIVE GUITAR WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE CERTAINLY!
 
something that should be mentioned is that EXPENSIVE doesn't always equal GOOD. i think a kick ass guitar for under a grand is a great deal, considering the prices we see around these days.
you can get a variety of great guitars for under a grand (second-hand, mostly), like rickenbackers, g & l, ibanez, yamaha and so on.
 
hey amt7565

does the jem have a scalloped fret board? I thought the jem's came with them and was just wondering if it was something looking into or not. It sounds like it would be wierd!

but yeah expensive doesnt always mean good quality, your right
 
american/mexican fender jazz bass?

So, I really want a bass...for recording, playing around with etc. I'm a guitarist first, but lately bass is just really seeming like fun, so I figure I will invest in my own.

The local music shop has a beautiful Fender Mexican Jazz Bass (white with tourtise shell pick gaurd) for $500.

It's the brand (read:sound) that I want, the color is great, and the price is ideally where I would like to be.

i talked to the shop owner about it, I respect him a good deal...and he's like yeah...this is a great bass..plays like a dream..etc. I know I could set it up just right, get to loving it..

my only hesitation is, do you think it would really be worth my while to buy an American? I talked to someone else who said the Mexi basses weren't worth shit. Will an American hold my set-up/stay in tune better or sound better...how much $ should I expect to pay for a Standard American Jazz Bass?
 
hrmm, I know that is the classic sound and look/feel I am looking for....but maybe I should go with a G&L.

They have such lame names for their guitars though. Comanche, Invader?? Stratocaster...now that's a name!
 
I bought a Mexican Jazz Bass a couple years ago and sold it. The string hight on the bridge wouldn't stay up. I paid about 350. I know they went up in price, but, I wouldn't pay 500. Ask for 430 or so.
 
I have a Fender American Standard Strat, a '57 Reissue(That I paid list price for-rent to own) Strat, and a '62 Ameican Vintage Strat(reissue) All made in America and exspensive.....while they sound great and I love the way they play, sound and look(I better, I paid a lot for them) my lead guitarist uses two Squire Strats that sound more like a '50's era Strat would(to my ears) than my Modern Reissues. I use vintage Fender and Marshall tube amps, she uses a Fender Ulitimate Chorus amp(SS). Go figure.

I think that vintage tone may have a lot to do with the playing attack, I wail on my Axes while she is meticulous with her phrasing. Really brings out the sweetness of the Strat IMO.

If I had to do it again, I'd probably just get a Squire Strat and a Hybrid Marshall halfstack. I'd be less worried about leaving my gear unattended at the gigs if anything.
 
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