Treeline said:
With either brand, you play before you buy.
With either brand, you can get an awesome bang for the buck.
With either brand, you play before you buy.
With either brand, you can find diamonds hidden in piles of glass.
With either brand, you play before you buy.
See a pattern here?
I probably agree with this reply more than any.
I had an Epi Les Paul for a short period of time that I bought used for $100.00 (and it was like a "Standard"...sunburst, arched top, etc.), and it was ok...but the build quality felt really, really cheap...as though if I were to wail on it hard, the neck would snap off in my hands. On the other side of the coin, I've played an Epi Hellkat that felt awesome (shame I didn't buy it, but didn't have the funds). But I've also played Hellkats that felt like crap.
And I do feel that the comment about the $100.00 Epi's is correct...they're consistently pretty crappy feeling/sounding...at least to me they are (here again it's a matter of personal preference).
Keep in mind...I love Gibsons. I have three Gibson Les Pauls, so it's not like I'm a Gibson hater. And I'm not necessarily a Fender lover, either. I have two mid-60's
Duo-Sonic II's that I love, but I've never played a Strat that I totally dig. And Strats really aren't good for really heavy playing (not that I play grindcore or anything...just saying in general)...I can't palm mute well with one either due to the volume knob location.
But I bought a Squier '51 in February, and I liked it so much I bought another one last month...along with
a Squier Tele Custom (the one with 2 humbuckers). Got both for a little over $300.00 total new. I think the build quality, for the money, is great. Although, I had to return the first '51 due to a wiring/switch issue...the humbucker wasn't coming on. But, as usual, the pickups are the weak point, but they seem a little better made than the Epi's I've checked out recently in the same price range. I also kinda accidentally acquired
a Squier Stagemaster (along with a Marshall practice amp...both for $100.00 total) with the intention of keeping the practice amp and selling the guitar. But...the Squier actually sounds pretty decent.
So, again, I agree with Treeline's reply.
It's all personal preference, and with inexpensive guitars, it's hit or miss.
EDIT: I've gotten compliments/remarks regarding my tone on "untitled 2" on my threefiveseven myspace music page, and it was tracked with one of my Squire 51's using
a Digitech Genesis 1, so...you just never know.