I have played just about everything. Certainly most of the brands/models
mentioned here so far. And... to be honest, I never really thought that
any of these guitars got an unfair "bad rap", or were truly underrated.
If someone were to say "this is crap" or "that is junk" may not really be
fair to say about most of these "lesser quality" guitars.
But.... when you judge a guitar there are many factors to consider when
assessing "quality". You may like the general sound or playability of a
certain guitar, but the criteria of true quality doesn't end there.
Furthermore, ever since the 80's, the electronic gear that people
plug their guitars into has become progressively more of an "equalizer" in
overall sound. You can plug (almost) any guitar into some of these hotrod
rigs and produce very interesting sounds. So... sound is a gray area and
subjective. Playability is certainly subjective. What weight of a guitar is
right for you? What size neck, what action etc. etc. It's all subjective.
But.... if you are talking about things like materials, craftsmanship,
and durability most guitars have found their rightful place in history and
are set in the food chain appropriately.
Having said all that... I think most of the current medium and higher priced
Schecter models are really good guitars for the money. But, if you play one
for 15 minutes and then pick up a GMP or a PRS... you will quickly understand
why they have different reputations and price points.