Best import quality guitar?

[EXPcustom]

Generally it goes from Japan to Korea to China quality wise.

ESP and Ibanez both have custom shops that are equal to or better than most USA guitar makers.

 

[noob_pwn]

Generally it goes from Japan to Korea to China quality wise.

ESP and Ibanez both have custom shops that are equal to or better than most USA guitar makers.

Ibanez's custom shop is in LA, J-customs are short-run but from FujiGen, the same plant that makes prestige-series. They seem to have a higher attention to detail, quality and materials

 

[Ventura]

i cannot say the same about my ESP - i wont order or own another ESP unless its a custom shop model and i have $5,000 spare cash to burn in my pocket.

Man, sorry to read that. I think the 2 I have are absolutely killer!!

Peace,
V.

 

[tekbow]

I don't get this whole "import quality" thing that I've heard some folk talk about. Maybe it's because I'm Aussie and everything gets imported here.
FWIW I've owned a few USA made guitars, a few japanese and korean guitars and as far as QC goes, Japanese guitars are the most consistent and as far as production guitars go I daresay superior in quality from my experience (think J-custom). Every Japanese fender I've played has been unreal too and a very good friend of mine owns a japanese and USA tele which are almost identical on an appearance level but IMO the japanese one has better fretwork and sounds better to my ears. Also, think about the QC inconsistency that gibson has had of late, you would never see that from a FujiGen plant guitar. IMO as far as custom shop stuff goes, the USA still churns out the best stuff but when talking about production guitars I beg to differ.

If you're thinking midrange stuff, The best way to go is used japanese gear as mentioned earlier. You can't compare chinese and korean instruments to japanese ones. Japan is in another league.

EDIT: I've played some really average sounding standard series ESP's, was moreso speaking about ibanez.

Basically this. Especially MIJ fenders

 

[Mudder]

It depends on the maker, but you can get world class guitars from USA, Japan, Korea, China, it all depends on the factory.

In Japan ESP, Ibanez, Bacchus, Navigator, and Gretsch are all just excellent. The Terada factory are freaks with their Gretsch guitars.

In Korea Reverend and Schecter come to mind as pro level gear.

In China Eastman are building killer hollow and semi-hollows.

Heck, the Fernandes gear that comes out of Indonesia is great. I have one of their Indo strats and it's killer.

That's just Asia, figure in Mexico and Fender's gear and you come up with plenty of nice import stuff.

 

[mchn13]

i know you were asking specificaly about imports, but i've been able to pick up a few faded or studio gibbos in that prce range. i have two faded sg's, that i've found locally.for a few hundred or lower. i have less than 6-700 in both..... having said that, i have had to do a little work on both, but....

 

[stratotone]

i cannot say the same about my ESP - i wont order or own another ESP unless its a custom shop model and i have $5,000 spare cash to burn in my pocket.

FWIW i have a korean 1988 charvel. they are getting harder to find - but i would take a made in USA jackson over it anyday. back to back, the tone difference is substantial.

In 88 Charvels were made in Japan, I believe. What model is it? I've owned several ESPs, each has been a great guitar, and that's including a custom shop. I haven't cared much for the LTD's I've played though.

Pete

 

[BIGKAHUNA]

PRS SE, Epiphone, ESP LTD, Ibanez ?
China,Japan or Korea?

looking for something cheaper with a mahagony body, fixed bridge.
Something that can play Metal not Nu or tuned to Q metal, but maybe has two pick ups for versatility playing some other stuff. $500+. Used is an option.

Thoughts?

I'll vouch for the ESP LTD as I own 3 and love every one of them. I will also say that the PRS SE Tremonti I owned played and sounded great. I dont think can go wrong with either of these choices. I also have and Edwards LP that is my number one. Love that guitar.

 

[mrhiwatt]

I am partial to Import Hamers an Jackson's . Own 1 of each and they rock along with my USA models. Very good bang for the buck

MrHiwatt

 

[travis bickle]

based on my experience, the japanese make phenominal instruments, and my esp viper is testament to that. love my old rg 470 as well. ive been gassing for those old school japanese charvels. loved the model 6 back in the day. would love to compare it to my usa sl-2h.

as for korean guitars, i think the prs se series impressed me the most. i have two indonesian ibanezes which are pretty bad. shoddy fretwork and horrible hardware. they dont sound too bad though, with the right pickups or course.

 

[FUZZboat]

THIS - get one before their gone !

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/...on-Les-Paul-Junior-Electric-Guitar?sku=423557

mahogany body & fixed brige for $129

I've got 2 and happy as a pig in poop with them

tuners are better than on the regular LP junior and the rosewood FB is quite nice - the fret work is pretty much flawless as well !

I added a duncan and wilkinson wraparound bridge (only $20 on ebay and a million times better than the stock bridge - I was never a fan of wrap around bridges till I tried a wilkinson - good stuff )

for $200 I have a guitar that kicks the shit outta my buddys $1000 gibson for tone and playability

 

[FUZZboat]

UPDATE 11/07 - We're sorry, this product has been discontinued.

congrats to who ever got the last one


my 2 aren't going anywhere - I put a Duncan JB in one and I've never heard that pickup sound better !

 

[locoed]

Rasmus,Bernie Rico Jr Vixen has an ebony board,neck thru.Looks nice,and people say they can't tell the difference.

 

[napalmdeath]

PRS SE, Epiphone, ESP LTD, Ibanez ?
China,Japan or Korea?

looking for something cheaper with a mahagony body, fixed bridge.
Something that can play Metal not Nu or tuned to Q metal, but maybe has two pick ups for versatility playing some other stuff. $500+. Used is an option.

Thoughts?

This Korean Dean Soltero right here has the weight, and tone of a Les Paul, in spades. VERY underrated. Excellent guitar for the money. And, with the Seymour Duncans, and hardshell case I've added, $425 is a STEAL!!

 

[oshuwah]

I have an Ibanez Artcore Custom AS103

Its phenomenal.

 

[FUZZboat]

Rasmus,Bernie Rico Jr Vixen has an ebony board,neck thru.Looks nice,and people say they can't tell the difference.

I see your in MI

if your looking for one theres one in Toledo for $650

http://toledo.craigslist.org/msg/2011427490.html

 

[glpg80]

i cannot say the same about my ESP - i wont order or own another ESP unless its a custom shop model and i have $5,000 spare cash to burn in my pocket.

FWIW i have a korean 1988 charvel. they are getting harder to find - but i would take a made in USA jackson over it anyday. back to back, the tone difference is substantial.

In 88 Charvels were made in Japan, I believe. What model is it? I've owned several ESPs, each has been a great guitar, and that's including a custom shop. I haven't cared much for the LTD's I've played though.

Pete

it has the made in texas plate stamp - but im pretty sure its not a made in USA. i think its a 475xl special (special because it had the active passive jackson pickups stock with the small preamp board as the volume knob)

the paint scheme is crackled off-white - i did alot of research on this guitar and they only made this paint scheme in 1988 and 1989. they normally go ~500+.

thanks for asking though. if you know any more about these guitars let me know. the build quality is great - but it does not seem to contend with higher quality guitars i have seen/played/heard

 

[glpg80]

i cannot say the same about my ESP - i wont order or own another ESP unless its a custom shop model and i have $5,000 spare cash to burn in my pocket.

Man, sorry to read that. I think the 2 I have are absolutely killer!!

Peace,
V.

you and me both. FWIW i also wanted to order a red FR N-II horizon because ive heard about how much better they play compared to M-II's but after my experience with this kind of quality, i wont order anything that is not custom shop. its not worth the hastle/quality you get.

here, read this page.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=55055&start=4750

 

[jkdsteve]

Schecter hands down.

+1.. buy mine

 

[WashburnX50]

PRS SE, Epiphone, ESP LTD, Ibanez ?
China,Japan or Korea?

looking for something cheaper with a mahagony body, fixed bridge.
Something that can play Metal not Nu or tuned to Q metal, but maybe has two pick ups for versatility playing some other stuff. $500+. Used is an option.

Thoughts?

A Washburn X50 is a good bet. Mine is really good build quality, Mahogany neck with a really comfortable back shape, mahogany body with an arched top, String thru with a TOM bridge, Rosewood fretboard, Grover tuners, Buzz Feiten tuning system (Helps out intonation accuracy), 2 humbuckers (I put EMG's in mine), 1 volume, 1 tone, 3 way switch, Neck and body binding, Set neck with a very comfortable heel... etc. They are really great guitars and can be had for really decent prices used, and they are really worth it. I love mine, thus the screen name, haha.