DrewJD82
Well-known member
There’d have to be more definitions set than just “cheap” or “expensive”; the first ‘54 Strat I played felt like complete shit and what was left of the stock frets were looking like they were going to fall out of the slots. Didn’t deter them from slapping a $35K price tag on it (‘98 money)
Conversely, I picked up a used Sire at a GC a few weeks back and had to laugh at how much better it felt in comparison to almost anything double the price .
Conversely, I picked up a used Sire at a GC a few weeks back and had to laugh at how much better it felt in comparison to almost anything double the price .
BeZo
Well-known member
I asked this of my last girlfriend. We were laying in bed and I asked her to participate in that experiment. I gave her my USA Spector Forte and my Korean Spector NS2000/4 and asked her which was the expensive one. She got it wrong.
I can feel the difference between North American Maple and foreign Maple necks. It's not about playability, it's wood density and stiffness. She felt bad that she guessed wrong, and it turned into an ordeal. Don't try it with your girl.
I can feel the difference between North American Maple and foreign Maple necks. It's not about playability, it's wood density and stiffness. She felt bad that she guessed wrong, and it turned into an ordeal. Don't try it with your girl.
TheGreatGreen
Well-known member
I’ve always associated anything too light weight with feeling cheap. After that, it’s what the neck feels like. Are the frets rough and noisy when you bend? Can you feel sprout? Does the fingerboard feel like there’s just a bit too much friction in the grain? Does it feel like you can cut yourself on the fingerboard edge? If so, it feels cheap. Is the neck set arrow straight with low action and no buzz? If not, it feels cheap.
Then there’s the guitar’s acoustic resonance. If a guitar resonates deeply and still has good snap, it will sound well made to me, regardless of how acoustically loud it is. If it honks and kaws like it’s made of hollow plastic, it’s going to sound cheap.
Then there’s the guitar’s acoustic resonance. If a guitar resonates deeply and still has good snap, it will sound well made to me, regardless of how acoustically loud it is. If it honks and kaws like it’s made of hollow plastic, it’s going to sound cheap.
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Findthetone1
Well-known member
The wood density and quality are what stands out for me. Even trying to avoid price bias, every "affordable" guitar I pick up, feels like a dried-out piece of cheap furniture. Interestingly enough, the majority of those guitars are made in Indonesia.
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Findthetone1
Well-known member
I generally don't even plug electrics in when I'm checking them out. The first thing I do is play an open G and if it resonates the right way, I'm on the right path. Pickups can always be changed.
Geo
Well-known member
My 76' Stratocaster is the most unrefined piece of shit but it's sounds incredible.
Some guitars just sound good and money doesn't have anything to do with it.
Some guitars just sound good and money doesn't have anything to do with it.
CoreyW
Well-known member
Same, I know if I am going to want a guitar without ever plugging it in.
Rottweiler
Well-known member
My Gibson all mohogany LP studio resonates on another level compared to my Korean and Chinese LPs.
That includes a Gibson nut on the Chinese, a bone nut on the Korean, and decent Gotoh bridges on both the K and C.
That includes a Gibson nut on the Chinese, a bone nut on the Korean, and decent Gotoh bridges on both the K and C.
TheGreatGreen
Well-known member
I do the exact same thing. You don’t need to plug a guitar in to hear what it sounds like. And yep, you can change the pickups to whatever you like.
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Findthetone1
Well-known member
Yeah. My Les Paul JR DC which also all mahogany resonates really well, and I had to buy it blind because it was a Gibson exclusive at the time. I got lucky. I can't wait for that bitch to get all aged and broken in.
Rottweiler
Well-known member
You guys remember the "raw power" LPs? They had a thick cap, iirc maple. I remember seeing Billy Duffy playing one where the cap looked to be almost 3/4" thick! I wonder how those resonate compared to all mahogonyYeah. My Les Paul JR DC which also all mahogany resonates really well, and I had to buy it blind because it was a Gibson exclusive at the time. I got lucky. I can't wait for that bitch to get all aged and broken in.
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Findthetone1
Well-known member
Good question. Never been lucky enough to come across one.
japetus
awawa
Moderator
Yeah, I can. I could tell you the scale, and quite possibly the brand by feel blindfolded.
70 Mach 1
Well-known member
These days they way theyre making cheapies probably not.
In the 70s heyll yeah id be able to tell.
This $229 cheapie is one of the best i own. Its really a great axe inspite of the low price. i gig it often
In the 70s heyll yeah id be able to tell.
This $229 cheapie is one of the best i own. Its really a great axe inspite of the low price. i gig it often
311boogieman
Well-known member
I'll watch the video because it seems like a legit question. I think @DrewJD82 took it a little to seriously but he made a great point 
I was simply going to say that if you can strum the strings acoustically and it rings and sounds good - then its good. But I also realize that that is a little short sighted.
Edit: I made my observation before reading any other posts
I was going to assign a laughing emoji to your post. Then I realized you probably are dead serious.
I was simply going to say that if you can strum the strings acoustically and it rings and sounds good - then its good. But I also realize that that is a little short sighted.
Edit: I made my observation before reading any other posts
I was going to assign a laughing emoji to your post. Then I realized you probably are dead serious.
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BeZo
Well-known member
I was going to assign a laughing emoji to your post. Then I realized you probably are dead serious.
True story. It feels obvious to me, so I wanted to know if it's equally as obvious to someone who doesn't play.
Everything was difficult with that girl though. That's why she's an ex.
Geo
Well-known member
This is a cheap guitar that kills. Took about $670 to build. Sounds and plays great.
Fuck those 3K and up guitars, I can do this all day.
40 year old Kramer body, Musikraft neck, Floyd 1000, Freidman Triple D pickup I bought form @Fiesta Red, R&S Superpot. Gotoh SG381-07 tuners.
Fuck those 3K and up guitars, I can do this all day.
40 year old Kramer body, Musikraft neck, Floyd 1000, Freidman Triple D pickup I bought form @Fiesta Red, R&S Superpot. Gotoh SG381-07 tuners.
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ewill52
Well-known member
it makes my head hurt to say this....my Charvel Style 2 So Cal plays circles around my Suhr. I can't make it make sense. Don't get me wrong, the Suhr is fantastic, but that damn Style 2 is just fantastic-er.
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Findthetone1
Well-known member
It's clear you two don't own enough, if any, pairs of tan pants.
