Guitars that punch well above their price tag?

[gybe!]

I started my son in lessons at guitar center so have had the (mis)fortune of killing half an hour there every week for awhile now. I have been consistently shocked at the J Mascis signature Jazzmaster by Squire. I expected a MIC piece of firewood and that has not been my experience at all.

Have now played four different ones and each one has been solid. While I’m sure the electronics probably need to go immediately, each guitar has played well and been very lively/resonant. Guitar doesn’t feel like plastic like a lot of the lower end Korean brands (PRS SE, Schecters, etc). Some of the fret dressing could use some work, but we are talking a few minutes on the fret ends when you bring the guitar home.

The wall of Fender American guitars has better hardware and electronics, but the amount of completely dead/no resonance/no sustain guitars is shocking in comparison to this MIC Squire.

Any other consistent hidden gems out there?

Oh, and my qualitative assessment is in a big box store today you are more likely to find a solid Gibby vs American Fender.

 

[Devin]

The lowly Yamaha Pacifica 121


You used to be able to buy them for literally like $120 brand new and the ones I've played have all been great players

My Made-in-china Warwick Rockbass Corvette $$ feels like a hand made instrument - literally the tightest bolt-on neck joint I've ever seen on a guitar and it has all the proper Warwick hardware/MEC pickups. For the $600ish I paid for it brand new I feel like I got a steal

 

[Robostyle]

I have a couple of recent model Epiphones that play way, way better than i thought they would. And cheap.

 

[Racerxrated]

Washburn X50, from 2004 till 2008 or so. Neck through, HT with the buzz Feiten tuning. 300 bucks, made in Korea. Solid guitar

 

[Findthetone1]

Reverends, but they are starting to get up there in price.

 

[headlessdeadguy]

Harley Benton.

 

[311boogieman]

I have a MIK Schecter and it doesn't feel like plastic to me. Mahogany body and resonates well. Frets are nice. Original TOM bridge. Grover tuners, Probably above average fit and finish for a $300 guitar. Pickups suck though. Pretty much the same with my MIM Strat (so those have been swapped out)



That said, I could use a higher end guitar.

 

[rsm]

Jackson X-Series, especially the Rhoads with the Duncan Blackouts. The Warrior only gets Jackson branded pickups. There may be other models in the X-Series with upgraded pickups. FR Special is the weakest point, but I haven't had any issues, I have three X-series Rhoads and two X-Series Warriors. Neck through, very good fit and finish.

IMO.

 

[napalmdeath]

Used SG.
Schecter SLS Elites, (used)
Ibanez Prestige, (used)

 

[shar-vell Dan]

EBMM Sterling LUKE. Alot of thought went into this guitar.

 

[angelspade]

Not a creative answer, but: ESP / LTD 400 -1000 level series guitars...Can be had used at very reasonable prices, still best bang for the buck on the market in my opinion.

 

[Robostyle]

Yamaha Pacifica is a nice guitar for the money

 

[RaceU4her]

Not a creative answer, but: ESP / LTD 400 -1000 level series guitars...Can be had used at very reasonable prices, still best bang for the buck on the market in my opinion.

i came to say my PB500, comes with duncan Alinco II pro's, has coil tapping, grovers, a earvana nut. it really is great

 

[TheBiggestJerk]

Anything Danelectro. Now unless you’ve ever had the actual pleasure of playing one - ugly as hell by and large- they’re extremely playable, light and bell like chimney tones, great for pop! Definitely not for modern metal.

 

[cragginshred]

Tom Anderson Bobcat

 

[rsm]

My favorite dual humbucker, hardtail guitars are my Ibanez PS10 (2x). I also have a PS120 that is very good for the price, has the same set neck, pickups, etc. as the PS10 for 1/3 of the price (MIC vs MIJ Prestige).

Even the entry level PS60 (Ibanez pickups, bolt on neck) are very good for the price. I have two, one in each color but I plan to sell them since I have 2 x PS10, 1xPS120 and my white Chimbanez...

 

[glpg80]

Fucking love my MIJ Charvel 475XL. It doesn’t accept an amazing setup as is but it’s a hell of a good sounding guitar and super unique and comfortable neck. I got the guitar for $700 back in like 2004 with the original hardshell case. I put a black from OFR in it. It’s the only guitar I tune amps with as I also built the bridge pickup.

 

[chumbucket]

i came to say my PB500, comes with duncan Alinco II pro's, has coil tapping, grovers, a earvana nut. it really is great

I've got one of these too. Great double cut LP design. They're a lot of bang for the buck, no doubt. My only complaints are that the volume knob is placed too close to the pickup for my tastes and I also don't like the headstock heel joint or whatever that's called. I know that it makes it stronger but I'd like to shave mine down.

 

[Chris6870]

I've been dabbling in cheapo guitars lately. My latest -

Squier sonic strat, amazing what you get for $160. Plays great! I bought this to throw in the backseat of my truck. I installed a cheap 2 point tremolo just because I hate the standard Fender trem.

Jackson Dinky JS32 DKA Arch Top - I think I paid 399 for the purple one. Great shredder and pickups sound good.​

 

[Chris6870]

Fucking love my MIJ Charvel 475XL. It doesn’t accept an amazing setup as is but it’s a hell of a good sounding guitar and super unique and comfortable neck. I got the guitar for $700 back in like 2004 with the original hardshell case. I put a black from OFR in it. It’s the only guitar I tune amps with as I also built the bridge pickup.

View attachment 404104

Damn I used to have a Charvel Fusion with the same finish. Like an idiot I repainted it with Chromalusion back in the 90's. Would love to have that one back.