Need a new backup guitar on the cheap. Ideas?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bxlxaxkxe
  • Start date Start date
Bxlxaxkxe

Bxlxaxkxe

Amp ho
So long story short: my girlfriend went apeshit when I broke up with her and broke the neck on my old PRS SE Santana (one of the original ones from forever ago). Now it certainly wasn't the nicest guitar, but it made for a great beater that I didn't worry one bit about as far as dings and leaving it in suspect places. It's not worth repairing to me and I'm using this an excuse to pickup a new backup guitar. Need some ideas.

Criteria:

$500 or under, new or used
Rock and Hard Rock are what I'm into the most.
Needs a humbucker in the bridge at least. Double buckers are what I'm used to and would like to stick with it but open to other ideas)
Needs to be light (7lbs or under would be ideal but it's not the most important thing in the world)
Not into ultra thin or ultra fat necks.
Can almost guarantee I'll replace the pickups..so the comfort of the guitar is more important than the tone out of the box.

Something else from the PRS SE line? G&L Tribute?

....?
 
If you're looking for an LP style guitar, then an Agile AL would be perfect. There's even a good one for sale here at RT with upgraded pickups.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=167785

I have a Agile AL in silverburst, and it's fantastic. Outplays most of the Gibsons I've played over the years, at an 1/8th of the cost. Especially the 2015 LPs, which are total garbage.

If you want a brand new one, they can be found at rondomusic.com
 
Good idea right there. If it didn't weigh 10 lbs it would probably be on its way to me right now. Bad back :thumbsdown:


quote="CaseyCor"]If you're looking for an LP style guitar, then an Agile AL would be perfect. There's even a good one for sale here at RT with upgraded pickups.

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=167785

I have a Agile AL in silverburst, and it's fantastic. Outplays most of the Gibsons I've played over the years, at an 1/8th of the cost. Especially the 2015 LPs, which are total garbage.

If you want a brand new one, they can be found at rondomusic.com[/quote]
 
Check out Chapman guitars. They have a few USA retailors.Fantastic value guitars.
 
You can't go wrong with the Sterling By Musicman line. Their guitars are top notch for under $1000 price point. I had the JP and it's pretty damn close to my JP6 US version. I upgraded the pickups and gigged with it for awhile. One of those guitars that really regretted selling.
 
Older Kramer Focus(ESP made), Washburn MG 94 or higher(US made), Washburn X50(Korean made), Hamer Diablo (US) all available at GC online...around 500 or less....pointy Jap Charvels also..
 
Hamer studio from the 1990's are a great value double Humbucker double cutaway under $400.00 play and sound great. Also look great

MrHiwatt
 
Chech out the Jackson JS11. Killer guitars for like $140. I played one the other day and was blown away with the guitar, especially for the price point.
 
Hit all of your local pawn shops and really check out what they have. A lot of the time they have no idea what they really have. I picked up my Jackson COW signature for next to nothing as well as several of my other guitars
 
The Charvel Desolation series that was made in China is now discontinued and being blown out everywhere.
I have one of the DX-1 Soloist ones, it's the best banger I have, really decent quality for the price if you can get it sub-$500. I used to never touch Chinese guitars with a 100-ft pole, but this was very well designed and a lot of fun to play. The Desolation Soloist and Star types use EMGs, the lower cost ones use stock Charvel passives. Even if your not big on actives, it's a backup guitar and EMGs will cover anything.
 
Stick with the PRS SE line - they are better than ever. You can get them used at GC for a song, and they are still pretty cheap new.
 
the base base grade EVH guitars are actually pretty awesome for $500.
 
xzyryabx":1zd8mxza said:
can't go wrong w/ a used LTD 1000 series eclipse...
Click to expand...

These are great for the money! Some have a fairly thin neck though. Mine is a thin D shape, not quite as thin as an Ibanez Wizard, but pretty thin. There's a lot that fall in that price range used, Hamer, Schecter, LTD,Epi, etc... if you can find a used Carvin in your price range I'd highly recommend going that route! Great guitars for the money!
 
i have an ibanez s classic with a duncan sh 12 in the bridge....has some paint scrapes but its an awesome playing guitar. I could sell if you are interested
 
There's a nice Carvin bolt on for sale in the classifieds......
 
Perfect pawn shop example, I picked up an Ibanez RG 4EX1 with EMG 81/85 & a single coil sized Ezmzg for $217 out the door with a hard shell case. The guitar itself easily worth $200 with factory pickups, the emgs were a huge bonus. Tuned it to drop a# and love it.
 
Low end:
$200 warmoth showcase body
$10 tru oil body (for finish)
$50 ebay neck
$40 ebay used humbucker
$40 strat bridge? (or whatever bridge you want)
=$340

High End:
$300 warmoth finished showcase body
$200 warmoth/musikraft neck
$40 ebay used humbucker
$40 strat bridge? (or whatever bridge you want
=$580
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top