what builder do you think makes the absolute best guitars?

[ratter]

I think if you want the absolute cream of the crop, then you need to run the racks, no matter whether you're buying Anderson, Suhr, Ibanez, Fender, Hondo, or whatever. Because IMO, what really sets a special guitar apart is a special piece of wood, not the build quality. If the wood rings, great fit and finish will just enhance that. But if you've got a dead piece of wood, it doesn't matter how nice the fret ends are or how tight the neck pocket is. It will still be dead. Just one hack's opinion...

 

[fuzzfan1]

I think if you want the absolute cream of the crop, then you need to run the racks, no matter whether you're buying Anderson, Suhr, Ibanez, Fender, Hondo, or whatever. Because IMO, what really sets a special guitar apart is a special piece of wood, not the build quality. If the wood rings, great fit and finish will just enhance that. But if you've got a dead piece of wood, it doesn't matter how nice the fret ends are or how tight the neck pocket is. It will still be dead. Just one hack's opinion...

+1 From another hack!

 

[jcj]

I think if you want the absolute cream of the crop, then you need to run the racks, no matter whether you're buying Anderson, Suhr, Ibanez, Fender, Hondo, or whatever. Because IMO, what really sets a special guitar apart is a special piece of wood, not the build quality. If the wood rings, great fit and finish will just enhance that. But if you've got a dead piece of wood, it doesn't matter how nice the fret ends are or how tight the neck pocket is. It will still be dead. Just one hack's opinion...

Very true, but I've had VERY good luck with Anderson. Their QC seems to be top notch.

 

[Vrad]

Gibson Electric Guitars from 1958-1963 where the best IMO. Something about that stretch that was insane.

That said the finest best sounding guitar I ever played was a beat 1951 Fender No Caster at my buddy Gil Southworths house. It was off the charts good. I should of bought it for the $9500 he offered to me for back in 1995. I have dreams of that guitar.

For modern stuff Suhr and Tom Anderson are neck and neck good.

dude, seriously....any chance you can get my involved in what you do for a living???? LMFAO

outside of something that's on four tires, I never find myself saying 'wow, $9500 is a STEAL' for anything!! ahahahahahah

LOL!
I think $9500 for a small condo is a good deal...

 

[Vrad]

Hamer.

I agree with Vlad though, I am through looking for GQ pretty guitars.

I've played some drop-dead gorgeous guitars that were... well... meh.. .ok. Completely cured my GAS as soon as I laid my hands on it and plugged in.

+10000000000 on that

yeah, some of them are nice...most of them don't live up to the hype..and usually the ones that do sound and play nice still aren't worth the extra cost they bring in..least, not in my opinion they don't..

Alot of times, you're paying for the figured maple + finish.

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Add Ibanez J-Custom models to this list.

What is the difference between the J-custom, and the team J craft prestige?? I have not played anything super top end, but my Ibanez RGA121 kills the Carvin CT4M, and PRS custom 22 artist that I used to own.

 

[Jakem]

Add Ibanez J-Custom models to this list.

What is the difference between the J-custom, and the team J craft prestige?? I have not played anything super top end, but my Ibanez RGA121 kills the Carvin CT4M, and PRS custom 22 artist that I used to own.

J-Customs are built by the most experienced and best luthiers Ibanez has to provide the best quality. On the top of that the J-Customs are built in a separate part of the factory than the Prestige models.

Every J-Custom I've seen has been flawless in fretwork and in finishing quality etc. The sound depends of the woods so that part is a lottery.

Here's a comparison of an ´09 Prestige and an ´09 J-Custom. Everyone can see that there's a "slight" difference in fretwork:

A Prestige series guitar:

A J-Custom:

 

[bunghole]

From what I've played, LIBERATORE, Suhr, Vigier. anderson seems to be kickass also. They were all effortless to play, had a massive tone, but most imporantly... I looked like I was good

a wall in Liberatore's workshop

 

[bunghole]

I agree with Vlad though, I am through looking for GQ pretty guitars.

same here

it just adds to the price, and while I love a stunning maple quilt as much as anyone, I don't want to get a guitar I'm gonna want to baby to avoid dinging the finish


also, to the pics of that Ibanez fretwork - close up picks of super clean fretwork are just as cool to look at for me as pics of a nice maple top

 

[GuitarGuyLP]

Add Ibanez J-Custom models to this list.

What is the difference between the J-custom, and the team J craft prestige?? I have not played anything super top end, but my Ibanez RGA121 kills the Carvin CT4M, and PRS custom 22 artist that I used to own.

J-Customs are built by the most experienced and best luthiers Ibanez has to provide the best quality. On the top of that the J-Customs are built in a separate part of the factory than the Prestige models.

Every J-Custom I've seen has been flawless in fretwork and in finishing quality etc. The sound depends of the woods so that part is a lottery.

Here's a comparison of an ´09 Prestige and an ´09 J-Custom. Everyone can see that there's a "slight" difference in fretwork:

A Prestige series guitar:

A J-Custom:

If only they made a J-custom version of the RGA121. I am one of the few Ibanez fans who love the fixed bridge, and the bridge on the RGA121 is the best bridge that I have ever seen. Lots of mass, smooth on the palm for mutes, huge range for intonation. It is perfection in a fixed bridge as far as I am concerned.

 

[Zach]

Ken Lawrence.

 

[shreder75]

Gibson Electric Guitars from 1958-1963 where the best IMO. Something about that stretch that was insane.

That said the finest best sounding guitar I ever played was a beat 1951 Fender No Caster at my buddy Gil Southworths house. It was off the charts good. I should of bought it for the $9500 he offered to me for back in 1995. I have dreams of that guitar.

For modern stuff Suhr and Tom Anderson are neck and neck good.

dude, seriously....any chance you can get my involved in what you do for a living???? LMFAO

outside of something that's on four tires, I never find myself saying 'wow, $9500 is a STEAL' for anything!! ahahahahahah

LOL!
I think $9500 for a small condo is a good deal...

well, that too =D

 

[shreder75]

Hamer.

I agree with Vlad though, I am through looking for GQ pretty guitars.

I've played some drop-dead gorgeous guitars that were... well... meh.. .ok. Completely cured my GAS as soon as I laid my hands on it and plugged in.

+10000000000 on that

yeah, some of them are nice...most of them don't live up to the hype..and usually the ones that do sound and play nice still aren't worth the extra cost they bring in..least, not in my opinion they don't..

Alot of times, you're paying for the figured maple + finish.

definetly the finish..you know that as well as anyone with your project guitars...

 

[Vrad]

Gibson Electric Guitars from 1958-1963 where the best IMO. Something about that stretch that was insane.

That said the finest best sounding guitar I ever played was a beat 1951 Fender No Caster at my buddy Gil Southworths house. It was off the charts good. I should of bought it for the $9500 he offered to me for back in 1995. I have dreams of that guitar.

For modern stuff Suhr and Tom Anderson are neck and neck good.

dude, seriously....any chance you can get my involved in what you do for a living???? LMFAO

outside of something that's on four tires, I never find myself saying 'wow, $9500 is a STEAL' for anything!! ahahahahahah

LOL!
I think $9500 for a small condo is a good deal...

well, that too =D

A small boat... an RV... LOL!

 

[shreder75]

Gibson Electric Guitars from 1958-1963 where the best IMO. Something about that stretch that was insane.

That said the finest best sounding guitar I ever played was a beat 1951 Fender No Caster at my buddy Gil Southworths house. It was off the charts good. I should of bought it for the $9500 he offered to me for back in 1995. I have dreams of that guitar.

For modern stuff Suhr and Tom Anderson are neck and neck good.

dude, seriously....any chance you can get my involved in what you do for a living???? LMFAO

outside of something that's on four tires, I never find myself saying 'wow, $9500 is a STEAL' for anything!! ahahahahahah

LOL!
I think $9500 for a small condo is a good deal...

well, that too =D

A small boat... an RV... LOL!

a private helicopter
a war surplus Sherman tank
a pro football team

 

[AmpliFIRE]

+1 on Tom Anderson

 

[Vrad]

Gibson Electric Guitars from 1958-1963 where the best IMO. Something about that stretch that was insane.

That said the finest best sounding guitar I ever played was a beat 1951 Fender No Caster at my buddy Gil Southworths house. It was off the charts good. I should of bought it for the $9500 he offered to me for back in 1995. I have dreams of that guitar.

For modern stuff Suhr and Tom Anderson are neck and neck good.

dude, seriously....any chance you can get my involved in what you do for a living???? LMFAO

outside of something that's on four tires, I never find myself saying 'wow, $9500 is a STEAL' for anything!! ahahahahahah

LOL!
I think $9500 for a small condo is a good deal...

well, that too =D

A small boat... an RV... LOL!

a private helicopter
a war surplus Sherman tank
a pro football team

Yes
Yes
No

LOL!

 

[Anonymous]

particularly, of the super strat variety

Pointless question. There a tons of great builders who could provide you with your dream super strat. There is no one "best". Pick a builder with a great rep, choose your options and have them build it!

Steve

 

[shreder75]

Gibson Electric Guitars from 1958-1963 where the best IMO. Something about that stretch that was insane.

That said the finest best sounding guitar I ever played was a beat 1951 Fender No Caster at my buddy Gil Southworths house. It was off the charts good. I should of bought it for the $9500 he offered to me for back in 1995. I have dreams of that guitar.

For modern stuff Suhr and Tom Anderson are neck and neck good.

dude, seriously....any chance you can get my involved in what you do for a living???? LMFAO

outside of something that's on four tires, I never find myself saying 'wow, $9500 is a STEAL' for anything!! ahahahahahah

LOL!
I think $9500 for a small condo is a good deal...

well, that too =D

A small boat... an RV... LOL!

a private helicopter
a war surplus Sherman tank
a pro football team

Yes
Yes
No

LOL!

what? that's a killer deal! a WHOLE football team!

 

[EvilBatman]

Another vote for Anderson here. The reason I say this is because over the years I've played many, many Andersons and owned two. ALL, I repeat, ALL of them just sang. Now, some of them didn't have a tone that I love, but they had tone. Not a dead or even meh sounding one out of the, I'd say 25 or so that I've played. I've never found that level of consistency with any other maker.

And as for the fancy stuff, I have to agree somewhat. My best sounding guitar was my Drop Top with a really nice quilt top but the flat out BEST sounding Anderson I've ever had my hands on was a Classic that a friend owned. H/S/S, vintage trem, alder body, maple neck and board. Simple. The tone was like the tone Superman would have if he played guitar. Not harsh at all but incredibly powerful, clear, and balanced.