what builder do you think makes the absolute best guitars?

[degenaro]

i love the anderson stuff better than suhr myelf. but as others have mentioned there are probably better smaller companies out there that will make you whatever you want

You know it used tobe for me in order to play certain things the planets had to align right.The guitar had to have a certain, action, fretboard radius, sound etc.. and then I would have the same sound with the amp regardless of what I used. On top of that single coils never had enough gain compared to buckers, I needed to add delay so everythin would flow...blah, blah, blah.
Then I switched to the Axe-Fx and I started to be able to play way more consistent. Then started to wean myself off sauce. And ow I'm back to using a Marshall set clean with a bit verb o delay i front if any, and step on a pedal for gain. And can pull the stuff off without any of my previous crutches. Am very happy about that progression. So when I used to grab a Vigier for certain crazy licks I now can do it on a stock Tele.

 

[bulb]

Honestly at least for what i like in a guitar, nothing has come close to the feel, tone, playability and crafstmanship of a Blackmachine. They are definitely pricey and arent the easiest guitars to get, but are well worth the asking price and just have this awesome clean lines/minimalist aesthetic that works so well for them!
I now own two of them (though im waiting for one of them to be delivered but i bought it because i played it and it just blew me away).
But i have a B6 which is the stripped down 6 string model, and yet is the best 6 string i own by far and one of the best 6s i have ever played (the other being the superior B2 which my friend Nolly owns)
But this is my new purchase which when i played it i knew i had to own it:

and its just the best thing ever, its paid for and will be in my hands at the end of the month!!

 

[Sam Laming]

I was just about to post saying I've only ever played one but I have heard NOTHING but utterly great comments of Blackmachines. That looks like the nicest 8 string Blackmachine I think I've seen! BEADGBEA? I've got a Conklin coming in given tuning (though I'll probably tune it flat a semi tone). What's the low and high scale of the fanned frets?

 

[jack butler]

If I showed up for rehearsal with that thing, my bass player would punch me in the throat for encroachment

Honestly at least for what i like in a guitar, nothing has come close to the feel, tone, playability and crafstmanship of a Blackmachine. They are definitely pricey and arent the easiest guitars to get, but are well worth the asking price and just have this awesome clean lines/minimalist aesthetic that works so well for them!
I now own two of them (though im waiting for one of them to be delivered but i bought it because i played it and it just blew me away).
But i have a B6 which is the stripped down 6 string model, and yet is the best 6 string i own by far and one of the best 6s i have ever played (the other being the superior B2 which my friend Nolly owns)
But this is my new purchase which when i played it i knew i had to own it:

and its just the best thing ever, its paid for and will be in my hands at the end of the month!!

 

[degenaro]

FWIW...when it comes to set neck stuff...non Fendery stuff, the O'Donnells are my faves...

 

[bunghole]

My all time favorite guitars were built by Rand Havener back in the 80's, and he has recently begun building again. If money were no object, I would be having him build me my next custom (they are pretty expensive).

http://acapella.harmony-central.com/sho ... ?t=2112377

 

[stephen sawall]

The ones that use the best materials.
In a lot of cases finding a good one is what it is about.
Lots of people make good guitars.
But finding one that fits you ?
I think this is the reason some people have so many ?
Favorite builders that is ...

 

[Zachman]

ALL Great, imo

Suhr
Tyler
Anderson
California Valley Arts Custom Pros
Zion
GMW
Charvel San Dimas

 

[bulb]

I was just about to post saying I've only ever played one but I have heard NOTHING but utterly great comments of Blackmachines. That looks like the nicest 8 string Blackmachine I think I've seen! BEADGBEA? I've got a Conklin coming in given tuning (though I'll probably tune it flat a semi tone). What's the low and high scale of the fanned frets?

Its actually tuned F#BEADGBE (so two low strings when compared to a std 6 stringer) and i will set it up with slightly thicker strings so i can tune it down a half step as i do my current sevens!
The scale of the instrument is 28" to 25.5" so it sounds perfect in all ranges and feels and reacts the way it should in all ranges as well, truly a phenomenal feel. The action is lower on this guitar than any other guitar i have ever played and yet the notes never buzz or choke, but on the contrary have this huge full sound and more sustain than any other guitar i own, its an absolute paradox in that sense haha! The fanned frets are also a total non-issue to get used to and in my experiece actually make chording easier, at least for a lot of the chords i play, and because the neck itself is only slightly wider than a regular 7 string neck (due to the smaller string spacing) it feels very comfortable and familiar to me!

 

[Sam Laming]

How utterly awesome look foward to seeing what you do with it mister Bulb, what guage are you going to run on the low F? I've got a 27inch scale 7 string and for B standard I've got a 75 - it may seem abit mental but it gives for such a killer tone in that lower range.

Oh and to have an excuse to post this again - I'm hoping Conklin make the best guitars in the world

FWIW...when it comes to set neck stuff...non Fendery stuff, the O'Donnells are my faves...

Are those your fretlesses? I've really been thinking about getting a fretless in time, however, I here that wooden finger boards = little sustain on lingering still notes...

 

[Shawn Lutz]

best is subjective but the better ones I had my hands on are GMW (Lee Garver), Anderson and Suhr. I've also built some killer strats myself from parts (Musijkaft, USA Custom guitars etc)

 

[krueger]

Mcnaught.....not only are they beautiful....they play and sound amazing!!!!!!!!! Here is my latest

 

[mctallica1]

There are a lot of REALLY good guitar makers out there and I have played and owned some incredible guitars.

With that said, the single best guitar I have ever played is my number 1 Gutierrez.

 

[degenaro]

How utterly awesome look foward to seeing what you do with it mister Bulb, what guage are you going to run on the low F? I've got a 27inch scale 7 string and for B standard I've got a 75 - it may seem abit mental but it gives for such a killer tone in that lower range.

Oh and to have an excuse to post this again - I'm hoping Conklin make the best guitars in the world

FWIW...when it comes to set neck stuff...non Fendery stuff, the O'Donnells are my faves...

Are those your fretlesses? I've really been thinking about getting a fretless in time, however, I here that wooden finger boards = little sustain on lingering still notes...

yes they are, i got a couple of wood and a couple of metal boards and the sustain on either on the plain strings suck unless you play on your nail.

 

[thenine]

hands down it is Tyler for me. I have 2 and they are PHAT!

 

[jack-2]

Theres tons of great ones, imo. Blackmachine, Suhr, Anderson, Caparison.

But I truly love Bernie Rico Jr. quality, its amazing, although these pictures really do not do the justice:

Also, Mike Sherman guitars look great:

 

[scottosan]

Tom Anderson, Suhr, but the best bang for the buck is a used Melancon if you can find one

 

[Riddick]

If your looking for something a little wilder Neal Moser makes excellent custom guitars.

http://www.mosercustomshop.com/index.ph ... 0e50764e70

 

[Wicked_Tone]

Who makes the absolute best guitars?

No one could answer that, there are too many things to take into consideration. I saw guys rip it with some cheapo mexican Fenders or PRS SE. The guitar has certainly a role, but the main thing is the guitar player that's using it. Being in Montreal, yeah, I did try one of those Liberatore guitars, and despite the fact that it was well built, well, it wasn't the "absolute best" to me. The absolute best guitar will be the one you feel comfy with, the one that makes you feel great and the one that inspires you to play, regardless of the name that's on it. I would never feel comfortable knowing the guitar in my hands is worth $9500, so it would not be the absolute best for me, but for some other guy, yeah, it just might be. It's very subjective, to each it's own I guess.

I agree.

 

[Szar]

Who makes the absolute best guitars?

No one could answer that, there are too many things to take into consideration. I saw guys rip it with some cheapo mexican Fenders or PRS SE. The guitar has certainly a role, but the main thing is the guitar player that's using it. Being in Montreal, yeah, I did try one of those Liberatore guitars, and despite the fact that it was well built, well, it wasn't the "absolute best" to me. The absolute best guitar will be the one you feel comfy with, the one that makes you feel great and the one that inspires you to play, regardless of the name that's on it. I would never feel comfortable knowing the guitar in my hands is worth $9500, so it would not be the absolute best for me, but for some other guy, yeah, it just might be. It's very subjective, to each it's own I guess.

I agree.

Me, too.

On a side note, I really like that foot-switch in your signature.