What is the best guitar for $1200 or less?

[guitarobert]

I really dig the PRS S2 series guitars, I have a mira and Its really growing in me, grabbed it for 1002 out the door MF, the standard 22s are really nice as well....

+1. The PRS S2 series is my favorite new guitar these days under $1200.

 

[Rango]

Something used.

Exactly. I haven't bought a "new" guitar in a long time. Mint used are the way to go.

 

[reverymike]

Find a used Tom Anderson.

 

[mooncobra]

Find a used Tom Anderson.

Oh yeah, sure man!!! Totally!! I am sure I could easily find an Anderson for 1200 or less, I mean, damn, I see them for that price all the time, they are a dime a dozen at 1200 bucks!!

I don't think I have ever seen an Anderson in my life for less than 1700 or 1800, and they are usually beat up pretty good at that price.

 

[ratter]

Fellow forumite ratter builds great guitars
http://www.switchbackguitarworks.com

I went to the site and everything I clicked on said error????

To be fair, he didn't say he built a great website. Just great guitars I guess.

I think they're OK...

But I don't have anything available anyway.

Thanks for the heads up on the website - I'll check on it.

Lots of good advice in this thread though. If you don't mind something with some miles on it, you can stretch $1200 pretty far, in any number of directions.

 

[reverymike]

Find a used Tom Anderson.

Oh yeah, sure man!!! Totally!! I am sure I could easily find an Anderson for 1200 or less, I mean, damn, I see them for that price all the time, they are a dime a dozen at 1200 bucks!!

I don't think I have ever seen an Anderson in my life for less than 1700 or 1800, and they are usually beat up pretty good at that price.

I paid $1300 for this (however, it was 11 years ago). I guess they've gone up over the years. The lowest I found on Reverb.com just now was $1550. Deals are out there though.

 

[sleewell2]

benford black limba

 

[Racerxrated]

Find a used Tom Anderson.

Oh yeah, sure man!!! Totally!! I am sure I could easily find an Anderson for 1200 or less, I mean, damn, I see them for that price all the time, they are a dime a dozen at 1200 bucks!!

I don't think I have ever seen an Anderson in my life for less than 1700 or 1800, and they are usually beat up pretty good at that price.

I paid $1300 for this (however, it was 11 years ago). I guess they've gone up over the years. The lowest I found on Reverb.com just now was $1550. Deals are out there though.

I did see one on GC.com but it has three singles, no hums..for 1500..

 

[Chris O]

For $1000, you could buy two of the guitars I'm selling. Every one of them has been mentioned above.

 

[harsh59]

You could get a Carvin Bolt for well under $900 new and a neckthru for around $1200 new depending on options . Used prices would be way less .

 

[mooncobra]

if you got that for 1300 that's the best deal I have ever seen on a guitar! I looked at andersons for quite a while at one point and I never saw the lower than 1700 or 1800. that is a nice guitar, you know what man, how about this, I will gladly take it off of your hands for 1200, maybe even 1300, that means you got to play the guitar for 11 years for nothing, you got all your dough back, besides, I am sure you are tired of looking at that nasty color, I am sure it is an eyesore at this point. I will help you out man, I will take it off of your hands!!!

Find a used Tom Anderson.

Oh yeah, sure man!!! Totally!! I am sure I could easily find an Anderson for 1200 or less, I mean, damn, I see them for that price all the time, they are a dime a dozen at 1200 bucks!!

I don't think I have ever seen an Anderson in my life for less than 1700 or 1800, and they are usually beat up pretty good at that price.

I paid $1300 for this (however, it was 11 years ago). I guess they've gone up over the years. The lowest I found on Reverb.com just now was $1550. Deals are out there though.

 

[Philo Beddoe]

if you got that for 1300 that's the best deal I have ever seen on a guitar! I looked at andersons for quite a while at one point and I never saw the lower than 1700 or 1800. that is a nice guitar, you know what man, how about this, I will gladly take it off of your hands for 1200, maybe even 1300, that means you got to play the guitar for 11 years for nothing, you got all your dough back, besides, I am sure you are tired of looking at that nasty color, I am sure it is an eyesore at this point. I will help you out man, I will take it off of your hands!!!

I don't think I have ever seen an Anderson in my life for less than 1700 or 1800, and they are usually beat up pretty good at that price.

*Inflation..$1300 in 2004 is equal to $1642.29 in 2015..

Still a good price..

 

[bbaug14]

MIJ Tokai's. Used. Hard to beat.

 

[reverymike]

if you got that for 1300 that's the best deal I have ever seen on a guitar! I looked at andersons for quite a while at one point and I never saw the lower than 1700 or 1800. that is a nice guitar, you know what man, how about this, I will gladly take it off of your hands for 1200, maybe even 1300, that means you got to play the guitar for 11 years for nothing, you got all your dough back, besides, I am sure you are tired of looking at that nasty color, I am sure it is an eyesore at this point. I will help you out man, I will take it off of your hands!!!


Ha! No. I appreciate the offer, but I LOVE this guitar!! I guess you are right, there aren't too many out there at that price. I lucked out when I got this one. It's a '93. . .vintage!

Seriously though, there are tons of great guitars out there for $1200. I'd still suggest looking in the used market and see what you can find. Good luck.

Find a used Tom Anderson.

Oh yeah, sure man!!! Totally!! I am sure I could easily find an Anderson for 1200 or less, I mean, damn, I see them for that price all the time, they are a dime a dozen at 1200 bucks!!

I don't think I have ever seen an Anderson in my life for less than 1700 or 1800, and they are usually beat up pretty good at that price.

I paid $1300 for this (however, it was 11 years ago). I guess they've gone up over the years. The lowest I found on Reverb.com just now was $1550. Deals are out there though.

 

[kaloskalos]

you can find used MM axis' for 1000-1200 all day long. Peavey wolf gangs are less than a grand. both great guitars.

Going to have to agree with you. I bought a Rosewood edition of the Music Man Axis a few years back at half-price for 1,000.
Best money I've spent and its still my favorite guitar.

https://reverb.com/item/487559-musi...pQbYOXfLM3rgO7COuhQPVIcZvpjeZC-U6yhoCGiLw_wcB

This is not the exact one of course, but just to show what they look like.
The non-rosewood versions sell for a bit less.

 

[messenger]

Man for $1200 used your options are pretty VAST. I don't think there is a "best".

 

[amiller]

PRS S2
I got a red one like this from Sweetwater a few weeks ago for $1390.

This Whale Blue looks very cool! If you call you might get a better price.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/S2SCSHWB

 

[mooncobra]

PRS S2
I got a red one like this from Sweetwater a few weeks ago for $1390.

This Whale Blue looks very cool! If you call you might get a better price.

http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/S2SCSHWB

they will cut you a better deal if you call??

 

[fretout]

Any of the options mentioned would be good for a Trem-equipped guitar.

For the fixed bridges, I would have to go with a used Gibson LP Studio, or maybe even an older Classic...but the Classics are becoming harder to find.

If you you will only buy used, I would say the Japanese LP copies are probably your best bang-for-your-buck. The ESP/Navigaitor LPs and Tokais are great for pulling off the look of the higher end LPs while offering decent QC.

 

[the rossness]

I vote wolfgang special or charvel pro mod.