Which guitar company has best quality:price ratio?

[BeZo]

Carvin instruments are great. I just recently picked up a bass for $400. I dropped Bartolini pickups in it and it holds up right next to my Spector basses. Just make sure you don't buy Carvin amps. Everyone I know that has ever has an MTS 3200 (literally 5 people) has had it break. They do sound decent, though. I'm trying to buy a broken one for $50 and rebuild it with good parts and quality work. Shouldn't be hard to find a broken MTS!

ESP is up there for me. There cheap shit LTD even play great for the price. I have no problem setting those up for my customers.

 

[Juggernaut]

GUTIERREZ.

 

[Digital Jams]

The USA Chrvels were the shit while they were here.

Fender does make good fiddles for a good price these days. Not speaking about the CS or relic stuff.

Ibanez has gotten too expensive the past three years imo.

Edwards stuff is solid for the price.

 

[Mr. Willy]

Ernie Ball Musicman!

+1. This was the first company that came to mind. A brand new Axis is about $1700. That price tag may seem high, but considering the quality, and considering Suhr's and Anderson's (both top notch quality) go for $2,000-$3,000 new, you can't beat Music Man for quality/price ratio.

 

[gibson5413]

My favorite guitars right now are my Tom Andersons, but I don't see them as a high quality/price ratio. Although the quality is off the charts.

Pete

I agree here. I am a fanboy and really love my TAGs. The quality is unsurpassed in terms of fit and finish but you really are paying for Tom's expertise. I will say that EBMM is a great value. Excellent craftsmanship with a fair price. I think they are some of the best production made guitars out there.

 

[thiswaythatway]

Ernie Ball Musicman!

DING DING. We have a winner. For the quality and the price, they're the best. I've played some Carvins and thought they were ok, a few of then sounded very very bright and thin. No Thanks.

 

[glpg80]

ESP ranks lower than MIM fender to me.

sharp fret tangs, fucked up neck, cheap wood prep before applying thin coats of paint (can see wood grain through it)

NOT happy with my ESP. the last one i will ever buy.

my number one guitar is my Ibanez - best playing, best sounding guitar ive ever owned.

not on this list but should be mentioned is caparison. best guitar quality i know of.

its worth mentioning are carvin for sure.

 

[mjtripper]

I would have to agree with many others on Carvin but I think in terms of value they are second to Heritage.

 

[EchelonEngineering]

+1 Schecter
Love my C-1. I refer to it as my Les Paul Killer.

 

[Tone Zone]

Ernie Ball Musicman!

Best qualityrice ratio? Not so much...fails in the price, which typically runs $1,700-$3,000. Now, on the used market much better ratio! But, overall in the qualityrice ratio argument, Carvin beats EBMM like a red headed step-child - Carvin > EBMM

 

[thiswaythatway]

Ernie Ball Musicman!

+1. This was the first company that came to mind. A brand new Axis is about $1700. That price tag may seem high, but considering the quality, and considering Suhr's and Anderson's (both top notch quality) go for $2,000-$3,000 new, you can't beat Music Man for quality/price ratio.

New Anderson's and Suhr's are $3,000 - $4,000. Not counting the Pro Series from Suhr though. And i forgot those, you can score a Suhr Pro Series for under $1,800 if you look and haggle.


*cough* *cough* http://www.gbase.com/powered/geardetail ... em=1967230

 

[Mr. Willy]

Ernie Ball Musicman!

+1. This was the first company that came to mind. A brand new Axis is about $1700. That price tag may seem high, but considering the quality, and considering Suhr's and Anderson's (both top notch quality) go for $2,000-$3,000 new, you can't beat Music Man for quality/price ratio.

New Anderson's and Suhr's are $3,000 - $4,000. Not counting the Pro Series from Suhr though. And i forgot those, you can score a Suhr Pro Series for under $1,800 if you look and haggle.


*cough* *cough* http://www.gbase.com/powered/geardetail ... em=1967230

They're expensive, I know that. You get what you pay for though. I was being conservative.

 

[ratter]

At their old prices, EBMM would have been the runaway winner. I paid $1350 for my EVH new back in the day. The Axis was originally in that range sometimes even less. But they are still a good value. And another vote for the Suhr Pro series. I got mine new for about the price of a Fender American Deluxe....so yeah, no brainer there...

 

[Mr. Willy]

Ernie Ball Musicman!

Best qualityrice ratio? Not so much...fails in the price, which typically runs $1,700-$3,000. Now, on the used market much better ratio! But, overall in the qualityrice ratio argument, Carvin beats EBMM like a red headed step-child - Carvin > EBMM

Others will disagree maybe on how they define quality. I still stand by MM for $$$-quality ratio. Carvin's are very good for the money, but I've never played one I wanted to own. The idea of Carvin always seems better to me than their actual guitars. YMMV. I gotta give a nod to Ibanez too. Great, great guitars for the money.

 

[Tawlks]

Edwards (ESP), Agile.

Godin are quite good from what I hear. Still, out of all the really big copanies, ESP. An Eclipse 1 CTM costs roughly £1000 over in England, maybe a bit more and it's one of the best guitars I've ever played, if not the best. They should really stop making shitty low end ESPs. The 400s and upwards are great though. and the 1000 series Abalone? Fuck that. Sorry, /Rant.

 

[sinfish]

I have played a few Carvins and they are build well for the $$. But for some reason their headstocks I have always disliked. I also Think they need to come up with a couple modern body styles. but +1 for carvin and Ibanez it pretty good too.

 

[blackba]

Ernie Ball Musicman!

+1 Musicman or G&L were my first 2 thoughts when I saw the thread.

I can see Carvin being right there too. Interestingly enough MM, G&L and Carvin guitars often have poor resale value.

 

[joepete77]

Although not my favorite, the quality guitar for the price I would say charvel. U could get a USA made guitar set up nicely with nice pickups n hardware right out of the box for a grand or less! Ibanez is also great guitar for the dollar

 

[craftm1]

Carvin

 

[slyvren]

Aria. Check out their higher end PE series.. They play better than almost any standard LP IMHO.

G&L definitely there too.