Your top 5 guitar companies for quality

  • Thread starter Thread starter yngzaklynch
  • Start date Start date
No particular order:

- PRS
- Tom Anderson
- Suhr
- Nik Huber
- Knaggs

Clearly you can tell im into my carved tops!

:rock:
 
Anderson, Suhr and PRS seem to be the most mentioned. Not surprised.
 
I have 3 EBMMs all with fantastic build quality. never had to contact customer service so don't know about that side. Recently sold an R7 LP and a couple of Strats to be EBMM exclusive, so a real fanboy here.

Suhr was untouchable when Ed was there but these days I'm hearing stories of guys waiting 12 months for a guitar and it being shipped with the wrong specs. When they built my amp they were great but subsequent emails have gone unanswered, business must be too good?!
 
gkinsingapore":16fofgz5 said:
I have 3 EBMMs all with fantastic build quality. never had to contact customer service so don't know about that side. Recently sold an R7 LP and a couple of Strats to be EBMM exclusive, so a real fanboy here.

Suhr was untouchable when Ed was there but these days I'm hearing stories of guys waiting 12 months for a guitar and it being shipped with the wrong specs. When they built my amp they were great but subsequent emails have gone unanswered, business must be too good?!
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Which EBMM guitars do you have?
 
Anderson (easily the best guitar customer service out there. Tom is readily available to talk about anything and seems to really enjoy helping people)
Suhr
Tyler (2nd hand info, but I've never heard a single bad thing ever said about Tylers when it comes to build quality. Totally GASing for one at the moment, but I can't afford one)

I would have put ESP down, but I got one with some bad fretwork once. I would put Caparison down, but they sometimes have some fretwork issues as well. One manufacturer that nobody else seems to have mentioned - Tuttle guitars. His fretwork is out of this world. I've never played one first hand, although I did have him refret a guitar of mine. It's one of the few guitars I'll probably never sell.
 
McNaught - my emails are always answered quickly, my phone calls are answered by Dave, and his ability to accurately book match quilt tops is second to none.
Others such as Gibson, Fender, Jackson/Charvel, etc have always been good to me, I just don't get the personal service from them that I get from Dave McNaught.
 
EBMM for me. My Morse Y2d is an amazing guitar for under 2 grand.
 
As far as production guitars, for me it is ESP - made in Japan with NTB's. Always consistent.
 
steve_k":383lip6c said:
As far as production guitars, for me it is ESP - made in Japan with NTB's. Always consistent.
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NTBs??????????
 
gkinsingapore":3tdtbwbe said:
I have 3 EBMMs all with fantastic build quality. never had to contact customer service so don't know about that side. Recently sold an R7 LP and a couple of Strats to be EBMM exclusive, so a real fanboy here.

Suhr was untouchable when Ed was there but these days I'm hearing stories of guys waiting 12 months for a guitar and it being shipped with the wrong specs. When they built my amp they were great but subsequent emails have gone unanswered, business must be too good?!
Click to expand...

First time I've ever heard of such issues at Suhr. On the other hand, I'm constantly hearing about people complaining about QC issues on their EBMM's....go figure.
 
RSRD":28r390bh said:
Fender Custom shop? hope thats a joke. I mean, I love my Gibson Historics more then any other guitar, when you find the right one...but no way in hell Fender or Gibson Customs compare to the quality you find in a Suhr, Anderson, Melancon, etc.... Im not saying you can't find one as good, but whereas Suhr makes it 100% right every time Gibson and Fender almost always find ways to cheap out or muck something up.

I understand why PRS is named in here but once again they are not up there with true independent luthiers. Just aren't. Probably more about volume then anything else. There is a reason why John Suhr is so far back on his orders. Because he prefers to do it right 100% of the time as opposed to pumping out massive amounts of guitar.

I get the feeling people are just writing down what guitars they own as opposed to being objective ;)
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All I can tell you is that, out of the guitar's out there that I've owned and played, I'd put the Fender Custom Shop axes up there with the best of them. The smaller builders like Suhr and Anderson are making amazing guitars, but I don't buy that a company like Fender isn't capable of building top quality instruments as well.
 
I have lots of experience on both sides and here it is for me...

1. Tom Anderson (They best guys, the best guitars, the best service they rule).
2. Tom Bartlett (A master craftsmen)
3. ESP Custom Shop
4. Charvel Custom Shop (Mike Shannon is a master)
5. Jerry Bizon
 
Alright, which guitar makers have the best quality that aren't small lot/custom shop builders? I mean, every guitar from a custom shop should be killer, or a company that makes 100 guitars a year.
 
King Guitar":k9v62mkm said:
I have lots of experience on both sides and here it is for me...

1. Tom Anderson (They best guys, the best guitars, the best service they rule).
2. Tom Bartlett (A master craftsmen)
3. ESP Custom Shop
4. Charvel Custom Shop (Mike Shannon is a master)
5. Jerry Bizon
Click to expand...


Brad, I'm surprised you don't have Suhr on your list? I suppose you might not jive with them as much as other brands, but can you deny the awesome build quality and customer service?
 
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