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This thread is not for your Benedettos and Gibsons.
I'm interested in your diamonds in the rough, your accessible tone machines. I love people who can make “cheap” instruments sound good. I recognize that what’s cheap for one person might be prohibitively expensive for another; this isn’t about judging. It’s about finding joy in what’s available.
I have an AF55 which is Ibanez’s most affordable archtop. It’s crazy resonant and sounds great unplugged. I ripped out the bridge pup and put a Kent Armstrong in the neck, a gift from my amazing teacher. I just think it sounds lovely. Needed a bit of fret levelling, which I was able to do myself.
In general I have also found Squier Classic Vibe series to be really solid.
Let’s hear about your more frugal favourites…
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01-07-2024 04:12 AM
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Definitely my early PRS SE Soapbar. I got it for next to nothing and it’s always a joy to play. I’m very attached to it and it will be the last one to go. Which is interesting because my other guitars are top-drawer instruments.
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I have an early 2000's-ish Ibanez AF 75 myself and it's been very good to me. Here's an old picture from my high school years:
Like it seems you've noted, the pickups are a bit dull at the best of times, but it's been a great companion. I contemplated upgrading it with all the leftover junk I have laying around, but I think I'd rather save up for a solid-top jazz guitar and have this be what it is.
I got this guitar when I was 16 or so and was just beginning to take music very seriously, and I can pinpoint the exact moment I fell for jazz (hearing that bootleg of George Benson playing "Blue Bossa" in New Jersey in the early 70s), and when I knew I wanted a jazz box. This was also the first guitar that was only mine, not on loan from my father.
It was the guitar I played at a show which was filmed multi-camera, which made me realize just how horrible of a guitar player I was. I remember feeling like I was the best in school and being excited to get the tapes, and being mortified at how I played. Thankfully it motivated my to practice intensively.
Some day it'll get a little shine-up with new frets and electronics. But, until then, I'll play it for only a couple of hours a year.
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My Ibanez AF55. Mods made: Gibson P94 neck PU and Grover tuning machines.
Great sounds and no worries!
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Yamaha Pacifica 012. I put a Lil 59 in the neck position. It had new tuners when I bought it.
I've gigged a fair amount with it. It's my favorite to play at home because the neck is very small and very comfortable.
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Lot of love for the Ibanez AF series. Awesome
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The Japanese Vestax d'Angelicos (usually called NY ... ) are great guitars, not sure though if they would qualify as inexpensive at prices around 2k to 3k.
The cheaper Korean Incheon d'Angelicos (usually called Excel) are good too, although soundwise and in terms of ease of playing, not as high standard as the Vestax models.
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I should have mentioned a Sheraton we have laying around, built by Peerless. Common to see them for 250-400 € and they're absolute killers. Electronics are a bit so-so but the quality of the instrument is great!
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Yamaha Pacifica 120SD, what they call a T-style model now. Bought it used from a stoner rocker who had put in a better bridge and Häussel PUs which are well suited for jazz, only damn loud. Always have to turn down the amp volume at sessions.
Natural finish, looks Mike Stern-ish from far LOL.
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I think they 3 guitars from my signature all qualify as cheap on this forum - and I love them all.
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I don't have either of them anymore, but I had a Samick HF650 and a Godin 5th Ave Kingpin. Both were very inexpensive and quite good.
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These are both cheap. I got the Tele for $150, already came with upgraded SD pickups. I did a few cosmetic upgrades, added the trem, sanded and stained it blue. Great playing guitar and super-sounding with the Alnico 2 neck pickup.
The one on the right I built from GFS parts for about $250. It’s also a solid player (pickup not as nice as the SD though). The quality of the neck and body are excellent and probably cheaper than any other luthier site out there.
I also had a Samick-made Epi JP which was a great deal—paid $400 for it used and upgraded the pickups. I rather miss it.
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GS mini spruce (Taylor)... cheap, loud (relatively) , small... Middle of night,can't sleep, curled up on recliner, dark room and eyes closed.... takes me to another world.
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I love threads like this!
I used to have a Harle Benton Custom line Manhattan Standard, which cost me just about 200€, and I really liked that guitar a lot!
It looked like this:
I also recorded with it, and loved the tone I was getting through a Jr. Barnard Pedal:
Paul
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Recently picked up an Epiphone Inspired By Les Paul Special in TV Yellow. Flawless fit and finish. Great 50s size neck. Impressive P90 pickups that I won’t be changing. With a new bone nut (with the nut slots cut correctly), some discretely applied copper shielding tape and a proper setup by me, it’s a real joy to play and very cool. Interestingly, it has the best Jazz tone of my collection.
Last edited by darkwaters; 01-21-2024 at 11:29 AM.
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My favorite low cost but excellent guitars are from the Squier Paranormal series — specifically the Jazzmaster XII and the Nashville Stratocaster (Nashville Tele in a Strat form factor). These punch way above their weight. Excellent quality wood, flawless finishes, great fretwork. I’m super impressed. I have always helped my students who have Squiers to smooth off the sharp fret ends and do a proper set up. Not so with these latest paranormal Squiers—they feel like much higher-end guitars. Bravo Fender.
With better electronics, these rival the American Fenders.
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My Cordoba Stage was dirt cheap, but lately I play it more than my other two, more expensive guitars.
Though barely a year old, I did have to replace the tuning machines on it last month. Still, I really enjoy this guitar.
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I just bought a Peavey Raptor (basically a SSS strat copy) at a thrift store for 40 Euros. When I first picked it up I immediately noticed that it has a chunky neck, which I love, and and that it doesn't have any dead spots.
I might have to change the tuners, but it's perfectly usable as is. I did give it a cleaning and setup.
One thing about cheap guitars is that I feel ok about adjusting things. On the Raptor I've been adjusting the height of the pole pieces to get a better string balance. I use pliers to (gently) pull some of the pieces higher.
Oh, and it sounds great thru my Peavey Bandit 112 Transtube™!
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I'm another one that likes my Squier Classic Vibe '50s tele.
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Harley Benton TE90QM for me, that I got brand new for 204 €
I bought it having in mind that it'll be a platform for upgrades (pick-ups, electronics, tuning machines...)
It arrived with a perfect setup, very good fit and finish and I didn't modify it
I initially thought that it will not last, that I'll have to tweak the setup more than often (for this price !) Never needed to do that.
The sound of the Roswell P90 is more than acceptable.
This guitar is not "good for the price", it is a good guitar, period.
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ooh that’s an intriguing one. What would you compare it to, feel and sound-wise?
Originally Posted by 339 in june
Harley Benton TE90QM for me, that I got brand new for 204 €
I bought it having in mind that it'll be a platform for upgrades (pick-ups, electronics, tuning machines...)
It arrived with a perfect setup, very good fit and finish and I didn't modify it
I initially thought that it will not last, that I'll have to tweak the setup more than often (for this price !) Never needed to do that.
The sound of the Roswell P90 is more than acceptable.
This guitar is not "good for the price", it is a good guitar, period.
(I’m also curious about the HB Aeolus, talking of semi hollow p90 stuff)
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The feel is the one of a light semihollow guitar, neck is reasonnably thin Originally Posted by Palehorseo
You can get a lot of different sounds, depending on the pickup (neck or bridge) vol and tone controls (useable on almost all the range) and of course your amp setting. This can go from mellow "jazz tone" (neck pickup with tone and volume rolled down a good bit) to strong rock tones.
Surprisingly, it is much touch sensitive, which is a feature that we don't often meet on guitars of this price range.
Never heard about the Aeolus, so I can't comment, but it looks like they are fitted with humbuckers.
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Epi ES-339 Pro. My main cab testing axe, a Swiss Army guitar. Epi Casino coupe. Sheer fun, great P 90 tones. Squier Tele Thinline. The latest investment of 310€ (used.) All perfectly giggable. And yes, there's a Benedetto and two Gibson archtops mainly resting.
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Ibanez fan here also. I have 2 semi's that I love, one is a Fugi-Gen AS193, which is a close cousin to the AS200, and I have a Chinese made AM93 which I switched the modern Super 58 custom pickups for a set of mid-1980's Jap Super 58's. Two incredible playing guitars for comparatively low cost.
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My Dad's Celebration of Life was yesterday in Sequim WA. I was asked by the family to play a couple of songs he always requested and opted to take my Cordoba GK Studio on the plane. It worked perfectly plugged straight into the FOH.
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