Whats the best "inexpensive" (Under $500) guitar you've ever played?

I’d say a new 2012 Epi Les Paul. But I think we’re approaching equilibrium in East Asian guitars now that Fender and Epi have really pushed the build quality of Chinese guitars to the point that they’re on par with mass-market Japanese, Korean, and American guitars. It’s not the rare excellent guitar that’s memorable so much as the lemons.
 
My Takamine F360. Got it in 1975. It was about $200 then. Built like a tank. Plays really nicely. Doesn't project like better guitars but it's my choice for this thread.

 
tgk03 said:
My Takamine F360. Got it in 1975. It was about $200 then. Built like a tank. Plays really nicely. Doesn't project like better guitars but it's my choice for this thread.

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When it comes to acoustics...I bought my Guild D-25 in 1976 for 230 dollars. It has a huge sound. Love the ceramic sun face behind your guitar. Do you have a Green Man too?
 
I only on two guitars that are under $500.

And the Epi Dot has to be the better playing one.

Since nothing off the shelf, as it comes to the store, works for me... I need to get it set up ....
The Dot is probably the best that I've played for under $500....
 
As the king of cheap instruments, this is a tough one for me. I guess I'd have to go with the Luna Muse 12-string. As you know, I resisted A/E guitars due to the poor, quacky sound I often hear from them. The Luna has beautiful tone plugged in; it is also one of the easiest-to-play 12-strings I have owned. I was afraid that it would be difficult for finger-picking with the slimmer neck profile, but it actually is easier than my Yamaha and A & L 12-strings were. At $419, it was a steal.
 
instantsteve said:
When it comes to acoustics...I bought my Guild D-25 in 1976 for 230 dollars. It has a huge sound. Love the ceramic sun face behind your guitar. Do you have a Green Man too?
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:grin:

As a side note, we bought this fountain at the fountain/statue place next door to Buffalo Bros. Wife shops for yard decorating stuff and I browse guitars.
 
I can think of only one I tried and wish I had bought, absolutely loved it and they are rare as hens teeth (though I think Frets99 has one)...

Fernandes Native A2 in Seafoam Green...not many pics online, but here's one ashed out with flash...
nativefamilyde0.jpg
 
Toasteroven said:
A Vox SSC33. I was very surprised by its playability, and it was marked down to $499. I didn't plug it in because I didn't want to buy it and get in trouble.
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I scored one of these a month or so ago for under $200. It was MF's SDOTD, and I got a Music123 price match. It's a mindblowing guitar for under 2 bills. Gotta be my best "bang for the buck"

Second place goes to my Ernie Ball Musicman Stingray 5 bass, which I bought from a starving college kid for exactly $500.
 
used Affinity Tele acquired for $90 sounded great even before I modded it! It still had the plastic on the neck pickup and pickguard when I bought it!

 
Any of the MIK Michael Kelly stuff. The CVC Squier stuff, and the Indy relic'd series.
 
I have three that would fit the bill, but only one I practice on, so I’ll say that one, which is the Ag ile AS-820.
 
Am I really the first person to mention Artcores?
I really felt that my AS73 was the most comfortable guitar I've ever owned...until I got an AG75. That one is now my favorite. It sounds great, it's easier to play than any of my other guitars, fit & finish is great, but beyond that every time I pick it up there's something about the sound that just makes me want to play.
 
instantsteve said:
This doesn't look like mine, but I think it is an excellent demo:
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The T60 is a really great guitar.

You know what would have made that demo even better?

Tuning the damned guitar!!!

Ugh.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 4
 
Chuck1016 said:
Am I really the first person to mention Artcores?
I really felt that my AS73 was the most comfortable guitar I've ever owned...until I got an AG75. That one is now my favorite. It sounds great, it's easier to play than any of my other guitars, fit & finish is great, but beyond that every time I pick it up there's something about the sound that just makes me want to play.
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Man, I wish I could get my hands on a good Ibanez these days.


Really, the local shop's inventory, and the big ones, just have complete crap. Even the premium models, and the models that are close to a grand are shit. Bad frets first and foremost, bad fit and finish, dead acoustically...I read just positive reviews about the artcores and the new higher end electrics, but every single one I've played sounded ok to great, but the detail work is non existent.
 
OGG said:
The T60 is a really great guitar.

You know what would have made that demo even better?

Tuning the damned guitar!!!

Ugh.

Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk 4
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?? I will check that again, but I have already circulated this among some fellow fanatics and we didn't note that. I hate to keep harping on the T's virtues (that is a lie. I do!) but staying in tune is one of them. Of course, staying in tune is only possible if one is in tune in the first place.
 
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