The Guitar Thread.

You know, I don't think Strats have the same BFTB they did a few years ago. I bought my strat in 2012 for $899. I believe the same strat today sells for around $1299. They've pulled some marketing tomfoolery. "Oh they're not the American Standard Pickups anymore. Now they're CUSTOM SHOP Fat 50s!" or whatever they're calling them. I don't even think they make an American Standard anymore. Now they're American Professionals.

I'd go with a used one from a respectable dealer. Make sure you know the signs of a fake.

Mexican strats are OK too but I think they need more upgrades out of the box.

I still love strats, I just don't like that marketing nonsense. Its the same guitar as it was a few years ago with different pickups. I don't think that justifies the price increase.



Yeah, I'm going older aftermarket for sure. I do the same with Gibson's -the 90's Gibsons specifically.


There a particular decade I should look for with them? If Gibson's are any barometer, I'm thinking 90's Strtats are the way to go as well.
 
Yeah, I'm going older aftermarket for sure. I do the same with Gibson's -the 90's Gibsons specifically.


There a particular decade I should look for with them? If Gibson's are any barometer, I'm thinking 90's Strtats are the way to go as well.
The American standards pre 2012 were hit or miss. Mine is a 2012 but had 2011 American standard pickups.
I guess it depends on what you're looking for. Lots of the 90s models had lace sensors which some players don't like. I love them. If they're good enough for Clapton, Beck and Buddy Guy then anyone should be able to get something out of them.

If you like classic strat clean sounds, then I'd look for an American standard from the past 10 years but definitely try them out first. Once in a while you get one that had really shrill pickups. The bridge pickup in my strat when I got it was super bright. I loved it for cleans but could never make it work distorted.

I personally think the starts from the 90s with Lace sensors are really good, well rounded guitars.

On the other hand, if you think the first thing you're going to do is tear out the pickups and replace them, just go for a recent upper level Mexican Fender. They're not a lot different other than the electronics. Don't get an older mexican strat though. Pre 2000 mex starts were no better than Squires.
 
Sounded pretty good to me too.

I have no lead chops anymore. My fingers have become slow and cumbersome because I just don't put the time into improving my playing anymore. I'm a living room rock star these days. I've moved away from playing anything that challenges me and I find my self just jamming to classic rock tunes.


Thanks........

Oh what classic rock bands in particular?
 
Thanks........

Oh what classic rock bands in particular?
Lately I've been listening to lot of Bruce Springsteen, I'm in the minority that enjoys his poppy stuff more than the folky stuff.
I like most everything really. On my iPod, I've got old Motorhead followed by Phil Collins, Michael Jackson followed by Waylon Jennings, David Lee Roth followed by Johnny Cash....
 
Got some good news today, was messaging one of the guys at Kiesel Guitars through their forum and I realized that I can make quite possibly the most beautiful custom guitar I can think of for under $3500. Given how bad the dollar is right now where I live, it'd be close to $4700, so I'll have to wait(would've had to anyway considering that's a sizable chunk of dough either way), but that's huge for me.

Kiesel really beats the hell out of Jackson and Schecter man. Best custom guitar builders in the world. Affordability is the number one difference, but quality, playability, aesthetics, options... they offer it all for 1/3 or half the price.

You can get a pretty good custom USA built instrument for half the price of what a base USA Jackson would cost you before you even looked at their custom options.

Jackson's were cool too me back in the day, but now I've decided that Kiesel is the way to go. Just blows everyone else out of the water.

It'll essentially look something like a combo of:

This Flame Top(I'm getting a Mastergrade, Kiesel offers them for 400)

4Azazel 5A Plus Flame Top.jpg

This type of blackburst:

4Azazel Flame Maple Trans Black Burst.jpg

This Deep Red Flame, hardware and multiscale:

4Azazel3 Aries Trans Red Flame Maple.jpg

This fretboard:

4Azazel7.jpg

And this body shape:

ve1irs9pzyosp1tcical.jpg


excited-face-o.gif
 
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If you are partial to Les Paul type guitars, there are many quality types made in japan and elsewhere.

Fujigen made Greco and I believe they still make the elitist series as well as having made epiphone and orville versions.

Greco Les Paul from 1984.....john sykes model.



Bacchus Les Paul played by a girl with amazing hair.



Combat guitars.....

 
Looking through this thread, all of the guitars I posted and wanted to buy, it's hilarious.

Over half a year ago and I've basically changed my mind about almost all of them. Can barely decide on anything. I don't think stock guitars are for me anymore.

After I looked at the Kiesel Custom Shop a few times I was hooked.

I probably look at their site ten times a day going over little tweaks here and there. Decided on three builds. Still obsessed with the JB200C and have alot more confidence in that build now.

I've learned alot more through taking a look at that custom builder as well.
 
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Hoping this'll be mine in about 8 months from now. Savin' up as soon as my wisdom teeth are taken out and find a better place of employment.

2Carvin JB200C JASON BECKER TRIBUTE $2387.13.jpg
2Carvin_JB200C.jpg
2Carvin_JB200C_FDB4_STJF_WLL2_124819_gallery.jpg
2CarvinJasonBecker1.jpg
2Carvin-jb200c-sdpb-1.jpg
 
A bit late to this thread, here are some of my guitars:

Main axe - Yamaha AES620 - Best playing guitar I've ever had my hands on.
images


PRS Mark Tremonti - generally my back up
images


Yamaha AES720 - my teaching guitar
images


ESP Doraemon - for special occasions
images
 
A bit late to this thread, here are some of my guitars:

Main axe - Yamaha AES620 - Best playing guitar I've ever had my hands on.
images


PRS Mark Tremonti - generally my back up
images


Yamaha AES720 - my teaching guitar
images


ESP Doraemon - for special occasions
images
Nice.

Quick question, what's the scale length on the Tremonti? Looks quite small.
 
Looking through this thread, all of the guitars I posted and wanted to buy, it's hilarious.

Over half a year ago and I've basically changed my mind about almost all of them. Can barely decide on anything. I don't think stock guitars are for me anymore.

After I looked at the Kiesel Custom Shop a few times I was hooked.

I probably look at their site ten times a day going over little tweaks here and there. Decided on three builds. Still obsessed with the JB200C and have alot more confidence in that build now.

I've learned alot more through taking a look at that custom builder as well.
Might consider getting a JB100 aswell, It's a JB model with more customizable options, but a bit of a give an take as you can't get the same electronic layout or have the option of a flame top. I'm still pissed they got rid of the ST300C, I had a gander at what they used to offer with that thing, what a beast it could be if you really decked it out, but I understand why they did it with some of the proceeds of the JB models going to Jason. His family taking care of him can't be cheap. The man's an inspiration with such a tragic story, especially when you're a dedicated musician. His music was great, his skills and technique were second too none and the fact that he's still going... I'd throw another 1200 down just to help support him.
 
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wCheck where guitars are made you would be surprised where they were manufactured.........china......Indonesia........korea......japan......mexico....Taiwan....etc.

That said, it's up to the actual person who built it to determine the quality of the instrument.

I had a Korean made Kramer Neck-thru guitar that was so cherry mint that I couldn't believe it and I've had some US made guitars that were clunky pieces of garbage.

It's more hit and miss in less technical countries but you can still get a gem.

One thing I have found is that it's hard to beat Yamaha for price vs quality at almost all price points.

That said, some Yamaha and Ibanez guitars formerly made in japan may have been shifted to Taiwan or china manufacturing since fujigen (fgn) now takes care of themselves and some fender and Gibson/orville/epiphone contracts.

The reason I like Japanese manufacturing is based on a story by Jim Moran who was one of the earliest Toyota importers to America.

He was touring a Toyota plant in the 60s and during the tour, the high level Toyota executive who was escorting Mr Moran around was called for an emergency.

Apparently a long time windshield installer technician on the line broke his first windshield in his entire career (many years) and ran home in shame to commit suicide.

The executive went and retrived the technician and spent much time convincing him that "shit happens" and the guy happily went back to work promising top quality workmanship for the rest of his career.

I'm not sure if all Japanese have that level of commitment today but they did at one time and it's always possible to find some guy on an assembly line in Taiwan who feels the same about the quality of his work.

If you buy a guitar sight unseen, Japanese built is a good gamble but always best to at least hold an example in your hands before buying one.
 
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10JB100 Red2.jpg

In the future, if I ever need another reliable Super Strat, nothing fancy, but with a good bridge and pups, I'd like to get something like the one on the left under a JB100 build, that's Jason Beckers signature guitar, or one of their options for them. Basic in some ways, pretty good in others.

3Azazel Deep Red Quilt.jpg

This is one that I'm looking at for a far in the future build, it'll be a bit different, 7 instead of 8, or atleast, that's what I'm thinking. No Kiesel treated board, Ebony instead of Maple, probably consider the block inlays given the width of the fretboard. It's gonna be completely decked out, Trans Blackburst with the Deep Red Flame Maple, Lee McKinney Controls with Piezo output, HSH configuration, Red Binding on a black neck and Ebony Board.
CarvinJasonBecker6.jpg


Hoping to finally get this in a few months, already have a bit saved up for it.
 
View attachment 249835

In the future, if I ever need another reliable Super Strat, nothing fancy, but with a good bridge and pups, I'd like to get something like the one on the left under a JB100 build, that's Jason Beckers signature guitar, or one of their options for them. Basic in some ways, pretty good in others.

View attachment 249833

This is one that I'm looking at for a far in the future build, it'll be a bit different, 7 instead of 8, or atleast, that's what I'm thinking. No Kiesel treated board, Ebony instead of Maple, probably consider the block inlays given the width of the fretboard. It's gonna be completely decked out, Trans Blackburst with the Deep Red Flame Maple, Lee McKinney Controls with Piezo output, HSH configuration, Red Binding on a black neck and Ebony Board.
CarvinJasonBecker6.jpg


Hoping to finally get this in a few months, already have a bit saved up for it.


I love the blue one!! Transparent blue
 
Been getting that itch to buy a guitar again lately.

I really like the latest Iron Label S series guitars.

ibanez-six6fdfm-650-80.jpg


This one has the Blue Sunburst satin finish on the flame maple top and the back is just the mahogany body wood finish.

rxqpkdurmadwqb8w8hq3.jpg


Comes stock with Dimarzio fusion's.

820.jpeg
 
Been getting that itch to buy a guitar again lately.

I really like the latest Iron Label S series guitars.

ibanez-six6fdfm-650-80.jpg


This one has the Blue Sunburst satin finish on the flame maple top and the back is just the mahogany body wood finish.

rxqpkdurmadwqb8w8hq3.jpg


Comes stock with Dimarzio fusion's.

820.jpeg

I've played one of these at my local Long and McQuade, fantastic guitar. Locking tuners, reverse stock, gibralter bridge, and the Satin finish is very beautiful.

Considered getting it in the past.
 
I've played one of these at my local Long and McQuade, fantastic guitar. Locking tuners, reverse stock, gibralter bridge, and the Satin finish is very beautiful.

Considered getting it in the past.

Is it true that reverse headstocks is much more difficult to intonate? or could have more problems with intonation because of the scale length?
 
Is it true that reverse headstocks is much more difficult to intonate? or could have more problems with intonation because of the scale length?
I'm not sure, I hadn't heard anything about that... interesting. Might change a few things for me.
 
I see Ibanez now has it's version of the "super playability neck joint" first seen on yamahas.

This is because Rich Lasner designed both the yamaha RGX series and the Ibanez RG series guitars and then made them at fujigen and other japanese factories.

I think the super high end ibanez and yamahas may still be made in japan but they've moved manufacturing to other countries on the lower models.

"lower models" doesn't mean low quality as I've had some amazing korean made guitars.
 

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