tspikes51

Let me begin by saying that I know plenty in this department (I've got 4 guitars so far), but any new info would help. The problem is that I don't get to play too many different axes. So without further ado, some info:

I'm buying an electric.
Budget: no more than $400.
I would like to buy used, so I can get a higher-end product at a decent price.
I like the tone of a Les Paul, but the playability and flexibility of a strat.
I play all kinds of music.
So far, I'm thinking about ESP or an American Strat. Anybody know of a good combination of a strat-like neck and a LP like tone??? I want one where the electronics don't have a half-life of 3 years, like my Squier Affinity.

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gboz

The old addage you get what you pay for is mostly true in guitars also. Squier is a cheap imitation, don't make that mistake again.

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jakewesier

if you can get a good used Les Paul or American strat for 400 bucks then you are getting either a guitar with a lot of problems with it or buying it from someone who is a fool.

Les Pauls can go between 2000 to 4000 new. American Strats around 1500 to 2000. The age old debate of Playability vs Tone. I personally think that Les Pauls are a superior guitar in every way. But that's because I've been playing gibson guitars for the last 7 years almost exclusively (es 335 mostly) but time to time I want that single coil Strat sound if I'm doing a blues gig. It's like Coke vs Pepsi of guitars. But I doubt a $400 budget will get you a guitar with much playability or tone from my personal experience.

Not without having to get new pickups and a fret job. Just my view

Tusko

godin
dean
yamaha

tspikes51

I know that and knew that at the time, but the fact that it was my first electric and I had been playing for less than a year at the time made it seem like dropping a lot of money would be stupid (plus my parents wouldn't spend much more than $200 for a guitar and amp), and I still stand by my decision. I am fully aware of the prices of new guitars, and know what to look for in an axe, I was just wondering if anyone would have a suggestion to accelerate my choice. I emphasize again that I am planning on buying used. I may be able to go up to $500, and I think that I can find something decent for that price. I know a new American Strat costs around $800, so I don't think that finding a used one for $400 is that insane of a task.

__________________
"I'm telling you, we need to get rid of a few people or a million."
-Maddox

jakewesier

well maybe the pricing for American Strats is a lot lower in the States. I've never seen a new american strat for under $1,500 Canadian which is just over 1,200 American. I've never heard of a New American Strat as low as 800 bucks. I'd love to pay that much for a new Yankee Strat though

Those suggestions are not bad. I would be warry of Godin though. They don't sound anything like a Paul and play more like an Ibenez. Yamaha play fairly strat like but have an unconvincing tone. Never seen or heard a Dean to my knowledge. I would not suggest Ibenez either as they have their own distinct tone just like Gibsons or Fenders do.

There are always instruments available. If you are willing to spend 500 bucks in a stretch I could see you maybe talking someone into a Strat from the mid 1990's. It would probably need a bit of work done to it depending on how much it was played. There are always deals. My 1st serious isntrument was probably 1,200 bucks and ig ot it for 500 bucks 1 year old second hand from someone who bought it and never played it.

I think what you might have to do is pick which one you would rather more. Tone or Playability. My suggestion would be to get an Eiphone Les Paul. They can be purchased for around 500-600 bucks for a good one. Not the cheap ass ones as the neck will just fall off after any amount of playing. The 500-700 dollar range on those guitars produce a good sounding and playing instrument for all styles. I would suggest looking into the new Fender Lite series. They come in Tele's or Strats. Made in Korea I believe. The have semour duncan pickups and sound just great and play well to. However that's all Strat sound and playability. I almost bought one a few months ago.

OFKU0

$4-500 is a tough sell. You might get lucky but not with a name guitar like PRS that combines the LesPaul/Strat thing quite successfully.

My suggestion is that if you know anything about setting up guitars,..intonation, truss rod alignment, fret dressings, replacing necks etc,...really any cheap guitar can sound like a million bucks. Trust me, I've taken guitars that people are ready to throw out and have worked my magic on them and presto, they rip.

As a matter of fact recently, I worked on a Goya electric. Cheap guitar but had great pick ups and lots of sustain. My buddy is now on the road with it as one of his spares and he loves it.

Eddie did that too. Van Halens first record had Eddie playing a modge podge guitar he put together from other guitars and I think it worked pretty good for him. Unless you want to collect guitars in their original form, I would suggest the custom route. I've owned and own a bunch of guitars and not one hasn;'t had my personal stamp on it.

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Mister B

My Mexican strat with new electronics sounds as good if not better than any american strat off the shelf imo. I have texas specials in the neck and middle, and a jb junior humbucker in the bridge. It's fairly unique, which I like. I think playability is much better a guitars original tone. Changing pickups and matching you guitar up with a good amp goes a longer way than the wood the guitar is made out of.

Also, many times you are paying for a name when it comes to high priced guitars.

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Locobot

$500 is a little more realistic for a decent used American strat. As has been suggested you're best off money-wise doing a little DIY work to turn a mediocre guitar into a great one.

Janey

Try Godin. amazing rock maple bodies made in Quebec: http://www.godinguitars.com/

tspikes51

Yeah, as for DIY, I'm pretty well set on how to do all of those kinds of things (my Squier actually plays quite well for not adding anything, just don't want to drop money on a piece of crap). So, is finding a decent fix-er-upper feasible in this price range???

__________________
"I'm telling you, we need to get rid of a few people or a million."
-Maddox

darkangel

I bought my brand new (condition) Mexi strat off ebay. And the total with shipping and customs to Canada worked out to be around $500. Best guitar I've ever played, but I've never tried an American strat. I expect in the states the price would be lower (unless I just got a wicked deal.)

ElwoodBlues

What are the four guitars you have so far? What you choose should really depend on what you have already. You don't want something that is going to feel and sound exactly like your other other axes.

With that said, I am a BIG fan of Ernie Ball Music Man. However, since that is out of your price range, why not take a look at OLP? I've heard they're very solid axes, and they just came out with a John Petrucci Model which is in the $400 range if I'm not mistaken. 24 frets and a trem are among its chief features. If you want to know any more about ErnieBall or OLP, feel free to PM me with any questions.

www.olpguitars.com

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Bauer's the man.

bh20

The guitar player for my band had the Satriani signature Ibanez... thing played like a dream. Had to sell it to pay rent :P.

I'm a fan of the PRS's as well.