Price isn't really an issue with electric guitars as long as all the basics are done right you can do some work and make a $300-$400 guitar play and sound like a top of the line guitar. However, you still need a good body that isn't made of bricks, a well shaped and straight neck that you like playing, and quality parts that are not going to make the guitar so devoid of joy to play that it will become a floor decoration.

From personal experience those kinds of guitars start around $300. From what I've spent my own money on:

• PRS SE
• Sterling by Music Man
• G&L Tribute

You might have to adjust some things or do some light work on the frets, but aside from that they've always come as decent players that turned out to be excellent players with a bit of work. There might be other brands that fall into this category, Yamaha for sure, but I am only listing things that I have personal experience with so my personal preferences for neck shape and fret-boards probably factored into it as much as anything else.

 

Last edited: Jan 9, 2021

$499.99 Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster (2011 - Present)

Started to get attention around 2014 when people noticed Kevin Parker (Tame Impala) was using it.
It originally belonged to his friend Jay Watson (Pond, Gum, Tame Impala).







It is now widely regarded as the best Squier ever built.

Too Late for a MIJ (made in japan) 80's strat JV serial (Japan Vintage).
You might find a MIM (made in mexico) 90's strat MN serial for a good price (M = Mexico, N = 1990's).

But if you want the most bang for your bucks, you gotta go for the Hot Lixx period.

 

Last edited: Jan 9, 2021

Anyone telling you that a specific brand guitar or even a specific guitar by specific brand is definitely the best or gives you links to youtube videos is full of shit. No offence.

And when you don't know what the fuck you are doing and get answers like that shit like this happens:

Again, no offence. It's probably played with a stratocaster very similar to the one in the stupid youtube video. Furthermore, there is no cheapest good sounding guitar. That is the answer. You should have just told people what kind of guitar sound you like and what your budget is.

 

Does it stay in tune, have good intonation (plays in tune on all frets or when playing chords) and it feels good to you, then the brand or whether it's new or used doesn't matter. I worked in a pawn shop for a while, and you could never judge a guitar by the brand. That being said, Fender Squire and Gibson's Epihone brand are both decent guitars for the money.

 

Be advised that guitars are like rabbits.
You buy one, then two, and then they start breeding - and before long your house is littered with them.
And all guitarists knew about hoarding addiction long before it became a problem for software hoarders.
You try to sell one but your brain just makes it feel welded to your hand.

From an old thread about nanotechnology... a failed solution...
I showed this picture of a nanoguitar (a few microns long!) to my better half
and she immediately suggested that I replace all my existing guitars with nanoguitars
"a lot quieter and stops cluttering up the house!"
Her imagination is delusional

 

Just make sure whatever you get, it can be setup properly. I bought a new Monoprice Strat some years ago and I found the neck was twisted and could not be setup properly, so back it went. Sad, because it was a lefty and lefty's are hard to find.

 

Look for sales.
9 years ago I got an Epiphone SG Prophecy with 24 frets, ebony fretboard, Dirty Fingers pick-ups, Grover tuners, Tune-O Matic bridge, coil splitting new, regularly $1299 on sale for $399.
The pick-ups alone were worth most of that price.

 

Used could get you much more bang for your buck. If new, Fender Squire line and upgrade strings, pickups, tuner, and bridge.

 

the jacksons js22 dinky are cheap and great

 

This reminds me of the sad truth that we no longer live in a world where guitars and rock music are hip enough to be turned into kids toys.

 

Hard to beat this one

https://reverb.com/item/3275305-washburn-kc-40v-chicago-series-with-hard-case-very-good-condition I bought mine in 1989 new for $549. It´s the only electric I have since then.

 

I just want a system that sounds like this. Don't give a fuck about the guitar.

I think this video is just unavoidable in a thread about guitars.

Having said that, I believe it's really important to buy a guitar for the purpose. Like, you won't buy a jazz guitar for playing death metal, ya know?

I have an eye on one of Schecter Sun Valley Super Shredders, so you know what kinda sound I'm after. Korn, Ministry, Rammstein, Slipknot... I do wonder if Schecter is the right choice, so I'm still investigating.

The actual guitar from the film, played. It doesn't sound bad, huh?

 

Last edited: Jan 11, 2021

Thanks! Finally I know which metric system use to impress the girls!

I changed piezo mic to mic and decrease gate on amp and result now is better.
Maybe my classic guitar isn't sound that bad. For shure much better than a toy

2 minutes of Ear Rape

 

So I guess I want Robbie Williams sound?

2:26

And I like that "resonant" sound from Bullet in the Heather

1:07 - 1:22

But I like "cow howls" from Only Shallow too

0:01 - 0:24

And this "chimpanzee hiccups" from Bulls on Parade

0:26

 

I like a hardtail even though i enjoy having a whammy bar and a couple of my songs depend on it.
The stability in tuning and makes it easier to deal with, and I like the difference in tone too.

I never had a Telecaster (although i repaired one) but i did have a 1983 Ibanez Roadstar 2 (and also a 1986 trem version).