14 Roadworthy Guitar Brands That Won't Break The Bank (and Aren't Fender or Gibson)

[@sassycat]

Glad to see you mentioned Reverend; and there's nothing wrong with Gretsch being here, they're as historic as the other "G" brand and make quality affordable guitars.

[@H_Oscarsson]

I'm baffled by why Guild guitars dosen't get more attention. The new Kim Thayil signature for example is one of the best guitars I've ever owned!

[@adefajemisin]

You need to do this for amps.

[@Lalairu]

that is an amazing idea

[@Mark70609]

Very true. But what categories? Valve and/or solid state? Solid state will be cheaper.

[@Pandamasque]

You forgot Guild. There's one right behind you.

[@PatrickNorris10]

Could you do this exact thing but with amps? This is incredibly helpful for exposing some brands affordable options.

[@shawnmcvey7789]

What do you like? What do you need it for? What's your max price?

[@JendaHrbac]

I implore you, keep sleeping on Godins. Keeps them affordable for those in the know.

[@AndyDemos]

I honestly miss playing those classic looking Schecters (PT, Solo, Tempest). 👍🏻👍🏻

[@al271987]

Reverend guitars are absolutely brilliant but sell for peanuts on the used market. Not to mention they’re super comfy, with nice offset shapes and comfort curves. Plus the Wilkinson trems are so good. My favorites brand currently for so many reasons.

[@GuitarSwan]

Honorable mentions: Hagstrom and Sire.

[@sconni666]

The Gretsch Electromatic come in at $600. Right in the middle of Players and Streamline. Not sure why those weren’t shown.

[@martwell]

Eastwood is very overlooked

[@Strongholle]

The ones I've tried were botched together and used super cheap hardware for guitars that were quite expensive for what they were. It's been some time since I've seen one but all of the ones I've seen had major flaws and where just cheap chinese guitars with a quirky vintage aesthetic and sparkly finishes.

[@nicolas.grisanti]

I recommend the PRS CE24, is a bolt on maple neck so is really stable, with the best split/humbucker sound, it is really a guitar to do anything, and now there is a SE version, that is really affordable. I have mine for two years, and it never let me down in studio or live.

[@johninama585]

Sire should be on this list, but it's nice to see Sterling on it. It's rarely seen on any of these lists. I have an Axis and it's my top guitar right now.

[@timmoore5494]

Great list, Joe. I can vouch for the Revstar (RSS20), absolutely amazing guitar. I recently put Grover 502C Rotomatic locking tuners on it (drop-in replacements btw). It has become one of my favorite guitars of all time, and best-feeling neck I've ever played. Also own a G&L S500 Tribute which might be one of the best, versatile S-types for the money I've ever played. My Ibanez AS153 made me an Ibanez believer as well (on the more blues/jazz end, haven't tried any of their shred machines).

[@sam-ww1wk]

If you're going into the 1500-2k range, the Larrivee is a great choice for a t style. Handmade in CA, thoughtful modern updates with classic vibes, and very well built.

[@GitShiddy]

Not a stinker on the list. Love that Danelectro made it, I love mine. Same with the Revstar arguably the best/coolest modern classic. Gretsch the most overlooked, consistently brilliant American Heritage brand. Do think the PRS DGT SE could have been mentioned, though maybe price/availability kept them off.

[@mohitrahaman]

I like Corts

[@Strongholle]

Schecters I wouldn't call roadworthy. Frets are super soft and wear freakishly quick, pickups are me, electronics are cheap and the hardware isn't very good. Had a Nick Johnson come in for work cause it was breaking a lot of strings and the strings had worn deep grooves into the bridge plate and saddles, which were really soft. Frets had worn quite a bit in less than 2 years. For the money, literally get a used mid to high range squier, get a pro to level the frets and set it up and put a set of grovers or schallers on it. You'll be much better off for two thirds of the money.

[@mcaneted]

Missed Godin…

[@TheJdarnold]

Can you do a similar list but with eletric bass? Again excluding Fender/squire.

[@jinzo664]

Strongly recommend the Harley Benton fusion III and a Firefly 338 (with new pickups). I use both on stage and they do great!

[@lynnhopewell4728]

Thanks, enjoyed this very much. Gives me ammunition for answering questions about affordability and quality from students and their parents. I'm going to send them here so they can see what else is out there besides the "big" brands hanging on most store walls.

[@be-kind00]

Which of these is very lightweight and good for jazz and blues?

[@joermnyc]

A sleeper: Cort, aka Cor-Tek, who are the largest guitar maker on the planet, solely because they build guitars and basses for so many other brands.

[@crystalneth994]

Revstars are great, my band did a video for Yamaha a few years back and I loved the sound of it

[@elbib2446]

fgn,fujigen japans house brand,they have a few sub 1000 quid models,made in japan

[@Fishfuzzlove]

Add Charvel Pro Mod Tele with Fishman pickups, belly cut and heel joint. For under 1000$

[@t_at_large]

Wait, you skipped right over the Gretsches that are in the sweet spot for this list - the Electromatics!!!!!

[@patrickcarroll1754]

This list feels near perfect to me. Thanks much for this!

[@tonym7051]

What about acoustics?

[@ItsRael108]

Thank for sharing your wisdom 🎸

[@Mark70609]

I would think that Tokai should have been on the list above Danelectro. I thought the NOS pickups are from the Korean area guitars and not the 50’s and 60’s guitars. If you have a new Dano and think the bridge pickup is unusable then perhaps the overwound Guitar Fetish pickup (8K) might work. I have been tempted to try it on my Korean Dano, but I have a set of Curtis Novak pickups with the bridge pickup overwound to 6K. Don’t think the Korean guitars are better, the neck cavity of my guitar looks like it was hacked out with a pen knife.

[@Kevin-wr9um]

Always heard Eastwoods were made with cheap parts, and sounded bad. But, as I'll never be able to afford a Fender Rory Gallagher, I got an Eastwood RG Special and it sounds great and is easy to play.

[@theprisonier]

Gooooood mention for this video.

[@courtneydouthitt5505]

Thought you said, "won't break the bank!"

[@emdblues]

Great choices but people should also know about the best PRS SE - DGT :)

[@alexeibezzubets5081]

Buying Charvel or Gretsch or Jackson is like putting money in Fender's pocket.

[@Lalairu]

I think Fender doesn't own Gretsch right now, but I might be mistaken

[@alexeibezzubets5081]

@@Lalairu Gretsch has an agreement with Fender that the latter has rights to produce and sell Gretsch guitars

[@Lalairu]

Oh okay didn't know that, thanks for the info :D @@alexeibezzubets5081

[@Brutuscomedy]

"Peavey Superman guitar" -Brutus 👍 If you're gonna include pricey Gretsch, I'd definitely throw in American made Heritage guitars. (the original Gibson)

[@thetownspeople6486]

No EVH? The Wolfgang’s are amazing.

[@pdg887]

What's the yellow guitar at 0:18?

[@Reverb]

That's a Sterling Valentine: reverb.com/p/sterling-james-valentine-signature-jv60cb

[@leonardonovelo2524]

Shecter Nick Johnston is missing

[@DatMetalBoi75]

First time I came this early, I ended up paying an ungodly amount of child support for a kid I've never met

[@ApolloSol]

Wow, a classically trained comedian.

[@DatMetalBoi75]

@@ApolloSol thank you, I'll be here indefinitely

[@sassycat]

Why do I hear Dangerfield saying this? 😸

[@jamesonpace726]

Cool list....

[@joshuadickey9552]

Hey hey, Nick Hill!! Nice

[@kendallmasterssank369]

CORT should be here easy.

[@johndrowe5281]

TCFS - too cool for school 😊!🫶✌️♾️🎸👨🏼‍⚕️

[@terrytrapp6036]

Made in the usa means fuck all these days

[@jasondarling]

You forgot Comins GCS-1

[@alexanderp.5019]

Gretsch players edition guitars are very very expensive guitars !!! i can understand putting in this list electromatics and streamliners but not the high end gretsches

[@MrLoompi]

JET Guitars ?

[@grinningdemonz28]

I feel like Epiphone should definitely be on here, great quality and prices that won't break the bank

[@hammill444]

Uh, I would say those prices listed on Reverb are likely from close to ten years ago. I don’t see any of these matching up today

[@TheDancingSaxophone]

Are you trolling? I just looked up 4 of these and not only are the exact listings there in most cases, but there are also, in many cases, even cheaper listings.

[@hammill444]

@@TheDancingSaxophone Guess I’m looking in the wrong place; I couldn’t find any of these that matched.

[@makeajazznoiseYTstoleit]

Wake up people. A brand won't make this list if it's not sold on Reverb new and used. Big L not mentioning Kiesel