Rolling the Dice on Cheap Guitars

Baxter and Jonathan try to decide if there is value in the Harley Benton guitars of the world. Is it better to have many guitars or a couple good ones.
Podcast on Spotify
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[@garretazonsa]

As a budget-restricted bedroom player, i am always willing to "roll the dice" on cheaper guitars. Brands like Harley Benton offer some of the coolest copies of guitars we can never ever own in our lifetime. Just accept that they will never be perfect out of the box. That's why everyone should learn a thing or two about set-up and modifications. Heck, my first and only Gibson had lots of problems as well. Very nice topic. Always love watching your videos!

[@pads-zr9ln]

Exactly what I've just done with my HB, the action was a little high so had a go at reducing it, if I mess up a set up is £26, total cost £158 with set up, for the same money you could get a squire or epi with the same problems, you certainly won't get a roasted neck and I doubt the pickups would be as good

[@jgenoese]

It’s the golden age of cheap guitars. My Indonesian G&L is fantastic.

[@Bob-Whiting]

100%!

[@synonyx]

Very true, some time doing setup and polishing frets a little $$ in some pickups and your $400 guitar will play like a $2000 one.

[@Bob-Whiting]

@@synonyx Yes! If it's got a really good neck to start with, and a well done body and finish... I am on my way! Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

[@friedrudibega6384]

Play before you pay. Hard to do in this dystopian society.

[@Bob-Whiting]

This is a great topic guys. I'm a disabled guy and we live check to check. The last cheap guitar I bought was a Tele type with really bad YT reviews, so bad it has disappeared. It was super beautiful, but unplayable. Luckily I'm a fair guitar tech. I smelled a bargain and I Rolled the Dice. It needed the frets filed as it was eating my calluses for lunch, the pots made all kinda noises and the switch was a little grindy so I removed the plate and lubed the switch and gave the pots a shot of WD-40 to their guts and all that went away. Lastly people on YT were complaining of all that AND the Bridge Pickup. Mine sounded terrible as well but, all I did was lower it down and it quit howlin' and growlin' and now I have a player fer sure. Looks great, sounds great, for maybe 90 minutes work total and $103.00 US including tax and S/H. It even stays in tune! The Cali Classic Strat type I just bought on Cyber Monday was on sale for $85 including S/H and NC taxes. It has really good reviews on YT but I'm expecting the same and I Will Fix It. I have nothing but time and almost zero money. Like $595.50/Mo. with a $450 mortgage. As you can tell I'm a hell of a shopper, and I have to be. I do own 1 2016 Gibson Les Paul but, my son bought it for me. Good boy that kid! In closing, if you're a tech or a luthier, you MIGHT want to Roll The Dice. But if you have disposable income or maybe you're short on time, you probably want to invest in a better known, better set up Instrument. I put together my half stack the same way but that's for a future comment. Merry Christmas and a Happier Covid Free New Year!!!

[@etucc8]

Your son is a good man. Rock on, brother.

[@Bob-Whiting]

@@etucc8 Thank you. BTW, I did have 3 other guitars but they were stolen 2 1/2 years ago while we were moving from Calif. to NC. That's why he bought the Les Paul for me. happy holidays!

[@andrewkelley3434]

I bought two Harley Benton's back in September. The DC junior fat and an SC 550 II. Both guitars came to Canada without any damage and set up fairly well, I lowered the bridge on the junior because it's for my daughter and I didn't want her to fight the action on her first electric. The SC 550 II was without any noticeable flaws (fretboard needed to be conditioned, but what's new there) and after 2 months and probably about a hundred hours of practicing and playing on it, it's still as good as the day it arrived. Now these aren't the cheapest HB guitars, but I will count myself lucky that I didn't get a lemon. The neck on the 550 reminds me of my PRS SE, so much so that I swear that they are likely made in the same Indonesian factory.

[@MrRMB1]

I bought three HB's last year. As a casual hobbyist, they are perfect for me and have had zero problems from day one. They are also great guitars to learn how to work on, replace hardware on and modify. I have no idea if the QC is good or bad, however, they look and play great to me and that's what counts. It's also nice to switch things up. On the flip side, I recently bought a new mid priced Jackson and it had an input jack wiring problem that needed addressed right out of the box. It's a crap shoot on everything that you buy.

[@philsequeira3180]

I certainly wanted to get a Gibson pre-pandemic, but budget brought me to HB. Gave me a chance to try a single cut. I also have PRS style guitar as well as a Artist Guitar tele style guitar. Now that I’ve had a chance to play different body shapes in my own ‘shop’, I have a much better idea of what I’d like when I decide to actually buy a quality instrument.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

+Phil Sequeira, Interested to hear your thoughts on your Artist Tele style guitar...

[@philsequeira3180]

@@NewFalconerRecords The TC59 is a great guitar. Good build quality, solid pickups with coil splitting, set up and ready to go out of the box, it sounds great. It is a bit heavy and I haven’t played many tele’s to compare it to but as a bedroom player, it works for me. They are hard to get here in the States, supply chain I assume. Over seas they have a much more complete selection of guitars and inventory.

[@NewFalconerRecords]

@@philsequeira3180 Great to hear. I've got a TC59 (man, you're not wrong about the heaviness, it's like stone!). I'm in Australia and I got one for AUS$230 brand new (that'd be under US$200) -- happened to get a lefty one that was customer returned and they knocked off a hundred from the price. Bargain! Seriously, this thing is magnificent. Insane value for money. I've used it on a couple of demo recordings where I went for a specific sound and you would swear blind that it was a real Tele. So good! Got a few Artist guitars, I'm fortunate being in Australia where they are sooo inexpensive. Ridiculous bang for your buck. Glad you like yours. Cheers mate!

[@Dram1984]

Just bought my first Banjo and it was important to me to get a quality “beginner instrument”. I was impressed that Deering sells an American Made instrument in the $600-$800 range.

[@caiusmadison2996]

So does Pure Salem, out of Florida.

[@216trixie]

Been relearning banjo. Found a decent China model for 75$

[@keithniday4920]

I rolled the dice on a Squire Affinity Tele, learned a little about neck relief, action height and intonation. This $230 guitar is a blast to play now.

[@jonathanpeden9930]

I got one of these last year and it was, unfortunately, the exception to the rule. It was unplayable and should never have left the factory. Junk that looked great. Yet I still have a 2007 Bullet Strat that has always played like a dream. I would defo but Squire again, but probably Classic Vibe

[@dhillmad]

I purchased one new on line. Excellent right out of the box. I cleaned up the rough edges on the frets with soft sanding block and added 100 dollar set of locking tuners. Plays perfect and sounds great.

[@frankenstein4106]

I've found that spending the money on quality guitars makes playing more enjoyable. I don't have to spend the money to mod it to get it to be a respectable guitar, or send it down the road cuz it just doesn't fill the void.

[@scottschmidt5198]

Personal perspective is I have had lower cost guitars and now tend to play higher cost or even custom shops guitars…But I believe there are those guitars that have magic in them… I have a 500 made in Mexico Tele that my friends and myself will keep coming back to over some of my other much more expensive guitars… but that guitar is an anamoly not the norm… hard to go back once you start playing nicer built instrument with better pickup and better quality woods and craftsmanship… but at end of day play what makes you happy and you can’t go wrong

[@paulcowart3174]

Yeah I got lucky with a Squier from the pawn shop 65 bucks but this guitar just has "IT"...might of had some upgrades already cause it just sounds and plays great And I have an original 65 and a CS Strats so I'm comparing it to some good guitars There must be millions of crappy guitar's hanging around out there

[@analtarofnothing69]

Rolling the dice is fine if you're buying through a good store that actually cares enough to check guitars before they leave (like, for instance Peach or Coda in the UK) or someone who just slaps a label on a box and ships it as quickly as possible (like Amazon or Andertons). You can load the dice in your favour simply by buying from good people

[@fawkesandhound]

I’ve had nothing but excellent service from Anderton’s. Bought a bunch of stuff from them from here in the US, stuff come fast via DHL with no issues.

[@markkozielec2200]

I’ve always just bought what I could afford. It used to be lower priced instruments, a solid state amp, and a crappy Zoom multi effect. Now that I’m older, I can afford the PRS I wanted, multiple boutique pedals, and any amp I want(within reason/not buying a Dumble anytime soon). None of it actually makes me a better player, but they’re what I want, and I’m not going into debt buying them.

[@garrysimmons111]

Most of my guitars are affordable ($500 - $1000) and they're all good guitars. I've modded most of them (locking tuners, new pickups). They get just as much playing time as my Suhr Modern ($3K). They all play equally nice. I have a really hard time justifying $4K+ for a guitar. They all have the same notes on them. My guitars need an upgraded owner :-)

[@ronniefnd]

I'm the same way. I've always felt like $800 was the magic number for some reason.

[@77pearcearrow]

I am really impressed with the more affordable guitars at the shop I teach at. I'm just curious to see how long they would last 6 hours a day teaching or on a 4 hour gig. If one of my students wants to upgrade from their startup pack guitar to fender style guitar, I straightup tell them to get a Player series or some used Mexican Fender. The Player series guitars are such a good value and are on point.

[@mikegreen2417]

My slimmed down collection of "good ones" keeps growing.

[@paulcowart3174]

Well said...I just found at a pawn shop a mint 65 Gibson Melody Maker...599. I snapped it up Evidently it had just came out for sale Don't think that will ever happen again for me on a vintage guitar Super lucky that day

[@chadwicks_guitar]

I would love to have my first “cheap” guitar back. Mid 80’s Squier Strat, that looked like Clapton’s Blackie. It cost me a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get that 189.99 (+tax) from the local mall music shop. I can still remember staying in my bedroom for nearly a week trying to learn “London Calling” by the Clash. Hey Casino guys! Can you hook a brother up?

[@ImNotOld_ImVintage]

I play mostly MIA or MIM Fenders, but I bought a Squier Strat mini for my 10 year old nephew to learn on. I took the neck off and ran some 0000 steel wool over the whole neck, restrung it with 10s and it feels great now. The pickups have ceramic magnets so it has more of a P90 sound, but it sounds great. It needs better tuners and the plastic nut could be replaced, but overall it's better than anything I ever touched when I was learning in the 80's. I'm sad I won't be able to play it once I give it to him.

[@MatthewBaron]

I've got a couple of cheap guitars. I've got a couple of mid-range guitars. And I've got an expensive high-end guitar. The cheap guitars get taken down once in a while. Sometimes it's to noodle and sometimes it's to consider getting rid of. The expensive high-end guitar gets played a little more often. But not too often because it's a damn fine instrument and I'm paranoid about treating it right. But the mid-range guitars... They don't stay on the hanger for too long. Those ones I play. Because they're fun to play. And I'm not so paranoid about the guitar as an investment (the myth v fact aspect aside). And because I play them so much, I'm used to them. And because I'm used to them, they're fun to play. So I play them more. Spend enough on a guitar that it will be fun to play it. But be mindful that if you spend too much on one guitar, you might be afraid to play it.

[@TheWelhaven]

Yeah, I went down the nerdy custom shop, boutique, hand made route for some years. Expensive guitars I was afraid to ding and scratch. Sold’em all. Still have a Gibson white Flying V from 1995, and a lovely Am. Ultra, but I’ve also four MiMs that I bought used, three of them I’ve modded w/new pots and pickups. Play them all the time, gig with them, record with them. No worries in the world, and they sound and play amazing

[@scott6588]

I love that you guys don't push these cheap guitars from Firefly and Donner and Glarry. There seems to be a trend of these that directly relates to some KZbin channels and their addiction to views. I own plenty of cheap guitars by the way, but I'm tired of them being pushed as the greatest thing ever by so many. Has technology allowed these guitars to be better...sure.Does that allow more time to be spent on finish? Absolutely.Yet it's still the same cheap hardware on a poplar guitar that they tell you is mahogany. Long rant, but it's funny to me that guitars and playing music is an art form.Yet of all the forms of art, were the only community that pushes the inferior products on people. Can you imagine if the art collector community pushed buying them $20 photo copied pictures from dollar general...the ones with the simulated wood frames? They don't do that...I think you'd be cast out for it.Instead they tell you to take that $20 and hit garage sales and thrift stores for original stuff. Then if you save up to support a local artist. Not in the guitar world.Here some channels will turn on their own beliefs for a free $150 guitar. Slowly morphing into sales reps for whomever will pay this week's bills, until they can't even look into the mirror anymore. Knowing they have set up thousands of kids to fail, with gear that will need many upgrades to sound and play decent, but will fall apart four times as fast as well. I personally think Squier and Epiphone in that $350-$500 range is the minimum of what you can do in China, while still being proper hardware and woods and QC and support. All these cheaper guitars are examples of what can be done if you just focus on finish and skip the rest. People like to mod them, but it's still an improperly dried piece of invasive poplar with a brand name that adds no value no matter what you put in it. Just mod an old Epiphone. OK sorry for the novel, it's just irritating how we as a sub culture can be swayed into a lane, and even buy into the idea that it's the place to be.

[@paulcowart3174]

Well said....there must be millions of crappy guitar's floating around out there I'm a firm believer in that quality will last longer and feel/sound better as the year's go by My cheapest is a Squier that I cherry picked and it is remarkably nice 👍

[@ActionGuitars57]

The man that taught me how to repair guitars had a saying "there's a lot of old strats , but there isn't a lot of good old strats!" Every time you buy a guitar on line you take a chance . The best way is to still go play it before you buy it. Quality is missing in guitars for many years. I've had to setup straight from the Gibson factory and fender factories top of the line models. I've had gibson and squire guitars that were incrediable. You need to know how you want a gui tree AR setup and play before you buy it. ,

[@paulcowart3174]

I know there must be millions of crappy used guitars out there

[@TonyLake920]

I own 3 guitars a Gibson LP studio, a American Strat, and a Taylor 410ce all of them I purchased used and all of them the low end of the brands. The Gibson Lp Studio is basically a standard without the binding, the Stratocaster is an American Strat( my favorite) and the Taylor sounds fantastic. My point is you can stay budget (I have less than $2500. In all 3 ) and still get quality it takes a little time and research but it can be done.

[@paulcowart3174]

I think the Studio's are sans maple tops....I could be mistaken

[@raytorvalds3699]

@@paulcowart3174 You are mistakin' indeed.

[@MetallicA29]

I do my best to buy American because of the fact of economics. However, quality from over seas has dramatically improved in the last 10 years. It's getting harder to argue the reasons to buy American with instruments when everything else we get is China.

[@LexingtonDaniel]

There's a modern-day way of thinking that inexpensive is as good as, or even better than, high-end products. In guitars, there's a simple fact that wood and hardware won't be as good on a Squire as it is on a Mex Fender, American will be better and Custom Shop will be even better. I had a guitarist insist that his Epi SG was as good as my Custom Shop SG... He had upgraded pickups and Grovers. Mine is a Jr so it has the old 3-on-a-plate tuners and a vintage-type P-90. Mine stayed in tune for entire gigs, he had to tune every song. His may have sounded as good but didn't play anywhere near as effortlessly, wasn't as stable, and his back hurt after gigs when my 5lb 6oz guitar was an ergonomic dream. My theory (take it with as many grains of salt as you wish) is that the "participation trophy" culture has trickled down to possessions. When every person is good enough to be the best, every guitar must be good enough to be the best too.

[@tragedician]

Affordable brands like Harley Benton promote access to the market, which is great. The more guitar players, the better! Also, the Harley Benton I tried was leagues better than the Turbo guitar I learned on as a teenager and for about the same price. I think the biggest risk with brands like HB and Firefly is they're all online orders (unless you live in Germany near Thomann), so no real tech support. If you are comfortable tinkering on your guitars to set them up and correct any issues, great. If not, or in the case of total beginners, better to buy a guitar (such as a Squier) from a reputable shop so you have access to tech support that can help with those issues.

[@caseyodonnell6621]

Here's a question for you. Are the Harley Benton, Firefly, Donners, etc the Danelectro, Teisco, Kay, and Silvertones of tomorrow? I'd argue probably not because the cheap guitars of yesteryear had some innovations (lipstick, or gold foil pickups, novel building materals, etc) whereas today's are more knockoffs than inexpensive innovators. Great video guys!

[@scott6588]

CNC has allowed these cheap guitars to be built consistently. Yet China has an invasive poplar wood problem, so I'd imagine these builders buy these woods for next to nothing. It's still the same crappy hardware from the 70s copies. They simply can put more time into finish since the woods were basically free. So they still invest the same percentage into the build as 45 years ago, it's just now that goes into finish, not woods or hardware. At least them old copies were made of maple and mahogany....even though they may have had far more flaws being hand made. Woods that finish drying on the boat because they don't even do that right.

[@scott6588]

Also I've seen Kay guitars made of solid cedar tops with solid rosewood back and sides....ebony fingerboards. Makes you wonder what people are smoking when they say today's budget guitar is better than that stuff, simply because the fretwork is better and the laminate tops are prettier.

[@216trixie]

Yes. But those guitars had normally sucky build quality, and today's CNC cheapos are way ahead in quality.

[@tonepilot]

There’s also the idea of buying from a manufacturer closer to home. Supporting local employment, saving the environment from as much shipping pollution, being able to get parts easily, etc.

[@FrankLafone]

It's easy to compare the intro Harley Bentons of the world and a high end custom shop because extremes should show differences. Just taking Fender to be easier, the real question is the MiM versus the HB. I doubt many people are cross-shopping a HB strat at $150 with, say, the AM Pro II at $1,500. Some, sure, but most people? Probably not. Most would be comparing the $800 MiM strat with the $150 cheap model. Even more would be cross shopping the Squier CV at $450. Can you make the HB sound and plays as well as a guitar 3x the price with the wrong name on the headstock? How about over 5x the price? Get a good setup (~$75) get a good set of pickups and electronics (let's say ~$200), now we're at $425 for that HB, but it now has better pickups and electronics than the Squier at slightly cheaper than Squier prices (ignoring shipping, which is a HUGE variable). Never mind the MiM, which is double the price and likely has worse pickups in it. Those are the interesting questions, especially for people who don't live in "Made in the USA" guitar money. Heck, even if you do, you can get 3 HB hot-rodded for the price of one Am Pro II. That might not be the value proposition that makes sense for you, but for some it may well be, especially if you want pickup variety (say SSS Strat and 2 HB Tele, for instance).

[@leslie21757]

Some good points Frank. I bought a $135 HB strat model last year the VT series in Shell Pink (sucker for that color) and I also have a MIM Strat. The HB was playable, but I felt to make it better it needed some mods - I put in a bone nut and upgraded the trem lock to solid brass. The retro tuners were decent along with the Roswell pickups. While not necessary I also put a more solid input / output jack in it too. The neck also needed fret sprout corrected -sanding and polishing. Maybe $50 and some of my time, but being retired helps. Is it as good as the MIM - nope. The MIM played wonderfully out of the case and still does - it was about $1000 as it was an anniversary model with locking tuners, noise free pickups etc. However, if you were to play them blindfolded I doubt you would put one at 5x to 6x the cost of the other. Regarding the Classic Vibe (CV) - great value! A neighbor just showed me his CV Tele that he got from the UK for approx $400 US - again perfect out of the box. To compare to HB, one might have to look at their Fusion series, that go for close to $400 with a lot of upgrades already factored in out of the box. I do not have one - Yet. Keep playing and enjoy, GH

[@bartlettoshay7708]

As a lefty I've run the course with the budget guitars. You can swap all the hardware and electronics which will greatly improve the sound and playability but it'll still be about epi/squire quality and you'll have spent 700-1000 on an epi/squire. For partscasters I'll grab a nitro body from guitar mill and a neck from musikraft, set necks I make the investment on a Gibson. Don't tell anyone but the guitar I pick up the most is a shell pink nitro partscaster strat with the SRV carve maple neck and rosewood board

[@kogabear1]

I’m a bass player, I didn’t start out with expensive basses. I have them now. I’m wanting to learn how to play guitar so I’m buying a “cheap” strat and a Les Paul. Will I ever get proficient to warrant the “real thing?” Don’t know. Which one as far as price goes if it doesn’t work out to sell of give away. It would be great if there was a “cheap” guitar made in the US. I be happy to buy but there isn’t. You said it yourself, you’d pay $20 of your shirt but not $80. Same with instruments and there is where we are at.

[@adrianosselton4662]

I can definitely say the magic has to be there my very first "real guitar" was a BC Rich Mockingbird I bought in 93 because of a poster I saw of slash rocking on one. it had that magic spark the moment I plugged it in at the local guitar store, skip to 25+ years later and I am about to put over the price of the guitar that I paid for it back into it. From new bridge to new tuning heads. I still feel that magic when I play it that I did when I first got it.

[@danielelamworshipguitar]

You can find some really great cheap electrics out there. I’ve had a few. But I’m talking about Squier, Gretsch Electromatic, PRS SE, Epiphone. I would never roll the dice on a Harley Benton or the other super cheap brands. For one thing, they look terrible. Everything about them looks cheap, and is cheap. I’m over 40 now and most guitars I’m interested in are well over 2k. My cheapest guitar currently is a CE24 and it’s not even a money thing it’s just a quality thing. I used to like swapping out parts/pickups and “upgrading” guitars but as I’ve gotten older I don’t want anything that I have to work on or do a bunch of mods to get it to play right or sound good. If I don’t like it it the way it is (aside from a setup) it’s not worth my time and money trying to make it better.

[@nocturnal101ravenous6]

I am the opposite, when I buy a guitar I have to make it my own, its just a personal thing, Grant it I think when you get to the level of purchasing guitars that are above the $2k mark people don't really mod them, I don't, its like buying vintage you know what you want and buy it for what it is not what it can be, and I think there in lies the difference, I do have some exceptions though, like buying an SG standard for $1500 and getting pickups that match Angus Young's preferred spec. By now though like you mentioned You probably have cheaper guitars that essentially are already modded the way you like so your collection is already rounded out. Some of my stuff is based on looks rather than playing though, like swapping a hardware sets from Chrome to gold depending on colors that they may not sell.

[@BobPerrone]

I rolled the dice on a Squire Classic Vibe Jazzmaster and was blown away. Yes, I needed to do some fret work, set up and about a month tweaking but in the end it is now every bit as good as a Fender at a fraction of the cost and is one of my favorites now. I have a high end Gretsch Country Gentleman which is a whole different planet for quality, but that $400 Squire was a steal in the end.

[@open_e8754]

Going from a very broke young adult to being able to afford more of what I want, I remember thinking of getting a "fleet" of cheaper guitars (epi, squier, HB) but as I've acquired better guitars (not custom shop but 1k+), my desire to go quantity over quality has diminished but im not above a good $500 guitar if it presents itself (j mascis squier). I think it'll mostly come down to individual financial needs and there will always be people who don't want cheap and always people who don't see the need to spend a lot.

[@peterrebhahn1113]

This video tells a side of the story but there are others. Here's one seldom discussed: The makers of cheap guitars like Harley Benton and all the rest are performing a service for everyone whether you ever buy one or not because they are making it difficult for the Fenders and Gibsons of the world to raise prices. How much can Fender charge for a Strat if the market is flooded with knock-offs that are 80 or 90 percent as good at a tenth the price? Ditto for Gibson Les Pauls. If the knock-offs went away tomorrow, Fender and Gibson could raise prices across their entire ranges 20 percent. And they would do it, too. Guitar companies are not your friend. You may love their stuff but they will never love you back.

[@mark78750]

Very well put!

[@charlesbolton8471]

There is truth in your comment, but I think Fender did raise prices 20% across the board this year anyway.

[@UgotdaJonx]

I recently bought a Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar. I also have an American Professional Jazzmaster as well as a MIM Jazzmaster. If you would have told me twenty years ago that I’d ever buy a Squier, I would have laughed at you. That said, while the tremolo and bridge are cheap parts, the pickups sound good to me. The switches and knobs feel solid. The neck is not only cool looking but thankfully it is very comfortable. I absolutely love playing each of them. The neck on the Am.Pro is however top notch, rolled fingerboard and all. I feel there is a certain price point worth rolling the dice on “inexpensive” guitars which for me is about $500 bucks. Play what makes you happy & there’s never enough or too many guitars. Cheers!

[@travisbartley58]

Used Peavey guitars are also in the same price range as most the Harley Benton guitars and alot of the Peavey stuff is USA made.

[@gr8avocado]

I picked up a Squire Affinity Tele Deluxe a few months ago. To my surprise it's a great guitar for the price. The fret work, fit and finish were great right out of the box. Pickups and hardware aren't great but still pretty good. Only thing I'd consider subpar are the tuners.

[@paulcowart3174]

You should upgrade the pups and tuner's...top shelf then If it plays and feels good you can make it sound good for less than 300

[@jamesvegeais6675]

I was just talking with friends about how I noticed that the guitars I tend to pick up most at home have been the cheaper guitars. I've got an old MIM Tele from the days when their variation was high and some were just awful, while the one I have vibrates wonderfully. And probably the most fun guitar I"ve ever owned was a $99 Epiphone Les Paul Special I with P90s. It was not at all a great guitar, but sure was fun.

[@1968joseph1]

I think that some companies make sculptures of guitars instead of instruments. They are fine to hang on the wall in a restaurant, but you can't add enough aftermarket parts to make a sculpture level guitar play like an instrument. There used to be some great playing, cheap copies of famous guitars that came from Japan (I play them,LOL), but most really are wall art.

[@NJSonye]

I play a 1995 Am Std. Strat. I bought it 26 years ago. My guitar techs love it. I installed a Callahan trem block and a set of Fralin pickups. I wish it didn’t have the poly finish of the 90s, but I’ve made a decent amount of $$$ playing this guitar. At the end of the day… it sounds like a Strat! Yes, Jack Pearson plays the shit out a Squire Strat.

[@kateruckus]

They are fun to do modifications on without feeling anxious about potentially messing up a nicer guitar.

[@paulcowart3174]

Well said....best leave anything good unmolested 😂

[@danielphillipsmusic9145]

When I stopped buying instruments on price and started buying them on spec my whole outlook changed. When Fender quit making US factory vintage correct neck/finish instruments I had to be willing to bend. My Fender stable is a CS 55 P, AVRI 57 P, and a MIM Road Worn 50's Tele. Took a gamble on that Road Worn, but it was an on line Memorial Day Floor Demo deal that cost less than the in box poly comparable model, had a vintage radius neck and nitro finish and it turned out to be exactly what I wanted and played amazing out of the box. I'd never trade it, and the only factory Fender I'd put above it for me would be the AVRI Teles. Unfortunately, Fender abandoned the players who prefer the old school feel so all I have left is the used market or doing custom builds with the few vintage correct replacement necks they still offer. Once you get to the point where you know what you need, or at least prefer that definitely changes what you're even willing to look at. It becomes less about cheap vs expensive and more about what you are looking for in an instrument. I'd play one of the Road Worn 50's Tele or Ps long before I'd ever play one of the current US models. Price isn't even a factor. Performance is.

[@nocturnal101ravenous6]

Fender had to change its business model to survive, while I appreciate the old school, time to move forward, Gibson is still being led around by people that demand nothing changes and well as a company they have had a slow death. The market is the partscaster and signatures that are interesting, they still have Clapton and Beck signatures, but for the most part only the MIM have the 50's/60's/70's era matching specs probably for the reason in their customer base you are the minority anymore on their consumer base, once the USA models release old school specs they start to get into the $3k or above price mark its usually just better to buy vintage anyways. Also seriously just have Warmoth make a replacement neck for you they do all the specs vintage and modern and are officially licensed and still made here in the USA.

[@danielphillipsmusic9145]

@@nocturnal101ravenous6 you’re incorrect. Warmoth doesn’t make vintage spec bass replacement necks. You’re definitely right in that people who prefer vintage specs are the minority, but the old model of the vintage correct models being premium priced US models and the other lower US models being the more forward thinking worked for 34 years. The new AO series isn’t selling as well or holding its value like the previous AVRI. So it seems Fender made a miscalculation. Apparently people aren’t keen on paying premium price for entry level neck specs. I’ve no problem with Fender offering more modern knock off style instruments as their main line or paying premium for vintage specs. Only the fact that it’s no longer offered, at all. Right now I’m building a slab body single coil P around a Warmoth 51 P body and a Fender 50s Road Worn P replacement neck, and having the body finished by MJT. Should be done shortly. If Fender doesn’t want my money that’s their choice.

[@nocturnal101ravenous6]

@@danielphillipsmusic9145 Fender doesn't give 2 craps about resale value that does not equal a better bottom line or profit margin, Only hustlers care about that, people that are collectors or people that flip based markets. Here is the reality none of them are worth as much as you think they really are its poppycock the whole lot of it, I can buy a vintage 60's Hofner for under $2k that is significantly more rare than a mass produced strat from a specific year. Grant it there are some stand outs that are worth a higher price, but 1 look on Reverb will tell you people are dreaming very hard, and idiots buy it or it sits for years because the seller is an idiot, a fool and his money in that regard. A used guitar is a used guitar unless its actually in some way special or has a very limited quantity its not worth the price tag people think and you never get out of something what you put into it unless there is a mass amount of fools.

[@danielphillipsmusic9145]

@@nocturnal101ravenous6 resale value is a way to gauge popularity in regards to models that replace one another. An AVRI instrument having a better resale value despite them being produced in higher numbers for over 3 decades as opposed to the model that replaced it for under a decade shows a disparate amount of desirability in the market for the previous design. Sorry if that was unclear.

[@nocturnal101ravenous6]

@@danielphillipsmusic9145 Not really Resale value is dependent on several factors and in music gears case highly manipulated by investors/collectors rather than actual players, popularity of an instrument solely depends on if it sells initially not whether it is resold on the side market, don't believe the BS as that is exactly what it is, and the market you are talking about is also why retail prices have increased, because morons sell things for alot more money than what it should be worth and of course a parent company sees that and wants to cash in because they don't on a secondary market like reverb, People like Fender only pay attention to sales figures that shops provide, what sits on shelves and does not sell is what determines the next line. Fender switched really when prices became too high and they priced themselves out of player markets, and they noticed a seriously increase in DIY generations that were happy to save money doing work and making it their own, hence the Partscaster market is huge, they don't resell for crap, but they are cheaper and Fender makes a large chunk of revenue on Fender licensed parts for Partscaster market, Just take a look at Stratosphere and how their inventory moves. Probably the most valuable thing right now is The Heritage Cherry/Black painted Headstock Ultra Luxe Necks, with SS frets and rolled fetboards, the limited edition necks sold out quick like the all Rosewood limited or the streaked ebony Pro II necks, I mean take it for what it is worth, I have heard most peole say American Neck with a MIM/MIJ body is the best combo for a strat.

[@lewisbeeman]

If you work in Best Buy and stare at the TV’s all day, eventually the only TV’s that are going to look good are going to be the most expensive ones. But if you just walk in, buy what you like within your budget, you will be happy when you get it home.

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

My first guitar was a Les Paul copy from the Sears catalog. It sat under a bed at my mother’s house for 20 years before she sent it to me (for the last several years she has been giving me stuff that I left at her house as Christmas gifts). One of these days I need to get to a luthier to see if it’s worth investing money to make it playable again. The lowest end guitar I own and actually play is a Takamine 12 string that was made in China. I think it was around $450. I’ve been thinking of getting a Squier bass just to mess around with I see why things like Harley Benton exist, but I think the questionable QC and inconsistency could be part of why could be why 85% of new players don’t stick it

[@derekmetcalfe5018]

I work with builds and repairs and just bought a Harley Benton DC Junior in TV Yellow . I had no expectations from the reviews of the guitar , just the thought that it would make a good upgrade platform . The neck was fine , needed a dressing and a change of nut to get it right but nothing major . It leaves you with three possible issues , the pickup , ( Lindy Fralin noiseless P90) , the machine heads ( vintage locking )and the bridge ( a need to get the best working action ), ( electrics will be an extra ) Too upgrade all three will probably cost £300 but on top of my £160 purchase price . For a total of £460 I will have as near as I can get to a Gibson DC Junior. I know not everybody can take this approach but there are ways to get close to that guitar you can't afford !!! and if it plays great and sounds great to you that's what counts .

[@catmandoodoo7903]

I’ve bought four Harley Bentons and they each needed differing levels of work. Luckily I can do that myself. My Squiers needed nothing beyond a truss rod tweak after a few weeks.

[@paulcowart3174]

Yes Squier s are the way to go if you're going cheaper Bust best to play a bunch of them before you buy Usually a good one in the bunch

[@sbrnrmf]

a guitar is a guitar! My favorite guitar I play is one I'd assembled. It's a Junior doublecut with modded out specs. I love that guitar! I also love the fact that it's not a Gibson, Fender, PRS or any huge name brands out there. I've owned copies built by Vintage, Epiphone, etc and they were alright. You just have to get them dialed in. Most guitars you get brand new have to be tweaked to your own personal specs. That's what it's all about, your own comfort! Expensive guitars may "play" better, but you're paying for a name. I've owned a Squier '51 made in Indonesia that played and sounded much better than a 2003 Gibson Melody Maker with a P90. It's all about personal preference! I own 6 guitars: 1 was a kit, 1 was built by a friend, 2 were assembled with custom specs and I own 2 Gibson Les Paul Traditionals. The 2 Gibsons are just investments. I only play the other 4 guitars which I love the most!

[@georgestahl8866]

I love how Johnathan apologized for “going off topic.” You both always find a way to circle back to the original idea. You make the wayward journey fun. Thanks!

[@allisonholmesmusic97]

That surprised me I was like “wait is Baxter having reel Johnathan back in?”

[@nobodys.shapeshifter]

I bought a Harley Benton TE-52 which is a Tele knockoff. As soon as it came in I knew it would be worth while to throw some better pickups in it. The quality of the neck was beyond what I was expecting and I knew it was a keeper. I was expecting to keep the original pickups and use it as a guitar that I could just throw around. I may have just gotten lucky.

[@BrianBrazilHarmonica]

Since Covid hit the US and Asia in 2020 all the guitar companies that were using Asian factories to make their budget models have had QC problems. The factories were shut down for a couple of months. When they were up and running again they shipped out everything in their warehouses they had. They had to hustle like hell to catch up to the enormous record breaking sales demand from the US parent companies like Fender Gibson PRS and others. All of them had QC problems because they were rushing to fulfill their orders. If you bought a 2020 guitar that was made overseas chances are you might have some things wrong with it. Harley Benton Guitars are made in the same countries and factories were the other US companies are. They just happen to be owned by Thomann the largest music retailer in Europe and located in Germany.

[@nickmartinez8217]

You bring up a lot of valid points on getting budget guitars, you only left out wanting to get an instrument that will force you to learn to set up and dial in the instrument. Because of you get a Harley Benton under 250 or a Glarry ohh baby you will be fixing something.

[@ronniefnd]

I've never gotten into the super cheap guitars that have been popping up in recent years. I feel like there are companies that make decent affordable guitars with what seems like a much higher percentage of good ones such as Ibanez, esp/Ltd, schecter, squire etc.

[@paulcowart3174]

What will the cheap guitars be like fifty years from now Best to get something good that will last and only get and sound better in the years to come

[@julioroxas2471]

My experience with cheaper priced guitars, particularly Squier guitars, really is like rolling the dice on what aspect of the guitar would have really bad quality. The first Squier Strat I tried had a really bad finish, but it sounded great, another one looked good but had faulty wiring, and the one I actually own, looks great but the routing was terrible and the holes for the bridge screws was askew. Then there's the biggest gamble, which are the tuners. Mine can tune a whole step with just a quarter of a turn, which is a nightmare.

[@germancarluv]

I bought a Tokai love rock Les Paul clone. I put more into it dialing it in that it cost new. A plek job and a set of Lollars was required to bring it to life. I didn't mind. I expected to spend on it before it even arrived. It was worth it. Thing sounds and plays great now.

[@seanhoward5562]

One thing I've learned in 58 years of guitar playing is for a guitar you want to keep for a long time, you may have to spend a little more for quality for it to last, not that you necessarily get it.

[@paulcowart3174]

Yes plus it will play and sound better as the year's go by I have a 65 Strat and the neck just feels so good and of course the pick ups So in saying compared to a new CS Fender I have it's night and day feel wise Altho still a great playing and sounding piece

[@Nugmania1]

I think we all strive for that zen guitar, for example I was able to pickup a 1957 Gibson lg-1 that spoke to me after 5 minutes. Also I picked up a Carvin lb 20 that was totally solid. In my humble opinion, budget guitars are usually reserved for a new to intermediate skilled musician. They create an interest so that at some point you might feel the need to upgrade. When it comes to electronics, sometimes you can get a knock off that is stunning. Harley Benton put out a 15 watt 12 inch combo, all tube for about 300 bones. It’s equipped with a Celestion 70/80 , and 300 bucks, bonkers

[@gavinbaier7469]

I used to buy cheaper guitars and be part of the crowd that would "upgrade" them and they would be just-as-good as the American version. After a handful of guitars, I realized thats crap and just bought more expensive guitars. Its a tough lesson, but its something you have to accept. Oh, and my 2019 ES-335 is top notch. Glad Gibson got their shit together I can't stop looking at the Lunar Ice PRS!

[@paulcowart3174]

Yeah I got a 2019 HCS Standard 50's model and am super happy with it On the fence about getting some premium pick ups cause the BB's don't sound bad at all Comparable to a 97 Historic R9 I had in all respect except for the maple top I paid half on the 19 of the 44 hundred for the 97 I don't see myself ever getting another LP as long as I have this 2019 Standard.......the clincher was the weight 8.4 lbs Perfect for an LP

[@TheWelhaven]

A good set-up is alfa omega. I’ve bought some used MiMs, changed pots and pups and had a luthier set it up. Love’em.

[@johnbgoode3]

Agree with most points in the video and in the comments. Harley Benton level guitars do allow people getting started, or who can’t afford, a Gibson, PRS, or Fender the opportunity to try out a Les Paul vs Stratocaster vs Telecaster, vs etc. style guitar to find out what their preference is and then spend the money on a nicer version of that.

[@jdstan9650]

I bought and sold 17 guitars upgrading slowly in my first 3 years of playing...have now settled on 3 high quality $1k-$3k instruments. Inexpensive guitars are inexpensive for a reason...I don't consider buying them anymore.

[@simonbk]

Are the expensive guitars better? In a general sense, yes. Are they 5-10 times better, based on price? Probably not. The most important thing is the "magic." How does the guitar feel in your hands? Does it "speak" to you? If so, the price and the name on the headstock shouldn't matter. I've lost count of how many "better" (American-made) guitars I've played that just didn't do it for me. That's not to say they weren't very good instruments, but they just weren't right for me. I'm sure they eventually found their way into the right person's hands, and I hope those folks enjoy them. The right guitar for you is the one that makes you want to play it.

[@georgedeconto9599]

As someone who never played anything fancier than squiers and epiphones, my two epiphone 339s are quite magical compared to other guitars I had. Maybe they are really good, maybe I did a great setup, maybe I lack experience with fancy guitars, or maybe I all boils down to personal preference. BTW, I'm Brazilian, it means that epiphones and squiers are quite expensive to me.

[@guillermourrutia2159]

That’s awesome, my #1 is a epiphone 339 in Pelham blue. And I own gibsons and fenders

[@raytorvalds3699]

I've had two Epiphones too. They were both great guitars. Long may you enjoy them in good health :)

[@travisbartley58]

I also have Epiphone casino coupe 339 in cherry my number 1 love the P90's

[@timkopp2268]

I have about 30 high end Ibanez, Gibson, Fenders and Taylor guitars but I had to try an AIO so I rolled the dice and bought a T style and a 335 style. Now they are roughly twice the price of a HB but at $450 I had to give them a try. I was very impressed with both of them. They are well worth the price. I wouldn’t necessarily want to drop serious money on a Tele or a 335 but at $900 for both I’m okay with it. And the real surprise was that they actually SOUND GOOD! Every fiber of my guitar playing body wants to replace the pickups in these guitars but every time I play them I find myself saying there’s absolutely no need. So I don’t know. I’m seriously considering another one that is similar to another very expensive guitar I won’t buy but I kinda need it like a hole in the head. Lol

[@lruddy8820]

I got a used 2017 squier affinity tele and its one of my fav guitars and i own fenders and PRSs, the way it feels in my hands, the finish on the neck its the most comfortable guitar i played, i upgraded the pickups and gave it a custom paint job but i dont wish any other stock feature was better or think its fine for the price but…. The tuning stability is amazing and its the best sounding guitar i own accousticly and since having a baby i do most of my playing unplugged and if you like a guitar unpluged your gonna love it plugged in

[@thomasdrake8630]

Bought these HB guitars in order to overcome, & obtain set up, & repair. Some require a little love, some....,alot. I gained knowledge on a budget, & learned some mods without destroying the value of a name brand guitar.

[@MrSmiley1964]

The first Bass I bought was a cheap Japanese knock off of P-Bass made by Memphis. It was 1978 a $170 and a POS. The neck was soft and it twisted within 6 months. The tuners were made of plastic and broke about the same time. I learned my lesson right there and never bought anything truly cheap again. My only weakness being Tokai guitars and basses. And Baxter, sorry about your loss in that Arm Wrestling Match. Jonathan has watched "Over The Top" more times than you, I can just tell, and this gives him the edge.

[@donald-parker]

I'm a firm believer in any guitar player having some basic maintenance skills. Like adjust a truss rod, level and crown frets, round fret ends and deal with "sprout". And some basic electronic skills so you can trouble shoot a bum pot, flaky connection, etc. And it is far less stressful to practice and develop these skills on a Squier or HB than a high end (and high $$$) guitar. You don't need a big shop or a ton of expensive tools. It can be very rewarding to take a Squier that costs 1/6 of a comparable Fender, and invest an hour or two in tweaking it until it plays as well or better than its much higher priced sibling.

[@jfrankcarr]

If I hadn't spent time learning how to work on guitars, including fret work, as well as buying the tools to do it, I would have bought more expensive guitars. And, I probably would have bought fewer guitars.

[@James-hi5ji]

I have a Fender Custom shop 1960 Strat that is absolutely amazing. It was well worth the hefty price tag. I also have an American factory Strat and Tele that are fantastic. But in addition, I purchased two Harley Bentons (Les Paul copy and ES335 copy) and they play very well right out of the literal box. They both cost $180. each. Of course they are not equal to my American Fenders in quality. But these Bentons are the guitars I would take over to a friend’s house to jam in the bitter cold winter or that I take on vacation. They are decent for what they are and what I paid for them. Chinese guitars have actually come a long way. I was actually shocked by the quality of these Bentons.

[@delilah9741]

You guys are right about cheap instruments and QC. Budget guitars make sense if you are "long on time and short on money". With KZbin tutorials, I've learned how to do setups and basic repairs. But if sanding, shimming, or soldering is too much, then they aren't a good fit.

[@Bona-Who]

Last Saturday I went to hang out at my local shop (very typical old guy behind the counter been there forever) told him what I had to spend and convinced him to let me sit with a VOX ac10 blindfolded while he handed me guitars to play, I was the only one in there. Walked out with a Squire that I would have looked down my nose at with eyes open. Fits well with my herd.

[@jaorte10]

I bought a cheap music man copy. Stripped it down. Chipped the photo flame off the top. Wound new buckers and installed upgraded hardware and spiderweb paint scheme. My grandsons favorite guitar. I think I've got about $350 into it.

[@stratjed]

Was just listening to Jack Pearson . Man is a wizard with a Squir strat.

[@sarelreynolds7342]

When you are buying Fender mex or similar quality you can just order from an online retailer. When you buy a sub $300 guitar you have to play it before you buy it. Check that action and feel the fret ends before you buy. Electronics and hardware can be swapped out but a bad fret job isn't worth fixing.

[@JiminTennessee]

I got a used CV 60's this year. It is truly an incredible play for under $500 ( after a local luthier lowered the action and fixed a broken p/u wire). It is the first instrument I've ever purchased without test driving. It rivals those made here in the states without question. Sometimes it's like fishing....every once in a while yo snag a keeper :)

[@guitfiddleblue]

I have a couple US G&L’s - awesome guitars with no issues. On a whim, I got an Indonesian G&L - not bad, but I had to have the nut replaced and have a fret job. By the time I was done, I wish I’d of just gotten another US model. Completely different guitars.

[@leslie21757]

Word of the day "Nominal" from Jonathon at the 10 minute mark. I have both an HB Strat and Tele model. They were less than $200 and did need some upgrades that I was able to easily do. It does not make them the same quality as a Fender (own one also - great out of the box from day one) but you would not peg them for a guitar at 1/5 the cost of the Fender either. They were fun to work on as part of a "learning process". I recently played a neighbors new CV Tele (UK model in purple) that was approx $400 US - plays great and no changes were needed. I see Thomann has introduced a Fusion series in that price range with roasted necks, locking tuners, bone nuts and split coil pickups - perhaps that is the next model that the higher range Squires and lower price Fenders will be compared to. It looks like Thomann is using their size and economies of scale to potentially change the game. Keep up the good work on the videos and hopefully a few of us older guys (60+) can swing by on a pilgrimage (road trip) from New Jersey to Nashville in 2022.

[@joerob3081]

One of the best guitars I ever played was a Les Paul DC tribute the no one would buy because of bad fret sprout. Took it home and fixed it and it was the best playing guitar. And it sounds amazing too.

[@bobalmighty2925]

I have an Epiphone that looks cool, but it's electronics have always been wanky. Intonation and overall tuning - difficult. It sits in the closet. But I play my PRS everyday and my Les Paul when my back is up to it. So I say, spend take that $300 you were gonna spend on a Harley Benton put it in a drawer. Add money to it periodically. When you have a $1000, then buy a guitar.

[@rogiemac]

When the lockdown started back around March 2020, I decided to give guitar playing another shot after a couple of decades break. I watched a lot of youtube video reviews and since I didnt want to spend a lot of money, mainly because I wasnt sure if I would keep up with playing. I ordered a Harley Benton CST-24T with P90's. I had no idea what a p90 pickup was. I wasnt an expert at spotting any flaws, but as far as I could tell, the HB played and looked great. Maybe I got lucky, I dunno. Though Ive moved on from it to play the PRS Vela and LP Classic Ive purchased since then...I still pick up the HB and find dont set it back down for an hour or two. The HB is a good guitar!

[@bobbyglass7214]

You mentioned amps! I saw an older man walk into GC and sit down with a 100 dollar guitar and not a name brand and plug into a very nice fender amp and played. The tone and sound was remarkable. I wonder, and I don’t know, but how much is really the guitar or amp.

[@guitarbobification]

I think it's a crapshoot any way you go. I don't own any Harley Benton guitars but I have a handful of Epiphones, and Gibsons - Squires and Fenders, and a bunch of other brands and some have come out of the box beautifully and others (including one medium priced guitar I just had delivered Mon) needed every possible part of a setup. I can honestly say The only exception has been a couple PRS SE guitars that were absolutely perfect new.

[@sodapopkidd]

All 3 of my Donner guitars are terrific. Setup perfectly strait of the box. Sound great and easy to play. None over $200 retail.

[@tball5677]

I learned the hard way to NEVER buy a guitar I can't play first.

[@pads-zr9ln]

Would go double for an acoustic

[@guitarprepnplus1]

Not a lefty huh?

[@jfrankcarr]

That's become a lot more difficult to do in the past couple of years.

[@happyads9439]

@@guitarprepnplus1 😂

[@glenkepic3208]

All in with 'cheap stuff'. Best is a HSS S type i bought new 10 years ago for $75.00. edit, a Delta Tone. Picked it up because i loved the semi CSB with a ts guard and black plastic parts. I've played it so much there's a wear spot at the mid pup from my right hand....no spastic strumming, locked at the bridge. Another is a Jay Turser JT55 TPR, a sorta wobbly SG Special. $249 new (tho covered in dry sweat, Starving Musician). A month later, GP did a great review for one in black. Mine's trans red. Seem to be all gone now. I can't find one anywhere.

[@edgeofeternity101]

My 93 American Standard Stat just has the look and feel and sound of quality(Fat 50's Custom Shop). I have a CV 60's tele that always sounds good and plays amazing,(Custom Shop Nocasters) both have all modded electronics. I have an Agile from the early pre cease and desist gib order that is very nice and the finish looks like nitro. I put 2 P90's from Tone Rider, and I think they were the same pickups. I just replaced the whole wiring harness(drop in pot set)and I wish I'd bought Lollars or Bare Knuckels pups. I just spent 5 hours putting all new Cts 5% pots in a PRS SE Santana, early model with diagonal fret markers, and I was installing the tone knob, and it was being stubborn, so I wrapped my fingers around the edge of the body, and pressed the knob on pushing the pot apart into two pieces. So if you like working on guitars you can tweak them into something special sometimes, but not all guitars turn out to be special.

[@bensepulveda71]

One of my best guitars is a MIM 60’s Baja Tele. Still completely stock and all it needed was a basic set up. Not exactly “cheap” since it was close to a grand, but every time I play it I start looking at my other high-end guitars such as my Custom 22, my USA Les Paul and my American Strat, and I get sad and happy at the same time…

[@kolchak357]

I wanted a Fender MIM strat. Bought a Slick SL57 for less than half the price. Setup was actually pretty good. I love the sound of the pickups, but I don’t like the neck shape. I can’t even describe why I don’t like it, I just don’t. But I still have it and still play it, but I wish I had just waited and bought a Fender HSS strat like I really wanted.

[@brucer261]

its hard to beat CNC for fit ... but that takes the fun out of it. nothing better than being able to say I hand carved that neck

[@Filiphins]

Only having an Affinity Squier Strat now, I can just about compare it to playing Fenders in stores (I always try to play a Player series or Vintera when I go to a new store!) and I feel the difference every time! I love them! I really really want to own one one day. I’ve never thought about my guitar being a bad one though!! I cherish it

[@BrentAdams]

I've been playing for over 50 years (no...I'm not a fantastic player...but I sure do have fun!) and I've tried to LOVE Fender and Gibson guitars. I've not found one that has stayed in my "tool box" for more than a couple of years. I did get a PRS McCarty after that first came out...and I liked it, but the coil slip was no where near what they have now. I have a wonderful G&L Legacy to cover my Strat itch. I have a couple of Cort Cl series guitars to cover my Les Paul itch (these came to me after trying so many single-cut, carved top, dual humbucker guitars...but these work for me). I did get a Custom T.C. McInturff that did a lot better at being my work horse guitar over the McCarty.... Those things said... I own a couple of the Harley Benton CST guitars that were "B" Stock ($205.00 each, delivered to my door) and I couldn't find a blemish on either one. I did have to do a set-up on the CST 24-T and smooth out the nut slots to get it to stay it tune better (It's great now). The other is a CST HB (Hollow Body... which is actually a semi-hollow). I play these guitars now more than any of my others. I look at them as my little work horses that I can use and not worry about. If I were to ding my original Hamer Mirage, my PRS McCarty or even my G&L Legacy... it would bother me MUCH more than if anything were to happen to my H.B. guitars (or my Cort guitars for that matter) I personally can't stand the "Road Worn" or "Relic" guitars.....and I do like to keep my guitars looking feeling and playing like a well played but well cared for guitar..... but if something DID happen... I would feel much better if it happened to the H.B.s.

[@synonyx]

Better to have a few NICE guitars than a bunch of low quality ones. I recently started playing again after 15yrs off. I bought a few cheap guitars to get me going again and a good tube amp. The cheap guitars went back. I try and live by “buy once cry once” and I then upgraded to some more expensive higher quality guitars. I don’t regret it because the higher quality guitars are just easier to play. The little details are what matter such as fretwork. Can you find good cheap guitars? Yes! Just look at PRS SE or Fender’s player/vintera series. I went through THREE Les Paul’s before I found one worth keeping that didn’t have QC issues. My ‘beater’ guitar is a Squier classic vibe thinline that was 100% perfect from the factory. Upgraded the pickups to texas specials, changed strings and polished the frets. Had it professionally set up. Plays like a 2k tele. We are 100% living in the age of good, affordable guitars. You just have to find the right ones. I want lifetime guitars.

[@ryangunwitch-black]

I bought a $179 Epiphone SG for a specific band project that's not at all guitar-based and it works great for that purpose. I'm changing the pups and nut but I don't expect it to be a $1k quality instrument when I'm done. It's a live beater for an industrial band where I play on like 4 songs a show. I would however like to check out the Epiphone 335 at a little higher price-point and would expect that to be a lot more guitar for the money.

[@sparxlabprojects9545]

The simple truth is, deciding on and purchasing a high quality musical instrument, like any other high-end commodity, is a commitment. It’s a decision driven by personal feelings and at least a little solid knowledge of what your buying. A purchase that may have a different meaning to each individual rooted in everything from design appreciation, admiration for craft and craftsman, interest in sonic exploration and the journey you’re on as a player. The commitment can be a one time leap or a years long search. Doubtless, there can be tremendous reward in researching, buying, owning, and no matter the price, playing an exquisitely crafted, lovely sounding and always fun to play, great guitar.

[@MiguelMakesMusic]

I grew up with cheaper guitars, they were cool and worked well but I always had that itch for Fenders and Gibsons. After finally getting some Fenders and Gibsons I was hooked so I'd rather wait to save and buy one. To each their own!

[@paulrich6307]

I'm a buy-American-made person and bought a Taylor 814ce Deluxe. Yes, it cost a lot more than some of the imports, but like the old saying - buy American - YOUr job depends on it.

[@christophervincent8420]

As a very budget restricted person, that is true. It can be hit or miss with things. I have been fortunate enough to get lucky on what I purchased. But I have felt the "magic" on all of my purchases. Which is also lucky.

[@seancollins3106]

great point on the "magic" of certain guitars, and how price doesn't always equal magical. i have a les paul tribute honey burst that plays and sounds better than anything I've picked up at my favorite shop, and they carry some very expensive stuff. now most of my other guitars hang on the wall, waiting for me to get around to selling them! i have the means to get something fancier, but it'd have to blow me away in order for me to pull the trigger.

[@misterknightowlsguitarrant6984]

If your going to play cheap guitars, like I do, you better be handy with a soldering iron, sand paper, files, screwdrivers and Allen wrenches. Most budget guitars I’ve played have been fine after a good setup. Personally, I think the fender player series is where budget and quality meet. It’s about the cheapest you can get a pro quality axe.

[@therisingsm]

Within reason, dogs and unicorns both can be found at all price points. Def in a golden age for budget friendly instruments.