Budget vs High End Guitars | Suhr Classic T

As we take a look and listen to the Suhr classic T guitar today, I have some questions for you about this verses budget priced guitars.
Suhr Classic T : bit.ly/3eAfTZJ
What makes the Suhr worth ten times as much?
What's your favorite high end guitar?
What's your favorite budget brand?
These among other questions in this fretted Friday video!
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[@adamd.6698]

The difference to me is feel and playability. The use of higher grade finishes, the attention to detail and the ability to have certain features that dont need to be addressed for a wider range of buyers and players. An example is the neck carve, on budget and cheaper guitars the necks are too similar and you know how I feel about entobming guitars in ridiculous amounts of poly...

[@HC_GUITAR]

I was going to comment but you have summed it up perfectly!

[@Supperconductor]

@@HC_GUITAR Ditto 💯

[@perihelion7798]

Yes, true, no doubt. However, if you have some skills and patience, you can modify an inexpensive guitar to play and sound and look as good as a guitar costing 5 times as much. In that process, saving many hundreds of dollars. If you don't want to [ or can't ] do that, then grab the high-priced version and play. I have 7 Gibsons, and 4 Fenders, but I play the guitars that I have modified more. Guitars are simply a tool for making noise. They are usually a clever combination of wood, metal and plastic. They are not built by rocket scientists. Make your choice, and play it.

[@guycapilli546]

I have purchase Harley Benton guitars (4), G&L (3), USA Fender's (2), Carvin's (2), Tom Anderson's (2), Suhr (1). I have sold the 2 TA guitars and each one could not be duplicated as far as quality and feel (still wish I kept the Tele). I still have the Suhr and it's like an old friend when I pick it up, I just know how it feels of it and the sound that I can get. If my house was burning, I would grab the Suhr!! All the others can be replaced but not my Suhr. Your hands & your ears will tell you the difference between a good guitar and a great guitar.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Glad you have found the one!

[@JackTheRabbitMusic]

I am one minute in and I already love this. 🐰❤️🎸🎶🤘 I have never played a guitar that costs more than $1500.00 and don't own any that cost over $1250.00 brand new, so I am totally unqualified to give my opinion. I love Cort, but everyone already knows that lol!! 😂 If I were to guess, "pride in the name/craftsmanship" and attention to detail on the fit and finish would be my answers. I would hope a $2000+ guitar would be flawlessly set up and the fretwork and hardware would be second to none. I would have EXTREMELY HIGH EXPECTATIONS from an electric guitar costing over $1500.00. Generally, when I pick up an instrument, my internal dialogue goes something like this: "can I express myself freely with this instrument? Does it inspire me to play/write?". If I can say "yes" to those questions, then it's a fine instrument for me! This one will get interesting! can't wait to see what other people have to say! Really engaging video, Mike!! 👍👍👍😊

[@IanLuckett]

Thank you, for the wonderful demonstration of the Suhr Telecaster. I have played a lot of guitars over the years, dating back into the 1970's (so I have played quite a few built in the 60's, and a couple of notables built in the 50's). To me the best of these has usually got something that other similar guitars lack (even sometimes the same make, model and year). It is as if there really is a magic guitar fairy who occasionally kisses a guitar at random thus creating one of those instruments that can punch way above their weight! The one that "got away" for me was a 64 Fender Telecaster Blonde, that I played in Newcastle (England) back in the very early 80's. I still slap myself for not selling just about everything else I owned to buy it, because the price was (compared to today) insanely low! Sadly I did not. Now that guitar had character, and this is where the boutique and high-end guitars often have the edge.They are responsive to the player, and enable playing techniques, rather than frustrate them. Partially I suppose this is because they are built to be as ergonomic as possible (subtle differences mostly, but profound to the player). Electronics are also usually higher-grade and thus less noisy, scratchy, and more durable. Obviously this is an idealised version of these kinds of guitars, but in general it tends to be true. Whilst I often find expensive instruments have more responsiveness than cheaper versions, I have found that budget guitars can also be kissed by the magic guitar fairy! Squier (I have an 80's Squier Tele, which was sadly kissed before they installed the pick ups) often seemed to be so blessed, as do Ibanez, and very occasionally Epiphones. But the only budget brand I have two of is Harley Benton. I have a fretless bass that is fabulous, and a Fusion Pro 2, that is a surprisingly playable and tonally pleasant guitar. Both are really well made, and have good quality components (Wilkinson bridges etc.). Compared to the Suhr Modern (which is what the Fusion Pro 2 is clearly modelled on) however, there is really no contest. The Harley Benton is a good guitar, but the Surh is glorious. It fits the player like a finely tailored suit, and it responds to your fingers (how softly or harshly you strum and pick) in ways that are very different than the Harley. Considering the price I would expect nothing less. It is for this, surprisingly uncharacteristically sensible and financially astute reason that I bought the Harley Benton and not the Suhr, (actually extreme financial stress is the reason, I'm just trying to sound posh!). Were I a high-hitting KZbinr, with considerable revenues coming in, I would have bought the Suhr - I'm not going to pretend, and I'm not stupid. However, the Harley Benton does not let you down, and changing out the pickups (which are OK, but not magnificent) is clearly an option. So basically that's my old curmudgeons take on the difference between budget and boutique guitars, until everyone out there realises just what an undiscovered musical and songwriting genius I am, and starts downloading my stuff faster than kittens on skateboards, I will stick to my budget guitars, and not need to re-mortgage the family home!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Wise words mate. Sorry about the one that got away! 😊👍🙏

[@brianbrazil4426]

I'm old enough to have played and owned (7) 1950's and 1960's Gibson's and (1) Fender from 1973. During those years they were made by hand by master craftsmen. So depending on not only what was used to build your guitar but who built it could make a difference in how it played and felt. Now the big companies use computers to control CNC machines to craft them so they are all alike and really not much difference in them. The necks, fret boards and bodies are done by machines and not people. My favorite Guitar was a 1968 Gibson Walnut Finish ES 335. All of my vintage guitars I bought including the 335 I never paid more than $375.00 with their cases. I bought them before there was a big craze for old used guitars. The only big brand name guitar I bought new was a Black Maple Neck Fender Stratocaster. I still paid under $400.00 for it with a case. The only budget guitars I bought new were 2 Epiphone's from the year 2000 (1) '56 Gold Top and (1) Burgundy Flame Top with gold hardware and creme binding on the neck, body, pick up rings and pick guard. As of yesterday I ordered a Harley Benton SC Vintage Sunburst including a case with shipping for under $300.00 USD. I'm waiting on the shipment from Thomann in the next 2 weeks. Have a great week.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I hope you enjoy your Harley Benton as much as you have your vintage guitars buddy.

[@tramlad2]

Another brilliant video, you know your stuff, and are not a guitar snob, you play all the guitars superbly well, one of the nicest guys on youtube, and always give great content, stay safe with the family , keep posting these gems

[@Saurondor]

For me it's a matter of experience and symbolism. Get the guitar that you can afford that inspires you the most. It's what the guitar means beyond the quality, playability and tone. Yes a higher end guitar probably has better feel and playability and that's a differentiation as well, but it doesn't mean a lower end guitar can't achieve that or get way close. On the other hand a really expensive guitar will sound great, but will it inspire you to play it? Will it inspire you three or four times more? Of my guitars my favorites are the Squire black strat, the Fender Jimmi Page Dragon Tele and the Epiphone Tribute Plus Les Paul. Three entirely different price points, but they all inspire me in their own way. The squire because it's a black strat obviously! The tele because it's a tele and they rock and the design and tone on this one is just awesome. I got the Les Paul for it's black cherry color and added to that it has all the components of a higher end Gibson (pickups and locking tuners) without the threefold price tag. So it's looks and aesthetics first and common sense selection of components and tone selection later. The issue with these high end vs budget guitar comparisons is that it's hard to put a price point on aesthetics and inspiration. Now I see two big questions here. Should I settle for a cheaper guitar just because I'm saving a few hundred bucks and it'll sound the same anyway even when I could afford something I like way better (I mean aesthetically, not tone and not specs)? And, should I feel ashamed if I can't afford the super expensive guitar of my dreams? The answer for me is no to both questions.

[@blkjckgtr3075]

Mike I tend to be old school usualy stay within my budget I do have a Cozart tele has a thin neck sounds like a tele I paid 360 Canadian for it.Im not a gigging musician so it serves me well,Cheers hope you and family are doing well.

[@tonefish3825]

I have that Green HB Fusion-II Pro it is fantastic. If Harley Benton is reading these, please make more Pro Series guitars with these higher spec levels.

[@emmanuelibus]

It took me 3 years of looking into Teles before settling to getting a Suhr Classic T. I've tried any brand I could get my hands on. Andersons, G&L, Fenders American Ultra and Pro II's... I tried everything I could. In the end, it was the feel on the Suhr Classic T's neck that made it for me. It feels really nice for me. It's almost like this guitar forces me to relax when I'm playing it. It's worth it for the build quality, craftsmanship, and parts put in it. It's really built well.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I know exactly what you mean. Relaxing is vital to fluid playing and a great guitar that you're at home with will do that for you.

[@edwardsmith9801]

I've just bought a sterling cutlass sub 30 & to me it holds up to the quality of my old mij Stratocaster , my mim , Stratocaster & my Korean prs. The pickups on my other guitars especially the mij strat , were a little better , but for price. I think the over all build quality is comparable. I don't own any boutique guitars to compare to , but my 300$ guitar is right up there with my 650 - 700$ guitars. My opinion , not all will agree. Love the show , as always very informative & just fun too watch. Take care.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Thanks brother I'm really pleased that you are enjoying the videos and your cutlass guitar.

[@jcoulter43]

Great video as always Mike. As you know, have everything from a $150 Epi bolt-on LP to vintage Les Pauls, 335's to a nearly new Explorer and a Core model PRS McCarty. All have their own special place in my collection. As the old saying goes, God is in the details. The first thing I noticed when I got my PRS is that EVERYTHING was perfect. It has a feel and attention to detail that doesn't compare with lesser priced guitars. Do I have just as much fun playing my "cheap" guitars as I do the expensive ones? Absolutely! Can most people who watch you play tell the difference from one brand to the next? Usually not. I invest in playable art and I love to look at and play my collection. Does it inspire me to want to play it? That's the usual deciding factor for me. God bless and rock on my friend!

[@shovington67]

Generally its attention to the playability and feel of the guitar. Raw fret ends, fret buzzing, intonation and tuning issues. Secondarily it's cheaper hardware and electronics, which affect the efficiency and obviously the tone of the guitar. These are the areas that separate a value brand from a higher end guitar. It's the experience of playing that first really nice high end brand in your lifetime that really sticks with you. It's a fluidity of tactile sophistication that is hard to explain to a non player, but a wonderous perceptive pleasure for a guitarist that has been practicing hard on a cheap guitar for some time.

[@ColinStuart]

My Fender Telecaster which I still consider a budget brand, is a MIM '91 , that I have had modded to be a '61 Tele! My second Tele (style) guitar, is one I was lucky enough to get from J&D guitars, (the house brand for the Music Store) in Germany (made in China)! In order for me to get the same features that this one has shown me, I'd have had to go to the Custom Shop. and pay THEIR price, and not the &148 I paid for this "Budget Guitar"! The J&D has a maple neck (with no skunk stripe), a dual purpose ashtray bridge (strings through, or top load. My MIM Tele, was when thy had only top loading bridges, so I had it modded that way. Also loaded the Seymour Duncan pickups that I used on my '67 Tele Custom. So, all in all, I'm quite happy with my two Teles. I'm also getting quite comfortable with my HB DC-580!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Glad you have guitars you love mate

[@markdalton293]

I love the whole series of inspired by Gibson epiphone brand , from the Kalamazoo headstock to the modern Les Paul's . All of them but I am going to buy a Harley Benton real soon .

[@keithwind4945]

I have the same fusion guitar,changed the pu to thornebuckers ,but the only real problem for me is the 42mm neck width. Love the looks but the playability for me is the problem. I might check into a warmouth roasted replacement neck. My favorite guitar is my Gene Baker Robben Ford Model. Can't wait to hear what you have to say about the HB comparison

[@georgecassell5140]

Biggest differences are playability and reliability. Having owned losts of high end instruments, they always feel much easier to play due to appointments such as perfect fretwork, beautifully oiled necks and so on. The reliability of the instruments are also incredible, less likley to have tuning stability issues, warped necks or issues with electronics/ components. Thats why I always favour saving up and going for well made high end instruments. My favourite High end guitars would be Aristides and Mayones!

[@perihelion7798]

Reliability has to do with the construction materials and assembly of those materials. When you assemble your own guitar, you assume complete control over those variables. I've made scores of guitars from my own selected materials, set them up, and play them. In my opinion. and the opinion of those that have bought them from me, they play and sound and look like much more expensive instruments. The quality is your choice.

[@si-borg_guitars]

I rarely buy new it's always used, talking about telecasters and strats on this occasion I've only bought squire or Mexican made fenders and they are phenomenal value, for instance I bought a squire infinity Tele for £80 years ago, then about 3 years ago I bought a HH fender tele made in Mexico for £250 both really good and so playable, great build quality

[@si-borg_guitars]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/rp_JdoJ4btRgqq8 My Mexican Tele, long gone though 😞

[@si-borg_guitars]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqrMcoWvp82YmKc Another Tele I owned eventually, it was a boutique Tele made by a company called reiver guitars in the Dumfries area in Scotland 👍

[@overthehillcheapgearnoodle9990]

Hi CGS, thanks for the video. I guess the question is, how much would it cost to make a budget guitar be as good as the Suhr? The differences you pointed out were the tuners, bridge and pickups. What would be the cost of making those changes? And would a budget guitar be able to compete on an even keel with the Suhr with those changes? I thought it was interesting that Wilkenson made it on the Suhr spec list. I think they have arrived. Good for them. As always, thanks for the thoughtful and honest content. Have a great day!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I think this would make a great video and I might just give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration 😊👍🙏

[@GraemeCampbellMusic]

I currently have a ‘08 Mexican Strat which cost me £300 second hand and a Tom Anderson Atom which cost my friend, the original owner, $4000 (I’m buying it from him at a bargain price in instalments). I usually play the Strat as it is really comfortable and well set up. The pickups aren’t brilliant, but I’m in the process of changing them. The Anderson plays great, is great looking and sounds really good but I would feel no hesitation in taking the Strat to a gig as my main guitar. I think the real difference is attention to detail and the finishing as well as more articulate pickups, but at the end of the day it’s tools for the job. Acoustics I think are a different matter. My Taylor is 18 years old, well played in and sounds fantastic. It cost £1200 new but has lasted me thousands of gigs.

[@jwire1977]

Used to own a Rickenbacker 360 but never fell in love with it and moved it on when money was needed. Actually hated the smell of it as much as anything! Got by with my banged up Hohner for a few years which was dreadful by comparison. Recently got back into playing electric after a few decades on my acoustics and gone down the HB route. Fallen in love a few times with buys. CST 24 Emerald #1 just now.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

The one that got away

[@caseylee12]

The biggest differences I've found are : 1. Quality of the metal hardware. 2. Pots and writing. 3. Tuners 5. Fit and finish. ...favorite high end (for me) guitar=EVH Wolfgang standard. Favorite budget guitar = Squier cv50s telecaster. Favorite ''cheapy''= SX Furrian tele 3-pickup Nashville style from the Rondo Music site. And if you wear the frets out, you can get a whole new neck for about $45.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Good shout

[@petergrant7332]

Difference is tone , feel and quality of finish. My guitars are a g&l tribute asat tele and a Canadian made sparrow 335 copy , the latter being very heavy in weight but with a good sound, the g& l has fantastic pickups and plays superbly , in a blind test it would be hard to tell it apart from a USA g&l ! The highest level guitars I have played all belonged to my cousin, a Gibson les Paul and a Jackson. Have played American strat owned by my tutor but prefer the feel and sound of my Asat !

[@stanparsley9186]

I'm not a great player, but I do own quite a few guitars, vintage, expensive and budget. Rarely do I hear much of a difference in tone. The big difference though is fit and finish, neck comfort and tuning. Great playing by the way.

[@AlbusBand]

Fret work, tuning stability, neck/nut work & reliability. The electronics are pretty obvious and easy to replace, but a bum neck is a bum neck. High end is Novo guitars, budget are the Gretsch streamliner. Great video brother, hope you’re well and safe. Miss you 😘.

[@GetawaysandGuitars]

I don't think you can beat the originals. I've got three Gibson Les Paul's and a Fender Strat Standard plus loads of copy strats and a Chibson LP copy. The sound, tuning stability and finish are all much better on the originals. But the biggest factor has to be the feel, they feel like professional instruments whereas the copies feel like toy guitars. Even my Epiphone Dot special (flamed maple and gold hardware) still feels a bit like that, even though it looks great and finished perfectly. Life's too short to eat bruised apples ;0)

[@CyberSoulLover]

I think the biggest difference is quality. Suhr make some amazing guitars.the only nicer guitar I have played then a suhr was a fender custom and that was more just my preference. I think the most important thing is finding what works for you. I personally love Japanese Ibanez the most. They are great guitar, thin necks, and nice edge trems which I love. It’s everything I want. Finding what you like is good. Cheaper guitars do nothing for me but for someone else they might. In the end it’s about finding what you like 🙂

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Good shout. It's all subjective and that's why it's great to play before you buy.

[@edwilliams2174]

I'd like to see a blind comparison on 2 like guitars that you've never played or seen and see if you can tell witch one is witch,I've asked several other people to do that so far I've seen 1 and it wasn't a true blind comparison because they saw and played the guitars beforehand,I have 20 guitars some hi end some not I play my harley bentons all the time and at all gigs I used to have i think they play and sound as good as anything I've got

[@detlevcohrs4319]

Hi Mike i have only one time for 5 Minutes Play a Fender Tele, my expencive Guitar is a Samik Les Paul for 400 and 3 Cheap Harley Bentons and i Love my Guitars all i must not have a 3000€ Guitar the next is a Harley Benton too they have a Lot of good Guitars. Greetings Detlev

[@RandySchartiger]

in my experience cheap guitars in comparison depends greatly on how they were initially built, if they got the string scale right, all the frets in the right place and everything within the means of intonating (not all of them are) they usually can be set up properly and upgraded guts can be made into a really player. keep n mind tho not ALL of them can be made good. high end guitars usually surpass all the above but there again, not always. rock on brother!

[@perihelion7798]

Randy, you have stated the case rather well.

[@Steven_SK]

Well for me the difference in the inexpensive and expensive is the feel and play-ability. The neck is first and foremost. In a side by side sound test the sounds can be really close but the feel of the guitar and how it plays seems to be the biggie. I actually was very curious about how they differ and bought a Fender Player Strat, really as much as I could put in one ATM, and an identical, as they can be, Squire Strat. While they both can sound close the feel of the Fender is just more solid or comfortable may be a better word. It felt like my favorite shirt or something... IDK. Then when I put the Player up against my '74 LP Deluxe it was the same type of feel but the LP even more so. Like my favorite broken in pair of jeans! As far as inexpensive guitars my favorite brand is Harley Benton, I have 2, followed by Squire but that is my only experience actually playing. Wolf is one I am very interested in and Firefly is just no. My favorite high-end is Gibson for their Custom Shop offerings followed closely by Fender, Macmull and Friedman. As a side note however I find it very rewarding to buy inexpensive and see what you can create from it. Like you said, once you get into the 3k to 5k range they should be good but there is some adventure in the inexpensive brands. Loved the video Mike as usual. Solid stuff. Be well!

[@ColinStuart]

Mike, whenever I'd buy guitars, they were tools! I didn't think about what can I sell this for, I was going to USE it! I just can't see some of these people buying a new guitar every other month, just to brag a bit! When I was buying (mostly trading) guitars, there was no such thing a "vintage" or "rare"! Of my 55 years of playing, I'd always had my best luck with Telecasters, and I beefed them up by using them with VOX AC30s!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Very wise. They are told for working musicians

[@peterschmidt9942]

The difference's are generally overall finish (setups, paint etc). You have to cut corners on a budget guitar so they're generally not set up well (sharp frets, frets not leveled). You'll generally find small finish flaws, over-sprays, dust specks. Generally the hardware, while it works will have very thin plating. A higher end guitar before it's even painted will be felt by hand to see if there's indents, rough spots - Not so much on a budget. But doesn't mean you can't make that budget guitar play as good as a higher end guitar if you put the time and effort in.

[@kennethcoke54]

I see the guitar as a tool. I only play for fun and I can't justify buying a guitar that I could never do justice too. I also have friends who are professional musicians and they can make my much less expensive guitars sound incredible. However I expect those same professionals to own the best tools available to support their livelihood. Luckily, brands like Harley Benton have a wide verity of styles so I can look better then I sound! Lola

[@BluesBroken]

The fret dressing, or lack of usually gives the game away on lower priced guitars for me.

[@perihelion7798]

Good point, but not always true. It's not a severe problem if you have the skills [ and time ] to do some fret leveling and crowning, etc.

[@homegrownson]

Differences are in Quality of Woods and hardware to Number of Pieces making up body, Set necks are lost to bolt-on's and Nitro Cellulose become Poly. But many Pros Don't Tour with their Core Guitar but a Cheaper copy loaded with similar pickups to look the Part. So if a Sterling satisfies a Ernie Ball fan and a Squire or MIM version of you Fender produces the Tones their Expensive gear does then it should be good enough for You

[@ianskelding2218]

Hello, are you familiar with the Artists brand? They're advertising a jazzmaster style guitar with a hardcase for £169, yes you read that right, the call it the grunge master, it comes with a tunermatic bridge and stop tailpiece, and a pair of P90s which are ceramic magnet pickups but sound good. They also sell tweed cases, the Artist tweed 20 valve combo is good for the money, made in Australia not China, the amp is as good as the blues junior at half of the fender price

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I'm not but that sounds awesome value. I will look into it now. Thx. 👍

[@TedTheTree]

Yes, boys and girls;

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Yey!

[@richszmal1653]

I think you should go off of how a guitar feels to you. I love mexican made fenders for the value, but as budget brands go i believe ibanez and ltd put out some great stuff.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Totally

[@timtaylorguitarnut]

Hey not from Idaho (who da ho?) But the difference seems psychologic, tell someone it's expensive and they will say best tone ever regardless of real price. I'm in Pennsylvania 😄

[@perihelion7798]

It's called 'confirmation bias' and it's very real.

[@Messier31NGC224]

Is the high-end Suhr worth it? Yes, if you have the expendable income. I only buy guitars I can afford to lose, because then I can actually PLAY them. If I have to play it hesitantly, worrying about dinging/scratching it, and dropping the resale value, I'm not enjoying my guitar playing experience as much as I could.

[@greenslider]

So damned true. My strat and soloist sit in their cases ever since the jackson took a ding when wife was vacuuming the floor. My ancient columbus superstrat (korea) and a Chinese ( probably sunsmile badged ) tele take all the brunt of practice. The columbus is set up well, plays well but pickups dont really compete with todays cheaper guitars. The sunsmile (I think) plays ok. She doesnt hold me back and feels nice in the hand.

[@gillesgenete9598]

Hi, nice demo of the Suhr Tele, but too bad you didn't make a comparison with your Telie. I recently commented your vid of your love for HB, with my only one but poor experience with HB that never again. So that my brands for affordable are Epiphone, Cort and Fender MIM. For middle range it is Tokai and Eastman. For "love subjective" range it is G&L and Fender USA. I would not go for Suhr, Friedman, prefering authentic Fender Custom Shop. (I dislike at all Gibson, bad soul company)

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I hear you!

[@realjumper]

As I'm not much of a musician or guitarist my opinion is probably not worth a lot, but this is what I think. Taking an Epiphone ES 339 vs a Gibson ES 339, the price difference in NZ is NZ$3200!! Looking at it another way, I could buy 5 Epiphone ES 339's for the one Gibson ES 339. Therein lays the answer for me....The Gibson (which I've only noodled on) is not THAT much better than the Epiphone to warrant my shedding out and extra $3200! If I was a professional musician and I had to earn my bread and butter with the instrument, *maybe* I would sport the extra cost and buy the Gibson....maybe. To answer the other question about favourite less expensive brands, I think that Harley Benton offer exceptional value for money, no question. Epiphone also do offer a good alternative to the (imo) overly expensive Gibson range, and similarly, Squier offer a good alternative range to Fender range which is also (imo) far too expensive. As a side note, I don't much care what the logo on the headstock says, and I don't judge the instrument by where it was made. After all, The Far East have been making fine musical instruments long before Columbus ever set sail!!

[@egnbigdave]

Hardware. Tuners, bridge... I had a HB Electro accoustic bass and the tuners were rubbish. Quality control and level of work put in to the bodies and necks/overall finishing. Some "Budget" instruments can be great but the cost savings have to come somewhere. There are exceptions - the "Vintage" brand by JHS but even there the finish on the one I had was so thick it wasn't true (it was a VS-6 SG).

[@briansimer4311]

We’re in Idaho is Brian from Idaho #2? 😀

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

You're in touch. No idea how so many comments have been delayed!

[@oldguy5381]

Sometimes chasing your tone you shouldn’t look at the price, many times you can get the tone your looking for from a value guitar. I don’t think a high end guitar will make you play better. Although the higher end units will always use better materials. But if the value unit delivers the tone your chasing. Save the money and get a better amp.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Very wise words mate

[@terrytickler]

All lush I play my benton more than my custom shop Gibson 335

[@guitarforfun2596]

I have found longevity is the main difference. Neck feel and playability, is subjective. So I'm not going there. I have a few guitars, one in a mid 90s ssamick artist series les paul. Korean built. the neck for me is the best feeling shape neck I have ever played. The guitar was cheap to buy. I still have it. But its no longer enjoyable to play. Frets are worn, frett buzz at the neck. It can be fixed but the neck is swisted due to cheap neck timber. From brand new, inexpensive guitars these days with a set up are very playable and generally sound great. But the fretts wear out quicker, much quicker, Necks seem to twist All the electronics output jacks and pots play up and the general guitar doesn't perform as good as it should. Expensive guitars generally have better quality materials and components that tend to stand the test of time better. Especially for real musicians who are not expert in setting up guitars who neglect their instruments. Let's be honest. That's most of us.

[@Johnny.D]

The real difference is people's perceptions.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

90‰ for sure

[@Messier31NGC224]

Harley Bentons are good enough to thoroughly enjoy & play your heart out. I have 2 of them! Plus, if you learn some basic guitar tech knowledge, you can turn them into great guitars!

[@danyel8707]

I don't even have money to buy cheap guitar...

[@perihelion7798]

I love cheap guitars. In almost all cases [ almost ] I can do the proper set-up work, and have a really good playing guitar. Many cheap guitars look pretty great. If I dig in to some more extensive mods, I can have an instrument that plays, looks, and sounds like a guitar costing 5-10 times as much. I've done that to scores of electric guitars. My simple advice is this: Learn how electric guitars are made, and what the components are. Study some science, and acquire some skills. Research components and their costs. Now go and build your own electric guitar. It's great fun, and a really educational experience. You can then judge electric guitars on their true quality, and not their cost. You will be surprised on what a terrific instrument you can produce on your own for minimal money. Of course, it's even better if you have some woodworking skills and experience. Good luck!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Great great advice mate