Guitar Snob Challenge - Are YOU BRAVE ENOUGH?

[@AlbusBand]

I know there’s been plenty of times working at GC where I’d go “oh that’s made in China, it’s crap”, only to pick it up and love it. It happened w/Gretsch, it’s happened w/Fenders and it even happened on my J. Mascis JM, which I obviously got over cause I bought one. Thing is, almost all guitars are good now. There’s obviously varying degrees of great, but still all good. I’d say my snobbery has been flattened a few years back. Great video, LOVE YOU!!!!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I agree that mate. Snobbery is on the way out mostly and lots more people are seeing the golden age value. Love ya bro

[@ColinStuart]

When I was much younger, I was embarrassed when I couldn't afford the brand names like my friends had, but Ron Wood showed me (in the early'70's), that you play the guitar, not the name on the headstock!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

100% good old Ronnie.

[@sparkyguitar0058]

How did Ronnie show you that? With that custom made Trussent guitar he always used. Or some of those 50's Strats he plays regularly. Woody has and uses some of the coolest looking old Strats. But those are hundred thousand dollar kinda guitars. He made me want 1 of those. I'll just have to wait til my 93 deluxe plus Strat gets to that status. And my 97 L Paul studio with ebony fretboard ever gets kinda valuable. Until then I'll just keep practicing. So maybe someday someone will want to hear me play. And I'll be valuable. L O L

[@Edward1312]

Epiphone are underated, they are making some great guitars at the moment (inspired by range) and their 60's American made guitars compete with Gibson's for quality from that era.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I don't think Gibson will ever beat Epiphone on value

[@Furtheronmusic]

My son has a 50s les paul bought last year. It stands side by side against my custom shop Gibson and for the money it's a no brainer as they say.

[@erikdravn]

I am trying desperately to get my hands on an inspired by Les Paul custom. They are so hard to find.

[@Edward1312]

@@erikdravn Good luck, its not just the custom, demand has sky rocketed due to COVID-19 home working and the growing reputation of the Inspired by range. Also, production is unable to keep pace with demand because of the impact of COVID on manufacturing production in China.

[@theflyhunters207]

It took me a long long time to get my first guitar. She's a cheap one, but I love her. She's my baby. I'm not a gear snob at all. Lol

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

And it's all about the enjoyment. Love that guitar and enjoy playing her. 😊🙏👍

[@martinpearson2742]

Score 10/100, I use an epiphone les paul, modified (pickups, tuners and saddles) squire bullet and crimson artist descendant! Am I a gear snob hmmm you choose!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I'm saying not mate

[@williamkennonjr1147]

Yes I do you rock what you got no matter what it is

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Make the best with what you got for sure

[@aaronlarsen7447]

I love a great value, but not cheap. For tuners that work, a neck that is strait, pickups versatile and sound good, I recommend a Yamaha Revstar and a Vox ac 10 amp has great versatile tone. This combination is probably the 1200 dollar range, but you can play that set up, from beginner to pro, without fret buzz, tuners that don't work and rattle, bad grounding, rough frets, cheap pickups, and a plastic nut. If you are serious, a certain level of quality will have you playing all the time. Mexican Fenders are nice, for the money, or not. They are good. PRS is definitely good, also. I recommend a good versatile platform and tone, before introducing pedals. You certainly can improve low end gear. If you have the time, skills, tools, parts money. Mid level values are less hassle.

[@Paul_Warren_Wolfe]

Simple as this: EVH's black and white frankenstein was (is?) on par with "cheap" guitars these days - 2nds that weren't good enough for a 'good' guitar - but he MADE it phenomenal with his talent. "Snobs" usually can't play at a pro level anyway. Just like most people who think a Ferrari is 'great' can't drive at a pro level.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I agree about Eddie and his parts guitars show you can find the right guitar at any budget for your own style. However I think that there are plenty of players in the snob camp, maybe just fewer than in the mojo camp

[@robinosborne266]

I got a score of 1/10 (don’t like Floyd Rose on anything!!). I honestly thought that I was a bit of a guitar snob but it seems as though I am not. I would probably not have considered Harley Benton had it not been for you. I now have experience of three of their models and think that they are great instruments - period. If I am honest the guitars that I have been the most disappointed in are my Gibsons - I own an SG Standard and ES335 and a Custom Shop Class 5 Les Paul - all left-handed. To be honest they are “okay” guitars - the ES 335 being the best in my opinion but the QC on all of them was pretty terrible when I first got them and they took a lot of work to get them how I wanted them to play. I would never discount less expensive guitars again because some of them are really good and could save the purchaser a lot of money. Great video as usual.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I'm so please I brought HB to your attention mate. I hope I can show some more budget brands going forward

[@sassycat]

So I have a Chinese Strat and P-Bass I received for services rendered. The tuners are jumpy, the pickups are weak, and the frets are pitted out. The necks are straight and the bodies are fine (no idea what they're made of), but the guitars can be upgraded. They are what many would call beginner level instruments. The snobbery comes into play when you know the general level of quality and would you knowingly buy this for someone starting out? There is the risk that it becomes such a burden that they might quit playing because of the budget parts contained therein. As a guitar player, it would bug me if I didn't get them a quality instrument. This doesn't mean that all budget (sub-$100) guitars are trash, but two things come to mind: the bad apples ruin it for every other brand (guilt by association), and you get what you pay for. Apologies for the diatribe, but I wanted to be sure to answer you thoroughly and concisely. Thank you, my score was 10/100.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Your score gives you away my friend, you are no snob and I agree and like your practicality here. Yes the parts on many budget brands are cheap but I've found many that do the job well. It comes back to what I always say, you can't judge any individual instrument until you have it in your hands and play it.

[@PastorDanMoore]

I learned long ago that if a person has the talent they can make an inexpensive guitar sound great. For a long time, my guitar purchases were used or if they were new they were the low end in price. For me in the late 60's and into the 70's the good guitars cost a month's pay. If I were a teen today, I would be in heaven with all the good quality guitars at reasonable prices. My first name brand guitar was a Fender Telecaster I bought off a GI when stationed in Germany for $100 in 1983. I like the Glarry guitars (I have 3) and I like Harley Benton (bought one for my grandson and I have one for myself). I remember playing a friend's Gibson Les Paul. I liked the sound. Found a Hamer Slammer version of the Les Paul for way less in price and it sounded and played identical.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I love your ethos brother and that's exactly as it should be. We are living in the golden age.

[@ColinStuart]

Mike, you know me, that I am far from a snob! in 55 years of playing, I' HAVE played & owned many different brands of guitars, and mainly chosen the Tele style of guitars, and the only snobbery is that I prefer maple fretboards!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

That's not snobbery mate that's preference. Me too I play better on maple. No idea why!

[@DMSProduktions]

You ARE the MASTER Mike! ;o)

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

😋

[@peterschmidt9942]

I think an important point to remember is there's a few types of buyers and each will have their own requirements: Pro's, hackers and novice. And guess where the majority of buyers lie? It all comes down to price vs returns which are less the higher you go. Personally, I've got a bit of both but I like cheap as I'll modify them to what I want and I'm not out of pocket too much. I sound pretty much the same whatever I play so price isn't a factor so much in as long as it's been setup well. Plus you have your own expectations. I expect that a cheap guitar will need work as that's why they're generally cheap. On a higher end guitar I expect all that's done and done well. I also expect they have top quality wood and finishes, not so much with a cheaper guitar. But I think that gaps closing. You don't have to spend crazy money to get a good guitar these days. BTW I got 10/100 for the test.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Great points

[@MauricioGarcia-mk5bz]

I have several HB in my collection. A few Gibson standard too, several framus, ESP, Ibanez, just to name a few brands I own. The Harley Benton are amazing. Are my go to when I play gigs.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Great you're not missing out on some relativity mate. Nice one😊🙏👍

[@mississipiblues]

10/100 i enjoy playing my tin can with a broom handle attached

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Nothing wrong with that mate

[@trushack]

I got 30/100, but I'm way more "snobby" than that :). I prefer U.S.-made wherever possible and I'm not against paying more money for something I know I want (be it a brand name, finish, specification, whatever), regardless of any cheaper alternatives that might be out there. I have my limits, though! :D Now, I'll say definitively that I'm NOT snobby in the sense that I think my opinion or preferences are superior. I know my approach to gear is not right for everyone and lots of people are better off ignoring the way I do things :). After 30 years of playing, buying, selling, and trying out a massive range of stuff I just know what gear is most likely to give me the greatest long-term satisfaction. I'm not against trying new things or stretching my boundaries...that's one of my favorite things to do and why I love the whole world of gear so much! But I can sort out pretty quickly whether something is really going to get me excited or not. Having played with a lot of other folks over my total playing career, I also know people have different preferences, expectations and priorities when it comes to this stuff. I have more than a few friends who approach gear in a way completely opposite from me. Guess what: we don't really care...we just want to jam and do something fun and creative! Whatever leads you to the best possible musical experience is the way to go.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

It's spot on to recognise that it's an individual taste thing and don't discount stuff for others even if it isn't for you 👍

[@greenslider]

When buying a strat a few years ago, I had a choice between a Squier Classic Vibe and Player Series. The CV was well finished and had a gorgeous liquid tone. The Player was well finished with the new Alnicos and had a more restrained but definitive strat chime. I went for tge the Fender, despite, in hindsight, the CV probably being a bit cheaper and very suited to my style. So, I suspect, when push came to shove the badge probably influenced my final decision

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Oh dear man. The one that got away. But hey your fender retains its value. Not all bad bro

[@jcoulter43]

0/100 I've got super cheap guitars and crazy expensive ones, but I play and love them all. I used to be a HUGE brand snob when I was younger. If it didn't have a Gibson open-book headstock on it, it must be inferior I thought. With age, my mind has completely changed. Like you, I don't knock people for having their own opinions and liking what they like, for whatever reason they feel that way. I feel lucky to be alive now with such great gear to choose from at sometimes crazy affordable prices. God bless and rock on!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Thank you brother always the positive outlook

[@jpnjen9416]

I have Yamaha and Monterey acoustics, a kit built Strat copy and an SG copy with Ibanez pickups. I would love a 59 'burst, a pre CBS Strat, an SJ200 and a pre-war Martin, but I'd have to spend $80 on a new guitar stand and move some furniture so I'm quite happy as I am

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Love it!

[@derekjones8643]

the best sounding/playing guitar I own is a Badcat/Shengze Unicorn (LP style) from China. I paid $270 USD. Now, I have about 12-15 hours of work into the neck/fret/pickups. With that being said, I'm not a luthier. I did my own work. And the only piece I replaced was the bridge. My second best guitar is $100 T-style that has had no work done to it, and it rivals my brothers' MIM Fender Telecaster, which plays and sounds better than his American Tele.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Cool man. Did you know I suggested to Jason that they pot their own brand on their guitars now shengze btw

[@derekjones8643]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic I did not. That is super cool. That's one thing I loved about Shengze. The customer service was THE GUY. Welp, I'm off of work. It's beer time. We don't have pints here, but we do have tallboys. Cheers, brother!

[@aliengrey6052]

I have a Gibson SG which is sublime. I also have a g and L tele made in Indonesia. Both are fantastic. You only get what you you pay for. Quality costs money. Also there is the morality of buying from countries with poor human rights.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I agree about human rights mate. Most of the workers I've spoken to have been proud of their work. It's not as bad as it once was

[@BAMozzy69]

In my case, CGS stands for Complete Gear Snob... :D Definitely a Snob - 70/100 - although would be higher if Buying brand New guitars (especially 'high end') and spending more on a Cable counted as Snobby. Also, I'd use an AxeFX3 (or similar) live because of ease, versatility, weight etc and its good enough for Steve Vai, Metallica etc too... Vintage instruments are NOT necessarily better and often come with issues and more maintenance requirements. Reliability is an area that has been improved - especially at the higher end of the market and with more versatility too...

[@RaxFx]

good bless modern roasted maple necks & Ratio locking tuners

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

It came from the music radar article and I'm not sure I concur with all the categories, just a bit of fun

[@BAMozzy69]

​@@Chinaguitarsceptic It does seem to define one type of Gear Snob, the Vintage Gear Snob. The pretentious Gear Snob (Only a Jens Ritter, Teuffel etc is good enough) or the Anti-factory/anti-CNC Snob etc. There are different 'Snobs' in this. I don't need to try every brand, every model to know that you don't get a £500 guitar that matches a £3k guitar in every area. Not to say a £500 guitar can't punch above its 'price' point. A HB for example, may compete with Guitars 2x its price. Look at the difference swapping Pups made on your HB. Yes those Pups cost more than the guitar but added a lot more clarity, dynamics and range to the guitar. I know I am a Snob - all my electrics are Core PRS guitars costing between £3.5k-£5k. However, I am fully aware that you can get decent and incredibly cheap guitars - much more options now than the late 80's when I started. Much better than those 'awful' no-name Catalogue guitar kits. I maybe a 'Snob' with my guitars, but I also appreciate the fact that you have 'great' options at various price points making the guitar accessible to anyone. If I only had £200 to spend on a Guitar and it had to be 'new', then maybe I would buy a HB because it does punch above its weight. Point is, I know that you can have good guitars at whatever price point and if you only have a 'small' budget, there are a lot of options without having to buy 'fakes'. I do think there is a difference between being a snob and 'dismissing' anything that doesn't fit their ideals and being a Snob but understanding not everyone has the budget or at the same point in their musical journey...

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Spot on. It's all about budget. People have what they have to spend and others have much higher budgets. As I say in the video I don't judge anyone as it's subjective. Objectively though I have played so many cheap guitars and find gems that would give guitars valued at 20x the price a good run. It's eye opening mate. 10 years ago I would not have understood this but I've been privileged to play so many guitars in my KZbin journey it's educated me significantly.

[@kkzooi]

hmmm.. maybe i am a bit of a snob.. however i base my purchases on the amount of money i have to spend and even then i can be a bit of a cheapskate... let me explain, at the moment i have more than enough money to buy a gisbon custom shop guitar, but that does not mean i want to spend that much. Recently i was looking at a gibson les paul standard 60's, but i ended up buying an Epiphone les paul standard 60's which plays and sounds great. I do have to get used to the ''plastic'' feel of the neck. none of my other guitars feel that way. The finish on my Epi vintage g-400 feels completely different, however that is a ''worn'' factory finish which might explain the difference I could have bought a high end expensive valve amp, i bought a Vox av15, which in my opninion sounds pretty decent and is more than loud enough for playing at home. I must admit i do own a Gibson SG tribute and a Gibson les paul bfg. with the bfg i got lucky and payed less for then my Epiphone les paul. I also still have my old Epiphone vintage g-400 which ive owned for about 17 years now. Now what i would like to know is, where can i get those CGS picks? Also, your shirt is making me thirsty, i don't have any beer at the moment but i hope a glass of whisky is good enough. enjoyed the video once more, keep it up and keep on strumming!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

You can't go wrong with Epiphone and you are wise sensei. Why pay more if you find something beautiful to play.

[@peterschmidt9942]

Mate I'm with you on the Epi's. Every time I've been in to buy a Gibbo, I feel disappointed at the quality vs price and go with the Epi. I've still got my first Epi SG I bought back in the early 90's which I still play.

[@ianvincent5069]

I think historically not all guitars were great and persay in the 80s and 90s you couldn't typically buy a great guitar at lower prices but guitars have drastically improved you'd have to pay £300 for a guitar as good as the glary reviewed the other day in the 90s we are very spoilt for choice by comparison to when i started playing. I think there is a valid discussion about taste vs snobbery. As an example I'll happily say that I'm unlikely to ever own a fender for example because I have a huge preference for humbuckers over single coils which could be perceived as snobbery or taste. I'm also thoroughly uninterested in floyd roses too as I had a strat with one on and simply never found myself using the whammy bar that was s s h and even on the humbucker i could never get a thick meaty tone that sustained so i blocked the trem and it didn't work miracles but it did improve things significantly at the same time if Fender made something more towards what I'm looking for potentially one of their teles might be the answer i'd buy it if the price was right. I also have a huge issue with price too I love Gibson but i'm not paying £1200 for a Gibson when I could get something that i'll enjoy just as much for £3-400. I do own a couple of gibsons but these are definitely their entry level models and I bought them 15 years ago when the market was very different. I'm now looking more at what niches i'm missing for example i'd love a semi acoustic style guitar and a guitar with active pickups and i fancy a flying v too as well as a couple of basses more than the brand names though. I think buying a guitar is a little more complicated than it used to be in many respects though as you used to buy a guitar by going and playing it but with cheap guitars being produced overseas becoming higher and and higher quality there is a big choice to make between paying more and playing it in a store or taking something of a risk and ordering online but potentially getting a better deal. This is probably why Harley Benton have been so successful as its a brand most people trust to be of a good quality thanks to alot of hard work they've put in but there certainly are alternatives. If I lived in the usa i'd snap up a firefly 335 in a heartbeat persay. Great topic for discussion either way good vid

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Thanks mate. Great points made. I think on the fender front the hm strat has 2 humbuckers and might suit you. There are so many options out there today it's fun finding great guitars at no money. I have badges but no longer judge anything on that alone for the reasons you mention. In the 80s there was so much crap on the market but now we are in the golden age.

[@mattgiblinYT]

I'm finding gear/guitar snobbery is the same as that in golf. People think that because it has a cheap bracket and not a good name equals low quality. In both. Manufacturing has come on leaps and bounds and you can find gems and a low price point. Especially if you're new, if you have to pay a lot more to hear a difference with the guitars I own, same as my golf bag. The money saved I can put towards lessons in both.... I was once shamed because I bought an expensive Epiphone Les Paul and not a cheaper second Les Paul, even though all the reviews etc showed my purchase was more worth it. He even said, I'd rather have Gibson on the guitar even if it's worse.....

[@ScottMcdonaldMusic]

I’ve got a fender strat and a. Glary tele deluxe thin line. I play the thin line more because it’s more fun to play.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Awesome buddy

[@colincourtney2903]

I would love to be able to afford the top line guitar but I can't, so I'm definitely not a guitar snob. In fact, one of my favourite guitars I own is a no brand strat built up from parts with a cheap Chinese neck and it only cost me 40 quid in total. It plays and sounds great, and as good as some of my more expensive guitars.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

That just proves the point, it's not what you spend but what you find. Some incredible stuff out there man.

[@robblair3703]

20/100. I'll take that

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

No snob there

[@terrytickler]

10/100 I ain't a snob. It must be buying my benton and loving cheap axes

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

You're not snob

[@RayPryke]

I do get there are a lot of lesser brands that are really upping their game. Some are getting close to equaling the major brands, or surpassing them. I have bought a Harley Benton and I have a Vintage brand. Yet I do have a lot of Gibson's, Gretsch's and Fenders not all top price. To me, if it plays well and stays in tune, that is the guitar I play. If its a Harley Benton or a Gretsch Eletromatic thats what I go for. It isn't price really. Yeah, I have a White Falcon and Gibson J200 but I can play lesser brands. If it has the sound I want and says in tune, what more do I want?

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Yup if it sounds and feels good you only need it to stay in tune and its a keeper

[@RayPryke]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic Yes, absolutely.

[@ianskelding2218]

I don't have a Harley Benton as yet, but my latest guitar was a Fazley jazzmaster style guitar which was just over £100, to date I have only changed the strings from whatever was on the guitar to a decent set D'addario 11s, and for the look I put on a couple of Strat knobs for the volume and tone pots in place of the Tele style knobs.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Cool mate

[@ianskelding2218]

The guitar was out of stock when I initially ordered it, but let's say the 3 month wait was well worth it. At some point the nut will be replaced with a bone nut, and maybe the trem, the stock one on the guitar does not have a lock button, but if I don't have too many issues with it staying in tune then why fix what isn't broken.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

@@ianskelding2218 totally agree

[@ianskelding2218]

I have just checked the Bax music shop site, the Fazley jazzmaster style is out of stock again, and showing a 15 week wait for this particular model, which unlike most other jm style guitar has 3 P90s, it has a 5 way selector switch and 3 on/off switches, the pickguard is red tortoise shell style and has tuno-matic bridge and jm style tremolo. Like I mentioned earlier the knobs for the volume and tone are the Tele style. The F on the brand name is very close to a certain USA F brand guitar, the neck is maple with a brown wood fingerboard, which comes unlaquered. I personally found a very rub over with steel wool will make it feel really smooth. The action will be a bit on the high side but a screwdriver to turn the adjustment down to approximately half a turn from the bottom, brings the height to Fender standards with no dead spots on the fingerboard. Hope this is of help should you or someone else wish to order one.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Thanks buddy that's great info. Very kind. 👍

[@KPGuitarStudios]

I wonder how much of a Guitar Snob our buddy Marc Agnessi is? :) Definitely a bit of snob going on from my end of things although I do like a good underdog story and have definitely been one to try many guitars including the cheap ones specifically. I'm not a 'you get what you pay for' kind of guy because that assumes that everyone sets value the same way. Rubbish! Value is determined by the user, not the seller. I bought a Jackson while in California BECAUSE it was their cheapest guitar. Yes it took more than a couple of tries to get a good one but when I found it, frankly it's a great little guitar! To be honest I'm proud of the fact that I found a $199 guitar that plays great, sounds great and could easily be mistaken for a much more expensive one. Cheers from across the pond Mike! Miss you and all the NAMM guys. We'll meet up again soon... we hope!

[@KPGuitarStudios]

Apparently 0/100! Ok then, snobs be damned! :P

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Miss you too dude and so glad you got a guitar you love

[@shanewalton8888]

I just bought a Sawtooth cause the color was cool and it was only $150. Jury is out if I actually will play it. lol

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Please be sure to let us know mate

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

To be honest, after 50 years of playing the guitar, I still have no idea what's going on with these guitars. I have some guitars and my les paul from the early eighties is really stunning but this mojo only has my faded blue. Yes, I had to adjust everything on the guitar and the intonation is really on the knife edge, the posts are drilled in the wrong place and so on but this guitar allows me to play things that a person has never heard before. I have no idea how they got this mojo in there. I'm done with Gibson, but it's really a mystery. The price was 650 Euros. ??? 🐈

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

You can't price or guarantee mojo, that is the grail

[@yetimatzenightcat8702]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic 😄👍

[@petergrant7332]

If its yours , love it and play it , doesn't matter what anyone else thinks !

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

100%

[@icefenix3187]

10/100 points. Yep, not a snob.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

😊🙏👍 of course not. I would say you can get up to 60 or 70 points on this test and still not be a snob. It's just for fun mate, but there is an underlying message

[@Furtheronmusic]

Snobbery. I own over 20 guitars.... From a variety of makers etc. Let's compare 3 of my "go to" guitars. PRS ce 22 - probably my most versatile and the one I'd first grab as a do it all for a gig. Now note its a ce with the bolt on neck. Personally I prefer it over a custom etc because I feel it has a subtle snap and brightness to its sound. A bit more Fender. But I've had it dismissed just because of that by dealers as well as players. My Gibson Les Paul Custom from the custom shop. It's fantastic it for me has the best classic rock sound you'd associate with that model. Strat? Oh yes I have one I'll never part with a Squier JV 62 from 1983. I've had it repeatedly scoffed at by "proper Fender" players but honestly I've played many many usa Fender's, that don't match it for me in playability, tone etc.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

You my friend are no snob. Found guitars that fit you and have mojo for you and stuck with them. Much respect and kudos to you mate

[@overthehillcheapgearnoodle9990]

Hi Cgs, thank you once again for taking the bull by the horns. Honestly the inexpensive guitar critics don't have much to say to me. I have 4 Harley Benton's right now and love them dearly. I've seen too many big brand name guitars with some big problems. The way I see it is if a person wants to spend 3,000 dollars on a guitar that is their choice. If I want to spend $100 dollars on a guitar , it's up to me. Right now I have 10 inexpensive guitars and they all punch above there weight. I'm happy with my purchases. I have a challenge. I think if a person bought a $100 Harley Benton and put $300-400 into it it would perform as well as a $1,000 guitar. I think the snobs should put up or shut up. My first Harley Benton was a TE 40 TBK. It was smoking when I bought and it still is. I paid $126.00 for it and got a great bargain. Remember Thomann is huge. They have been making guitars for a while. Glarry is new to the game. I think, to be fair we need to give them some time to improve. Thanks for all you do. Have a great day.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Thanks brother I'm so glad you enjoy the show and also that you found guitars you love to play. At the end of the day the decal doesn't add tone. You can find incredible guitars at every price point and rubbish too. It might be the case that you find less rubbish at higher prices points but the real fun is finding a budget guitar that beats one 20x its price. 😊🙏👍

[@ldfox11]

Yes, I'm a reverse guitar snob. The cheaper I can get a guitar for and make it play like a "real" the more superior I feel. I look down on those who spend thousands of dollars on a guitar, that's maybe actually only worth hundred of dollars in quality more then the cheaper one. The most expensive guitar I own was 700 new and after playing it, I think I overpaid. I bought a cheap 229.00 dollar guitar, that out of the box played a hell of a lot better then the 700.00 dollar one. In the 70's, I played Gibson's from the sixties that now sell for thousands of dollars. Yes they were good guitars that played well but back then you could pickup a used one at a Music store for around 450.00. Some American Made guitars now sell for way over what they should actually cost. You make a guitar that cost the company 600 to 800 to build and then sell it for 3,800, why such a markup? It should sell for more like 1,800 if you ask me. That's right folks, I'm a cheap ass snob.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I love this mentality. If you can get a £200 guitar setup and playing like a £3000 guitar, you have a gift bro. At the end of the day they are all made of wood with metal parts. So long as the wood is good, that's what I say

[@peterschmidt9942]

Mate I'm with you on this! I much prefer to have more guitars that play well than one holy grail guitar. But each to their own.

[@brianm9902]

I am not a gear snob, but I love winding them up lol, give you a example last year zoom guitar session with other players, instructor has his Fender Professional and others with their big brands, he says I have to tune my guitar so he encouraged the others to do like wise, I am just there waiting , he ask are you not tuning your guitar I said it does need tuning that often, they all looked , so I shown the guitar wow what brand is that comes up , I said it's a Vintage V6P staggered block and E and A are split post, , I am a massive fan of Vintage brand guitars, I started to listen to the interviews with Trevor Wilkinson and I love his ethos and philosophy on guitar building parts etc, he made a statement that majority of builders source the same woods, but he made a point of teaching the finesse part to the builders in China Vietnam , and obviously his Wilkinson parts, are well known, my second Vintage is 2011 Les Paul style guitar cracking amazing, but Trevor knew Les Paul and Leo plus the Humbuckers are pretty much Seth Lover PAF since Seth shown Trevor how to make them, so I have two brilliant guitars that I would put against anything, but the brand snob say its not copy its this and that, I will agree the resale value is not great but that's not down to the guitar but the marketing over the years by big brands , but as Trevor stated if it's a great guitar why sell it ,

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Find them, love them, keep them! Trev is a legend and I love his ethos too mate

[@brianm9902]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic I would love Trev to come on CGS it would be a cracking interview, the history this man has on the guitar the people he has meet in this travel wow

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I would love it too man

[@brianm9902]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic As Captain Picard would say Make it so Number 1 :)

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Lol. I will try and find some contact details

[@paramediccpo]

The cheap guitars still work great and sound great but yes if I can afford to be a snob I do occasionally- PRS / knaggs / gibson Harley Benton I have them all

[@paramediccpo]

My favourite is a dean zelinsky- not sold in uk

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Lucky boy! I hear ya bro

[@joolz666]

Seeing as one of my role models is Margo Leadbetter from the 'Good Life', I'm rather disappointed I scored a whopping 0/100 on that test. That's even lower than my mark for Year 2 Accounting at uni.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

😆😆😆

I scored 0/100. Not surprised, as I love old Japanese guitars and am easy with most, as they’re so much better made these days. I’ve got a couple of Encore Blaster strats at the moment that really surprised me how good they feel. Especially for the younger beginner as they’re so light. No fighting to keep them in you lap. My favourite guitars at the moment are my Ibanez Roadstar RS100 and my Epiphone Nighthawk reissue. Both are great. But it’s interesting how different combinations work in different guitars. I love the sound and dynamic of neck pickups, and on double HB guitars tend to use the middle position most. Strange, eh? On my Nighthawk, my favourite position through my pushed Marshall Reverb12 is the middle single coil. It’s what most would call a crappy ceramic pickup, but it’s hot and in that position, on that guitar, it sounds immense. The best guitar is the one that feels good and makes you want to play. Whether that’s a pre CBS Strat or a Glarry tele is irrelevant. Though if I had the money for a ‘58 Flying V, I’d have one in a heartbeat.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

You rock bro! Spot on for my money. I've never dealt with them as a company but like squire I've always said you can't go wrong with an Epiphone

[@trevlocke1962]

I commented on the video and said out of the two guitars i would rather save up and spend a bit extra on a Squier, not sure if that makes me a brand snob, but if it does, thats my opinion !! And that is based purely on the fact that i would want to do upgrades, and in my view there is a lot more parts that would bolt straight onto a squier and maybe less likely to fit a Glarry or Benton !!! I have seen a lot of reviews about both guitars, some good some really diss them, where the Squiers in general bet better reviews. I have a Squier bullet strat and love it, i also have Fender HM strats and love them, also have a Ibanez RG prestige and love that, and also a Aria Stg and a few partscasters and guess what, i love them :-) I actually love all guitars, cheap or expensive, for different reasons. I have never played a Glarry and tbh i would not want one, does not mean they are not good in their own respect, they all have a purpose! And lets face it, i dont think Steve Vai or Joe Satriani etc would ever buy or play a Glarry/Benton. Squier, they are cheap for a reason, thats why we all upgrade to Fender or whatever when we get the guitar bug :-) Brand is a massive and subjective topic, look at car's Skoda for instance, people still dont buy them because of the brand name, and they are bloody good cars :-) Its a excellent topic Mike, but there is no right or wrong, only opinions, one mans heaven is another mans hell :-)

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Couldn't agree more. One man's meat...

[@paulscushschofield1288]

i have a modified harley benton sc550.i bought it not just for the great reviews by yourself.but for its looks.(its the black cherry flame with gold hardware).ive upgraded the pickups and tuners and it now sounds and plays great..for now...only question or doubt i have is what will it be like in 10-20 years time?is this a question that you or any other youtuber has not suggested to the viewers?

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I see no reason why the same woods would not last like any top brand mate. I have no worries about long term and think they will blossom with age like any other guitar

[@paulscushschofield1288]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic i was thinking more on moisture content of the wood at time of assembly.i know makers like keisel and prs core use modern dryers..only time will tell..thanks for your opinion ..stay safe

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

There is merit in thinking that drying stabilizes the wood but actually proper seasoning is more important as the natural resin crystallized over time creates the best stability. Drying with heat speeds up that process. Paul is usually right though!

[@derekhand7904]

I don’t like guitar’s made in some parts of Asia because the workers get paid very little money to make the guitar’s

[@bobbya8622]

Reverse gear snob! Michael Kelly, Schecter, PRS.......

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Cool mate

[@Furiora]

10/100, and that's only because I'd rather support local businesses then step into a chain store.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I hear and feel that mate

[@darthsensei3838]

Don’t even need to take it. I know I am. I can man up and admit it 😂

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

😆👏👏

[@liljohn1064]

Not a snob. If you know your gear and can optimize the sound, then you will have the best experience. If the quality is similar, less expensive will always win.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Totally mate :-)

[@mikehurley5052]

20/100, i guess that makes me a street busker. Question 9 should say no way, not now way. My gear is 2 Yamaha Pacificas, a line 6 V20 spyder amp, a Stagg 20 amp, just got a NUX MG 300, no snobbery here. I would like a Ibanez same as Nita Strauss plays, if i ever get good enough.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

You're no snob bro. Thx for heads up fixed the spelling. 😊🙏👍

[@mikehurley5052]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic Have you heard Harley Benton are bringing out guitars with EMG pups?

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Yes I did mate. In their higher end range

[@BrianMark75]

I really hate $100 guitars... I can buy too many of them and not use up my budget... then I run out of wall space. :D

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Nice problem to have my friend

[@shanewalton8888]

easter egg? Could it be your logo on the guitar pick?

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Nope! I think the egg was a bit too easy this time!

[@shawnhockey4841]

Omg 30/100 I guess I am ,sunuva gun those are trick questions 😱 just kidding my brother, but I guess I am I didn’t expect I was but rather shocking mmmmm...🎸🤘great quiz topic !

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

30 is nothing to worry about. I think I scored 30

[@daveevans6137]

yep u said it, ive played some good cheap guitars, some bad cheap guitars .played some good pricey guitars , played some bad ones, iam not a brand guy if it plays good to thats all that matters, people are the same way about cars,handbags ,sneakers etc......

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

It's easy to miss the opportunities if you don't take a chance 😊🙏👍 you got it mate

[@daveevans6137]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic thanks brother keep on doing what u do

[@ddaabbzz187]

Yeah enough for Sarah Longfield thumbnail

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Haha, does look a bit like her! Just a stock image of a snob sadly

[@paramediccpo]

20/100 Cads

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Impressed mate

[@realjumper]

Q: Do you like tripe and onions for dinner? A: NO, it looks disgusting Q: Have you ever tried it? A: No way. Q: So how the hell do you know??? End of story!! My 'Snob Score': 0/100

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I hear your analogy but sadly yes my nan wad a big tripe and onions fan and I have tried it. Wasn't my favourite but I don't regret trying it.

[@realjumper]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic Same.....I hate it too, but at least I tried it! I must explain my amp setup to you at some stage.....it's 'budget' believe you me...but it rocks in my home setup :)

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I'd love to hear about it mate 👍

[@realjumper]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic I'm not sure that this link will work....but fingers crossed that it does as I explain about my setup here: www.tdpri.com/threads/real-budget-set-up.1042660/

[@GetawaysandGuitars]

Sorry, I'm pretty much a guitar snob! OK, I've tried and bought a few cheepo's including a Glarry strat they sent to me (hard to be truly impartial when they are giving you stuff for free) and the infamous Chibson LP. Played, setup and upgraded loads of friends guitars. Do I play them? No, not when I can play the guitars my hero's play. Its a feel thing, not just the sound. They can be second hand, a few of mine are. In fact I bought a S/H PRS SE Custom 24 a few weeks ago for £300 (It did have three holes screwed in it for a synth pickup but I fixed those) I know money can be tight for most folk but if you are serious about guitar get a quality instrument, not a toy.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Did you find that so long as the wood and build quality are good the rest can be fixed?

[@GetawaysandGuitars]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic I reckon the big problem with cheap guitars other than poor electronics are with the neck, poorly or unfinished necks make my skin crawl! And they cant do a nice 9 1/2" or 10" radius, its got to be flat as a board with a sharp fingerboard edge. Really, how long does it take to roll the edges?

[@petebrown3715]

Nope. 10/100 Not a gear snob. I own China made, Korean made, Japanese made, USA made and at the end of the day as long as it plays well, sounds good unplugged and plugged in, fits my styles of music because to myself guitars are tools not wall hangings or props or case queens. I buy them to use them or if I don't like it keep the line moving.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Great outlook mate

[@tommyselby]

I got 10/100! I’d play a plank of wood if it sounded good!

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Some I've tried are a plank almost but on merit alone comparable to much more expensive stuff

[@shanewalton8888]

If "others in the guitar community" includes Gibson fanboys, then, yes, I am a snob. lol Hope Dean kicks some Gibson butt in the courts next month.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Here here to that - Dean winning that is!

[@PsychoTwang]

20/100 for me

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Well you gotta have standards

[@philsequeira3180]

A snob... if I could afford it...HA!

[@philsequeira3180]

O-100...

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Amen to that

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

No surprise buddy

[@archieguitarz4700]

Setups go a long way. I bet you will play and sound better with a well setup cheap guitar than a poorly playing expensive one.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Spot on brother

[@Dad-Gad]

Chinese Tokai Les Paul , £ 250 off eBay , well happy 👍

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Can't go wrong mate 😊🙏👍

[@rowley5784]

20/100 so what does that make me?😄

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Normal mate

[@emiliolopez8796]

Firstly I'm too broke to be a snob hahaha. Secondly it's stupid to pay more or get ripped for a logo on the headstock. That being said I am hopefully going to buy my first Made in Mexico Fender strat hahaha

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I feel your pain mate. I wish I could afford to be a snob lol. Not really we are living in the golden age

[@ericmay2d2]

Im a snob. Because a lot of guitars are not good.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I lit of guitars you have played? Or based on prejudice? That's the important bit I'm trying to impress.

[@ericmay2d2]

@@Chinaguitarsceptic Based on what Ive owned.. Best cheap guitar Squire Contemorary Tele and Best overall so far Jem777reissue.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Cool bro

[@zd351]

Gear snob- someone who believes only an expensive brand name is good enough for them. Gear knob- Someone who believes only an expensive brand name should be good enough for anyone else and pushes that unsolicited opinion on others that didn't even ask them.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

The first is fine as it only effects them it's the second definition that worries me

[@ianmbaker]

What does a score of 0/100 say about my guitar collection? lol

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Absolutely nothing. You could have the best collection of anyone responding if your guitars light you up and inspire you.

[@acciesmad6237]

Can't stand guitar snobs.....no matter how you try you just can't educate them......better off trying to talk to a mic stand 🥺

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Lol. Some of my deepest conversations have been with... Mic stands!

[@NicolaScrepanti]

0/100 Ciao :)

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

Ciao bro

[@BudgetGuitarShow]

0/100 for me on the test

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I would hope so given your channel mate

[@markcummings2344]

0/100 totally non snob.

[@Chinaguitarsceptic]

I knew it