The Guitaristas Budget 'Guitar Of The Year 2024' 🎸 Annual Under £400 RoundUp!

[@jeffberg8015]

By my math, having gotten rid of 40 guitars while only acquiring 25 means you have 15 more to go before you need to worry about going overboard. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year, and as always thanks for the year of videos.

[@voyager7]

Merry Christmas Colin, all the best to you and yours! Thanks for all you do on this channel!!!

[@Brykk]

I think i just figured it out. The guys that go more for the cheap guitars are the folks that like to tinker with them and make them their own. Whereas the folks that cant work on their own stuff have to rely on buying the quality and attributes that they cant put into a guitar themselves.

[@biffabacon1203]

Personally why spend lots of money on a top end guitar when you can buy a cheaper adequate one ...then spend more on beer and sausage rolls 👍

[@andyw6026]

or.....if you can afford nice guitars....and beer..........and sausage rolls.......why not enjoy some of the lovely craftsmanship you can get with expensive guitars (+ you CAN mod them as well if you know what you're doing), whether you can play brilliantly or not.....

[@biffabacon1203]

@andyw6026 the need for beer and sausage rolls is too strong mate..cheers.

[@theguitaristas]

🤣👍

[@samleggett4008]

Really look forward to these vids dropping on a Friday afternoon. Thanks 👍🏻

[@touchthesun2448]

Happy Friday the 13th Col.... Great job on cheap guitars. If you can't make a cheap guitar sound good, why would you spend a lot of money to make an expensive guitar sound really bad? I'm happy to see you donated those guitars to a good cause and I am proud to be a part of it! I can't wait to see next weeks review of the expensive stuff. Cheers mate! ROCK ON!!!!!!!

[@theguitaristas]

Cheers mate! 😁👍

[@CatzDolz]

Link to that Hartwood CHARGER?

[@christopherwatkins9729]

YoHoHo... Friday 13th... Lucky for Someone (?)... Enjoyed this 'round-up' (Rowdy Yates... "Rollin Rollin Rollin" Rawhide !) with pleasure... and GREAT "Dress Style" this week with GAS Jacket... Good-on-Ya-Mate... for your generosity donations to the local Lads/Lassies... Am sure doing so, warmed the Cockles of your Heart ! (seriously) and then (?) ... My pick this week was the Heritage Ascent H150... Am SO CLOSE to buying 7 years Grandson his 1st Guitar, but will now wait until 2025 ? His Uncle, my youngest lad, is only 2 years older than him... and MUST come first for priorities... Only so many 'sheckles' to go around... Have a great week (and the last 'show' of 2024) and then an even greater well deserved Holiday... Thanks Colin for best KZbin Presentations of 2024... You may be a 'rough' Diamond... but still a "Diamond"... See Ya...✌"V"... Kettles' boiling...

[@lukesteverything627]

Thanks for all your hard work this year. Have a great Christmas and new year. Loving the Knob mug!!

[@johnsenior2566]

Nice work Colin, really enjoyed our year together. J

[@joeymcmanus448]

Sorry ive been absent the last two weeks sometimes life just happens. I love these end of year reviews because honestly I have totally forgotten some of these guitars. I'll see you next Friday. Cheers

[@tjh780]

Colin, your playing and tone are so good that all these guitars sound like their much more expensive counterparts. Happy Christmas!

[@khillsy4489]

Brilliant idea. Give them to children. Talk about joy, hard to beat that. You are the man. 👏👏👏👏👍👍👍🇨🇦

[@Krullmatic]

I love your style, Colin! You just sit, make a loop, and then go off on these amazing journeys! You've got one of the best gigs ever! Love ya, man! Edit: Fesley just put out a new Tele and Strat for $300. They're upgraded with Wi, and real Grover tuners.

[@erikRR]

Merry Christmas. Happy and healthy New Years to you and yours. Looking forward to new year with the Guitaristas.

[@graemero5532]

well done on gifting those guitars Col, top bloke award

[@lloyddinkel9638]

It was a great year. Lots of helpful information. I love the channel. Merry Christmas! How about sometime this year you do a show on the pedals that you use. Explain what you got cuz I really like the sound you Make

[@humstrumbangtwang]

The videos are great, but your donation to the charity is amazing. Well done Col. 🎸🙏🏆

[@markolding2288]

Merry Christmas. Thank you for all of the wonderful content. Another reason to look forward to Fridays! I love these guitars of the year videos

[@Stoobers]

Oi oi :) Letting this play through while working, but will watch again later :D Have a great day Col!

[@brynjones7371]

A year of wonderful videos. Have a great Christmas and new year Col.

[@iamgumbydammit2217]

Nice idea to do that donation. I see that you kept me modern day Tiesco! Good show. I think that one is a bit of nostalgia for most everyone who watches your channel.

[@philliosr3615]

Great video as always. I have to say that I did buy a heritage off the back of your original review and whilst I get and agree with the idea that you can enjoy 20 cheap guitars over the 1 expensive one. In my experience buying the heritage from Dawsons it arrived and was set up so poorly and unplayable that I have only played it for around 5 minutes and it has spent the rest of the year sat on the stand. For me that has put me off buying heritage again as well as using dawsons again. It’s a shame but the truth of it. Thanks for the video Colin. I always enjoy your contributions to KZbin

[@theguitaristas]

Sorry to heat that... maybe time to give it some love and see if you can eek out it's potential?

[@russcottee]

Thanks for the videos throughout the year Colin - I admire your boundless enthusiasm! Out of interest, I totally get what you mean about the Harley Benton brand - until recently I'd been using their 15W all valve combo, but found myself apologising for it when roadcrews were miking it up for bigger shows! Enjoy your Xmas break 🎄

[@theguitaristas]

Cheers Russ... good little amp though so maybe here's where gaffer tape could come in handy for improving your street cred? 🤣👍

[@russcottee]

@@theguitaristas You're not wrong! And it was nice to meet you in person today. Best wishes

[@theguitaristas]

@ likewise good to meet you Russ! 😁👍

[@reidrac]

That's a lot of guitars Colin! Thank you for the videos, what a year.

[@neoquest2012]

I’d like to join fellow Guitaristas in thanking you for another entertaining, educational, fun filled year of top notch review content Fella, Fridays are enhanced by your hard graft and honesty! My budget guitar of the year is My Hartwood Fifty6 single pick up, (they didn’t have the Charger in stock and I had to buy something🤫) absolutely steal at £199.99! And sound superb 👌 I’ll get the charger in the new years sale👍 Thanks again Col, Cheers 🍻 😎👊

[@ChristianParschau]

This yellow Heritage sounds tempting, the rest, not so much. Looking forward to next week !

[@PipeCat1965]

Happy Friday the 13th! Wow, 25 GAS acquisitions and 40 out the door. How many are left in total? I have 42 that I can remember. Nothing ever goes out. Needs to happen, though. Maybe turn a pile of cheap ones into a few nice ones.

[@Dad-Gad]

No better way to start my weekend , thanks Colin 👍

[@nickdawson1024]

Thanks for all the great content this year, consistently reliable insight. 👍🏼

[@johnwhitehouse4100]

Merry Christmas Colin , thanks for all your entertaining way you reviews and upgrades you have done . You have inspired even me with 10 thumbs to have a go at upgrading. Long may you keep doing this 🎸🎸

[@GROCK619]

Thanks mate !! Happy Holidays

[@jfiery]

Glad to know they all went where they did. It would have cost me MUCH more to get guitars like this 30 years ago. Guitars like this make the premium guitar companies look bad for what they charge for "premium" guitars.

[@wtravishubbardvids]

Thank you for all the great information this year

[@stramasher2953]

The hammering over the Paranormal part, brilliant. Even the missus looked up,”WTF is he doing?!” Also looking forward to getting your clobber Xmas morning.

[@ericwilhoit9766]

A big thanx & Merry X-Mas Colin, videos are always informative & entertaining! Thx for all ya do, fr L.A.!

[@lewistunbridgemusic6884]

I own 7 guitars but want more. You inspire me to keep buying

[@chasiebabe]

Merry Christmas and a happy new year Colin and thanks for all the cracking videos

[@montyellingsworth4982]

I love your content. I'm in America and I love that English accent. I shouldn't have to explain my ancestry but ( some English , but , not that simple ) I am also a similar age and have very similar opinions about Guitars. You are setting a standard for us. Good work. Thank you.

[@mp-wp8df]

Colin with a Kramer is a damn good way to end the year. Can't wait to see what 2025 brings the Guitarista...

[@ashleyscracemusic]

That Squier in torino red is so gorgeous it should be illegal. What a steal that guitar is. Glad to see it on the list. Merry Christmas, man.

[@TheBurdenOfHope]

Merry Christmas mate. Another amazing year of the channel!!

[@madnobby8301]

Hi Colin, thanks for all your great work! Have a nice break and something good to eat and drink on Christmas! Cheers Nobby

[@GavinIrish]

Well done for your donation col, good man. Another fine show, looking forward to next week's to find out your overall guitar of the year. Have a great Christmas and new year, look forward to seeing you next year with some more quality guitars. Well played.

[@TheClassicQ]

Excellent part one review! thank you! AND... After a setup I love my Hartwood thanks for that one!

[@michaels2418]

I wish you and your family the best for the holidays. I always enjoy all of your reviews. You have a very NO B.S. attitude towards all of the stuff you review and I appreciate that. Keep up the great work my friend!

[@random_name-44]

Good on you, Colin. A beautiful gesture to donate those guitars to a place that helps young folks!💗💞💗

[@stealthbum34]

I often wonder if Thomann had known how succesful the Harley Benton brand was going to be, would they have named it differently. 😅 Sounds like a name you come up with as a last minute thought. That said the shitness of the name kind of helps it stand out in an ocean of ‘sensibly’ branded headstocks, ironically. Great video as always though mate. Next year review the Hartwood Deytona 2 ;) Merry christmas!

[@MrGal160]

Happy Christmas to all the guitaristas... Colin, thanks for all the reviews this year. I have bought a few of these budget tele's as a result of your reviews and am chuffed with all of them. Keep it up and looking forward to more next year. Liam.

[@victorbeebe8372]

Mahalo Colin. Maybe the Grandchildren my want a guitar.

[@theguitaristas]

Is that an excuse for you to buy more Victor? 😆👍

[@AndrewAHayes]

I have the Harley Benton TE62 CAR, I have to say it is my best budget Tele guitar, it is a bit pokey, although the PUPS are not that hot, if I need some less pokey sounds I just drop some frequencies slightly with my EQ pedal, or pick a less pokey Telecaster. I was looking forward to the Guild review and then forgot all about it. Well done Col! donating those budget guitars was a kind thing to do, getting kids into music is something we should all strive to do, I was 8 years old when my dad started teaching me guitar, some kids are not that fortunate and so places like the one you donated to are so important!

[@theguitaristas]

Cheers Andrew... do you reckon the HB better than that Rosewood Telecaster?

[@AndrewAHayes]

@@theguitaristas Soundwise yes, lookswise no, although I am going to change the bridge on it, I am not too keen on the low profile Tele bridges, Im convinced the ashtray bridge contributes to the tone, I love the neck on the Rosewood Telecaster, it plays like butter, the really small frets are taking some getting used to though.

[@stevenbarton7474]

Good one Colin, as always look forward to my weekly dose of GAS. Merry Xmas and a happy new year.

[@nellayema2455]

Good recap of the inexpensive guitars. I'd love to see a follow-up on the donated guitars one day. It's been quite a year! On to the next one. Cheers!

[@royrobles7423]

Good morning from Texas ! We love you Colin....merry Christmas! Play daily happy new year !

[@mrbigdaveyb]

Nice one Colin, enjoy a well earned break, Merry Christmas and a happy New Year 🌲

[@shivermetimbers5359]

Merry Christmas to you and yours.Thank you for everything you do great reviews great playing! Kick ass channel doing what you do no BS good vibes !

[@Brykk]

You have proven to me yet again how personal taste really is to individuals. I cannot fathom how you dont like the look of a prs but then espoused how much you lked the look of the hartwood. Lol We are at opposite ends when it comes to what we like the looks of, but i respect your opinion. Merry christmas and a happy new year!

[@jaymcdermid3476]

Brilliant episode Colin, I've been watching all year, love your channel man, I little funny thing about Hartwood is a phyciatric, metal hospital in Scotland, Shotts 😂

[@user-dh5bnafe4b]

For disturbed fans of Slayer, Metallica, Priest etc.?

[@jefferywarburton2116]

I think you picked the right one. I made it a point not to get the cheapest Squire Jazzmaster the other year because it had humbuckers in it but, if it were like that Hartwood the Gas would have runnith over and mucked up the paint.

[@2Yards]

As always….most enjoyable. Nibbles and coffee on the go. Thanks!

[@jeffcooper3433]

$17,000.°°, can't wait till next week! Happy Hollidays Colin, from Indiana ! KeepSmiling

[@davidjames7778]

Bought an Eastcoast after your review, first one was faulty, but the replacement was spot on, It was even in tune,

[@davidhamilton7780]

I say, old chap. I have just looked inside my new Top Hat and the label says Harley Benton of Germyn St. Hwahwahwahwa! Great rundown, thanks Colin!

[@calogeroavanzato398]

Thanks for everything you do for us Colin, it's been great every Friday watching your vids, I think you should give yourself a pat on the back and buy yourself a Christmas pressie, a guitar obviously, all the best merry Christmas

[@andrewdempsey5312]

Good morning ! Coffee, berries and porridge, comfy chair, Guitaristas video

[@stockwelljr]

SUPER COOL GUITAR COLIN!!!

[@baabaabaa-El]

Excellent recap Col! Budget guitars have come a long way since the cheesecutters of our day... its great! Im with you on both gold hardware and PRS... neither inspire me to play. Lovely gesture mate, handed them 7 guitars to the kids... if it gets 2 nippers playing for life.. job well done. See you (and the guitaristas mob next week).

[@Milton_Andrew]

Feels like just the other day I watched last years video.

[@JESSE-uw7np]

yeah ,, i know what you mean --- FLAT OUT , haven't even had time to comment , gonna shut the shop down for a minute in a few weeks and catch up , i love your show , been watching around 3;00 am on saturday mornings for a few weeks , have a wonderful holiday season , and happy new year ,

[@johncollins5552]

That harley benton tele is a steal... probably out the backdoor of the factory where the fender player teles are made.

[@victorbeebe8372]

Aloha Colin!

[@KozmykJ]

My budget guitar of the year is the Harley Benton DC Junior. Good player out of the box. Smooth fret ends, rolled neck edges. All I've done to it was ease the nut slots and adjust the intonation ... oh and apply linseed oil to the fretboard. My first single pickup P90 guitar. Sweet 👍

[@chrisjeneson3763]

The Heartwood looks very interesting but for me the cheapo Heritage sounded the best. Well done again Colin and thanks for putting my name up in lights.

[@theguitaristas]

Thanks for supporting Chris!! 🙏

[@SubutaiTuul]

i cant believe its already another year gone by.. i feel like i celebrated new years just yesterday.. Speaking of Harley Benton i hope you check out the new series they released, especially the Harley Benton SC-Custom Plus EMG TBF. thanks for a great year of great videos. see you next year!

[@chrisp2034]

You're great! I love your attitude, keep up the videos

[@paulsworld2]

Its becuase of you Colin I have tried some of these Budget guitar. I have become a fan of the squier Paranormal series. I never thought I would go back to Squiers.

[@amaj7313]

These videos are spot on! Looking forward to next week's edition. Have you ever reviewed any headless guitars? There are some by Eart coming out soon in old Fender colours and a low price.

[@hod8931]

It reminds me of one of my first guitars a teisco del ray.

[@monkeymonkgaming5013]

Merry Xmas mate

[@Stonerville1]

Thank you 🙏🏼 for that budget I like the epiphone casino.

[@jrchanning]

Watched this earlier on the TV channel, fantastic look back at the budget guitars bought and reviewed on the channel this year, the Hartwood was my favourite also 👍🎸😄😄

[@mortonwilson795]

Great round-up and look forward to next week! The Hartwood really does look like fun and the PRS made me sit up because it's all black . . . I wish they would do a few more solid colours in the line-up rather than the glaring, OTT flames they do! Bravo on the donating to a worthy cause, Colin - inspiring stuff. 😀

[@pabcrane]

Hiya Colin, Thanks for videos this year, I've really enjoyed them. I particularly appreciate the playing with a loop which is great for context compared to just noodling which many other channels concentrate on. I'd love to see you do a review of the Robert Smith Schecter UltraCure (somewhat topical given how well the new album is doing - and two more in the can apparently!). I love Bob's old guitars but I'm always struck when i see The Cure live how good he sounds with the UltraCure. I enjoyed your Eastman video where you messed around with some Lullaby-type playing. Ive not come across a good review of the Schecter and would like to see your take on it. Anyway, I hope you have a lovely Christmas and i look forward to a year full of more grest videos. Peace and love, Paul.

[@theguitaristas]

Cheers Paul, I love the Cure and would definitely like to try that guitar next year... 🤔

[@wlkalong]

I have it on good authority that Hartwood is not getting a lot of traction with their name, so they are planning to rebrand as Hartwood Benton. I would love to test one out, but nobody around here carries them. They have a real late 60's vibe. Also, love all the tele style guitar reviews. Can't get enough Tele's or LP style guitars. Also, I would not mind an inexpensive bunch of Strat reviews. Jet, HB, etc. I think there is a lot of value in the budget range for S styles. And, as always, a very enjoyable video.

[@theguitaristas]

😆

[@liamschweppe]

Rocking the Uletide

[@ditchgator1]

Happy Ho-Ho's to you all and especially to the recipients of Colins donations of guitars...!!!😉👍👍 Does the heart good to know there's a bit O' Santa alive and kickin' with you Colin. Thanks for that😎👍👍❤ Keep on jammin'😎👍👍 😎✌👍❤🖖 Love Brother

[@stevenkelkey3412]

Great video and beautiful budget guitars that look and sound great. 👍🎸

[@peterhall4852]

Eggnog and a brandy for me. Santa might bring a new guitar. Possibly telecaster shaped. George Harrison didn't get on with his rosewood tele, so perhaps it was a good thing no rosewood was harmed in the making of that guitar.

[@DutchStar001]

Fun video! Merry Xmas to you 😉

[@BonkeyMucket]

I have a fondness for budget guitars. I recently found a very nice Firefly FF338 in a pawn shop I picked up used for $150, and I also managed to pick up a used Squier Paranormal Carbonita Tele for $330 with Jazzmaster style PUs. Both play wonderfully. I haven't come acorss any used Harley Bentons yet, but I would love to play one.

[@dort7402]

Colin you video content and playing is priceless Imo , your No bull shit reviews has helped me on many occasions, when I'm looking to purchase another guitar, looking forward to 2025 keep the honest reviews coming , have a great Christmas and a great New Year. D from Michigan🇺🇸.

[@nieko3038]

Watching this with my Squier affinity telecaster on my lap. It was catching dust for a while. Almost 10 years old. If you love to tinker budget guitars are great. I always love to see people gig their cheaper ones. Refretted my mate his Epiphone Les Paul. Frets were worn. That guitar saw many podiums in its 21 years. Only bought 2 guitars this year. Was looking at a Cantrell Wino Epiphone LP🤔this week.

[@sohosteveuk]

'Pointy' only referred to those 80s guitars with pointy headstocks - Jackson, Kramer etc It was not a generic term for all 80s Floyd equipped 'Super Strats'!

[@theguitaristas]

It is as far as I'm concerned... 😆

[@frankcarter6427]

Merry Xmas my mate - not bought my xmas gee-tar yet, tried a Blueridge D28 yesterday but was hugely disappointed - keeping looking

[@SBanas]

I am very seriously considering buying hardwood deytona I because of how weird and awesome looking it is. As always thanks for Your videos, and Merry Christmas 🎄

[@gregrose6915]

Merry Christmas Colin. Keep up the great work. Love your channel from Newfoundland. I'm buying a Squire CV 50's Tele for xmas. Selling my Sire H7.

[@PipeCat1965]

My year: I have tended to champion the Squier Sonic, Donner, and Firefly brands. Never owned a Harley Benton, but will soon. Have come to dislike Glarry and Grote, due to poor craftsmanship and cheap materials. [edit = forgot to add Squier]

[@pauldejoseph2006]

great job donating those guitars!!dont forget to write them off on your taxes...

[@theguitaristas]

Oh lord I forgot there was paperwork involved! 🤣👍

[@CrockettsCabin]

That Squier "Troublemaker"! Why can't it be single-coil with that lovely large headstock? I would in a heartbeat if it had the proper pickup configuration.

[@StuCrombie]

Im pretty sure theres a PRS in Back to The Future 2, im not a fan either, but saw a blue one, when Martys wife goes to his home in the future, saw the headstock was PRS

[@garycordwell9730]

Great stuff Colin, looking forward to next week's episode. I'd be interested to know your thoughts on Vintage guitars (the brand), I'm thinking of pulling the trigger on a relic'd v62

[@theguitaristas]

Cheers Gary, i have reviewed a couple and think they were excellent for the $$

[@johnwebb2562]

Hi Colin. The inception of the name for HB guitars was given to them by someone that wasn't from the UK IRL or the US I think it was the design person for Thomman who lived in Berlin I believe. I think the Harley part came from Harley as in Davidson that could be used and the Benton from the designer name Benneton . Anyway I love the name simply because it aggravates the brand name brigade it's just Rock N Roll. Like Frank Zappa said he used to dream of guitar 🎶 🎵 notes that would irritate some executive kind of guy. Have great 👍 Xmas 🌲 and all the best for 2025 and beyond.

[@redcomn]

I’m saving up for harmony silhoutte bigsby atm. After watching a dude installing a b/g bender contracption on those I just gotta have it