Top 8 WORST Production Guitars EVER!

[@scrimpmster]

The Gorki Park guitar is obviously meant to be based on a balalaika, a traditional Russian folk instrument. I'm not defending the guitar, but the idea for it looks clear to me.

[@metalboy5150]

That was my thought, as well. I said, "It's a balalaika!" and woke my wife up, lol. She was not pleased. On a side note, I thought it was a bit clever how they used the Soviet Hammer and Sickle to make up the logo of the band. For a Soviet band trying to hit in late 1980s America, that's ballsy as hell.

[@33cattt49]

I was about to jump into the comments to mention the cultural significance , beat me to it. 🫡

[@NickWebbSax]

Likewise to all these comments

[@hotrodjones74]

They were a pro-Soviet band at their inception, but a pro Perestroika Soviet group.

[@jassejansson8715]

Don't question the Longhorn bass. Very lightweight and has a very interesting sound from it's singlecoil pickups. And you're dunking on Rickenbackers. Kiddo.

[@technicklive6311]

Am I the only one who thinks the Jackson Shon guitar looks good?

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

I do have to admit… it looked a lot less bad than I thought by the time I’d finished my video. It’s grown on me a lot since!

[@mettaton5348]

​@@JakeLeighGuitar I'd gig that proudly

[@dwaynejessome1728]

The Schon Jackson is cool

[@BazonBlades]

I remember when the Schons were released. There was a ton of marketing behind them. I remember all the magazine ads more than anything about the guitar itself or how it sold.

[@toddwilliams8128]

Kinda surprising, since it has a lot of similarities to the Dean Cadillac, which nobody with sense dislikes. Would play at gig.

[@chadleefishel6074]

I love how you put down “BAD” guitars, whilst a black star amp sits over your shoulder…Easter egg then?

[@SixEightSixty]

The long horn is pure unadulterated fret access

[@CliveBarnesMusic]

Reverse Firebird came first. The non-reverse came a few years later.

[@charliegglines3965]

The reason we like rickenbackers IS THE TONE. listen to any Yes song or early album from The Who

[@JJ-mp7rg]

Anything that’s missing a headstock should be probably number 2 on this list.

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Yeah, I can’t disagree with that 😂 Thanks for the comment!

[@lahar2412]

gibsons?

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@lahar2412 hahaha!

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Hahaha!!

[@ShawnShipstad]

I am loving some of the Keisel LP style guitars. There are some other great guitars Jeff is kicking out. I can usually get something super for 3-4 thousand & a super hardshell case.

[@marcraygun6290]

The reverse firebird is the original

[@PikkaBird]

Not only is the non-reversed Firebird NOT the original, as several people have already pointed out, it's not even a mirrored shape. It's very different outline, a lot less skewed/offset compared to the original. To me that's what's ruining it- it looks timid by comparison.

[@stevenpape2021]

It is a mirrored shape, it's an upsidedown Fender Jazzmaster.

[@joebiondo6898]

Yep, Fender threatened a lawsuit, because the offset waist design was patented by them with the Jazzmaster a few years earlier So Gibson had to go from the Reverse with an offset waist, to the non-reverse with a parallel waist.

[@nicolaebreaban8154]

I quite like the Katana, it's different but not repulsive.

[@jessejordache1869]

Me: "I don't like the flying V look". You probably play gigs while studying your shoelaces. "Yes, I do." You kind of nailed that one. I like to stand out a bit, so I don't automatically reach for the nearest ES-335.

[@beatfrombrain]

Rick's are AWESOME LOOKING imho

[@bobsala7780]

The KZbin algorithm must have recommended this video to me because it knows I own a Reverse Flying V.

[@nucleargrizzly1776]

Why?

[@monstrok]

@@nucleargrizzly1776 Guessing that you haven't played one. Yup, they're not visually appealing. I've played two and they play amazingly well.

[@nucleargrizzly1776]

@@monstrok It can't be comfortable? Or even well balanced.

[@monstrok]

@@nucleargrizzly1776 Please play one before making this assertion!

[@nucleargrizzly1776]

@@monstrok That it's neck heavy? That the upper horn gets in the way? That the lower cut it too narrow? So says every review I can find

[@niteshades_promise]

lemmys ric was gorgeous😍🍻

[@ff_crafter]

Sorry but that balalaika shaped Kramer is awesome

[@justinrivera7471]

Good video. Those Schon guitars may look odd, but I've played 2 and they were both fantastic playing guitars imo

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

I believe you! I can’t see NS putting his name on something that isn’t great. I’d love to try one actually. Thanks for the comment!

[@jcoulter43]

Agree with all your comments except the Rickenbacker's. I actually don't mind them, but I don't own one in my collection and will not add one. I think CGS showed a Gorky Park on a livestream once as I can't unsee that Dorito guitar, but I could be wrong. I've also never loved the BC Rich pointy shapes and I own V's and Explorers, so I'm not averse to oddball shapes. I also don't like the Theodore. My first thought when I saw it, was just why??! God bless and rock on 🎸😎👍

[@metalboy5150]

Seconded on the BC Rich. I've just never cared for their stuff. I mean, I get what they're going for, I guess....I just don't really like it.

[@ampedwales]

One of my best sounding guitars is a Gibson custom shop non reverse Firebird. Something about the size of the body and the wood being nearly 25 years old that makes it super resonant Believe it or not, its very balanced too.

[@JustinThunderLiger]

idk wtf you're on about. the Rick basses look great. especially the 4000s shapes.

[@alexallen6286]

I own a longhorn bass. I agree its not exactly a looker. But its 1/3 as heavy as my sting ray and 1/2 as heavy as my p bass. Its ugly, but it's my lower back's favorite bass.

[@kruller]

Does the bridge comes with the single rosewood piece? I am asking because I need to if it causes intonation problems.

[@Artorthegreat]

You deserve to lose friends over the Rickenbacker lol! The 620 in Ruby Red is drop dead gorgeous

[@chickberth]

I've got one in Burgundy-glo, after a proper setup it's just a great guitar, as fundamental to rock as a telecaster. I often wonder if people who hate Rickenbackers just haven't had a proper setup on them and just played guitar store offerings that have been beat to heck.

[@krms2504]

In my honest opinion, the Rickenbacker and dan electro look cool as f*** for me. Maybe because im a bass Player and just like all Rickenbacker Players. And even tho i really like metal, i have to say that i find the flying v or any v shaped guitars and basses REALLY ugly and would be my number 1

[@monstrok]

Jake, have you been able to play a Reverse V or the other guitars in this episode? Not a flame, a genuine question. Ugly is a valid visual impression for many of these guitars. Calling something the worst for other impressions like sound and playability is difficult to do without experiencing the instrument in person.

[@Madmax-rz5hz]

Rickenbacker? I feel the same way about BC Rich

[@Sabitsuki-Rust]

Is it just me or the Rickenbacker is actually one of my favorite guitar/bass company ever?

[@AlienNationLiveEvents]

I'm no guitarist but this was great fun and opened a door for all to discuss, agree and/or disagree. A real good watch and hilarious at times. More!

[@stevenpape2021]

You are right that the reverse Firebird is cool-looking, even if all they did was turn a Fender Jazzmaster upside down. But the bass version, the Thunderbird, THE BEST LOOKING GIBSON EVER!

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

I’m completely with you on the Thunderbird!! What a shape!

[@jasongultjaeff9397]

I've never played bass, but isn't the deal with the Rickenbacker is that they sound great?

[@chickberth]

Haha, fun vid! I love my Danelectro long horn baritone and my stable of Rickenbackers. Classic sounds, feel, and looks. Different strokes for different folks. Gonna go stare at my shoes while I play some guitar now.

[@vincedelapena]

If you thought Kramer's Gorky Park guitar was ugly, please check out the Kramer TriAxe and the Kramer Enterprise. The string paths on the headstock of the TriAxe will give you a migraine if you stare at it too long. And as for basses, check out John Entwistle's (The Who) Signature Buzzard bass from Warrick. It looks like 2 pieces of oversqueezed playdough with a guitar neck in the middle.

[@kruller]

I am not going to lie... I love the shape of the Longhorn

[@DrCheeks]

I actually don’t mind the longhorn bro.. esp in like a The Cramps kind of band..🤔 Quite like the Rickenbacker bass too but HAAAAAATE their guitars as well😆😆 Love your channel bro🤘🏻

[@jessejordache1869]

The appeal with the Rickenbacher bass is the bridge pickup, basically. And as someone who just stumbled onto your channel and is emphatically NOT a gear head (I'd like to be, but too many things to learn, not enough time), Ricks just sound really, really amazing, and I don't know the road to making a J-bass sound like a Rick, or even if it exists. But unless you're totally locked into its ergonomics, EVERYONE says that Ricks are really awkward to play.

[@theinternalflame20]

I don't really see a problem with the Fender Katana other than not being able to sit down with it even tho it's my first time hearing about this guitar, I'm sure it's a nice quality as I found out it's a Japanese made guitar ugly or not. But one big problem I can agree with you on is how it can be played sitting down. I definitely wouldn't buy it.

[@ChrisFranklyn]

This is a great video! I mean, you're wrong about the Fender Katana. But it's still a good video. Gibson have had some corkers. You flashed up the theodore at the end (that looks like an alien egg hatching)... but there's also the Moderne! That's so ugly that I want to own one just to tell people how ugly it is.

[@BrianMagnan]

So Rickenbacker basses are maybe my favorite sounding bass of all time. But it’s definitely an odd boy looks wise. Eventually I plan to own one and looks aside everyone I’ve ever held has felt amazing. So it’s an odd design I’d grow to love.

[@ShawnShipstad]

I think we /most of us agree on many of the Gibson design "Flaws/ Disasters. There are some winners in there as well. I like the 1960, thinner neck profile Les Paul`s. I think you pulled up a real dilly. The " reverse V" model. What was that about. Just how many meetings took place before someone gave that the green light. The flying V, Explorer, SG 3 pickup (SG style) is super. Now, you are lucky to get a loust Les Paul Standard with bad rosewood & plastic "Perloid" actually plastic, Mother of Toilet seat for 5,000 & a soso case. Lets remember all the great ones we bought for 500.00-1,000.00 with a chainsaw case. Memories. Only memories.

[@NerdGasims]

Finally someone has said that the Sky guitar is ugly! I couldn’t agree more! I remember sometime in the late 90s/early 2000s read a magazine interview with Roth & he talked about the Sky guitar & all its features and such the magazine had pics of the guitar & I just thought it didn’t look right and was ugly. Years later when Dean released a run of them on various forums people were talking about how they wanted them & how cool and unique they looked all I could think about was how ugly they looked & that it had some useless features!

[@BillyE5150]

Good stuff man! I agree on the Rickenbackers… I don’t get it either.

[@Vermonster23]

Fun video, I have to say I own a Rickenbacker 330. I’ve got a ton of different guitars. That Rickenbacker loves to be playing through a pushed amp. From edge of break up into AC/DC territory. I have yet to find a guitar that sounds betterin that zone. Looks… Love it or hate it. There’s a lot of funky things about a Rickenbacker, but the recordings you can get off of one… Just saying.

[@rodmorrison47]

I'll say it - the Longhorn is cool. Well, the bass, at least. A friend of mine uses one on the aging punk scene in Edinburgh and she is the epitome of cool. What she probably doesn't know - and she would probably be mortified if she did - is that Roger Glover used one with Blackmore's Rainbow in the early 80s. In fact, he used a cheap Korean copy made by Hondo. It's all over Difficult to Cure and Straight Between the Eyes and it's glorious. And yeah, I think the Gorky Park guitar is based on a balalaika. Doesn't change its awfulness, though.

[@johngonzales8224]

I would buy the Neil Shone Jackson the reverse flying Vee is very collectable and valuable . I would buy the Fender katana as well. None reverse firebird is very playable and one of Waren Haynes favorite Gibson guitars. The long horns are valuable and collectable as well. I would buy a Rickenbacker if I could find one at a descent price.

[@bobmanners8624]

Victoria DeAngelis looks cool with that longhorn bass...but then...they are weird.

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Yeah, they definitely suit her look. I think there’s very few people that can pull it off and look cool!

[@ReifSpano1]

Some decades back, I could have bought a new Schon guitar for a grand. I wasn't put off by its looks, and it played well, but had some build flaws. Johnny Winter and Gatemouth Brown both played non-reverse Firebirds splendidly. Rickenbackers are synonymous with the '60's British rock, along with Fogerty and Petty, and Geddy Lee. I found Mosrites and Fretkings hideous, but they made some great music.

[@noudsmeets]

katana’s are cool! Imagine one in yellow or orange! And the sky guitars are so beautiful… but unfortunately crazy expensive

[@mogmason6920]

I’d have to disagree about Non-Reverse Firebirds, I prefer them to the reverse shape. Also, Danelectros and Rickenbackers are cool AF! I think Schecter Hellraiser guitars are extremely gaudy and belong on this list. Same goes for every “modern headless guitar” such as Strandberg etc.

[@John-cw4no]

Agree with everything except the Rick bass is Beautiful & I dig that the Longhorn bass is on a ton of old Rock recordings so that's royalty

[@sawneyhasbean]

Q: Which fool buys a guitar that can't be played comfortably whilst sitting down?

[@rockarolla9054]

Can’t afford a Rickenbacker huh?😜

[@DreidMusicalX]

I have to agree with you on 99/9% of these are hideous! Except the headstock of the Katana. I have seen worse. But as far as the dorito guitar, Rick Nelson of Cheap Trick has some guitars that will make you say, oh hell no.

[@keithconner9036]

Thank you. You were right about everything but the Rics

[@dahliasmiles7122]

That sky guitar looks incredible in my opinion, IMPOSSIBLE to play sitting down but looks hella cool nonetheless

[@macncheese2029]

I tried a firebird and honestly, they look good but feel really uncomfortable, you gotta constantly keep the headstock up with your left hand and just nosedives

[@RockFromTheSingulariry]

I want them all. Except maybe reverse Flying V. A Corvus will make an acceptable substitute.

[@57ebartley]

Pretty entertaining man!

[@braydencorleybari]

Something that always confused me was how people always said the ML was very big. While true, the body is the same a Flying V just with an extra point which is out of the way anyhow. Never really bothered me. Maybe it’s just because I’m into MLs and Warlocks and those are chunky.

[@mflance7197]

The dan electro long horn is actually very suiting for traditional middle eastern music .

[@lumberlikwidator8863]

This is a really good video. I don’t know how you managed to limit the list to only eight ugly guitars. (BTW, I just subscribed because your videos are intelligent, disciplined and very informative without being too long. I hate videos made by ego-tripping boobs that think they’re funny and just waste my time.). My personal choice for a guitar that should never have been made is the Gibson Melody Maker. I owned one of these disasters back in the 1970s, and while it wasn’t particularly ugly it had some of the shittiest pickups ever installed in a solid body guitar. It was made from really nice wood, mahogany and Brazilian rosewood, but that’s the only good thing I can say about it. I’m sure the original Kluson tuners were dogshit, and the previous owner replaced them with Grover Imperials. I think that guitar set the Guinness record for neck dive. When I see what some clowns are paying for these trainwrecks on eBay and Reverb I have to laugh my ass off.

[@wesleyzimmerman94]

That reverse V was just a limited edition from back when they did Guitar of the month/Week as an excuse to experiment a little more so, I wouldn't have counted it here

[@zanzabar4ky7]

The reverse firebird is the original. The non reverse came later as a cost cutting version of an offset. They lost the neck through and everything that made the original reverse cool.

[@DogeDelecto]

As awful as the Katana looks, they played very well. Here in the USA ( and i assume UK and Contintental Europe), Fender had two failed attempts to capture the Metal crowd in the 1980's, The Katana and the Performer. Both models sold terribly despite feeling no different ( at least in my brief 20 minutes spent playing both) from a modern shred-machine. Fender wanted to appeal to fans of Jackson, Kramer, Ibanez and BC-rich. More importantly, they wanted to dethrone the kings of the then exploding super-strat trend, Ibanez and Jackson-Charvel. In the 80's Fender's customer base was mostly older guys and younger dudes modding strats. The younger hair and shred-metal obsessed crowds were often opting for the used/secondhand market where fender could not compete. By the late-80's to early 90's Fender had figured out that instead of trying to shred their more "refined" image with "unique" guitars it was easier to just go all-in on the vintage aesthetics, offer artist signatures, and factory "mod" strats and teles while offering some dirt-cheap superstrats of their own in the form of the Showmaster.

[@MarcCoteMusic]

Rickenbacker guitars and basses... the subject of much debate. A good friend of mine absolutely loves them. I can't stand the look of any of them. Somehow, though, we're still friends.

[@jblassio]

You put all Rickenbackers here 😱…lol? What about Steinbergers?

[@andrewharper1609]

I like the Katana. It's actually one of the best made Fender guitars of the '80's because it was made in Japan. The Jerry Jones longhorn, named after a type of cow which visually it resembles. Rickenbacker I actually like in cherryburst and Lemmy's bass is iconic. There is an utterly uninspiring Brown one in the current range though. I have a Powerplay S type and the electrics are the worst I have ever heard (and I have a 60's guitar made by Guyatone that's bad). You didn't include the Gibson Firebird X which apparently wasn't very good. The deArmond Jet Star just looks plain weird. Apparently they're quite well made guitars but I think it's a bit like the Bender Distortocaster- something of an acquired taste and a bit gimmicky. One manufacturer is doing S type bodies with the neck grafted on to the guitar's bum which is an abomination as far as I'm concerned.

[@manmanov5742]

Caparison Orbit and Mayones Vidius guitars should also be on this list. Some of the ugliest shapes I've ever seen 🤮 And they're pricey too 🤢

[@TX_TP]

I think the fender katana is pretty sick, it's definitely better standing up though, but still looks sick, just needs for... Cut outs

[@theHosni]

I like the katana, I’d rock the one with Floyd and fishmans you shown any day.

[@stephencook7720]

Unless you have actually played a Danelectro longhorn bass, you have no grounds to talk. I've played long-neck 6 string basses, punky U-basses, electric uprights, fretless, acoustic electrics, Gibsons, Fenders, Ric (copy with PJs), vintage, boutique, a studio special and, yes, a longhorn. The longhorn has it's place in both unique sound and in unique playability. While it is not for everybody, it is part of my arsenal.

[@l0rd_breeigo-sama954]

You should make either a best or tier list of shapes.

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

That’s a really cool idea and sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks!

[@MaxFeinsteinMusic]

I was able to guess everything other than the Gorki Park and I'm not sure if I'm impressed with myself or saddened

[@TemkaUwU]

I love the katana. It's so cool I've been looking to buy one for cheap but no luck yet

[@Aaron-zh4kj]

That double neck danelectro you showed wasn't even a longhorn. That was a typical dano shape. I'm starting to wonder if you dropped some of these inconsistencties just to garner more comments and interaction

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

I think (a lot of) Rickenbackers are among the coolest-looking guitars ever made, and they're certainly cool-sounding to boot, but... every single Rickenbacker, new or old, guitar or bass, that I've ever handled, played, or worked on (which is an absolute nightmare) has been just AWFUL in my particular hands. They genuinely don't feel like they were designed for a human being's use. One exception! The Al Cisneros signature bass, which is only kinda better and only because it fixes almost all of the things non-Rickenbacker people hate about Rickenbackers.

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Thanks for that perspective, it’s really useful. I’d imagine the majority of people have never had a chance to actually play one themselves, really interesting. Thank you!

[@whitex4652]

Have you ever seen Susanna Hoffs playing a Rickenbacker? You will love Rickenbackers. OK, it's not only the guitar ...

[@chickberth]

Not a fan of Rick basses but the guitars are amazing. Feel great and sound great, true pro level guitars. At least the ones in my collection.

[@The_sinner_Jim_Whitney]

@@chickberth Oh, I don't think they're bad instruments, particularly '60s-'70s models. They just simply don't fit me as a player, which is a real shame because they're COOOOOOOOOOL and sound awesome.

[@Cycopace]

I think ESP actually made a Doritos guitar…🤔🤔

[@jeffthevideoguy23]

" I have no idea why a guitar with long horns is called. Longhorn."

[@ljinstruments-nj1nf]

yoooooooooooooooooo first comment! btw i love you're videos!

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

Thank you so much!! I appreciate you being here!! Thank you for the comment 😊🤘🎸

[@erikolsen1333]

0:56 the cursed backward v what a piece… lol 😂

[@zanzabar4ky7]

That Jackson is like an Abasi with no style. Given the time it came out I bet it played well. The reverse v is ugly, but the neck angle when sitting is amazing. It was also a gimmick for guitar of the week or guitar of the month.

[@michaelsakells169]

Don't forget the schecter mgk razor blade. To me, it doesn't look practical, especially on the higher frets.

[@BeesWaxMinder]

2:50 - you can thank Fender with a pay rise because they forced Gibson's hand to reverse the Firebird!!

[@10brucelees]

haha, i love the longhorn. Fun list though

[@southernpanda33]

I unironically like it. Idk why but I do. It’s just a shame it isn’t left handed 0:39

[@krispykremekiller]

The Reverse V was kind of a joke that clearly some people do not get. Look at the video for Judas Priest's "Breaking the Law". You'll get it lol

[@petterskerfving3955]

Rickenbacker 4001 would be on my coolest-designs-ever list.

[@guitarcd]

This is entirely based on looks, though, mate. I mean I would have put Rick high on this list, but it's because they play and generally sound like shit, not because they are ugly based on your sense of visual beauty. I think about worst production like barely playable pieces of garbage like Tiescos or Harmonys, overdesigned nightmares like the Firebird X, or just dumb ideas like adding a KAOS pad or Auto-tune to a guitar.

[@arasandthevolodkas]

disagree on the Longhorn - I have a Jerry Jones long horn Bass 6 in seafoam Green, looks badass. I've had 2 Rickenbacker 12 strings in my life - I do agree regarding the pickguard but the craftsmanship in terms of construction and finishing is really really good. They still use lacquer for their finishes and conformed to the California standards so had to either move to another state or downscaling operations to conform to the standards. They decided to stay. My only gripe is I heard they no longer make high gloss fretboards which I think gives it a unique look.

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

I love Seafoam Green 😍 I bet that bass turns some heads!

[@chickberth]

They stopped high gloss fretboards for a couple years but they are back at them currently. If you look at Rick history there have been several times over the decades they've switched up that neck finish, among other things.

[@robertdavidtingstrom118]

Trogly loves the reverse Flying V! He claims that they play great!

[@jvgauthier]

..Could see that Reverse V in a Marylin Manson or a Al Yankovic clip. I don't understimate Billy Gibbon's ability to look cool playing it as well. That kind of niche.

[@TheBavarianBarbarian]

Me personally i think that the Fender Telecaster is hideous! And EVERY Danelectro Thing too!

[@codychickadee5095]

I think Rics are hideous, too

[@jamiesnider806]

The kramer is based after a Russian folk instrument called the balalakia

[@Snaily]

I used to know someone who used a Fender Katana on stage. He absolutely despised the feel and sound of it, choosing instead to use a Strat with EMG pickups when recording, but he said it fit in well with the aestetic of his band. I still disagree to this day.

[@joanbozzo4889]

Man, you forgot the fabulous Gibson Theodore!!!

[@trappingrainwater6501]

Sky guitar actually looks amazing

[@resington]

Dean Cadillac, pretty awful.

[@sixsledges5474]

That’s a preference thing. I kinda like them

[@resington]

@@sixsledges5474 enjoy! I think they're terrible.

[@IllusiveSwampMoose]

​@@sixsledges5474 I've been looking at them to replace my les paul, I think they're cool 🤷‍♀️

[@JakeLeighGuitar]

@resington - you’re not wrong.. it’s my guilty pleasure!

[@majshj.2502]

I've seen one in my city quite some time ago and seeing the upper half got me excited that it maybe was an ml but when I saw the lower half I just got disappointed

[@majingunplero8472]

If you lose friends for not liking Rickenbacker, then they were not real friends to begin with. 😈

[@MrMojabo]

What r u talking about . I have the left handed version. They play better than any leftie strat or les Paul from the 70s

[@oliveiraqmatouoleao]

Nah bro the Katana is cool, well i guess i'm not the biggest fan of the headstock, but i dig the body. But i also really like the Gibson Modern Flying V, so maybe i have a thing for weird Vs.

[@hbohm1996]

YOUR opinion is noted. I love them all. Subjectivity requires respect when projected onto others.