What is your favorite budget guitar?

[RABid]

Lately I've had a lot of people mention that they would like to buy an electric guitar. I'm up on cheap amps but not sure what to recommend on guitar. In fact, I've thought about buying a budget Telecaster myself. Any preferences on cheap guitars? I'm thinking a range from $200-$700.

[desertbluesman]

https://www.rondomusic.com/electricguitar.html I bought an Agile Strat Clone from them at a few hundred bucks 10 years or more ago and it has been my favorite Strat style guitar ever. I did eventually put in Fender Vintage Noiseless pickups to get rid of the hum, but otherwise it has been flawless all these years

[Sharkman]

For something like a Stratocaster or a Telecaster in that price range, Squier guitars are going to be really tough to beat. For Gibson copies, Epiphone should be your top choice. In the interest of full disclosure, I own four Epiphones, and I am extremely biased in favor of them.

[surfergirl]

+1 on the Squiers, my first guitar was a mini Squier Strat and my first full sized was a Squier Strat. I've never played one, but there are also some G&L's in your price range.

[Dannyalcatraz]

New: G&L Tributes, Yamaha Pacificas, Agile, Tokai, FGN, Hagstrom

 

Used: Reverend, Godin, Fret-King, Fernandes/Burny, Tokai, FGN, Hagstrom

[Larryz]

+1 on Epiphone. They are easy to play and a lot of guitar for the price. Great as a starter guitar in the lower $200 to $700 price range and will work great for experienced players as well in the $700 to $1,000 price range. One of the best deals out there IMHO. I have an Epi ES-175 Premium I bought new for $1,000 and it keeps up quite well with a $4,000 Gibson ES-175.

[Scott Fraser]

PRS SE series are also super good bang for the buck, maybe with a pickup swap to match your tone taste.

[Winston Psmith]

PRS SE series are also super good bang for the buck, maybe with a pickup swap to match your tone taste.

 

I'm with Scott on this. High-quality materials and construction, but overall, the least expensive PRS SE is going to be considerably more expensive than the least expensive Epiphone or Squier.

 

IME, there is a world of difference between a passable, new $200 Guitar and what I would expect from a new $700 Guitar, such that it isn't a fair comparison. If you have $700 to spend, don't bother looking at the $200 Guitars, and if you want the best value, buy Used. If you find a good used Guitar for $500+/-, you have around $200 left over to get a decent set-up, a HSC if it didn't come with one, and maybe even upgrade some parts.

 

To keep it simple, if your want a Fender-style Guitar, look at G&L's Tribute series, Squier Classic Vibe models, or MIM Fenders.

 

For a Gibson-style Guitar, Epiphone, PRS' SE models, Ibanez' Artist models, or some of ESP's LTD line. (They make quite a few LP-inspired models.) Some of Hamer's import line were very nice, as well. U.S.-made Hamers would tend to be out of that price range, but if you found a decent used Hamer Special or Hamer Eclipse for $700 or less, I'd say grab it!

 

Ibanez solid bodies and Schecter Guitars both deserve a good look, if you want, or don't mind, a Guitar with a Metal aesthetic; some of ESP's LTD line are also pretty radical-looking.

 

Godin's Session series is very Super-Strat inspired, and they often show up used for $450-500. Godin Guitars in general are very well-made, and often under-rated.

 

For Semi-Hollow Guitars, Epiphones and Ibanez Artcore series are hard to beat. If you want more of a Rockabilly vibe, there are a number of Gretsch models that run around $500 new.

[desertbluesman]

My agile guitar is in the center I got it at Rondo Music https://www.rondomusic.com/

[Scott Fraser]

If you want more of a Rockabilly vibe, there are a number of Gretsch models that run around $500 new.

 

+1 on the Gretsch recommendation, but not just for rockabilly. Great for jazz & rock too. They're very versatile tone machines. I've played Gretsches for many years with my looping, FX heavy, ambient, electronic, experimental stuff.

[CEB]

I was just going to say ⦠pickup a used Fender Baja Tele but crap â¦. Used guitar prices have gone crazy. If I wanted a Tele on the cheap I guess I would look at G&L Tributes or Squire Classic Vibes.

 

I like Yamaha Pacifica 600 series but they don"t do Teles⦠except for the Mike Stern signature but that list for over 3k. Used will run 1200-1600. That"s a no go.

[CEB]

I cheaper guitar I like a bunch is the Epi Casinos. But they aren"t for everyone.

[Caevan O’Shite]

Lately I've had a lot of people mention that they would like to buy an electric guitar. I'm up on cheap amps but not sure what to recommend on guitar. In fact, I've thought about buying a budget Telecaster myself. Any preferences on cheap guitars? I'm thinking a range from $200-$700.

 

One word- USED. Pre-enjoyed. Maybe even "Broken-In", "Distressed", "Relicked". But seriously, a good used Fender Player Telecaster, for example, or Fender/Squier Classic Vibe Telecaster, will give you a LOT, A LOT, of 'bang for your buck', and then some. A little attention to set-up, if necessary, and you're GOOD to go. (Even brand-new, they're pretty reasonably priced and often within your stated price-range.)

 

And if ever you felt the need, they're easy to upgrade with various hardware and electronics parts- from bargain-priced to really expensive! HOWEVER, you'd probably be very well served with one of these right from the guit-go, with just a minimum of TLC.

 

(A really dirt-cheap mod is to change the value of the capacitor on the tone-pot: higher for darker/deeper cut, lower for retaining more of your mids and upper-mids when the tone-knob is rolled-back little by little. If you go down that path- a short little hike- don't worry about expensive paper-in-oil rated for way WAAY far and away more voltage than it'll EVR see mojo vintage this-and-that blah blah blah, that's 98% snake-oil delusion- get inexpensive ceramic-disc or "orange drop" caps to try. IF you even try that! You won't necessarily even ever need to- it's just one little example of getting more of what you personally might want, for CHEeP.)

 

Oh, two other words, concerning after the purchase upgrades- STRAP LOCKS. Or locking straps. Rubber washers. Any decent form of strap-retainment and drop-prevention. A Tele is remarkably tough and resilient, but don't tempt fate and court disaster.

 

ANYWAYS, I believe that those Fender Player Telecasters come stock with six-saddle bridges, instead of the vintage-style three barrel-saddle bridges; this could be a very good thing if you're a little new to Teles, not everyone jives with those three-saddle affairs as far as intonation goes. The Squier Classic Vibe '50s Telecasters? Three barrel-saddles, if I recall correctly... (Search around for other Squier Teles that have the six-saddle bridges if you would prefer that; I just know that the Classic Vibe series enjoys a good rep and a lot of players enjoy them.)

 

Me, I like the vintage three barrel-saddle bridges- PARTICULARLY if they're machined to be further compensated for better intonation. But the six-saddle Tele bridges ARE more practical and simplify problems.

 

 

Peruse these examples (links) of used specimens up for sale on Reverb:

 

Fender Player Telecasters

 

Squier by Fender Classic Vibe '50s Telecasters

[RABid]

I have a Gretsch short scale bass that I really like. Wondered if their guitars were as good as the bass. My first modern era electric guitar was a cheap Yamaha. Did not like the way it felt. I had trouble sliding my hand up and down the neck. Finally gave it to a church. It as like $250 when I bought it in the late 90's.

[Scott Fraser]

I have a Gretsch short scale bass that I really like. Wondered if their guitars were as good as the bass. My first modern era electric guitar was a cheap Yamaha. Did not like the way it felt. I had trouble sliding my hand up and down the neck. Finally gave it to a church. It as like $250 when I bought it in the late 90's.

 

The Gretsch Streamliner 25xx series are generally sub $500 & are well liked by the Gretsch aficionados. I haven't had my hands on any of those because I have higher end Gretsches, but they consistently get good reviews from a tough audience. The Gretsch Electromatic 54xx series are the next step up price & quality-wise, and are superb instruments. I have several & they are consistently fine instruments. Highly recommended, at least on a quality level. They aren't as generic as Strats & Teles, or LPs, meaning they really sound just like a Gretsch, so may not cover all bases for some players. I love them.

[KuruPrionz]

I am with Mr. O'Shite on the USED idea. Since the price range is pretty generous I would buy the least expensive Squier Tele I could find and search eBay for a used Warmoth neck in the size and style I prefer. BTW, a Strat neck will fit in the Tele neck pocked and the 22nd fret overhang will cover the gaps caused by the curve on the end of the Strat neck.

 

Toss in your choice of hum-cancelling pickups and an EMG SPC and that's a nice gigger for reasonable $$$.

 

The PRS and G&L Tribute series both have some nice guitars, if you look around you might be able to pick up a well-used Gibson Les Paul Studio and if you are lucky it will have an ebony fretboard.

 

In the $200-700 range there are LOTS of options, might as well go for something really nice and used.

[Dannyalcatraz]

I was in a used shop one day and saw a pair of nice Gretsch Electromatic semihollows in excellent condition, $500 each. Played them a bit and decided to go home and sleep on it. Went back the next day to buy the orange one.

 

â¦and someone had bought both.

 

(I have many stories like that.)

[Caevan O’Shite]

I am with Mr. O'Shite on the USED idea.

 

In the $200-700 range there are LOTS of options, might as well go for something really nice and used.

 

[font:Comic Sans MS]"I'm with you fellas!"[/font]

 

 

Since the price range is pretty generous I would buy the least expensive Squier Tele I could find and search eBay for a used Warmoth neck in the size and style I prefer. BTW, a Strat neck will fit in the Tele neck pocked and the 22nd fret overhang will cover the gaps caused by the curve on the end of the Strat neck.

 

Good idea. Though I read very positive reports about the necks (and pretty much everything) on those Fender Player and Squier Classic Vibe Telecasters from a LOT of people on, for example, a Facebook Telecaster group, both new first-time Tele buyers on a budget and gigging players who wanted a back-up or the like. I almost feel sheepish now- almost- about tearing a money-hole in the Space/Time/Economic Continuum with my recent 'spare no expense!' (or close to it) Tele-style build project... !

 

These are said to be great guitars outta the box, and at great price-points, even brand new! And ESPECIALLY at used prices...

 

One or the other would be great for me as an additional Tele, and I'd probably leave most of it as-is save for some inexpensive tinkering with electronics (tone-cap and wiring options, and these Free-Way 3-Way/6-Position and 5-Way/10-Position switches are amazing!). I might have to get one of these wallet-friendly Teles for Open-Tunings and add a middle-pickup for "Nashville" variations... !

 

Toss in your choice of hum-cancelling pickups and an EMG SPC and that's a nice gigger for reasonable $$$.

 

LOVE the EMG SPC module. And if I had to have noiseless Tele pickups, I think I'd either go with a Kinman Broadcaster set- among the very finest! (Fender keeps 'borrowing' his pickup and circuit designs )- or some from Lindy Fralin.

 

The PRS and G&L Tribute series both have some nice guitars, if you look around you might be able to pick up a well-used Gibson Les Paul Studio and if you are lucky it will have an ebony fretboard.

 

Gibson Studio series Les Pauls are often FANFREEKIN'TASTIC, and you are right to point out their '90s specimens with ebony fretboards. I had and dearly loved a Ruby Red Studio Gem series Les Paul with P-90's (and a rosewood fretboard), and I not only wish I still had that guitar, I wish I had three or four for different tunings, Benders, Bigsby's (Bigsbies? Bigsbi?) with Benders...

 

But I digress.

 

And I liked the few PRS SE's I've gotten my hands on, particularly their "PRS SE One" single-cutaway with a single P-90 style pickup at the bridge. Rock 'n Roll MACHINES!

 

I was in a used shop one day and saw a pair of nice Gretsch Electromatic semihollows in excellent condition, $500 each. Played them a bit and decided to go home and sleep on it. Went back the next day to buy the orange one.

 

â¦and someone had bought both.

 

(I have many stories like that.)

 

As do I, I'm with ya on that...

[Dave Bryce]

I cheaper guitar I like a bunch is the Epi Casinos.

Ditto on the Epiphone Dot if you"re after the semi-hollow 335 thing.

 

dB

[KuruPrionz]

Another option I just sort of remembered.

A friend has a Yamaha guitar that is sort of their take on a Les Paul Special. It has 2 hum buckers, a 3 way switch, volume and tone. Simple like a Tele.

The bridge is a wraparound with intonation features. Great sustain, easy playing neck, good quality tuners and they go cheap.

 

My friend collects Heritage guitars and has some nice ones. He wasn't real happy when I told him the Yamaha was my favorite one to play out of all of his guitars.

 

I got one too, package deal and I sold the other two items for more than the total price so mine was free. As I often do, I am modifying it to suit my preferences and then I can fearlessly take it out and leave it at gigs when I go on break without worrrying about it in the slightest.

 

I don't remember the model, the body is more or less a Les Paul shape with contouring including a contour on the cutaway. I just cut the cutaway deeper on mine but the other works well too.

Anyway, a used one should be well under $300.

[RABid]

.... Since the price range is pretty generous...

 

For many of my friends $200 is the limit. For others, they have more disposable income than I do. I have pretty good luck with Ibanez. Will keep my eyes open for a used Squire for myself.

[Caevan O’Shite]

.... Since the price range is pretty generous...

 

For many of my friends $200 is the limit. For others, they have more disposable income than I do. I have pretty good luck with Ibanez. Will keep my eyes open for a used Squire for myself.

 

Click here: > Squier by Fender Classic Vibe '50s Telecasters

 

 

And don't be afraid to "Make an offer" where the seller is open to that. Low-ball a little, but not so low as to be insulting; your offer might get accepted- or, you might get a respectable counter-offer back that will still save you some bucks.

[KuruPrionz]

.... Since the price range is pretty generous...

 

For many of my friends $200 is the limit. For others, they have more disposable income than I do. I have pretty good luck with Ibanez. Will keep my eyes open for a used Squire for myself.

 

I will just say that I've worked with customers who wanted custom guitars and could not afford them. I had them buy a Squier - Strat Tele, P or Jazz bass. Whatever they like.

The thing is the Squiers are similar enough to the Fenders that you have LOTS of options for parts that will fit.

 

As an example, Caevan is building a gorgeous custom Tele. He could have started with a Squier Tele and replaced the parts one thing at a time so the budget doesn't get hit too hard at once.

Eventually, when everything has been replaced, there is your custom guitar and you can put the old guitar back together and either sell it or use if for backup, slide, alternate tunings etc.

 

A couple of them stopped at the neck, they were happy with the guitar and still play it.

 

My own favorite gigger strat (photos attached) has a Squier body. It's thinner than a stock Strat (mind your neck screw length!!!!) and I love the blue color. So it stays. The neck is a Warmoth 1 7/8" wide (WIDE!!) Fatback that I scalloped.

I went with my EMG SA pickups, just 2 and a 3 way switch. The top volume hole on the pickgaurd has a piece of white plastic behind it, the middle one is the SPC and the bottom one is the volume knob, which is almost always turned all the way up. My pick is my volume control.

[Mighty Motif Max]

I'm a fan of the Yamaha Pacifica 112V guitar personally. Paid $300 for mine, HSS alnico V pickups, rosewood fretboard, maple neck, alder body. Works for jazz and funk to hard rock. The Natural finish is nice too if you like woodgrain.

[skipclone 1]

Winston P. Smith mentioned the LTD series by ESP-really fine guitars. But if the prices are anything like where I am, that's going to be right at or over your budget.

Maybe you can find one used but, people are usually not in a hurry to part with them. ESP has a slightly less expensive line called Edwards-they are easier to find new in Japan but,

worth seeking out. I have one of the LPs-totally solid build and Seymour Duncan P-ups.

\I haven't played one but, Reverend always gets good comments.

For hard rock or metal, Ibanez. amazing value. Shecter is close behind.

Despite a personal connection with Epiphone I would say, try it first. You can find a great one but, play before you pay.

PRS is a lot better for choosing one blindfolded. Whatever you end up with is going to be solid.

[RABid]

I've always wanted to customize a guitar myself. A squire seems to be a good choice for that. Not sure there is much I can do with a Tele other than pickups and tuners.

[KuruPrionz]

I've always wanted to customize a guitar myself. A squire seems to be a good choice for that. Not sure there is much I can do with a Tele other than pickups and tuners.

 

There are switching options, there are pickguard options a plenty, there are jack options, there are body options (bookmatched flame maple tops and/or chambered and beveled bodies) and most important on my list, there are neck/fret/nut options.

 

In other words, you could build a completely custom Tele one piece at a time, like Caevan is doing or I have done. I'll be back later with a photo of my Tele, nothing stock on it.

[Larryz]

I've always wanted to customize a guitar myself. A squire seems to be a good choice for that. Not sure there is much I can do with a Tele other than pickups and tuners.

 

Upgrading the pickups is the most important thing you can do IMHO. If you find that the Tele body and neck are your go to guitar that is the most important thing you can do to start with. Finding your $200 to $700 budget guitar is different than finding a guitar that you want to customize. Be careful not to overspend as there are tons of Fender variables on the market to choose from in your price range. Check out all the Teles on SW and MF before building one of your own. It may already be out there. If you are going to over spend over time, just be sure you are intending to keep the guitar and make the upgrades. There are a lot of tricks under the hood and over the hood on Teles with all sorts of bridges, reverse plates, switches, tuners, pups, locking tuners, strings, saddles, etc. Check out Caevan's custom build which includes necks and bodies ("Ash the world turns" thread). Watch the budget and remember with a Tele you can pay as you go and add your ideas over time and even change your mind over time. Just make sure you love the neck and body you start out with...just a couple of thoughts. +1 on Kuru's comments...Go for it and have fun!

[Dannyalcatraz]

I've always wanted to customize a guitar myself. A squire seems to be a good choice for that. Not sure there is much I can do with a Tele other than pickups and tuners.

 

One of the more famous Tele mods was created by Bill Kirchen:

 

 

[video:youtube]

[Winston Psmith]

I've always wanted to customize a guitar myself. A squire seems to be a good choice for that. Not sure there is much I can do with a Tele other than pickups and tuners.

 

One issue with upgrading the various Squier models is that standard Fender parts, and after-market parts designed for Fender Guitars, won't necessarily fit into Squier Guitars. One issue is that the bodies aren't as deep as stock Fender, so if your go to replace the Trem system, the Sustain block is likely to stick out of the back of your guitar, and keep you from attaching the back plate. That's just one issue . . .

 

The other is utility vs. value. It's entirely possible that with the right combination of luck & skill, you could take an ordinary, underwhelming Squier Guitar, and upgrade it to something approaching a real player's quality Instrument, within limits. OTOH, in terms of value, no one is going to look any further than the name on the headstock, so even if you've got $500 worth of parts in it, plus the value of your time and effort, it's still a $100-125 Squier, as afar as anyone else is concerned.

 

Separate point: In the price range you quoted, $200-700, not only is there a very wide gap between a decent, new $200 Guitar and a decent new $700 Guitar, the gap gets even wider when you figure in what you might be able to get as a $700 used Guitar. My Godin Freeway SA and my 2003 Cherry Red Gibson SG Special both cost $550 as used Guitars.