What guitars would you consider to be the absolute best value for any price range?

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Dayn

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As an Australian wanting a versatile multiscale instrument, I've settled on Ormsby's GTR line which is made in Korea. The only downside is there may not be stock left over for a run, so you may need to preorder.

Good pickups, stainless steel frets, good multiscale design, specs you can rarely get anywhere else, solid higher-quality Korean construction. Because they're mass-produced in Korea they aren't perfect finish-wise, but since I can order direct from Perth, the setup and fret finishing is immaculate.

For me, it falls within the price range of Ibanez Premium, but better quality and more options if you want more modern multiscale stuff. As much as I want another Ibanez Prestige, it's difficult to justify when I can spend 30%~ less. And as much as I like the meme, 'buy a used Prestige' isn't really a thing here.
 

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Neon_Knight_

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Crungy said:
The old MIJ 7420/1's are great too. Not that old MIJ is always better, but the ones I have or have played have been great guitars. Hard to go wrong with them in general.
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They're just a pickup and bridge swap away from being the same guitars as the RG7620/1. A lot of them even have "RG7620" stamped on the neck.

I've never played an RG7420/421/620/621, but I'm really happy with my (small dot) RG1527.
 
lost_horizon

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Matt08642 said:
PRS SE. My SE Torero is every bit as good as my other guitars.
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Another solid Cort guitar, notice there is nothing really like this in modern PRS SE. A bit of a metal guitar by numbers like the Cort KX series which are also super underrated. Most PRS I play have a super slinky action that makes it feel much easier to play than even a gibson scale.

Squier Tele Made in Indonesia, have a 2011, another Cort construction which is more ergonomic and playable than other Tele's i've played MIM MIC etc.

RG7420/7620 you can still buy a MIJ one for less than $450 USD hunting around. Why buy anything else?

Ibanez Q series - I could seriously not stop playing this thing. If it had a trem... 👀 Sure to be cancelled by the bean counters soon

String Pluckery - can build a guitar with i would say more customisation and wood choice than a Kiesel, made in USA. I could send my pizza paddle and they would make a ERG out of it.

ET Guitars - they were building Black Machine style builds for $2k back in the day in their custom shop, build the Katana which was developed with Josh Smith of Northlane. They have an OS builder now that cranks out 28 inch and 30 inch Baritone offsets which the kids seem to all be crowing about. Add the wood choices plus pickup choices plus they still restore old Ibanez and JEM parts. He even cranked out his version of a Les Paul goldtop for one customers. Hard to get a build slot these days, a bit backed up.

Searls - another Aussie builder, I see these going for $2k or less these days and they are mostly SSO p*rn except for the fact he uses mostly nickel frets. Super custom spec and top notch components.

Ernie Ball Silhouette - great playing and cheap for made in USA. SSS or HSS with the silent circuit. Locking gotoh trems, 22 or 24 fret. Absolute solid workhorses.

Yamaha YGD - God damn I wish this was open to the public. Have seen some pop up on Reverb and get snapped up in two secs. Look at it, just look at it!!!

yamahaguitardevelopment.com

Photos - Yamaha Guitar Development

this is the photos page
yamahaguitardevelopment.com yamahaguitardevelopment.com
 
Matt08642

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owlexifry said:
can almost get x2 for the price of one LTD or epiphone these days
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That's the thing! Ordering through IbanezRules, I end up paying more due to getting it set up (Silver package), currency exchange, shipping, taxes, duties, etc., and It's still cheaper then any other MIJ guitar I can buy here.

lost_horizon said:
Another solid Cort guitar, notice there is nothing really like this in modern PRS SE. A bit of a metal guitar by numbers like the Cort KX series which are also super underrated. Most PRS I play have a super slinky action that makes it feel much easier to play than even a gibson scale.
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This is also one of the few PRS models to have a 25.5" scale, which was a deciding factor when I bought it. Another thing I like is the neck heel. Due to being neck through, there just isn't one:

1711499613238.png

Looking up Cort stuff, I'd absolutely buy an X500:

1711500097723.png

FR1000, Nazgul/Sentient, 12"-15.75" compound radius, no weird inlays, neck through, not a terribly offensive headstock, no weird controls. I dig it.
 
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Used LTD EC-1000 - also so many color options and looks great if you can stand all the binding. No reason to pay more than $7-800
Charvel DK ProMod - my favorite neck profile ever, super versatile, they were a steal at $900 but now are up to $1200
 
USMarine75

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2021+ Squier CV, FSR, 40th Anniversary, Vintage, Paranormal, and Contemporary guitars. The good ones are great at a hell of a bargain at $300-500.

2022+ Kramers. Yup. I said it. I’ve had 2 (iirc) subpar ones shipped to me. The rest are aces. I’ll put my Snake Sabo and First Strike against any 80s shredder out there.

2023+ Epiphone high end models like JB and Brendon Smalls where you get Gibson pickups for under $1k. Well, you did a year ago lol.

LTD, Edwards, and E2 guitars. So much value (SS frets, brand name pickups, etc on a lot of models) and 95% of their more expensive ESP models at 1/3 or less of the price.

Peavey and EVH guitars.The Peaveys have come back down to earth in pricing lately. $1200 for a MIA custom-shop quality guitar is insane. And for EVH, even tho they got rid of the SKB case and SS frets they’re still a heck of a bargain at $900-1200. I’ll put my collection up against anything lol.

Ibanez RGR565 reissue. I think I paid $800 shipped new for a MIJ Prestige guitar? How?
 
kamello

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RG652 or 752 can be found for 700-800 with some patience and are incredible guitars, same with the classic RGA121 (321's on the other hand spiked quite hard in price).

In the more budget friendly tier, IMO nothing beats LTD, did a setup on a friend's EC256 that costed him 200 and the the thing was really good, and every 350 series I've played had been a joy to play
 
SalsaWood

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All the old EC models were amazing values for the money, and would take any Gibson costing at least three times as much to town and then eat its lunch. ESP/LTD prices are completely fucked now, though. Completely.
 
Crungy

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USMarine75 said:
2022+ Kramers. Yup. I said it. I’ve had 2 (iirc) subpar ones shipped to me. The rest are aces. I’ll put my Snake Sabo and First Strike against any 80s shredder out there.
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Are you talking about the more recent $200 Baretta Specials? Because those are solid guitars and outstanding players.

I just sold mine but if I were to keep it the only thing I'd change is the pickup to get more low end.
 
USMarine75

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Crungy said:
Are you talking about the more recent $200 Baretta Specials? Because those are solid guitars and outstanding players.

I just sold mine but if I were to keep it the only thing I'd change is the pickup to get more low end.
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Those are killer for the price but I was talking about the higher end MII ones like the Snake Sabo and Nightswan. I think I paid around $600 on sale and they are just insane. The Nightswan I think has dual JB and the Sabo has a Jim DeCola designed original pickup called the T85 which I think they relabeled as the Eruption if I had to guess.

 
Crungy

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USMarine75 said:
Those are killer for the price but I was talking about the higher end MII ones like the Snake Sabo and Nightswan. I think I paid around $600 on sale and they are just insane. The Nightswan I think has dual JB and the Sabo has a Jim DeCola designed original pickup called the T85 which I think they relabeled as the Eruption if I had to guess.

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Ohh right arm! I haven't played any of the midrange or higher end Kramers but have heard they're great.
 
USMarine75

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Crungy said:
Ohh right arm! I haven't played any of the midrange or higher end Kramers but have heard they're great.
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The RIP Alien Tech Green Mustaine V I have was $1200 (includes the kitchen table sized hard case) but it is as good as any guitar I own or have played. So moderately priced I guess, but to me it’s a steal lol.
 
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