Best bang-for-the-buck hardtail 6 string?

[Forkface]

I think a lot of those arguments are directed towards the WMI instruments that are pushing 1500-2000$ while the factory is also making 600$~ guitars of the same quality. To each their own though, at higher price points id rather get a top shelf japanese guitar or even MIA.

yeah definitely, and maybe I've been lucky/unlucky so far but as things stands given my personal experience, i'd rather get a 1k+ guitar made in Korea than one made in the states.
Honestly i dont know how Gibson can get away with some of the stuff they put out for a thousand bucks.

 

[Lionsden]

used ibanez prestige rga121? killer guitars and you can find one under $800 pretty easily.

 

[Jeffbro]

used ibanez prestige rga121? killer guitars and you can find one under $800 pretty easily.

800 is way too much for a very basic prestige.

600 is reasonable for a mint stock 121

 

[Mathemagician]

If you can grab a hardtail EVH guitar, those have been pretty all-around fantastic from what I've played.

 

[MatthewK]

I've had better luck with chinese Squiers than Schecter and Ibanez Prestige. Guitar shopping is kind of crazy these days. There are amazing guitars for $250 and even less, and hunks of junk pushing $1,000.

 

[HoustonJr]

Picked up a LTD TE-200 last summer. Threw in a Duncan Distortion/Jazz pickup combo and some locking tuners. Thing rips.

 

[USMarine75]

I own a couple of these and can't recommend them more... ridiculous features and quality... and you can pick them up for $900 new or $600-700 used.

 

[Backsnack]

I'm gonna throw in a slightly off-the-beaten path choice in here. Reverend Double Agent:

http://reverendguitars.com/guitars/double-agent-og

Despite the P90 in the neck, I'm sure you could still play some metal on this.

 

[Steinmetzify]

I own a couple of these and can't recommend them more... ridiculous features and quality... and you can pick them up for $900 new or $600-700 used.

+1.

Those things are fantastic....asymmetrical neck, compound radius, locking nut and bridge, SS frets and awesome pickups. Sound and play great for anything...cleans all the way to drop A brutality.

 

[Jeffbro]

I've had better luck with chinese Squiers than Schecter and Ibanez Prestige. Guitar shopping is kind of crazy these days. There are amazing guitars for $250 and even less, and hunks of junk pushing $1,000.

Yeah no....

One honda breaking down doesn't mean hondas are bad cars...

 

[NeubyWanKaneuby]

Ibanez SZ!

+1

I have an SZ720 that I bought new 12 years ago (paid like $500 I think). Now you can find them for around $300 (or even less) depending on where you look.

I've never owned a Prestige version, but they are usually harder to find.

 

[Mathemagician]

+1.

Those things are fantastic....asymmetrical neck, compound radius, locking nut and bridge, SS frets and awesome pickups. Sound and play great for anything...cleans all the way to drop A brutality.

This is the one. It's basically a mini-JP6, as far as it's new price point goes. Even the trem on has an OFR. So specs wise these are sharp.

 

[pfizer]

PRS SE for me personally is an incredible bang for the buck guitar. They've started putting Paul's signature on the headstock like the core models, making it look a little less cheap. The wide-thin neck profile isn't exactly as thin as an Ibanez, but still plenty thin for shredding and rhythm work.


Another recent company with great value guitars is Chapman Guitars. They just unveiled their new line-up at NAMM, and they've got some pretty cool stuff. IIRC, the guitars are built by the same folks that build the PRS SE models, so that's a pretty good standard right there.

 

[Yianni54]

Ibanez Prestige
SCHECTERS are good value
Caparison dellinger for a few more bucks

 

[Jeffbro]

Ibanez Prestige
SCHECTERS are good value
Caparison dellinger for a few more bucks

Caparisons should never be mentioned with "bang for the buck"

A used prestige literally does the same thing for 1/3 the price of a used caparison.

 

[pylyo]

Check FGN guitars too. Amazing quality, fretwork and great pickups, made in Japan. You can get them for silly price too, if you look around a bit. I love mine just as much as my 10x more expensive guitars.

 

[TheGuitarPit]

Small update: Found a Kiesel DC600 on Reverb for $800. It has a tune-o-matic style bridge and 25" scale, so it's not -exactly- what I wanted, but I think it'll fill the role quite nicely. If it doesn't do it for me, I'm pretty confident I can sell it without taking a huge loss. So many good recommendations in this thread. I'd end up with 50 guitars if I had the funds...

edit: orrrr i've made a huge mistake. guess we'll see!

Check FGN guitars too. Amazing quality, fretwork and great pickups, made in Japan. You can get them for silly price too, if you look around a bit. I love mine just as much as my 10x more expensive guitars.

That is soooo clean. Love it.

 

[LeviathanKiller]

+1 on PRS
+1 on Agile

Also, G&L guitars are awesome

 

[diagrammatiks]

Small update: Found a Kiesel DC600 on Reverb for $800. It has a tune-o-matic style bridge and 25" scale, so it's not -exactly- what I wanted, but I think it'll fill the role quite nicely. If it doesn't do it for me, I'm pretty confident I can sell it without taking a huge loss. So many good recommendations in this thread. I'd end up with 50 guitars if I had the funds...

edit: orrrr i've made a huge mistake. guess we'll see!



That is soooo clean. Love it.

used guitars that have been vetted and played especially by people here are ok.
Don't go out of your way to deal with kiesel customer service.

 

[SnowfaLL]

Schecter KM (if you like hardtail) or JL (if you want trem) are best value used guitars by far.. 3pc neck with carbon rods, SS frets, high quality overall for under $800 usually.. can't beat that (unless you find a used Carvin)