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

[Jeffbro]

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.

Used guitars are actually more likely to have factory issues. There is usually a reason someone is selling a "mint" "hardly played" guitar at a huge loss.

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)

A used 1527 with the best case on the market and better quality for $600-700 beats that

 

[diagrammatiks]

Used guitars are actually more likely to have factory issues. There is usually a reason someone is selling a "mint" "hardly played" guitar at a huge loss.



A used 1527 with the best case on the market and better quality for $600-700 beats that

not if you no what you are doing.
this isn't a fly market or a pawn shop. People here are addicted to gas. I've sold dozens of perfect guitars.

 

[cip 123]

A used 1527 with the best case on the market and better quality for $600-700 beats that

A KM with stainless frets, duncans, carbon rods, luminlay, and hipshot hardware for a bit more, while still being well built trumps a 1527.

It's bang for your buck, you get a nice playing guitar with a 1527 but you get a nice playing guitar with more features with a KM or JL hardtail.

 

[LeviathanKiller]

Those KMs...dang
The 7-string version is on my list for a new guitar now

 

[Jeffbro]

A KM with stainless frets, duncans, carbon rods, luminlay, and hipshot hardware for a bit more, while still being well built trumps a 1527.

It's bang for your buck, you get a nice playing guitar with a 1527 but you get a nice playing guitar with more features with a KM or JL hardtail.

Edge pro + better neck and fret work >>> stainless frets, duncans, hipshot, inferior quality etc. No one even cares about carbon fiber rods.

Used 1527s also usually come with a prestige case and pre upgraded pickups while being cheaper.

Same reason why everyone agrees prestige >>> fancy spec'ed premiums

 

[Shask]

Edge pro + better neck and fret work >>> stainless frets, duncans, hipshot, inferior quality etc. No one even cares about carbon fiber rods.

Used 1527s also usually come with a prestige case and pre upgraded pickups while being cheaper.

Same reason why everyone agrees prestige >>> fancy spec'ed premiums

I always hate when people say "better neck"..... the main difference between Ibanez and Schecter is NECK SHAPE!

Ibanez has a wider flatter D-shaped neck. Schecter has a narrower rounder C-shaped neck. That is the most important difference. Honestly, I would take a Schecter over Ibanez, because I can't play Ibanez necks without my wrist hurting.

 

[JYNX2]

I love the way charvel feels and sounds and the price is pretty compelling.

 

[cip 123]

Edge pro + better neck and fret work >>> stainless frets, duncans, hipshot, inferior quality etc. No one even cares about carbon fiber rods.

Used 1527s also usually come with a prestige case and pre upgraded pickups while being cheaper.

Same reason why everyone agrees prestige >>> fancy spec'ed premiums

Well considering OP wants hardtail I think you can agree hipshot>edge pro. Plus I don't think theres anyone on sso who dislikes hipshot product, they're great.

Every Schecter I've owned has had good fretwork and my prestige wasn't much better, give the schecter a setup and it's equally as good. Quality is good, again of the multiple schecters i've owned they've been stellar. I've had one Ibby prestige which while it was good the nickel frets were annoying compared to stainless.

Also necks are subjective, and I like carbon rods as I don't have to set up my guitar everytime the weather changes.

Your argument for this Ibby hangs on the fact that OP might want a hardcase

 

[pullthatwigback]

The old ebmm sub 1 is pretty amazing. You can get a high quality mia guitar for like $400.

 

[vilk]

Used guitars are actually more likely to have factory issues. There is usually a reason someone is selling a "mint" "hardly played" guitar at a huge loss.

I disagree. At least, the one nice guitar I sold in my life (RG2228A) had nothing wrong with it. I was moving internationally and I wasn't in love with it, and that was enough for me to sell it.

When I see someone selling a nice guitar, I'm usually more under the impression that
1) They're trying to fund another nice guitar
or
2) They've grown out of their GAS (or are being forced) and are shedding guitars that they don't play as comparatively often
or
3) They bought a guitar that they wanted to try but it's not to their taste and they've given up trying to force themselves to like it.

 

[Fathand]

I'll go completely against the grain here.

Hunt down a 90's Gibson LP Studio, with a 60's neck if you want a shredder. The only modern upgrade they need (IMO) are locking tuners. Nowadays I even think the stock PU's are more than ok

 

[TheGuitarPit]

I've purchased a bunch of guitars since I made this thread. Here's how it went:

Kiesel DC600: I liked this, but the neck was a bit thick for me. For some reason I never really bonded with this one. Great build quality and no issues, it just didn't stick. Ended up selling it. I like the "thin" option on Kiesels, which this didn't have.

Ibanez RG652ahmfx Prestige: Build quality is great, pickups are fine (not real exciting), neck is crazy thin. Great axe for the price. The case is awesome too.

PRS SE Holcomb: Split on this one. The pickups are the best of the bunch, without a doubt. Build quality seems alright, but I've already replaced the nut and tuners. Not sure that I love the flat radius. White neck binding looks cheap.

TL;DR: I think the right answer was buying the RG652, and adding the Holcomb pickups to it. But hey, now I know

Side note: I also picked up a UV777BK on eBay and ended up playing that the MOST out of all of them. Ironically it's neither 6 string, nor hardtail. Guess I don't know what the hell I want.

The old ebmm sub 1 is pretty amazing. You can get a high quality mia guitar for like $400.

I saw that on Reverb the other day. I bet that thing is a steal.

 

[op1e]

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.

I love the crap outta my new Infinity Jazzmaster. Even the pickups are fine, but swapping them for covered LTD LH150's and push/push pots for single coil and parallel options. I also have a standard strat that's great, and a Bullet I'm upgrading. After getting everything jacked 4 years ago and all the bumps my stuff takes in the truck, I just can't see investing highly in another guitar.

 

[robski92]

Used Ibanez RGA121. I have two and they can be had cheap and sound great!

 

[Shoeless_jose]

super pissed that those Tunomatic EVH's with the locking nut dont exist at a good price point anymore, those look wicked.