Perhaps we really need to test guitars blindfolded....

[almondx]

Haha the hole is burnt cause I bought my PRS already so I'm not that fortunate =(
I guess I do prefer the more articulate tone of a bolt on maple neck rather than a mahogany set neck guitar which sounds warmer but duller in a way. However for my PRS which is a cu22 it lacks that woody tone of a proper set neck. Kinda find this common to all cu22s I've played. I attribute it to the pickups which sound just too high pitched and overly compressed when played clean. Distortion wise it's fine though. Oh yes and all my posts on tone take with a pinch of salt cause it's all imo.

 

[rimuel]

OMG!mr crawldaddy!i got this thought all the time too.just did not know how to post it.

 

[guitarsan]

Right now I'm still trying to convince myself that my PRS plays and sounds better. It isn't happening. That $80 plywood strat is a gem!

Wanna trade your PRS with my no-name strat? :lol:

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

Goose, unfortunately I did not buy it.

Because I promised my folks I will not buy any guitars until I finish NS (good boy mah). :lol:

However, I do understand why some people are just not comfortable or may have a slight (in more cases severe) dislike for guitars which are not made in the desirable places such as USA, Japan, Europe etc etc.

I mean... let's face it, guitar making technology has not been going downhill... in fact manufacturing techniques are actually improving, and the only reasons why China is the place to go for manufacturing is because of the low cost of labour.

Then again, I'm no businessman so perhaps my thinking has flaws. However, as a manufacturer who intends to prevent the risk of bad QC happening, I believe that they would choose to keep their current factories and have lower output (despite high demand) but still retain that relatively consistent QC and sound quality, for which their brand depends upon for market value.

If I'm not wrong one such brand that takes this approach is Carvin.

But I have a sentiment that despite all the tiny little finish flaws any guitar might have.. if the sound is good, a few years of playing it and you're bound to get a few bumps and scratches anyway... so perhaps to me sound is much more important.

No one's really going to run up close and scrutinise your axe for surface blemishes when you're onstage what.

 

[suckasucks]

no guitars... what about amps, pedals and other guitar accessories? :lol:

 

[Indigo_blues]

one word. Its called 'Face'.

 

[Writer]

the gibsons are better made and of better quality than the epiphones.... but whether they sound better..... your ears play the judge.

 

[gibbytones]

gibsons are better made and of better quality than the epiphones

I beg to differ. the Gibson Qc has dropped in recent times.. you might find a topend epiphone sounding better than your gibson standard LPs.

 

[almondx]

guitarsan: =D can sell my PRS and buy like 68 no name strats at 80 bucks each lol. Why go for 1 guitar when you can have 68 guitars!! :lol:

 

[subversion]

let's not confuse QC with technological progress.

i have utmost respect for PRS (the reason i bought one). playability & tone are amazing but i do not have the desire to acquire more unlike Ibanez guitars. is this proof that Ibanez guitars, to a certain extent, are better than PRS ones? it's being personal.

 

[skink83]

In this case, I would probably say that the tone was attributed more to the amp than anything else. However, it does say a lot about the guitar when at the very least it feels good to play and has decent electronics, no matter the binding etc.

We have mentioned about the sometimes varying QC from the established US makers before, but nonetheless I would still be hesitant to recommend the other makes; Not because you can't find any good ones, its more a hit or miss situation. Whereas if you can afford it, there's a higher chance a 'bigger' brand will have a decent piece.

I would say I'm not biased to any guitar just bcos of branding alone, but so far only most of the MIK makes are pretty decent or even good.

 

[subversion]

the quality of a guitar is arguably the victim of production philosophy- the bigger names in the industry make more efforts in churning out reputable wares because their goodwill is at stake.

 

[AEnimic]

^ tr00 that! I agree!
but sometimes small companies also make an effort to make their name known..well,at least they achieved with a small number of people..

 

[im-jk]

Very interesting thread.

 

[bin4christ]

i think a way for small brands to market themselves could be to make guitars in different price brackets. like, make a package deal and sell it for $200, but also make 'booteek' high end stuff, like what SX is doing. but of coz, the QC gotta be strict n consistent, especially for the high-er end stuff.

 

[Midnight]

because one good guitar kills a hundred lousy guitars any day Why settle for anything that isnt your no.1 guitar?

 

[Crawldaddy]

Hmm.

Well ok lah, "good" is also subjective because we as individuals have our own unique taste and preferences e.g. flat radius fretboard, satin neck / body, bridge types etc.

But the thing that would make that TGM a serious contender in my GAS list is because I would not feel the pain too much if one day I itchy backside install a floyd rose in it.

Basically it's so cheap that I won't bat an eyelid even if I modify it to the death or knock it about.

 

[bin4christ]

hey crawl btw is that TGM LP red?

 

[Ripper]

Dont blindfold yourselve - Guitars are made to be played, and to be SEEN. You got cash, you buy better ones. You got little cash, you buy not-so-good one, but can still mod to give you the sound you want. As simple as that. Nice guitars, better look, better feel, play also happy. Dont you guys agree? 8)

 

[Cloudsky]

While we are it, how about those so called "budget" or "beginner" 's series from reputable brands like Ibanez?

I have humble little Ibanez SA260 and to me the feel, sound, playability of it just blows my Ibanez S520ex out of the water IMO.

btw its all stock, I didn't even changed a pup.


So final verdict, try before you judge!