Guitar thread

[assquatch20]

Originally Posted by Hayduke

That's it! My Dad's is all black, though.

Terrible thing, IMHO.

He said he couldn't find any info; should have known someone on ADV would know about them.

A girlfriend of mine had a Japanese Strat from the same era. Can't vouch for those weird things (though I'd gladly take one) but the Japanese stuff from then usually gets credit for build quality and innovation.

[Chuck289]

I have a made in Mexico standard Tele that I got in 2001. It's a great guitar. I swapped out the saddles for some Graphtech ones because I was breaking strings like crazy. The nut is fine and it stays in tune very well.

[Murphy Slaw]

I've got a nice '91 American Tri-burst, it's on the wall on post 1281.

[Josephvman]

You can also find new USA-made Les Paul Studio 50's Tribute models, which have P90's, for around $500, which is a steal. It will be the black or white finish, which is a cheap matte kind of paint, but they sound great and have a nice big 50's neck. They're also very light for a Les Paul. I have the 60's tribute with goldtop finish, which is the same basic guitar only with a slightly thinner neck. There's a pic of mine in this thread somewhere.

Originally Posted by Jeffy

Mostly the same. You get better parts as you move up the line though.

If you really like thick necks you should check out the 50's necked Gibson Les Pauls. The '54-59 have thick necks. '54-57's are considered baseball bats.

[Hayduke]

I mostly play acoustic, but I've been playing the electric the last few nights... pretty fun, actually.

Someday I'm going to play some serious twangy country leads.

[Murphy Slaw]

Originally Posted by Hayduke

I mostly play acoustic, but I've been playing the electric the last few nights...

I'm the opposite. I played electric for decades and just recently got serious into acoustic.

And so it goes.....

[BHW]

I found some pics of my Jackson last night. I sold this one a few years ago, but wish I still had it.




What happened to prices on Fenders over the last several years? You used to be able to buy a MIM Strat for $300, new, at any place like Sam Ash, Guitar Center, etc. Now they've gone up considerably, as have the American versions. And along with this, the asking price of used ones has gone nuts. Guys are asking $400 around here, for used MIM strats! It wasn't that long ago, you could pick one up for $200. Did they all of a sudden get nicer, or are they just appreciating? I'm still kicking myself for not buying that MIJ strat I saw in a pawn shop several years ago for $175!!!!! They are selling for $600+ around here now!

[Murphy Slaw]

The dollar is worth less as they continue to print more.

Guitars are worth the same.

[Chuck289]

Originally Posted by BHW

What happened to prices on Fenders over the last several years? You used to be able to buy a MIM Strat for $300, new, at any place like Sam Ash, Guitar Center, etc. Now they've gone up considerably, as have the American versions. And along with this, the asking price of used ones has gone nuts. Guys are asking $400 around here, for used MIM strats! It wasn't that long ago, you could pick one up for $200. Did they all of a sudden get nicer, or are they just appreciating? I'm still kicking myself for not buying that MIJ strat I saw in a pawn shop several years ago for $175!!!!! They are selling for $600+ around here now!

I dont know if i'm just imagining things, but it seems like the newer MIM strats & teles have thinner/weaker paint than my 2001 MIM tele.

[BHW]

Originally Posted by Chuck289

I dont know if i'm just imagining things, but it seems like the newer MIM strats & teles have thinner/weaker paint than my 2001 MIM tele.

I don't doubt it. I haven't shopped for guitars in 4 or 5 years. I was shocked to see Sam Ash asking $450 for a MIM Strat! They used to be $299!!! But like I said, used ones on Craigslist, are being advertised for $350-400! MIJ Strats are going for 600-800! Some guy had one recently for $275, and sold it in minutes, I know because I emailed him and told him I wanted it...but it was LONG gone!

You could buy a US made strat for $700 a few years back and now they are $1100! Luckily, those can be had used for $550 if you're patient!

I've never wanted a MIM strat, but figured if I found a cool one for the right price, I'd consider it. Cheapest one I've seen is $219, and it's a "fat" one with a humbucker...and a neck that looks like a banana!

I just can't believe Fender went up 50% or more n their prices...and the used ones are appreciating!

I now regret selling my G&L...I bought it brand new for $600...and it was very well made, nice guitar.

[68deluxe]

Originally Posted by BHW

I found some pics of my Jackson last night. I sold this one a few years ago, but wish I still had it.




What happened to prices on Fenders over the last several years? You used to be able to buy a MIM Strat for $300, new, at any place like Sam Ash, Guitar Center, etc. Now they've gone up considerably, as have the American versions. And along with this, the asking price of used ones has gone nuts. Guys are asking $400 around here, for used MIM strats! It wasn't that long ago, you could pick one up for $200. Did they all of a sudden get nicer, or are they just appreciating? I'm still kicking myself for not buying that MIJ strat I saw in a pawn shop several years ago for $175!!!!! They are selling for $600+ around here now!

Prices are higher while quality is decreasing. Gibson is using some plastic crap on fretboards of some fairly expensive guitars. They lost a bunch of costly wood due to the government raid. They use something called Richlite on a $5700 guitar:

http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Elec...ul-Custom.aspx

[DangerMoney]

Fender has a big debt load due to all the other guitar companies they've bought:

Squier, Jackson, Guild, Ovation and Latin Percussion, which we own, and Gretsch, EVH (Eddie Van Halen) and Takamine, for which we are the licensee.”

They tried to go public over the last year but the markets decided they didn't have the value to actually go through with the IPO. My guess is they've raised their product prices to help cover their debt load.

http://finance.fortune.cnn.com/2012/...ulled-its-ipo/

[GSAnderson]

Cause we like pics, a family photo. L to R: Weissenborn. Epiphone Dot (hot rodded). National Trojan. Seagull S6.

[Murphy Slaw]

My '79 SG before a show back in 1998.

[jdgretz]

Back from Winter NAMM week.




Here's a few of the guitars I saw and played while I was there:

I liked this 335 12 string. It plays nicely and is well balanced. It just doesn't sound like our Rickenbacker 360/12, which to my mind is the perfect electric 12-string sound.



I loved this ES-195 custom except for the Firebird headstock. Too bad it doesn't have the standard Gibson Custom headstock.



Both the Emperor Swingster and the Broadway were very nice. Great tone and very playable.



PRS had some beautiful guitars. I'm afraid the photos do not do justice to the colors or the wood.




Because everyone needs a Bela Lugosi guitar



And this creation that I wouldn't want to play but was pretty.



As usual, you can click through on the photos to see the rest of the set.

Unfortunately I spent most of my time there playing/jamming and listening rather than taking photos. There's always next year

jdg