Best Ibanez or other < $300 or so?

[ampguy]

I was at GC playing the lower end RG's, and they're all pretty rough with finish and fretwork and all, a couple seemed to be setup OK but it was really hit or miss.

What's the best deal for a good shred style guitar (I have an LP and tele) in this price range? Do you have to go higher in price for a made in Korea or Japan model in the Ibanez line to get good build quality and playability?

Mainly want it to stay in tune, and even a hardtail is fine.

Also considering going up to a PRS SE if I can't find a good Ibanez in this range, but I realize the PRS is a different type of guitar, but still felt like a flatter neck than my LP.

thanks for any input.

[jim777]

Play a bunch of the 400 to 700 dollar guitars from all the various manufacturers, find one you really, really like, then get a used one. Best way to get value for your dollar is getting a used guitar.

jim

[ampguy]

Hi Jim, I generally like to play guitars before buying, so I usually buy new or used locally, which is a great idea.

The variances in quality of the new ones at GC wasn't limited to the low end ones, but also even the US made PRS's, Gibsons, and Fenders varied quite a bit. Sometimes it is just setup, but other times there are just slight defects even in the brand new guitars.

[gpenguins]

Originally Posted by ampguy

Hi Jim, I generally like to play guitars before buying, so I usually buy new or used locally, which is a great idea.

Just my opinion, but you might have to suspend that thought a little if you really want a really good deal on a good quality instrument - unless you get lucky at a local pawnshop or something like that. If you're patient you can get Japanese Ibanez models off the auction site we dare not mention in that range, and sometimes even here, especially if you're looking at older Roadstar models without locking trems, you can sometimes even get one the mid $100s. In my own experience, involving at least 30 to 40 different Japanese Ibanez's that have passed through me in the last 20+ years, I don't think I've never had a bad one. Some are more beat up than others, but the quality of the construction has always been top notch. Just a thought...

[michblanch]

A really great deal is the Ibanez RG321MH. Bound neck.
Mahogany Body with IBZ pickups. You should be able to pick one up at less than $200.00 used. And still have enough money to change pickups, if you shop smart.

[C.Thep]

"I said you can have whatevah you like, yeah, you can have whatevah you like"

[Darin]

You can get used RG570's (1570) for about $300/$400 all the time. It's the best guitar in that price range. Period.

[EvoGiant]

try a jackson

[moonlight]

It seems those great RG570s with the super wizard neck that you would see all the time on the auction site for $3-4 hundred are becoming a rare item in the last few months. BTW,why is the name of that site censored here? Just curious.

[jim777]

Originally Posted by michblanch

A really great deal is the Ibanez RG321MH. Bound neck.
Mahogany Body with IBZ pickups. You should be able to pick one up at less than $200.00 used. And still have enough money to change pickups, if you shop smart.

The handful of 321's I've played have been great.

[LuredMaul]

GRG170DX is a great axe for the money