Get ready to jump on me about this...

Darin · #1 05-03-2007, 09:57 PM

We just did a show with the Drew Davis Band. ( http://drewdavisband.com/ ) They are a signed country band that is as good as any band I've ever seen, ever. World class players in all respects, and darn nice guys. One of the guitar players, named Drake. was playing a guitar I have never seen. I had no ideal what it was. But it sounded amazing though his Bogner combo. I asked him what it was, thinking it must be some crazy expensive guitar. He said it was a Greg Bennett, I had never heard of that. He said they had an endorsement. I still thought it was a $3000 guitar.

http://www.smcmusic.com/website_greg...al_royale.html

Drake ( http://www.myspace.com/thedrakesplace ) was playing one identical to this, but with SD pups. 220108090734 on the bay.

I know there are purist around here that wouldn't play a guitar in that price range. But it supports my theory that it really doesn't matter what the guitar is. If you like it, and sound good playing it, then it's the best guitar. I also know guys will argue about every aspect of the guitars quality to make their point. But the truth is, you can spend alot less and get a great sounding and playing guitar. It's darn nice to have a J Custom or some other over thousand dollar guitar. But in the end, it isn't necessary. I've have thousands of dollars guitars. I had an Custom Artist PRS built for me as an artist. My sub $500 PRS Se is plays every bit and sounds every bit as good as that several thousand dollar PRS. The 570 is another great example. For $300 all day long you can get a great playing and sounding Ibanez. Maybe it's just that I'm getting older, and my ego isn't what it used to be. But I don't feel the need to spend anymore than I have to to get a great player. Stick a Fender Squire in Petrucci's hands, he will still sound amazing. If I suck, it's not the guitars fault, and spending another $1000 or more isn't going to make a difference. But playing well with the band, and knowing my parts does. And that's the cool thing. Getting in front of a crowd and entertaining the heck out of them. No one cares what kind of guitar you got, or that you can shred and sweep. How does the band sound? That's what's important. And the guitar player, Drake, for The Drew Davis band was playing a $300 guitar and tearin it the heck up.

So, I suppose over the years, my opinion of NEEDING the spend a boat load of money to sound good just doesn't wash. And before I found out that he was playing a $300 guitar, he could have told me it was $3000 and I would have been happy to believe him, because that's what he made it sound like.

-Darin

myspace.com/hookknife

newbieguitarmaker · #2 05-03-2007, 10:23 PM

I agree w/ you but sometimes the cheap guitars are iffy, you get what you pay for most of the time. But this is sexy http://www.smcmusic.com/website_gregbennett/ic30.html

Darin · #3 05-03-2007, 10:26 PM

I agree, junk is still junk. But affordable doesn't always mean junk.

newbieguitarmaker · #4 05-03-2007, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darin

I agree, junk is still junk. But affordable doesn't always mean junk.

agreed

newbieguitarmaker · #5 05-03-2007, 10:36 PM

when I look up these guitars it always seems to say stuff about samick, is it like a branch of? I like samick bass's but hate their piano's. My dad doesn't usually work on samick pianos whenever someone has one(he is a piano technician). Just their guitar/bass branches seem like they are doing really good.

Darin · #6 05-03-2007, 10:37 PM

Here's my $1200 country guitar!!

newbieguitarmaker · #7 05-03-2007, 10:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darin

Here's a $1200 country guitar!!

looks like it works fine

Its a 1200 any style guitar

Also I just was checking the different samick branches and found Greg Bennett is one and this other branch sells these http://www.smcmusic.com/hz/melodica37.html They are so fun to mess w/ my dad has one from some other company and it is just one of those instruments you can pick out of a crowd

ohioplayer · #8 05-03-2007, 11:00 PM

In all honesty, I have spent a boatload of money on only one guitar and that was my Gretsch DuoJet. To be honest ... I wasn't worth it, to me anyway. I found that the $65.00 I paid for my Squire Stagemaster Fender with Floyd was far better money spent. In fact, the Gretsch is sitting in my basement in a case while I play the Fender on a regular basis. It just really depends on what one's liking is. I would not, looking at those photos, guessed that to be a $300.00 guitar.

Big Job · #9 05-04-2007, 07:28 AM

Darin,

excellent post. I just want to try and add a few of my personal views to this discussion.

I have several times so far got VERY disillusioned when it comes to gear. I rember lusting over jems, parkers, prs, and the like - all of which are very very expensive. Despite having some expensive guitars I ALWAYS (in the end) come back to my yamaha eterna - a strat copy. Sure, Ive had some modifications done to it but it beats the hell out of any guitar in the world.

From this I start to think about looks. Not, so much about how a guitar looks, but how people look. Bare with me here. I was in a music shop and there was a kid - I guess 16 to 18 and it was a warm day. This kid was playing a mick -thomson sig Ibanez and shredding on it. He had long hair and he was wearing a big wolly hat! I was thinking man, how silly! You dont need a certian look to gear to play any type of music.

Sure, perhaps a Joe Pass Sig isnt good for Messugah, or a baritone through a JSX good for pop (or whatever). I totally think thats its the person who is playing it.

Then I think about EVH - this may seem a little two faced (since his last run of guitars were very very very expensive) but I think back to his playing and ideas. On youtube there is him talking about his guitars at a fender thing at NAMM. He said abouthow he keeps things simple. Whether this is true or not is open to debate - but for ME it certianly is the case. I'd much prefere to have a rig/guitar/car/computer/degree/PhD or whatever that was simple and did the job 100 percent. Not some new-fangled stuff that is difficult to understand or explaine.

Big Job

**jim777** · #10 05-04-2007, 10:09 AM

I honestly don't think we're all in that "it has to be expensive" camp. My Epi Joe Pass sig cost 350, and it rules. Once I swapped in some GFS Nashville pickups, it did the Beatles/Setzer thing perfectly at much less money than a Gretsch. I have an RG2xx something at arms length now, getting ready to be restrung after having the neck sanded, trem blocked and a Duncan Distortion put in it. I love Jems, but I've never had a J Custom that I really got one with, and I've had several (bolt ons and neck throughs).

The thing with Korean guitars has historically been their consistency; they are better now than they have ever been. I can understand not wanting to take a chance on a 20 year old Korean guitar, but a new one should be fine.
And, if you are happy with your guitar, then I'm happy for you :-)

bikeman · #11 05-04-2007, 11:07 AM

You guys should check out the Les Paul forum. All this talk would get you SERIOUSLY flamed for not being able to afford a Historic Reissue

Me, I love cheaper guitars. I get a real buzz when I find a great guitar at a low price. For example, I own two Epiphones - a Casino and a '65 SG. Both Korean and made in the last 3 years. The Casino is a superb playing guitar - I just picked it up and went wow! Lovely feel and that real acoustic honk to the tone. £400 well spent.

My main gigging guitar is the SG bought for it's looks mainly, but it was always a good sounding SG. Now it's been upgraded with new pickups/electrics and it sounds REALLY Angus-like. A friend of mine thinks it's the best guitar I own, over and above my Fenders/Gibsons/Ibanezs. It owes me around £600.

I also have a '61 reissue Gibson SG with vibrola and while it is a better instrument (to me) it cost around double the Epiphone. Is it twice the guitar? Hell no. But it's the genuine article and I love the feel of it. I wouldn't risk gigging it though as I'd hate for something to happen to it and I'd struggle to replace it.

Bottom line - there are some really great low-mid price guitars out there and if you haven't tried some out before now you really should.

buddroyce · #12 05-04-2007, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jim777

The thing with Korean guitars has historically been their consistency; they are better now than they have ever been. I can understand not wanting to take a chance on a 20 year old Korean guitar, but a new one should be fine.
And, if you are happy with your guitar, then I'm happy for you :-)

I'm with ya there! I guess I should remind everyone that back in the relatively old days, MIJ was once where we think MIC and MII is now(ie. junk). It's only natural for MIK guitars to be better now than some years ago.

Some of the stuff made by Cort and Samick are still some of the best buys for the money.

Dino · #13 05-04-2007, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bikeman

You guys should check out the Les Paul forum. All this talk would get you SERIOUSLY flamed for not being able to afford a Historic Reissue

Me, I love cheaper guitars. I get a real buzz when I find a great guitar at a low price. For example, I own two Epiphones - a Casino and a '65 SG. Both Korean and made in the last 3 years. The Casino is a superb playing guitar - I just picked it up and went wow! Lovely feel and that real acoustic honk to the tone. £400 well spent.

My main gigging guitar is the SG bought for it's looks mainly, but it was always a good sounding SG. Now it's been upgraded with new pickups/electrics and it sounds REALLY Angus-like. A friend of mine thinks it's the best guitar I own, over and above my Fenders/Gibsons/Ibanezs. It owes me around £600.

I also have a '61 reissue Gibson SG with vibrola and while it is a better instrument (to me) it cost around double the Epiphone. Is it twice the guitar? Hell no. But it's the genuine article and I love the feel of it. I wouldn't risk gigging it though as I'd hate for something to happen to it and I'd struggle to replace it.

Bottom line - there are some really great low-mid price guitars out there and if you haven't tried some out before now you really should.

Les Paul people are funny, I know what you mean.

That is the magic of C&C technology. Korean factory workers who don't even know what a guitar does can produce instrument that are even better than thier "Made in USA" counter parts. I picked up an Epiphone Zakk Wylde LP at GC not too long ago, and really could not see how a genuine Gibson LP was any better.

Going back on topic, if the guy with the Greg Bennett has an endorsement he may not be playing an "off the shelf" guitar.

Racerx2k · #14 05-04-2007, 03:09 PM

I don't let cost affect my decision, I let the quality and playability do that, the REAL reasons why you buy your gear (or at least it SHOULD be!). I think you are a much smarter person to have saved hundreds of dollars on a lower-priced guitar that plays great and sounds great, than plunking down lots of hard-earned dollars on something, merely because of the brand, or because of the pricetag. I have an Ibanez RG220, with new pickups, a Squier Standard Strat, an 80s customized Squier Japanese Strat, a 70 Japanese Strat Copy, and a custom-made Chandler-bodied superstrat, played through a vintage 80s Laney AOR half stack and Johnson J-Station, for effects (not to mention my Behringer Hellbabe wah pedal), and ALL this stuff suits me just as well( and in some cases, better), as when I had high-end Jacksons, Gibsons, etc., playing through a full, 12-space, wireless, MIDI-programmed, stereo, rack, with 2 4x12 Marshall cabs.

**jim777** · #15 05-04-2007, 04:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dino

Les Paul people are funny, I know what you mean.

That is the magic of C&C technology.

CNC = Computer Numerical Control

And my main amp, an '87 Carvin X-100B half stack, absolutely rocks. Insane tube cleans, great tube distortion, and just under 600 bucks shipped off the 'Bay in mint condition. You could pay 3 times that for just a head