Recommend a practice/workhorse superstrat please! What are good values and deals?

[ssmith2k3]

I'm looking to buy a used non-mint super-strat type guitar with (preferably) 24 frets, H-S-H (or H-H/H-S-S), and a good trem. Everyone says you can't go wrong with an Ibanez RG 5< series, so I've been thinking along the lines of a 550, 560 or 570.

I wasn't alive for most of the '80s, so I was wondering if anyone remembered some cool guitars that are undervalued today. For example, the Peavey g90 (24.75, floyd, coil tapped hss)?

How are Charvels, Jacksons, or Kramers? Are there any steals left from those brands (and others) or is Ibanez the safest choice for someone that is new to trem-guitars? Is it possible to spend no more than $350?? Let me know what you would do in my shoes.

Anyway, thanks in advance. Love these forums; been a lurker for awhile. Keep up the good posts everyone!

[David McCarroll]

Fender Japan did some pretty good guitars, both under their own name, and, um Heartfield I think was the other name they used - lots of them came in hot metallic pink or ice blue/green. Kramer seemed to make zillions of guitars, in just about every country under the sun - stick to US or Made in Japan - Korean quality was very haphazard back then!

[Dee]

Yeah, Heartfield was Fender. People sometimes confuse this with Ibanez's Starfield guitars (which were awesome, might I add).

As for the original question, I would go with an RG550. Oh, I did! Seriously, I think it's the best guitar in it's class, whether it's the new RG 20th Anniversary or an older one.

[bikeman]

As Dee says, you can't go wrong with a 550/560/570 by Ibanez. The Fender Japan/Mexico Floyd models are pretty good too and a good price. They would be my recommendation.

[sanitarium]

Some of the new washburns are pretty good value with some nice pickup selections.

[the.godfather]

Washburn are a pretty good place to start.
Build quality is great, good pickup options, range of colours and models. Jackson, Schecter, Dean, Kramer, Charvel.

But if your buying used, you should be able to pick up a bargain somewhere along the line. And with pretty good spec too, good hardware and pickups etc.

[Racerx2k]

The Squier Stagemasters and Showmasters can be a pretty good deal, too. Can be had for around $150, some of the time.

[Jaden]

Jackson Dinky....

[The Euphor]

Carvin DC127/135.

[V-type]

Peavey V-type!

[buddroyce]

A used RG5xx/7xx/15xx/25xx or how about an old ESP Mirage??

[the.godfather]

Originally Posted by buddroyce

how about an old ESP Mirage??

Ah, I forgot about those.

Some of the older 80's ESP models can be had for very good prices, and are nothing but quality. So they may definitely be worth a look.