Play along... if you dare Reverse Flying V Gibson Theodore Fender Strat Prince Dean ML Silvertone Apocalypse Fender Katana (V) Washburn N4 Strandberg Boden Kramer Gorky Park Ibanez RG Kramer pacer Fender Mustang Fender Tele BucketHead LP Les Paul ESP EX ESP Forest Jackson Kelly Washburn Preacher (Melted LP) BC Rich Warlock Parker Fly Danelctro Longhorn 👍 Gretch White Falcon Bo Diddley ZZ Top Furball Ibanez Jem
S: Firebird, Jem, Les Paul (as long as its not baked bean burst) A: buckethead, White Falcon(would be higher with a Bigsby) Reverse Flying V, N4 B: Strat, Tele, RG, C: Mustang, Katana, D: Theodor, EX, melted LP, E: pretty much everything else. F: Bo Diddly, ZZ Top Sweatbox, Prince
Literally you pissed 80% guitarist by putting Fender shape on D, next to an ugly design. That also includes me, I love strat shape specially loved with pickguard .
I swear Glen mentally flips a coin for every guitar that determines if he likes it or not. *Absolute abomination appears* "Oh I love that" *Masterpiece guitar with literally nothing wrong appears* "Is there a tier below F?" Feels like watching a random number generator
Idk why people dislike gretsch so much. They’re not a modern looking guitar but they sound so beautiful. Even the Chinese made ones. I have a gretsch g5222 duo jet in a jade grey. It sits sadly on my guitar rack 99% of the time. But that’s because after I started guitar a year ago almost, I got the gretsch to replace my broken Chinese bcp knock off fender. 2 months after getting my gretsch I got myself an Ibanez jem jr. It became my main for like 6 months. And then I got a hellraiser c-1 fr diamond series schecter and then 2 months later I got myself another schecter diamond series platinum fr-s. It’s a mix of my Ibanez and my hellraiser. But with a sustainiac. Gretsch is just a jazz guitar even tho you can make that baby chug.
Love the white falcon but the penguin is the best looking Gretsch. Gretsch owns the hollow body and semi hollow in my opinion. I love the over the top bling 50s/60s automobile design inspiration. I know the penguin is a solid body but no way the falcon isn’t easily A or B tier.
That Dean ML was so cool, like a guitar with Ride the Lightning album artwork. Explorer + V = Awesomeness, So did the WHITE FALCON, it’s SOO CLASSICLY BEAUTIFUL! also my second fav was the Satchel one: Kramer Pacer! Love Steel Panther
I agree on the ML! Although from gigging, that damned thing suffers the same fate as explorers. The hard cases are behemoths. The Razorback however just wanted to chip.
That’s the Dimebag Dean From Hell model. One of the most recognized and celebrated metal guitars of the last 35 years. Also, Washburn made a few of them while Dime was endorsed by them in the 90’s. Have you seriously never seen that guitar before??? It’s ok if you haven’t. I’m seriously not being an ass. I’m just shocked. Especially since you know the Ride The Lightning album artwork.
I adore my Razorback, but all of the Dime series are pretty awesome. I honestly wouldn't buy any other Dean though. The Dimes are their masterpieces IMO. There are many guitars ranked above it in this list I wouldn't take for free. I am shocked he put the BC Rich at the top and left the Dime near the bottom. BC Rich tries, but has nothing on Dime series guitars.
The Parker fly is literally one of greatest feats in guitar engineering. It looks like that out of necessity not because they thought they were doing something different
My dear boy, if you don‘t put a Strat into at least A-tier because you feel that „it‘s not cool enough for you to go out there, just playing a strat“, I‘m sorry, that‘s 100% a skill issue and not the guitar‘s fault.
Personally I don't hate the shape or anything, but gold hardware on white body is just so ugly to me, on any guitar. I would probably but this one in E. One with a nicer color scheme would be a C for me.
I agree. Perfectly balanced, ergonomically designed. Yes, it looks wonky, but it was for specific function, not to be eye candy. That said, I think it would have sold better if it was developed in the 1980's. By the time it came along in the mid to late 1990's, the guitar market shifted to classic colours, shapes, and finishes.
Apparently the reverse V is a great guitar. I've seen one in a shop when I went London but it was too expensive for me to even ask to try it. They supposedly fix the flying V cause it sits perfectly on your leg and doesnt slide like the V Sammy G swears by it.
@@mr.smithgnrsmith7808 😭🤣 have fun in your little world of hate where a haircut invalidates people 😭🤣 I'm sure your life is very fun and people are happy to be around you.
I think it's super cool that you included the ex style specifically. I own an LTD EX-400 as well as a pre Lawsuit ESP explorer. The ex shape is way way better ergonomics wise because of the bevels and little details. If you aren't looking for a 24 fret guitar these are some of the best playing ones you can find for the money. The classic shape is super cool but really a bit annoying to play. It's just huge.
Agreed. BC made some good guitars, I've had them from the early 90s- early 2010s, mostly the latter. All solid guitars, BCs really got me into playing from casual to more serious, back in the day. I'll die on the hill with you.
Prince's guitar was hideous, however it was the _Symbol_ he chose as his stage moniker when he wanted to stick it to the industry, and how it depersonalised 'artists'. Technically it's his name (symbol) rotated 90 degree's.
Putting the Tele in D🤦♂ should be in S together with the LP and Strat. A goes to Warlock, Explorer and JEM. B for Strandberg, Pacer and N4. Agree on most Fs, would switch the Reverse V with the Gretsch maybe. Don't care too much bout the other guitars. I had fun watching. Maybe you can do a Pedal Tier list as welll..
The Parker Fly Deluxe is one of the greatest guitars of all time. The form is its function. There are some minor problems with it, but that's the same for every guitar. It makes the best use of its compromises as a monster guitar for playing live. The business failed because of the economics, not the guitar. They were trying to sell a 6000 dollar guitar for 3000 dollars, and Ken Parker refused to compromise (and wasn't, apparently, a great business mind). Fail for putting it at D, but it was a fun video to watch. That warlock in A tells me that lead paint may have played a part in your development. ;)
The Strandberg Boden is such a gorgeous guitar, especially consider it's an entirely functional design. Each cutout is designed for a different playing position. It's honestly, in my opinion, a huge leap forward in guitar design.
I played harder rock/metal back in the 80's-90's and used Jackson Dinky's and RR V's . My buddy brought an old (early 70's?) Fender Mustang and asked me to play some blues on it. It was a life altering decision . I never did like the looks of it .....but playing the blues or any clean jazz style leads ......it sounded AMAZING !
My taste in guitar is definitely closer to KDH than Glen, but I'm about the furthest thing from a traditional Gibson fanboy so that makes sense. Very entertaining video. Looking forward to future videos from you both
Same here, I only like bolt ons so that pretty rules out Gibson. Then I like to down tune so the 24.75 scale isnt my thing either. They sure look good though.
The Jackson Kelly looks the best if it has a design on it, the curved bottom gives you a wee bit extra room for a decal or something. They look ace if they have a hard tail like a tune-o-matic because it makes the whole guitar look smaller.
I admit, Glen's tier list maddened me to no end. My tier list would be similar to yours, except I would move your S tier down to B, the Les Paul and Jem to S tier, and the RG and ESP EX to A
The Prince guitar is from the time he changed his name to that glyph. I pretty much agree with the whole list. I like Warlocks so I'm glad to see it in S. I wanted to like the Apocalypse because it looks sort of like a Warlock, but there's just something a little off about it.
@Crap Tacular Came here to make this exact comment. Only prince can make that cool. BUT..... him playing a tele at the George Harrison gig should he's just cool with whatever he plays.
Very surprised about the Mustang. Yes, the bridge is unconventional, but IF set up properly, that bridge CAN actually work properly. Bridge aside, the Fender Mustang is one of the most comfortable guitars for me that I’ve ever played. I have a small frame and smaller hands, so the offset smaller body, short scale, and thin neck profile make for a guitar that takes less effort for me to play than most others. Now, I must also clarify that I’m also specifically referring to the Mustangs with the CONTOURED BODY, NOT THE FLAT BODY of the more modern Mustangs sold today. I’m honestly confused WHY Fender are selling the uncontoured body version of the Mustang as the HIGH END models! Very early on, before I even heard of Nirvana, I was already drawn to the Mustang because of how comfortable it was. Also, it’s just a shrunken, offset Strat. The rounded pick guard isn’t in any way ugly either. Parker Fly’s we’re so nice to play, but their appearance killed them. The Dragonfly was the companies best move they made, but it came too late to save them unfortunately since no one was paying attention by the time it released. Shame. Hope to be able to get a Dragonfly one day.. The Vigier Passion or Arpege 1 guitars are my ABSOLUTE favorite playing guitars ever! They are unbelievable in how they play.
This is like when the band meets in the pub and the two guitarists go off on one while the drummer is banging the table and the bassist stares into his real ale thinking about the girlfriend who left him three years ago. The keyboard player is cleaning out the fruit machine.
I own that exact BC Rich warlock at 14:46 It plays great haha. He says "if it has the right headstock" which it does! It has a reverse headstock. Its called the BC Rich Warlock Pro X, and it has been discontinued for over 10 years.
I think the ESP Forest looks a lot nicer when you realise that the little "points" are from a violin. Before that, though, it just looks wrong. Weird guitar and not at all what I'd normally play, but I sort of like it.
Makes zero sense but very entertaining regardless. A strat is D even though half the guitars in the list are knock offs. Design was so bad that everyone decided to copy it ? Right . Two les Paul’s nearly identical except for kill switch specs and longer neck are 6 degrees apart ? Nah bra . Explorer above strat ? The mutant Washburn monstrosity above strat ? Laughable . Anyway love the channel regardless keep up the great work
I can’t defend the Prince symbol guitar on looks but if you ever watched Prince’s Super Bowl halftime show in the middle of a rainstorm… and I think he used a Strat as well… it was live, just amazing (although my strongest impression was of the twin sister dancers in 7 inch heels… in the rain).
Brilliant video, questionable choices 😉 (apart from the fabulous F tier which I think we can all agree on 🤣) You should've got an extra S tier choice in this one because Strats and Les Pauls have to be there by law! A good heavy band playing live with one of each can sound absolutely huge with the Les Paul chug and Strat scream together 🤘
@@timgonzales2891 Kurt Cobain chose to use a Strat for his heaviest song at Reading 1992. Billy Corgan got heavy as hell at times on his Strat, as did Dave Navarro when he used one, and even John Frusciante on occasion. Strats were all the rage (pun intended 😉) for heavy alt rock in the 90s and there are many types of heavy besides metal. I've only mentioned one decade and genre!
@@timgonzales2891 Through a good, properly set up amp, strats can scream. They aren’t the best for chugging, so you’d definitely want a humbucker guitar for rhythm. But a strat will give you some screaming lead tones that cut through the mix. It’s a lot more versatile than people think.
I already have a suggestion for another video with Glen: Guitar mods tier list. Both disgusting and horrifying mods, as well as pretty crazy mods that are also super cool.
I have to disagree about the Parker amd the Jem, both are guitars that you love or hate. I have both, the Jem is several varitaions and will never sell them. The Parker fly was ahead of it's time, and was just too far out for traditional buyers. Mint samples now go for serious money, and mine is like new.
The Gretsch squared guitar is supposed resemble a cigar box guitar which is something Bo Diddley asked for. If the guitar looked more like an cigar box guitar it would pass a higher tier but I’m not here to decide but I would put it a little higher tier because of the surpassing the identity crisis of most guitar shapes and practicality wise it’s easier to manufacture since it’s rectangular shape even though it may be uncomfortable to wear it while sitting so it’s a mix bag depending on how you use it but it’s definitely one of the kind.
Glen is cool, i love how the both of you look at each other when an opinion the other didn't expect pops up. 😆 The reverse V does feel nice when sitting down though....
The reverse V is one of those moments where people at Gibson thought really outside the box, like galaxies away outside the box... Still, it's not that great looking but if it's comfortable, more power to them.
@@onerandombruh I agree on them not looking great. It looks & feels weird, but the feeling of it being weird goes away after 5min's. I've just not played it standing up....
I like the Paul Stanley Silvertone. I felt a little weird about it at first, but the more I looked at it the more I liked it. I can agree with most of the other rankings though
“Long neck, small body” the Buckethead Les Paul actually has a scaled up body to match the extended scale length. Apparently something to do with him being a giant.
I agree, Glen. The fender strat is a dorky guitar. As for the dean ml, for looks and playability, it's an A for me. The only guitar I like more than the ML is the ibanez xiphos
How anyone thinks a strat is dorky but thinks a dean or Ibanez is cool is beyond me. To each their own but just seems like young elementary/early middle school opinion.
@@doodoo871 It's not really dorky so much as boomery. And whether you like it or not a lot of players don't want to be associated with blues dads. Doesn't mean they think pointy guitars are cool. I think strats are alright but I'd far far rather play a suhr modern or ibanez or some other superstrat than an actual strat. I feel the same about Gibson - furniture guitars for boomers, but even worse designed than strats.
So I actually bought one of those ESP FRXs. Honestly, I am still not sold on the looks, but for the money, it was the best guitar available to me. ￥59,000(just over $400 USD) for a neck through ESP with Duncans and a Floyd. Plus it has the best upper fret access I've ever seen. The ergo actually isn't bad either.
The ESP F series is slightly more restrained (if you stay away from the tribal inlays!) and super comfortable. I have an ESP bass and an LTD (MIK) guitar, and they are top quality.
Never thought I'd see the Les Paul and the GEM on the same tier. Especially since you pretty much can't tune a GEM and have it stay there for more than about 3 notes.
The squier Katana was my first guitar when I was a lad. I bought it for 80 bucks from my uncle. I still have it today and I almost never play it. The “Flying Check-mark” as I call it is almost impossible to sit down with and there is just no world where it looks cool. Kind of a collector item now though as they were so off putting that no one bought them
I love the Fender Katana. I find it very cool looking and the headstock they use is very interesting. I've been looking to find one but they are all at abysmally high prices
@@TemkaUwU I have no idea how the transaction would work but I’d be willing to sell you mine. A previous owner took out a lot of the original parts, but if you want it just to play and enjoy i would definitely sell it for much less than Reverb and such.
@@kevinpeterson4017 I definitely am interested but these types of things shouldn't be discussed on a yt comment section. If you want you can send me an email address we can discuss it more privately on and a little disclaimer I am from EU so shipping would be an issue if you are in US or Asia
3:42 My head hurts. 5:49 The proverbial Boat Paddle. 13:53 Looks like someone tried to do the old double cutaway mod from the 70's and gave up. 16:18 I assume you haven't played a Fly, because if you had, you would have realized the Fly is the finest guitar ever made. More sustain than a Strat or Les Paul, and because it's bass wood and carbon fiber, it weighs less than half a Les Paul. The bridge is a custom made Fishman/Parker whammy, and the nut is graphite. When set up correctly it does not go out of tune even while dive bombing, full stop. I can put it in the case and come back 2 weeks later, perfectly in tune. The carbon fiber does not allow for very much flex at the heel, and the fretboard is also carbon fiber that adds to the stiffness. There is no heel, as the entire body is cut on a CNC machine and wrapped in the carbon fiber as an exoskeleton, much like stringed instruments in the middle ages The Mag pickups are custom Dimarzos for the Fly. A tempered Super Distortion, if I'm not mistaken, that sounds a little brighter and not so gritty as the original. They are epoxied in with no height adjustment as a reference point when setting it up. I carry 3 hex wrenches with me in the case, and that's all you need to adjust everything mechanical on the guitar, including the flat whammy bar spring tension without having to take the back off. The reason they didn't sell: big price tag(mine is a 1997, I bought it for $2500 from the original owner in 2019 and considered it a deal), guitar players get scared about all extra knobs and switches, and nobody knows about the brand itself. Ken Parker reimagined the guitar top to bottom, including the body shape, and built that vision without compromise. I like the look because it isn't a goddamned Strat or Les Paul copy, but something all it's own. Now to the extraneous crap: Mine is a prototype MidiFly with a Roland pickup built in instead of the top of the guitar models that goes to my Boss GP-10 synth box. I can dial in the magnetic pickups(analogue from pole piece to my ADA MP-1 preamp) with a digital 12 string Martin to get a mix that will make you weep with joy. The standard Fly has the piezos on the ring, and mags on the tip of a stereo jack so you could send them to different amp setups. That sounded great on the P-38(the Korean bolt-on I had when I couldn't afford the big boy) and you could blend the guitar/acoustic on the guitar via switch and pot. My Fly is more...complicated...let's say, because I can control any and all parameters of the digital world on the synth, and can assign different functions to the switches and pot. Fun fact: the synth has an actual analogue path that has many Boss pedals built in which are digitally controlled, but the internal delay is all digital. I like analogue everything in the signal chain, but my Memory Man stereo deluxe sounds amazing, so compromises have been made. Oh, right. The Mag pickups are custom Dimarzos for the Fly. A tempered Super Distortion, if I'm not mistaken, that sounds a little brighter and not so gritty as the original. To sum up: Try one sometime, you'll be amazed. Apologies for the length.
These tier videos are amazing, what about pedals like fuzz tier, overdrive tier, distortion tier. Or amp tiers or hogh gain amp tiers or whatever. Get really specific lol.
I have to say, I'm practically speechless at the LTD EX placement :O And I have to concur with KD, WAY different from the Jackson Kelly. I definitely prefer the EX, though I might be biased in that I own one >.>
As iconic as the Stratocaster is, it's mot S tier. Just the position of the volume pot alone brings it down. I turn down guitars just based on that. Would have loved to get a Charvel, but the volume looks like it's too close to the strings. And without all the knobs and things, that Gretsch is pretty. Ain't no way a Warlock is S tier. And the comments on a tele being a flat slab can also be applied to the Les Paul, but the Les Paul was still ranked much higher. I think the Les Paul looks nicer, but it is also not a comfortable guitar.
Well done on the video, and I'd go with the last tier list shown before the video ends also. I'd think it was back in the mid-late 90s, when MTV was becoming eMpTyV by playing less Rock/Metal videos, and stopped "The Headbanger's Ball" in 1995, then showing much more pop/cRap/Hip Hop/grunge/Madonna and worse style videos, and then stopping from playing any videos in mid-late 2000s/early 2010s with the "Reality Based" shows like Jersey Shore, and other shit-coms. Award shows that had no Rock/Metal, finally into just about 24 hours a day of "Ridiculousness", how much can I save on my cable bill by NOT paying for eMpTvY, and other channels I won't ever watch. KDH is a great channel, and I couldn't put a "Dislike" on this, or any videos! Keep up the good work! Thanks for this video!
Good afternoon KDH I hope you are well. I am really sorry to be the bearer of bad news but your friends guitarist-card has now been revoked. We at the guitar HQ are very unhappy with his rating of the best guitars in history and sadly we’re going to have to request he submit his guitar-card back to us. In the return envelope provided you’ll also find a red ‘warning card’ addressed to yourself as you also appear to have a very non-traditional view on what we regard as cool. Thanks for understanding. Your friends at guitar. :)
The Prince Symbol guitar is only iconic because it was designed for and played by The Purple One... It other than that it is definite proof of "just because you can does not mean you should."
Ranking the ESP EX above the Jackson Kelly is bizarre to me, the ESP is like "maximum point and sharpness of angle at all cost" and the Jackson is essentially what the RR is to a "normal V" but to an explorer. The horn matches the headstock too!
I love the Gretsch! I have a Cochrane styled entry-level, with a dogear p50 pickup in the neck, humbucker in the bridge and a Bigsby on it....and its awesome! So many tones!
Agree with KDH's rejiggering. No way a basic strat can be lower than a C. Would like to have seen a Mockingbird and Rich Bich included. Tons of others too. Fill up that chart!
Play along... if you dare
Reverse Flying V
Gibson Theodore
Fender Strat
Prince
Dean ML
Silvertone Apocalypse
Fender Katana (V)
Washburn N4
Strandberg Boden
Kramer Gorky Park
Ibanez RG
Kramer pacer
Fender Mustang
Fender Tele
BucketHead LP
Les Paul
ESP EX
ESP Forest
Jackson Kelly
Washburn Preacher (Melted LP)
BC Rich Warlock
Parker Fly
Danelctro Longhorn 👍
Gretch White Falcon
Bo Diddley
ZZ Top Furball
Ibanez Jem
S: Firebird, Jem, Les Paul (as long as its not baked bean burst)
A: buckethead, White Falcon(would be higher with a Bigsby) Reverse Flying V, N4
B: Strat, Tele, RG,
C: Mustang, Katana,
D: Theodor, EX, melted LP,
E: pretty much everything else.
F: Bo Diddly, ZZ Top Sweatbox, Prince
I agree with you, Glenn needs an eye exam.
I was shocked you didn’t like the Kelly, that’s my baby lol
Literally you pissed 80% guitarist by putting Fender shape on D, next to an ugly design. That also includes me, I love strat shape specially loved with pickguard .
Was hoping you guys would have included more odd Deans likes the Cadillac, Split Tail, Tyrant or Demonator
I swear Glen mentally flips a coin for every guitar that determines if he likes it or not.
*Absolute abomination appears* "Oh I love that"
*Masterpiece guitar with literally nothing wrong appears* "Is there a tier below F?"
Feels like watching a random number generator
Yeah they are a bunch of sodomists
Do you understand the concept of random?
@@NeungView Yes
I'm shocked at the hate of the Gretsch white falcon!!!!
Idk why people dislike gretsch so much. They’re not a modern looking guitar but they sound so beautiful. Even the Chinese made ones. I have a gretsch g5222 duo jet in a jade grey. It sits sadly on my guitar rack 99% of the time. But that’s because after I started guitar a year ago almost, I got the gretsch to replace my broken Chinese bcp knock off fender. 2 months after getting my gretsch I got myself an Ibanez jem jr. It became my main for like 6 months. And then I got a hellraiser c-1 fr diamond series schecter and then 2 months later I got myself another schecter diamond series platinum fr-s. It’s a mix of my Ibanez and my hellraiser. But with a sustainiac. Gretsch is just a jazz guitar even tho you can make that baby chug.
The White Falcon is one of the most beautiful guitars of all time. Right behind the White Penguin!
White falcon reigns supreme.
Love the white falcon but the penguin is the best looking Gretsch. Gretsch owns the hollow body and semi hollow in my opinion. I love the over the top bling 50s/60s automobile design inspiration. I know the penguin is a solid body but no way the falcon isn’t easily A or B tier.
Yep
Strat in D is insane.
Man, putting that goofy ass ninja star lookin ass guitar over the Gretsch screams "I have never had sex with a woman" lmao
So true
That Dean ML was so cool, like a guitar with Ride the Lightning album artwork. Explorer + V = Awesomeness, So did the WHITE FALCON, it’s SOO CLASSICLY BEAUTIFUL! also my second fav was the Satchel one: Kramer Pacer! Love Steel Panther
I agree on the ML! Although from gigging, that damned thing suffers the same fate as explorers. The hard cases are behemoths. The Razorback however just wanted to chip.
That’s the Dimebag Dean From Hell model. One of the most recognized and celebrated metal guitars of the last 35 years. Also, Washburn made a few of them while Dime was endorsed by them in the 90’s. Have you seriously never seen that guitar before??? It’s ok if you haven’t. I’m seriously not being an ass. I’m just shocked. Especially since you know the Ride The Lightning album artwork.
Getcha pull son!!
I adore my Razorback, but all of the Dime series are pretty awesome. I honestly wouldn't buy any other Dean though. The Dimes are their masterpieces IMO. There are many guitars ranked above it in this list I wouldn't take for free. I am shocked he put the BC Rich at the top and left the Dime near the bottom. BC Rich tries, but has nothing on Dime series guitars.
@@ChrisTopherBunnell i have a early 2000's bc rich and it plays way better then any of my import deans.
I think the bucketheads yellowing fits the theme with the arcade kill switch, as its reminiscent of yellowing old electronics / video game systems
@@jeremyrobertson4729 drink some water lol
@@jeremyrobertson4729 this is your brain on amphetamines
@@jeremyrobertson4729 bro it ain't that serious
@@TommyWashow haha, it is! lol
@@jeremyrobertson4729 I know, me too fella
The Parker fly is literally one of greatest feats in guitar engineering. It looks like that out of necessity not because they thought they were doing something different
If only the frets wouldn't fall off from the fretboard...
I don't know about that. I had one with the bolt on neck, it got stolen and I wasn't that mad.
The parker fly is a great guitar.. but those stainless frets are glued on. (so carry a bottle of super glue)
I agree, i bought one when they were released, my friends thought i had lost the plot,
today they go for high prices.
@@AnonymousUser66649 Every guitar has it weak spots, just looking at a Les Paul neck will break it!
My dear boy, if you don‘t put a Strat into at least A-tier because you feel that „it‘s not cool enough for you to go out there, just playing a strat“, I‘m sorry, that‘s 100% a skill issue and not the guitar‘s fault.
“That looks like someone hailing a taxi”
Gretsch hate is bizarre lol
It’s definitely of its era, but the Gem is of its era as well.
Hilarious video
Personally I don't hate the shape or anything, but gold hardware on white body is just so ugly to me, on any guitar. I would probably but this one in E. One with a nicer color scheme would be a C for me.
I have never seen a Grestch guitar that looks even remotely nice. They are ugly horrible gibson copies. Gross. I have no idea why people play them
This list can't be serious?
Aren't all tier lists of opinions serious?
the Parker Fly is a perfect example of function over form. Body was literally designed for balance
I agree. Perfectly balanced, ergonomically designed. Yes, it looks wonky, but it was for specific function, not to be eye candy. That said, I think it would have sold better if it was developed in the 1980's. By the time it came along in the mid to late 1990's, the guitar market shifted to classic colours, shapes, and finishes.
Apparently the reverse V is a great guitar. I've seen one in a shop when I went London but it was too expensive for me to even ask to try it. They supposedly fix the flying V cause it sits perfectly on your leg and doesnt slide like the V
Sammy G swears by it.
Yeah that’s who you wanna listen to,a communist with a man-bun….
@@mr.smithgnrsmith7808 😭🤣 have fun in your little world of hate where a haircut invalidates people 😭🤣 I'm sure your life is very fun and people are happy to be around you.
I dont think they made any in the low tier builds?
That's the first thing I thought when I saw one.. that it looks like it wouldn't slide.
I love how the prince guitar instantly makes the dean guitar look tame
In my narrow view, anything that doesn’t look like a Tele, Strat, Les Paul or SG is firewood.
btw that Buckethead has a 1.5x size body, which is why the pickups look smaller. They made it proportional to the neck
I think it's super cool that you included the ex style specifically. I own an LTD EX-400 as well as a pre Lawsuit ESP explorer. The ex shape is way way better ergonomics wise because of the bevels and little details. If you aren't looking for a 24 fret guitar these are some of the best playing ones you can find for the money. The classic shape is super cool but really a bit annoying to play. It's just huge.
The Warlock is a fantastic model and I'm dying on this hill.
Agreed. BC made some good guitars, I've had them from the early 90s- early 2010s, mostly the latter. All solid guitars, BCs really got me into playing from casual to more serious, back in the day. I'll die on the hill with you.
Prince's guitar was hideous, however it was the _Symbol_ he chose as his stage moniker when he wanted to stick it to the industry, and how it depersonalised 'artists'. Technically it's his name (symbol) rotated 90 degree's.
Should change the name of this vid to "wonky buttrock guitar rider list. Mo butt mo betta.
Putting the Tele in D🤦♂ should be in S together with the LP and Strat. A goes to Warlock, Explorer and JEM. B for Strandberg, Pacer and N4. Agree on most Fs, would switch the Reverse V with the Gretsch maybe. Don't care too much bout the other guitars. I had fun watching. Maybe you can do a Pedal Tier list as welll..
The Parker Fly Deluxe is one of the greatest guitars of all time. The form is its function. There are some minor problems with it, but that's the same for every guitar. It makes the best use of its compromises as a monster guitar for playing live. The business failed because of the economics, not the guitar. They were trying to sell a 6000 dollar guitar for 3000 dollars, and Ken Parker refused to compromise (and wasn't, apparently, a great business mind). Fail for putting it at D, but it was a fun video to watch. That warlock in A tells me that lead paint may have played a part in your development. ;)
I get that the Parker Fly is good specs wise but it's just so god dammed ugly.
Also the warlock is just cool
@@harrymack3565 Well, you can't expect an instrument to improve your looks. You expect it to perform "specs wise".
@toddmoore9138 Says who? If a guitar is so ugly I don't even want to touch it who gives a shit about specs
@@TheIlluminatiREAL Poser says what?
I had a Jackson Kelly. One of the best playing axes I've ever owned, but I kept knocking things over with it!
Bruh theres an official hummbucker strat in every series and version
The Strandberg Boden is such a gorgeous guitar, especially consider it's an entirely functional design. Each cutout is designed for a different playing position. It's honestly, in my opinion, a huge leap forward in guitar design.
Entirely functional=exceptionally ugly...to each their own.
I played harder rock/metal back in the 80's-90's and used Jackson Dinky's and RR V's . My buddy brought an old (early 70's?) Fender Mustang and asked me to play some blues on it. It was a life altering decision . I never did like the looks of it .....but playing the blues or any clean jazz style leads ......it sounded AMAZING !
They're too small, so I go for the jag/jazzmaster for that reason. 6'3 230 makes mustangs look dinky
These videos are amazing. Y'all have such hilarious chemistry!
My taste in guitar is definitely closer to KDH than Glen, but I'm about the furthest thing from a traditional Gibson fanboy so that makes sense. Very entertaining video. Looking forward to future videos from you both
Same here, I only like bolt ons so that pretty rules out Gibson. Then I like to down tune so the 24.75 scale isnt my thing either. They sure look good though.
The Jackson Kelly looks the best if it has a design on it, the curved bottom gives you a wee bit extra room for a decal or something. They look ace if they have a hard tail like a tune-o-matic because it makes the whole guitar look smaller.
my old KE2 in eerie dess was gorgeous
but a Strat is clearly A tear at a minimum
Cool fact about the bucket head guitar. The body isn’t the same size as a les Paul. It’s thicker and larger!
I was gonna say that. He says "long neck, small body", which is untrue. The body has been enlargened to make it fully proportional to the neck.
Kraemer above Strandberg, rg and razorback? You sure this guy isn't a keyboard player?
I admit, Glen's tier list maddened me to no end. My tier list would be similar to yours, except I would move your S tier down to B, the Les Paul and Jem to S tier, and the RG and ESP EX to A
I think you guys should do an amp tier list or a pedal/effects tier list for future videos. You guys are hilarious together!
FYI the guitars hanging on your wall in the background not much better brother!!
The Prince guitar is from the time he changed his name to that glyph. I pretty much agree with the whole list. I like Warlocks so I'm glad to see it in S. I wanted to like the Apocalypse because it looks sort of like a Warlock, but there's just something a little off about it.
I like the Cloud guitar and the more angular one he had during the Diamonds and Pearls era.
The Prince guitar is S tier, but only if you're Prince. Nobody else can pull that off.
@Crap Tacular Came here to make this exact comment. Only prince can make that cool. BUT..... him playing a tele at the George Harrison gig should he's just cool with whatever he plays.
Very surprised about the Mustang. Yes, the bridge is unconventional, but IF set up properly, that bridge CAN actually work properly. Bridge aside, the Fender Mustang is one of the most comfortable guitars for me that I’ve ever played. I have a small frame and smaller hands, so the offset smaller body, short scale, and thin neck profile make for a guitar that takes less effort for me to play than most others. Now, I must also clarify that I’m also specifically referring to the Mustangs with the CONTOURED BODY, NOT THE FLAT BODY of the more modern Mustangs sold today. I’m honestly confused WHY Fender are selling the uncontoured body version of the Mustang as the HIGH END models! Very early on, before I even heard of Nirvana, I was already drawn to the Mustang because of how comfortable it was. Also, it’s just a shrunken, offset Strat. The rounded pick guard isn’t in any way ugly either.
Parker Fly’s we’re so nice to play, but their appearance killed them. The Dragonfly was the companies best move they made, but it came too late to save them unfortunately since no one was paying attention by the time it released. Shame. Hope to be able to get a Dragonfly one day..
The Vigier Passion or Arpege 1 guitars are my ABSOLUTE favorite playing guitars ever! They are unbelievable in how they play.
This is like when the band meets in the pub and the two guitarists go off on one while the drummer is banging the table and the bassist stares into his real ale thinking about the girlfriend who left him three years ago.
The keyboard player is cleaning out the fruit machine.
It made me so happy when you put the Warlock in S. I was screaming S that whoe time, lol! My Warlock was shivering in the corner, concerned!
I think Parker stopped making Fly’s, and now makes archtops on a custom basis
I own that exact BC Rich warlock at 14:46 It plays great haha. He says "if it has the right headstock" which it does! It has a reverse headstock. Its called the BC Rich Warlock Pro X, and it has been discontinued for over 10 years.
I think the ESP Forest looks a lot nicer when you realise that the little "points" are from a violin. Before that, though, it just looks wrong. Weird guitar and not at all what I'd normally play, but I sort of like it.
Makes zero sense but very entertaining regardless. A strat is D even though half the guitars in the list are knock offs. Design was so bad that everyone decided to copy it ? Right . Two les Paul’s nearly identical except for kill switch specs and longer neck are 6 degrees apart ? Nah bra . Explorer above strat ? The mutant Washburn monstrosity above strat ? Laughable . Anyway love the channel regardless keep up the great work
I can’t defend the Prince symbol guitar on looks but if you ever watched Prince’s Super Bowl halftime show in the middle of a rainstorm… and I think he used a Strat as well… it was live, just amazing (although my strongest impression was of the twin sister dancers in 7 inch heels… in the rain).
In contrast to their previous video, Glen and KDH basically agreed on almost everything and their insights are quite interesting... More, please!
Thank you for the S for the Warlock, I love them.
Since hes a huge kiss fan, where would he have placed the ibanez iceman?
Brilliant video, questionable choices 😉 (apart from the fabulous F tier which I think we can all agree on 🤣) You should've got an extra S tier choice in this one because Strats and Les Pauls have to be there by law! A good heavy band playing live with one of each can sound absolutely huge with the Les Paul chug and Strat scream together 🤘
There is nothing heavy about a strats sounds
@@timgonzales2891 Kurt Cobain chose to use a Strat for his heaviest song at Reading 1992. Billy Corgan got heavy as hell at times on his Strat, as did Dave Navarro when he used one, and even John Frusciante on occasion. Strats were all the rage (pun intended 😉) for heavy alt rock in the 90s and there are many types of heavy besides metal. I've only mentioned one decade and genre!
@@timgonzales2891 Through a good, properly set up amp, strats can scream. They aren’t the best for chugging, so you’d definitely want a humbucker guitar for rhythm. But a strat will give you some screaming lead tones that cut through the mix. It’s a lot more versatile than people think.
@@timgonzales2891 any guitar with a humbucker and the right amp can be heavy
yngwie malmsteen ,dave murray and ritchie blackmoore enter the chat..........bro,you aint too bright
3 coil Strats D tier? I guess if it's not a Super strat or an Explorer it's not cool to y'all. F tier take.
You guys should do these tier lists both drunk and sober. Then you’ll really get an idea of both honest opinions and thoughtful consideration.
I already have a suggestion for another video with Glen: Guitar mods tier list. Both disgusting and horrifying mods, as well as pretty crazy mods that are also super cool.
Putting the prince guitar in F tells me that you’re obtusely boring
No one who has ever played a Strandberg would ever rate it below an S. Hands down the best playing and feeling guitar I've ever held.
100%
Sorry but that bish is ugly... it may be the best sensation and feeling and all but it's ugly bro
I personally find the weird tilted trapezoid neck profile thing weird as fuck. Different strokes I guess
The problem is you have to also look at it.
I liked the video because you guys are funny when you get together. Quality content.
Funfact the way you pronaunce A is exactly same if you said no in finnish 😅
As a pantera fan I actually felt violated at the ranking of the ml
Awesome video!! You guys are so fun to watch 🤣👍🏻
I am glad you are bringing the pube burst legend along on these videos. Just seeing Glen puts a smile on my face.
I have to disagree about the Parker amd the Jem, both are guitars that you love or hate.
I have both, the Jem is several varitaions and will never sell them.
The Parker fly was ahead of it's time, and was just too far out for traditional buyers.
Mint samples now go for serious money, and mine is like new.
The Gretsch squared guitar is supposed resemble a cigar box guitar which is something Bo Diddley asked for. If the guitar looked more like an cigar box guitar it would pass a higher tier but I’m not here to decide but I would put it a little higher tier because of the surpassing the identity crisis of most guitar shapes and practicality wise it’s easier to manufacture since it’s rectangular shape even though it may be uncomfortable to wear it while sitting so it’s a mix bag depending on how you use it but it’s definitely one of the kind.
I have one and it’s not uncomfortable at all
@@mohamedtlass3842 that’s good to know
Glen is cool, i love how the both of you look at each other when an opinion the other didn't expect pops up. 😆 The reverse V does feel nice when sitting down though....
The reverse V is one of those moments where people at Gibson thought really outside the box, like galaxies away outside the box... Still, it's not that great looking but if it's comfortable, more power to them.
@@onerandombruh I agree on them not looking great. It looks & feels weird, but the feeling of it being weird goes away after 5min's. I've just not played it standing up....
I love how crazy this list is! 🤣 I love the lack of fear to enrage fan boys! Just awesome/funny personal choices, great vid
2:12 bro has gotta be smoking😂
Haha! I love this new video format!
I like the Paul Stanley Silvertone. I felt a little weird about it at first, but the more I looked at it the more I liked it. I can agree with most of the other rankings though
they are horrid
And that's your right to feel that way. I haven't played one yet, but I plan to
“Long neck, small body” the Buckethead Les Paul actually has a scaled up body to match the extended scale length. Apparently something to do with him being a giant.
Giving the ML an E deserves JAIL TIME!!!!
And yes warlocks with the 6 inline headstocks are incredible!
Most scuffed guitar tier list in history I swear 🤣
I agree, Glen. The fender strat is a dorky guitar. As for the dean ml, for looks and playability, it's an A for me. The only guitar I like more than the ML is the ibanez xiphos
How anyone thinks a strat is dorky but thinks a dean or Ibanez is cool is beyond me. To each their own but just seems like young elementary/early middle school opinion.
@@doodoo871 It's not really dorky so much as boomery. And whether you like it or not a lot of players don't want to be associated with blues dads. Doesn't mean they think pointy guitars are cool. I think strats are alright but I'd far far rather play a suhr modern or ibanez or some other superstrat than an actual strat. I feel the same about Gibson - furniture guitars for boomers, but even worse designed than strats.
So I actually bought one of those ESP FRXs. Honestly, I am still not sold on the looks, but for the money, it was the best guitar available to me. ￥59,000(just over $400 USD) for a neck through ESP with Duncans and a Floyd. Plus it has the best upper fret access I've ever seen. The ergo actually isn't bad either.
The ESP F series is slightly more restrained (if you stay away from the tribal inlays!) and super comfortable. I have an ESP bass and an LTD (MIK) guitar, and they are top quality.
Danelectro Longhorn is an A for me. I own a bass version and it’s just amazing
12:10 that’s a more effective torture device than a guitar. Such a Pointless guitar (pun absolutely intended)
Remember Dave Mustaine once designed a guitar for ESP called the ESP Axxion? Looked goofy but actually comfortable.
No regular V, or ES-335? For shame lol! My pick for top guitar in this list, would be the Jem. Great video fellers
honestly wanna see kdh doing his own tier list because i feel like i’ve agreed with every one of his choices and practically none of the other guys
i died when your buddy said,"it looks like a v,but the rest of the picture hasnt loaded yet.........🎯
Never thought I'd see the Les Paul and the GEM on the same tier. Especially since you pretty much can't tune a GEM and have it stay there for more than about 3 notes.
The squier Katana was my first guitar when I was a lad. I bought it for 80 bucks from my uncle. I still have it today and I almost never play it. The “Flying Check-mark” as I call it is almost impossible to sit down with and there is just no world where it looks cool. Kind of a collector item now though as they were so off putting that no one bought them
I love the Fender Katana. I find it very cool looking and the headstock they use is very interesting. I've been looking to find one but they are all at abysmally high prices
@@TemkaUwU I have no idea how the transaction would work but I’d be willing to sell you mine. A previous owner took out a lot of the original parts, but if you want it just to play and enjoy i would definitely sell it for much less than Reverb and such.
@@kevinpeterson4017 I definitely am interested but these types of things shouldn't be discussed on a yt comment section. If you want you can send me an email address we can discuss it more privately on and a little disclaimer I am from EU so shipping would be an issue if you are in US or Asia
Maybe not email as it will get deleted if you post it here....
@@kevinpeterson4017 hey? It's been 2 days
3:42 My head hurts.
5:49 The proverbial Boat Paddle.
13:53 Looks like someone tried to do the old double cutaway mod from the 70's and gave up.
16:18 I assume you haven't played a Fly, because if you had, you would have realized the Fly is the finest guitar ever made. More sustain than a Strat or Les Paul, and because it's bass wood and carbon fiber, it weighs less than half a Les Paul.
The bridge is a custom made Fishman/Parker whammy, and the nut is graphite. When set up correctly it does not go out of tune even while dive bombing, full stop. I can put it in the case and come back 2 weeks later, perfectly in tune. The carbon fiber does not allow for very much flex at the heel, and the fretboard is also carbon fiber that adds to the stiffness. There is no heel, as the entire body is cut on a CNC machine and wrapped in the carbon fiber as an exoskeleton, much like stringed instruments in the middle ages
The Mag pickups are custom Dimarzos for the Fly. A tempered Super Distortion, if I'm not mistaken, that sounds a little brighter and not so gritty as the original. They are epoxied in with no height adjustment as a reference point when setting it up. I carry 3 hex wrenches with me in the case, and that's all you need to adjust everything mechanical on the guitar, including the flat whammy bar spring tension without having to take the back off.
The reason they didn't sell: big price tag(mine is a 1997, I bought it for $2500 from the original owner in 2019 and considered it a deal), guitar players get scared about all extra knobs and switches, and nobody knows about the brand itself. Ken Parker reimagined the guitar top to bottom, including the body shape, and built that vision without compromise. I like the look because it isn't a goddamned Strat or Les Paul copy, but something all it's own.
Now to the extraneous crap:
Mine is a prototype MidiFly with a Roland pickup built in instead of the top of the guitar models that goes to my Boss GP-10 synth box. I can dial in the magnetic pickups(analogue from pole piece to my ADA MP-1 preamp) with a digital 12 string Martin to get a mix that will make you weep with joy. The standard Fly has the piezos on the ring, and mags on the tip of a stereo jack so you could send them to different amp setups. That sounded great on the P-38(the Korean bolt-on I had when I couldn't afford the big boy) and you could blend the guitar/acoustic on the guitar via switch and pot.
My Fly is more...complicated...let's say, because I can control any and all parameters of the digital world on the synth, and can assign different functions to the switches and pot. Fun fact: the synth has an actual analogue path that has many Boss pedals built in which are digitally controlled, but the internal delay is all digital. I like analogue everything in the signal chain, but my Memory Man stereo deluxe sounds amazing, so compromises have been made. Oh, right. The Mag pickups are custom Dimarzos for the Fly. A tempered Super Distortion, if I'm not mistaken, that sounds a little brighter and not so gritty as the original. To sum up: Try one sometime, you'll be amazed.
Apologies for the length.
These tier videos are amazing, what about pedals like fuzz tier, overdrive tier, distortion tier. Or amp tiers or hogh gain amp tiers or whatever. Get really specific lol.
I have to say, I'm practically speechless at the LTD EX placement :O And I have to concur with KD, WAY different from the Jackson Kelly. I definitely prefer the EX, though I might be biased in that I own one >.>
As iconic as the Stratocaster is, it's mot S tier. Just the position of the volume pot alone brings it down. I turn down guitars just based on that. Would have loved to get a Charvel, but the volume looks like it's too close to the strings.
And without all the knobs and things, that Gretsch is pretty.
Ain't no way a Warlock is S tier.
And the comments on a tele being a flat slab can also be applied to the Les Paul, but the Les Paul was still ranked much higher. I think the Les Paul looks nicer, but it is also not a comfortable guitar.
The Dean From Hell.......really?
Did they use a respected tone wool for 18:30?
I’m missing Mockingbird (a big A for me), an SG (B) and RR3 (A-B).
Where's the regular flying v and the rr?
I really didn’t understand the tele ranking until you mentioned the belly cut. The player plus is a beautiful telecaster
Well done on the video, and I'd go with the last tier list shown before the video ends also. I'd think it was back in the mid-late 90s, when MTV was becoming eMpTyV by playing less Rock/Metal videos, and stopped "The Headbanger's Ball" in 1995, then showing much more pop/cRap/Hip Hop/grunge/Madonna and worse style videos, and then stopping from playing any videos in mid-late 2000s/early 2010s with the "Reality Based" shows like Jersey Shore, and other shit-coms. Award shows that had no Rock/Metal, finally into just about 24 hours a day of "Ridiculousness", how much can I save on my cable bill by NOT paying for eMpTvY, and other channels I won't ever watch. KDH is a great channel, and I couldn't put a "Dislike" on this, or any videos! Keep up the good work! Thanks for this video!
Good afternoon KDH I hope you are well.
I am really sorry to be the bearer of bad news but your friends guitarist-card has now been revoked.
We at the guitar HQ are very unhappy with his rating of the best guitars in history and sadly we’re going to have to request he submit his guitar-card back to us.
In the return envelope provided you’ll also find a red ‘warning card’ addressed to yourself as you also appear to have a very non-traditional view on what we regard as cool.
Thanks for understanding.
Your friends at guitar. :)
The Prince Symbol guitar is only iconic because it was designed for and played by The Purple One... It other than that it is definite proof of "just because you can does not mean you should."
with you and Glen, it's like Waynes world!!!!
I have both the Danelectro Longhorn which is ultra rare.. and the Gretsch G6810 Bo Diddley!! It all comes down to what filps the switch..
Holy shit. Glen looks like a young lad, but he’s an auld fella at heart, or as the kids would say, a boomer.
the only tier list ever where bc rich isn't bolted down on minus F tier.
I had a good laugh at this
Also, your friend has no taste whatsoever, I hope he can play the instrument well as a compensation xD
Ranking the ESP EX above the Jackson Kelly is bizarre to me, the ESP is like "maximum point and sharpness of angle at all cost" and the Jackson is essentially what the RR is to a "normal V" but to an explorer. The horn matches the headstock too!
I love the Gretsch! I have a Cochrane styled entry-level, with a dogear p50 pickup in the neck, humbucker in the bridge and a Bigsby on it....and its awesome!
So many tones!
Agree with KDH's rejiggering. No way a basic strat can be lower than a C. Would like to have seen a Mockingbird and Rich Bich included. Tons of others too. Fill up that chart!