By the way - I hate doing these stupid thumbnails. They're awful. But thats what people click on nowadays. It's a sign of the decline of modern society.
I don’t know how so many internet guitar players/enthusiasts have completely lost their sanity. Personally, I stay in the “middle” tier of guitars that are $1500-$2500. I’m happiest with the quality in this price range, and I got sick of needing to upgrade hardware, level all the frets, replace a sticky switch, and all the other projects that come with most lower cost models. I definitely agree that less expensive guitars are still good instruments. You just need to know what your buying and just have fun playing.
Being a guitar aficionado, I've downplayed the importance of a good amp and learned the hard way, that at the end of the day, the amp has the last word.. The guitar will only sound as good as : obviously the player's talent, skills, knowledge and passion as well as the amp and effects he uses.. Sometimes the right kind of reverb and a simple EQ pedal will completely change the voicing of the instrument.. Because quality is a chain and the last mail is the amp..
Yes in the right hands, an average priced guitar with a good amp and good quality pedals goes a much more longer way then the other way around.. The fact is many great players use once in a while cheap guitars.. T@@JackFossett
Many many years ago I was searching for a new amp, and took my guitar out with me to try as many as I could. One of the final shops I visited had a Marshall Bluesbreaker 1976 for £300. I plugged my guitar straight into the amp and my ears pricked up in astonishment. This was the sound I had been looking for - clean, but with an edge; warm and powerful with great definition on every note. No effects, no gain - just guitar and amp. I thought, if it sounds great just like that then it will sounds amazing when I put a few pedals in front of it as well. So yup, once you've found a guitar you like, take it with you when you're hunting the amp to compliment it. Result will be happiness for 20+ years as it was for me while recording and touring 😎
Well said Jack. There really is a law of diminishing returns with guitars (as with everything). Seems we all wind up trying to strike the balance between value for money and personal values. After many years in the game, I’ve now settled on a handful of guitars I love. Not the cheapest, most of my imports are now gone, but no crazy vintage or custom shop either. Just the ones that work beautifully for ME.
I agree. The Lexus is clearly better than the Toyota, but is it really twice as good? They can both carry the same number of people to the same event in about the same amount of time. They're both reliable. They're both about the same size. The Lexus "feels" more expensive.
Been playing on my squier strat for 13 years, it was my first electric guitar and it's completely stock, sounds awesome, the neck feels great, yet much of the guitar community says it only good for beginners... I played live in bars, did countless rehearsals, I made a whole record with that squier! If it sounds good and feels good to play, is all that matters
My first guitar was an early 2000s squier made in China. Frets are terribly shallow, but I've upgraded electronics and it sounds great. A couple of years ago I picked up an early 2000s Fiesta red Squier... made in Indonesia... fantastic guitar! I love playing it... light, good fret work, killer pick ups, electronics work totally fine and I can't believe I got it for 60 bucks😂😂😂
Jack Pearson plays in sessions and bands in Nashville and has played with the Allman Bros Band and one of his guitars is a squire strat he bought used for under $200.
@@CJZM7777 yes, a squier bullet intended for his niece...but to be honest, he also said that after trying others, later, they were lesser than that one..but yeah, anyway, point bring, whatever works..i am all for it..just remember that we need good enough tool, its music, not a contest fir the most flawless instrument anyway
I agree. I bought a Gretsch 5420T instead of the 6120T. 5420 was about $900. Even after upgrading to better pickups and wiring/pots/switch/jack and Tru Arc bridge I only had $1400 invested. About half the cost. I love it. Also just bought an Affinity Tele for $250. After I invest another $250 in pickups and controls its still a great investment guitar for $500. I also didn't need the tele, but it complements the Gretsch nicely with my AC30. Buy smart I say.
I do more or less the same thing with my guitars. Upgraded Epiphone Les Paul guitars. Seymour Duncan pickups and American wiring will spruce them up if they're not good enough stock.
I did the same thing with a G2420T.... new pickups, cut the nut, locking tuners, compton bridge... all in, I spent slightly more than I would have on a stock Electromatic, but ended up with an arguably better guitar. Great bones on the instrument, just needed some upgrades.
The fun part of being a player today is that its harder to find bad gear than anything. The standard has raised so much. The new epiphones are absolutely insane quality. You can get a cheap firefly for under $200 and play it alongside a vintage gibson (i do this all the time!) Great talk Jack!
Hey-oh Jack... I've been playing a LONG time and though never pro I thimk one thing you missed was how even a so-so guitar can, when well set up, be a great player once we've put some mileage on it ie broken her in ...enjoyed your rant Cheerios
I bought my first Strat July 1970. A 70' Standard. Played pretty good. It was $225! Had to have a polar white new Tele November 1972, which played better and used it for a couple of years. I bought these with my own money since I started gigging with a band in 1970 (still play regularly with my band at 70 years old. I'm very fortunate!). But I've been using American Strats for the last 41 years and since 1993, the Clapton Srats are unsurpassed. Still use the 1989 Blackie. But I buy and sell, swap and shop, a lot over the last 20 years and I have owned quite a few Mexican Strats, and they are mostly very good Strats for significantly less money! I have a Nashville Tele, MIM, and it is better than any of my American Telecasters I've owned! Also a butterscotch blond Tele I bought from a friend for $300, when he stopped me, literally at the GC register, getting ready to buy the identical American version for 1,500. The MIM I got from him played significantly better than the USA counterpart! And those Epiphones...just play as good as the Gibsons! (And I have Gibsons-83' standard LP, a 67' ES 335, an LP Ultima and a 2006 LP Studio!) Sorry to be so long winded, but cannot stress how right you are about these affordable guitars! And a good point is to buy these affordable guitars used, because you can get them, in great condition, for up to a third of the original price!! Keep up the Great work, Jack!
My Revstar RSS02T has surpassed all my expectations 😉👍 Punches well above its weight 😎👍 Satisfying guitar for me in fit, finish and tones 😎👍 The tones JUST by using the volume knob is where it's at...on each pup selection. Precision comes to mind here.
I’ve had lots of Suhrs but sold them in favour of slightly customised USA strats- they were lovely but the difference was marginal and it was better (for me) to pocket the difference
Another thought provoking philosophical piece - really enjoy this thread to your vids! I've never felt 'less than' with my guitars. I think I got lucky because from 18 - 21 I worked as guitar salesman in Wellington's biggest music shop (1973 - 76) and saw a lot of lovely instruments come through, and some not so lovely. We sold a lot of Gibsons and whenever a new shipment arrived at the agents warehouse we got a first look and the boss there also used me as a sort of QC guy as well - over those years there were 3 guitars I told him to send straight back to Kalamazoo . . . banana necks usually. Around that time I also bought my first electric guitar, a 1968 LP Custom, for NZD 800, from a friend and I still have it. Over the years I have picked up various guitars; a K. Yairi Nylon String (NZD 500) that to this day outshines any number of Ramirez and Taylors I have tried, an S. Yairi 'parlour steel string' (NZD 100 from a luthier who told me 'it's as good as anything I make') and I have yet to find a Martin that can deliver the same sound in the studio, a Sadowsky Electric Nylon & NYC HSH S Style (both USD 3K in 1992 and works of art) and a few inexpensive ones - my Epiphone Casino modded with Lollar P90's is absolutely amazing. I think those early ears in the shop taught me that brand names and high prices are no guarantee of quality or bragging rights . . . if it feels right and isn't obviously 'damaged' and 'speaks to you' then go for it 😀 I've definitely been lucky.
I am totally agree with you Jack! :) I bought a American Professional II Stratocaster about two year ago for $2,460 CAD Last year I bought a Made in Japan Hybrid II Stratocaster for $1,102 CAD I am in love with it! I own 6 made in USA, after the purchase of Japan Hybrid II Stratocaster. I will never buy make in USA again... :)
To me a Gretsch Electromatic G5421 and a Squier Telecaster CV to be had for €800 together are very tough to beat. One might switch out few parts but you are playing! Same for amps, get a €300-800 amp (tube or solid state) that can do a clean sound and depending on amp choice throw in two or so pedals or a multi. The problem with MEX or US made is that it is to appear that origin matters in terms of quality. The point is that quality and quality control is a company (Fender) decision.
The thing is, a lot of people - even if they're wrong (on this, they are mostly) - won't take you seriously if you roll up with an Epiphone Les Paul or a Harley Benton etc. instead of a Gibson Les Paul, or they will think that it sounds worse than it could be and so you must not take your craft seriously
The group of people that still abide by this ridiculous notion is getting increasingly smaller every year. Maybe Fender and Gibson still rule some people's minds, but I'd say more people could give two shits what name is on the headstock. Talent speaks loudest, period. Choose a guitar that fits your tastes and style. Then mod it if nessessary and don't look back. Worrying about somebody else's hangups is a waste of life.
@@teodelnorte Yes, it's getting smaller. I'd say 50 and up, make up the majority of snobs still clinging to that belief system. Ask the average person 35 or younger, to choose between 2 of the exact same guitar types, like LP, T or S style. My bets on they'll chose whichever one "looks" closest to that person's ideal guitar, regardless of brand.
@andrewbecker3700 that logic is nothing new. Guitar brands are typically known and always have been by guitar players and possibly an occasional person who might have some loose idea, or know who Fender and Gibson are. You might be right - or wrong - but you're stating opinion as fact
That's exactly how I think. There are only a few guitars I want that I don't already have and one is an SG and all I want is an SG Junior because I like P90s and I only ever use bridge pickups so an SG Junior is the right SG for me even though Gibson makes plenty of SGs that people would say are objectively better.
Irecently took a mega cheap HB dc 60 junior, as i Love one pickup guitars, and havent tried SG so far, in 20 + years of zillion guitars.. its superfun guitar...mega cheap, indonesia made...168e new... Just sharing rsndom thought
My Made in Mexico Duo Sonic resonates so well. The sound is close to the quality of my $3000 class Strat. The switch broke and the electronics and pickups could all be upgraded, and wow . . . an upgrade would personalize it and make it special. The best guitars are our own little secrets--not the ones the elites all play. I bought my favorite guitar in the 80s. The value never rose above $600 over the years and I always shook my head. In the last couple of years, it has rode the boom up to about $1200, but I still know it is as good as my $3000 + class guitars. Some guitars slip through the cracks, and again, the best ones are our own little secrets.
From Leo: Owning and collecting are fun if you have the money. The lead player in the most popular working band in our area has an old, well set up Squier Telecaster with two aftermarket Humbuckers played through a vintage 4 x 10 Bassman. No bling, just good sounds, popular play list and good times.
Well said. Some of the best players I have ever worked with played low end guitars and made them sound fantastic. On the flip side, I have also known people who spent tons of money on high-end instruments and didn't know what to do with them.
When I was 19 I was working as a paid intern in NYC and got an American standard strat from Rudy’s. It worked well for its purpose but I ultimately got rid of it. Tried a million teles vintage through elite and landed on the 60s Baja MIM. Neck is perfect. It cost me 400 bucks. Some guitars are investments, and usually I go used and try to get a little margin/discount. The Asian made guitar frets are pretty cruddy otherwise they’re fantastic instruments. If it gets you through the gig you’re golden. Our heroes didn’t start getting super expensive gear until they made it professionally.
Oh yes, it is absolutely right .... about 20 years ago i was looking for an acoustic guitar, I could play standing up at the stage... My Guild F 50 Jumbo wasn't good for that... just too big ... I searched and searched ... Tried a lot of different guitars out... Even Martin's - they make some good ones... But one afternoon I came into the shop where I bought my strings and so ... A couple of my electric Guitars too ... My dealer had just got another Brand ... Crafter.... And it just suited my hands so well … I chose a OO style with cutaway, nicely decorated a high end one, with LR Baggs electronics and plugged into my amps it sounds amazing - no piezo quack... I can sing and play while standing up … and in those days it was just below the 1000 dollar range... I still play it now and then.... after I stopped gigging...
All my offsets are pieced together from parts I acquired over time... Though they all started out as decent quality Squiers. I keep the bits I like and upgrade the rest. I don't care about resale so much. I am focused on feel and tone and aesthetics. I feel confident that my guitars are at least proper Fender quality but still cost a LOT less in the end... And they are tailored to my preferences
I’m not a fan of the blanket statements that are always used about Guitars : “This Mexican Strat is great, is it as great as an American Strat….? No.” I believe a Guitar is a personal thing, and how it’s player bonds with it is far more important than assuming that higher cost automatically equals “Better”. I like what I like, and I don’t care what the Jones’s, or anyone else thinks. My #1 Guitar is a 2013 Mexican Standard Strat that I bought after spending 3 months searching for what I thought would be an American Standard. It wasn’t about the money, I just liked it better, as soon as I picked it up, I felt the Mojo kick in, and the Honeymoon is still going strong. The only mods I’ve done is putting on a set of Fender staggered locking tuners, and swapping the pickguard for a mint green one with buttercream pickup covers(looks gorgeous with the Lake Placid Blue finish). This is really the “Best” guitar for me, it may not have the perceived prestige of the more expensive ones, but I love it, and that’s what truly matters.
Agree about a $5000 guitar not being $3500 better than a $1500 guitar. BUT, once you advance as a player that extra "10%" better the expensive guitar might be, that difference that might be imperceptible to a novice player (or an audience) but to the player it can challenge them to advance further as a player by being more revealing and less forgiving when it comes to technique, touch, etc. I did what some people might consider foolish by upgrading the pickups in my R9 to Thro-Baks to the tune of over $600. For pickups! Immediately it showed me that I had some work to do when it comes to touch, muting, dynamics, etc. The value we place on these things is sooo subjective.
I keep thinking I want to “upgrade” my Vintera 60s modified Strat to an American pro II, but every time I play the pro II I see no real advantage, in looks, playability (after I dressed the frets and rolled the edges) and even sound.
I bought a custom shop telecaster as my only guitar. I don’t need anything else and I don’t lust after anything. GAS killer. It’s not because it’s expensive, it’s the RIGHT guitar - you’re 💯 correct
I've learnt that finding the right guitar is about knowing how to try them out. Plan on several trips to a store that has a good range of new and used and where you like the staff. Make each visit an hour long minimum. Try many not plugged in, you will know which feel good and bad, you can also gauge a lot about the sound unamplified. You will gravitate towards those you like the look of too - that can be important . Then try the best through an amp similar to what you have or aspire too. Listen very hard to the tone, go back and forth between them. Set them up so it's easy to hear one then the other. Then talk to whoever in the store you enjoy talking to, tell them what you are thinking, listen to their suggestions. If nothing jumps out as clearly the best and great then go home and try again another time. Budget is different for everyone and a complex topic but within what is reasonable you try to buy the one you like. The extra you may spend over what you planned to spend will get forgotten, having a guitar you feel great about will last many years. Go into the store with all your You Tube knowledge and preconceptions but be prepared to be surprised.
Just had this conversation with a Chinese made guitar hater. Bingo! I have been playing for 2 years now. I played a bunch of stuff, then bought a new $550 Gretsch 5220, then a used Epiphone Wildkat, then a used entry level Martin. I have been out playing around, still no Strat or Tele in my home...BTW my friend got a PRS SE...he refuses to believe it is made in China.
То, что твой друг отказывается верить в то, что его гитара сделана в Китае, это очень смешно. Он напоминает мне россиянина, который оказался на агрессивной войне по приказу Путина, но отказывается верить, что Путину наплевать на него и записывает видео, обращаясь к Путину, в котором просит отпустить его первый раз в отпуск домой после двух лет на фронте. Россиянин думает, что Путин не знает об том, что их не отпускают в отпуск и что Путин не в курсе про то, что командиры приказывают россиянам снова и снова идти на очередной "мясной штурм", откуда никто не возвращается, но они посылают новых, надеясь, что украинцы просто не успеют всех перебить и кто-то сможет закрепиться на новой позиции. 😊 Короче, твой друг верит в сказки как истинный россиянин. Оказывается, везде есть лопухи.
Привет из Беларуси! Мы разговариваем чаще всего на русском языке, но многие из нас не любят россиян, многие из нас также ненавидят Путина и его слугу Лукашенко. Я тоже. Пусть все знают, что мы против путинской России и поддерживаем Украину в её борьбе за независимость и существование.
Well I love telecasters but once I got my Charvel GG the search has came to an end and I am done with gear. 😂 and man I still miss that tele (emotional attachment only)
The whole argument about high end instruments being the more desirable ones to have if you want to call yourself a professional musician has definitely taken its toll on my psyche when it comes to choosing instruments. In November 2022, I got myself what I hope will be my last traditional arch top, a 1980 Yamaha SA-2000 in wine red (which I think I’ve mentioned earlier). I got it out of fascination with both the model and the notion that one could have a professional grade version of the ES line without paying more money for it than you’ll ever see in a given year. That was after having purchased four different Epiphone thinline models and not frankly been satisfied in the long-term with any of them. I was also seeking the broken in aspect that you referred to, and 1980 being my birth year, I was confident this Yamaha had been broken in. It still was expensive slightly beyond my means, but I am thankful to have it in my allotment of instruments.
I bought an '82 Vantage Avenger bass for $200 and it punches so far above its weight it's ridiculous, all that talk about imports being so much better now falls on deaf ears compared to older MiJ, it even smokes the MiM p-bass I paid more than twice as much for
High end guitars aren't always the best-sounding and playing. But when they are, there's a real pride of ownership, and they can be captivatingly beautiful. Also, high-end makes more sense when you're looking at acoustics. The audible differences are often more obvious, because of the accumulated skill and experience of the builder, the attention to detail, and the woods that they collect. I have one high-end acoustic (Karol L-model), a high end bass (Dingwall), and everything else is modestly-priced. I love them all pretty much equally.
I look for guitars 10 years old or older with a good fit and a reasonable finish. When they are that old the wood has dried and the sap in that wood has hardened. Even better the wood is stabilized so any issues like cracking or warping are totally improbable. The sound can always be tailored to my taste by swapping out PU's. They are all respectable brands though not necessarily have the highest profile like Fernandes, Lace, Harmony and Washburn. Best of all most are under $350.00 USD. Yes, I may put another $200 in some but these are not stock investments but musical instruments. I have some I grew out of but I traded those and came out ahead.
I dig these kinds of talks. More hand time & better hardware are two factors that generally make a guitar better, and they both cost. But there are other factors that make a guitar great: its particular cut of wood, just how everything goes together, how the pups and the rest jive with your gear & hands. These things don't necessarily cost more and could end up being the difference in a cheaper guitar being "objectively" better in the situation that envelops the comparison. Sh#% happens, essentially. Also, all of this begs the question: What's better? A guitar that plays effortlessly? Or one that has some fight? Pups that chime like a bell? Or breakup quickly? It all goes back to: If it sounds good, feels good, it is good. Great video, Jack!
A practical guitar and a good ear is all you need really. If you have a good ear you will settle on your gear of choice eventually. However, there are people that try and find happiness in consumerism by chasing the holy grail tone, others use luxury items to gain social status, while others buy gear to motivate themselves to play/practice. Most people have a mix of these things. My conclusion is that making good music is not important anymore, though there are lots of reasons to explore gear for guitarists. Combine this with a mountain of affordable gear and you end up with a lot of guitar gear heads that mostly consume for one reason or another. The truth is that most my guitar hero's could pick one guitar, amp and some pedals from my collection and conquer the world. They know their preferences and style of music and would make it work.
I be played the same Mexican tele for going on 10 years it’s had pickups swapped a few times and been resprayed and re fretted! It just keeps on keeping on! Stays in tune and plays lovley! Amps going to determine your sound like it or not lol
Professionally speaking, higher end guitars will have better electronics, more expensive woods are used , finishes will be better, the hardware will be better, etc..... Generally speaking much better care has been taken overall on a high dollar instrument. For me the criteria isn't necessarily the brand name but more importantly it's become how does it feel ? How does it play ? How does it sound ? How heavy is it ? (yep for older players, weight can be a deal breaker) What we look for in an instrument differs from one individual to another. It's very subjective ! If the neck feels good (I prefer satin as opposed glossy) and the frets are not at all sharp and they are well polished, and the neck radius feels comfortable, then that's a pretty good sign I'm going to pick it up and play it.... How does it sound ? Is it aesthetically pleasing ? Does it stay in tune when using a trem system ? Just lots of things are worth looking at before making a purchase. If you're buying an inexpensive guitar with the idea of immediately modifying it, then that too is a personal choice.... Many would rather spend more money up front so thy don't have to go out and purchase different electronics, hardware, etc... Bottom line guitars, like all instruments...it's very personal.
I really appreciate this. I have bought a couple guitars and then did a "pickup upgrade" and then rolled pickups in and out - I can solder!- and then was disappointed with the result only to roll again. I have boutique (sheptones) in my Ibanez semi hollow I'm somehow happy with, and have Dimarzio's in an Epiphone LP I'm happy with. I have spent enough on each to probably have bought a higher end guitar... Play them all and buy what your ear and heart love - don't think buy and upgrade! Peace
Recently picked up a Northfield mandolin. Company known for exceptional quailty. My model is made in china. Have an eastman 59t/v on hold, exceptional quality, made in china. Similiar stigmatism. I would rather have them made in the US, but that translates into same insrument/ triple the cost.
How does it sound, how does it look, how does it feel....these three in no particular order. If your guitar works for you in the these three areas it doesn't really matter how expensive it is. With that being said there are on average, differences in quality with an increase in price up to a point. Best solution is to put your hands on as many instruments as you can and pick the one that speaks to you the most.
Functionally (playability and reliability to personaly satisfying degree) + MOJO (feeling and loving the guitar) ps: great vid..just sharing how i try to see it after enough of guitars..also, very interesting moment is that it may be even like too easy to just walk in the store and get the super expensive well atested industry standard instrument..but..it deoends..ah its complicated:) ) glad to see sharing some valuable food for thought, Jack..keep it up!
I purchased two different guitars one from Reverb One from eBay send them both back for technical reasons both usa made telecasters one was $1150 all in other was $850 fastforward i ended up buying local paying $300 for a stock Peavey reactor i now have about $450 into it my max will be $900 ish with topnoch set up !
I have a few expensive guitars and one or two I kind of regret buying. One of my best sounding and playing guitars is a Classic Vibe 50;s tele, with a SD 59 in the neck and a Texas Special in the bridge position. All told, probably $700 invested on that one. And that thing has totally killer sound! And I have built about six more using various parts, those average between $800-$1,200 and I would put them up against anything Fender makes. Save your money gents, go home grown.
Google Jack Pearson - Nashville session genius - his favorite guitar - Fender Squier - agree with Jack - find one that inspires you - doesn't need to be the most expensive guitar (although some are very cool!)
I think I’ve said this before in other vids but about 15 years ago I bought a D28 and it was my only guitar for years. I bought an expensive acoustic because I think build matters more for acoustics, but also because I wanted a luxury experience with my only guitar. If I wanted a guitar only as a tool to make music with I would probably have been fine with a significantly less expensive guitar. My electric guitars are more tools, I have a MIM FSR Tele with Custom Shop 51 Nocaster pickups and it sounds amazing. My Gretsch Electromatic G5622T is also a great guitar. I also have a MIM J Bass that is a better bass than I’ll ever justify with my mediocre bass skills. Will I get a AVRI II Tele in the future? Hopefully. But as you said I don’t need it.
Buy a Tele and an SG with P90's or LP Junior and unless it needs a floyd rose, you can coax any sound out these two instruments. I bought a Yamaha Pacifica with the P90 in the neck and humbucker in the bridge. Both pickups are SD's. Guitar came out of the factory in tune! I did the setup. I love my Yamaha and it can't be replaced. But for people very new, they should compare a Tele to an SG/LP Junior and focus on practicing. I wouldn't buy a Fender Tele. Fender is overpriced now.
I'd say buy the best guitar for you, the best guitar is a very personal thing. Working out what you like in a set up is as big a thing as learning the notes. People have different preferences and styles of playing, someone who likes a high action and doesn't play past the 5th fret will be pretty easily satisfied with just about anything, if you like super low action and a flat neck you're going to have to spend either time or money acheiving it. (Factory PLEK is a wonderful thing! - but adds cost)
Can't say ive ever owned an expensive guitar. My most expensive electric guitar is a fender duo sonic hs. I also own a dirt cheap harley benton te-62. The difference in price is around 500 dollars. The difference is quality is non existant. I own other guitars around the 400-500 price point and although it's totally unscientific I go and say that quality wise, there is very little difference between a 150 dollar guitar and a 600 dollar guitar.
Great advice. With me the name on the headstock use to be a priority however I have two Strats that have no name on the headstock that I put together MJT bodies and Musikraft necks with high end electronics and hardware that are my favorite Stratocasters. I don’t care if it’s not a Master built custom shop guitar in my estimation they both would rival that but only cost a third. I also have an Elitist 335 that is great I love it BUT it says Epiphone on the headstock. Great topic love your music and attitude keep up the good work😊!
I didn't learn this until I spent $3200 for a custom shop Strat a few years back. Sure it's a super nice guitar - but it's not appreciably better by my usage, than my American Pro II Strat that was $1800.
No a lot of people including the video creator fail to acknowledge it’s all about labor costs. You can have a gods guitar made by exploiting labor pools and supporting shady governments. That’s a choice you make as a consumer. In your case, you can also have a guitar made by people scraping to get buy (standard American fenders) or someone paid a comfortable livable wage (custom shop). The world a long time ago decided they don’t care about this problem as long as they can get what they want for less money, but at the end of the day the vast majority of the cost is all about the cost of labor.
I had a Wayne's World II Mexican made Strat that I bought with the case for $200. It played and sounded great. Modeled after a '62, it looked the part. Is my 2017 American Professional Strat Worth $1000 more that the Mexican one? No, but it is really good. I have a 97 Korean made Sheraton that I paid $365 with a case including shipping years ago. It will soon receive a set of Duncan '59 pups. It's going be be a contender.
There's a difference in a guitar mostly made for collectors and guitars made to play and sound well. My best-sounding guitars are not the most expensive. 2 of my most expensive guitars I seldom play. If you buy demos or keep your attention on "Stupid Deal Of The Day" you can come up with great prices and great guitars.
Agreeing, I would stretch the comparison of Sex and Love. Being male, I perceive guitars as female, potentially bringing out the "better half of me". Women may feel the other way around, but it comes down to the same. It has got a lot to do with projection - for instance, I recently bought a cheapo LP Junior just as another tool from the anonymous mass production catalogue that turned out to be so inspiring, that I would suddenly play "in a league" that I wouldn't have seen me otherwise with a "better" guitar. There is something maybe inexplainable in the bond you have with this mysterious other half of yours. So Yes, Don't keep up with the Joneses. Just Joy matters. Taking away the look for the "better" may further your luck.
Jack I have a Epiphone Sheraton Pro II and I play through a Fender Twin Reverb, no pedals. I'm trying to get that BB King tone and sustain and I'm not getting there.
I’ve owned numerous guitars probably 250 in the last 20 years. I buy them play the and get bored and flip them. I’ve owns a lot of squiers gretsch and gibsons. Squier has a pretty good quality of the classic vibe series. I do like High end vintage guitars but owning them is pretty much just the investment. Some newer Gibson guitars are just the name quality isn’t that great. I’ve sold damn near all but 5 and have a few more I’m getting rid of. Keeping the classic vibes and my EVH Frankie’s and possibly a gretsch. I will buy a Gibson reissue 61 sg with side trem and a Ric 360/12 that will pretty be my last two I buy.
How have you not heard this discussed before? So many youtubers push affordable gear that it's a real problem finding honest reviews of more expensive gear.
I know this is still expensive but if you want a top shelf guitar at a lower price point, used is the way to go. There are a lot of wealthy enthusiasts collecting. Many of which hardly play and frequently trade guitars. So there are a lot of mint used guitars to be had. You will always be able to sell on the common custom shop models for the same price you pay to buy used, because new guitar prices keep going up.
You are absolutely right ... The right guitar for you is priceless .... I own 52 guitars and all are as valuable as they could be. They all have different tastes tones playability looks and etc. I love music and each one of them has put me in a different way of playing and increased my musical vocabulary ...
If you ever hear a really serious professional musician complimenting someone on their guitar, it's because they couldn't think of anything sincere to say about their playing.
It's a generational thing, too. It seems millennials and younger players have less of that "brand pride" that infects the boomers and the Gen-Xers. "You'll only get that much respect if you play an Epiphone instead of a Gibson" real quote from a (Gen Xer) Grammy winning producer I talked to once.
There are zillions of problems buying guitars, what is available? It takes about a few moths before you know it is right....don't know the gamble makes more sense then the needles what if it becomes such a complicated decision. Not a fan of that.
Well, perhaps you can prove it! What is the cheapest guitar that can sound like this: ua-cam.com/video/XcRd_r3lXYA/v-deo.html Because I am of the opinion that that the electric guitar is just a slab of wood, and the pickups are just some copper wire around a magnet. But I am also of the opinion that you have the best clean tone on the internet, so I must defer to your judgement.
By the way - I hate doing these stupid thumbnails. They're awful. But thats what people click on nowadays. It's a sign of the decline of modern society.
Your car needs a D-Cline plate, like D-fense in 'Falling down'.
Like the british guitar girl with her tatas hanging out in every thumbnail ? #marketing
I don’t know how so many internet guitar players/enthusiasts have completely lost their sanity. Personally, I stay in the “middle” tier of guitars that are $1500-$2500. I’m happiest with the quality in this price range, and I got sick of needing to upgrade hardware, level all the frets, replace a sticky switch, and all the other projects that come with most lower cost models. I definitely agree that less expensive guitars are still good instruments. You just need to know what your buying and just have fun playing.
Being a guitar aficionado, I've downplayed the importance of a good amp and learned the hard way, that at the end of the day, the amp has the last word.. The guitar will only sound as good as : obviously the player's talent, skills, knowledge and passion as well as the amp and effects he uses.. Sometimes the right kind of reverb and a simple EQ pedal will completely change the voicing of the instrument.. Because quality is a chain and the last mail is the amp..
I agree - I actually mentioned that in the other video. Amplifiers and effects make a much more significant impact on the quality of your tone.
Yes in the right hands, an average priced guitar with a good amp and good quality pedals goes a much more longer way then the other way around.. The fact is many great players use once in a while cheap guitars.. T@@JackFossett
Many many years ago I was searching for a new amp, and took my guitar out with me to try as many as I could. One of the final shops I visited had a Marshall Bluesbreaker 1976 for £300. I plugged my guitar straight into the amp and my ears pricked up in astonishment. This was the sound I had been looking for - clean, but with an edge; warm and powerful with great definition on every note. No effects, no gain - just guitar and amp. I thought, if it sounds great just like that then it will sounds amazing when I put a few pedals in front of it as well. So yup, once you've found a guitar you like, take it with you when you're hunting the amp to compliment it. Result will be happiness for 20+ years as it was for me while recording and touring 😎
It makes perfect sense! @@martin-1965
For a young guy you pack a lot of wisdom in your videos. Very well said. Play what makes you happy, f**k what people think.
I’m actually 85 - it’s amazing what you can do with face creams these days
Well said Jack. There really is a law of diminishing returns with guitars (as with everything). Seems we all wind up trying to strike the balance between value for money and personal values. After many years in the game, I’ve now settled on a handful of guitars I love. Not the cheapest, most of my imports are now gone, but no crazy vintage or custom shop either. Just the ones that work beautifully for ME.
I agree. The Lexus is clearly better than the Toyota, but is it really twice as good? They can both carry the same number of people to the same event in about the same amount of time. They're both reliable. They're both about the same size. The Lexus "feels" more expensive.
Been playing on my squier strat for 13 years, it was my first electric guitar and it's completely stock, sounds awesome, the neck feels great, yet much of the guitar community says it only good for beginners... I played live in bars, did countless rehearsals, I made a whole record with that squier! If it sounds good and feels good to play, is all that matters
if it works, it works..awesome...ps its a nice bonus to break the expectations...keep rocking
My first guitar was an early 2000s squier made in China. Frets are terribly shallow, but I've upgraded electronics and it sounds great. A couple of years ago I picked up an early 2000s Fiesta red Squier... made in Indonesia... fantastic guitar! I love playing it... light, good fret work, killer pick ups, electronics work totally fine and I can't believe I got it for 60 bucks😂😂😂
Mike Rutherford played the final Genesis tour with a Squier Bullet.
Jack Pearson plays in sessions and bands in Nashville and has played with the Allman Bros Band and one of his guitars is a squire strat he bought used for under $200.
@@CJZM7777 yes, a squier bullet intended for his niece...but to be honest, he also said that after trying others, later, they were lesser than that one..but yeah, anyway, point bring, whatever works..i am all for it..just remember that we need good enough tool, its music, not a contest fir the most flawless instrument anyway
I love the older MIM Strats for the bones.
I agree. I bought a Gretsch 5420T instead of the 6120T. 5420 was about $900. Even after upgrading to better pickups and wiring/pots/switch/jack and Tru Arc bridge I only had $1400 invested. About half the cost. I love it. Also just bought an Affinity Tele for $250. After I invest another $250 in pickups and controls its still a great investment guitar for $500. I also didn't need the tele, but it complements the Gretsch nicely with my AC30. Buy smart I say.
I do more or less the same thing with my guitars. Upgraded Epiphone Les Paul guitars. Seymour Duncan pickups and American wiring will spruce them up if they're not good enough stock.
I did the same thing with a G2420T.... new pickups, cut the nut, locking tuners, compton bridge... all in, I spent slightly more than I would have on a stock Electromatic, but ended up with an arguably better guitar. Great bones on the instrument, just needed some upgrades.
The fun part of being a player today is that its harder to find bad gear than anything. The standard has raised so much. The new epiphones are absolutely insane quality. You can get a cheap firefly for under $200 and play it alongside a vintage gibson (i do this all the time!) Great talk Jack!
The fun part is that my local guy tells the very oppositie regarding the big brands.
Hey-oh Jack...
I've been playing a LONG time and though never pro I thimk one thing you missed was
how even a so-so guitar can, when well set up, be a great player once we've put some mileage on it
ie broken her in ...enjoyed your rant Cheerios
I bought my first Strat July 1970. A 70' Standard. Played pretty good. It was $225! Had to have a polar white new Tele November 1972, which played better and used it for a couple of years. I bought these with my own money since I started gigging with a band in 1970 (still play regularly with my band at 70 years old. I'm very fortunate!). But I've been using American Strats for the last 41 years and since 1993, the Clapton Srats are unsurpassed. Still use the 1989 Blackie. But I buy and sell, swap and shop, a lot over the last 20 years and I have owned quite a few Mexican Strats, and they are mostly very good Strats for significantly less money! I have a Nashville Tele, MIM, and it is better than any of my American Telecasters I've owned! Also a butterscotch blond Tele I bought from a friend for $300, when he stopped me, literally at the GC register, getting ready to buy the identical American version for 1,500. The MIM I got from him played significantly better than the USA counterpart! And those Epiphones...just play as good as the Gibsons! (And I have Gibsons-83' standard LP, a 67' ES 335, an LP Ultima and a 2006 LP Studio!) Sorry to be so long winded, but cannot stress how right you are about these affordable guitars! And a good point is to buy these affordable guitars used, because you can get them, in great condition, for up to a third of the original price!! Keep up the Great work, Jack!
It's easy for me to figure out. The guitars that I can play for hours. Those are the one's I keep.
My Revstar RSS02T has surpassed all my expectations 😉👍
Punches well above its weight 😎👍
Satisfying guitar for me in fit, finish and tones 😎👍
The tones JUST by using the volume knob is where it's at...on each pup selection.
Precision comes to mind here.
I’ve had lots of Suhrs but sold them in favour of slightly customised USA strats- they were lovely but the difference was marginal and it was better (for me) to pocket the difference
Another thought provoking philosophical piece - really enjoy this thread to your vids! I've never felt 'less than' with my guitars. I think I got lucky because from 18 - 21 I worked as guitar salesman in Wellington's biggest music shop (1973 - 76) and saw a lot of lovely instruments come through, and some not so lovely. We sold a lot of Gibsons and whenever a new shipment arrived at the agents warehouse we got a first look and the boss there also used me as a sort of QC guy as well - over those years there were 3 guitars I told him to send straight back to Kalamazoo . . . banana necks usually. Around that time I also bought my first electric guitar, a 1968 LP Custom, for NZD 800, from a friend and I still have it. Over the years I have picked up various guitars; a K. Yairi Nylon String (NZD 500) that to this day outshines any number of Ramirez and Taylors I have tried, an S. Yairi 'parlour steel string' (NZD 100 from a luthier who told me 'it's as good as anything I make') and I have yet to find a Martin that can deliver the same sound in the studio, a Sadowsky Electric Nylon & NYC HSH S Style (both USD 3K in 1992 and works of art) and a few inexpensive ones - my Epiphone Casino modded with Lollar P90's is absolutely amazing. I think those early ears in the shop taught me that brand names and high prices are no guarantee of quality or bragging rights . . . if it feels right and isn't obviously 'damaged' and 'speaks to you' then go for it 😀 I've definitely been lucky.
I am totally agree with you Jack! :)
I bought a American Professional II Stratocaster about two year ago for $2,460 CAD
Last year I bought a Made in Japan Hybrid II Stratocaster for $1,102 CAD I am in love with it!
I own 6 made in USA, after the purchase of Japan Hybrid II Stratocaster. I will never buy make in USA again... :)
To me a Gretsch Electromatic G5421 and a Squier Telecaster CV to be had for €800 together are very tough to beat. One might switch out few parts but you are playing! Same for amps, get a €300-800 amp (tube or solid state) that can do a clean sound and depending on amp choice throw in two or so pedals or a multi.
The problem with MEX or US made is that it is to appear that origin matters in terms of quality. The point is that quality and quality control is a company (Fender) decision.
Agreed!
Love this!
The thing is, a lot of people - even if they're wrong (on this, they are mostly) - won't take you seriously if you roll up with an Epiphone Les Paul or a Harley Benton etc. instead of a Gibson Les Paul, or they will think that it sounds worse than it could be and so you must not take your craft seriously
The group of people that still abide by this ridiculous notion is getting increasingly smaller every year. Maybe Fender and Gibson still rule some people's minds, but I'd say more people could give two shits what name is on the headstock. Talent speaks loudest, period. Choose a guitar that fits your tastes and style. Then mod it if nessessary and don't look back. Worrying about somebody else's hangups is a waste of life.
@andrewbecker3700 is it getting smaller? how do you know that? Personally, I love my Epi
@@teodelnorte Yes, it's getting smaller. I'd say 50 and up, make up the majority of snobs still clinging to that belief system. Ask the average person 35 or younger, to choose between 2 of the exact same guitar types, like LP, T or S style. My bets on they'll chose whichever one "looks" closest to that person's ideal guitar, regardless of brand.
Right now, I'm sit'n fat with 2 Epiphones, 2 LTD's and 2 Sterlings. Could've bought anything, and chose these irregardless.
@andrewbecker3700 that logic is nothing new. Guitar brands are typically known and always have been by guitar players and possibly an occasional person who might have some loose idea, or know who Fender and Gibson are. You might be right - or wrong - but you're stating opinion as fact
That's exactly how I think. There are only a few guitars I want that I don't already have and one is an SG and all I want is an SG Junior because I like P90s and I only ever use bridge pickups so an SG Junior is the right SG for me even though Gibson makes plenty of SGs that people would say are objectively better.
Irecently took a mega cheap HB dc 60 junior, as i Love one pickup guitars, and havent tried SG so far, in 20 + years of zillion guitars..
its superfun guitar...mega cheap, indonesia made...168e new...
Just sharing rsndom thought
My Made in Mexico Duo Sonic resonates so well. The sound is close to the quality of my $3000 class Strat. The switch broke and the electronics and pickups could all be upgraded, and wow . . . an upgrade would personalize it and make it special. The best guitars are our own little secrets--not the ones the elites all play.
I bought my favorite guitar in the 80s. The value never rose above $600 over the years and I always shook my head. In the last couple of years, it has rode the boom up to about $1200, but I still know it is as good as my $3000 + class guitars. Some guitars slip through the cracks, and again, the best ones are our own little secrets.
From Leo: Owning and collecting are fun if you have the money. The lead player in the most popular working band in our area has an old, well set up Squier Telecaster with two aftermarket Humbuckers played through a vintage 4 x 10 Bassman. No bling, just good sounds, popular play list and good times.
Vintage 4x10 Bassman is bling these days.
So the popular working band guy has (now) a $1000 guitar and a > $1000 amp. That is the definition of bling for most people.
Well said. Some of the best players I have ever worked with played low end guitars and made them sound fantastic. On the flip side, I have also known people who spent tons of money on high-end instruments and didn't know what to do with them.
When I was 19 I was working as a paid intern in NYC and got an American standard strat from Rudy’s. It worked well for its purpose but I ultimately got rid of it. Tried a million teles vintage through elite and landed on the 60s Baja MIM. Neck is perfect. It cost me 400 bucks. Some guitars are investments, and usually I go used and try to get a little margin/discount. The Asian made guitar frets are pretty cruddy otherwise they’re fantastic instruments. If it gets you through the gig you’re golden. Our heroes didn’t start getting super expensive gear until they made it professionally.
The key is "guitar". The problem is *guitars*. Pick one, save up for it, buy it. Play it. Problem completely avoided.
Oh yes, it is absolutely right .... about 20 years ago i was looking for an acoustic guitar, I could play standing up at the stage... My Guild F 50 Jumbo wasn't good for that... just too big ... I searched and searched ... Tried a lot of different guitars out... Even Martin's - they make some good ones... But one afternoon I came into the shop where I bought my strings and so ... A couple of my electric Guitars too ... My dealer had just got another Brand ... Crafter.... And it just suited my hands so well … I chose a OO style with cutaway, nicely decorated a high end one, with LR Baggs electronics and plugged into my amps it sounds amazing - no piezo quack... I can sing and play while standing up … and in those days it was just below the 1000 dollar range...
I still play it now and then.... after I stopped gigging...
All my offsets are pieced together from parts I acquired over time... Though they all started out as decent quality Squiers. I keep the bits I like and upgrade the rest. I don't care about resale so much. I am focused on feel and tone and aesthetics.
I feel confident that my guitars are at least proper Fender quality but still cost a LOT less in the end... And they are tailored to my preferences
I’m not a fan of the blanket statements that are always used about Guitars : “This Mexican Strat is great, is it as great as an American Strat….? No.” I believe a Guitar is a personal thing, and how it’s player bonds with it is far more important than assuming that higher cost automatically equals “Better”.
I like what I like, and I don’t care what the Jones’s, or anyone else thinks. My #1 Guitar is a 2013 Mexican Standard Strat that I bought after spending 3 months searching for what I thought would be an American Standard.
It wasn’t about the money, I just liked it better, as soon as I picked it up, I felt the Mojo kick in, and the Honeymoon is still going strong. The only mods I’ve done is putting on a set of Fender staggered locking tuners, and swapping the pickguard for a mint green one with buttercream pickup covers(looks gorgeous with the Lake Placid Blue finish). This is really the “Best” guitar for me, it may not have the perceived prestige of the more expensive ones, but I love it, and that’s what truly matters.
Mojo is what we are all looking for. When you pickup the right one for yourself you know it
Agree about a $5000 guitar not being $3500 better than a $1500 guitar. BUT, once you advance as a player that extra "10%" better the expensive guitar might be, that difference that might be imperceptible to a novice player (or an audience) but to the player it can challenge them to advance further as a player by being more revealing and less forgiving when it comes to technique, touch, etc. I did what some people might consider foolish by upgrading the pickups in my R9 to Thro-Baks to the tune of over $600. For pickups! Immediately it showed me that I had some work to do when it comes to touch, muting, dynamics, etc. The value we place on these things is sooo subjective.
I keep thinking I want to “upgrade” my Vintera 60s modified Strat to an American pro II, but every time I play the pro II I see no real advantage, in looks, playability (after I dressed the frets and rolled the edges) and even sound.
I bought a custom shop telecaster as my only guitar. I don’t need anything else and I don’t lust after anything. GAS killer. It’s not because it’s expensive, it’s the RIGHT guitar - you’re 💯 correct
Many good points made in this video. A good setup job will make any guitar sound it's best even if it isn't the best one made.
I've learnt that finding the right guitar is about knowing how to try them out. Plan on several trips to a store that has a good range of new and used and where you like the staff. Make each visit an hour long minimum. Try many not plugged in, you will know which feel good and bad, you can also gauge a lot about the sound unamplified. You will gravitate towards those you like the look of too - that can be important . Then try the best through an amp similar to what you have or aspire too. Listen very hard to the tone, go back and forth between them. Set them up so it's easy to hear one then the other. Then talk to whoever in the store you enjoy talking to, tell them what you are thinking, listen to their suggestions. If nothing jumps out as clearly the best and great then go home and try again another time. Budget is different for everyone and a complex topic but within what is reasonable you try to buy the one you like. The extra you may spend over what you planned to spend will get forgotten, having a guitar you feel great about will last many years. Go into the store with all your You Tube knowledge and preconceptions but be prepared to be surprised.
Just had this conversation with a Chinese made guitar hater. Bingo! I have been playing for 2 years now. I played a bunch of stuff, then bought a new $550 Gretsch 5220, then a used Epiphone Wildkat, then a used entry level Martin. I have been out playing around, still no Strat or Tele in my home...BTW my friend got a PRS SE...he refuses to believe it is made in China.
То, что твой друг отказывается верить в то, что его гитара сделана в Китае, это очень смешно. Он напоминает мне россиянина, который оказался на агрессивной войне по приказу Путина, но отказывается верить, что Путину наплевать на него и записывает видео, обращаясь к Путину, в котором просит отпустить его первый раз в отпуск домой после двух лет на фронте. Россиянин думает, что Путин не знает об том, что их не отпускают в отпуск и что Путин не в курсе про то, что командиры приказывают россиянам снова и снова идти на очередной "мясной штурм", откуда никто не возвращается, но они посылают новых, надеясь, что украинцы просто не успеют всех перебить и кто-то сможет закрепиться на новой позиции. 😊 Короче, твой друг верит в сказки как истинный россиянин. Оказывается, везде есть лопухи.
Привет из Беларуси! Мы разговариваем чаще всего на русском языке, но многие из нас не любят россиян, многие из нас также ненавидят Путина и его слугу Лукашенко. Я тоже. Пусть все знают, что мы против путинской России и поддерживаем Украину в её борьбе за независимость и существование.
Well I love telecasters but once I got my Charvel GG the search has came to an end and I am done with gear. 😂 and man I still miss that tele (emotional attachment only)
Features, color, setup. Features for playing style/sound, color so you are excited to play it and lastly setup so it is a joy to practice!
The whole argument about high end instruments being the more desirable ones to have if you want to call yourself a professional musician has definitely taken its toll on my psyche when it comes to choosing instruments. In November 2022, I got myself what I hope will be my last traditional arch top, a 1980 Yamaha SA-2000 in wine red (which I think I’ve mentioned earlier). I got it out of fascination with both the model and the notion that one could have a professional grade version of the ES line without paying more money for it than you’ll ever see in a given year. That was after having purchased four different Epiphone thinline models and not frankly been satisfied in the long-term with any of them. I was also seeking the broken in aspect that you referred to, and 1980 being my birth year, I was confident this Yamaha had been broken in. It still was expensive slightly beyond my means, but I am thankful to have it in my allotment of instruments.
I bought an '82 Vantage Avenger bass for $200 and it punches so far above its weight it's ridiculous, all that talk about imports being so much better now falls on deaf ears compared to older MiJ, it even smokes the MiM p-bass I paid more than twice as much for
High end guitars aren't always the best-sounding and playing. But when they are, there's a real pride of ownership, and they can be captivatingly beautiful. Also, high-end makes more sense when you're looking at acoustics. The audible differences are often more obvious, because of the accumulated skill and experience of the builder, the attention to detail, and the woods that they collect. I have one high-end acoustic (Karol L-model), a high end bass (Dingwall), and everything else is modestly-priced. I love them all pretty much equally.
buy used 😁
...let the first guy figure out he's over bought (based on skills) ... and help him recoup something from your new found Wonder 👍🎶
100% - I almost exclusively buy gear used.
Yep... I have a CS strat, USA Hamer, Martin D 18 Taylor 814. Most played guitar I own is a MIM 95 Calif. Special Tele. it just works and sounds great
I look for guitars 10 years old or older with a good fit and a reasonable finish. When they are that old the wood has dried and the sap in that wood has hardened. Even better the wood is stabilized so any issues like cracking or warping are totally improbable. The sound can always be tailored to my taste by swapping out PU's. They are all respectable brands though not necessarily have the highest profile like Fernandes, Lace, Harmony and Washburn. Best of all most are under $350.00 USD. Yes, I may put another $200 in some but these are not stock investments but musical instruments. I have some I grew out of but I traded those and came out ahead.
I dig these kinds of talks. More hand time & better hardware are two factors that generally make a guitar better, and they both cost. But there are other factors that make a guitar great: its particular cut of wood, just how everything goes together, how the pups and the rest jive with your gear & hands. These things don't necessarily cost more and could end up being the difference in a cheaper guitar being "objectively" better in the situation that envelops the comparison. Sh#% happens, essentially. Also, all of this begs the question: What's better? A guitar that plays effortlessly? Or one that has some fight? Pups that chime like a bell? Or breakup quickly? It all goes back to: If it sounds good, feels good, it is good. Great video, Jack!
A practical guitar and a good ear is all you need really. If you have a good ear you will settle on your gear of choice eventually. However, there are people that try and find happiness in consumerism by chasing the holy grail tone, others use luxury items to gain social status, while others buy gear to motivate themselves to play/practice. Most people have a mix of these things.
My conclusion is that making good music is not important anymore, though there are lots of reasons to explore gear for guitarists. Combine this with a mountain of affordable gear and you end up with a lot of guitar gear heads that mostly consume for one reason or another. The truth is that most my guitar hero's could pick one guitar, amp and some pedals from my collection and conquer the world. They know their preferences and style of music and would make it work.
I be played the same Mexican tele for going on 10 years it’s had pickups swapped a few times and been resprayed and re fretted! It just keeps on keeping on! Stays in tune and plays lovley! Amps going to determine your sound like it or not lol
Professionally speaking, higher end guitars will have better electronics, more expensive woods are used , finishes will be better, the hardware will be better, etc..... Generally speaking much better care has been taken overall on a high dollar instrument.
For me the criteria isn't necessarily the brand name but more importantly it's become how does it feel ? How does it play ? How does it sound ? How heavy is it ? (yep for older players, weight can be a deal breaker) What we look for in an instrument differs from one individual to another. It's very subjective !
If the neck feels good (I prefer satin as opposed glossy) and the frets are not at all sharp and they are well polished, and the neck radius feels comfortable, then that's a pretty good sign I'm going to pick it up and play it....
How does it sound ? Is it aesthetically pleasing ? Does it stay in tune when using a trem system ? Just lots of things are worth looking at before making a purchase. If you're buying an inexpensive guitar with the idea of immediately modifying it, then that too is a personal choice.... Many would rather spend more money up front so thy don't have to go out and purchase different electronics, hardware, etc... Bottom line guitars, like all instruments...it's very personal.
I really appreciate this. I have bought a couple guitars and then did a "pickup upgrade" and then rolled pickups in and out - I can solder!- and then was disappointed with the result only to roll again. I have boutique (sheptones) in my Ibanez semi hollow I'm somehow happy with, and have Dimarzio's in an Epiphone LP I'm happy with.
I have spent enough on each to probably have bought a higher end guitar... Play them all and buy what your ear and heart love - don't think buy and upgrade! Peace
@InjectBleach-em9tg you can't even spell "solder" find a new profession - you fail at trolling.
Walk away..
Nice edit of “solder”. Future generations will be amazed by your ability to edit your posts after being corrected. Proud of you son
Recently picked up a Northfield mandolin. Company known for exceptional quailty. My model is made in china. Have an eastman 59t/v on hold, exceptional quality, made in china. Similiar stigmatism. I would rather have them made in the US, but that translates into same insrument/ triple the cost.
How does it sound, how does it look, how does it feel....these three in no particular order. If your guitar works for you in the these three areas it doesn't really matter how expensive it is. With that being said there are on average, differences in quality with an increase in price up to a point. Best solution is to put your hands on as many instruments as you can and pick the one that speaks to you the most.
Jack Fossett is the guitar and amp whisperer fr ❤
Functionally (playability and reliability to personaly satisfying degree) + MOJO (feeling and loving the guitar) ps: great vid..just sharing how i try to see it after enough of guitars..also, very interesting moment is that it may be even like too easy to just walk in the store and get the super expensive well atested industry standard instrument..but..it deoends..ah its complicated:) ) glad to see sharing some valuable food for thought, Jack..keep it up!
What a fantastic video have a wonderful day Jack 😊
I purchased two different guitars one from Reverb One from eBay send them both back for technical reasons both usa made telecasters one was $1150 all in other was $850 fastforward i ended up buying local paying $300 for a stock Peavey reactor i now have about $450 into it my max will be $900 ish with topnoch set up !
You are so right.thanks for great video.
I have a few expensive guitars and one or two I kind of regret buying. One of my best sounding and playing guitars is a Classic Vibe 50;s tele, with a SD 59 in the neck and a Texas Special in the bridge position. All told, probably $700 invested on that one. And that thing has totally killer sound! And I have built about six more using various parts, those average between $800-$1,200 and I would put them up against anything Fender makes. Save your money gents, go home grown.
Google Jack Pearson - Nashville session genius - his favorite guitar - Fender Squier - agree with Jack - find one that inspires you - doesn't need to be the most expensive guitar (although some are very cool!)
I think I’ve said this before in other vids but about 15 years ago I bought a D28 and it was my only guitar for years. I bought an expensive acoustic because I think build matters more for acoustics, but also because I wanted a luxury experience with my only guitar. If I wanted a guitar only as a tool to make music with I would probably have been fine with a significantly less expensive guitar. My electric guitars are more tools, I have a MIM FSR Tele with Custom Shop 51 Nocaster pickups and it sounds amazing. My Gretsch Electromatic G5622T is also a great guitar. I also have a MIM J Bass that is a better bass than I’ll ever justify with my mediocre bass skills.
Will I get a AVRI II Tele in the future? Hopefully. But as you said I don’t need it.
Jack, what are you doing!!!!!
I do not need my wife seeing this in my feed!
I want a video titled “YOU NEED ALL THE GEAR”.
Thank you 😁🙏
🤣🤣
Buy a Tele and an SG with P90's or LP Junior and unless it needs a floyd rose, you can coax any sound out these two instruments. I bought a Yamaha Pacifica with the P90 in the neck and humbucker in the bridge. Both pickups are SD's. Guitar came out of the factory in tune! I did the setup. I love my Yamaha and it can't be replaced. But for people very new, they should compare a Tele to an SG/LP Junior and focus on practicing. I wouldn't buy a Fender Tele. Fender is overpriced now.
I'd say buy the best guitar for you, the best guitar is a very personal thing. Working out what you like in a set up is as big a thing as learning the notes. People have different preferences and styles of playing, someone who likes a high action and doesn't play past the 5th fret will be pretty easily satisfied with just about anything, if you like super low action and a flat neck you're going to have to spend either time or money acheiving it. (Factory PLEK is a wonderful thing! - but adds cost)
Can't say ive ever owned an expensive guitar. My most expensive electric guitar is a fender duo sonic hs. I also own a dirt cheap harley benton te-62. The difference in price is around 500 dollars. The difference is quality is non existant.
I own other guitars around the 400-500 price point and although it's totally unscientific I go and say that quality wise, there is very little difference between a 150 dollar guitar and a 600 dollar guitar.
Great advice. With me the name on the headstock use to be a priority however I have two Strats that have no name on the headstock that I put together MJT bodies and Musikraft necks with high end electronics and hardware that are my favorite Stratocasters. I don’t care if it’s not a Master built custom shop guitar in my estimation they both would rival that but only cost a third. I also have an Elitist 335 that is great I love it BUT it says Epiphone on the headstock. Great topic love your music and attitude keep up the good work😊!
I love good Epiphones. Upgraded ones are a working man's Les Paul. I made an entire rock album on one.
So you devalued your labor to make yourself an expensive guitar. You have no real point here
You are the master of guitar philosophy
I didn't learn this until I spent $3200 for a custom shop Strat a few years back. Sure it's a super nice guitar - but it's not appreciably better by my usage, than my American Pro II Strat that was $1800.
No a lot of people including the video creator fail to acknowledge it’s all about labor costs. You can have a gods guitar made by exploiting labor pools and supporting shady governments. That’s a choice you make as a consumer. In your case, you can also have a guitar made by people scraping to get buy (standard American fenders) or someone paid a comfortable livable wage (custom shop). The world a long time ago decided they don’t care about this problem as long as they can get what they want for less money, but at the end of the day the vast majority of the cost is all about the cost of labor.
I had a Wayne's World II Mexican made Strat that I bought with the case for $200. It played and sounded great. Modeled after a '62, it looked the part. Is my 2017 American Professional Strat Worth $1000 more that the Mexican one? No, but it is really good. I have a 97 Korean made Sheraton that I paid $365 with a case including shipping years ago. It will soon receive a set of Duncan '59 pups. It's going be be a contender.
No Stairway to Heaven
Denied!
There's a difference in a guitar mostly made for collectors and guitars made to play and sound well. My best-sounding guitars are not the most expensive. 2 of my most expensive guitars I seldom play. If you buy demos or keep your attention on "Stupid Deal Of The Day" you can come up with great prices and great guitars.
Agreeing, I would stretch the comparison of Sex and Love. Being male, I perceive guitars as female, potentially bringing out the "better half of me". Women may feel the other way around, but it comes down to the same. It has got a lot to do with projection - for instance, I recently bought a cheapo LP Junior just as another tool from the anonymous mass production catalogue that turned out to be so inspiring, that I would suddenly play "in a league" that I wouldn't have seen me otherwise with a "better" guitar. There is something maybe inexplainable in the bond you have with this mysterious other half of yours. So Yes, Don't keep up with the Joneses. Just Joy matters. Taking away the look for the "better" may further your luck.
I think this was a longer, more polite way of saying the average player would be just fine with a MIM Fender instead of springing for US.
Jack I have a Epiphone Sheraton Pro II and I play through a Fender Twin Reverb, no pedals. I'm trying to get that BB King tone and sustain and I'm not getting there.
I’ve owned numerous guitars probably 250 in the last 20 years. I buy them play the and get bored and flip them. I’ve owns a lot of squiers gretsch and gibsons. Squier has a pretty good quality of the classic vibe series. I do like High end vintage guitars but owning them is pretty much just the investment. Some newer Gibson guitars are just the name quality isn’t that great. I’ve sold damn near all but 5 and have a few more I’m getting rid of. Keeping the classic vibes and my EVH Frankie’s and possibly a gretsch. I will buy a Gibson reissue 61 sg with side trem and a Ric 360/12 that will pretty be my last two I buy.
Since Jeff Beck used to play American Stratocasters (instead of some custom made high-end guitar) and a Pro Junior, who am I to judge others?
I think on big stages he also used a Marshall DSL100 head. The same one you or I would get at GC off the floor.
Amen reverend!
This makes me want to go out and buy a $39,000 Fender Telecaster
How have you not heard this discussed before? So many youtubers push affordable gear that it's a real problem finding honest reviews of more expensive gear.
@@markkeeler584 True, I can't count how many times I've heard "just as good as the expensive ones!"
I prefer cheaper guitars because then I don't worry about damaging them when playing live.
I know this is still expensive but if you want a top shelf guitar at a lower price point, used is the way to go. There are a lot of wealthy enthusiasts collecting. Many of which hardly play and frequently trade guitars. So there are a lot of mint used guitars to be had. You will always be able to sell on the common custom shop models for the same price you pay to buy used, because new guitar prices keep going up.
I have an American Professional Strat that I bought used for less than a grand. In perfect shape. You just have to know what to look for buying used.
You are absolutely right ... The right guitar for you is priceless .... I own 52 guitars and all are as valuable as they could be. They all have different tastes tones playability looks and etc. I love music and each one of them has put me in a different way of playing and increased my musical vocabulary ...
if it makes you happy then it can't be that bad...
If you ever hear a really serious professional musician complimenting someone on their guitar, it's because they couldn't think of anything sincere to say about their playing.
It's a generational thing, too. It seems millennials and younger players have less of that "brand pride" that infects the boomers and the Gen-Xers.
"You'll only get that much respect if you play an Epiphone instead of a Gibson" real quote from a (Gen Xer) Grammy winning producer I talked to once.
Great advice, consumerism, and marketing sucks play your instrument. There's nothing worse than a gear snob
get the guitar that attracts you to pick it up and play it!
⚡You don't buy a guitar because it's the best guitar. You buy it because its the best guitar for you!
Buy cheap and make it bad-azz! Buy the pickups you like and turners.
There are zillions of problems buying guitars, what is available? It takes about a few moths before you know it is right....don't know the gamble makes more sense then the needles what if it becomes such a complicated decision. Not a fan of that.
Buy what you can afford, learn to do a basic set up and enjoy creating music.
Well, perhaps you can prove it! What is the cheapest guitar that can sound like this:
ua-cam.com/video/XcRd_r3lXYA/v-deo.html
Because I am of the opinion that that the electric guitar is just a slab of wood, and the pickups are just some copper wire around a magnet. But I am also of the opinion that you have the best clean tone on the internet, so I must defer to your judgement.
You can get a decent guitar for around $300.
Acoestic guitar have now scallep bracing , An have you an older guitar of good brand ,not scallep bracing ,it's not so good , the make your haed crazy
Well said Jack. Keep to the code...Arrgghh 🦜