This is the second post in a 10 post series.  We’re going to find the best instruments at each price point up to $1,000.  This is subjective, but I will provide rationale.  I will also look at the new and used markets.  Onward!

Used

I mostly buy my guitars used, except when there’s a really good deal on a new one.  You have to be careful, but you can save a ton of cash buying used.

Unlike the $100 mark, at $200 you can find quite a few decent playing and sounding guitars.  With each $100 you add, the options increase.

  1. Yamaha PAC112J.  This is a budget “super strat,” meaning it has a humbucker in the bridge, two single coils in the middle and neck positions, and it’s shaped like a Strat.  In the budget ranges, the big name brands have the ability to get materials and make guitars cheaper than smaller brands.  This is a decent playing and decent sounding guitar and it can cover almost any sound you need.
  2. Squier Standard Strat.  The standard Squier Strat is a decent playing guitar, and a good platform for upgrades.  If you don’t need a humbucker and want something Strat-ish, this is the guitar, hands down.

I could also suggest any number of used Dean, Ibanez, Schecter, and Jackson guitars, all of which are designed for metal players, but… well, honestly, they’re all comparable, and to me, they’re all just a teeny bit less well made than the Yamaha and Fender guitars.

New

  1. Squier Strat/Tele Affinity Model.  Honestly, I wouldn’t buy one of these new.  They’re super common used, and if you can find a used standard Squier, it’s a much better guitar.  BUT if you insist on new, the Affinity series is decent.
  2. Ibanez GIO Series.  These are decent guitars.  That’s about all I can say.

You’ll notice I don’t suggest anything from Epiphone.  That’s because they don’t make anything worth playing in this range.  And honestly, you really should buy used for this kind of range, when you can get a decent used guitar that will server you better in the long run.

And As Always…

I also recommend buying a fret end file.  They’re around $15 and you should own one and learn how to use it if you’re buying budget guitars.  Go to the link below and watch the video.  It’ll be invaluable if you buy any guitar mentioned on this page.

http://www.stewmac.com/Luthier_Tools/Types_of_Tools/Files/Fret_End_Dressing_File.html

So there you go.  To me, the Squier Standard Strat is the best buy in this range.  It’s good enough to be your main instrument, and if you want to upgrade it, you can put new pickups in it.  Drop a set of Texas Specials into it, and you’ve got a guitar that will pretty much sound like a thousand dollar Fender American Special.  It won’t play as well as one, but it will sound very similar.  If you like humbuckers, Ibanez would be the way to go.