Part 8 of the “Best Guitar” series continues with this entry.  We’re past the point where I would actually buy, but I said I’d go up to $1,000 and so I shall.

Used

  1. Fender American Standard Strat or Tele.  You can find these all day long for around $800 and they’re great instruments – you don’t usually need to upgrade anything.
  2. Gibson Les Paul Studio.  A step up from the Tribute line, this is another guitar where there’s usually no need to upgrade.
  3. Ibanez JS1000.  Joe Satriani’s signature guitar is easy to play, has a great locking trem, and just looks cool.

Really, there are a ton of great instruments in this range.  PRS Starla, Gibson Flying V, tons of great Schecter guitars.  It just depends on what you want.  I’m a traditionalist to some extent.  I love this price point because everything at this level (that I’d pick) is great.

New

But imagine you won a contest at Guitar Center where you could pick any new guitar for $800.  What then?  Our options are less appealing.  Still some great instruments, but we can’t touch an American Strat or Gibson Les Paul in this range any more.  Gibson and Fender increase prices almost every year, at a rate greater than inflation, which to me means some old rich white guy is getting richer.  But let’s carry on.

  1. PRS SE Custom 24.  I have one.  These are great playing guitars with pickups that would please a beginner.  Do a pickup swap if you don’t like the ProBuckers in these.  Yeah, I know, they’re not ProBuckers, but they’re high gain and muddy.
  2. Schecter Super Shredder.  Some love for Schecter at this level.  I’ve played this and I think it’s great.  The pickups may or may not be to your taste, but if you want to do the locking trem thing this is a good choice.
  3. Sterling AX40D.  Similar to the Super Shredder.  This price point is heavy with good locking trem guitars made in South Korea or Indonesia.

I am beginning to run out of steam.  Can you tell?  In reality, this is a fantastic price point – which each additional $100 over $500, you move up in terms of quality.  I’m just not into paying $800 for a guitar, because it’s beyond the practical stuff.  That doesn’t mean I think it’s wrong.  That means I think it’s wrong for me.  For someone who doesn’t collect like I do, someone who will play the same one guitar forever, this is a good price point.  But I’d go used.