This is Part 9 of the “Best Guitar” series. Here’s the overview: if you buy used, you’ll get more for your money. Let’s continue…
Used
I’m imagining that I have $900 to spend on a used guitar. I can only imagine, because I wouldn’t do it, but bear with me. What to buy?
- Fender American Deluxe Strat or Tele. If you shop around, you can get a step above your average American Fender. Usually this means it’s slightly better made with slightly better pickups.
- Gibson Explorer. Or a Les Paul Studio Deluxe, which as you can guess, is slightly better than a regular Studio.
- PRS Starla. IF you can find one. I like these a little better than the S2 Custom with gloss finish.
New
Options are limited.
- ESP LTD EC-1000. You can’t get a new Gibson Les Paul for $900, but this just might be a little better. I’m definitely a fan of these.
- Fender Classic Series 70’s Strat. You can’t get a new American Fender Strat for $900, so I’d go high end Mexican made. Do you sense a pattern? An alternative would be the really good Baja Strat or Tele.
- Schecter Hellraiser Solo-II. Sort of Les Paul-ish and plays and sounds great.
Honestly, I don’t see any other good deals. There are PRS SE models for around $900, but you’re overpaying. There are PRS S2 models that start at $999, and we can’t afford them. Nothing decent American by the big three, in other words. In our final installment, we’ll tackle the $1,000 price tag, and the new options will be much improved.