Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum
Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Jonny on January 26, 2008, 02:07:27 PM
-
Are there any not so well-known but awesome guitar brands? Like the title says.
We all know the popular ones: Ibanez, Gibson, Fender, ESP, LTD, Jackson, Dean, Epiphone, etc.
Are there any uncommon ones that are randomly awesome? Or is it just custom built ones. I like to differentiate from the Ibanez and Gibson if at all possible, might be a good thing or a bad thing but I seem to end up doing it.
To me, I think I could do a fair bit of saving when it comes down to knowing where to get a guitar. I could buy a guitar here, an Ibanez for example and yet be able to get a better quality guitar for more money but it's still better (for me, taking into account style, neck shape, profile, etc. etc. all the things that I prefer on a guitar), i.e. Caparison.
It's just on my mind, I suppose it is a slight feeling of GAS. All in all I'll just end up getting one from Legra (UK), Vigier (Viva la France) or heck, even Framus (Germany)
This is just random questioning and thought I to ask the BKP forum, but feel free to discuss. :)
For anyone who knows any Economics, I'm really just going against brand loyalty, expanding consumer knowledge and making a damn saving!
EDIT: Here's a list if anyone is looking for some brands:
Nik Huber (http://www.nikhuber-guitars.com/2006_home.htm)
Ruokangas (http://www.ruokangas.com/)
Versoul (http://www.versoul.com/)
Framus (http://www.framus.de)
KXK Guitars (http://www.kxkguitars.com/)
Duesenberg (http://www.duesenberg.de)
Reverend Guitars (http://www.reverendguitars.com)
LAG Guitars (http://www.lagguitars.co.uk)
Vigier (http://www.vigierguitars.com)
Haar Guitars (http://www.haarguitars.nl/)
Hamer (http://www.hamerguitars.com/)
VOX Virage (http://www.voxvirage.com/)
Mayones (http://www.mayones.com/)
First Act (http://www.firstact.com/)
Caparison (http://www.kyowashokai.co.jp/caparison-eng/e-top.html)
-
Caparison are good (Japan)
LAG aswell (France)
Mayones are superb or so I have heard (Polish I think)
-
gotta say the new vox guitars look interesting
http://www.voxvirage.com/
not exactly an unknown name but they are not exactly known for their guitars
-
Yup there kinda pretty
-
That's the first I've seen of the Vox Virage.
I must admit it looks pretty good to. I wonder what kind of price niche they're aiming for?
-
gibson 335 area i think. I am intrigued by the curved body design
-
Vigier guitars (France) are consistently overlooked, despite being some of the best playing and sounding guitars made.
Mayones are superb or so I have heard (Polish I think)
They are indeed, but there are several people on certain forums badmouthing them. In talks about endorsement with them at the moment.
-
LAG guitars look amazing! Does anyone have one?
http://www.tonezonemusic.co.uk/guitars.asp?ProductID=79
Apart from the HZs, £479? You're shitetin' me! That's practically dirt cheap. With the mahoghany and top too!
-
LAG guitars look amazing! Does anyone have one?
http://www.tonezonemusic.co.uk/guitars.asp?ProductID=79
Apart from the HZs, £479? You're shitetin' me! That's practically dirt cheap. With the mahoghany and top too!
It was on my list of Superstrats when I bought my Ibanez.
The cheap Lags I don't rate so much, I think that the 200 for example, feels a bit plasticy, the setup wasn't great though, that bridge was very plasticy indeed, but the finish was gorgeous.
-
LAG guitars look amazing! Does anyone have one?
http://www.tonezonemusic.co.uk/guitars.asp?ProductID=79
Apart from the HZs, £479? You're shitetin' me! That's practically dirt cheap. With the mahoghany and top too!
It was on my list of Superstrats when I bought my Ibanez.
The cheap Lags I don't rate so much, I think that the 200 for example, feels a bit plasticy, the setup wasn't great though, that bridge was very plasticy indeed, but the finish was gorgeous.
I was looking more into the AP2000s but when I saw that it shocked me, but I suppose there would be a huge price gap between a 200 and a 2000.
Yep. Though so- 2000s are just under £2000. :(
-
The 2000 is about £1500 I think.
-
Noodle: What do you mean by plasticy in your before post?
-
Plasticy = Cheap.
-
Plasticy = Cheap.
Ah right. I see, well I found the orange AP2000 @ just below £1500 so that would be an awesome buy.
How good does Vigier compare to them :?:
-
I like some of the stuff First Act guitars are doing.
-
KXK Guitars
www.kxkguitars.com
They look awesome and I haven't seen anything bad said about them
-
MIJ copies? Edwards seems to be quite accurate
-
Plasticy = Cheap.
Ah right. I see, well I found the orange AP2000 @ just below £1500 so that would be an awesome buy.
How good does Vigier compare to them :?:
Vigier are as good as anything you'll ever play.
-
the handmade series of Bacchus guitars are great. amazing build quality.
-
Reverend guitars are pretty neat, they are becoming more popular these days.
Duesenberg are rather unknown but really nice.
Framus have some AWEsome guitars in their upper ranges. Check Thomann for those.
-
The Virage SC is gorgeous
-
More and more new custom guitar builders seem to differ from the standard Strat shape it seems.
-
Kinda like the Duesenberg's
-
WTF- They sell LAG guitars in Belfast!
-
gotta say the new vox guitars look interesting
http://www.voxvirage.com/
not exactly an unknown name but they are not exactly known for their guitars
Someone had to mention those!!!
I have seen them in this month guitarist and have been GASing badly for a wee while. Then I bought my Tele and thought I was cured from all GAS. And here you come!
I think these are the only guitars that can seriously have me GASing now.
Looking at the feature page from the VOX website, they do look like the long awaited LP/335 reinvention.
-
+1 on Duesenberg. SO NICE
-
Going back to the Vox Virage, some of the sounds clips sound very nice indeed.
http://www.voxvirage.com/experience.html
Swampy, Classic Rock Rhythm and Lil Winged in particular hit the right spot for me.
Does anyone know where these are made?
-
Hamer (http://www.hamerguitars.com/), even after all these years, is a seriously underrated brand. They used to be very reasonably priced, but the European distribution isn't what it was and they're really expensive now.
A few Euro brands I have major GAS for:
Nik Huber (http://www.nikhuber-guitars.com/2006_home.htm)
Ruokangas (http://www.ruokangas.com/)
Versoul (http://www.versoul.com/)
None of them cheap, though, unfortunately.
-
Hamer (http://www.hamerguitars.com/), even after all these years, is a seriously underrated brand. They used to be very reasonably priced, but the European distribution isn't what it was and they're really expensive now.
A few Euro brands I have major GAS for:
Nik Huber (http://www.nikhuber-guitars.com/2006_home.htm)
Ruokangas (http://www.ruokangas.com/)
Versoul (http://www.versoul.com/)
None of them cheap, though, unfortunately.
Huber guitars look awesome.
Extreme Orca GAS :roll:
-
Hamer (http://www.hamerguitars.com/), even after all these years, is a seriously underrated brand. They used to be very reasonably priced, but the European distribution isn't what it was and they're really expensive now.
A few Euro brands I have major GAS for:
Nik Huber (http://www.nikhuber-guitars.com/2006_home.htm)
Ruokangas (http://www.ruokangas.com/)
Versoul (http://www.versoul.com/)
None of them cheap, though, unfortunately.
Dude, if you start with custom builders, I gotta mention Haar Guitars (http://www.haarguitars.nl/) in NL. He builds awesome vintage Tele/Strat models and some other custom builds. His Fenderesques use the famous 9" to 12" neck. 9" in lower frets for comfortable chord work and 12" in higher frets for comfortably shredding and bending.
It's one of my to-do's to get a RW/Thinline Tele built from him.
-
Haar guitars are great, way better then USA made ones. But DD (also Dutch, has been building professionally since the 80's) is even better IMO, only i dont like the lush look of them.
Another unknown brand which makes great guitars and really cheap too are the Bill Lawrence Swampcaster assembled in the USA(mainly MIJ parts), the 80's series of those, called challenger series are absolutely BIG BANG for the buck IMO.
There are offcourse some old brands but lets not get into that too deeply 8)
http://www.double-d.nl/
http://www.adirondackguitar.com/electrics/swamp/menu.htm
-
WTF- They sell LAG guitars in Belfast!
music matters in lisburn, and mac's music portadown stock them too. the lower models, though.
-
http://www.double-d.nl/
http://www.adirondackguitar.com/electrics/swamp/menu.htm
cool stuff, didn't know DD, will pass by one of these days I suppose ...
-
gibson 335 area i think. I am intrigued by the curved body design
Me too ! I like the carved body contour and i'm intrigued by the PU's system with the 3 modes !Sounds very good in their clips...Does anybody knows their price ? GAS already....
-
Nik Huber (http://www.nikhuber-guitars.com/2006_home.htm)
Ruokangas (http://www.ruokangas.com/)
Versoul (http://www.versoul.com/)
None of them cheap, though, unfortunately.
Now i am GASsing for a Nik Huber Redwood, o Godly wonder!
-
I keep looking at some of Wezv's
-
I keep looking at some of Wezv's
init; Wez's modified Ravelle designs are to die for! (by the looks of things). Does anyone on the forum (besides wez) own one??
-
I'm saving up to get Wez to build me something ;_;
-
I keep looking at some of Wezv's
init; Wez's modified Ravelle designs are to die for! (by the looks of things). Does anyone on the forum (besides wez) own one??
The person who owns the diseased wood Ibanez with nailbombs (that's how I remember it by, lol..) is getting one I do believe who with a spalted maple top, etc.
Why so sad Noodle?
-
I keep looking at some of Wezv's
init; Wez's modified Ravelle designs are to die for! (by the looks of things). Does anyone on the forum (besides wez) own one??
not yet they dont, but i am currently doing one of that design for a forum member. should be done in the next couple of months
There have been 3 others like thats so far, the solid paduak one is currently undergoing a transformation to solid black finish because it faded to brown, it was my main guitar for a while but just needed a facelift. there was a african walnut one with a maple stripe through the body thats in pieces in the workshop because i wasnt entirely happy with it and need to make adjustments when i get around to it... and the first one (maple burl and black limba) is living it up down south with a music producer and guitarist called Dann P. He has played it on stage at wembley and recorded a video at pinewood studios with the guitar
prepare for some cheese:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QvepGKH4hds
i told him i wasnt happy about the water at the end :wink:
-
i told him i wasnt happy about the water at the end :wink:
Haha! Agreed!
-
Haha yeh, what the hell is he thinking with the water!
-
The Virage SC is gorgeous
....and did anyone notice the three90 pickups? Maybe Tim will start winding some tribuckers! C'mon Tim, Do it! :twisted:
-
cool stuff, didn't know DD, will pass by one of these days I suppose ...
He has a small workshop near the Dutch A1 highway, but its in the far east of Holland in the middle of nowhere.
His photography skills dont do his guitars justice, they are really imaculate(unlike Haar guitars if i may say so), well build (with a good stock of tonewoods). Ive bought some trade-ins from him before and he has a nice selection of used gear passing trough his store. Alot of pro players around there too, very nice guy to deal with but always in a hurry..... :lol:
-
Maybe Tim will start winding some tribuckers! C'mon Tim, Do it! :twisted:
OY!, that would be sweet, still need to sort out a good 3-way wiring though..... :cry:
-
those LAG guitars are meant to be well tasty...
-
I played a Godin some time back, can't remember the model, but it played really well...
-
Maverick used to be fantastic quality and value.
If you can get a Streetfighter model that's the one used by Neil Brockelbank on the Audio Violence album (he now endorses Indie guitars but still falls back on the SAS Streetfighter when doing shows)
-
Maverick used to be fantastic quality and value.
my Maverick X1 still plays nice only gripes with it is
bl**dy heavy guitar
was a pain to tune below a tone and a half, would take ages for it to settle down, since tuning to just a tone down however that issue has gone away.
Looking for a new guitar this year not sure what yet though, was thinking of going back to ibanez but will see what money i can save up.
(plus cannot play currently, as i severed a tendon, waiting for movement to come back :()
-
Maverick used to be fantastic quality and value.
If you can get a Streetfighter model that's the one used by Neil Brockelbank on the Audio Violence album (he now endorses Indie guitars but still falls back on the SAS Streetfighter when doing shows)
I have his Indie. :P
-
http://www.custom77.com/
a little french brand : Cheap, good quality, MIK, Gibson copies (and a few fenders). I'm GASing hard for one of there SG Junior :)
-
http://www.custom77.com/
VERY cheap... Are they any good? They LOOK nice, but for 300 Euros what are you actually getting???
-
Also there is Ran Guitars also from Poland
www.ranguitars.com
and Guitterez sp in the US
http://www.myspace.com/gutierrezguitars
they will have thier own site soon...
I own two Ran's won't be the last as I plan to get more, I want to order a nailbomb/cold sweat set for the RR soon too...
-
Stop with mentioning custom builders guys - I think the point is that these are meant to be production line guitars.
-
Stop with mentioning custom builders guys - I think the point is that these are meant to be production line guitars.
tr00 (True for you non-leeters)
-
http://www.custom77.com/
VERY cheap... Are they any good? They LOOK nice, but for 300 Euros what are you actually getting???
They're good, there's quite a buzz around them over here. They are a bit like Agile quality wise.
-
Also there is Ran Guitars also from Poland
www.ranguitars.com
I own two Ran's won't be the last as I plan to get more, I want to order a nailbomb/cold sweat set for the RR soon too...
What are Ran guitars like generally? I'm wondering about what guitar to get as my next one as I'm really not happy with my Jacksons. I've sent in a form so as to get a quote for what I would like, but I'd like to get as many testimonials, never mind a play on one before actually ordering one.
-
Also there is Ran Guitars also from Poland
www.ranguitars.com
I own two Ran's won't be the last as I plan to get more, I want to order a nailbomb/cold sweat set for the RR soon too...
What are Ran guitars like generally? I'm wondering about what guitar to get as my next one as I'm really not happy with my Jacksons. I've sent in a form so as to get a quote for what I would like, but I'd like to get as many testimonials, never mind a play on one before actually ordering one.
Check out the Jeff Waters model on Youtube. Don't go by it like religon, he really doesn't make it sound good IMO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=of4L3jY4Q9A
-
Another european manufacturer here _>
http://www.guitarmaker.de/
His guitars are pricey but they really are the dogs bollocks! I'd have one of these or a Versoul any day !:)
cheers,
tremblox
-
Pearl Les Pauls (http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=11282) :D
-
I would actually recommend the old Ibanez Radius's ( Pre-Satriani).
-
The first electric i ever owned (borrowed) was a Hamer, i loved it gosh darn it!
-
Eastwood guitars.
they kick ass. period. Amazing construction for the price.
-
Vintage Advance are nice...