Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: Matt77 on August 03, 2010, 01:06:00 PM

Title: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Matt77 on August 03, 2010, 01:06:00 PM
I went to visit some of my in laws family in Madeira a few weeks ago.
One of the relatives I met is a 15 year old that's just starting to learn to play.
It's obvious he has natural ability and puts in the effort.
His mother bought him an acoustic which over there cost 200 Euros
In the UK you could get the same standard of guitar for £60.
Cutting to the chase, he's never going to be able to afford a decent guitar in the near future and for a sum of money that doesn't make much difference to me I can make a big difference to him.
So I'm on the look out for a bargain used guitar on the bay.
A fixer upper will do.
It's been a while since I looked at the bottom end of the market, so as the title of the thread suggests, What's the best guitar for the least money?
All wisdom, observations and drunken ramblings (Shobet) welcome
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: gwEm on August 03, 2010, 01:15:45 PM
Kitty Squier?
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: AndyR on August 03, 2010, 01:16:52 PM
That's a wide open question :lol:

Are you thinking electric guitar, not accoustic?

What sort of stuff is he into?
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Stevepage on August 03, 2010, 01:18:16 PM
A cheapo Ibanez would be good. Like a GSA model.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Matt77 on August 03, 2010, 01:25:05 PM
Sorry Andy :D
Electric and he likes pop / rock, but not metal

Think hotel cabaret / covers bands and you won't be far wrong

He seems to like anyone that can play well.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: AndyR on August 03, 2010, 01:34:40 PM
I've got one nephew that received one of those Yamaha thingies (Pacifica?) as a Christmas present a while back. A strat-a-like HSS. His parents got it at Argos (I think) for a lot less than I'd been thinking they were going to spend.

I thought it would be complete @rse, but I helped him restring it and make it "go better" a few months ago... seems very versatile and nowt wrong with it as a guitar.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: WezV on August 03, 2010, 01:41:50 PM
i would go for a second hand squire or pacifica on the bay. 90's squier standards go for about £80-100 and are better quality than the cheapo affinities.  They dont take much work to get them playing well.

You might get one that needs some work or is collection only for a fair bit cheaper
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Twinfan on August 03, 2010, 02:00:49 PM
I'd say take a look at:

Anything by Vintage
Yamaha Pacifica

End of message  ;)
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Mr. Air on August 03, 2010, 02:03:30 PM
My vote goes to before mentioned Yamaha Pacifica 112. It's possible to get one quite cheap from ebay. I find them good value according to the low price tag. They're versatile as well since they have H-S-S pickups and they have a swimmingpool cavity so there's plenty of space for customizing.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Matt77 on August 03, 2010, 05:16:13 PM
Cheers lads. It's likely I'll be going for a Pacifica on e-bay if it's at the right price.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: fr33man1 on August 03, 2010, 05:30:19 PM
epiphone g400 is nice aswell, a tad more expensive as an used pacifica maybe but a nice guitar. I wash really impressed trying one in a shop.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Copperhead on August 03, 2010, 06:59:11 PM
Here, Peavey seems to get you the most guitar for the money.
The necks have been unbelievably good for such cheap guitars.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Fourth Feline on August 03, 2010, 08:59:01 PM
I'd say take a look at:

Anything by Vintage
Yamaha Pacifica

End of message  ;)

Yes ; it was most remiss of me not to mention the 'Vintage' - especially as it has now become my number 1 player - and ( as a result ) appears in my Avatar.   At first I thought certain aspects of the cosmetic finish could have been chosen / done better at the same production cost, but it has set up a dream, and settled in / matured to play very sweet , articulate and resonant sounding , without undue brightness. It must be good, I bought it some 'Manhattans' ! 

The Ibanez also gets a second vote from me - and although I have never played one, the ubiquitous Yamaha Pacifica seems to have been famous for satisfying this niche for many, many years.


Once again, the Twinfan 'Oracle' speaks the truth ...  :wink:
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Twinfan on August 03, 2010, 09:11:02 PM
Cheers Derek!

I'm on the lookout for a cheap Vintage V100 to "pimp up" at the moment...
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Johnny Mac on August 03, 2010, 09:33:30 PM
Agile?
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: MisterMuncher on August 04, 2010, 12:38:30 AM
The Pacifica is usually a nicely built, playable instrument, and it sounds half-decent, too.

Just have a care with regard to hand-size/neck dimensions, as I've always found the fretboard and string-spacing a touch on the narrow side.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Mr. Air on August 04, 2010, 09:40:31 AM
Cheers Derek!

I'm on the lookout for a cheap Vintage V100 to "pimp up" at the moment...

By the way. What's the adress of Vintage's website (if there is one)? A google search on vintage guitars yields all lot of hits, but not one to the company.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Twinfan on August 04, 2010, 10:01:15 AM
www.jhs.co.uk

:)
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Mr. Air on August 04, 2010, 10:14:06 AM
www.jhs.co.uk

:)

THX Twinfan  :D
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Twinfan on August 04, 2010, 10:22:31 AM
No probs!
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Philly Q on August 04, 2010, 10:28:38 AM
The Pacifica is usually a nicely built, playable instrument, and it sounds half-decent, too.

Just have a care with regard to hand-size/neck dimensions, as I've always found the fretboard and string-spacing a touch on the narrow side.

Interesting point.  I wasn't sure if it applied to the 112 as well, but I had a 604 a long time ago and remember the fretboard being a bit narrower than most.

Thinking about it, I liked that neck a lot, chunky-but-narrow seems to be a good combination for me.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Twinfan on August 04, 2010, 10:43:16 AM
Thinking about it, I liked that neck a lot, chunky-but-narrow seems to be a good combination for me.

You'd like my old '65 SG then Phil!
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Philly Q on August 04, 2010, 11:26:47 AM
Thinking about it, I liked that neck a lot, chunky-but-narrow seems to be a good combination for me.

You'd like my old '65 SG then Phil!

I very much suspect I would Dave!  :D    Some of those mid-to-late '60s Gibsons have such narrow necks you can notice it even in photos.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: dave_mc on August 04, 2010, 01:27:41 PM
i'd go with dave's suggestion- yamaha pacifica 112v or one of the better vintages (I've tried some of the cheaper ones which I didn't really like, though that was a while ago and supposedly the quality of even their cheaper ones has improved). I've seen some good deals on some of the vintage advance models, too, on places like dv247- i think you can get the HSS strat for about £180, which has the steel block trem, locking tuners etc. Might be worth considering.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Andrew W on August 04, 2010, 10:21:23 PM
If you wanted to look at something a bit more idiosyncratic there's the reincarnated Danelectro brand which are cheap and cheerful.  Probably only worth checking out if the recipient definitely wants something out of the ordinary.
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: JustBecos on August 04, 2010, 11:25:33 PM
If you like the idea of the Vintage guitars there is this one on ebay at the moment which might go for a song

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-AV6P-BB-AMERICAN-ALDER-3-PUP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-/230506010806?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35ab3a98b6 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-AV6P-BB-AMERICAN-ALDER-3-PUP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-/230506010806?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35ab3a98b6)

It got a really good review from guitarist a few years back

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-AV6P-BB-AMERICAN-ALDER-3-PUP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-/230506010806?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35ab3a98b6 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-AV6P-BB-AMERICAN-ALDER-3-PUP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-/230506010806?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35ab3a98b6)



Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: AndyR on August 05, 2010, 09:17:20 AM
If you wanted to look at something a bit more idiosyncratic there's the reincarnated Danelectro brand which are cheap and cheerful.  Probably only worth checking out if the recipient definitely wants something out of the ordinary.

I did wonder about these as well. I have a 59, which I don't play very often admittedly. It has a good neck and superb fretwork. But the aluminium nut and the bridge assembly, while workable, took quite a lot of work setting up to make it play really well. I played several before I bought this one, and I thought they were a bit naff until I found this one.

Having said that, my niece and nephew reckon it's the coolest guitar I have :lol:
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Matt77 on August 05, 2010, 10:34:10 AM
Shobet just happens to be buying a Danelectro for himself on Saturday so I'll probably tag along
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: liftman on August 05, 2010, 11:04:46 AM
Crafter Convoy PRS-alike, very easy to play and compact size. Seen a couple of Vintage les paul types that were good and Ibanez artcores for a semi. 
Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 05, 2010, 01:49:07 PM
If you like the idea of the Vintage guitars there is this one on ebay at the moment which might go for a song

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-AV6P-BB-AMERICAN-ALDER-3-PUP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-/230506010806?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35ab3a98b6 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-AV6P-BB-AMERICAN-ALDER-3-PUP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-/230506010806?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35ab3a98b6)

It got a really good review from guitarist a few years back

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-AV6P-BB-AMERICAN-ALDER-3-PUP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-/230506010806?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35ab3a98b6 (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VINTAGE-AV6P-BB-AMERICAN-ALDER-3-PUP-ELECTRIC-GUITAR-/230506010806?cmd=ViewItem&pt=UK_Musical_Instruments_Guitars_CV&hash=item35ab3a98b6)


that would be a crackin little guitar to learn on - three P90s, wow!!!

the guitar is local to me as it happens - about five or six miles down the road.

Title: Re: Best guitar for the least money?
Post by: Dreichlift on August 05, 2010, 01:57:26 PM
Beware of Vintage guitars, they can be a little hit and miss, though I did have a nice strat copy a while back.

You can't go wrong with a Yamaha, I've never had a bad one. In fact I've recently had to sell my whole guitar and amp selection to raise money and the only guitar I kept was my Yamaha RGX.