New (to me) Guitar Debate

[Crunch]

I have a Dean Z-X. It's decent for $200. Basswood body with a bolt-on maple neck, but I'd like to move on up (I've been playing, for years, but had to sell my old gear).

The selection of guitars I've been debating all have mahogany necks set into mahogany bodies with a Tune-o-matic bridge. Some have a maple top, but I'm not particularly concerned about that.
My preference is a 24.5-25" scale with rhythm and lead humbuckers for $700, or less.
I don't care what the guitar comes with from the factory, as long as it has 3 pots and a switch. I will be knocking all the electronics out and replacing them with A-Pigs (humbucking and/or P90) and decent bits.

So far, I've added the following to the list of candidates:
Several PRS SEs. Particularly the 245 and Fredrik Akesson (which comes with a TonePros bridge, stock)
An Epiphone Explorer. Love the huge bottom end and it doesn't have that hideous Epiphone headstock.
A Schecter Solo 6 (the "Special" model with a P90 in the rhythm position looks enticing)
Some variant of the Washburn Idol series (though, I can't seem to find them, anywhere)
A used Gibson/Dean with serious cosmetic/wiring issues with little damage to its functionality.

My intention is to tune to CGCFAC and lower. It works out, fine on a 24.75" scale. Will a 24.5" scale handle it about the same, or will the 1/4" make a huge impact?

I ask you folk in hopes that any of you have any user information on the above instruments (I've handled SEs, Epiphones, and Schecters, but not the exact models) or know of something I've not thought of, yet.
Thanks, in advance.

[gwEm]

i'd have a look at the Agile range since you seem to be North America based. really well built stuff

[Twinfan]

I think I'd be looking at a longer scale if you're dropping down tuning.

In the range you suggest, I'd say anything in the PRS SE range with a 25" scale would be ideal.  I'd check out:

Singlecut
Singlecut Korina
Tremonti
Nick Catanese
Tim Mahoney

[Crunch]

i'd have a look at the Agile range since you seem to be North America based. really well built stuff

After a Google search, I wound up in Rondo Music. There's a quality to this site I don't quite trust.
This http://www.rondomusic.com/product3996.html being $190 is part of it.

I think I'd be looking at a longer scale if you're dropping down tuning.

In the range you suggest, I'd say anything in the PRS SE range with a 25" scale would be ideal.

The scale is a concern, of mine; Though, I feel the need to explain that I'm after the "Iommi-tone": Short scale, tuned low, with strings that may be a bit too light for the occasion. Dunlop Heavy Core .012-.054 do drop-A on a 24.75" scale, just fine.
My curiosity lies in how much of a difference 1/4" makes as it becomes a larger fraction of the length.

[gwEm]

i'd have a look at the Agile range since you seem to be North America based. really well built stuff

After a Google search, I wound up in Rondo Music. There's a quality to this site I don't quite trust.
This http://www.rondomusic.com/product3996.html being $190 is part of it.

Rondo music is the place.. have a look at the higher end stuff. A few of us here have Agiles and really rate them.

[Twinfan]

I find scale length makes quite a difference to feel and therefore tone.  You'll probably just need to try it and see how it feels to you.

I would say you'd need to be a light handed player to play 12s on a 24.5" scale in C.  If you're ham fisted like I am, then the strings will waggle all over the goddam place!

[Madsakre]

Agile guitars are decent, you just need to throw it off at a guitar tech first.

Washburns are top notch guitars, i like the idols alot.

[Crunch]

Rondo music is the place.. have a look at the higher end stuff. A few of us here have Agiles and really rate them.

Agile guitars are decent, you just need to throw it off at a guitar tech first.

Washburns are top notch guitars, i like the idols alot.

Thanks for the input, guys.
I just stumbled on the AXL Badwater 1216. I've been seeing them for ~$225 and have the perfect amount of nast to their finish. Any input on these?

I find scale length makes quite a difference to feel and therefore tone.  You'll probably just need to try it and see how it feels to you.

I would say you'd need to be a light handed player to play 12s on a 24.5" scale in C.  If you're ham fisted like I am, then the strings will waggle all over the goddam place!

The Heavy Core line are not like average strings. They're designed for down-tuning and have way more tension. I used to play with .070's and .060's, and they feel about as tight- just a bit more give.
There are no shops what sell PRS within an hour's drive of me. I gave them all my number and asked them to contact me when a 245 comes in. By the time I can go, they've sold them all.

[mbchepburn]

For the Alnico Warpig, you may find a wood like alder would be better since the Warpig can get very bassy in some mahogony bodies (Tim's words not mine)

[mbchepburn]

Have a look at DBZ guitars as well :)

[Crunch]

For the Alnico Warpig, you may find a wood like alder would be better since the Warpig can get very bassy in some mahogony bodies (Tim's words not mine)

I welcome the weight and am prepared for it. Thanks for the concern, though.

Have a look at DBZ guitars as well :)

I checked them out. Nice features, but they are a bit wonky, for my tastes. I couldn't justify their price knowing I bought something even I found odd.

[Crunch]

What's the word on the Ibanez Artist series? The specs look right and I've never played a bad Ibanez. I stray from them, now, as they're more bent towards a shredder's niche. Are the necks fat enough to get a good grip on?