Superstrat advice

[Dreichlift]

Despite accidents involving guitars and pointy headstocks in the past, a back/neck problem is forcing me to lay aside my beloved Greco Les Paul Custom copy for a while and I've decided to look for an alternative guitar to use for practice and general noodling. As I haven't had a guitar with a trem for a looooong time I felt a change was in order and have been looking around for a cheap Superstrat, Floyd equipped jobbie for around £200 - £300.

So far I've narrowed my choices to the ESP LTD M-100FM or the Ibanez RG320FM. I'd appreciate some help choosing between the two as I'm no officiado on either brand.

Any other suggestions are welcome, though I'd take a lot of convincing to buy a low end Jackson as I have experienced them in the dim and distant past when I got one from Kerrang magazine (yeah I'm old I know).

[MDV]

Spend a bit less and get a proper trem. The liscenced stuff on low end models will put you off floyds for life.

[Stevepage]

I'd personally get something with a fixed bridge. Cheap super strats have cr@ppy locking trems that cause more hassle than they're worth.


How about this?

http://machinehead.co.uk/product_info.php/cPath/21_43/products_id/2275

[Dreichlift]

I'd personally get something with a fixed bridge. Cheap super strats have cr@ppy locking trems that cause more hassle than they're worth.


How about this?

http://machinehead.co.uk/product_info.php/cPath/21_43/products_id/2275

Hmm very tempting

[murraymurray]

have a look into the old kramers perhaps?
i have a focus 1000 that i picked up for $250NZ (about 100 pounds), made in japan in the esp shop i believe. came with an original floyd rose and a dimarzio super distortion, swapped that out recently for a painkiller tho PDT_003

[MDV]

I'd personally get something with a fixed bridge. Cheap super strats have cr@ppy locking trems that cause more hassle than they're worth.


How about this?

http://machinehead.co.uk/product_info.php/cPath/21_43/products_id/2275

Hmm very tempting

Well if a trem isnt essential, yeah, there are plenty of fixed superstrats out there for not much money. Some are really, really good for the money too. Just play the EXACT guitar you buy. Dont get the same model of the net or anything; could be a very different animal.

[Dreichlift]

have a look into the old kramers perhaps?
i have a focus 1000 that i picked up for $250NZ (about 100 pounds), made in japan in the esp shop i believe. came with an original floyd rose and a dimarzio super distortion, swapped that out recently for a painkiller tho PDT_003

Nice looking guitar, but I'd really prefer 2 humbuckers for versatility.

[Dreichlift]

Just play the EXACT guitar you buy. Dont get the same model of the net or anything; could be a very different animal.

Sadly in the north of Scotland this isn't usually possible, though I have played the ESP and Ibanez I mentioned earlier and aside from the pickups they were quite nice...which reminds me I'd better start saving for some nailbombs too :D

This isn't going to be my main guitar so it doesn't need to be perfect and won't get much abuse. What about the possibility of retrofitting a floyd rose or upper end ibanez trem into the lower end guitars?

[Stevepage]

Could do, Ibanez Edge trems pop up on ebay every now and again, but they're not a direct fit into the Lo Pro and Edge Pro routes. May need to route the cavity a touch bigger to accomodate it.

[MDV]

Just play the EXACT guitar you buy. Dont get the same model of the net or anything; could be a very different animal.

Sadly in the north of Scotland this isn't usually possible, though I have played the ESP and Ibanez I mentioned earlier and aside from the pickups they were quite nice...which reminds me I'd better start saving for some nailbombs too :D

This isn't going to be my main guitar so it doesn't need to be perfect and won't get much abuse. What about the possibility of retrofitting a floyd rose or upper end ibanez trem into the lower end guitars?

Thats what I meant in my first post. Get a guitar with a liscenced trem and put an OFR or Gotoh or something in.

[Dreichlift]

Thats what I meant in my first post. Get a guitar with a liscenced trem and put an OFR or Gotoh or something in.

Ah ok I misunderstood and though you meant get one with a fender type trem  :oops:

[Alex]

I personally strongly dislike superstrats.

I dig some Fenders though and you can always hotrod those.

[Matt77]

Get a second hand ibanez 540 or sabre.
You will get one for £350 give or take £50
Very light as they are so thin and they are very adaptable.
I just sold mine to pay a hefty council tax bill, but I'll buy another when I get the cash again

[James C]

for a cheap superstrat, have a look at the Ibanez S series, the trems are very good (ball bearing pivots) but i think that they are a bit over your £300 budget

[MDV]

I personally strongly dislike superstrats.

I dig some Fenders though and you can always hotrod those.

 :o

 :o :o :o :o :o :o :o :o

 :x

I love superstrats. Them and explorers. They're where its at. Oh yes.