Grateful Dead Music Forum

Since it would appear that I am getting the bird on my Schecter guitar, I am back in the market for a new electric guitar. Any thoughts or suggestiongs are welcome. Here are some of the things that I am thinking:

What I play: On electric, mostly GD. Off the top of my head the only non-GD songs that I can think of that I have fooled with lately are Pink Floyd, and maybe some Rolling Stones. Of course, I plink around with various pop tunes with my kids, but nothing I would focus on, so I really wouldn't care if the guitar was not well-suited for that. I would describe myself as a "wannabe lead guitarist", so picking/sliding/hammering/bending is my focus, but I do know where a couple of chords are on the neck. A good GD/classic rock instrument is really what I am looking for, I don't spend any time or effort trying to copy anyone's tone, but tonal versatility is something I would be willing to pay more for.

Budget: The good news is that I asked my wife about limits on cost, and she literally said "whatever you want", I knew there was a reason I picked her. Last time around, I tried to keep the price under $1000, and I was very unsatisfied with the results. What I wanted last time was a high-quality instrument, and what I got was a piece of crap. Again this time, I want a high-quality instrument that plays well from the moment I bring it home, and given my last experience, I am willing to pay more. I am thinking that $2000 should get the job done, and I can afford that and maybe somewhat more. I am willing to be counseled here. If I am being unrealistic and need to spend more to get a really good quality instrument, let me know.

Features: I can't think of any feature that I dislike so much that I would reject a guitar for having it, so no negatives here. I don't know a lot about specific pots and pickups, so I don't have any preferences there. Features I do like are:

24 frets, but 22 is fine
At least one humbucker at the bridge, bonus if I can split it, another splittable humbucker at the neck is ideal
I prefer a fixed bridge as I don't have much interest in tremolos, but I have a floating bridge with a locking nut on my other guitar, and it's OK
Tuners: I like the Sperzel idea better than the standard, but I wouldn't have any problem changing out the tuning machines

Other preferences: I would prefer a new guitar that someone is willing to stand behind, I don't think I would get much, if any, incremental enjoyment from a vintage guitar. I'm not big into tributes or signatures or anything like that, I am looking mostly for playability, sound and versatility. The only brand I would steer clear of is Schecter for obvious reasons. My mind is open to a Fender guitar, but the last time around, I played several of their models and didn't like the feel of the neck on any of them, so they would be starting from a position of disadvantage.

I feel like there should be dozens of other considerations to be analyzed before spending 4 figure cash on what is essentially a toy, but the above is all I can think of off the top of my head. Again, guidance here is appreciated.

Thanks,

Mick

Do you have a luthier nearby or a tech who can build a guitar from parts? It's probably the way to go.

Carvins are pretty sweet and can be Jerryfied:

http://www.rukind.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=309&t=7487

With the Jerry mods described in that thread you'll come in at your $2K price point. Keep it stock and/or cut back on the fancy woods and finishes and you'll come in way under and have the exact guitar you want.

$2000 ?
What about Carvin ?
Options .....
http://www.carvinguitars.com/customshop ... atures.php

WilliamC wrote:Carvins are pretty sweet and can be Jerryfied:

http://www.rukind.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=309&t=7487

With the Jerry mods described in that thread you'll come in at your $2K price point. Keep it stock and/or cut back on the fancy woods and finishes and you'll come in way under and have the exact guitar you want.

^^^^^^ what he said ^^^^^^^^^

This is assuming you want something a little nicer than an off-the-rack Fender.

John Suhr's "pro series" guitars are essentially boutique handmade instruments; they are very well made guitars, play beautifully and have great pickup options. They are around the $2k price point new. The difference between the Pro Series and the individually spec'd guitars he makes is the Pro Series come the way the come, you can't choose your particular neck carve, tuners, nut material, electronics, the way you can if you order one straight up. The custom guitars are in the $3000-4000 range.

Suhr built Knopfler's Pensa-Suhr Strat back in the 80s; I own one of his lefty custom Classic Strats, which is a terrific guitar, it's the best Strat I've ever played. His pickups are great, neck and frets impeccable, and electronics are excellent. Very quiet, dead reliable guitar.

Here's a nice looking Pro Series 4 instrument for $2200, has a humbucker in the bridge.

http://www.indoorstorm.com/John_Suhr_Gu ... -4662.html

I think he's coming out with a Pro Series model of his take on the Telecaster, which should be a great instrument. John has a terrific reputation, and I would definitely consider one of his guitars at your price point, if the Strat-type instrument appeals to you.

People also like the James Tyler Strat-style guitars, I'm not sure if you can squeak into one for $2k, but I really dislike his headstock style. The Tom Anderson guitars will be more than $2k new, as well.

Most of the serious boutique builders you can't get in at the $2k price point anymore. I'm having Scott Walker build me a guitar, but it's more than that. Even the price on a new U.S. made PRS will be higher; the Custom 22 I have is a great playing guitar. The Collings guitars are great, but more expensive as well.

For my $2k, I'd at least try out a Suhr.

The Carvin seems to be a lot of guitar for the money; I tried out a new in-stock lefty they had a few years ago, but didn't love it. They seem to take a pretty serious hit on resale, too, if it matters to you. The one I had played okay, nothing special, and the electronics I didn't really like at all. Kadlecik, of course, gutted his and put the Jerry stuff in.

I am usually a Les Paul guy and I do like the Carvins and Suhrs as well. I can make you a sick deal on this custom built guitar that has most of what you are looking for.

http://www.cjrmusic.com/breedlove/breed ... _mark1.htm

Isn't it fun shopping for a new guitar!

I like the suggestions above. There also is the used market, Ibanez (musician,artist) those are great guitars and can be modified. I also really liked my PRS eg NOT SE! Those guitars are really like a nice mix between fender and gibson but to me better than both. I also like what Strummin said, for 2K you could build almost anything you wnat from new parts if someone you know could put it together. I think you will get a better guitar this way than something from a store. At least new. So many times I have thought of buying a new LP or Strat and just cant seem to do it.

The way I shop is:

Go play a bunch of guitars. Don't plug them into an amp. I don't want to be distracted from thinking about how the neck feels by sounds. Take the best feeling ones that you cannot decide between and then plug them into an amp.

I can tell you honestly that you better know 100% what you want if you go custom or somebody to walk you through the decision process. My custom is great except I HATE the huge significant difference between the neck and the bridge pickup. Then I had my Jackson measured out and realized that her neck pickup is almost in a middle humbucker spot?!

I like new guitar shopping as much as anyone but why wouldn't you try to get the schecter fixed by someone other than schecter? I find it hard to believe that there isn't a guy near you that could not breath some life into that guitar for 1/10th of your budget. In principle, schecter should have taken care of you. They didn't.
Find a good trustworthy tech near you. Take him the guitar and have him tell you what's wrong w/ it, what can be done to fix it and an estimate of what that will cost. Then decide if you want to spend the money. Going out and buying another guitar seems a little hasty.

I would highly recommend an SG. That meets all of your requirements except the tuners. Fixed Bridge. Humbuckers all around. Get an SG Standard. They're really light, real smooth to play. Very comfortable. Through a good amp, the sound is perfect. These standards are in your price range. Try one on, give it a good run through. The neck is slim and fast. It has the extra frets.
I'm suggesting this because I have one. I have a Strat that's newer, but never touch the thing.
The SG is a great all around guitar. You'll love it. Did I mention it's weight? It's featherlite. But it sounds like it's heavy. Dats my $.02

Wow, great responses guys, thanks!

A couple of thoughts in response:

Custom guitar: I have thought about going this route, but I feel like even though I have learned a ton about guitars and guitar playing in the last 3 years, I still don't really know enough to know exactly what I would want. I think I am one guitar away from that level. That is one reason why I am so pissed at Schecter, I was hoping that would be the guitar on which I would learn more precisely what I do and don't want/like. Unfortunately, it turned into an exercise in frustration more than anything else. This thinking is what lead me to the price range in my head of $2000. If I felt comfortable enough knowing exactly what I wanted, and getting it cost $5000, I could save my nickels for a year or so and put together that amount of coin. This time out, I am thinking of getting something of good quality that I can learn a lot more on, than move to my "dream guitar" in 3-5 years.

Fixing the Schecter: I can't escape the feeling that the neck on that guitar is fatally screwed. If it wasn't, Schecter would have fixed it by now since they have paid to ship it across the country a couple of times and spent a fair amount of time on the phone giving me a hard way to go. Either way, I am ready to move on to another guitar.

Carvin and Suhr: Good tips, thanks. I will definitely check them out.

PRS: I have already been looking online at the PRS guitars because I have heard they have a neck feel that is similar to the Schecter. It looks like they have decent guitars in my price range, but I haven't played any of them yet.

Gibson SG: I played some SGs a couple of years ago when I bought the Schecter. The SG standard IIRC was going for about $1200, which was a little more than I was looking to spend then, but I liked the guitar. That is definitely on the list to be evaluated.

Fender guitars: I failed to communicate clearly there, sorry. To be blunt: I don't like them. I would be willing to play one again, but I wouldn't have high hopes of a purchase.

Playing the guitar not through an amp: I think this is the fatal mistake I made the last time. I also didn't have the experience level and "feel" that I have now. I am convinced that the Schecter was just as dorked up in the store when I bought it as it was the last time it was at my house, I just didn't hear the problems over the amplifer, and didn't have the experience level yet to feel the problem. One good thing about the Schecter experience is I got into the habit of playing my electric guitars without an amp on a regular basis (I played for over an hour last night, and never bothered to plug in). This has made me much more sensitive to how I am picking and fretting the string, and I think my technique has improved as a result.

Thanks again,

Mick

Mick wrote:
Fixing the Schecter: I can't escape the feeling that the neck on that guitar is fatally screwed. If it wasn't, Schecter would have fixed it by now since they have paid to ship it across the country a couple of times and spent a fair amount of time on the phone giving me a hard way to go. Either way, I am ready to move on to another guitar.

Fair enough, but i'd think you'd want to have somebody other than the morons that didn't do it right the first and second time to have a look. Plus it's no money out of pocket until you actually have a diagnoisis/ planned remedy and decide to go ahead w/ the repair.

Maybe you need to visit a GC around 10am during the week, talk to the oldest rep you can find, say you want to try a bunch of electrics and try them in the acoustic room.

Gauge his response - if he doesn't understand hearing the guitar first move on the next guy.

Try a bunch of different ones. Sounds like you bought the Schecter for you hoped it was rather than what it really was. I did that with my Ibanez AX32 (i think).