Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

[frankencat]

My recent purchase (and sale) of an ESP LTD EC300 has gotten me feeling like experimenting with some lower-end mahogany bodied axes. I would like to hear some opinions and experiences with any of the stuff listed below. The ones I have been eyeballing are:

Schecter C-1 Artist (MF Special)
Dean EVO Series
ESP LTD EC Series (400AT, 1000)
Gibson Faded Series (LP, SG)
Fender MIK Teles (FMT, Special)
Brian Moore i1000 Series

Thanks -Frank [img]/images/graemlins/cool.gif[/img]

[Predator1]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

I played a worn brown Les Paul studio at Guitar Center a month ago. I was actually a very nice guitar. It looked much nicer then the worn cherry finish IMHO. Nice fret work and sounded very nice played through a JCM 800 RI. I went back to buy it a couple of days later and it was gone. The sales guy said Guitar Center had Gibson build close to 300 of these for their stores.

[pedalGEEK]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

I have an ESP LTD EC-1000. I don't play it much these days because I am on a Floyd kick, but I think it is an excellent guitar, especially for the price. The fit and finish is as close to perfect as you would expect on a guitar of twice the price! I believe they are 1-5/8" so if you are uncomfortable with that nut-width I would maybe try to play one first before buying, but overall I give it a big thumbs up.

[quiksilver]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

The Fender carved top MIK Tele is just beautiful, and feels like a very high quality axe. I had a hard time putting the one at our local music store down, and I don't usually even like Teles. Fender offers some beautiful carved top MIK Strats, too, and overall, I am very impressed with Fender's carved top MIK guitars. Plus, occasionally, MF (and probably other dealers, too - I've just noticed the MF ads) has insane deals on some of them. I didn't know they had mahogany bodies, though.

The ESP MH-400 LTD is a VERY nice guitar, that does have a mahogany body, along with EMGs, neck-through/set-neck (ESP's site says "set-thru" so I don't know if it's neck-through or set neck, but either way, it's great), quilt maple top, lic. Floyd, etc. A store in our area was selling one for $400 something! Talk about bang for the buck. The only downside is it only comes in one color (blue) - and it has rosewood instead of ebony, but at the price, I can't fault it for that.

Good luck in your search. You have a bunch of great options.

[Boxcar Willie 84]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

I'm about to buy a Dean EVO Special Select. Also don't forget to consider the PRS SE Series...my main guitar is a Santana SE. They just came out with two more, one might have to be nixed due to the Singlecut lawsuit as well as the Tremonti SE, but the Santana SE is still one of the best guitars out there for under $600.

[BigDaddyD]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

Be sure to check that the Dean Evos are really mahogony if that is important to you. I know on their budget lines, they use basswood with a mahogany finish.

[frankencat]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

Cool. I think I need to play one the Deans. I have a Dean resonator that is great and I played a Dean Cadillac that was pretty nice. Those EVO Selects look pretty good. Hmmm... Any Schecter C-1/S-1 owners out there?

[toejam]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

[ QUOTE ]
My recent purchase (and sale) of an ESP LTD EC300 has gotten me feeling like experimenting with some lower-end mahogany bodied axes...

[/ QUOTE ]
Hey, it's not a regular EC300... it's an EC300P (P-90) [img]/images/graemlins/eviltongue.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/laugh.gif[/img] Anyway, I'm really digging it, may put in DiMarzio Virtual P90s soon, but the Duncan Design stacked P90s really aren't bad. This guitar rocks. Thanks again! [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

As far as a faded Gibson, I've got one of the "Vintage Mahogany" Musician's Fiend LP Studio models in worn/faded cherry. Though, it cost me $899 when they were on sale from $999, then they went to $799 and now they're back up to $999, so it's not really a "budget" guitar, but I thought it was a good price for a Les Paul. And I really like that matte satin finish on it and think it sounds and plays great. The Burstbucker Pro pups on it were cool, but a ZW EMG set got put in (85 in the bridge, 81 neck) and it's even cooler now! [img]/images/graemlins/headbang.gif[/img] I'm sure the lower end faded LPs and SGs are also cool.

[Top Jimmy B]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

I'll agree with Boxcar on the PRS Santana line. I have an SE EG and it is a great playing and sounding guitar.

I'd also look at the Godin line - LG, Freeway Classic and SD are really cool guitars at great prices.

[frankencat]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

Toejam, glad you like it bud. I am really impressed with those ESP EC's. I think I may just pick an EC400AT off the bay.

[Greg Crowe]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

Truth be told, the higher end Korean Deans, Schecters and ESP's are all made by the same Korean manufacturer.

[GodOfRhythm]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

That Special faded LP Studio on musician's friend was/is one hell of a good deal.

[toejam]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

Yeah, I figured for less than $1,000 for a Gibson was a very good deal, and I'd been wanting a LP for awhile.

[toejam]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

[ QUOTE ]
Toejam, glad you like it bud. I am really impressed with those ESP EC's. I think I may just pick an EC400AT off the bay.

[/ QUOTE ]
I just cleaned and oiled the board and put a set of EB Power Slinkies on it (11-48). It's got even better tone now! [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] The AT models look pretty sweet, too.

[etaeniura]

Re: Budget Guitar Extravaganza!!

I played a few of the schecters at a GC and thay are awesome. Even the bolt on one is really nice. The higher end ones have DUncans (JB/59 I believe) and coil tap push pull pots. They play great and are beatifully built. I'm thinking of going for one of the Blackjack teles or scorpion models.