Who is the King of Korea?

[dg]

I have a PRS Santana SE (the first ones they made over there) and it's a surprisingly good guitar. I rarely ever play it at this point, but when I do I'm always impressed at the tone and playability. Schecters are also very good, and it's hard to beat them as far as features for the price.

[Spivonious]

ESP owns Shecter? When did that happen?

As far as best Korean guitar, I think their quality is up there with the Japanese makers, so really any of the above. It's not like South Korea is a third-world country.

[markD]

actually, my korean brian moore guitar is one of the BEST guitars i have ever owned, period, the end. the feel is very vintage and earthy, but has a piezo pickup and 13 pin midi access. it is awesome.

i alos have one of the first hamer vectors made in korea. that guitar rules also.

[Rich#6]

ESP and schecter are owned by the same company but separate factories make them.

[thunderhead]

Peavey maybe?

I have a V-type and it is pretty amazing for the money i have paid for it.

In fact when i compare it to my (just sold) Jackson AT-1 i really can't see that much difference in the sound quality or the craftsmanship. Obviously Jacksons maple top looked a lot better as it was a real top not a 2mm thick wood sheet .

When it comes to playability and sound Peavey rules big time.

[Rich#6]

One other thing on the LTDs only the 1000 are now made in korea.

[sevser]

I always heard most of the guitars are made in the same factory to the companys specs.

[rjohnstone]

I always heard most of the guitars are made in the same factory to the companys specs.

Most are.

Samick is the largest manufacturer of guitars in Korea.
More than half the companies listed above have guitars built in Samick factories.

[Rich#6]

I just though of another one. The same company that made all the BC riches NJ series that were floyded(or after kahlers). the company that may make the schecters, does make G&L tributes. CORT.

[triplehold]

I don't really like making negative comments about any guitars, but I steer clear of any korean guitars. They are all junk.

[toejam]

I don't really like making negative comments about any guitars, but I steer clear of any korean guitars. They are all junk.

Then you've never played a good one. They've come a long way. A couple years ago, I owned an LTD EC-300P and a Schecter 007 Elite... both were great guitars.

[triplehold]

Yeah- I know. I've only owned a couple of Agile 3000 LP copies and one of those LTD Vipers with EMGs, I dug them at first but I realized they weren't for me. I brought the Viper to band practice and the boys told me to get rid of that "toy". The Agiles were fun, but heavy, I gave a cool sunburst flametop with P-90s to my son and traded the other for a Gibson Les Paul special that sounded really nice. I'm just wary of korean guitars lately, I'm trying to save my loot for something USA.

[Flatpicker]

I don't really like making negative comments about any guitars, but I steer clear of any korean guitars. They are all junk.

That's a pretty unfair generalization. Like anything else, they are made to spec. CNC machines are the same in either country, so the basic cutting and shaping is pretty irrelevant. It's what goes into the hopper, and final assembly that you have to keep an eye on.

Schecter is pretty good with their MIK stuff. They make sure the materials going in are consistent and the final assembly and electronics are good stuff. Usually Tonepros (gotoh) and SD/EMG pups.

I'd actually put the Diamond series up against the Fender MIM stuff. Sometimes they are better, some worse. Depends on the pricepoint and the individual piece.

[iced_earth]

I voted PRS SE. Their price/quality ratio is amazing. I picked up a Soapbar SE for $250 that I would put up against many of the more expensive Schecters and LTDs.

[Gank]

The PRS SE's are pretty damn impressive for the price.