Outside the stuff in the title I’m trying to score the best fretwork I can possibly manage /$. It’s tax time and I have room paying off credit cards and student loan debt to finally get a non shitplank. Years getting my return garnished when I could have been on a repayment plan all this time I need a guit that will last me a long time while I work toward something good like a Schec USA solo, ESP CS Eclipse, Uppercut ARZ or Vigier GV Use case: noodling and daily practice on Jamup or BIAS on IOS Ibanez AR725 expressionist ~600 AM93 expressionist ~500-600 Various ARZs (400-700-800) -I hear good things about higher end MIC Artists and Artcores -I quite like the AM, ARZ and Artist shape -Pickups are decent AXS32 and SZ320~300-400 -These are allegedly pretty solid for the early 00s era both made by WMI -Beat up ones are okishly priced but minty ones are high Cheap MIJ oddball Ibbys, all around 400 bucks S classic SC420 AX1220 AX320H MIJ -seems like a no brainer but I’d have to mod the bridges on the s classic and ax1220 PRS SE 245/Single Cut/Zach Meyers -Don’t know about the Indo standards and WMI ones are kind of high -Appreciate the 24.5 scale though LTD EC 400/256/1k -Been looking at both OG early MIK bolt-ons and new body style ones -like the look a lot less -can live with EMGs Hagstrom Swede -Phenolic FB and H truss rod sound neat -Thicc and chunky -Have heard these are really hit or miss though Guild/DeArmond -Don’t know a whole ton about these Mastumoku/Vantage/Memphis LP copies and neck through DCs -Prices are kind of high for the non-junky ones Peavey USA impacts, T-60s and Firenzas Washburn WI-64 Washburn USA WMS -These seem like good deals but I don’t think I like the shape and are kind of out of budget (700) Godin Core HB Godin LG Godin Radiator -Are the frets good on these? Why are they so cheap? Epiphone LP Tribute -Good pickups Carvin -Saw a Sc90 with Wilkinson for 500 Stuff that’s cool but probably too much Greco/Burnys Eastman SB59 Prestige level or old MIJ artists Gibson Fadeds Wild card: wait for my credit to go back up and finance a nicer guitar Thanks for putting up with my broke guitar nerd shit if you made it this far
Just grab an EC1000 and call it a day. The vintage MIJ and oddball USA stuff is such a gamble these days. You might get something amazing, or a turd. With that budget you'd have to find a really good deal and that could take time. The EC1000 is practically guaranteed to be solid and are very common.
Get a EC 256 for 200$, change PUs, still enough money for futur improvements. Also: Cort M600, used KX1, used CR custom?
Depends on if you specifically want Les Paul shape, or just a shorter scale, but the PRS SEs are really nice. I have really been into PRS lately, and thinking about a S2. The Standards (Indo ones) have been nice that I have played, and they are everywhere, so you should be able to find a deal. Other than that, I also say EC1000, or older EC4xx. Always a solid guitar. The Schecter LP-shaped ones (not sure of their name) are probably solid also.
I want to say "yes", but there are so many variations and folks tend to swap out pickups all the time.
If frets are really the most important to you, wouldn't it be better to get a less expensive guitar and then have money left to get fretwork done? I mean that's the most fool-proof way to get awesome frets
At this budget, "less expensive" is probably going to mean cheap hardware and mediocre pickups. A good fret job is around $200, that's a third of the budget at least. If we were talking about $1k, I'd see your point.
I just traded in the absolute perfect guitar you want. It's a 2005 Gibson Les Paul studio vintage mahogany. These were only sold at guitar center and musicians friends from like 2003-2005. People liked them so much Gibson decided to make the faded series. It was $1000 brand new in 05. I think 200 shy of a normal studio. It is an all mahogany guitar. Body neck and top. Rosewood fingerboard. Burstbucker pro pickups. I loved that guitar but traded it in on a 93 studio with ebony board in wine red with gold hardware. Always what I wanted. I'll post a link to the shop that has it for sale. They are asking $550. Made in USA non chambered lp for that price is a steal.