5 ms·

You can get perfectly playable electric guitars in the $100 to $200 price range. It might need some setup first but you can learn to do that yourself from onlin

by mrob 1y ago

You can get perfectly playable electric guitars in the $100 to $200 price range. It might need some setup first but you can learn to do that yourself from online videos. Modern mass production means popular instruments can be excellent value for money.

duped 1y ago
Sure, but keep in mind that's not how people who have never picked up an instrument think. It takes a level of expertise to get there. The point is that cheap is fine for beginners, while the more expensive stuff is worth it for serious practitioners.
nyeah 1y ago
I'm sure it seems that way to you, but for people who never touched an electric guitar before that's going to be torture. You need an instrument that you really want to pick up and play, that stays in tune, etc. It doesn't need to be $1500, but at $150 they better have an uncle who's a guitar tech. I have an old Gibson Marauder that rapidly gets out of tune. So far no shop has been able to do anything about that. It would probably go for $400 or more retail, to a beginner who doesn't notice (or thinks the problem is his/her fault). But it's no fun to play. Chords sound bad. And that kind of thing is not unusual.
- ofalkaed 1y ago
  >You need an instrument that you really want to pick up and play, that stays in tune, etc. It doesn't need to be $1500, but at $150 they better have an uncle who's a guitar tech. If you really want to play you will play regardless of the instrument you have. Like many, I started with cheap instruments, so I figured out how to fix them or at least make them better. I was 12 and wanted to play guitar, my parents were not willing to spend money on it and just found some handme downs from the relatives, and I made it work because I wanted to play guitar. Ended up teaching myself lutherie, made some money, made some instruments. These days it is easier than ever to maintain your own instrument with the internet to answer all your questions, I had to learn to repair and maintain my guitar by working backwards from books on construction since that is all my library had. >So far no shop has been able to do anything about that. It is an issue with the bridge, the nut, and or the tuners, on a guitar of that age it is a fair chance it is a combination of all three. I am guessing you are bringing the instrument to normal guitar shops that primarily do sales and lack anyone even remotely competent when it comes to repair.
  - nyeah 1y ago
    Thanks. I think that's all valuable context for a beginner thinking about using a very low-priced guitar.
  - bpc777 1y ago
    I have been playing for 50 years at this point. I'm currently playing something similar to this (0) bought at GC for $329 and while the knobs and jack could stand to be replaced (especially if you are performing) it plays and sounds great. You do not need to spend more than $500 to get a solid electric guitar these days. You can definitely spend a lot more for a top tier brand like Fender, Gibson, PRS, Suhr, etc... but there is a lot of good value between $250 - $500. [0]https://www.guitarcenter.com/Gretsch-Guitars/G5210-P90-Electromatic-Jet-Two-90-Single-Cut-with-Wraparound-Tailpiece-Electric-Guitar-Single-Barrel-Burst-1500000388063.gc?algoliaQueryID=4eb08b8623723215547393acf008b0db&algoliaIndexName=pLH-guitarcenter https://www.guitarcenter.com/Gretsch-Guitars/G5210-P90-Elect...
    - ofalkaed 1y ago
      That price range will suit most players and many of these contemporary lower end guitars even have decent pickups with a sort of jack of all trades compromise, massive improvement over the low end pickups of the past. The next notch up in quality mostly is improved hardware and pickups tailored more to a style/sound, instruments for the performer who plays a lot and these instruments are generally a good value for those sorts. Above that it is questionable but there are some amazing instruments that justify their price, spending $2k on a guitar is not that expensive in the grand scheme if it is the right guitar for you and is the one which will be with you for life. We have a great range of instruments to pick from these days.
      - nyeah 1y ago
        Ok but I think we're talking $400 not $150. And there are lemons in every price range, which a beginner can't really detect. Correct me if I'm wrong.
        1y ago
- bpc777 1y ago
  Setup is a huge factor. I got a $300 parts "Telecaster" on Craigslist and took it to Bill's Music (https://www.billsmusic.com/ https://www.billsmusic.com/) for their premium setup and it definitely took it to the next level in terms of the electronics, frets (especially worn and / or protruding), intonation, etc... So if you have a guitar you want to love that isn't quite there, consider getting a pro setup by a shop you trust.

by mrob 1y ago

duped 1y ago

Sure, but keep in mind that's not how people who have never picked up an instrument think. It takes a level of expertise to get there. The point is that cheap is fine for beginners, while the more expensive stuff is worth it for serious practitioners.

nyeah 1y ago

I'm sure it seems that way to you, but for people who never touched an electric guitar before that's going to be torture. You need an instrument that you really want to pick up and play, that stays in tune, etc. It doesn't need to be $1500, but at $150 they better have an uncle who's a guitar tech. I have an old Gibson Marauder that rapidly gets out of tune. So far no shop has been able to do anything about that. It would probably go for $400 or more retail, to a beginner who doesn't notice (or thinks the problem is his/her fault). But it's no fun to play. Chords sound bad. And that kind of thing is not unusual.

ofalkaed 1y ago
>You need an instrument that you really want to pick up and play, that stays in tune, etc. It doesn't need to be $1500, but at $150 they better have an uncle who's a guitar tech. If you really want to play you will play regardless of the instrument you have. Like many, I started with cheap instruments, so I figured out how to fix them or at least make them better. I was 12 and wanted to play guitar, my parents were not willing to spend money on it and just found some handme downs from the relatives, and I made it work because I wanted to play guitar. Ended up teaching myself lutherie, made some money, made some instruments. These days it is easier than ever to maintain your own instrument with the internet to answer all your questions, I had to learn to repair and maintain my guitar by working backwards from books on construction since that is all my library had. >So far no shop has been able to do anything about that. It is an issue with the bridge, the nut, and or the tuners, on a guitar of that age it is a fair chance it is a combination of all three. I am guessing you are bringing the instrument to normal guitar shops that primarily do sales and lack anyone even remotely competent when it comes to repair.
- nyeah 1y ago
  Thanks. I think that's all valuable context for a beginner thinking about using a very low-priced guitar.
- bpc777 1y ago
  I have been playing for 50 years at this point. I'm currently playing something similar to this (0) bought at GC for $329 and while the knobs and jack could stand to be replaced (especially if you are performing) it plays and sounds great. You do not need to spend more than $500 to get a solid electric guitar these days. You can definitely spend a lot more for a top tier brand like Fender, Gibson, PRS, Suhr, etc... but there is a lot of good value between $250 - $500. [0]https://www.guitarcenter.com/Gretsch-Guitars/G5210-P90-Electromatic-Jet-Two-90-Single-Cut-with-Wraparound-Tailpiece-Electric-Guitar-Single-Barrel-Burst-1500000388063.gc?algoliaQueryID=4eb08b8623723215547393acf008b0db&algoliaIndexName=pLH-guitarcenter https://www.guitarcenter.com/Gretsch-Guitars/G5210-P90-Elect...
  - ofalkaed 1y ago
    That price range will suit most players and many of these contemporary lower end guitars even have decent pickups with a sort of jack of all trades compromise, massive improvement over the low end pickups of the past. The next notch up in quality mostly is improved hardware and pickups tailored more to a style/sound, instruments for the performer who plays a lot and these instruments are generally a good value for those sorts. Above that it is questionable but there are some amazing instruments that justify their price, spending $2k on a guitar is not that expensive in the grand scheme if it is the right guitar for you and is the one which will be with you for life. We have a great range of instruments to pick from these days.
    - nyeah 1y ago
      Ok but I think we're talking $400 not $150. And there are lemons in every price range, which a beginner can't really detect. Correct me if I'm wrong.
      - 1y ago
bpc777 1y ago
Setup is a huge factor. I got a $300 parts "Telecaster" on Craigslist and took it to Bill's Music (https://www.billsmusic.com/ https://www.billsmusic.com/) for their premium setup and it definitely took it to the next level in terms of the electronics, frets (especially worn and / or protruding), intonation, etc... So if you have a guitar you want to love that isn't quite there, consider getting a pro setup by a shop you trust.