Les Pauls

[zagatron1]

Sometimes when I browse Craigslist it amazes me to see folk selling Epi Les Pauls that are Korean made, constantly downing the Chinese made ones. I have 3 Les Pauls, 2 Epiphone (made in China) and 1 Gibson (USA of course). I have played the Korean ones as well even though I never owned one. They are all fine to me. If I were to sell one or any brand guitar for that matter, do I think downing another brand of guitar or where it was made is gonna make it sell any faster? I think not! There are lots of well built, lower priced gear availible to us these days than there were years ago. I reckon these attitudes parallel those in society nowadays. Maybe I was just too young and dumb and just enjoying myself to notice. Back in the day, we just had fun. Many of us still do. Just an observation.

[reb]

i remember in the 60s wanting a fender or gibson, and they were so far beyond my price range...i finally managed to trade for a musicmaster II.

now, i read about eddie van halen making his own guitar from parts, and i think, 'i wish i had been born a little later...'. i couda done that...a piece at a time, like johnny cash's cadillac.

[diaper head]

i hope those guys never stop hating those korean guitars. 
because when they sell 'em cheap, i'll be snatchin 'em up!   if you find the right guitar, it only takes a little tweakin to make it a great instrument.  really good pots and caps are cheap. you can source pickups used, and save $$.  tuners aren't that bad to buy new.  you see what mean?

[zagatron1]

i hope those guys never stop hating those korean guitars. 
because when they sell 'em cheap, i'll be snatchin 'em up!   if you find the right guitar, it only takes a little tweakin to make it a great instrument.  really good pots and caps are cheap. you can source pickups used, and save $$.  tuners aren't that bad to buy new.  you see what mean?

I can dig it! Heck, the tuners on those are pretty decent as well. They're (We'll call 'em "those guys" for now I guess) hard on the Chinese guitars mostly. There's no need for that. Besides, nobody's twistin' their arm to by those guitars anyway. I'm just happy to be able to have some of that "affortable stuff" availible to me and those like me. Sure, there was a time when I could afford that high dollar stuff (I was a gigging professional back then) but those days are behind me.

[hagarfreak33]

I have owned tons of cheap guitars-a little love is all they need-i still have a few kicking around here i have this Grand Prix Warlock copy that is messed up but sounds good.
No matter what you buy someone will tell you its not good.... as long as your happy that's all that matters.

this is also the reason i stopped  going to the Harmony Central Forums years ago-no matter what you post someone said something negative.

[hagarfreak33]

also a lot of cheap Strat copies are worth buying-for little cash you can change the tuners-nut and pickups and make a decent guitar.

[pictoratus]

i hope those guys never stop hating those korean guitars. 
because when they sell 'em cheap, i'll be snatchin 'em up!   if you find the right guitar, it only takes a little tweakin to make it a great instrument.  really good pots and caps are cheap. you can source pickups used, and save $$.  tuners aren't that bad to buy new.  you see what mean?

Absolutely right!

What I don't quite get is the guys that seem to think their guitar is an investment. I've seen plenty of guitar players say 'Well I won't buy a Squire or Epi, or whatever not big name brand because you'll lose money when you sell it'.

Ok, I get that but if you're in it to make money, why wouldn't you invest in things that are proven money generating commodities like precious metals or stocks or something. Investing in guitars as a retirement plan seems a bit odd and is probably not anywhere near the best vehicle for growing a nest egg.

I buy guitars to play them and I often buy cheap guitars that I can put a little work, time and money into to make them play and sound well. My Squier SE that I've got approx. $100 (probably a bit less) into will stack up against a MIM Fender any day in quality and sound.

Just my opinion but I think some of the 'haters' only dog equipment cheaper than theirs to boost their ego or to try to assure themselves that they somehow did 'better' than the next guy.

[zagatron1]

Your heads and hearts are in the right place fellas!

Play on!

[weelie]

american not the better investment in the short term and long term is tough to predict (need low supply and high demand or quality). In the short term:
Buy new 1000$ guitar, sell for 800.
Buy new 300$ guitar, sell for 240.
Which is better?  You lose more money in the bigger investment (has higher opportunity cost also). The loss is almost the price of used cheaper guitar.

If one sells guitar, one tries push the demand and perceived value up. By saying this better than new ones, chinese ones...

[DetroitBlues]

Its a big deal because the Korean models had better quality build consistency then the Chinese models.  Don't get me wrong, I loved my Epi LP Standard that was made in China.  What's even more coveted is the Japanese models that were made to look exactly like Gibson's with the open book headstock and 17 degree pitch on the headstock.  I believe those were called the Orville's.  Japan still makes them, I believe its Tokai now.  From what I heard its a Gibson quality instrument at 1/2 the price.  But if we are going to be on this subject, why not take a look at Heritage Guitar company in Kalamazoo, MI?

[zagatron1]

I've never tried one from Heritage, but I'd like to try one. I've seen some of their models and heard lots of good things about those guitars.

[DetroitBlues]

Heritage are custom shop made guitars at the price of the normal Gibson.  I met a couple of the owners last summer.  Those guys have been building guitars since 1950's.  Those golden age Gibson's passed through those guy's hands we've love to have.

[weelie]

Its a big deal because the Korean models had better quality build consistency then the Chinese models.  Don't get me wrong, I loved my Epi LP Standard that was made in China.  What's even more coveted is the Japanese models that were made to look exactly like Gibson's with the open book headstock and 17 degree pitch on the headstock.  I believe those were called the Orville's.  Japan still makes them, I believe its Tokai now.  From what I heard its a Gibson quality instrument at 1/2 the price.  But if we are going to be on this subject, why not take a look at Heritage Guitar company in Kalamazoo, MI?

I think some of the worst guitars I've played have come from Korea (of course some 60s American guitars have been even worse, maybe). But that was in the 80s. They learned, in the 90s they were making good cheapos. I think $2000 Chinese instruments are great... but you don't see many of them, do you?

Heritages are swell. I've played some very very nice Japanese guitars.

[DetroitBlues]

One of my favorite guitars I let go was a 1995 Korean Squier.  Looked, felt, and sounded great.  Ironically, I sold it because I was being stationed in South Korea and didn't think I could take my guitar with me....

[diaper head]

I think some of the worst guitars I've played have come from Korea

that must have been a long time ago.  korean guitars are pretty awesome these days.  i have 2 of them.  one of them is so nice i swear i can't help smirking every time i play it.  the canadian fakai is a korean guitar.  dillion and indie are both korean.  technology spreads pretty fast.  today indonesian guitars are not so great.  but they're improving. soon, they'll be making some nice stuff too. china also.
i have a chinese amp, and it's as nice, or better than any of the comparable amps from the big 3. (marshall, fender and vox)
we're lucky to live in these times. the future looks pretty good, and the right now ai't too shabby either