Honestly if you picked up a guitar that felt good to play that’s in your price range just buy it dude. I have a few Mexican and American fenders and love them all. Can’t go wrong with a PRS either, you might find one with coil tapping that will get you more tonal options.
this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
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I'm going to add on that it's important to just go out and try as many different guitars as you can. Try to use the amp closest to yours if not exactly yours. It's very easy to lust after a certain guitar from historical vibes and online reviews only to get it in your hands and find out that you just cannot click with it.
Consider ESP LTD or Ibanez guitars? You can get A LOT of guitar for that money with these brands. Other than that, I'd personally look into PRS and maybe a Telecaster?
Or just upgrade your Epiphone Les Paul into a higher tier Epiphone LP, or even an actual Gibson.
Schecter might be worth a look, too. There are interesting models in that price range like the Nick Johnston and Jack Fowler traditionals.
Part of my motive for upgrading is actual frustration with the Les Paul as a model. I'll admit that I bought this guitar under the influence of The Velvet Underground and Nico and K-On!, because I was at the tail end of my weeb phase. But after playing it for a decade, I've noticed that actually, the Les Paul has some problems as a design:
- The Gibson headstock sucks. Between the weird angle that makes it more likely to break and, its wide, rectangular shape, and the 3 by 3 tuner setup, intonation is a pain. And the G string is always awful. And as I've played this guitar and other Les Pauls, whether from the Gibson Custom Shop, their American mass production factory, or imports, I've come to the conclusion that my problems are design related.
- The short scale length is kind of cramped. I'm finding that sure, bends require less strength, but they're not so much easier than they are on a longer scale length that it makes up for my very large hands making pull-offs more difficult because my hands don't have the room they need.
Ah, alright then. Funny that you mention K-On, as I'm sure we both know by now, how many MORE kids have picked up Les Pauls because of anime again, but this time black ones because of Bocchi. Good thing I already had my guitar by the time I watched K-On back in the day!
Well, if you're not happy with the Gibson design, did you consider similar guitars by other makers? ESP LTD Les Pauls are pretty nice, and if I personally were ever to get an LP type guitar, I'd get it from them. Or more accurately, an SG design, as I've always liked them more.
Or, you really just want to get something completely different, which I'd completely understand too. After so many years with an Ibanez RG style guitar, I want something different, and I think right now I'm craving a Telecaster.
I'm really in the "something completely different" camp at this point.
See if you can find an Ibanez AZ to try out. They're fantastic guitars for the price and there's a variety of pickup configurations and number of frets to choose from. Several of the Signature and Premium models fall in the $1000 to $1500 range.
Between a MiM Strat and a PRS I would go with the PRS. The scale length on the PRS is mid-way between the Strat and the LP, so if you go back and forth between the LP and the new guitar you're less likely to have issues with the different string tension making your chords all sound out of tune.
I have an SE Custom 24-08 and I love it. I also have a MiA Strat Deluxe Plus, which I also love but I find myself playing the PRS far more often. Same pickups as the 24, but having the 3-way switch with the two mini toggles gives you two more pickup combinations. On the 24-08 you can have both pickups active with one using both coils and the other using a single coil, the 24 is either both double or both single.
Yamaha Revstar is the best bang for your buck if you ask me. If you can get your hands on a Godin, you're guaranteed a high quality guitar as well. I own a Fender player strat and my $500 Yammy Revstar is a better guitar. My $400 used ($900 new) Godin Exit 22 is nicer too.
godinguitars.com
I would stay away from Mexican strats. Unless you get a deal they not good bang for the buck. A little more gets you an US one, and a bit less gets you a better Asian import. Maybe a Jackson or Charvel, or a Kramer, or a squir classic vibes and and amp upgrade. Ibanez and ESP are also great options.
Used Jackson rr24 is probably the best guitar in this price range