Billyboygretsch wrote:I bought a Electromatic G5570 Elliot Easton style a few years back. Sounds more like a Les Paul. Still thinking of changing the pick ups currently buck ulster for TVJ but a big cost. I like existing sound and have plenty of Gretsch sound in other guitars. I have to say the build quality is exceptional. Not sure I would ever pay lots of money for a new guitar now.
That looks like a lot of guitar for the money, Bill! You're right about the value you can find at the cheaper end of the market these days, although I would always advocate checking the instrument out in person if possible, rather than buying mail-order, as quality can vary from one example to another even in the same batch. Although one is always covered by the Distance Selling regs., as well as the disappointment in receiving a flawed guitar, it's still a bit of a pain to have to return it.
I feel similarly about not investing in any more high(er) end guitars these days and as I've stated in other posts, I tend to get a much more pleasurable, all-round 'experience' by assembling my own.
Some people do tend to have a (somewhat unfounded) disdainful attitude to more budget ranges and in doing so, potentially miss out on a lot of playing enjoyment that can be had from different guitar styles that might otherwise not be afforded. Earlier this year, I quite fancied a Jazzmaster just as a change to my perennial Stratocasters, but didn't want to make a significant investment in something that could well turn out to be a passing fancy, so I checked out the Squier VM model. Originally wanting a sunburst, I had to give up on that as I couldn't source one locally that wasn't constructed of several pieces whose joins weren't disguised by the sunbursting, which tended to spoil the look. Eventually I abandoned the search and settled for a Candy Apple Red one which seemed well put together and had a decent fingerboard. A few hours spent rounding off the fret-ends and giving it a sympathetic set-up & a new (free) set of strings provided me with a very playable example for an outlay of just £263. As well as the additional costs of having better quality woods/components, a significant proportion of the higher price charged for premium instruments is the labour involved in the final fettling and set-up. If you are able to do this yourself, with judicious choice you can elevate a budget-priced model to a higher level.
A guitar playing neighbour/'friend' (!) called around sans spectacles and having noticed a new guitar addition hanging on the wall, shot straight over to it in a panic that it might be something that could incite pangs of jealousy. Anyway, he just squinted up at the headstock and with a relieved gasp exclaimed, "Oh, it's 'just' a Squier then!" The relief & attendant presumption of inferior quality was such that he didn't even ask to have a play on it!
Stephen.