Tired of cheap shit, need cheap good new stuff!

Question:

I recommend you buy used !  Check out pawnshops and music stores in your area. Find a good tech who can check it out, and a store that will let you pay for it and bring it back in 48 hours … many will do this.  I buy all of my equipment this way and have found killer deals … Peavey Delta blues for $250, MIJ strat for $175, Nice Alvarez acoustic for $100, Pedals for $10-25.  You have to be patient and persistant and be prepared to put a little into it after you buy … but i’ve never seen a new guitar come with a good setup anyway ! – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > Thanx for the encouragement.  I did just as you and others have suggested. > I got out the allen wrenches, and lifted that E way up, and it finally > stopped the fret buzz.  On the Samick, I lowered them, and it improved the > action enough, that for the time being I have abandoned the idea of getting > something new.  My Yamaha, I will look up, as you suggest, lowering the > bridge myself. > As far as not being able to get something new and decent for under $350, I > did a little homework.  Fool as I may be, I used guitarvision.com as a > benchmark.  There are alot of 4.5 – 5 star ratings for many ‘cheap’ (sub > $300) guitars.  As the price climbed, it seemed to me, that the ratings did > not improve enough to justify the expense.  Falling into the beggar > category, I cannot afford to be choosy, but Ibanez, Epiphone, Takamine, > Washburn and even the great Fender seemed to cross the line with decent > entry level machinery.  Granted, these are probably not seasoned veteran’s > that are rating this stuff, but almost certainly more experienced than I. > Thank you all for your suggestions/helpful advice, > RR > If they are cheap and you are not afraid of a little tinkering lower > the action yourself. Look it up on the web…either bridge or nut > lowering is nothing that needs a Ph.D. Just look it up, make a plan, > get the tools, go slowly…I lowered most of the guitars I > got…electrics and acoustics…they are fine… > As far as finding nothing under $350 thats good, I disagree. I have > found several used electrics – sale from private owners at 50% of > original paid price….and even some american made electrics from the > 80s for $20 in garage sales…great deals wont come knocking at your > door….you have to go and look for them…or just buy new $$$ if you > dont wanna bother with the hassles of finding deals…. > Claude > >> I have bought 2 cheap electric guitars, and a Yamaha f-310 acoustic. > >> Of course, the two electric are Fender wanna-be’s.  On the first one, > >> the action is great, and the frets low, but because of warp (I assume > >> as I have no eye for it yet), I get fret buzz on the higher strings. > >> On the 3rd, it is a Samick, and I like it, but the action is rough, > >> and the frets so mountainous that it sharpens the note.  My acoustic > >> I bought used and with a repaired neck, and I am afraid that the > >> action is so high, that it is unbearable, and too painful to play. > >> Can anybody suggest a NEW sub $250 electric and/or acoustic with the > >> light action that I desire?  As I am now 38 and considered an old > >> timer, I would prefer something with a more conservative look, too > >> (no flying v’s or warlocks, please).  I was hoping to pick up > >> something at Guitar Center this weekend. > >> Thanx for any and all help with my frustration, > >> RR > >> p.s.  I am a beginner, but do not think after the amount of time I > >> have put in practicing that I am a pussy and need to toughen up my > >> fingers. > >You won’t get anything good for under $350 unless you find someone stupid >  or > >desperate.

Response:

Thanx for the encouragement.  I did just as you and others have suggested. I got out the allen wrenches, and lifted that E way up, and it finally stopped the fret buzz.  On the Samick, I lowered them, and it improved the action enough, that for the time being I have abandoned the idea of getting something new.  My Yamaha, I will look up, as you suggest, lowering the bridge myself. As far as not being able to get something new and decent for under $350, I did a little homework.  Fool as I may be, I used guitarvision.com as a benchmark.  There are alot of 4.5 – 5 star ratings for many ‘cheap’ (sub $300) guitars.  As the price climbed, it seemed to me, that the ratings did not improve enough to justify the expense.  Falling into the beggar category, I cannot afford to be choosy, but Ibanez, Epiphone, Takamine, Washburn and even the great Fender seemed to cross the line with decent entry level machinery.  Granted, these are probably not seasoned veteran’s that are rating this stuff, but almost certainly more experienced than I. Thank you all for your suggestions/helpful advice, RR

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> If they are cheap and you are not afraid of a little tinkering lower > the action yourself. Look it up on the web…either bridge or nut > lowering is nothing that needs a Ph.D. Just look it up, make a plan, > get the tools, go slowly…I lowered most of the guitars I > got…electrics and acoustics…they are fine… > As far as finding nothing under $350 thats good, I disagree. I have > found several used electrics – sale from private owners at 50% of > original paid price….and even some american made electrics from the > 80s for $20 in garage sales…great deals wont come knocking at your > door….you have to go and look for them…or just buy new $$$ if you > dont wanna bother with the hassles of finding deals…. > Claude >> I have bought 2 cheap electric guitars, and a Yamaha f-310 acoustic. >> Of course, the two electric are Fender wanna-be’s.  On the first one, >> the action is great, and the frets low, but because of warp (I assume >> as I have no eye for it yet), I get fret buzz on the higher strings. >> On the 3rd, it is a Samick, and I like it, but the action is rough, >> and the frets so mountainous that it sharpens the note.  My acoustic >> I bought used and with a repaired neck, and I am afraid that the >> action is so high, that it is unbearable, and too painful to play. >> Can anybody suggest a NEW sub $250 electric and/or acoustic with the >> light action that I desire?  As I am now 38 and considered an old >> timer, I would prefer something with a more conservative look, too >> (no flying v’s or warlocks, please).  I was hoping to pick up >> something at Guitar Center this weekend. >> Thanx for any and all help with my frustration, >> RR >> p.s.  I am a beginner, but do not think after the amount of time I >> have put in practicing that I am a pussy and need to toughen up my >> fingers. >You won’t get anything good for under $350 unless you find someone stupid or >desperate.

Response:

If they are cheap and you are not afraid of a little tinkering lower the action yourself. Look it up on the web…either bridge or nut lowering is nothing that needs a Ph.D. Just look it up, make a plan, get the tools, go slowly…I lowered most of the guitars I got…electrics and acoustics…they are fine… As far as finding nothing under $350 thats good, I disagree. I have found several used electrics – sale from private owners at 50% of original paid price….and even some american made electrics from the 80s for $20 in garage sales…great deals wont come knocking at your door….you have to go and look for them…or just buy new $$$ if you dont wanna bother with the hassles of finding deals…. Claude – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have bought 2 cheap electric guitars, and a Yamaha f-310 acoustic. > Of course, the two electric are Fender wanna-be’s.  On the first one, > the action is great, and the frets low, but because of warp (I assume > as I have no eye for it yet), I get fret buzz on the higher strings. > On the 3rd, it is a Samick, and I like it, but the action is rough, > and the frets so mountainous that it sharpens the note.  My acoustic > I bought used and with a repaired neck, and I am afraid that the > action is so high, that it is unbearable, and too painful to play. > Can anybody suggest a NEW sub $250 electric and/or acoustic with the > light action that I desire?  As I am now 38 and considered an old > timer, I would prefer something with a more conservative look, too > (no flying v’s or warlocks, please).  I was hoping to pick up > something at Guitar Center this weekend. > Thanx for any and all help with my frustration, > RR > p.s.  I am a beginner, but do not think after the amount of time I > have put in practicing that I am a pussy and need to toughen up my > fingers. >You won’t get anything good for under $350 unless you find someone stupid or >desperate.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > If they are cheap and you are not afraid of a little tinkering lower > the action yourself. Look it up on the web…either bridge or nut > lowering is nothing that needs a Ph.D. Just look it up, make a plan, > get the tools, go slowly…I lowered most of the guitars I > got…electrics and acoustics…they are fine… > As far as finding nothing under $350 thats good, I disagree. I have > found several used electrics – sale from private owners at 50% of > original paid price….and even some american made electrics from the > 80s for $20 in garage sales…great deals wont come knocking at your > door….you have to go and look for them…or just buy new $$$ if you > dont wanna bother with the hassles of finding deals…. > Claude >> I have bought 2 cheap electric guitars, and a Yamaha f-310 acoustic. >> Of course, the two electric are Fender wanna-be’s.  On the first >> one, the action is great, and the frets low, but because of warp (I >> assume as I have no eye for it yet), I get fret buzz on the higher >> strings. On the 3rd, it is a Samick, and I like it, but the action >> is rough, and the frets so mountainous that it sharpens the note. >> My acoustic I bought used and with a repaired neck, and I am afraid >> that the action is so high, that it is unbearable, and too painful >> to play. >> Can anybody suggest a NEW sub $250 electric and/or acoustic with the >> light action that I desire?  As I am now 38 and considered an old >> timer, I would prefer something with a more conservative look, too >> (no flying v’s or warlocks, please).  I was hoping to pick up >> something at Guitar Center this weekend. >> Thanx for any and all help with my frustration, >> RR >> p.s.  I am a beginner, but do not think after the amount of time I >> have put in practicing that I am a pussy and need to toughen up my >> fingers. > You won’t get anything good for under $350 unless you find someone > stupid or desperate.

I always hear about these garage sale/estate sale finds, but I’ve never actually seen any real results. Not saying it doesn’t happen all the time, I’m sure it does, but it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. With the advent of ebay, people are just too sharp to be letting go quality stuff for cheap nowadays. Don’t get me wrong – it happens, but it ain’t something you can plan on happening unless you want to spend an entire summer of weekends searching garage sales first thing every saturday and sunday morning before the hundreds of other cheap-asses come looking : )

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have bought 2 cheap electric guitars, and a Yamaha f-310 acoustic. > Of course, the two electric are Fender wanna-be’s.  On the first one, > the action is great, and the frets low, but because of warp (I assume > as I have no eye for it yet), I get fret buzz on the higher strings. > On the 3rd, it is a Samick, and I like it, but the action is rough, > and the frets so mountainous that it sharpens the note.  My acoustic > I bought used and with a repaired neck, and I am afraid that the > action is so high, that it is unbearable, and too painful to play. > Can anybody suggest a NEW sub $250 electric and/or acoustic with the > light action that I desire?  As I am now 38 and considered an old > timer, I would prefer something with a more conservative look, too > (no flying v’s or warlocks, please).  I was hoping to pick up > something at Guitar Center this weekend. > Thanx for any and all help with my frustration, > RR > p.s.  I am a beginner, but do not think after the amount of time I > have put in practicing that I am a pussy and need to toughen up my > fingers.

You are not the first one to go ahead and buy 2-3-4 guitars where you would have been better off getting 1 really good one. I think you will be better of taking the ones you already have to the repairshop and get a good setup. After this you should have at least 1 decent guitar to play while saving up for an even better. miniauth

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I have bought 2 cheap electric guitars, and a Yamaha f-310 acoustic. > Of course, the two electric are Fender wanna-be’s.  On the first one, > the action is great, and the frets low, but because of warp (I assume > as I have no eye for it yet), I get fret buzz on the higher strings. > On the 3rd, it is a Samick, and I like it, but the action is rough, > and the frets so mountainous that it sharpens the note.  My acoustic > I bought used and with a repaired neck, and I am afraid that the > action is so high, that it is unbearable, and too painful to play. > Can anybody suggest a NEW sub $250 electric and/or acoustic with the > light action that I desire?  As I am now 38 and considered an old > timer, I would prefer something with a more conservative look, too > (no flying v’s or warlocks, please).  I was hoping to pick up > something at Guitar Center this weekend. > Thanx for any and all help with my frustration, > RR > p.s.  I am a beginner, but do not think after the amount of time I > have put in practicing that I am a pussy and need to toughen up my > fingers.

You won’t get anything good for under $350 unless you find someone stupid or desperate.

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >I have bought 2 cheap electric guitars, and a Yamaha f-310 acoustic.  Of >course, the two electric are Fender wanna-be’s.  On the first one, the >action is great, and the frets low, but because of warp (I assume as I have >no eye for it yet), I get fret buzz on the higher strings.  On the 3rd, it >is a Samick, and I like it, but the action is rough, and the frets so >mountainous that it sharpens the note.  My acoustic I bought used and with a >repaired neck, and I am afraid that the action is so high, that it is >unbearable, and too painful to play. >Can anybody suggest a NEW sub $250 electric and/or acoustic with the light >action that I desire?  As I am now 38 and considered an old timer, I would >prefer something with a more conservative look, too (no flying v’s or >warlocks, please).  I was hoping to pick up something at Guitar Center this >weekend. >Thanx for any and all help with my frustration, >RR

Yamaha has a electric out that many like. Theres always the made in mexico fender but it wont be $250 unless you get a killer deal. Even the Yamaha I think they discontinued the model everyone was talking about and came out with a slightly more expensive budget model.

Response:

I have bought 2 cheap electric guitars, and a Yamaha f-310 acoustic.  Of course, the two electric are Fender wanna-be’s.  On the first one, the action is great, and the frets low, but because of warp (I assume as I have no eye for it yet), I get fret buzz on the higher strings.  On the 3rd, it is a Samick, and I like it, but the action is rough, and the frets so mountainous that it sharpens the note.  My acoustic I bought used and with a repaired neck, and I am afraid that the action is so high, that it is unbearable, and too painful to play. Can anybody suggest a NEW sub $250 electric and/or acoustic with the light action that I desire?  As I am now 38 and considered an old timer, I would prefer something with a more conservative look, too (no flying v’s or warlocks, please).  I was hoping to pick up something at Guitar Center this weekend. Thanx for any and all help with my frustration, RR p.s.  I am a beginner, but do not think after the amount of time I have put in practicing that I am a pussy and need to toughen up my fingers.

Response:

I can only speak from experience but it has been you get what you pay for. An new, inexpensive electric if it has the action you desire, is almost sure to suffer in some way on the electronic side.  However, since you are concerned with action I’m wondering if you don’t just need a setup on what you have, and is perhaps an area you should explore with a repair man.  Good luck in any case.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> I have bought 2 cheap electric guitars, and a Yamaha f-310 acoustic.  Of > course, the two electric are Fender wanna-be’s.  On the first one, the > action is great, and the frets low, but because of warp (I assume as I have > no eye for it yet), I get fret buzz on the higher strings.  On the 3rd, it > is a Samick, and I like it, but the action is rough, and the frets so > mountainous that it sharpens the note.  My acoustic I bought used and with a > repaired neck, and I am afraid that the action is so high, that it is > unbearable, and too painful to play. > Can anybody suggest a NEW sub $250 electric and/or acoustic with the light > action that I desire?  As I am now 38 and considered an old timer, I would > prefer something with a more conservative look, too (no flying v’s or > warlocks, please).  I was hoping to pick up something at Guitar Center this > weekend. > Thanx for any and all help with my frustration, > RR > p.s.  I am a beginner, but do not think after the amount of time I have put > in practicing that I am a pussy and need to toughen up my fingers.

Response:

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