What's a good inexpensive, lighter HH set neck guitar?

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:19 am

I kind of want something more in the Les Paul vibe than in the Epiphone Wilshire or Fender Showmaster vibe. However, given that I've never kept any of my LP style guitars, I'm over that whole thing and want something different, but still of a similar persuasion. Since I'm going to keep my 25.5" scale Jagmaster after all, I'd like something in the 24.75" scale. I don't mind double cut as long as it's not of the PRS gross style.

Unfortunately, that does mean I get into the shredder axe category, but I'm finding that not all of them are hideous.

I'm liking a few of the guitars I've found:

Schecter Tempest:

Pros: I love the shape. Inexpensive. Simple controls. I like that. Also I like Schecter in general.
Cons: Can't think of one, honestly.

Charvel Desolation DS-1:

Pros: 24 frets for ultimate widdly widdly. Looks quite sharp.
Cons: 24-frets makes the upper bout look fat. EMGs. A bit pricey, but I suppose I can always sell the EMGs to some shredder in training. I also don't like the 4-knob config.

Malden Karma:

Pros: Looks like a lot of fun. I like the clips I've heard.
Cons: Umm... this model seems to be hard to find, and the Bad Karma, the upgraded version, is way overpriced.

ESP LTD EC-401:

Pros: Good specs. I normally don't like pointy but I like this.
Cons: I still don't like pointy, on principle. A bit pricey. EMGs.

Daisy Rock Rock Candy Special:

Pros: I know I'll like playing it. Built by Schecter. Good hardware.
Cons: It's a bit of an eyesore, and I say that as someone who loves flashy guitars, but this line of DR guitars is a bit much.

Is there anything else along these lines that you can think of ($300-600 range)? Thanks!

mickie08 · Post by **mickie08** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:22 am

get the schecter. I keep my eyes open for the 12 string version all the time.

You can find the schecters for under 200 (or in that ballpark) pretty regularly.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:27 am

mickie08 wrote:get the schecter. I keep my eyes open for the 12 string version all the time.

You can find the schecters for under 200 (or in that ballpark) pretty regularly.

Yeah it does seem like I could get one for $200-250, judging by Ebay. They're quite good looking, though if I had a chisel, I'd want to make the forearm part a bit more rounded, which would make it have a slightly offset look, even with a symmetric waist.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:31 am

HP Peavey SC-2 in black gloss.

Joey · Post by **Joey** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:56 am

The Schecter is cool for $200.

I paid $200 for my Fender Flame. They usually go for $800-$1500. It's my "go to guitar".

I also enjoyed my Samick Les Paul Silverburst, paid $150 for it.

SKC Willie · Post by **SKC Willie** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 3:39 am

I really like the Washburn Idols. They have a ton of different makes and models, so I'm sure you can find one in your price range that you like aesthetically as well.

nyck · Post by **nyck** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 3:50 am

PRS SE.
haters will hate, but they sound good and the quality is pretty sweet. But of course, they're kinda ugly.

Dannymec · Post by **Dannymec** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:00 am

I had the Tempest for awhile. I didn't like it. The neck was enormous and difficult to fret and it was REALLY heavy. Just too beefy.
Might work for you, but it was not for me.

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:50 am

nyck wrote:PRS SE.
haters will hate, but they sound good and the quality is pretty sweet. But of course, they're kinda ugly.

Yeah honestly I should consider them, too, shouldn't I? They fit exactly everything I said, except they look like PRSes.

Rox · Post by **Rox** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:56 am

Any Schecter hands down. I love em . I have 4 of them. All set necks . And you can get them pretty reasonably .
You can get a Solo-6 for around $350-$400 on ebay sometimes . Definitely find them used for that . Only qualm ( if any ) is the Duncan Designed pickups can be a little meh. However pickups are an easy fix . Wire up some real Duncans and you're in business .

serfx · Post by **serfx** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:59 am

you could always rock a Parker guitar.. i've been wanting one since they first started.. but i've never had the cash.. (well its gone to other guitars first, i suppose..)

pumpkin · Post by **pumpkin** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:05 am

I will suggest this... Got it for â‚¬300 second hand, Gibson SG Special Faded 3-Pickup, with a factory latex finish... odd! Very light, I gave it to my best friend who has back problems

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 11:43 am

Washburn Idol Pro, Ibanez Art320 both really good, my friend has one of each.

If you went the old route, Westbury Standards and Yamaha SG200s are superb value for money.

othomas2 · Post by **othomas2** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:09 pm

Been reading about this in the new Guitar Buyer Magazine:

http://www.chapmanguitars.co.uk/guitars/standard/ml2/

I know it's 'that' guy Chappers but I quite like what he's done here:

About
Chapman Guitars is unique. On Friday June 19th 2009 when I was sat in McDonaldâ€™s in Essex, and Bruce Perrin offered me a run of 50 signature guitars, I would never have dreamed that it would lead to this. The second I got home from the session that I had been working at, my immediate instinct was to log on to YouTube and ask everybody what they would like, rather than just making a guitar for myself. â€œAfter allâ€�, I said, â€œyou guys are going to buy it.â€�

Now I own a guitar company, and my first 500 guitars have all been reserved, and are off to new homes.

To the best of my knowledge Chapman Guitars is the first and only guitar company that collaboratively designs guitars with its customers, and provides a high-spec affordable end product. For example, try searching for a guitar with the following specs, for under Â£299.

A solid mahogany body
Ebony fretboard
Bone nut
Grover tuners
Wilkinson bridge
I pride myself in making fantastic quality guitars that I would take out and use to gig at an affordable price.

Not bad for Â£350.00

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 12:44 pm

I borrowed a Chapman with the intention to buy, the build quality was good but i could not get it to stay in tune, it was weird. The pups needed upgrading as well but that was part of the whole affordable quality ethic were the money was spent on body, neck etc and the buyer could upgrade pups to their taste.

Post by **Doog** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 1:46 pm

Cort do some very decent setneck stuff, no idea of the availability or prices in the US though.

Thom · Post by **Thom** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:14 pm

Doog wrote:Cort do some very decent setneck stuff, no idea of the availability or prices in the US though.

+1 I used to have an M200 and it was pretty nice.

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:32 pm

Anything by Westone from the Matsumoku era would be well worth considering, though I don't know how common they are across the pond. Over here they can still be had amazingly cheap.

Also a Shergold Masquerader - tons of tonal possibilities with its intricate switching set-up, and I've never come across one where the neck's been less than amazing.

In the USA you might have better luck finding a De Armond S-65. I think it ticks most of your boxes, though you said you're not keen on the 4-knob layout. That aside, any other SG-type guitar is a no-brainer.

UlricvonCatalyst · Post by **UlricvonCatalyst** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:41 pm

Also, have LAG guitars made it across the pond at all? I've heard lots of good reports about them, though I've never tried one myself.

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Fri Dec 23, 2011 3:16 pm

serfx wrote:you could always rock a Parker guitar.. i've been wanting one since they first started.. but i've never had the cash.. (well its gone to other guitars first, i suppose..)

god, you and gaybear, i swear to god...