What makes a good guitar?
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This passive negativity you keep experiencing Mr Strings…are you hearing it right now?Andy_Strings said:going back to my original question, why is there so much passive negativity about partscasters?
Your original question was “what makes a good guitar?” LolAndy_Strings said:So, going back to my original question, why is there so much passive negativity about partscasters?
To address your opening post, you have told us you’ve had conversations with people telling you that a more expensive CS branded guitar is better because it cost more? That’s not passive negativity.. they’re just telling you what they think is true.
Ahh, so it’s all about partscaster guitars.
I get that.
These are guitars that have been built or modified to your own specific requirements. However the market wants originality.
The point of a partscaster is to build something you want. I’m the end it’ll never be worth more than the sum of its parts and in most cases 50% less (as the parts are used).
That’s the way of the world.
I get that.
These are guitars that have been built or modified to your own specific requirements. However the market wants originality.
The point of a partscaster is to build something you want. I’m the end it’ll never be worth more than the sum of its parts and in most cases 50% less (as the parts are used).
That’s the way of the world.
I will tell you what makes a good guitar!feel, playability and sound. If you have got that, what more do you want?
I have a Fender and a Harley Benton and I pick up my HB a hell of a lot more because it has all those factors.
I have a Fender and a Harley Benton and I pick up my HB a hell of a lot more because it has all those factors.
On a purely practical level - that it works; ie stays in tune, can be set up to give a playable action, doesn’t fret out when bending and intonates properly. All pickups should produce a sound and all controls should operate as intended.
Anything less that the above is just a ‘guitar-shaped object’.
What makes a guitar stand out from being merely functional could include tone, sustain, looks, feel, tonally variety, artist association, coolness, price, rarity, bragging rights and myriad other factors…
Anything less that the above is just a ‘guitar-shaped object’.
What makes a guitar stand out from being merely functional could include tone, sustain, looks, feel, tonally variety, artist association, coolness, price, rarity, bragging rights and myriad other factors…
Fake Fender logos on headstocks?Andy_Strings said:why is there so much passive negativity about partscasters?
Yorkie said:Fake Fender logos on headstocks?Andy_Strings said:why is there so much passive negativity about partscasters?
And also, active negativity would require a PP3 battery.
Andy_Strings said:I’m chasing discussion you seem to want an argument. I mentioned a preference based on feel, playability, tone and aesthetics yet there are people with badly setup guitars with old strings… but a £5k price ticket who believe theirs are wonderful & I emphatically disagree with a statement that money or badge automatically makes a good guitar.
You’ve not said which Hill you stand on.
That in itself doesn't create or encourage a discussion. It instantly polarises people. There are some middle of the road options and opinions too.
In your opening comment you said:
That's great that you managed to get guitars built that you really like but, while they might be "better" for you, perhaps they wouldn't be for other people simply due to their "personalisation".Andy_Strings said:..... they’re personalised custom shop Guitars, with higher specification and more personalisation than anything that you can buy off a wall. I pick one of these in front of my Custom Shop or early 60’s Tele’s - simply because they are better.
A "good" solidbody electric guitar is one that intonates and stays in tune well, has well finished fretwork, has tight tolerances between separate parts so they don't move, feels comfortable to play, and sounds great, REGARDLESS of price or pedigree. Beyond that it's all entirely down to personal choice and everybody's personal choices clearly aren't all the same or we quite simply would not have the huge range of styles and shapes available to us.
That sort of hammers home the point. Does somebody think their guitar will be better because of the Fender badge.... or do they hope other people will think it's better? If it's a great guitar, it doesn't need a fake logo.Yorkie said:Fake Fender logos on headstocks?Andy_Strings said:why is there so much passive negativity about partscasters?
I agree with all of those things and personal choice is what makes us all different but I was careful not to knock all expensive or branded guitars because, just like cheaper guitars, some are fantastic, some are not. The only point I have made is that price tag and brand does not guarantee any of the qualities that you listed. I went with a student recently to see a PRS that he wanted to buy. The action at the 12th was over 3mm, it played like a dog and desperately needed a good setup, but the seller's response was simply that it's a PRS, 'best guitars in the world'. To quote you, "REGARDLESS of price or pedigree"... it was (in its current state) unplayable garbage.BillDL said:A "good" solidbody electric guitar is one that intonates and stays in tune well, has well finished fretwork, has tight tolerances between separate parts so they don't move, feels comfortable to play, and sounds great, REGARDLESS of price or pedigree. Beyond that it's all entirely down to personal choice and everybody's personal choices clearly aren't all the same or we quite simply would not have the huge range of styles and shapes available to us.
I played a HB Fusion recently (can't remember which model) and it was an exceptional, high spec guitar with a great setup straight out of the box.bluecat said:I will tell you what makes a good guitar!feel, playability and sound. If you have got that, what more do you want?
I have a Fender and a Harley Benton and I pick up my HB a hell of a lot more because it has all those factors.
I actually agree in principle with what you are saying about a big brand name on a headstock not being a guarantee of a good guitar, however presenting photos of the alternative customised guitars that I would guess may have cost you just as much or more than the big brand guitar wasn't really the best example. There are also guitars by many more much less recognised brands that are often just as good as the big name ones, so you don't necessarily have to spend a large amount to get a good guitar.
Your example of the PRS demonstrates that some people are stubborn in this notion, however it's probably a poor choice if all the guitar needed was a setup. It may well have been a fantastic guitar after a setup, just as many guitars (branded or unbranded) can be after a good setup, and there are people that can play perfectly well with a higher than normal action and see nothing wrong with that. Personally I would be extremely annoyed and very disappointed if I paid over £1,500 for a guitar from one of the big brands and it arrived with the action set so as to make it unplayable, and I would be totally disgusted if I had paid something like £2,000, however it does happen and I think it's just a complacency that the makers have become comfortable with while the myth is perpetuated that you must buy an expensive brand name to get a good guitar.
My stance is that I might pick up any of your guitars with the fancy figured wood necks and expensive hardware and pickups and say "Meh! I don't really like that". It doesn't make it a bad guitar, just not a good one for me. On the other hand I might buy a 2nd-hand Squier Affinity Tele for £120 and immediately say "Wow, that feels and sounds great".
Good quality components, tone wood/materials, build and set up should get you a good instrument. However there is the X factor or mojo. @ICBM lists resonance and I would say that is a big part of it. Sometimes magic just happens and a guitar just has something special regardless of its price. Then we are all individuals and a guitar you think is great would not suit me at all. The other guitarist in my band has several Les pauls that I wouldn't give house room to because I think my PRS Santana We blows them away.
I also think that these days we know a lot more about setting up and most guitars can be made to play well with the right attention.
I also think that these days we know a lot more about setting up and most guitars can be made to play well with the right attention.
What makes a good guitar ? The components gelling and being in synch, and then some tlc with the set up and pickups. Some guitars have it and some don’t.
As for Partcasters - the electric guitar became famous via music from the 1950s onwards. And many of those musicians played Fenders, Gibsons, Gretsch etc. So there will always exist a desire to wear the badge linked back to the origin.
And then there is snobbery about US Fenders vs MiM etc. It’s endless and not worth too much consideration really…
As for Partcasters - the electric guitar became famous via music from the 1950s onwards. And many of those musicians played Fenders, Gibsons, Gretsch etc. So there will always exist a desire to wear the badge linked back to the origin.
And then there is snobbery about US Fenders vs MiM etc. It’s endless and not worth too much consideration really…
A guitar in need of a setup is not "garbage" or a bad guitar, it's simply a guitar in need of a setup.Andy_Strings said:I agree with all of those things and personal choice is what makes us all different but I was careful not to knock all expensive or branded guitars because, just like cheaper guitars, some are fantastic, some are not. The only point I have made is that price tag and brand does not guarantee any of the qualities that you listed. I went with a student recently to see a PRS that he wanted to buy. The action at the 12th was over 3mm, it played like a dog and desperately needed a good setup, but the seller's response was simply that it's a PRS, 'best guitars in the world'. To quote you, "REGARDLESS of price or pedigree"... it was (in its current state) unplayable garbage.BillDL said:A "good" solidbody electric guitar is one that intonates and stays in tune well, has well finished fretwork, has tight tolerances between separate parts so they don't move, feels comfortable to play, and sounds great, REGARDLESS of price or pedigree. Beyond that it's all entirely down to personal choice and everybody's personal choices clearly aren't all the same or we quite simply would not have the huge range of styles and shapes available to us.
At some point in their lives all guitars will need a setup.
Th OP seems to exhibit more than a fair share of "passive negativity" against named brands.
a PRS!......;)
Seriously though it doesn't always happen no matter what the make is.
It is often the guitar that is less flashy looking that inspires you to play.
Mr Thorn MB at Fender making 10k guitars when his personal favourite is a Squire.
Seriously though it doesn't always happen no matter what the make is.
It is often the guitar that is less flashy looking that inspires you to play.
Mr Thorn MB at Fender making 10k guitars when his personal favourite is a Squire.
You conveniently miss a few words out (in its current state) to change the entire meaning, presumably to suit your narrative.SimonC said:A guitar in need of a setup is not "garbage" or a bad guitar, it's simply a guitar in need of a setup.Andy_Strings said:it was (in its current state) unplayable garbage.
At some point in their lives all guitars will need a setup.
Th OP seems to exhibit more than a fair share of "passive negativity" against named brands.
I agree that all guitars need regular setups but if the owner is resolute in their thinking that it doesn't because it cost £5k, they are deluded. You seem to be flying the flag to defend named brands at all costs which is odd, because they are not under attack, I'm simply taking the stance that name & price alone does not guarantee a great guitar.
I know plenty of people who prefer their Squiers, Kenny Vaughn is a Fender artist but with his blues band, he uses two early 80's Japanese Squire Strats. To me, it's whatever lets the player get the most out of it.wesker123 said:a PRS!......;)
Mr Thorn MB at Fender making 10k guitars when his personal favourite is a Squire.
Who said that name and price alone guarantee a great guitar? Leaving aside that "great guitar" is entirely subjective.Andy_Strings said:You conveniently miss a few words out (in its current state) to change the entire meaning, presumably to suit your narrative.SimonC said:A guitar in need of a setup is not "garbage" or a bad guitar, it's simply a guitar in need of a setup.Andy_Strings said:it was (in its current state) unplayable garbage.
At some point in their lives all guitars will need a setup.
Th OP seems to exhibit more than a fair share of "passive negativity" against named brands.
I agree that all guitars need regular setups but if the owner is resolute in their thinking that it doesn't because it cost £5k, they are deluded. You seem to be flying the flag to defend named brands at all costs which is odd, because they are not under attack, I'm simply taking the stance that name & price alone does not guarantee a great guitar.
Presumably then, you picked up on a PRS requiring a setup just to suit your own narrative?Andy_Strings said:You conveniently miss a few words out (in its current state) to change the entire meaning, presumably to suit your narrative.SimonC said:A guitar in need of a setup is not "garbage" or a bad guitar, it's simply a guitar in need of a setup.Andy_Strings said:it was (in its current state) unplayable garbage.
At some point in their lives all guitars will need a setup.
Th OP seems to exhibit more than a fair share of "passive negativity" against named brands.
I agree that all guitars need regular setups but if the owner is resolute in their thinking that it doesn't because it cost £5k, they are deluded. You seem to be flying the flag to defend named brands at all costs which is odd, because they are not under attack, I'm simply taking the stance that name & price alone does not guarantee a great guitar.
I'm not sure where you get the idea that I'm flying the flag for named brands at all costs.
I quite agree, though, nothing can guarantee a great guitar let alone name and price.
Strings, not any particular type, merely that it has some
i consistently find that guitars that have these are great , whereas ones that don’t are not.
i consistently find that guitars that have these are great , whereas ones that don’t are not.
Why are we arguing. This is very much the same as "valves vs solid state is better", or Asda own brand extra virgin olive oil is substandard to the expensive brand whose factory pressed the oil for Asda. We all have our own opinions and no amount of discussion will sway our opinions because many of us have formed them over lengthy periods of time. Some have had good and poor experiences from the same expensive or cheap guitar brands. Some of us are just averse to spending thousands of pounds on a luxury instrument when a utilitarian one does the same job just as well, or think that Rotosound strings are crap because they are cheaper than other more recognised named brands. Some of us might think that you can't get a good instrument unless we pay thousands of pounds for it. Some of us don't really know the difference between spaghetti or linguini but will obstinately argue that one is better than the other. I don't really like flamed maple necks because I don't see the point in paying more for it than ordinary maple, but I also love marmite.
Sparkly blue guitars are best.
I have one of those!Sporky said:Sparkly blue guitars are best.
Telecaster
All i will say is they knock the rest of them out of the park .....years to come these will be the j.v strats for peanuts why didn't i buy one , great pick ups , ebony board , good pots , i don't get the hate for them on this forum .