Solid Body Import Guitar Brands Under $300 35. Donner/Silvertone 0:25 34. Monoprice 0:46 33. Hardluck Kings 1:01 32. Oscar Schmidt 1:17 31. Glary 1:33 30. Peavey 2:04 29. AXL 2:32 28. SX 2:43 27. Hofner 2:57 26. Auston 3:11 25. Washburn 3:34 24. Aria 3:43 23. Stagg 4:05 22. Vintage 4:31 21. Mitchell 4:53 20. Daisy Rock 5:13 19. Traveler 5:40 18. Hadean 6:12 17. Kramer 6:31 16. Schecter 6:48 15. C&G 7:12 14. Slick 7:37 13. Xaviere 7:57 12. Sterling 8:14 11. Yamaha 8:47 10. Dean 9:16 9. Cort 9:54 8. Squier 10:12 7. Ibanez 11:13 6. Gretsch 11:36 5. Jackson 12:50 4. Fire Fly 13:29 3. Epiphone 14:34 2. Tagima 15:18 1. Harley Benton 16:06

@kevinking2468

3 жыл бұрын

The SX vintage series strat style neck with jumbo frets is really nice.

@kenshiroxxx90

3 жыл бұрын

ugh

@parker486

3 жыл бұрын

@@alittlebitoflight every single cheap Gretsch guitar I've ever played has held tune just fine.

@alittlebitoflight

3 жыл бұрын

@@parker486 I'm happy for you (sincerely). I was hoping to buy one. Really liked the pickups on the solid body I played (G5222) and the ones in their older slim hollow bodies. But I'm not paying a grand+ (Australian) for something that won't hold tune (all hardtail too, no licenced Bigsby).

@parker486

3 жыл бұрын

@@alittlebitoflight That's completely fair. I'm sorry your experience was less than stellar.

I got hooked on Harley Benton guitars for about a year. I now have 6 of them, and bought two for my son. Great bang for your buck.

@simontemplar3359

4 жыл бұрын

I went way overboard- also 6. weird. They really are phenomenal for what they cost, even with higher shipping. I also have a Monoprice Tele copy and a couple Xaviere tele copies. I think I have a tele problem. HA! But Harley Bentons are for sure an amazing value. Their PRS inspired double cutaway guitars are fantastic.

@caseylee12

4 жыл бұрын

I've got 14 guitars, but no super strat. I'm looking at one of their Fusion 2 guitars. Maybe the green one.

@Kylora2112

4 жыл бұрын

Harley Benton is *THE* mod platform brand. You get the top-tier build quality for cheap so you can drop in $150 on electronics, pickups, and tuners and have a $1000 feeling guitar for under $400.

@simontemplar3359

4 жыл бұрын

@@Kylora2112 well said. Absolutely accurate too. I threw new p90s in the SC GT450. Not saying it's as good as a les Paul gold top but way better than what I'd get elsewhere for the same money

@Kylora2112

4 жыл бұрын

@@simontemplar3359 Yeah, you can put $500 into a Harley Benton and parts and get something on par with a $1000+ Schecter or LTD. And I love Schecter and LTD.

Well, we are glad you dig our guitars Phil :) All the best Bene

@isaacyesca4728

3 жыл бұрын

I love you guys

@HarleyBentonOfficial

3 жыл бұрын

@@isaacyesca4728 Thanks Rogelio!

@AKEZ_076

3 жыл бұрын

I have a question, I wanna buy one of your guitars but i dont know if i should get the paradise flame prs or the sc 200 student pack, I am left handed btw

@bradgray9703

3 жыл бұрын

I have the H.B. TE-70 RW, and if not for this stinking virus causing shipping delays,I would own several more models by now. The only mod I did to this guitar was locking fender tuners. Not because the tuners were bad. I just like locking tuners.

@thestratman7903

3 жыл бұрын

We would LOVE to have more access to these here in the USA!! With shipping being an extra $100 it's hard for those of us who haven't had our hands on one to buy 3 or 4 of them to make the shipping worth it...You guys make about 15 guitars I want to buy really bad!!

I'm really glad I chose a Tagima! It was actually yours and Marty's videos that convinced me and I absolutely love it. I upgraded the switch and the pots, as well as installed a push/push pot in the bottom tone knob to engage the neck pickup so I can get those Gilmour sounds. Thanks again!

Whew, glad Firefly made the list. I've been happy with them, the epi special ll is another one. Thanks for the reviews!

Who knew there were 35 brands under $300? 🤷‍♀️

@abcrx32j

4 жыл бұрын

They are technically 36

@dbmabe

4 жыл бұрын

@@abcrx32j There's actually more. I was a pawn broker for several years, and the brands we could order to sell new were Main Street, Kona, Johnson, and a few others. However, most of those are not worthy of even being in the top 60. Bad fret sprout, electronics issues. I was in a local pawn shop the other day and noticed they are selling new Silvertone Strats. That's a recent development. Silvertone's were never available in the catalog's when I was ordering.

@jimnelson575

4 жыл бұрын

@@abcrx32j mmmmmmmmmm Mmmm Mmm

@ZaneDalton

4 жыл бұрын

Jim Nelson what the fuck...

@tomix1970pl1

4 жыл бұрын

heavyvibrationstudiopl.bandcamp.com/releases

Thanks, Phil. I like to keep up with your posts. I always learn something new. I pray all is well, brother.

I have 2 IYV guitars I bought for under $200. The SG model has 24 frets and has become one of my all-time favorites. Playes as well as a Gibson or Fender.

Hello from Brazil! Thanks for showcasing Tagima guitar once more. The first Tagimas were totally handmaded, with a superior quality, and a faithful copy of a Fender 1976, with bullet tuss rod, but with brazilian electronics (a little les quality) and different woods, like Marupá and the neck in ivorywood, woods that could be considerated exotic in US. The former owner of Tagima, Seizi Tagima, has another brand, the low-coast SEIZI GUITARS. Tks

@GustavoFavareto

Жыл бұрын

Muito bom ver uma marca brasileira numa posição de destaque em um canal gringo, principalmente sabendo que aqui dentro muita gente torce o nariz pra ela.

Really cool to see Tagima ranked so high. They're kind of overlooked here in Brazil, maybe because they're so common place. People tend to value Squiers and they can get kind of expensive here, so your opinion is very insightful and might be useful for people thinking about "upgrading" their Tagimas to Squiers when it could potentially be just a sidegrade

@galangsyamilbasayev4476

4 жыл бұрын

Same thing happen to Cort in Indonesia. People tend overlooked Cort because it so common here. Little did they know almost half of squier and ibanez even the PRS SE is made in PT Cort. Put respect in Cort name

@johnkoch9315

4 жыл бұрын

To me my perception is they’re starting to get a bit more popular now in the US by getting on most of our radar for the first time by launching their made in Asia stuff which had been selling okay on import on Reverb and stuff now finally getting into online retailers over here. To me that stuff is very obviously Fender inspired, but kind of boutique, sort of like a Squier meets Michael Kelly.

@markyurick4137

4 жыл бұрын

I never had a cheap Tagima that was not garbage. And when they are garbage, Tagima does nothing to help. Their customer service is non-existent. i don't know anything about their Brazilian stuff, but the Asian stuff is crap. More importantly, if you buy the crap, you are stuck with it. People comparing Tagima's Asian stuff to Mexican fenders are hallucinating. Mexican Fenders and even cheap Squiers are far superior guitars. It's really not close. I would much rather have a Bullet than a Tagima.

So excited for this! You really get to see a brand’s consistency’.

This is the list that I have been waiting on. thank you

I've heard a lot of good things about Harley Bentons. I'm not surprised that they made number one on the list. Good video!

@joshuawaterman1804

4 жыл бұрын

I've got 2 now. Amazing for the money..

I was literally looking for sub $300 guitars for my dad about 30 minutes before this video dropped, perfect timing!

@chancemiller9340

4 жыл бұрын

Has can take 4 days to 4 weeks to arrive in the US. If you're in Europe, delivery is much more predictable.

@overcome8628

3 жыл бұрын

Look up EART guitars, Don't buy Harley Benton , trust me on this.

Awesome info on this video. I'm not really in the market but my buddies are always asking me about guitars for their kids. Good job!

Brilliant video - packed with information and engagingly presented. Lots to think about and a wonderful service to guitar fans and players. Phillip is definitely the guy you want to walk round the guitar store with if you have some spare cash!

Been digging firefly for 3 years now. Love them.

Great now make a list about guitar under 15$ because thats all the cash in my wallet right now.

@bramabull111

4 жыл бұрын

Here's something they call a "plectrum"

@LarryHovis

4 жыл бұрын

I can Print out a luscious cardboard guitar for you in that price range. Just sayin'.

@liquid7315

4 жыл бұрын

Hahahahaha. Damn that really made laugh.

@elephantsmemory3142

4 жыл бұрын

I wish that I could afford a wallet

@icedvengence3845

4 жыл бұрын

Glarry uh... no wait.......

What a great video! Thank you so much dude, this actually helped a lot. Many students ask about cheap guitars all the time, and this is amazing!

Very useful to have your thoughts, and I was delighted to see HB come out on top, as I have a TE70 Delux arriving for Christmas from the missus! My first Tele, so can't wait! Stay safe, regards from Wales.

I kept seeing Harley Benton videos and hardly a bad comment on any of them. I thought for the price I'll take a chance just to see for myself. I was shocked at the quality for the price range. Great guitar, at least the one I bought was. I'm considering buying another one.

@user-ec6vp8kw3q

4 жыл бұрын

I've got heaps of them and in my opinion there cheapest models are no different from the no name guitars you can by on eBay. Big difference is thomann will give you a refund if you get a dud which does happen often. When you get the higher end Harley Bentons SC-Custom, HB-35+, CST 24T you get shockingly good guitars for the price.

@DatBoi-mo9vc

4 жыл бұрын

@@Mark-OutWest its kinda rediculous to blame the brand for that. UPS workers and mail workers in general in the US are being complete dicks lately, and i think its the extra workload that quarantine is causinf

@chancemiller9340

4 жыл бұрын

@@Mark-OutWest - I've been following the arrivals of HBs to the US on the Facebook page and it is shocking how bad those boxes look. Serious piñata practice before those things get to the buyer. I mean, amazingly awful. If you buy a guitar, and I may some day, you have to buy a hard case with it if you want to be assured of it arriving in a condition that you won't immediately pack it up and ship it back.

@DeadmeatDarkdaylight

4 жыл бұрын

well on my experiement about HB guitars are like good to bad perhaps nowadays that quality is on a top than years a go many guitar what I had was like hollow and didn´t played at all like dull sounded on acoustic side... but I have to say good thing about HB strings not oily anymore and that brightness is awsome

@AngelMartinez-qs3cf

4 жыл бұрын

Cool, what model did you buy?

I bought the $75 to the door Glarry. I heard they were decent for the price, and I just wanted something to use to practice my custom paint technique. They do work way waaaay better than the beginners stuff we bought for same price in 1977. Remember back then $75 was a weeks wages\months rent in my town back then. $75 is now a days pay.

I didn't hear EART headless guitars in any of the $ catagories. Stainless steel frets mounted on a flawless neck. Excellent playing guitars. Fantastic at any price. I also owned an original Steinberger w/ a graphite neck & EMG passive pickups. It quickly became the best guitar I have ever owned. (Graphite necks are probably not available now that Gibson bought them out). I bought it in the mid-80s for around $500. The guitar I had would probably not be in the sub-$300 catagorie today.

Awesome list definitely keeping an eye out for some of these brands

I'm surprised you completely missed IYV (Inyen VIna) guitars (Korean company making guitars in Viet Nam) with a similar business model to Firefly. I've set up 4-5 of them now and I think they blow Firefly, SX, Hadean, Indio, Starshine, etc., away. II can't believe there is not a bigger buzz on them... but at least the prices will stay low.

@johnwillard6198

2 жыл бұрын

Totally agree

@jasonhancock5918

2 жыл бұрын

I agree i just pivked one up on a trade and i am totally in love with it. Honestly my favorite electric guitar ive ever owned.

@mcmeyer76

2 жыл бұрын

I have 3 different models now (one I got on a black friday deal for $110), and in the price/quality comparison of every other guitar I own - they blow the rest out of the water. Love their work, and play these guitars more than any of my others.

@psyche234

Жыл бұрын

Surprised to not see Donner or IYV

@Falstaff-mr8fk

Жыл бұрын

There has been a very obvious lack of reviews on the larger guitar forums for IYV guitars. Just on the smaller channels. I guess they aren’t paying anyone for reviews yet

I've got 3 mid-high end guitars (fender pro tele and strat, and Gibson Les Paul studio) and I love them, but you know what I play more? Hard Luck Kings Bossman (LP style- I replaced the bridge with a Kaish) , Squire bullet telecaster, and Glen Burton tele, which I got for $50, and I can't believe the neck in this thing! Luck of the draw? Anyway, you like what you like, and if you like it, you'll play it more.

YES! Love the video Phil! Thank you for all your hard work!

I’m really glad you talked about Gretsch and Epiphone because I own one of each I bought under $350. The Epi was used but I got it restrung and set up and it’s perfect! The Gretsch is original, straight from the box and love it! Both are heavy guitars though so I also bought a Squier Telecaster for the lighter weight. I knew very little about brands, just went with how they felt and playability so really good to know my views are shared by someone more expert. Thank you for this excellent review.

Love the Epiphone bolt ons, and the Squier Bullet Tele is phenomenal. This is really a golden era for low buck/high quality guitars! 😁👍

@innocentoctave

4 жыл бұрын

The Squier Bullet Tele is excellent. I have an FSR version in Butterscotch Blonde. It cost £130. I can't imagine a better guitar for the price. It isn't perfect, but it's also a great platform for upgrades.

@artamussumatra6286

4 жыл бұрын

Paul B I have the Surf Green one. Imho, it compares very favorably to my American Pro. 😁👍

@innocentoctave

4 жыл бұрын

@@artamussumatra6286 It's a great guitar. My Vintera Telecaster is obviously better, but it cost three times as as much, second hand. If you can't play the Bullet, you can't play. A very good example of why it's more important to practice than to worry about how much your guitar cost.

@artamussumatra6286

4 жыл бұрын

Paul B Yup, a great guitar is a great guitar, regardless of price. My Ampro Tele cost 10X what my Bullet Tele did, but I love them both equally. I also used to have a Mexican Standard Tele, that I’ve always regretted selling, it was fantastic. I won’t make the same mistake with the ones I’ve got now, they’re both keepers for sure!

@mikebaird6788

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I like the epi bolt-ons too because the neck problem on the demand Gibson's you can always replace it easier

Harley Benton went through a little bit of a renaissance over the last 10-15 years. Initially when they were introduced, they were bad. Quality of parts, fit and finish and playability were all terrible. I don't know what happened, whether they shook up management or changed factories or maybe invested more into their R&D department but Harley Benton is now a serious contender in every price bracket under like, 800 bucks. It's great to have choices in that price bracket.

@kevinr.3542

2 жыл бұрын

I'm so happy a brand like them exists.

@joshwallace2183

2 жыл бұрын

They don't even make their own guitars, they are Chinese outsourced..

@Luckyrider1958

2 жыл бұрын

@@joshwallace2183 So does Ibanez, ESP.. and over half the others out there.. SQUIER is outsourced by Fender.. EPIPHONE is by Gibson.. SO WHAT??

@edorissen

2 жыл бұрын

@@Luckyrider1958 This guy probably expects each brand to build a fricking factory of their own, lmao. Not gonna happen if you don't want all the guitars to cost 1000+ dollars.

@Luckyrider1958

2 жыл бұрын

@@edorissen Exactly.

Haven’t heard of a lot of these guitars! Interesting, great video

Great list, Phillip. Video was excellent. Steve

I don't know how Grote guitar was left off the list. It is currently one of the best affordable guitar companies ever. They build guitars that most companies would not even entertain the idea of building. Firefly is a great guitar and I'm glad you put it on the list. IYV is doing some special things as well. These Asian guitar makers are absolutely destroying the market!

@iconcanada3660

Жыл бұрын

Thanks will look into

@joebloggs8636

Жыл бұрын

Agreed in IYV guitar s

@clancyyoung9994

Жыл бұрын

IYV guitars look awesome. All CNC produced.

@longhair-dontcare9983

Жыл бұрын

Based on my guitar experience, I agree with you Michael, IYV, Firefly, and Grote. My top three in that order.

I tried a Harley Benton and absolutely love it. I now have 5 different styles and play them more than my top name brands. Thanks for the video brother. 🎶🎸🎶

This took alot of research, thanks for that. Interesting input on Firefly. I've played a couple and they are impressive for the price point. Thanks for all the info.

Favorite list so far. Useful information.

The Epi Studio LT is an AMAZING guitar. The pickups are very good. It's not a baseball bat neck. It sits well. It's not very heavy. It's VERY much a Les Paul for the cheap.

Great List! some other guitar makers that are working hard to improve their Brands are: Grote & IYV.

This is a spot on review! I’m currently waiting for a Gretsch jet jr, owning a couple of epiphine Sg g400 and a Cort m520, and couldn’t be more in Tune with this review. I mostly work on studio recording environment, and I’m usually more inclined to working with any of my sub 300 guitars than the more expensive ones I own (Jem, Ibanez SA prestige, Jackson, tele standard and Washburn)

holy crap i needed this video, thank you

Squier should bring back the Vintage Modified line. That sub-$300 price point with nearly Classic Vibe levels of quality and kit. Plus, they had that lovely-but-quirky "Squier Vintage Modified '51", which is just a sweet instrument for the price.

@markyurick4137

4 жыл бұрын

I've got a "51 and is really is a great guitar. Agree on Vintage Modified- what a great value.

@kriswhite91

4 жыл бұрын

Pretty much the 70s classic vibe Strats are just a vintage modified with a classic vibe logo.

Is it just me, or does it seem like Phil was gonna say a bit more on each brand, but cut it off or edited it out for time considerations?

@tomix1970pl1

4 жыл бұрын

heavyvibrationstudiopl.bandcamp.com/releases

@tonyfedor9052

4 жыл бұрын

@@tomix1970pl1 I would have to say that kicks ass ! 💪😎👍 You ever listen to Pat Travers from the early to mid 70'2 on into the 80's ? Check out the album " Putting it Straight" with "Snorting' Whiskey and drinking' Cocaine" and "Crash and Burn" . . . 😁

@jahmosaxenamp6797

3 жыл бұрын

Stop picking it apart and just play it!! 🤘

@Meccarox

3 жыл бұрын

I felt that way too.

Thanks so much, great information about Tagima!

Thanks so much this is one of the best videos I have seen all year ❤

those tagima guitar rock, my friend has a guitar shop and he bought some tagimas great sound was set and ready to play and the quality and finish was beautiful,

@markyurick4137

4 жыл бұрын

Gonna have to disagree. I have had several Asian Tagimas and they were all garbage. Customer service is non-existent. People who compare them to Mexican Fenders have never played a Mexican Fender. I would rather have a Squier Bullet for about half the price.

harley benton is great. the shipping kills it. it adds up. and if there's something wrong you cant return it. For $300 you can get a decent ibanez.

@stevewilliams2895

2 жыл бұрын

yea id say their 100-200 guitars arent worth it tbh unless youre in europe. but something like the fusions and amarocks? they are worth the shipping easily. super high speced guitars for the price

Awesome vid. Love this series!!!

Glad to see Firefly up there. I have a bespoke Strat I built back in '89 but set up my luthier bench again a few months ago and decided to grab a cheap guitar to muck around with. Got a Firefly Thinline Tele for $135 and was really amazed at the fit and finish and wood. Yes, I did quite a lot of fret work and setup, but only spent an additional $14 on a set of Wilkinson compensated saddles. Now plays as well as some custom shop Fenders I've played in the past. It really is stunning how this price segment has improved over the years...

Good list! I would have put Yamaha in the top 5 or 7, easily. Also, really surprised to see Gretsch as high as that given how little selection they have at this price point. Especially after seeing you mark so many others down for apparently not offering enough (but at least as much as Gretsch). 🤔 NO WAY Firefly should be in the top 5 IMO. Their quality control is horrible! That alone should put them below companies like Yamaha. Firefly belongs in the teens at best. Really hard to argue with your number 1.

Sterling Sub Guitars and basses. Under 300$ and the best guitars for modern styles of music . I have gigged and recorded with both and they are my favorite

@swagatmalla6634

4 жыл бұрын

Seconded

I had 2 Hardluck Kings and got lucky they were actually put together really well. I ended up selling just because I really didn't play them and I had to thin the herd. Great video Phil have a great weekend. ☮️ brother!

Thanks for giving a shout out to us lefties. I have a PRS custom, but before I got that I picked up a used Harley Benton.

I noticed you didn't mention IYV guitars. I recently bought a thinline style tele with p90s that I was pretty impressed with for $150. Came with good setup,, only needs minor adjustment, pickups sound good, neck is straight, no fret sprout, stays in tune well, pretty finish. I think I agree about the Gretsch thought, my next inexpensive guitar too.

@seeburg10

Жыл бұрын

I just bought one myself. Great tone and sustain.

I love these lists, generally. They are very helpful. I don't necessarily agree with all of the ratings (I think the Tagima guitars are crap and their customer service sucks) but it's a great way to start a conversation. I really think that the customer service aspect of Squier should rank them a bit higher and the affinity is great guitar. Harley Bentons are shipped by idiots. About half of them are damaged in shipping. It's a pain.

Thank you Phillip.. That Gretsch looks interesting. Think I'll track one of them down.

Great videos, I would love to see a couple of videos like this on bass guitars.

For the most part, a very rational list. Two exceptions: I would rate SX much higher--great guitars--and I would rate Firefly much lower--they are infamous for Q.A. issues.

@LarryHovis

4 жыл бұрын

One of my favorite guitars is a Firefly (the Les Paul style). One of my least favorite is a Firefly (the ES-335 style). But the LP with Alnico 5 pickups and me setting it up...that thing is dynamite and I'm not going to spend big money when I have this. It is in my top 3 (out of 14 electrics, all very different from one another).

@aarons.8532

4 жыл бұрын

I have an XS Bass. I swear it plays as good as basses I've spent $500 on.

@nocaster5120

4 жыл бұрын

texanfournow I recently bought three SX guitars and they all had scratched up frets with horrible filing marks in them

@LarryHovis

4 жыл бұрын

@@aarons.8532 BASS. Doesn't apply. We all know it has fewer notes.

@bhollyfanhardin9627

4 жыл бұрын

I have owned a few sx guitars complete junk i own two fireflys way better than sx guitars...sx are not even in the same league.........The two fireflys are on par with the squier classic vibes i have tried...the fireflys have bone nuts alnico pickups full size pots great setup out of the box the sx junk has non of this......

Check out IYV guitars. I've got a really impressive LP style.

Another great video. Really like these kinds of reviews. I have purchased a number of the ones you reviewed used a upgraded them for under $100. They key for me is to start with a good base guitar in the under $300 new price range. I have Harley Benton, Firefly, Cort, Yamaha., Johnson 1983... all from you list. Again great video. Make one dedicated to parts for upgrades, off brand of course.

The last 20 years the price and quality for bolt-ons and set necks are similar. But if it's a Gibson Style Guitar then you must go with the set neck, because those are the rules.

I got an EPI Les Paul Special II P90 delivered for $139 and it’s a total keeper.

@mikeellis9720

4 жыл бұрын

How and where please?

@TheDrunkenScoundrel

4 жыл бұрын

I searched for promo codes and got a 20% off from retailmenot - it wasn’t supposed to apply to Epiphone but it did. Use a desktop as their site is not optimized for mobile. Just as a warning if you like that color? The actual color is nothing like the picture. It is barely yellow at all. www.wwbw.com/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Special-I-P90-Electric-Guitar-H77433-H77433000002000.wwbw

Stagg Chili is actually pretty good with some shredded sharp cheddar cheese some diced onions and a liberal shaking of Franks Red Hot !

@cumminspower

Жыл бұрын

Lmao

Really great list, love your commentary Phil.

I luv these best and worst videos! Thank you!!!

My Monoprice Indio telecaster is the best $99 I’ve ever spent. It’s beyond gorgeous. Needed a little end filing. 20 minutes later I have a guitar that smokes. And yes, has the tele twang.

@artamussumatra6286

4 жыл бұрын

Cool. Nothing brings the joy quite like a cheap, yet great tele! I love my Squier Bullet, it gets as much play time as my American Pro.

I have a Harley Benton Tele copy TE-52 and a L.P. copy SC450 deluxe, they've quickly become my favorite guitars !!

@Separade

4 жыл бұрын

Ken Hall the TE 52 is they absolut classic. I own one too besides my real American Stat and Les Paul because I wanted to own a tele. When I picked up a 400 Bucks Classic Vibe squier last week I was shocked how cheep they feel compared to any harley benton I touched. Returned it immidiatly.

Thanks Phil! You really answered some questions on some brands- like Tagima. May have to really look into them. Also, in the past I had an LP style from Aria and other than the dreaded G-string not staying in tune, it really killed. Also had a Cort probably 40 years ago in a LP gold top style. I didn't know what I had and traded it because the action felt high to me for a Kramer...

Thanks. This helps me advise my grandson who is just starting to learn guitar.

SX is pretty solid for budget guitars, I have a liquid and a hawk. Liquid has p90’s and the hawk is a strat copy. Both pretty good and playable without upgrades.

@koDaffi

2 жыл бұрын

I was debating between an SX or Harley Benton. Was thinking about Bad Cat but then I seen on Amazon Hard Luck Kings LP is identical to Bad Cat LP. Only difference was the brand on headstock.

@Luckyrider1958

2 жыл бұрын

@@koDaffi HB's are great.. have several.. But shipping has gotten really high.. used to be you could ship up to 3 for 39 bux.. now it's like 80 bux.. if you order more than one (you, or you and a few pals) you can divide the shipping cost per Pc by 3... SX are also solid bets.. Have Several of those too, and they are really a working guitar.. Rondo often has some on sale.. that's when I got mine,...

Most of those guitars probably just come out of the same factories in China, Indonesia and Korea.

@bkon4675

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, I see a lot of the same parts.

Extraordinary knowledge of guitars... great video

I was looking at the stagg stingray for a long time, almost ordered it several time so I was glad to hear you like it.

@tonyfedor9052

4 жыл бұрын

I bought a used Stagg bass for $100. Well worth it in my opinion.

Being a dumpster diver for 30 years i just found my first guitar. Cadenza electric. Wish I knew how to play it.

@chiefinspector7280

2 жыл бұрын

Easy play the notes on the 3rd 5th and 7th fret. They all will be in key.

If you capture the young player with your product you have the chance to keep them forever.

@PhillipMcKnight

3 жыл бұрын

Well put!

@monmixer

3 жыл бұрын

@@PhillipMcKnight I learned to play on a Teisco that I talked my Mother into buying for Christmas when I was 12 or maybe a bit older. But that guitar had great action. It was pretty easy to play surprisingly. I did have an acoustic since I was around 10 and that thing was certainly not easy to play. This was in the late 60's going into the 70's. the choices out there today are mind blowing not to mention youtube lessons instead of all the records that I destroyed learning by ear and then the Sony Walkman's that I had worn out. 3 I believe. Young people right now have all the reason in the world to learn. They have no clue how much time they are going to save compared to us older people. lol Love your channel.

Thank you for the evaluation of these guitars. I have two Harley Benton guitars with one more on order. I have not played any of the other 34 guitars but I am very happy with the Harley Benton guitars, although since they are shipped from Germany and must go through customs there, they do take a long time to get.

Hey, thanks for putting out really honest and great information..

Phil,..Remember I used to have an issue with the beginning of your channels success but I didnt hate it...Something happened over that first year with your tone, you found your niche and found it you did indeed. Classy, clean and non biased and no Mr. KNOWITALL mentality. Which I knew you were not that guy in the beginning. Thus the success you found. Being you is what sold your channel to many. Your passion was the key to the gate and you swung it open. Keep smiling and stay you!! Always a pleasure watching your show, live and non....peace. PS. THE ROO says Hi!!

What about the IVY brand from Vietnam?

@cumminspower

Жыл бұрын

Also didn’t notice this was from 2 yrs ago, lol

I have three Jackson JS 22's, two of them I bought used, they are older. I have the deep blue one you put up, then I have one that's in a natural finish, and one with a tobacco burst finish. I also have a Kelly JS 32 which I just bought in March. I Love Jackson's Ceramic Magnet Humbuckers, I love there output, there clearness and dim-brightness while I'm soloing, and there heavy midrange and kinda muddy chunk while playing Rythym. I've been a Guitarist for 20 year's, when I switched from ESP to Jackson 8 year's ago, it was the best decision I ever made for myself as a Musician. Take care man. 🤘🏻🤘🏻

I love my Jay Turser guitar collection. Huge selection and every style you can imagine and they play and sound really good for cheap guitars. Good video like your knowledge and channel. Be well. 🎸

Hey Phil, have you ever looked at Dragonfire pickups? I'd be interested to hear your take on them.

@brandonbock4763

4 жыл бұрын

I’d like to know about this brand too.

@davevanenglehoven8323

3 жыл бұрын

I have dragonfires in like 7 of my guitars now lol. I may be addicted

I can't believe I still haven't tried a harley benton. They are crushing it

@FloridaManRacer

4 жыл бұрын

take the plunge. you won't regret it.

@everythingbobbywolfe

4 жыл бұрын

@@FloridaManRacer I've been sooooo close. They make a double neck sg??

@greevar

4 жыл бұрын

@@everythingbobbywolfe Indeed, they do. DC-Custom 612 Cherry

@everythingbobbywolfe

4 жыл бұрын

@@greevar well, son of a bitch. I predict 2020 is gonna be the.year

@FloridaManRacer

4 жыл бұрын

@@everythingbobbywolfe sure do. and it's a looker... www.thomannmusic.com/harley_benton_dc_custom_612_cherry.htm

Mr McKnight you have a great talent of directly explaining it. Thank you so much. Definitely a go to for the real stuff.

The yellow B.C.Rirch behind you is very cool! Cheers from Portugal 🍺🤘

I've honestly never heard a bad word about Harley Benton hey. I've been really tempted to order a fusion, even from Australia, because I just can't find a lefty guitar like it at that kind of price...

@Cookie4yabro

4 жыл бұрын

Go for it! I too can vouch. Harley Benton guitars cannot be beat for value for the money. Every guitar I received from them came set up well and for the most part play almost as good as guitars 3x the price. My Harley Benton TE-52 was only $136 and it sounds and plays as good as the $400 classic vibe Squier Tele.

@alexanderpotts8425

4 жыл бұрын

@@Cookie4yabro mate that's the recommendation I needed! haven't found a classic vibe guitar I didn't like!

So glad he called out Hard Luck Kings for the pieces of firewood that they are. Their attitude also sucks.

@gamingwithmrgvil3511

4 жыл бұрын

Maybe I got lucky with them. Last year I got a spider which is their version of a firebird. Setup was perfect and plays great. Only thing I did was a 1/4 turn of the truss rod once it got used to the Florida humidity. Only negative it's a big heavy beast due to the body shape and it's 2 inches thick solid wood at the center piece. Not for those with weak backs.

@caseyshelton8388

3 жыл бұрын

Love my HLK Lady Luck

@DJBuglip

3 жыл бұрын

The green one in my pic is from them and played like a dream out of the box.

This series is awesome. Great idea.

Awesome video! Super helpful. I play acoustic and have been looking for an electric that won't break the bank. This video really answered some of my questions.

It really magnifies how the "premium" guitars are way overpriced.

When are we gonna do one of these for us lowly bass players? We spend and make money too...

@mitchellvanvliet

3 жыл бұрын

It's safe to say bass players make more money! They are spending less time getting laid 😂

@dreugh424

3 жыл бұрын

@@mitchellvanvliet you're right, we'd rather spend our time doing something fun ;)

Thank you for all these videos. This video had a ton of information that I learned. Great job 👏

This is another great review...king of gear reviews this channel is

I bought a Harley Benton SC450 for 180€ this year. And honestly: I was really shocked how great this guitar is. Top built without any flaws, came even perfectly intonated. And the P90s sound amazing. This guitar is an absolute keeper and the price is unbeatable. Especially here in Europe you can hardly get a better guitar for that money.

@raytorvalds3699

4 жыл бұрын

Agreed. I've had a couple of Harley Bentons too. They were all good. Not just for the price, but good... period.

HB dominates this category. I am up to 6 of them. Yep, it is a commom "problem". The finish, wood quality, and set up's have been very good. Go for the higher end of the line up, the extra $50 or so is a big step at these prices. The SC-Custom's have all but been removed from the line-up. These and the SC-550's are mighty beasts, built with love.

Thank You very much for the great list. I ordered a Harley Benton Tele TE-90TLT with maple neck as the finish looks very nice.

Great video as usual!!! I think you can take your time and talk more about guitars and show more pics

no ESP/LTD?! blasphemy, my good man!

Never heard of Stagg chili.

@albertgein3082

4 жыл бұрын

Delicious

@twinsmm1

4 жыл бұрын

@@albertgein3082 I'm in the Rochester NY area. Never seen it around here. I looked it up and see it's from Hormel. They sell Hormel chili around here. Haven't seen Stagg though. Maybe I just haven't paid attention.

Right On With Numbers 1 & 2...ABSOLUTELY!!!! I Recently Bought A Tagima 3 Tone SB T635 Stratocaster. The Quality Of Which Is UNBELIEVABLE!!! It Has Vintage Aged Looking Knobs & The Finish Is GORGEOUS!!! But More Than That, It Sounds Like No Other Guitar I Have. It Talks, Whispers, Yells & SCREAMS. I Don't Know Who Made Those Pickups Or Where They Came From, But WHEEEEEEW! I've Been Playing It EXCLUSIVELY For The Last 3 Days. Harley Benton? DAMN RIGHT!!!! Last Year I Wanted A Fender Classic Vibe 50's Strat For Christmas, But When I Was Ready To Get One They Were Out Of Stock & THEN They Went Up In Price Just As My Employer Started Cutting Hours Due To Covid! I Came Across All These Reviews About Harley Bentons & Was Impressed By Some Of The Testimonials Given And Decided To Take The Gamble. Plus, For The Price Of The Classic Vibe, I Could Get 2 GUITARS!!! I Ordered The Vintage White ST 20 & The Deluxe Swamp Ash Stratocasters. They Were Delivered In A Flash (Which Is Another Plus For Thomann, In That, The Guitars Came ALL THE WAY FROM GERMANY!!!!), I Plugged Them Up & My Jaw HIT THE FLOOR! First Of All, The Finish On The Vintage White ST Almost Made Me Weep, It Was SO Beautiful. BUT THE SOUND!!!! I Stood In My Garage, Shaking My Head In Disbelief That I Got THAT Kind Of Sound & Quality From These 2 Guitars For Less Than A Classic Vibe: $108 For The Vintage White ST20 & $135 For The DLX SWAMP ASH!!! Until The Tagima Came, These 2 Guitars Were CONSTANTLY In My Hands, EXCLUSIVELY!!! Litmus Test, You Ask? My Main Guitar, Prior, Is A FENDER 50th ANNIVERSARY AMERICAN STANDARD STRATOCASTER That I've Had Since 2004!!!

Loving these vids Phil- keep it up.