Every time I cheap out on anything, it just winds up adding that price to the price of the thing I should have bought instead. Cry once at checkout.

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

Buy once cry once. That's my philosophy

@marshallapplewhite5941

5 күн бұрын

Yup. The only place I cheap out is Harbor Freight, but their newer low-price tools are very good quality. I'm a customer for life there. LOL

@sunnohh

4 күн бұрын

True but my custom shop tele isn’t any better than my squier baritone tele, like what 20x the price?

@JacobS-q7c

Күн бұрын

@@sunnohh But you are in a position to say it. Honestly my 2000 Epi from Unsung Korea is probably my most deadly ghost rider, but I have ruthlessly purged over 20 guitars, and my other 3 are American chaps

Even the cheapest Harley Benton LP copy has binding and set neck. Those features aren't exclusive anymore

@shanetx81

23 сағат бұрын

I can’t get there with the Harley Benton’s of the world. I need to feel decent about where I’m sending my money. This isn’t really logical or pragmatic though and I’m aware of that. Theres just something in my brain that shuts down at lumping a musical instrument - an item used to make art, to convey emotion, passion - into the same category as a pure tool like a cell phone. Again, though, this is not logical and I’m aware of it and I don’t judge anyone for feeling differently. I am so very glad that less expensive instruments are such good quality these days, even if they aren’t for me, and my lower-end US and Japan made instruments (I’m not in the Gibson custom shop territory by any means) are probably sometimes worse, in some ways, than a much cheaper guitar.

A lot comes down to good fretwork and pickups. If you know what you're doing or have a good luthier, it really isn't that hard to get a cheap guitar to play like an expensive one.

I am a 70yo beginner (1 year) and I play an Affinity Tele and a Classic Vibe 50s Strat. I am very happy with these two guitars. I will probably stay with them because of my age, arthritis and chronic pain. I can afford high end guitars but it doesn’t make sense to me. Your points are all well made. Thanks for sharing a thoughtful, insightful and well made video. ✌️

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

Awesome. Thanks!

@jamesincharlotte

5 күн бұрын

Classic vibe's can't be beat for price !!

@kimalexander3914

7 сағат бұрын

Good for you sir ! keep at it .I'm 71 & just learned the lead licks to Mississippi Queen.Check out a Vidami pedal f.y.i (allows u to slow/loop at different 4 speeds w/your FOOT !) if u enjoy learning anything, from KZread videos. From Les Paul's hometown.

@roberttosa2560

6 сағат бұрын

@@kimalexander3914 … Waukesha? Nice! Wauwatosa here. 👍✌️

as someone who has owned guitars ranging from $200 to $2000 i can say that when you reach that plateau of diminishing returns the curve is so steep you'll need a parachute and a prayer to survive. your best bet is to go with something in the $200-$500 range and use it as a platform to customize your guitar with upgrades be they pick ups, tuning machines, electronics, whatever, but never drop 5k on wood and steel unless you can sell it for more or just have more money than common sense. also , used market is your friend, especially post coof era, guitars have never been so cheap and plentiful, but unless your a wealthy collector or someone who flips high end guitars for a living there is no reason EVER to pay above 2k for any guitar

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment

@Littlesuzieofficial18

6 күн бұрын

Good opinion. Not factual however. Everyone has their own taste and will find whatever inspires them to play- through trial and error.

@JacobS-q7c

Күн бұрын

You mean 1500, plus a couple hundos for taxes and labor for the luthier. There are ways to cut it down to 5 or 6. but it won't be the business. The equivalent to you constructing something to rival the gone Am. Standard, or the hoity Professionals, is to ADD on labor and tax, and REMOVE all resale. But hey you have your dream ax.

Once you get over a certain price (I’m going to say around $1500-2000), you’re not getting much more from the more expensive models. However, I fully agree with the ending sections. Once you get a LP custom/PRS core/ ebmm JP/ Ibanez prestige or j.custom it’s hard to get excited for cheaper models.

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

That is the problem😂

@MS-Patriot2

Күн бұрын

I straight swapped a genuine, but hideously worn 1974 Les Paul Custom Black Beauty for a secondhand road worn Custom Shop Fender Telecaster. Best swap I ever did, my back thanks me for it. The custom shop Fenders really do stand out in tone and playability. I was however pleasantly surprised by Gibson when they’d got some of the basics back on track, and bought a new LP Junior in 2018 with wrap bridge and single P90 for under £600. That Junior is still my No.1, it cooks even when it’s not plugged in. Don’t look at the price, listen to the instrument.

Never owned a guitar worth more than £500 with all the ones I've had over the years, but I'm just a home player. TBH with what you can get for your money these days I would personally say £1,000 - £1200 would be my limit for which you can get a fantastic specd instrument. After that it's diminishing returns. I'd say the only exceptions to this would be things like Strandbergs or maybe Evertune equipped guitars where specifically technology is unique to the increased cost.

Most guitars will work just fine but spending a little more has made me a happier player.

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

The feeling you get when playing is a huge part of the experience

Anything over 4k is just a gimmick. A 10k guitar isn't twice as good as a 5k guitar. But some people like to buy guitars that are expensive as cars.

@gingerbeer914

Күн бұрын

My 1973 Martin D-18 goes for €4800.- in today's market. That's much more than what I invested, which shows that buying a high-end guitar is not always a financially bad move. Electric guitars are 1950s technology. It's simple to make them. Making a good acoustic requires real craftsmanship.

I own a Cobalt Blue ESP 256, and to say the least it’s one of the best guitars I’ve ever played. For 500$ it is absolutely incredible. I’ve owned higher priced Epiphone’s than this and I think this just way out preforms them. Great fret work, fretboard feels amazing, the neck is incredibly comfortable, and it just feels nice in overall quality. I had the pickups swapped for Seymour Duncan 59s in the neck and bridge and it just brings all the mojo you could ever want from a guitar.

You can certainly put together a wonderful guitar from parts, saving thousands of dollars. I assembled a one- piece lightweight ash body, roasted neck, Callaham hardware with Mark Foley pickups. It is not s resale guitar but a player's guitar.

I have 3 Squiers that I like better than any Fender I have ever had. And each one was about 500 bucks. They play great, sound great and look stellar. And a fair price.

@ethanhusak

3 күн бұрын

Awesome!

@WesleyWattley-xy4fg

8 сағат бұрын

Beautifu😅l Squire's!! ​@@ethanhusak

As someone who isn't a USA citizen, the 'made in the USA' reason for a guitar costing a lot is just, well... weird. If you live anywhere else in the world (which is 95% of us) why would you consider 'made in the USA' in itself important at all? I want a well designed guitar that intonates properly and stays in tune. I want decent construction with decent quality hardware. Guitars with these attributes can be, and are, made anywhere in the world. I've played a lot of guitars, cheap and expensive, and my favourite that I've ever played is the MIM HSS Strat that I own, that has a Swedish aftermarket TT neck and a (German) treble bleed upgrade. Total cost around £1100. Oh, if only it had been made in the USA, it would be so much better! 😜

@pat5882

Күн бұрын

All Epiphones have a long neck tenon and a 14 degree headstock. My Epi modern is a solid sounding rig with excellent tone.

I suck at guitar but i did sell the cheap guitars i had and bought a nice used Gibson LP trad pro V in transparent ebony for 1800 bucks. And i got one of the Andertons, fender player plus strats with roasted neck, hss- american pickups, in charcoal frost metallic for 40% off on sale one time from fender. I love both of them and they definitely inspire me to practice and get better. I play either or both every day.

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

Awesome! I always look for bargains like that. I got a Gibson Firebird a few years ago for $800

@jordimateubartroli951

4 күн бұрын

1800 for a Gibson is a good price

I bought a couple of Suhr guitars years back. I’m 67, started buying guitars in the 70s. The Suhr guitars, to me, are head and shoulders over my other two dozen guitars … except one run of the mill Les Paul with p-90s that is one of those guitars that has a bit of magic. So there is something to be said for expensive guitars- however a persons playing ability is the core issue of your sound. 🤙

@2good2betrue3

Күн бұрын

Agreed! SUHR guitars are just sick, in a good way in terms of quality. I have a 24 fret "The Collection" Modern Pro/Govan and the playability is way beyond any overpriced $8,000 Murphy Lab 1959 LP, and it never goes out of tune.

You are absolutely right with this. I have a high end custom blakheart guitar which I got from a guitar Player I know. What really scares the sh!t out of me is when there is an accident and the guitar gets crushed. I think people expect too much by high end guitars. If you mod a cheap guitar with good features you‘re happy. Like tuners or pu‘s. You can reach a very similiar to high end feeling if you buy a guitar for about 700$ that‘s perfectly set up.. The more you spend the less progress you get out of the quality

Back in 2001, I bought an Epiphone "335" that was made in Korea (by Samick I believe). This model was above the Epiphone "DOT" as it had gold hardware and 490T pickups.The salesman at Guitar Center told me it was just as good as the Gibson ES 335,and it has the Gibson logo on the truss rod cover. I swapped out the neck pickup for the Gibson "Wes Montgomery" Custom 57 pickup which cost half as much as the guitar! I still have it and you can hear it on all of my songs on my KZread channel. I've played the $4000 ES 335 and I can't tell the difference in sound or feel.

@JacobS-q7c

Күн бұрын

My 2000 Epi from Korea has kicked its way to Number One Axe. I have gone through countless rigs, but not Custom Shop......🤔

I have played for a zillion years (seems like), once owned a '62 ES335 etc. etc. And while a number of people have gotten mad at me when I say it, there is no way on this earth I can play a super high end Gibson one bit better than a decent Epiphone. No %^$#* way. My experience has been that no matter who made the guitar nor what it cost, I had to do something to make it play better, something beyond a routine setup. Most of the time it involved fretwork. Costly guitars should sound better, and usually they do. If I spend a couple hundred bucks on new pickups -- and usually I do -- I'm at 95% of a high end sound. What would I call a decent Epiphone? Something that's about $500 new in 2024.

@ethanhusak

2 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience

Many years ago I bought a new Fender Strat Mexican made guitar. I was learning at the time and my tutor asked if he could try it out, he played so amazingly and I recorded what he played and still have that recording to this day, the main interest to me was he stating, "this is the very best playing guitar I have ever played straight out of the box". That meant the world to me although not an expensive guitar, and I still have that guitar.

@ethanhusak

3 күн бұрын

That's awesome

@JacobS-q7c

Күн бұрын

In reality Enesada is not low end, not an import, not the same thing. More like old school Fender design, so better in MANY ways

Don't know for the U.S., but here in Europe there are many luthiers around where you can walk in, put some money on the table and get exactly the guitar that you want for less than some custom shop guitars that are not really custom made but rather built to order. Why would I spend 5000€ for a guitar that someone else thought out when I can get my very own one for 3000€?

@brandall101

Күн бұрын

It depends on what the objective is. If you're simply looking for a guitar with a certain number of specs built very well, maybe has its own thing, sure. But if you're aiming for a particular sound/vibe, there are numerous videos out there demonstrating that things Nik Huber '59 or PRS singlecut (both exceedingly nice and expensive guitars) doesn't quite match '59 reissue Les Paul, they simply lack that thing it does so very well. I went down a similar rabbit hole thinking Suhr Standard Plus would be the best swiss army guitar but ultimately decided an Xotic was the thing that got me closest to what I was really looking for, a vintage Fender vibe w/ a humbucker (better than Fender CS IMO).

I agree 💯 % 🙂 I’m done with purchasing high end guitars. I’ve been blessed to have my Gibson LP Standard, PRS Custom 24, Fender Edge Signature, and Jackson SL1 & SL2H. The new BUDGET guitars are Great guitars! I’ve been selling off my expensive guitars to get a bunch of new Budget guitars.

@ethanhusak

7 күн бұрын

That's great!

I have high end, and cheap guitars. I have to say one of my favorites is my Harley Benton Te-52. No upgrades whatsoever. An absolute dream of a guitar.

@ethanhusak

6 сағат бұрын

Nice!

Excellent advice. It took me decades of playing and listening to know what I wanted from a guitar. For players beginner to advanced, forget the high end hype and you can get a really nice playing and sounding guitar for about $700 to a grand. Pay attention to how it sounds, both from the wood it's made of and the electronics. Start with the wood, build it according to your taste, and you can create a sound that is unique to you. Way better than a $5000 vintage or custom, and you'll have a personal connection with it. Something special in a human existence.

I agree but a Fender Strat is a great buy, it doesn't matter where it's made, just as long as It lasts! I personally have an American made one and it's really durable and just a workhorse for songwriting, and is gonna last me years. But with a custom shop or any guitar over $4000 ($2,700 US), I'd be scared to even use it.

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

I thought that at first with my custom shop LP, but I love it so much that I can't leave it sitting

@kajuiceboi3592

10 күн бұрын

@@ethanhusak Sick lol, that contradicts the video but I see your point on both aspects (the video and your comment).

@kurtbader9711

4 күн бұрын

Strats are lame compared to a mid-priced Charvel, new or from the 80s.You'll hate the buzz, the thinness of the sound, the neck profile and the cylindrical fretboard. Start with a compound radius neck and inexpensive wood like Alder or Basswood, may have to look to find a good one, and swap out the electronics for ones you like. Save a bunch of money and end up with a guitar you love to play.

I prefer really good highend guitars, and i am still buying them, because i am professionel player and i rely on quality and longlasting pleasure.

@ethanhusak

7 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@Raphaelhigginbotham

4 күн бұрын

😂😂😂😂😂

The main thing I have noticed with higher end instruments is that they have superior necks, much better fret work and much better electronics. The main reason they can cost so much is because they’re made in countries where they have to pay their workers more, so you have to pay more for the product. The most obvious example of this is you can get a made in Mexico strat for under £1,000, but a US made one will cost you over £1,000. Even though they’re more or less the same thing. Some of the most egregious examples of guitar prices I’ve seen recently are: A private stock PRS that was £12,000. A Fender Jerry Garcia replica that was £17,000. And a Fodera custom 6 string bass that was £22,000.

@ethanhusak

2 күн бұрын

Yeah the fact that the Fender Mexico and Fender American locations are very close to each other says a lot

I've spoken to a lot of luthiers and all of them say that bolt-on sonstruction is not really cheaper or easier than set neck. it's just a different process. makes total sense to me as well. i think it's a bit of a marketing stunt, just like the thing with longer sustain on set necks. just doesn't check out in practice and depends on a lot of stuff

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

That makes sense. To each their own

@joseislanio8910

5 күн бұрын

Bolt on is a cheaper process by reducing waste. A defective guitar with a set neck is completely discarded. With bolt on construction, a defect will be either on a neck or on a body, easy to replace.

Everything above $2,000 is ridiculous.

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

Some would disagree

@johnwojciech5245

2 күн бұрын

@@ethanhusak I do disagree. Have been playing for 35 years. I couldn't afford anything high-end until 3 years ago. My Suhr Modern Pro is far and away the best sounding, and feeling guitar I have ever touched. I play daily and it really is "that much" better. So articulate and resonant. When I pick up one my $800 instruments that I've painstakingly setup... it's just not the same. Tuning issues, ease of play, sound, tone, sustain... everything is notice-ably less. Now, is it $2k less? Hmm... maybe? But some days, nothing but my Suhr will do. Where my "line" is, is when you're paying $3k up for aesthetics. (relic'ed, rare woods, vintage... just not my thing.) $1000 gets you 85%. $1.5k gets you 90%. $2k gets you 95%. $3k gets you 100%.

@ethanhusak

2 күн бұрын

@@johnwojciech5245 well said. Thanks for sharing your experience

I don’t like binding on Les Paul’s. So I bought a studio and a tribute. Love them.♥️

@ethanhusak

13 сағат бұрын

Thanks for the comment!

Remember friends, you can't drive an expensive guitar to work!

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

Haha! But if you're lucky maybe you can make a buck with it

@stringsattached67

6 күн бұрын

No but I can use buying an expensive guitar as a reason to go to said job 😉

@rmaxtpmx

5 күн бұрын

You can't drive a house to work either, but it's probably worth having one.

@Mo11y666

3 күн бұрын

So the moral of the storry is keep the guitar and dont go to work. Got it.

I am not a rock star or even a country star. Self taught, played in a country band where a couple times we were paid NOT to play because none of us had any musical training. So have chosen NOT invest thousands into new guitars (except for my Taylor 710CE which I paid 1700 for in 2000 and don't regret cause it 'sang' to me at the shop!) Now I own a 400.00 Korean made ESP 1000 LP style (with travel case), and a PRS SE semi Hollow body (950.00) both from pawn shop where someone paid too much, could not afford to own at new price and I got a great deal. I know what to look for in a guitar and pawn shops are great places to get quality gear at a fraction of price!

@ethanhusak

2 күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment

I was playing a Gretsch White Falcon at a nee church and one of their other guitarist came up to me after service and was talking to me about the Falcon sitting on the stand and looking at it. I told him he could pick it up and play it if he wanted to, to which he said, "No... I don't want to know what good gear is like." Haha

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

😂😂

I have 50+ playing experience. One of best players I have is Baretta knockoff I got for 75 off OfferUp. First thing I did was adjust truss rod, next was polishing frets and installing new volume pot and old Gibson Dirty Finger I had laying around.

@gingerbeer914

Күн бұрын

Baretta? That would be a Kramer, right? They even made a Guitar Hero version of it for the PlayStation. I never liked guitars with only one pickup... especially if that was a shrill bridge pickup. But I could make an exception for the Fender Esquire, I guess...

@jmatthew9641

Күн бұрын

@@gingerbeer914 I`m not that much of a uterus myself.

@jmatthew9641

Күн бұрын

Subject shold be... Don`t Let Dotardly Guitar Eunuchs Tell You What`s The Shit....

I've owned a lot of expensive guitars. PRS, Gibson, EBMM, Fender CS, LsL, etc. They were all nice, but I never wanted to play them more than my '80s Fujigen Squiers. Granted, those guitars aren't as affordable as they once were, and they needed new electronics to sound their best, but from a workmanship point of view, they stacked up with all the high-end stuff. All my $2-3k guitars are gone, the Squiers remain.

I definitely agree about the "never going back" thing 👍 I had 15 guitars (Suhr, Gibson, Fender, Ibanez, ESP, etc), but I notice the price has very little to do with the playability and the exceptional sound of the instrument. The "Set-up is KEY" not the price of the instrument. Anything between $1,400 to $2,000 max is the sweet spot for ultimate value. Anything beyond that price point, You are only paying for the 'Logo". You don't get a guitar that is twice or thrice better when you buy a $8,000 to $10,000 guitar from a perfectly set-up and upgraded $2000, so stay away from "very" expensive guitars. For example, If I want fast playing guitar I'll definitely choose my super low action $1,200 ESP over the $5,000 Gibson LP. It's really NOT the price, it's the "set-up" that really matters. 💯

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

True

Owning quite a few higher end guitars, all I can say is, TRY BEFORE YOU BUY. A nice top and impressive spec-list will NOT mean the guitar feels or sounds like you had hoped or expected, even if it is over 3k in price and the spec-list looks like it's what you've always been after. Oth, I have yet to try a sub-1k guitar which matches anything 2k-ish unless we're talking QC failures like a Gibson SG Modern that had frets so low I couldn't do a bend if my life depended on it. But as said before, I didn't try that one and just ordered it based on specs and reviews. Gotta blame the internet though, it's not easy to find shops that stock a good amount of decent guitars these days around here.

@ethanhusak

3 күн бұрын

Very true

Would like to have a greater amount of time teach myself, 2 jobs can get in the way. About a year ago I purchased a 2021 Epiphone LP modern on reverb, listed as used-excellent for $540. Looked like new out of the box with a good look over, couldn’t find one thing wrong. The tones and playability were well above what I expected. Decent bang for the buck.

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Awesome!

After twenty years of playing and collecting guitars from Gibsons to custom made stuff to Yamaha Pacifica to Squire and many Ibanez etc.... All I'll say is, if you want a really high end guitar at a good price, look no further than FGN from Japan. Or Vola from Japan. Fender/Gibson USA level build quality and you get an instrument for life for all purposes. Some under a grand and some under two grand. All well worth it.

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment

Squier Classic Vibe 60s Stratocaster, bought used from Guitar Center website in about 2018 for $285. Love it! Did a minor setup myself, and later replaced the wonky 5-way switch.

I have bought,sold, traded and most importantly played all kinds. Bang for the buck for me has always been Ibanez. Still have my RG550 Road Flare Red that I purchased in 1997 with my own money at 16 years old. Not for sale.

@ethanhusak

3 күн бұрын

Awesome!

Precisely the reason why I went to a local luthier for a custom shop guitar. Cost me 4k and the quality is from another planet along with the specs (most copied from esp; SS frets, dual action truss rod, reinforced neck structure etc). My Gibson V is amazing to play, but the quality is completely shit. The fretboard has tooling marks and air pockets have appeared under the lacquer. Shouldn’t have such issues at that price range. I have cheap versions from other brands as well with better finish, but I must say the playability is worse (e.g. Not possible to set the strings as low etc).

I put fender ultra noiseless on my Squier. Upgraded the electronics and saddles. Totally awesome.

@ethanhusak

3 күн бұрын

Sweet

As a left-handed guitarist lower costing guitars have more manufacturing defects. I have unfortunately found this to be the case. After having been stuck with defective guitars that would cost more to repair than its value. I pawned these off and bought an American made guitar. This is just my experience and from 30+ years ago.

@ethanhusak

4 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing!

price isnt what matters, features and quality of the build are what matters. There are many brands that make excellent quality stuff for a lot less, and sometimes with more features. Look for a nice combo of reliability of the build, hardware quality features, and price...... there are a lot of guitars from 600-1200USD that are in such a nice sweet spot.

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

That Citizen guitar I show in my most recent video is a great example of that!

just got my epiphone explorer and i’m satisfied

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Awesome!

Music teacher here guitar player over 20 years of industry experience I can say in the first 45 seconds this guy is legit.

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

I really appreciate it!

The Acoustic you have is an Alvarez Regent. I just retrieved mine again. I also have a Guild MAH acoustic and I agree with what you have said. I am on tour with MIM strats and a MIJ tele and Squier CV 50's tele, a 80's bolt on EPi LP and H&K amp with a Yamaha backup. It is funny these are my low end axes and they do the job. I may own the only bolt on EPI LP in Germany! It cost $80 30 years ago. My high end stuff is in the states and I do not miss the playability just the opportunity. I have cutdown from over 210 guitars to 20 and more is not better. I would have spent half the money on lessons if I were wiser. My cheapest strat stands up to my strat deluxe, and my best Epi are on par with my LP Custom and Studio. My Alvarez is not as good as my Yari or masterworks tone but very close in playability and hundreds cheaper.

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment!

What do you mean binding costs significantly more? There are low end Ibanez and Jacksons with binding. You're saying those are a labor of love? GTFO. Also, no there's not a significant upcharge for setneck vs bolt on, nor a tonal benefit.

Ok you’re probably 100% right, but what is that tele style guitar with the bigsby in the back?? Looks super cool 🔥

@ethanhusak

9 күн бұрын

That is a Citizen Model C2. It sits somewhere between a tele and a les paul

Got a mint Schecter C-6 deluxe (w/ official floyd rose) on Reverb for $350, with a few minor adjustments and new strings it shreds.

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

Heck yeah!

guitars used to be cheap, we never needed fancy inlays or binding. then an industry popped up, making junk guitars for the whim of bored guitarists. Now there is no more old growth hardwood. Luckily, currently an even smaller percentage actively play a guitar than 30 years ago.

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

Some people complain that Gibson and Fender are still making the same guitars they made 50 years ago. Sure, there are exceptions, but their primary lines of guitars are still those old ones. Thoughts?

@godsinbox

9 күн бұрын

@@ethanhusak people love nostalgia, they tried 'new' models and failed. More Interesting to me is that both makes originally had single coil pickup at a time where houses had one power outlet and one light per room. no one could afford the appliances that ultimately caused electrical interference in pickups. high gain amps and increasing household wealth meant humbuckers were required for the noise. I guess peak noise was computers with CRT monitors in the 90s?

This was a great video. I'm looking for something to 'upgrade' to but keep holding off as I flutter from one thing to the next. I really want a PRS but keep changing my mind about the SE range. I can sit down and play and to someone who can't play they will likely think I'm incredible. But to anyone who can actually play themselves I'm a complete amateur at best. I know I don't need a higher end guitar but then again I don't want to downgrade what I buy and then still feel like I want the thing I should have just bought in the first place. I suppose what I want is that thing that sits in my room and becomes impossible not to play everytime I walk past it

@ethanhusak

13 сағат бұрын

Check out my newest video! I talk about this

I finally got my dream Gibson. It was used and I traded in for it. I ended up getting it, but then I discovered the Yamaha Revstar. Had I known about that, and less than half the price, I would’ve got that instead and for better specs.

I bought an epiphone muse with an tremendous good sound. After I brought it to an guitar builder to rework the binding and the height of the strings it is tremendous. I think it is worth it.

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment

I have just got an epiphone les Paul custom and I love it, so will not be going higher up the food chain, cos as you say now I know what I can get get for higher price! Having said that I have a load of harley Benton’s too which you can’t beat for the money asked 🙏👍

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

I would like to try one of those epiphones

@Bobtheslide

10 күн бұрын

@@ethanhusak they are very good for any genre and play style ✊

Les Paul Classic is your best option

This USED to be true, but nowadays, US Custom Shop instruments are hit or miss. Especially with Gibson. Japanese made guitars are always top shelf.

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment

I got my first high end guitar saving up until my freshman year (04?). It was a Norlin-era 78' ES-335. I spent around 1300. My next high end guitar was a Red Firebird VII from 09' (a terrible guitar), that cost me 1200. I ran an Ampeg V4, Sound City, Roland JC-120, Marshall Bluesmaster, multiple modded JCM-900 with an 800 mode, Mesa Lonestar all for under 1000 and some under 600. I had many other crappier cheaper guitars used as backups to backups and a million boutique and cheap pedals bought for beans on craigslist and eBay. I just saw one of them, a Jaguar Thinline that I got for about 800 being sold for 3.2k. I even had Peavey T-40 that I got for free from a friend (that are now being sold for insane prices). About a decade ago I got rid of most of my gear because of apartment space and a shift to synthesizer. I bought new gear in 2017 before the boom. Got a VT-22 and a Norlin Era ES-347, run through an FX8. I spent 1700 on the ES-347 (now going for 3.5-4k at the same store I bought it from) and less than 700 on the other two pieces of gear. Recently I have been playing and writing a lot more and was looking into a backup guitar. It has become very clear that we are in a golden age of Indonesian production. Guitars like the Yamaha Revstar, G&L Tributes, Sires, etc. play and sound really good. And if you pop in some new electronics and pickups you are off to the races. Maybe you need to re-fret the guitar in 10 years. But the idea of spending money on a high end Gibson or Fender is legitimately insane. And there are also 100 different excellent luthiers releasing guitars for 2k that have legitimate advancements over comparable guitars. I just checked out the Valiant Jupiter (a Jazzmaster style guitar) that is cooler than any reissue I have seen. Though I wish high end guitars had the same availability that they did in the 00s-mid teens, it is cooler that I can put together 1k and buy a Revstar and a G&L Doheny Tribute and mod them to my specifications. As someone who has owned a fair amount of good gear over their life, this is actually a better time, as long as you can throw away your preconceptions. If all you care about is tone, wait until you're famous and get the real vintage guitars.

I own $2-$4K guitars and several in the $500-$1500 range. The high end guitars generally play better, sound better and hold tune better. However, the one I grab most often is a PRS SE standard with upgraded pickups and tuners. If I were to knock down the gloss on the back of the neck, it would rival my most expensive axe in terms of sound and playability.

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment

… or … buy guitars now, before they get even more expensive … Glad I bought mine mostly 10-20 years ago …

I did buy a Gibson Les Paul Standard & a PRS Custom 24 10Top (both are pre-owned). That's the start of my problem too as I'm going for Les Paul Custom or Private Stock/Wood Library. Luckily I ended up selling my Les Paul Standard (buying an E-II Eclipse II due to few factors & preference since I ❤ Les Paul body so much) & maintain my Custom 24 as I did try the Wood Library which the difference is only the cosmetic parts as PRS guitars are well built for me even for the normal one. I guess I buy guitars with value for money 😎

@ethanhusak

3 күн бұрын

Nice!

I have all sorts of high end guitars and my absolute favorites are japanese tokais in my opinion they are as good as custom shop gibsons if not better and they are less to buy than a normal standard gibson, i have gibson and fender custom shops so its not a matter of not being able to afford them just my opinion but definately worth checking out if anyone wants a great guitar without breaking the bank

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment

I have an Epiphone Firebird, cost about $700. It's awesome, excellent value. So I went looking for a high-end match, and found a Gibson Firebird, white, 1994 or so, and it was .. good. Got a Maestro vibrato installed. Didn't really light my fire. Pick-ups were a bit cool, was about to spend some appalling amount on new pick-ups and though. WTF am I doing? Sold it. I had a 1965 Jazzmaster for over 20 years and that spoiled me - couldn't face the upgrade when it started to wear out. Nothing is quite right. Got a Trussart Steelmaster. Neck's not quite right. Got a Fender Ampro Jazzmaster 2018. Feels like a toy. They ruin you.

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment

There are probably 10 million Fender Strats floating around the world. One is a completely worn out 61 sunburst that probably wouldn’t pull $200. It’s about to go on auction for $2-3 million. Why? It’s Rory Gallagher’s strat. Guitars aren’t special, players are.

@ethanhusak

2 күн бұрын

Haha yeah. Some of those celebrity guitars are going for insane prices

I've had amazing guitars, that I couldn't pay a down payment on today. An original 50's strat, a Parker USA fly classic, an original Ampeg Dan Armstrong, Gibson flying V, I hated the V but loved the others. Today I don't jam or play out anymore and you can upgrade a good cheap guitar for way less than you used to. If a once in a lifetime instrument falls in your lap, take it. But with modern manufacturing and cnc machines, you don't need to spend tens of thousands for a great guitar. I am building my next one as a partscaster, strat, and for 400 in parts and elbo grease I will have a better one than my 50's ever was. Players and investment guitars are for different purposes. After you reach excellent looks sound and playability then you are speculating about return on investment. And that's a different video altogether. Professionals who make millions even have some favorite very cheap guitars that they play and record with. Are we amateurs better than them? Buy what you can afford and what makes you happy. Either end of the scale doesn't matter, just enjoy what you have.

@ethanhusak

2 күн бұрын

Thanks for sharing

Back in the late 90s i bought a Gibson Les Paul Studio for $1,000 used but new condition but since have had cheap Epiphone's and Squier's and the difference in quality or playability is non existent to me i sill never pay over $500 on a guitar ever again and the guys i idolized when younger recorded with guitars that were probably not of the quality of what is offered for pennies nowadays

Gretsch Electromatic, Squier CV, Sire 3 & 5, Tokai etc...can be had for $400/650 respectively. Short: around $1500-1900 one can have three (3) very nice and playable guitars. Not talking resale value but just enjoying and playing and keeping the darn things 🤠 Got a Gretsch G5421 and Sire S3 hss. Not high end or anything but I don't mind if there is a dent or scratch on it and like them 😎

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

I think it's a great idea to buy things in that price range just to try things out until you figure out what you like

Could not agree more. Bought my first gtr many decades ago, have had vintage Gibsons, Taylor acoustic, etc. The marquee names, particularly new 'Custom Shop" guitars, are just stupid money. Goto guitar forums and check out recommendations. Yamaha strats rock, for example. Listen w your ears, not your eyes ;-)

@ethanhusak

10 сағат бұрын

Thanks for the comment

My basic pro 2 strat is 2k with a hard case. I have dropped 6k on mine total, because I snobbed the hell outta it. So it's setup exactly how I'd want it, inlay and all. I can name every part on my build and why it's there. I'm not wasting your time with that stuff. Know I chose my path, willingly, and all the money I spend I do so with a smile.

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

Heck yeah

Rather than cave to.custom shop prices for a nice guitar, I opted to build one from a kit. I upgraded the hardware, hand picked the pickups, and did all the finish, wiring, and set up work myself after researching what luthier skills were involved. I have a Les Paul, a ES-335, L-5, Strat, and a cpl Telecasters all for the price of maybe 1 Les Paul from the Gibson Custom Shop. For example, my L-5 Custom was a kit customed from the shop for $450, then hand selected hardware, just 1 neck pickup, and an acoustic style bridge total cost being abt $600. There is one flaw: the kit shop didn't do fret markers on the side, but I can fix that if I want to.

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

Awesome!

@philwood9760

5 күн бұрын

I have seen two video's where people said they wish they had learned to play guitar in the dark. Most pro's play from muscle memory, and don't look at fret markers.

The most expensive guitar I bought was 15 years ago. It was a Gibson Original Collection SG Special Vintage Cherry, which I purchased for 900 Euros. Now, they are at least 30% more expensive. I think it is good value for the money. I still play it every day. I also have an Epiphone Black Beauty III but prefer the sound of the Gibson over the Epiphone. It has more body and character. Love your take on the topic .

@ethanhusak

4 күн бұрын

Thanks!

ive got a gibson u s a ive had it for 32 years .But I modified a wolf 2019 wlp ,I have to admit ,I play the wolf more,Its cheap but very good It feels alot like my gibson ,only 450.00 with200.00 mods ,splitting and demarzio pickups,pots,Its just such a great fun guitar that stays in tune and never lets me down,So yeah, You can go down to budget giutars Youll be shocked at what a few mods can do for an already good budget guitar,But i did mod my gibson too.I had to one pickup went bad? So i put dimarzios in it too ,Lots of gibson pickups aint all that!Well Its got dimarzio life now,

Every really expensive guitar I have ever owned I ended up selling because I could not fall in love with it. i go for the mid level guitars like the EVH Wolfgang Special and the Charvel Pro Mod line, etc. I don't even play Gibson anymore.

The most expensive guitar i want is a 2k Ibanez prestige made in japan. I struggle wanting anything more. It would be a great instrument to learn and study guitar with. I'd probably get my next guitar 3-5years after that

@saltyassassin

Күн бұрын

I just got my Ibanez Prestige RG652AHM. It’s absolutely beautiful, and plays like a dream!

It's all about the amps...I wanted to know that before but I don't regret it. \m/ nice advices.

@ethanhusak

7 күн бұрын

Yeah I think every player has their preference on whether they need a better amp or better guitar

" Check back with me in a couple of weeks, and I'll probably have a video up ,of why you SHOULD BUY a high end guitar.." lmaoo..I damn near died at that one..!!! And the sad truth of it all is that , he's absofknloutely right...lol 😂😅😊

@ethanhusak

3 күн бұрын

It's there now😂😂

If you want a Tele...(I have all kinds, including a CS)...I'd recommend one that comes FULLY SET UP...to perfection...that also didn't cost a fortune. AIO TC4. I might get a second one. With better pups...it'll rival an MIA Tele,...sound better too. My CS purchase a few months ago was supposed to end my GAS....it only slowed it down...but now I'm buying budget Tele's to mod and tinker for the fun of it. At 62, I'm having a ball....and wifey is OK with it.

I an not a guitar player, I'm a keyboard player, (yeah one of those.). It's the same story with keyboards, you can buy a Nord, if you can afford it, but you can get a good Yamaha for a lot cheaper.

@ethanhusak

2 күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment!

I feel like there is nothing different about the Custom shop Les Pauls and the Epiphone Inspired by GCS, other than the logo on the headstock, the price, and no nibs on the fret ends on the Epiphone, which really don't matter at all.

@ethanhusak

3 күн бұрын

I would love to get my hands on some back to back to test them out

Just had a Gibson Custom Shop SG Special delivered waiting for me when I get home from work. I’ve wanted this guitar since I was 13, so over 20 years now! Played a used Mexican strat for a loooooong time.

@ethanhusak

6 күн бұрын

That's awesome! Enjoy it! The day you get it only happens once

Unless your playing stadiums, no one needs a guitar over $1k. You will get the great high end parts and craftmanship and any kid can work a summer job and save up to that amount. Youll get a great guitar that will last you a while as you wont outgrow it quickly. Theres also a lot of great options when you can spend a fair amount.

I own a chinese Les Paul, a Harley Benton tele and a Jackson Dinky and now i'm building a Japanese Jackson "Frankenstein" (JSX 94 Body + Performer PS3 neck + Floyd Rose) and i'm very happy.

@ethanhusak

7 күн бұрын

Awesome!

I have a few ESP's and a few Epiphones they sound great and play great. I don't feel like I'm missing out. Just play.

@ethanhusak

Күн бұрын

Thanks for the comment

It’s really a case of diminishing returns I think. We all pay through the nose for small improvements - and it’s largely due to higher labour costs in the USA for those models. I made a fabulous Telecaster myself using “high end” parts, and it really is every bit as good as the custom made models at a fraction of the price - AND it’s got music in it because I worked really hard to make it a great guitar. Just a thought.

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

That's awesome. I know not everyone would have the skills to pull that off

@andykenny5674

10 күн бұрын

@@ethanhusak 👍🏻 I learned everything from KZread, took my time, then at the very end I paid a pro £50 to set it up, which was the best £50 I spent, because he got it really nicely playable for me. Could probably have done that bit myself too, but I wanted to know if there were any problems with it that I hadn’t considered… Honestly, it was a lot of fun, and if I can do it then anyone can I assure you! Thanks for your reply mate!

I started with low end guitars and went to high end guitars then back to low end guitars because I really don’t see a difference other than the price. I’ve owned Fenders and Gibsons and found the Squires and Epiphones just the same playability and quality. But now!! I buy even more budget guitars and found certain MFG’s are even better than the high end guitars. They have more qualities like bone nuts, stainless steel frets and locking tuners. The pick ups are even Alinco 5’s with full size quality pots and switches. All under $500. 90% of people can’t afford high end guitars and it shows when the budget markets are killing them in sales.

Gibson Les Paul Signature series, which is a semi hollow body, and the best guitar I've ever played. I can make sounds on that guitar that I cannot come close to playing on anything else.

@ethanhusak

2 күн бұрын

Awesome!

There is a lot of difference in acoustics. A shitty acoustic is much worse than a shitty electric. I love my Martin. It was a cheaper model about 1,200 and it sounds about as good as a d-18.

@ethanhusak

22 сағат бұрын

Yeah definitely. I don't have experience with too many acoustics, but even picking them up in a store to try out you can tell

I've owned one Gibson, SG standard 4 Fenders One USA 2 MIM I MIJ 7 Epipiphones 5 Squires and I loved the higher end ones but the lower end stuff was really just as good

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

A lot of people seem to have that same experience

Why care about what kind of guitar someone else plays. That being said you can get an 80's Peavey T-15 (or similar Ibanez/Yamaha) in great shape for $400 if you are just starting out.

@ethanhusak

14 сағат бұрын

Thanks for the comment

Great guitars don't ruin you but as someone who builds Guitars for Charity it raises the Bar and makes us build better Instruments and to tailor sound and tone using everything from Tone woods to Hardware. Warriors start at $5K-$6K and I have 54 Prototype 6 string Electric and its Magical, but I built a Telecaster that I finished on same day Warrior arrived and the Telecaster I built holds its own

happened to me, after I got an ESP custom shop I don't wanna play the ESP standards anymore lol

@ethanhusak

8 күн бұрын

😂

Go play them. If you don't notice the difference then you don't need it. It's very apparent to me. I only buy nice guitars but sometimes expensive does not mean high end. PRS...

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

Very true

I thought that same thing when i first started playing. Buy cheap. So i got two 400$ guitars. Well they both need a fret job. Pickups sucked. Bridge needs upgrading. Tunners HAD to go. Plastic nut with zero sustain. I have 800 into one and 650 into the other. Just to stay in tune and sound good. They still need a fret jod and a nut replacement. After all that i still ended up getting two Prestige's. Start with the best you can afford

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

Yeah, it seems that buying cheap costs you in the end. Thanks for the comment!

Good video. I like my $500 guitars. I think I'd like something nicer in the future. Currently using a eart t380, I love it. So easy to play and neck is comfy.

@ethanhusak

7 күн бұрын

Right on!

Lately, I've gotten very nice guitars on the used market. I have four Les Paul Customs, three of which are reissues -- '57 Black Beauty, '68 blonde natural, and a new '68 reissue in tri-burst. I got three of the four used in minty condition for VERY LOW prices. In fact, I'm on my way this weekend to pick up a used special-issue Studio -- yeah, it's a cheaper model -- for a fraction of the new price with a minty hard Gibson case to boot. The Customs play like butter, and are worth every penny -- again, used at less than half the new price. I can't tell you how many compliments I've received on their appearance and tone. One is a wine red, 2000 regular Custom [the only Custom I have that's not a reissue] and it looks and sounds awesome. I also was fortunate enough to pick up a 2003 Les Paul Supreme in root beer finish for $2k. It was absolutely mint, as was its case. This was the first year of the Supreme -- 2003 -- and they only made 2003 of them. It's worth a lot more than I paid for it. I say go for a minty USED high-end guitar. When it was time for me to buy a student sax for my son, I went to a store that was run by my old Jr. High band leader. Rather than buying a new student-quality horn, he sold me a nice semi-pro Yamaha used by one of the teachers there for the same money as the new student model.

@ethanhusak

5 күн бұрын

Good stuff! I've snagged a couple good deals along the way. Got a 2017 Pelham Blue Firebird for $800 a couple years ago. They're going for around $2k now

best guitar i ever had was made by honer cant remember the model but it had a floating bridge i paid £25 for it with a 10w amp second hand and it always stayed in relative tune even when left for days and the action was perfect, Unfortunately my exe sold it for a bag of weed i have never played or picked up a guitar since,

As a lefty guitarist, there's not much out there on the high-end market for me anyway. I prefer to find a good used axe for a moderate price and mod it to my liking!

The point of difference becomes less and less the more you spend. Regardless, buy what you can afford. Custom shop guitars are beautiful things and life is short!! Enjoy!!

@ethanhusak

5 күн бұрын

Well said!

I have a Gibson LP Studio and a Fender American Performer PJ bass. I'm pretty happy with what I have and don't feel that need to go higher actually.

@ethanhusak

10 күн бұрын

If it's good then it's good!

@jasondorsey7110

10 күн бұрын

Those aren't cheap guitars, they're just not "expensive"...for what those custom shop guitars cost, I prefer to just track down solid player-grade vintage instruments for less and leave the gearsnobs with no room for critique

@Bassboy1987

9 күн бұрын

@@jasondorsey7110 I know anything over $1000 to $1500 is the max I'll go for a guitar.

Rickenbacker holds its value very well. Epiphones are good to bring 50% retail. I own one Rickenbacker I paid $3200 and is now worth $5000. The high end guitars simply have better resale.