Guitars - You Only Get What You Pay For.

[SteveB]

In the light of Les Paul's demise, and some of the previous comments from Posters about their guitar preferences, I took a look around YouTube on guitar manufacturing and was pleasantly engaged by Tubes on Fender-USA, Gibson-USA etc. Er, then I found this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFFvrHHct70

Some of the comments below the Tube may raise an hackle or two.

[launched]

I actually enjoyed that video. Happy looking workers dilligently sanding, routing, buffing, painting and testing. A great job for poor pay, probably. Granted, some of the construction/assembly methods were unclear, but my overall vibe was positive.

The godlike luthiers who think they are king of the world just don't do much for me. Maybe someday, but not right now. Not sure what others think, but I would not be able to afford a guitar without mass production. I think somebody like Les Paul would be happy to know that I was able to get a guitar at all, let alone a "good" one.

Thanks for posting the video, Steve! It kind of made my day. Wish we could affordably do that kind of thing here in the US. Maybe even work there 

Now I'll go back to recording with my $100 piece of crap SG... 

Peace,

Mark

[SteveB]

LCD - Oh, I'm with you on the unable-to-afford-without-mass-production gig, and I'm not criticising the individuals who are making the guitars. It was the juxtaposition of the two manufacturing set-ups & the comments below the Tube with irked. I've a £99 no-name Strat copy which I've played for nearly a decade without any fuss or bother, and I've recently purchased a £250 Squier Strat which is a beautiful-sounding & looking guitar and is Made-in-China, which I am now looking at in a slightly different light. I was once bored sh*tless in a pub while two mates argued over whether Made-in-Japan or Made-in-USA was actually worth the £200 difference. After watching the Tubes, I'm still bewildered.

[launched]

...I'm not criticising the individuals who are making the guitars...

I knew that, and probably should have pointed it out in my reply. Anyway, I read some of the comments as well and didn't understand all the negativity. From what I saw the guitars were effectively hand made.

In my neck of the woods, overseas manufacturing threatens job security which will spawn a negative reaction whether somebody meant it or not. The term sweat shop subliminally means "Some third-world worker has my job".

Oh, and yes, I think whether it was made in Japan/Korea/China/Indonesia/Mexico or US is a confusing issue. My take is that the workmanship is not an issue - It's the quality of the components. The US (Fender & Gibson) models will have the locking tuners, roller nuts, better pickups, additional options etc. We will know about the woods used, too. But I don't know for sure about all that... 

Mark

[Geir]

The history of fender shows in many ways that it's not where a guitar is made that matters. As far as I remember they where in deep shit and quality falling, the competition from far east ( mostly Japan ) with copies and lookalikes that where much better (to some degree this applied to Gibson as well I think) made them get a grip at last but in the 70s .....  well ..........

And how is it now? I'm not convinced that a Fender or Gibson really is worth the extra you have to pay for the name ....

[SteveG]

I did at one time look into the Chinese LP knockoffs. Apparently some of them are made from plywood, real crap. But others are made form the "proper" woods, decent electrics etc, and the only way they can be told apart is that the knockoff is better finished ..... all depends which factory you get it from. Dunno, and cant afford to risk the £400 to find out....

[launched]

I did at one time look into the Chinese LP knockoffs. Apparently some of them are made from plywood, real crap. But others are made form the "proper" woods, decent electrics etc, and the only way they can be told apart is that the knockoff is better finished ..... all depends which factory you get it from. Dunno, and cant afford to risk the £400 to find out....

Take off the electronics plate in the back to tell if it's plywood. A simple thing that a seller shouldn't mind (I am not the brainchild that thought of this, but wanted to pass the info along).

I find a Les Paul to be kinda heavy - I play a buddy of mine's all the time ('71 Gold Top - Sweeet!), but after an hour or so of standing up with that thing it really puts a strain on the old shoulder. Great tone and sustain, though.

I would be interested in an SG knockoff - Never seen one of those before. I might buy one if it was available, though...

Mark

[guitarron]

I did at one time look into the Chinese LP knockoffs. Apparently some of them are made from plywood, real crap. But others are made form the "proper" woods, decent electrics etc, and the only way they can be told apart is that the knockoff is better finished ..... all depends which factory you get it from. Dunno, and cant afford to risk the £400 to find out....

I find a Les Paul to be kinda heavy - I play a buddy of mine's all the time ('71 Gold Top - Sweeet!), but after an hour or so of standing up with that thing it really puts a strain on the old shoulder. Great tone and sustain, though.

you get used to the weight after you use it a while-wide straps help there

[robsmith]

Hello,

There are some really good guitars out there (some from China, some from other countries). 

The Blueridge line of acoustics has a good reputation for great sound and construction (solid wood, etc.).  There are other GREAT inexpensive guitars out there.  I recently purchased a Seagull Entourage Rustic (made in Canada, by Godin).  It cost just under $300.00, but the factory setup was flawless and the guitar sounds and plays better currently than my Martin D-15, which I paid over $800.00 for!  I have an appointment with a luthier for a proper setup on the Martin.

I think that what makes a great guitar is *in the way it is assembled* and the woods used in construction (the Seagull has a solid cedar top, laminate back and sides).  If the neck angle is correct and the fingerboard radius is good with a proper setup for intonation and action, then it will be easy to play and sound great! Inexpensive guitars with at least a solid top can be had for pretty cheap.

I am talking mostly about acoustic guitars, I don't know if having a solid electric body makes any difference in sound or ot, as opposed to a laminate.

Bob

[guitarron]

Hello,

There are some really good guitars out there (some from China, some from other countries). 

The Blueridge line of acoustics has a good reputation for great sound and construction (solid wood, etc.).  There are other GREAT inexpensive guitars out there.  I recently purchased a Seagull Entourage Rustic (made in Canada, by Godin).  It cost just under $300.00, but the factory setup was flawless and the guitar sounds and plays better currently than my Martin D-15, which I paid over $800.00 for!  I have an appointment with a luthier for a proper setup on the Martin.

I think that what makes a great guitar is *in the way it is assembled* and the woods used in construction (the Seagull has a solid cedar top, laminate back and sides).  If the neck angle is correct and the fingerboard radius is good with a proper setup for intonation and action, then it will be easy to play and sound great! Inexpensive guitars with at least a solid top can be had for pretty cheap.

I am talking mostly about acoustic guitars, I don't know if having a solid electric body makes any difference in sound or ot, as opposed to a laminate.

Bob

i have an old seagull 12 string-made of cherry /cedar top used it on the woodstock song i did along with my breedlove

it's a great guitar-plays-sounds
i think hoop's got one too