Guitar for around a grand.

It's my 40th in November and my other half is buying me a guitar.

Been playing over 20 years and have never owned a decent one! Any spare cash has gone on buying an acoustic (or insuring the car) rather than stretching for a USA made tele or whatever.

Currently own a squier tele with antiquity pickups in. I record through my PC and do not need a gigging guitar. It suffices but isn't exactly inspiring.

I'm leaning towards getting a hollowbody: something about them says 'maturity'. :mrgreen: And I wouldn't mind playing a bit more jazz in my old age.

If a rickenbacker showed up I would also be happy, because I love that sound. A blues orientated guitar? Great! Jst call me BB. There's not much that would disappoint me to be honest (except anything with a locking trem - unplayable things!).

Also love the idea of vintage guitars, something I can cherish, but they are very expensive.

Budget is around a grand sterling and it will almost certainly be spent on a used guitar.

Any ideas?

Play as many as you can. You have to make this decision. You'll know when you find the right one.

Play as many as you can. You have to make this decision. You'll know when you find the right one.

Agreed. But if I must make a recommendation based on your wishes I'd say try to find a used ES-339. It is one of the only Gibson semi hollow guitars to come in at around a grand (used).

do some research, lots of vintage guitars arent as expensive as you think i saw a few on ebay for under 1000 dollars but if you are looking for old gibsons and fenders that's a different story lots of 70's era guitars out there are amazing. check out DeMont guitars or Norman's Rare Guitars they have some older models and alot are really cheap. Norman's even has an under $500 dollars section but not all are vintage so be careful.

As for hollowbodies my friend collects ibanez models and some of their hollowbodies are nice. you might need a Pup change but they are quality as it is. If ibanez isn't your cup of tea then try an ES-335 or thinline. the options are endless.

You've got a lot of options for a grand! You mentioned hollow, I got my Gibson ES-333 for exactly that. I call it my poor man's 335, but it's exactly the same guitar with a satin finish and an access panel in the back (a plus for me!). They were made in the early '00s, and would definitely nail the BB ...

A brand new American Standard tele is 999 on MF, but you could find a ton of nice teles used at your budget. Maybe something thinline? Fender's Classic Series '72 Thinline is only 749 new, but not USA made. Still a nice guitar.

I just did a search on gbase for a used semi-hollow between 900-1100 and came up with a bunch of guitars, from MIJ Fender Thinlines, a '53 Epiphone Zephyr Regent, some old 60s Harmonys, even a D'angelico jazz box. You've got plenty of choices in your price range, so happy hunting!

Go spend a day at Frailer's in Runcorn- play and haggle :grin:

This is going to sound stupid but playing a load of guitars and picking the 'best' isn't really a priority for me. If I did that I'd no doubt leave with a standard USA tele. But that's not what I'm aiming for.

(That being said I probably will nip into somewhere like Frailers, see if I fall in love with a ballpark sound).

Here's my reasoning: most guitars around that price point are likely to be 'acceptable' from a sound/playability viewpoint. Right?

I've been playing that long that I'm not averse to a skinny neck, or a fat neck. Medium frets, vintage frets. I'll adapt! Plus, you can make most guitars sound a certain way if you really try, and by the same rule no guitar is going to be so versatile that it will do everything perfectly. So why not roll the dice?

Aesthetics is the real issue here because this is a romantic purchase. 25 years of playing and finally I get a pretty decent guitar that I won't be treating like crap. Part of that aesthetic appeal will certainly be the knowledge that it's a very well made instrument for the price, I will say that much.

Problem is I have no clue as to what represents good value over 150 pounds sterling.

Will go and research some of the suggestions made. Thanks guys. :cool:

I've been playing that long that I'm not averse to a skinny neck, or a fat neck. Medium frets, vintage frets. I'll adapt! Plus, you can make most guitars sound a certain way if you really try, and by the same rule no guitar is going to be so versatile that it will do everything perfectly.

Bloody hell man, you'll get nowhere on this forum with that attitude :lol:

What do you reckon to Gordon Smith guitars?

http://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/

In your price range, I think you're at kind of a funny spot. It's not enough to buy a really super nice guitar, but it's too much to buy a cheap one. Gibson does have some low-end models in that range, though I'm not thrilled with some of the compromises they make to get them out the door.

However, a grand is plenty to get a really nice import and have a pro setup and pickup upgrade done to it. After being in the hands of a good tech, the guitar will play and sound like something from the custom shop.

Take the Epiphone line, for example. There are a lot of models that sell for $699 new, and used go for $4-500.

Get a pro setup including a level and crown and a bone nut: $150-200
Get a set of really great pickups. It's hard to beat the Duncan '59: $150-200

Epi has an ES-345 for $699 (BB played a 355 before they made his custom model, which depending on the year, differs only in the inlays).

Ibanez and other import lines have similar guitars for similar prices.

Edit: Just had a "duh" moment and realized you're talking $1000 pounds, but the strategy still holds. I think the conversion rate will help you out quite a bit, and you'll easily get a dream guitar in your budget.

Guild Starfires are nice vintage hollowbodies.

Go spend a day at Frailer's in Runcorn- play and haggle :grin:

Look at this bad boy.

What could possibly go wrong with such a purchase? :mrgreen:

http://www.frailers.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=2146

http://www.frailers.com/ProdImages/gib-225-lg.jpg

Just remember that just because your budget is £1000 (lucky bstard btw) doesn't mean you have to spend that much. Play as many guitars as you can. Google search all the little guitar shops in s 50 mile radius and go to them all! There are always little gems hidden in those places.

Remember, any money you save on the guitar could go towards a sweet amp. Arguably just as important as the guitar in terms of tone.

Edit: If I had to suggest something I'd say a classic series tele, got mine for £300 used and it's incredible.

Bloody hell man, you'll get nowhere on this forum with that attitude :lol:

What do you reckon to Gordon Smith guitars?

http://www.gordonsmithguitars.com/

Haha. I think a lot of my attitude has to do with the fact I'm strictly a bedroom warrior, not a serious musician with bandmates relying on me.

Gordon Smith guitars fill me with a mixture of pride and dread. They're local, but possibly too local. I used to have a Shergold masquerader when I was young and you sometimes see them selling for a fair few quid these days. I HATED that guitar with a passion because it was English made. I literally destroyed it with sandpaper and threw it away. :oops:

Just remember that just because your budget is £1000 (lucky bstard btw) doesn't mean you have to spend that much. Play as many guitars as you can. Google search all the little guitar shops in s 50 mile radius and go to them all! There are always little gems hidden in those places.

Remember, any money you save on the guitar could go towards a sweet amp. Arguably just as important as the guitar in terms of tone.

Edit: If I had to suggest something I'd say a classic series tele, got mine for £300 used and it's incredible.

Pfft. The decent amp will be purchased when I'm 50!

Strangely one of the reasons I might be tempted to buy the best solid wood jazzbox I can find is that it might sound good unplugged, DI'd or through a reasonably cheap solid state bedroom amp.

Or so I've been led to believe.

My 40th was recently, I had my heart set on (and money set aside for) a PRS McCarty until I actually played one for any length of time, ditto the custom 22. Just couldn't fall in love with these guitars.

Got myself an Gibson LP Standard instead from ebay. If I did it again I would probably go for a Gibson 330, though doubt they'll come up for 1K

Play as many as you can. You have to make this decision. You'll know when you find the right one.

Exactly. These questions always puzzle me. "Tell me what guitar to buy." Do some research and play a lot of guitars. We can't possibly know what you'll like. You'll know when you find the right one. Just like you did when you met your wife.

Exactly. These questions always puzzle me. "Tell me what guitar to buy." Do some research and play a lot of guitars. We can't possibly know what you'll like. You'll know when you find the right one. Just like you did when you met your wife.

I can understand your exasperation grandad but this is part of my research. :wink:

I've never played a really good guitar. Ever. But I'm a pretty competent player.

If there's a consensus view that certain guitars are overpriced and others far from it, then I'd like to know. Also I've made it pretty clear that I'm not as fussy as a lot of 'serious' players, I'm not looking for the mythical guitar that fits my hands like excalibur. In fact I doubt such a guitar exists for most players, otherwise we'd all have just the one, right?

Looking for a bit of practical advice and lots of inspiration, which I have already received.

My advice would be get something US made that's a classic guitar from a classic brand, that you hear a lot on favourite records, etc. If that means second hand and going over budget, so be it.

The likes Gordon Smith, etc, are great, and make for smart rational choices ... but you'll kind of feel as though you've missed out.

For example I have a Gordon Smith GS2 and love it, though would swap in a heart beat for an old beat up Gibson Les Paul Junior, even though the GS2 is probably a better guitar.

used 52 hot rod. or a used ibanez archtop and used twin reverb

I turned 40 last year and went the same route. I've got some pretty nice guitars (GE Smith Tele, MIJ 62 Reissue). Had an SRV Strat and a Gibson Herb Ellis (ES165). I traded my ES-165 for the GE Smith. The Jazz boxes don't sound as great unplugged as you think they are going too.

Anyway, I ended up getting the Les Paul Studio Joe Bonamassa model. Loved the idea of a Gold Top and Burstbuckers. Ended up paying around $1200 with a coupon. Absolutely love it but still not over the GE Smith.

Look at this bad boy.

What could possibly go wrong with such a purchase? :mrgreen:

http://www.frailers.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=2146

http://www.frailers.com/ProdImages/gib-225-lg.jpg
I just want to add that I love this guitar.

Take your time and search high and low. I'm confident that between your budget and open mindedness you will find what your looking for. Even if you don't know what that is, yet. Happy hunting.

Hate to harp on it but "You'll know it when you play it" is true. Go to your local guitar shops and pull some 6 string hollow body boxes off the wall, plug them in and play. At the price point you're looking at, and the fact you have no bias toward any particular brand, you're really not going to go wrong. Based on what I've read, go with the prettiest one you find because all things being equal, if she's a hosebeast you won't enjoy playing if you have to put a paper bag on the headstock every time she's on your lap.....
I would humbly suggest you try Heritage (http://heritageguitar.com/indexa.htmlhttp://) or Godin (http://www.godinguitars.com/godinproductlistingp.htm) in addition to the standard Fender or Gibsons.
Another possibility would be a custom built like these, Creston (http://crestonguitars.com/), if this is a once in a lifetime purchase, why not make it unique?

I would be looking at the vintage ibanez artist series semi-hollows.

Look at this bad boy.

What could possibly go wrong with such a purchase? :mrgreen:

http://www.frailers.com/Scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=2146

http://www.frailers.com/ProdImages/gib-225-lg.jpg

Yup!
I'd buy one of the Po' boy vintage guitars.
That 225 with wrong bridge/tailpiece is cool.
Or a single-pickup ES125.
Or a Melody Maker...
There's nothing like the feel of old lumber.
You'll feel like you have a real piece of history in the house, not just a 6-string.

Used AVRI Tele IMO.

"Vintage" + "$1000" screams late model Guild Bluesbird. The later Westerly, RI ones were chambered, thus closer to a hollow body than the earlier ones.

You could also do a Guild T-50 for $1000 if you insist on a "real" semi hollow. I think a starfire would be 50% more, looking at other recommendations here.

Check Letstalkguild and look everywhere. There are not a lot of Guilds around compared to other brands.

Oh.....also, look for a used Carvin semi-hollow. Also should be right in the $1k area.

"Vintage" + "$1000" screams late model Guild Bluesbird. The later Westerly, RI ones were chambered, thus closer to a hollow body than the earlier ones.

You could also do a Guild T-50 for $1000 if you insist on a "real" semi hollow. I think a starfire would be 50% more, looking at other recommendations here.

Check Letstalkguild and look everywhere. There are not a lot of Guilds around compared to other brands.

Oh.....also, look for a used Carvin semi-hollow. Also should be right in the $1k area.

We aren't all Americans. Read the OP again.

For £1K I'd look for a late 50s or early 60s Gibson ES-125. If you get the base model (non-thin, one P-90, no cutaway) they can be had at that price. It's vintage -- they aren't making any more of them -- and they are surprisingly versatile.

We aren't all Americans.
You know you're just dying to talk loud and shoot guns in the air randomly like we all do.

You know you're just dying to talk loud and shoot guns in the air randomly like we all do.

Damn right :cool:

hey man, theres a little vintage guitar shop in Horncastle Lincolnshire, mostly extremely high end kit but this just came up, seems meant for you http://www.oldhatguitars.com/guitars-and-amps/fender-telecaster/fender-telecaster-usa-aqua-marine-1988

1988 tele, few dings but cheap price

Have you checked out the Peerless Guitars website? The Peerless factory has long been making guitars for a multitude of renown brands and certainly no issue with quality, specialising in hollowbody models.

http://www.peerlessguitars.eu/#/electric/4549480806

I'm gassing for a Gigmaster SC myself... if they offered a quilted maple version i'd jump on it in a second.

If you're prepared to scour Ebay you can find some bargains. I got my Gretsch Brian Setzer Hot Rod there for just under a grand.

If you want something vintage, you'll be lucky to get a Fender other than a Mustang but you never know.

If you consider late 70s / early 80s as vintage, and don't have a problem with Japanese guitars, there are some nice semis in your price range from Yamaha (the SA series) or Westone (either the 335 style Rainbow or 135 style Session). These guitars are very highly regarded.

I got my Gretsch Brian Setzer Hot Rod there for just under a grand.

Woow!!!! Super deal :cool:

hey man, theres a little vintage guitar shop in Horncastle Lincolnshire, mostly extremely high end kit but this just came up, seems meant for you http://www.oldhatguitars.com/guitars-and-amps/fender-telecaster/fender-telecaster-usa-aqua-marine-1988

1988 tele, few dings but cheap price

Nice! BTW, the shop labeled it wrong. That's not Aquamarine (which wasn't even introduced until the late 90's) that's Gunmetal Blue, and is indeed exceedingly rare. Very, very cool color that you almost never see.

I second the vote on checking out Guilds. Bluesbirds are amazing, as are the Starfires. You might luck into a Starfire for a grand, but you's have to be in just the right place at the right time. Bluesbirds are some flat out amazing guitars, and a grand should get you one. The last one I bought (granted, this was 8-9 years ago) I paid $400 for. It was more than 4X that money new. Super deal on a great guitar, probably should have kept it, but we never totally bonded. It had a super flamey hi-grade top and I've just never been into fancy wood like that.

Play as many as you can. You have to make this decision. You'll know when you find the right one.

I agree with this. :)

If I had a grand to spend on a guitar, I'd get two guitars. I'd get a MIM Fender Tele and a Strat. In fact, I would get them with upgraded pickups and other stuff. Just look on Craigslist, and I'm sure you'll find something you like. This just what I'd do, but if you want a nice hollowbody Gibson ES-333's can be found for around a grand. Not quite a 335, but still very nice.

You should just about be able to get a decent used PRS Custom 24 or 22. Its a no-brainer!

I got a Custom 24 for my 40th birthday present albeit new for about £1400.

Epiphone Casino and an amp. Or, Epiphone Casino and MIM Strat.

I got my Gretsch Brian Setzer Hot Rod there for just under a grand.

Woow!!!! Super deal :cool:

Oh yes indeedy!:wink:

If I had a grand to spend on a guitar, I'd get two guitars. I'd get a MIM Fender Tele and a Strat. In fact, I would get them with upgraded pickups and other stuff. Just look on Craigslist, and I'm sure you'll find something you like. This just what I'd do, but if you want a nice hollowbody Gibson ES-333's can be found for around a grand. Not quite a 335, but still very nice.

Right now with the market the way it is in the US, I'd get two used MIA guitars. $1K could get you a used MIA strat and a used MIA tele around here on the right day of the month. Crap, for a grand, you might be able to get close something like an SRV or EJ strat, or an AVRI.

Right now with the market the way it is in the US, I'd get two used MIA guitars. $1K could get you a used MIA strat and a used MIA tele around here on the right day of the month. Crap, for a grand, you might be able to get close something like an SRV or EJ strat, or an AVRI.

Unfortunately the OP's the opposite side of the pond.

Guitarist magazine have had a Washburn jazzbox as a long-term test guitar and seemed to quite like it. It has an aged (not relic-ed! I.e. satin 'burst finish) finish and, IIRC, was priced around the £500 mark brand spanking new. You could always invest in one of those, an upgraded pickup and a small valve amp!

Thanks for all the replies, some great ideas!

Been following a couple of ES 125's on eblag.

An early 60's thinline cutaway (single p90) went for £810.00.

Also following an earlier non cutaway, full depth, but it's a little but suspect around the neck joint.

There was a near mint es125 on gumtree but it was in london. Just had replacement tuners, 1000 pounds...

The 88 telecaster in mystery green had me thinking a bit: that's about the time I started playing the guitar. Used to really like the Charvel Surfcaster but never had the money to buy one. They're rare now and would be within in my budget....

Another idea might be to find something from 1972, year of my birth.

Been told I can pull the trigger now if I see the right deal, live with it a while and maybe sell it before my birthday to fund another. :grin:

You know you're just dying to talk loud and shoot guns in the air randomly like we all do.

You ommitted wearing check trousers on holiday (both sexes):lol:


On to answer the question ,what about trying a Gibson midtown about 1100 folders

Any ideas?

I've got an idea. Go to a store and try as many different models in your price range as you can. Then check out anything that inspires you no matter the price range. See if there are any lower priced models that inspire you. Look at any used items that they have and try anything that grabs you.

What do you want to play? Rock? Blues? Jazz? Country? There are models suited for all these, and models suited for more than one. The $1000.00 range gives you a fair amount of leeway. I just bought this (below). It lists at $999. That's close to your target. It's great for Jazz and Blues, and even rock with its humbuckers. So I've got lots of options. Don't rush and find what moves you. Otherwise you won't be happy and that'll mean a guitar that doesn't get used. Good luck!

I'm not looking for the mythical guitar that fits my hands like excalibur. In fact I doubt such a guitar exists for most players, otherwise we'd all have just the one, right?

It does for me... I call it the "telecaster" :)

It does for me... I call it the "telecaster" :)

Telecaster not discounted. :mrgreen:

Someone also mentioned a used Eric Johnson strat. I do want to try one out.