Chinese guitars

tosh · April 2nd, 2005, 12:40 PM

Ive been checking out some of the latest Gretsch offerings.I was bowled over by the quality for money ratio on their cheaper end guitars.The fretwork, rosewood(on the neck) and finish and sound were all superb.
We as guitarists, must be getting a lot more for our money nowadays.
What do you guys think of these new guitars?

Andy R · April 2nd, 2005, 04:08 PM

I haven't checked those out, but some of the other Chinese made guitars, like Blueridge and Eastman, have incredible bang for the buck!

Colo Springs E · April 2nd, 2005, 04:13 PM

.....haven't had a chance to check out the Gretschs, but man! Those Blueridges? One nice guitar!

-E

bri · April 2nd, 2005, 07:32 PM

a Barricuda Strat clone. The darn thing looks great, sounds great and plays great for $179.00 CDN. In my day,(here we go) a cheap guitar was almost unplayable, sounded like crap and looked cheap. I guess it's computerized milling machines that make the difference.
This the golden age of guitdom.
Brian

tosh · April 3rd, 2005, 05:55 AM

Indeed....As consumers we have such a huge choice of things nowadays.I wonder if this era in which we live will one day be considered a 'golden age'.

Doug 54 · April 3rd, 2005, 09:55 AM

the Chinese/Indonesia CHEAP important issue is simple AND complex.

3 yrs ago looking for solid wood cello upgrade for our daughter---the Chinese stuff was the only one within our $$$ realm---BUT I was VERY suspicious.

I called a fine string shop and talked to their repairman at length (rather, he was willing to expound in great detail): He was of the experienced belief---as far as string/symphony instruments---Chinese stuff can be great--with more hand crafting than other country's instruments, not even close to their $ range.
But, sometimes there are inconsitnecies, or set-ups may run you $$ high enough, that it isn't worth it.
He said you have to eval it IN PERSON.

What I have seen w the guitars is some very good maching/alignment. On some, the fret level is great---others may need levelling. Fret polish is usually good.
Of course components are cheap---but easily replacable---no biggie.
Body wood: Hey, most are 3 piece ($900 Fender Am STDs are 3 piece) and usually light BUT the kind of wood is questionable. Alot I don't think are the traditional light basswood. A repairman friend thinks it the local/area wood they use, whatever is convenient.

So, the old test of playing in person too see thru how it will sound, esp after pup upgrade is the test!!!

I have a Chinese/ or Indonesian Strat copy w a GREAT neck--flat radius, lg frets. But it needed level/crown.
The body is 3 piece-whatever AND very light and acoustically resonant---BUT fair on elec sound.

That's OK. Was $85.oo used!!!!

Of course there is the moral issue of the potential of virtual slave Chinese labor ( a friend thinks alot of stuff might be made by prisoners). That's a Wal-Mart thing, right...??

PSWoods · April 3rd, 2005, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tosh

Indeed....As consumers we have such a huge choice of things nowadays.I wonder if this era in which we live will one day be considered a 'golden age'.

I'm already calling it a golden age. I have a Chinese (SX) strat with very little $$$ in aftermarket stuff on it that is totally gigable. The neck and body would be totally acceptable at 5x the price. Bridge must be mystery metal, but has steel bite and definition. Out of the box the frets need to be leveled, like almost any brand factory guitar.

And I am impressed with pretty much anything out of the (Korean) Samick factory. They have a lot of cheesy appointments on the low low end stuff with their own name on it - photo tops, glitter paint - but they seem to knock themselves out making every guitar playable and toneful.

Then there's Schecter. Korean made, inexpensive. Pro quality out of the box IMHO.

e-merlin · April 3rd, 2005, 07:42 PM

Peavey's Chinese stuff is absolutely fabulous for the $$$. I wouldn't hesitate to buy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Doug 54

Of course there is the moral issue of the potential of virtual slave Chinese labor ( a friend thinks alot of stuff might be made by prisoners). That's a Wal-Mart thing, right...??

Of course, we buy oil from the middle east, and we all know about their human rights record when it comes to women, right?

moondoggie999 · April 3rd, 2005, 09:34 PM

and its a great stock guitar for 169.00

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/515115/

I have one and its great bang for the buck.

April 2nd, 2005, 12:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
tosh Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 146	Chinese guitars Ive been checking out some of the latest Gretsch offerings.I was bowled over by the quality for money ratio on their cheaper end guitars.The fretwork, rosewood(on the neck) and finish and sound were all superb. We as guitarists, must be getting a lot more for our money nowadays. What do you guys think of these new guitars? __________________ Raw Power

April 2nd, 2005, 04:13 PM	#3 (permalink)
Colo Springs E Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Colorado Springs Posts: 5,096 5 Photos	Like Andy said...... .....haven't had a chance to check out the Gretschs, but man! Those Blueridges? One nice guitar! -E __________________ She's been a bad girl. She's like a chemical. Though you try to stop it, she's like a narcotic.

April 2nd, 2005, 07:32 PM	#4 (permalink)
bri Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 68 Posts: 448	Just bought our grandson (10)... a Barricuda Strat clone. The darn thing looks great, sounds great and plays great for $179.00 CDN. In my day,(here we go) a cheap guitar was almost unplayable, sounded like crap and looked cheap. I guess it's computerized milling machines that make the difference. This the golden age of guitdom. Brian

April 3rd, 2005, 05:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
tosh Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: UK Posts: 146	Indeed....As consumers we have such a huge choice of things nowadays.I wonder if this era in which we live will one day be considered a 'golden age'. __________________ Raw Power

April 3rd, 2005, 09:55 AM	#6 (permalink)
Doug 54 Tele-Holic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Ohio, Dayton area Posts: 603	the Chinese/Indonesia CHEAP important issue is simple AND complex. 3 yrs ago looking for solid wood cello upgrade for our daughter---the Chinese stuff was the only one within our $$$ realm---BUT I was VERY suspicious. I called a fine string shop and talked to their repairman at length (rather, he was willing to expound in great detail): He was of the experienced belief---as far as string/symphony instruments---Chinese stuff can be great--with more hand crafting than other country's instruments, not even close to their $ range. But, sometimes there are inconsitnecies, or set-ups may run you $$ high enough, that it isn't worth it. He said you have to eval it IN PERSON. What I have seen w the guitars is some very good maching/alignment. On some, the fret level is great---others may need levelling. Fret polish is usually good. Of course components are cheap---but easily replacable---no biggie. Body wood: Hey, most are 3 piece ($900 Fender Am STDs are 3 piece) and usually light BUT the kind of wood is questionable. Alot I don't think are the traditional light basswood. A repairman friend thinks it the local/area wood they use, whatever is convenient. So, the old test of playing in person too see thru how it will sound, esp after pup upgrade is the test!!! I have a Chinese/ or Indonesian Strat copy w a GREAT neck--flat radius, lg frets. But it needed level/crown. The body is 3 piece-whatever AND very light and acoustically resonant---BUT fair on elec sound. That's OK. Was $85.oo used!!!! Of course there is the moral issue of the potential of virtual slave Chinese labor ( a friend thinks alot of stuff might be made by prisoners). That's a Wal-Mart thing, right...?? __________________ Bikini Atoll Tests: A Thong Gone Wrong...

April 2nd, 2005, 04:08 PM	#2 (permalink)
Andy R Tele-Holic Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nashville Posts: 646 4 Photos	I haven't checked those out, but some of the other Chinese made guitars, like Blueridge and Eastman, have incredible bang for the buck!

April 3rd, 2005, 09:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
moondoggie999 Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Pleasanton, CA Age: 40 Posts: 492 3 Photos	This squier affinity is chinese made and its a great stock guitar for 169.00 http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/515115/ I have one and its great bang for the buck. __________________ You start off playing guitar to get chicks and end up talking with middle-aged men about your fingernails - Ed Gerhard