Are Expensive Guitars Better?

Haven't watched the video yet, but my real world experience.

Years ago I was in a local guitar store. Was checking out the Martin guitars. The ones I was checking were in the $1500 range.... which was quite a bit of cash in the early 80s. Salesman walks up and asks the obvious, "You like Martins? I have one in the backroom that we still have on hand from the Martin Days this past weekend." Brings out this case. Opens it and I see about the most gorgeous guitar I've ever seen. He handed it to me and let me mess around a bit. Guess what. Sounded no better or no worse than the $1500 guitar I was just playing. Difference. It was blinged out to the max. Gold hardware. Rosette was spectacular. Binding was blinged. Like I said. Beautiful guitar. Retail - $10,000. I carefully placed it back in the case. Thanked him and walked away.
 
I sound like me, whateveer I'm playing. I worked that out about 45 years ago. When I play grandson's ½ size Encore Strat, it knows all the same chords and notes that my Fenders do.

Amazing!
 
Beagle said:
I sound like me, whateveer I'm playing. I worked that out about 45 years ago. When I play grandson's ½ size Encore Strat, it knows all the same chords and notes that my Fenders do.

Amazing!
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Well.... there is that. My youngest can play any one of my guitars. Electric or acoustic.... and sound amazing. I pick up the same guitar and sound like crap.
 
I have 3 import guitars 2 are great one is trash the Chinese made is trash nothing like the bridge rocking back and forth 1/4"
I'm to blame buying a Gibson Firebird and the seller canceled the order thought I would give Epiphone a try
I fixed it installed a Tone Pros bridge the way I see it time is money I don't care to waste time repairing a new guitar
I love Core PRS out of the case perfect set up one point the video didn't touch on was resale value.
 
67plexi said:
I have 3 import guitars 2 are great one is trash the Chinese made is trash nothing like the bridge rocking back and forth 1/4"
I'm to blame buying a Gibson Firebird and the seller canceled the order thought I would give Epiphone a try
I fixed it installed a Tone Pros bridge the way I see it time is money I don't care to waste time repairing a new guitar
I love Core PRS out of the case perfect set up one point the video didn't touch on was resale value.
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My used G400 is Chinese made. It's actually is pretty decent in the quality department. But like you. The bridge was junk. Replaced it with a TonePros bridge and tailpiece and that fixed the problem I was having with tuning and intonation. Anything else that's been replaced has been because I wanted to, not because I needed to. My Hagstrom Viking is also made in China and I've done nothing but play it. Quality is fine. I realize my experience is not always the norm with Chinese made guitars.
 
This is actually quite simple: yes, they are better. It is dishonest to say they are not.
What is honest is for an individual to say they are not worth the extra money to them.

At the beginning of the video this guy has a clearly stated agenda to muddy the water here: the more provocative he is on the subject the more hits he gets on his site and therefore (in theory) more money. He's just playing on the insecurities people have about this subject so they can convince themselves their Epiphone is as good as a Gibson, their Squier is as good as a Fender, their SE is as good as a Core PRS, etc.
 
gball said:
This is actually quite simple: yes, they are better. It is dishonest to say they are not.
What is honest is for an individual to say they are not worth the extra money to them.

At the beginning of the video this guy has a clearly stated agenda to muddy the water here: the more provocative he is on the subject the more hits he gets on his site and therefore (in theory) more money. He's just playing on the insecurities people have about this subject so they can convince themselves their Epiphone is as good as a Gibson, their Squier is as good as a Fender, their SE is as good as a Core PRS, etc.
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Ive watched a few of his videos poverty mind set, people have told me your lucky to have that luck didn't have anything to do with it.
 
Robb said:
Whatever I'm playing I always sound like me ...
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Exactly, and thats why everyone is unique in their playing. I have never tried to sound like any other guitarist. And i never try to get another players tone. Its all about me when i play no one else, and i like it that way.
 
gball said:
This is actually quite simple: yes, they are better. It is dishonest to say they are not.
What is honest is for an individual to say they are not worth the extra money to them.

At the beginning of the video this guy has a clearly stated agenda to muddy the water here: the more provocative he is on the subject the more hits he gets on his site and therefore (in theory) more money. He's just playing on the insecurities people have about this subject so they can convince themselves their Epiphone is as good as a Gibson, their Squier is as good as a Fender, their SE is as good as a Core PRS, etc.
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For sure. I would never suggest my G400 is as good as a Gibson. It’s why I always refer to it as my G400 rather than an SG. For me it’s all about disposable cash. I could justify 300-500 bucks. There is no part of me that can justify me spending $3500+ on a LP. Especially at my talent level. If I was a better player and gigged. Absolutely, I’d be spending the cash on a top tier guitar. And when I did buy a Strat, it does say Fender on the headstock. It’s a MIM because again. I could justify 700 bucks on it over $1500 for and American Fender. And it’s more than good enough for how I play.
 
iblive said:
My used G400 is Chinese made. It's actually is pretty decent in the quality department. But like you. The bridge was junk. Replaced it with a TonePros bridge and tailpiece and that fixed the problem I was having with tuning and intonation. Anything else that's been replaced has been because I wanted to, not because I needed to. My Hagstrom Viking is also made in China and I've done nothing but play it. Quality is fine. I realize my experience is not always the norm with Chinese made guitars.
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My Chinese Gretsch is a fine guitar, looks great, made well does it have expensive hardware no, but stays in tune, plays well. Pickups are descent. Would anyone listening to me playing it or looking at it know it was made China, or by the way it sounds no.
 
DirtySteve said:
I think there comes a point where you top out on quality and start paying more for just bling.
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