I bought an Ibanez SA260M last December, and am very happy wit it. You might want to give one of those a try. I bought mine from Sweetwater and was very happy with both the guitar and the transaction.
It plays wonderfully, feels very natural in my hands. The first time I played it, my wife commented on how smooth and easy my playing sounded compared to my Les Paul clone (which I also like, but, hey, I've had it for 30 years).
DaveL
(Edit: added a link, and a few more words)
Recommend me a guitar
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- KVRian
- 958 posts since 14 Apr, 2004 from Maryland, USA
Last edited by DaveL60 on Tue Aug 07, 2007 11:40 pm, edited 2 times in total.
You can twist perceptions, reality won't budge.
-- Rush Show Don't Tell
-- Rush Show Don't Tell
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- KVRAF
- 3002 posts since 24 Nov, 2003 from Heidelberg&Hamburg
Well I just could add that the newer Samick guitars are all very good (those Greg Bennett series). I had no Corts in the shops where I spent many evenings before I decided, and the one I played after buying just sounded great, but the Greg Bennett's are all of great build quality in the budget-pricerange too.
For example the "Tele" (called Formula FA2, with a humbucker in it too) sounds not too twangy at all if you don't want it too, I just love the warm AND twangy tone I get out of this guitar and preferred it to the Squiers I played by far (again, purely personal choice).
And I never would have thought before I'd like a "SG" so well, but the Samick Torino 2 sounds superb too. That said, Godin, Cort...so many nice guitars...I'd play them ALL in your case and would not buy a guitar you didn't play. But that's just me.
By the way I liked the P90s very much too in the shop (there was a PRS Soapbar SE, but it was above my pricerange, and I think a Squier too, but the PRS would have been more for me). Anyway, I'm more happy with a few budget guitars now than I'd be with one really expensive one...
For example the "Tele" (called Formula FA2, with a humbucker in it too) sounds not too twangy at all if you don't want it too, I just love the warm AND twangy tone I get out of this guitar and preferred it to the Squiers I played by far (again, purely personal choice).
And I never would have thought before I'd like a "SG" so well, but the Samick Torino 2 sounds superb too. That said, Godin, Cort...so many nice guitars...I'd play them ALL in your case and would not buy a guitar you didn't play. But that's just me.
By the way I liked the P90s very much too in the shop (there was a PRS Soapbar SE, but it was above my pricerange, and I think a Squier too, but the PRS would have been more for me). Anyway, I'm more happy with a few budget guitars now than I'd be with one really expensive one...
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
Okay, I checked out the Cort G254, and it does sound pretty good. I think I'm still leaning towards the PRS, and I'm hoping my friend can go with me tomorrow to try it out. Are there any other P90 guitars I should look at?
I tried suggesting to my wife that I should really get the high end $2400 PRS McCarty Soapbar model instead of the $500 Korean one. She didn't think it was worth the difference in price. Go figure! Then again, she's Korean.
I tried suggesting to my wife that I should really get the high end $2400 PRS McCarty Soapbar model instead of the $500 Korean one. She didn't think it was worth the difference in price. Go figure! Then again, she's Korean.
Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
To be absolutely honest, I don't think it's worth the price difference either. 
It's probably about 50% better (appreciable!) but 500% more expensive.
That said, it's clear which one's more beautiful.
Like Klemperer, I've done most of my dabbling in "budget" guitars... there's something about the particular "aesthetic" of the budget guitar. When performance exceeds expectations per-price, it makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.
Greg
It's probably about 50% better (appreciable!) but 500% more expensive.That said, it's clear which one's more beautiful.
Like Klemperer, I've done most of my dabbling in "budget" guitars... there's something about the particular "aesthetic" of the budget guitar. When performance exceeds expectations per-price, it makes my heart all warm and fuzzy.Greg
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
Doh! My friend was busy today and I'll have to wait until tomorrow. Now I'm really getting excited about having a decent guitar for a change... 
Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
Forgot to respond to this post...DaveL60 wrote:I bought an Ibanez SA260M last December, and am very happy wit it. You might want to give one of those a try. I bought mine from Sweetwater and was very happy with both the guitar and the transaction.
It plays wonderfully, feels very natural in my hands. The first time I played it, my wife commented on how smooth and easy my playing sounded compared to my Les Paul clone (which I also like, but, hey, I've had it for 30 years).
DaveL
(Edit: added a link, and a few more words)
When I was trying out various guitars at the shop, I asked the salesman about Ibanez in an HSS configuration. He said it was "okay" but that honestly there were better choices. I've heard the same sort of comments about Ibanez before, although I know they were popular with a lot of 80's metal players. I didn't really like the HSS Stratocaster I tried, or any other humbuckers for that matter, and so didn't bother with the Ibanez.
Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- KVRian
- 958 posts since 14 Apr, 2004 from Maryland, USA
Different strokes for different folks. Suspect you can find folks w/thumbs up and down views on every brand. I haven't played many Strats, so can't compare it, but you might want to give one a whirl and form your own opinion.deastman wrote:Forgot to respond to this post...
When I was trying out various guitars at the shop, I asked the salesman about Ibanez in an HSS configuration. He said it was "okay" but that honestly there were better choices. I've heard the same sort of comments about Ibanez before, although I know they were popular with a lot of 80's metal players. I didn't really like the HSS Stratocaster I tried, or any other humbuckers for that matter, and so didn't bother with the Ibanez.
DaveL
You can twist perceptions, reality won't budge.
-- Rush Show Don't Tell
-- Rush Show Don't Tell
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
You're right about that. Every make and model I look at, there seem to be reviews from people who love it and people who hate it. Trying them out myself really seems to be the only way to make a decision. Its like asking everyone to recommend their favorite color! (Mine is Pantone 322)
Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
Time to report back, just in case I haven't bored you all to death yet. My friend and I went back to the store. He thought the PRS SE Soapbar II Maple was utter garbage. Not just the tone (which he didn't like either) but everything about the construction seemed cheap to him. He has tried the high end PRS models before, for whatever that is worth. We also looked at a Godin with P-90's, and he didn't care much for that one either. He really liked my second choice, however- the Special Edition Koa Strat. He thought the construction was solid, the tone was good, and it was just a nice guitar overall. Keep in mind this is coming from someone who only plays Les Pauls, and doesn't even like most of those currently available on the market. Unfortunately, he thought there was something mechanically wrong with the middle pickup on the Strat, and suggested I look elsewhere. I feel bad about going someplace else, because the salesman was very patient and helpful with me, but it looks like the Koa Strat is kind of hard to come by... none of the other local stores have it in stock, even Guitar Center. I guess I'll be stuck buying one online and then getting it set up locally.
My friend and I went back to the store. He thought the PRS SE Soapbar II Maple was utter garbage. Not just the tone (which he didn't like either) but everything about the construction seemed cheap to him. He has tried the high end PRS models before, for whatever that is worth. We also looked at a Godin with P-90's, and he didn't care much for that one either. He really liked my second choice, however- the Special Edition Koa Strat. He thought the construction was solid, the tone was good, and it was just a nice guitar overall. Keep in mind this is coming from someone who only plays Les Pauls, and doesn't even like most of those currently available on the market. Unfortunately, he thought there was something mechanically wrong with the middle pickup on the Strat, and suggested I look elsewhere. I feel bad about going someplace else, because the salesman was very patient and helpful with me, but it looks like the Koa Strat is kind of hard to come by... none of the other local stores have it in stock, even Guitar Center. I guess I'll be stuck buying one online and then getting it set up locally.Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- KVRAF
- 2343 posts since 3 Sep, 2005 from Outer Bongolia
Since you like single coil pickups you might be interested in the Gibson Melody Maker - U.S. built, single coil pickup (not a P90, unfortunately) for only $349.97 at Sweetwater with free shipping:
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MelodyMakVS/
I haven't seen these, so I don't know anything about the quality or tone, but that is a remarkable price for a U.S. built guitar and I'd be interested in checking one out if I didn't already have too many guitars.
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MelodyMakVS/
I haven't seen these, so I don't know anything about the quality or tone, but that is a remarkable price for a U.S. built guitar and I'd be interested in checking one out if I didn't already have too many guitars.
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
I think if I'm going to have regular single coils instead of P90s, I'd rather get the versatility of a 3 pickup configuration like the Strat. That said, I haven't heard the Melody Maker yet, so I'll give it a try. 
Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- Tunesmith
- 2889 posts since 12 Mar, 2002 from Toronto
i've been renting an ibanez that looks similar to this one but has no whammy bar on it(also sunburst finish). probably a lower model than the one you have. i'd say it's quite a fine guitar!DaveL60 wrote:I bought an Ibanez SA260M last December, and am very happy wit it. You might want to give one of those a try. I bought mine from Sweetwater and was very happy with both the guitar and the transaction.
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- KVRAF
- 12977 posts since 29 Sep, 2003 from Ottawa, Canada
Too bad he didn't like the Godin (assuming it was the LG). Did he say why? Some people are put off a bit by its unconventional shape (as I almost was, but the price tag thankfully sold me), but the construction and hardware are unmatched for a guitar in its class.
Greg
Greg
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- KVRAF
- Topic Starter
- 7540 posts since 7 Aug, 2003 from San Francisco Bay Area
I think he didn't like the "feel" of it, or the P90s. I'm not sure it was the construction he took issue with, but more that on a gut level it didn't feel playable to him.
The funny thing is that I had talked myself into the P90s, but when we went back and I listened to all the guitars with him playing them (instead of me), the Strat really sang in a way the others didn't... both clean and overdriven. As someone who admittedly doesn't know a good one from a bad one, I'm having a little trouble here trusting my own objectivity. I know I like Strat style guitars, having played one exclusively all this time. And I do trust my friend's judgement, especially when he doesn't care much for Strats himself, but thought it was a pretty good guitar.
I'm still not going to rush into buying it, as you've already guessed. I'm going to try and get in touch with a couple of other acquaintances who collect guitars and see what they think. There are also a few suggestions from this thread which I still need to follow up on, so thanks again for all the advice. You guys rock!
The funny thing is that I had talked myself into the P90s, but when we went back and I listened to all the guitars with him playing them (instead of me), the Strat really sang in a way the others didn't... both clean and overdriven. As someone who admittedly doesn't know a good one from a bad one, I'm having a little trouble here trusting my own objectivity. I know I like Strat style guitars, having played one exclusively all this time. And I do trust my friend's judgement, especially when he doesn't care much for Strats himself, but thought it was a pretty good guitar.
I'm still not going to rush into buying it, as you've already guessed. I'm going to try and get in touch with a couple of other acquaintances who collect guitars and see what they think. There are also a few suggestions from this thread which I still need to follow up on, so thanks again for all the advice. You guys rock!
Incomplete list of my gear: 1/8" audio input jack.
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- KVRer
- 22 posts since 3 Oct, 2006 from Maryland
I love what was said earlier in the thread about how you've been playing more now and getting better. I rate that as #1 result of any purchase. Going back 30 years to now I probably have a dozen or more guitars. I tend to think more along the line of different than better or worse. Epiphone, Gibson, Fender, Godin, your not going to go wrong. Think in terms of type of sound your looking for and neck feel and pick accordingly. That additional playing your doing is going to make any of them sound GREAT.
Keep the blues alive!