You have £400, what guitar do you buy?

[resynthesis]

Friend of a friend asked me to look for a new guitar and amp for their daughter a couple of months ago as she's gone past the beginner stage and wanted to play metal. Picked up a Japanese Jackson Kelly KE3 (Duncans as standard) and a Boss Katana 50 combo for £350. I was actually spoiled for choice with the guitars. There are so many good quality 2nd hand instruments around for comparatively little money these days.

New, those paranormal Squiers look good if the quality is there. Are they as good as the Classic Vibes?

[donkey tugger]

I've got everything I really need covered, so I'd been looking towards the more esoteric. If I wasn't allowed to spend the money on fags I'd get one of these;

https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/alvarez-abt ... ural-gloss

Still might...

[thecontrolcentre]

New, those paranormal Squiers look good if the quality is there. Are they as good as the Classic Vibes?

Wow! Nice ... https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-B ... 0dEALw_wcB

Bang on budget too

[bharris22]

I've been thinking about getting one of these https://www.epiphone.com/Guitar/EPI8U89 ... acco-Burst for nostalgic reasons. I used to own the Ibanez version, but traded it for a pink paisley Tokai Telecaster in the late 80's.

Probably a PRS SE model - something like this: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars ... gJxxfD_BwE.

That link doesn't work here ...

Try this: https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-B ... herry/276D

[thecontrolcentre]

Nice guitar

[elxsound]

I received an Epiphone Wildkat as a gift about 5 years ago and I really like this one. I’m not a guitarist but I’ve been around better, more expensive guitars and I still like it’s dark tone. My pops actually bought me one after we were playing his, comparing it to his other many much more expensive guitars.

I won’t claim to know much, but it does seem like a good guitar to start with as it’s semi hollow and come with a bigsby.

https://www.epiphone.com/Guitar/EPI1XH3 ... ue-Natural

[imrae]

I think PRS SE start closer to £500 these days.

Squier Classic Vibe Starcaster looks interesting, as does the Paranormal baritone tele.

If someone was shopping for their first guitar with this budget I'd say go to a shop and try out a classic vibe tele, ibanez super-strat, a Pacifica, and whatever they have used on-budget.

[kvotchin]

If it was someone’s first guitar, or first “proper” guitar. I’d suggest looking at used options around that budget, e.g., from Marketplace.

And oh yeah, a Strat. Always a Strat.

More seriously - though a strat will serve you well - pick a type, and see what’s currently a good deal.

As for what *I* would buy for £400 right now? Maybe a (used) Jaguar. Still don’t have one of those.

[melomood]

Whatever hollow body electric I can get for 400

[an-electric-heart]

I like an Ibanez RG Gio as far as cheap guitars go... and they're actually a lot cheaper than that... but you know, they're not everybody's cup of tea.

Wow. Some of those look lovely. I like this one https://www.andertons.co.uk/brands/iban ... n-sunburst and this https://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-B ... burst/295N

My first decent acoustic guitar was an Ibanez ... always liked them. Do the GIO's sound as nice as they look?

Yes, they sound great (to me). They were a "shredders" guitar in the '80s, then were used by a lot of punk and metal bands in the '90s. They've got a really tight/clear sound, and are pretty much exclusively used with pretty high gain levels using the bridge position humbucker... but, having said that, they've got a ton of pickup positions, so a lot of tone options are available.
RGs started life in the '80s as the "entry level" version of Steve Vai's Jem, but then they became their own thing, I guess that's how they got the "shredder" rep.
Anyway, "Gio" is like "Squier" or "Epiphone", it's the budget Ibanez. I've got a real high end Ibanez RG, but I also have a Gio, and I almost prefer the Gio, it feels great, sounds fine, stays in tune... and doesn't have a Floyd Rose or string locks, I'd rather have the simple set bridge.

[imrae]

I have a Gio RG hardtail. Didn't like the stock pickups and changed the tuners at the same time. Have had issues with replacement strap pins and the neck joint - partly my fault through abuse, but suspect that soft wood isn't helping. However the neck itself is excellent and the all-round playability is great for the price point.

[Monsum]

For an electric it would be this:



And for an acoustic it would be one of the Sigma guitars.

[bharris22]

I think PRS SE start closer to £500 these days.

In the Gear4Music link I sent, there are four models between £420 and £459. Here in the US, if you call Musicians Friend, you can usually get at least 10% off the listed price (and sometimes up to 15%, depending on the time of year) just for calling. Worth a try.

[Henry Jimdrix]

I've been thinking about getting one of these https://www.epiphone.com/Guitar/EPI8U89 ... acco-Burst for nostalgic reasons. I used to own the Ibanez version, but traded it for a pink paisley Tokai Telecaster in the late 80's.

Probably a PRS SE model - something like this: https://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars ... gJxxfD_BwE.

That link doesn't work here ...

No your right it takes you to a flute

[Henry Jimdrix]

I missed out on a £400 absolute bargain that I saw on facebook market place recently.
It was a hand made rosewood acoustic guitar made by a luthier best known for making violins.
It was in excellent condition and you could see the craftmanship, you just knew it had to sound good. The problem was it was it bit too far away for me to travel and would probably have gone anyway before I got there. Don't think I likely to see a bargain like that again.