KVR Audio

Ian B · Post by **Ian B** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 4:59 pm

Lunch Money wrote:Lots of 'budget' guitars are good players. When you're at the local store, be sure to try out some Cort stuff. I have a Cort Pagelli (so, not their cheapest line) and it plays fabulously.

I had a Cort M400/M600 (can't quite recall which) a few years ago and it was a stunner, it looked/played/sounded fantastic. It was the last guitar I bought for over £150 (I paid around £300 IIRC) and as good as it was, I'd still have to recommend a so called budget guitar first.

rockstar_not wrote:I believe that the J&D guitars may be from the same manufacturer as SX and Agile guitars, sold in the US by www.rondomusic.net.

The manufacturer in China is known as 'Team Corporation'.

Excellent products for the money. I have an SX custom P-Bass copy from SX that is outstanding value - much better than Squier from a fit/finish/shielding standpoing.

-Scott

More than likely the same manufacturer. I dare say they've been producing guitars under various names for some time, in much the same as Cort used to do.

Dominus · Post by **Dominus** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:05 pm

The J&D company seems to have a better selection though, I don't want an LP, Strat or Tele copy which is mostly what Rondo has, but they have some nice looking guitars on that J&D site that aren't just carbon copies of the norm.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:08 pm

robojam wrote:Go to a guitar store with someone who plays a lot. Both of you play the guitars and listen to his opinion and see if he points out things that you like or dislike. For example, if he says that something has a thick neck, see if you like that or try something with a thinner neck. Check out how it feels standing and sitting. If you're very FX oriented, you might want to think about humbuckers, as a lot of FX can amplify any buzz that comes from single coils.

This is very good advice. And thanks to everyone else who responded!

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 5:44 pm

Ian B wrote:I had a Cort M400/M600 (can't quite recall which) a few years ago and it was a stunner, it looked/played/sounded fantastic. It was the last guitar I bought for over £150 (I paid around £300 IIRC) and as good as it was, I'd still have to recommend a so called budget guitar first.

Heh, I was recommending Cort AS the budget guitar.

They have non-budget instruments, too, but there are some very affordable ("budget") models in their line, which are well worth at least trying out.

Greg

Luftrum · Post by **Luftrum** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:27 pm

Sorry, couldn't help it.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Mon Jul 30, 2007 7:33 pm

tomg · Post by **tomg** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 2:12 am

Evidently anything will do if you can play..

Ultimate Canon Rock

Ian B · Post by **Ian B** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:05 am

Lunch Money wrote:
Ian B wrote:I had a Cort M400/M600 (can't quite recall which) a few years ago and it was a stunner, it looked/played/sounded fantastic. It was the last guitar I bought for over £150 (I paid around £300 IIRC) and as good as it was, I'd still have to recommend a so called budget guitar first.
Heh, I was recommending Cort AS the budget guitar. They have non-budget instruments, too, but there are some very affordable ("budget") models in their line, which are well worth at least trying out.

Greg

Hi Greg,

I guess it all depends on how people define budget. For me, a guitar at £150/$300 or lower counts as a budget guitar. If people are used to paying £1000/$2000 or more, then yeah, I can see why they'd say some Corts can be called budget guitars.

Either way, Corts are good instruments.

Ian

morelia · Post by **morelia** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 6:21 am

krushing wrote:I can certainly confirm that a Floyd Rose system is, gently put, a festering pile of burning shit to maintain and string. And to keep in tune as well.

I have to disagree. I had a $500 guitar with a "licenced by" Floyd Rose which was utter pus, but on my Ernie Ball, it is a dream, stays in tune in incredibly long time, and takes a LOT of whammy action to change the tuning even a little. The only hassle is the string trimming, but that is not a hassle at all. I just feed them in the opposite way through the machine head and don't need to do any trimming at all.

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Tue Jul 31, 2007 1:54 pm

Ian B wrote:I guess it all depends on how people define budget. For me, a guitar at £150/$300 or lower counts as a budget guitar.

I think we define budget the same way, but Cort has scads of guitars in this price range.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Fri Aug 03, 2007 9:55 pm

As recommended, I went to a local shop today and tried out a bunch of guitars, mostly in the $300-$800 price range. I was surprised to discover that I really don't care for the humbucker sound too much. On the Epiphone Les Paul, I liked the bridge pickup sound, but rather disliked the neck tone. The Mexican Stratocaster with a bridge humbucker didn't really impress me either.

Ultimately, I found two guitars that sounded like something I'd enjoy playing:

1. Fender Special Edition Koa Stratocaster with Seymour Duncan Alnico Pro pickups.

2. Paul Reed Smith SE Soapbar II

I had never heard a Paul Reed Smith before, and I really loved the tone! I know this is the cheap-o version, but it sounded great to my untrained ears. I'm somewhat inclined to go with that one, although I'm kind of attached to the Stratocaster, having played an immitation Strat for so many years now.

Anyway, I was just wondering what you all think about those two particular models, and if there is anything else similar I should check out.

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 5:20 am

Anyone?

deastman · Post by **deastman** » Sat Aug 04, 2007 3:32 pm

Oh well, I guess I'll just have to wait and bump again on Monday...

Lunch Money · Post by **Lunch Money** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:29 pm

If you're getting single-coil anyhow (I prefer the sound, too... but I can't handle the noise) then the PRS SE is the one I'd go for.

Gargoyle · Post by **Gargoyle** » Sun Aug 05, 2007 11:57 pm

I would also check out the Cort G254 for comparison. Like Greg and Ian, I've had good experiences with Cort and currently have a couple of them (an M200 and a G254). The G254 is worth spending a few minutes to try out I think. It definitely surprised me given its very reasonable cost and its flexibility (it is one of their models which has the push-pull coil selector). Build quality is excellent and although it looks Strat-esque it has a shape and curvaceousness which stands it apart.

Recommend me a guitar