The tactile feel of a high end guitar.

reverend1

reverend1

Kick Henry Jackassowski
When you play a guitar in the 3k+ range, what do you expect it to feel like? Should there be a difference between it and something in the $1,500 range?

I played a special run custom guitar from a very respected brand who I won’t mention, and it was a great guitar. It didn’t have the same wow factor as my EBMM guitars that cost considerably less. I played a few Master built strays lately too. Both were really nice but no better than an Elite series imo. What’s your opinion? At a certain point are you just paying for the name on the headstock?
 
Well, I just have one guitar in the $2,000 range; I can't say there is a tactile difference, but I can hear a difference between it and all the cheap guitars I've owned and the higher-end guitars I tried before I bought it. As to paying for the name on the headstock, that name doesn't carry much weight around here. :grin:
 
Gary Blanchard said:
Well, I just have one guitar in the $2,000 range; I can't say there is a tactile difference, but I can hear a difference between it and all the cheap guitars I've owned and the higher-end guitars I tried before I bought it. As to paying for the name on the headstock, that name doesn't carry much weight around here. :grin:
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I’m assuming it’s an acoustic which a whole different animal.
 
This falls under my rental car policy. When I rent a car, I go for the shittiest car they have. That way I don't fall in love with the rental and want to upgrade my car. I'll never pick up a guitar out of my price range for fear of pulling out the credit card :grin:
 
Yeah, acoustic and archtops are a whole other animal, as you say.

With electrics, $2K point is, for me, where you really hit the wall with the law of diminishing returns.

I’ve fallen in love with guitars that were more expensive than that, especially for special or unique features. But I wouldn’t say that they’re empirically ‘better’ instruments than those that I paid $800 for new.

But the main things that usually strike me are resonance, intonation, and dynamics. If it’s got those three, then it’s usually just a matter of changing the pickups.
 
Flamencology said:
Yeah, acoustic and archtops are a whole other animal, as you say.

With electrics, $2K point is, for me, where you really hit the wall with the law of diminishing returns.

I’ve fallen in love with guitars that were more expensive than that, especially for special or unique features. But I wouldn’t say that they’re empirically ‘better’ instruments than those that I paid $800 for new.

But the main things that usually strike me are resonance, intonation, and dynamics. If it’s got those three, then it’s usually just a matter of changing the pickups.
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This is me for the most part as well, although my “ceiling” on price for solid bodies is a bit higher.
 
Flamencology said:
Yeah, acoustic and archtops are a whole other animal, as you say.

With electrics, $2K point is, for me, where you really hit the wall with the law of diminishing returns.

I’ve fallen in love with guitars that were more expensive than that, especially for special or unique features. But I wouldn’t say that they’re empirically ‘better’ instruments than those that I paid $800 for new.

But the main things that usually strike me are resonance, intonation, and dynamics. If it’s got those three, then it’s usually just a matter of changing the pickups.
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Well said... I think the resonance is what I like. A cheaper guitar just doesn't have that nice solid feel, you can feel string vibrations through the body etc... I've noticed that with the import PRS's and the US made ones. Price difference is huge but an import PRS seems OK until you play a really good one.

The 2K limit makes a lot of sense, beyond that it's fancier woods, "top 10" type of thing, position markers made of unobtanium etc... More for show than anything
 
Mark Wein said:
This is me for the most part as well, although my “ceiling” on price for solid bodies is a bit higher.
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Like I said, I’ve definitely got a few solid bodies that are significantly more expensive. Just that I couldn’t really justify the price differential in any kind of honest way.
 
It definitely comes down to the motivation of the company building them.

For example I know that Anderson would never let a guitar out that wasn't incredible because that's more important to them than maximizing returns for executive bonuses. Which brings me to Gibson...

My ~$3000 USD Anderson has a solid rosewood neck and is still perfection as far as I'm concerned.
 
cvogue said:
Well said... I think the resonance is what I like. A cheaper guitar just doesn't have that nice solid feel, you can feel string vibrations through the body etc... I've noticed that with the import PRS's and the US made ones. Price difference is huge but an import PRS seems OK until you play a really good one.

The 2K limit makes a lot of sense, beyond that it's fancier woods, "top 10" type of thing, position markers made of unobtanium etc... More for show than anything
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This
 
If we’re talking basic tactile feel, then I prefer nitro guitars, at whatever price point. The guitars I usually gravitate toward in the high-end range are not generally finished in nitro, however.
 
Guitar Heel said:
As much as Rob Roy?
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You know, I was going to bring Rob Roy up when I first hit reply, but I was worried that it was starting to annoy everybody real bad, so I decided not to as a courtesy. But with this tacit endorsement of the running gag, I feel I now have free license to bring up Rob Roy, which was horrible, as often as I like for as long as I like. Thank you!
 
I figure I got about a grand in bling, but for me it was all about the sound and feel.
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If the $3k guitar is built to your preferences, it better feel and play amaze balls. There are so many subjective details though. One man’s $3k guitar is another man’s shit sandwich.

I have a $3k Les Paul that my wife bought for me a long time ago. It feels and looks perfect. Sounds good. And the fucking G never stays in tune. I’d love to sell it and get something i’d adore but I would risk offending her.
 
BlockInlay said:
If the $3k guitar is built to your preferences, it better feel and play amaze balls. There are so many subjective details though. One man’s $3k guitar is another man’s shit sandwich.

I have a $3k Les Paul that my wife bought for me a long time ago. It feels and looks perfect. Sounds good. And the fucking G never stays in tune. I’d love to sell it and get something i’d adore but I would risk offending her.
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I feel your pain. I think a String Butler would solve your problem.
 
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