Cheap guitars you must try – part one
By MNJ
| Posted in Guitar
When we talk about guitars, the term, ‘cheap’ is used a lot. The phrase,’ I’m looking for a cheap guitar’ is the most frequently heard customer response to the guitar salesperson’s usual opener, ‘How may I help?’ and is uttered across every music shop counter in the land every day of the week.
Of course, by ‘cheap’ what the customer really means is, ‘affordable’ and ‘within my budget’. What they don’t mean is ‘not only cheap but totally unplayable, will never be in tune, and made from discarded pallets’. Fortunately, especially for the inexperienced, this introduction to the world of guitar buying has changed somewhat over recent years. There was a time when the question would have earned a rude and condescending reaction from the sales guy; (it was always a guy, in a grubby t-shirt with an amp or guitar logo on it), who would point at the darkest corner of the shop, grunt disdainfully and get back to practising. Thankfully, those days have gone, and not just because salespeople are trained not to behave like that, but because in the world of modern musical instruments, perception of what a cheap guitar is has improved dramatically in line with the instruments themselves.
The reasons are many; including greater efficiencies in manufacturing, better quality control, diversity in the raw materials used, the influence of the big brands on design, and improved finishing techniques. But the most significant change is that our expectations as customers are higher. We will no longer accept a low quality, poorly made musical instrument, no matter how low the cost.
With this in mind and preconceptions put aside, for the astute buyer with a limited budget, there is a wide range of cheaper instruments available.
The Kramer Focus VT-211S is an extremely affordable electric, based on the classic st-type blueprint but sporting a humbucker pickup in the bridge position and two traditional single coils for the middle and neck. The fingerboard is made from maple and there is no rosewood option, but there is a floating tremolo unit and a choice of two colours, sunburst and candy apple red. It’s got everything needed to produce classic rock or blues.
In the same style is the Stagg S300, available in black, red or white, but featuring three single coil pickups, a solid alder body and a rosewood fingerboard. Die cast machine heads and a tremolo bridge put the finishing touches to this truly affordable electric.
In contrast, the Epiphone Les Paul 100 is a no frills rock machine, sitting between the Special II model and Epiphone’s Studio range. Conjuring classic rock tones from this little beauty will be a breeze with two humbucker pickups, a rosewood fretboard and bolt-on mahogony neck. The painted versions boast alder bodies, while the transparent finishes feature mahogony.
The next time you ask the salesperson in your local music shop for a cheap guitar, if he’s doing his job he will take you through the range with confidence in the product he’s selling. You can take it for granted that the guitar will be okay, and you can rest assured in the knowledge that all the hard work has been done for you. All you need to do is take it home to play it and enjoy it, and revel in the fact that what you’ve bought isn’t so much a cheap guitar as an absolute bargain.
Come back tomorrow for part two of Cheap guitars you must try
Tags: affordable guitars, budget guitars, cheap guitars, electric guitars
Surprised you don’t mention the Yamaha Pacifica range – really excellent guitars, stunning value for money, and a beautifully playable neck. Good sounds, too, especially from the humbucker.
Bob Almond
Thanks Bob! The Yamaha Pacifica is a goody, it’s on the list for review.
mnj