Originally Posted by: SPLJust because the few brands you mentioned DO come with high quality pickups in their higher end models (read: expensive) doesn't mean that my claim is any less true.

I feel my first post sumed up the idea that pickups shouldn't be THEE deciding factor in buying a guitar,but when your on a budget its not like all hope is lost to purchase a sweet guitar with good pickups,good play e.c.t.

The ESP 400 series is around $500,foriegn made,and comes with good pickups(if you like EMG's).Most stuff under a grand will have good pickups...especially if you go the ebay route.I think we both have different ideas of what a 'budget' is though(for guitar).

And no,your right,it didn't need countering :D