Originally Posted by: AkiraThe assumption being that all mass produced guitars play badly.

Damn, I guess i'll take my Jackson Soloist back to the shop, it was mass produced, therefore it obviously plays crap, and my perception of it being the best damn guitar i've ever played is obviously wrong.

*shakes fist at mass production tycoons*

Thats not where Im tryin to get at all. I never said mass produced guitars are bad. For 3000, Im sayin you might want to look at some more options than just the usual companies. Your jackson was around 1000-1500 rite? Well, try to find a jackson over 3000 thats not from the custom shop of previously owned by a celebrity. Its hard. Like I said, a price for about 3000 will get you an uberly good guitar. Mass produced guitars arent crap at all, I have an American Stratocaster build to the same quality as any American Jackson. Its just with such a high budget, there is a big chance of falling into the situation of "Buying a guitar that 1/3 of the money went on the headstock printing"

These privatly owned shops will have guitars that you cant find at your Guitar Center, or even eBay. Its a real treat if you have one close by. In alot of stituations, not trying to sound redundant, small companies have nothing to offer but tonally exelent guitars. No one knows them by mouth, so when you shell out grands of bills, your not spending alot of it on the name. There are alot of exelent guitar out there. Try to play some unknown quality guitars and you will soon find they will kill any guitar you've played in the past.