Cheap vs. Expensive Guitars: Four Common Misconceptions


wildwoman1313
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wildwoman1313
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06/07/2012 8:09 pm


Cheap vs. Expensive Guitars: Four Common Misconceptions


When I was a teenager looking to upgrade from the Yamaha acoustic my parents had bought me as a starter guitar to something that better fit my burgeoning career as a musician, I saved up many, many paychecks from my menial job and splurged on a 12-string Ovation acoustic-electric. The band Heart was big back then, and that's what Nancy Wilson played. She was my frame of reference. If it was good enough for Nancy, I reckoned it was good enough for me, Ms. Rock-Star-in-the-Making. In my young and somewhat deluded mind, I equated being a success with buying the same equipment as someone who was already successful. I buy, therefore I am.

And I am not alone in this thinking. Many guitarists, especially younger ones and those relatively new to playing, tend to spend a bundle on high-end guitars. After all, who doesn't like to be the envy of friends, you there, with that shiny new axe slung over your shoulder. Other than the ability to play, the instrument itself was really the first object of musical desire. Sometimes, to a less-experienced player, the guitar is the most visible evidence of their evolution as a guitarist. While it is certainly a thrill to buy a custom built guitar hot out of the hands of a master craftsman, and although the adage "you get what you pay for" has proven truer than not in my experience, still, when it comes to guitars, more isn't always necessarily, well, more.

Cheap guitars are getting better and better each year. Automated cutting and manufacturing techniques have allowed manufacturers to make guitars, especially electrics, for less money. Competition between manufacturers and between retailers keeps prices on these guitars at just above cost. But although there are actually really good guitars out there for lower prices, people still make the mental leap that lower-priced guitars are strictly imitation, beginner, or something "less-than" due to some common misconceptions. So let's first get clear on the definition of the offending word, shall we?

[U]Misconception #1: The Word "Cheap"[/U]

The meaning of the word "cheap" has evolved from having a lower price than other products to being downright worthless. This twisted perception of the word has also given low-priced guitars a bad rap. When a guitar is being sold for cheap, it doesn't mean the instrument will disintegrate in your hands the minute you take it for a good ride. Cheap means just that—a low price. The word "expensive," on the other hand, is not up for interpretation. It means only one thing: costly.

[U]Misconception #2: The Guitar Makes the Music[/U]

As with my leap to an Ovation with no consideration whatsoever given to anything that cost under a cool grand, it's a popular belief that the better the guitar (read expensive), the better the music. This school of thought typically gives rise to a desire to own top-of-the-line models. While it may be true you can't expect to play like Eddie Van Halen on shoddy equipment, the guitar is only part of the equation. Electric guitars are made to be played with effects pedals. You can own a really low-priced guitar, but if you know your music, you can mix up the effects so well it will still sound good no matter what your axe. It's the player that makes the music. Doesn't matter if your guitar of choice is a garage sale steal or the Strat right off Eddie's back, if you're lacking in the skill department, both will sound like crap. Assuming the instrument is made well, i.e. it holds its tuning, action is just right, good sustain, straight neck, etc., a decent guitarist can make even a beater sound great.

[U]Misconception #3: Cheap Guitars are Made Cheaply[/U]

Okay, yes, it's true. Cheap guitars are made of cheaper materials than more expensive ones. Cheaper guitars use plywood bodies. More expensive guitars are made of more expensive solid woods like rosewood and mahogany. Cheaper guitars also have cheaper paints, lacquers, and finishes. Hardware and electronics can also vary greatly from guitar to guitar. There are different quality grades for tuners, bridges, pickups, pick guards, tremolo mechanisms, etc.

Although the added attention to detail that goes into crafting a more expensive instrument is very time consuming and costly for manufacturers, it can have a marked effect on the instrument's overall playability. This is not to say that a quality guitar can't be had for the more budget-conscious player. Most guitar manufacturers are small, highly personal companies that stress detail and quality. Each company does its own research and testing, which virtually insures the customer a flawless guitar.

During the past few decades, the guitar industry has become more mechanized, allowing for greater speed, higher consistency and lower pricing. Cheaper guitars are produced with advanced automated manufacturing techniques, which allow manufacturers to produce a very uniform product with a minimum of oversight. The reduced time spent on quality control allows the manufacturer to sell the product for less. Although purists resist mechanization, a well-trained workman using machine tools can usually produce a higher-quality instrument than a craftsman working alone. The final testing procedures at most manufacturers are quite stringent; only the best guitars leave the plant, and more than one person makes the final determination as to which instruments are shipped out and which are rejected.

Every bit as important as the quality of the materials and workmanship involved in the making of a guitar is how a particular guitar sounds to your ear and feels in your hands. A cheap, poorly made guitar is no fun to play. Nor is too much guitar for your abilities. If a guitar is no fun to play, chances are excellent that it will end up collecting dust in a corner somewhere or forgotten entirely in the back of your closet. Sometimes it's not all about the newest and bestest. Sometimes it's the guitar's mojo that renders it priceless. Old used guitars with a little history behind them have years of experience infused into their wood. Like an old pair of slippers, they feel just right.

[U]Misconception #4: Expensive Guitars Stay in Tune[/U]

Typically, a cheap guitar doesn't stay in tune nearly as well as a higher-end instrument. Now, that's not to say all expensive guitars stay in tune. They don't. The problem of keeping stringed instruments, particularly guitars, in tune has been a continuing issue since the instrument was first invented. Many guitars—yes, even the expensive ones—come from the factory with high frets that can complicate tuning.

And don't assume that the guitar you just purchased has new strings on it. It might be a new guitar, but if it's been in a showroom for a while, it's probably been played by any number of people, and the strings will have dulled considerably since they were put on. Once you’ve brought your new baby home, you should replace the strings with your preferred brand and gauge.

Ruling out strings (worn out, improperly stretched or incorrectly wound on the tuners), tuning issues, with any guitar, can be assumed to be mechanical, i.e. nut and/or bridge issues. It can also be a matter of your tremolo bar, which puts considerable stress on the strings which can cause considerable tuning problems. A skilled luthier can assess the situation and make any required adjustments or replace parts if necessary.

Buying a guitar is an investment in your musical future, monetarily and otherwise. When next you find yourself in the market for a new guitar, approach the purchase with an open mind. Do your homework. Just because a guitar costs more doesn't mean it's any good, just as a cheaper guitar isn't always a piece of junk. Remember that at one point in time even Gibson guitars were cheaper than average and considered to be trash. Epiphone, which now is a lower-priced copy brand, was once the market leader and has made some of the most sought-after guitars in the world. And as far as guitar heroes go, Queen's Brian May has used a homemade guitar since the late '60s that he and his father built from a fireplace mantel and his mother's knitting needles, while Green Day frontman Billie Jo Armstrong favors his much beloved "Blue," a Fender knockoff. Every brand has at least the occasional shining example, and even the best brands produce a dud now and then.

Evaluating the quality of any guitar means looking at individual components that make up the instrument—the body and neck, tuners, frets, pickups, electronics and hardware. Much like buying a new car, the best way to find out what features and feel you like is to "test drive" the instrument—play as many guitars as you can get your hands on, in all price ranges. Ultimately, it will all come down to the way the guitar sounds to you and how it feels in your hands. You can't measure the worth of an instrument in dollars and cents alone. Listen for the guitar that speaks to you.


image: http://hinckleyact.files.wordpress.com/2010/10/fender-strat-gison-les-paul-and-sg.jpg
# 1
HandiMax
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HandiMax
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06/08/2012 8:44 pm
So glad to see this post guys and gals. I've been tooting this horn for the past 7 or 8 years. I own a strat squire, that to even the most experienced players, would not be able to pick it out of a blind test in either tone or play-ability. I also have a Harmony flying V that I did have to tinker with to get it playing well and stay in tune. The sound is monstrous though. I also have a couple others that are even better than some I owned even 12-15 years ago. One that comes to mind is a Dean that appears to be crafted after a Les Paul Jr. This one came out of the box snorting and bucking and hasn't needed any work or parts updating at all! As in everything in life, make your OWN choices. Following the herd will only get you to where the herd ends up. Now let me add. Not one of these instruments did I give more than $80.00.
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LIMEY1
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LIMEY1
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06/09/2012 2:09 am
Driving through Georgia many years ago i stopped at a pawn shop for no reason, sitting on the floor was this slightly beaten up old 12 string, it was an Ibanez Performance 12, i passed the guy in the doorway who pawned it just a few minutes ago, i picked it up and started to play, fell in love with the tone,haggled and bought it for 150 bucks, did i get a good deal, yes, it sat beside my Ovation and Yairi and Martin and sounded just as good, it is still with me today, great article great subject, long overdue, thank you Wild One.
# 3
john of MT
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john of MT
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06/10/2012 1:19 am
I agree with the essay (another good one, wildwoman!) and understand and sympathize with the two 'testimonies' that follow it. But what of the beginner? What can we suggest for the beginner that hasn't developed an ear...that hasn't heard a bunch of different guitars from a bunch of different manufacturers...or hasn't found that 20, 30 or 50-year old guitar at a garage sale or an estate auction? What of a beginner that doesn't yet recognize the sound and playability of a really good instrument over an average one?

I think a beginner (perhaps any level player) can be well served exactly by following the herd, i.e., buying a make/model that has a reputation for good sound and good quality. "Buy the most you can afford" is an old strategy that works for those starting out and one that often leads to makes and models that are either expensive or have a reputation for good sound for the bucks or both. And it's not a bad method for a newbie (or parents of a newbie) to follow.

Then there's EBay, Craig's List and all the dozens of online guitar sale points trafficing thousands of guitars...not a one tried out before purchase.

Until one gains a bunch of experience and develops an ear, one is is going to need a lot of help, be it 'marketing' or other musicians, to make their "own choice." IMO. ;)
"It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to. I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time."
-- Chet Atkins
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nanselmus
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nanselmus
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06/11/2012 12:22 pm
Great article. I bought an Epiphone Explorer for $199 and then I took it to the guitar shop and got a setup and it plays and sounds great. I've loads of Behringer pedals which are also inexpensive, not cheap, and they sound awesome also. So you can get it done well without going into debt and still impress your friends and annoy the neighbors. But I strongly recommend the setup. It made a huge difference.
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SebastBerg
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06/11/2012 11:17 pm
Originally Posted by: john of MTBut what of the beginner? What can we suggest for the beginner that hasn't developed an ear...that hasn't heard a bunch of different guitars from a bunch of different manufacturers...or hasn't found that 20, 30 or 50-year old guitar at a garage sale or an estate auction? What of a beginner that doesn't yet recognize the sound and playability of a really good instrument over an average one?


Very good point. I was that beginner once with an undeveloped ear. I went to the music store and bought a fender american strat since it was and his probably the most versatile guitar out there. It costs me a grand and I thought I was gone sound better. :P Wrong !

It could have been a lemon, but years later (with a developed ear ) it is one hell of a good guitar and my favorite axe.
I think that by buying an expensive guitar, you have more chance of getting something good. But like you guys already mentioned, cheap guitars dosnt mean they sound bad. You just have to search a little more and you can find something that will rival with the expensive ones. But you need a set up !
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wildwoman1313
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wildwoman1313
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06/15/2012 6:53 pm
Like anything worthwhile, developing your ear is a matter of time and experience. As a beginner, you may not recognize subtle tone qualities yet, so I would suggest taking a more seasoned guitarist along to give you their opinion when you go to buy a guitar. You can also ask the sales people for guidance. Don't buy a guitar online. You really need to hold the instrument in your hands and play it to find the right fit. Try out many guitars and trust your instincts. If you like the look, the feel, and the sound of a particular guitar, go for it!

Glad you guys are getting something from the article!
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john of MT
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john of MT
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06/16/2012 12:39 am
wildwoman1313 --

I've enjoyed your recent essays and sent your "Three songs that changed my life" to a couple guitar buddies of mine; one an amplifier designer. His response? "Makes me want to meet this woman!" :D
"It takes a lot of devotion and work, or maybe I should say play, because if you love it, that's what it amounts to. I haven't found any shortcuts, and I've been looking for a long time."
-- Chet Atkins
# 8
wildwoman1313
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wildwoman1313
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06/16/2012 5:28 pm
Well, thank you, john of MT! :D
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brenoazzi
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brenoazzi
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06/21/2012 5:28 pm
Misconception 2 * "It's the player that makes the music".

I have a cheap guitar and sounds good to me.

I´m trying do buy a wow wee paper guitar or somo type of plastic guitar. These kind of guitars will take you to the extreme.

Another thing that i usually do is to play or practice sometimes (about 50% of the time) with the electric guitar unplugged, like Hendrix usually did. This refine your technique and sound.
:) Azzi.

Be kool and stay free.
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gypsyblues73
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07/06/2012 3:23 pm
All valid points, but especially cheap does not=bad. I have several $1000+ guitars, and the one guitar I regret not keeping the most was an Ibanez RG2EX2 (a Guitar Center "special", at that) that I bought for $140. That thing had some mojo to it!
# 11
SebastBerg
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07/06/2012 8:18 pm
I just bought a brand new Godin Redline 3 weeks ago for 500$, including a case.
They usually sell for 650$/700$ so its a good deal. Its a bit more expensive then what we would call "cheap" guitar but it rivals with guitars twice that price easily.

I also have an accoustic guitar from the same company that I got for 350$ a while back and it killed most of the 600$/700$ range guitar from big companies.
I love Godin.
# 12
Smurfe
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Smurfe
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07/06/2012 9:01 pm
There is cheap and there is inexpensive. Big difference in my opinion. I love inexpensive guitars. For example I will use a Telecaster. Fender has the Affinity Squire, Custom Vibe Squire, Made in Mexico Tele, American made Tele, Custom Shop Tele. I would gravitate toward the Custom Vibe or MIM models. The Affinity are cheap, the CV and MIM models are inexpensive. The CV is cheaper than the MIM, I have played around on quite a few of each, I lean toward the CV Tele as my next guitar purchase.
# 13
Nomad2
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Nomad2
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10/08/2012 10:15 pm
Many years ago I had a yamaha fg180, sounded good & enjoyed playing it.
As far as I can remember it didn't cost much either. Finally sold it to a work mate who was over the moon with it. Now have a Fender acoustic. As has been mentioned, I sought advise from the shop owner & having looked at a few, went for the above. A good place to start I think was the comment.
The point is, it would be a very expensive mistake to pay a lot of money then have the guitar sit in the corner unused & unloved.
Many thanks again Wildwoman, another great piece.
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wildwoman1313
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10/09/2012 9:25 pm
Thanks, Nomad2! Good point. There's nothing sadder than an unused, unloved guitar sitting lonely in the corner, no matter the cost. Ultimately, the goal is to find the guitar that's right for you. ;)
# 15
Nomad2
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12/09/2012 3:50 am
I know there will be many groans about this, & yes I did go against the norm of going to a known dealer,(which I have done in the past). I have bought two guitars from Thomann's musikhaus, Treppendorf, in
Germany. First was an Epiphone Les Paul Special II HCS, with hard case.
It arrived within 7 days of placing the order, was very well packed & no damage.Minor retuning was required,but not a problem. The second, & it beats any uk price for purchase & delivery, was an Epiphone Les Paul Studio Deluxe Limited Edition with case,+ delivery within 7 days, for £245. My local dealer could only do the guitar for £300, the hard case being another £70+. Whilst I would still say check your local dealer first, do not be put off checking the various web sites for a good deal, maybe try to haggle, though it is not the way us brits usually do things.
Good luck & stick with it. Remember....practice,.. practice,..practice.
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gypsyblues73
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gypsyblues73
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12/09/2012 3:57 am
Nothing beats going into a store and personally finding and laying hands on a great guitar...but with the advent of the internet, it does make it awful tempting to be able to get practically any guitar you want with just a few keystrokes (especially if dealers in your area are lacking in their stock). It's risky ordering a guitar that you've never played before, but the more experience you have with many different kinds of guitars, it's a bit less so, since you'll have knowledge of different pickups, woods, neck shapes, etc., so you should be able to have a general understanding of what a guitar will be like just from the specs. Still, sometimes some guitars will surprise you, for better or worse.
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Nomad2
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Nomad2
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12/09/2012 4:09 am
Whilst I agree with you on the buying, hold it, feel it, try it, I have gone against that rule & gone on gut instinct. Don't really know why, but it seamed the right thing to do at the time.
I bought two guitars from Thomann Musikhaus, Treppendorf, in Germany.
Both have arrived very well packed with no damage, prices have been better than those given on the uk market. Very little re-tuning has been required, and very satisfied with the service given.
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gypsyblues73
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12/09/2012 4:12 am
Yes, I have gone against that rule as well (even though I'm holding my breath every time), and everything turned out fine. Also, some places make a habit of detuning guitars that they ship, to keep tension off the neck while it's traveling. Sometimes I've had to do a near-full setup once I've gotten a guitar, but I haven't gotten a "dud" yet.
# 19
jesusrocker
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jesusrocker
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12/10/2012 11:18 pm
I must admit, the only REAL regret I have in my 44 years, was trading in a Lyle copy of a Gibson ES-335 in cherry burst. I played it all thru high school jazz band, and I loved it. But one day I was stupid and traded it for an off brand V that turned out to be waayyy less guitar! It took me about a year to fully miss that guitar, and I have missed it every day since. Moral of the story: Never get rid of a good guitar! I don't remember how I came by it, but I have never seen another one in 25 years! And I look everywhere!
# 20

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