20 Rare & Expensive Guitars of All Time

[Seshmeister]

[Kristy]

Meh. All owned by rich people who place them in glass cases where only they can see them.

[Nitro Express]

It’s like worshipping Rembrandt’s paint brushes. There’s nothing special about any of those guitars. In fact, if you did play them you would think some were shit. It’s the player, not the equipment. Using Babe Ruth’s bat isn’t going to make you hit balls any better.

[Terry]

Who is this "Jimmy Hendrick" the clip mentions?

[Terry]

Meh. All owned by rich people who place them in glass cases where only they can see them.

To me, a guitar isn't worth much of anything if it is never played.

[Seshmeister]

It’s like worshipping Rembrandt’s paint brushes. There’s nothing special about any of those guitars. In fact, if you did play them you would think some were shit. It’s the player, not the equipment.

That's the point it makes. Plus you could add Prince and Slash whose original defining guitars were both cheap copies of originals. Which of course makes total sense because usually the person doing the 20k hours becoming especially good wasn't spending much time earning $.

[Nitro Express]

To me, a guitar isn't worth much of anything if it is never played.

Most the guitars out there aren’t being played. The thing is you play your favorite guitar and break it in and you play a new one and it’s like playing baseball with a brand new mitt. It sucks. You want your broken in Mitt and guitar.

[Nitro Express]

That's the point it makes. Plus you could add Prince and Slash whose original defining guitars were both cheap copies of originals. Which of course makes total sense because usually the person doing the 20k hours becoming especially good wasn't spending much time earning $.

Some cheap guitars play decent if you can set them up right. If the nut is cut wrong nothing you adjust will make it play decent.

[Nitro Express]

I always suggest a Telecaster for a beginners electric guitar. There are a zillion of them and many are good and can be had for a decent price. They are simple. Easy to make adjustment's on and have good necks you can get low action on. They also have a broad range where you can play any style of music.

[Seshmeister]

Schecter seem to make decent 'budget' guitars and basses, I have a couple myself. They go the extra mile on the pickups which despite the hype is a lot more important to the sound than the wood I believe.

I'm saying that but I haven't played one under 10 years old, they could be making them in Rwanda by this point for all I know.

[Nitro Express]

I hear the PRS import guitars are good sub $1,000 guitars. I was talking to Grover Jackson about tone wood and he said he liked alder. What affects the tone is how the whole instrument resonates. Different materials resonate differently. Mahogany resonates a darker tone but you can brighten it up by putting a maple cap on it. Pickups change the tone because they all have different EQ curves. You can make a great sounding guitar out of inexpensive woods like poplar and basswood. I do like the sound of all mahogany guitars. I’ve played some killer sounding Les Paul Jr’s. and SG Jr’s.

[Nitro Express]

I find it interesting Eddie Van Halen played Gibson or Gibson copy guitars to record with. A lot of the songs on the classic albums were played on a Destroyer. He used an SG on Dirty Movies. He used a Flying V on 1984. I think you get more balls and punch with those style of guitars.

[Nitro Express]

I was in the market for a Jazz bass a few years ago. I didn’t want to pay over $1,000. I tried a bunch of Fenders and then I tried a Schecter. I liked the Schecter’s neck the best and it had real quality hardware and pickups. It also had an active EQ. Fender didn’t offer anything comparable until you got into their premium line. I got a great bass for $800. Way better than a Mexican Fender one.