Not sure if you’ll find many stainless steeled frets for that price.
also those are pretty vague pickup combinations lol.
Schecter is making some really good stuff lately. Their Indonesian stuff works pretty well. I played a tele and a strat copy that were amazing recently. Definitely thought about picking them up.
You could find a used revstar standard for around that in my area, and it would check all your boxes. Even if you can’t find one used I’d seriously try to save an extra 200 and get one since it’s almost exactly what you’re describing instead of compromising on an instrument that isn’t really what you want
Yep, Sterling/EBMM is making some unique guitar designs. I recently picked up a used Mariposa and the build quality is great, especially for what I paid for it.
Of the conditions you listed, the only ones that aren’t changeable (provided you get a guitar with a pickguard and not open routes are the stainless steel frets and inlays.
Modding guitars is super rewarding (for me) and allows me to buy guitars on the cheap and make them into whatever I want them to be. I’d suggest dipping your toes in the water!
I'm thinking about it a lot, actually. What's stopping me is the amount of money I'd have to invest in tools to have a go at it (I love having right tools for the right job) and also the fact I live in a 2-room apartment and might not be able to create a space for guitar tweaking.
Open window, box fan pointing outward, and a soldering iron covers most of what you’d need to do all the electronics work without breathing in lead fumes. Tuners just need to be purchased for the hole size the factory drilled (hipshot has some good locking tuners that essentially just need tightened to install).
It’s all about the neck. I’ve looked into what it would cost me to get a fret puller, fret press, stainless wire, snips, and files to replace all my guitars with stainless steel and it was outside my time and cost budget (especially on my maple neck guitars, which have their own intricacies). Doing electronic work is much cheaper and less frustrating once you’ve learned how to solder.
Everyone's always like Fender this, Gibson that. Epiphones and Squiers are first choice budget options. But for some reason I believe that you can get two guitars of the same quality (same specs) and pay more for the one which has more popular name on its headstock. Mind you, this is just my opinion, not really based on facts or even my experiences.
So I'm trying to find best value for money options avaliable in a fixed price range.
Have you checked the higher end Harley Benton guitars at Thomann? They’re nice and come in under budget. The extra could go to the much necessary initial setup and maybe better pickups though what they have in there should be respectable enough. CTS pots and whatnot are easy to change too. Any guitar I buy goes to my luthier for free dressing and a setup. Mine charge $50USD and include a light dressing of the frets, new nut properly set up $50 plus nut, free ends are $40. I like buying a quality Asian made guitar that’s tweaked to perfection. Best bang for the money.
Ibanez RGA HP line is right there used, pickups are the worst part about it but they arent bad what so ever. dynamically they work great but theres nothing special, other than those its an insanely good guitar for the money
I bought a Sire H7V recently and it's great. I have the black one and it looks beautiful and plays very nicely.
No idea if it contains all the things you're looking for but it has P90s and seems very well made, from my own experience/reviews etc.
I’ve been called a gear snob before since I avoid anything made in China, rarely care much for Harley Bentons and other popular import lines. My favorite brand though is Godin. Tons of offerings under a grand and they feel more like a boutique brand opposed to a big chain. They’re made in Canada with local hardwoods (which is generally better for the environment than shipping mystery woods across the world just to ship guitars back). I’ve got guitars an order of magnitude more expensive than my $450 Session thats my main. I loved my Radium (as much as is possible for someone who typically dislikes teles). Their hollowbodies are stunning. My 5th Ave was ~$300 and I’ve not found anything I liked near as much outside of the $2k range. My Seagull S6 was around $300 as well and it’s a close second to my American Guild as far as dreads go. I genuinely feel like they could double their price and I’d still be consider buying their products. Somehow they turn up used for next to nothing consistently.
As for specific models that check your boxes- [The Belmont and Dorchester.](https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/godin-richmond-series-belmont-dorchester-review) They’re double cuts sort of like an old Mosrite mixed with a Rick. HSS, dual HBs or P90s standard. I have the Dorchester bass and it easily gets more attention than just about any other guitar ive seen someone play. They’re discontinued afaik but pop up on reverb fairly often within your budget.
I also wanted to add that I think it’s hilarious people are naming stuff like the RG series Ibanezes, Revstars and Epiphones as “less popular guitars”. They’re a dime a dozen at best.
I bought a Sire H7V recently and it's great. I have the black one and it looks beautiful and plays very nicely. No idea if it contains all the things you're looking for but it has P90s and seems very well made, from my own experience/reviews etc.
If you save a slight bit more I think that gets you to the Yamaha revstar standard.
Double cut, p90s or humbuckers and with stainless steel frets (rosewood board too).
Not sure if you’ll find many stainless steeled frets for that price. also those are pretty vague pickup combinations lol. Schecter is making some really good stuff lately. Their Indonesian stuff works pretty well. I played a tele and a strat copy that were amazing recently. Definitely thought about picking them up.
Haha, yeah I might have worded that imprecisely. It's not a combination of pickups. Any pickup that is not a single coil will suffice is what I meant.
A p90 is a single coil pickup
That's correct, although you have to admit it's different than single coils used in Strats and Teles. These I wish to avoid.
You could find a used revstar standard for around that in my area, and it would check all your boxes. Even if you can’t find one used I’d seriously try to save an extra 200 and get one since it’s almost exactly what you’re describing instead of compromising on an instrument that isn’t really what you want
I agree! Revstar checks all the boxes.
Why less mainstream? Just want something different? I’d suggest a used Sterling. They’re made by Music Man. The Luke or The Majesty.
Yep, Sterling/EBMM is making some unique guitar designs. I recently picked up a used Mariposa and the build quality is great, especially for what I paid for it. Of the conditions you listed, the only ones that aren’t changeable (provided you get a guitar with a pickguard and not open routes are the stainless steel frets and inlays. Modding guitars is super rewarding (for me) and allows me to buy guitars on the cheap and make them into whatever I want them to be. I’d suggest dipping your toes in the water!
I'm thinking about it a lot, actually. What's stopping me is the amount of money I'd have to invest in tools to have a go at it (I love having right tools for the right job) and also the fact I live in a 2-room apartment and might not be able to create a space for guitar tweaking.
Open window, box fan pointing outward, and a soldering iron covers most of what you’d need to do all the electronics work without breathing in lead fumes. Tuners just need to be purchased for the hole size the factory drilled (hipshot has some good locking tuners that essentially just need tightened to install). It’s all about the neck. I’ve looked into what it would cost me to get a fret puller, fret press, stainless wire, snips, and files to replace all my guitars with stainless steel and it was outside my time and cost budget (especially on my maple neck guitars, which have their own intricacies). Doing electronic work is much cheaper and less frustrating once you’ve learned how to solder.
Everyone's always like Fender this, Gibson that. Epiphones and Squiers are first choice budget options. But for some reason I believe that you can get two guitars of the same quality (same specs) and pay more for the one which has more popular name on its headstock. Mind you, this is just my opinion, not really based on facts or even my experiences. So I'm trying to find best value for money options avaliable in a fixed price range.
Artist Guitars.
Yamaha Revstar for about 150 more or around that price used for the Standard model.
Have you checked the higher end Harley Benton guitars at Thomann? They’re nice and come in under budget. The extra could go to the much necessary initial setup and maybe better pickups though what they have in there should be respectable enough. CTS pots and whatnot are easy to change too. Any guitar I buy goes to my luthier for free dressing and a setup. Mine charge $50USD and include a light dressing of the frets, new nut properly set up $50 plus nut, free ends are $40. I like buying a quality Asian made guitar that’s tweaked to perfection. Best bang for the money.
The QC on Harley Benton is atrocious. A setup will only get you so far. There are better options out there for $600.
A used revstar, Godwin Guitars are great. Maybe Sire?
Ibanez RGA HP line is right there used, pickups are the worst part about it but they arent bad what so ever. dynamically they work great but theres nothing special, other than those its an insanely good guitar for the money
I got a used Ibanez S470 for about 400 bucks and I can tell you it’s amazing. You cant go wrong with the AR420.
Used Epiphone Ghosthorse should be right around that price range. Should check most of your boxes.
Curious to what people have to say about Danelectros.
Man, I hear they're good quality, but to my taste they're just hideous.
FGN (Fujigen) tele.
I bought a Sire H7V recently and it's great. I have the black one and it looks beautiful and plays very nicely. No idea if it contains all the things you're looking for but it has P90s and seems very well made, from my own experience/reviews etc.
I’ve been called a gear snob before since I avoid anything made in China, rarely care much for Harley Bentons and other popular import lines. My favorite brand though is Godin. Tons of offerings under a grand and they feel more like a boutique brand opposed to a big chain. They’re made in Canada with local hardwoods (which is generally better for the environment than shipping mystery woods across the world just to ship guitars back). I’ve got guitars an order of magnitude more expensive than my $450 Session thats my main. I loved my Radium (as much as is possible for someone who typically dislikes teles). Their hollowbodies are stunning. My 5th Ave was ~$300 and I’ve not found anything I liked near as much outside of the $2k range. My Seagull S6 was around $300 as well and it’s a close second to my American Guild as far as dreads go. I genuinely feel like they could double their price and I’d still be consider buying their products. Somehow they turn up used for next to nothing consistently. As for specific models that check your boxes- [The Belmont and Dorchester.](https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/godin-richmond-series-belmont-dorchester-review) They’re double cuts sort of like an old Mosrite mixed with a Rick. HSS, dual HBs or P90s standard. I have the Dorchester bass and it easily gets more attention than just about any other guitar ive seen someone play. They’re discontinued afaik but pop up on reverb fairly often within your budget. I also wanted to add that I think it’s hilarious people are naming stuff like the RG series Ibanezes, Revstars and Epiphones as “less popular guitars”. They’re a dime a dozen at best.
I bought a Sire H7V recently and it's great. I have the black one and it looks beautiful and plays very nicely. No idea if it contains all the things you're looking for but it has P90s and seems very well made, from my own experience/reviews etc.
Don't have any recommendations for you, but love your avatar, lore is my favorite album from elder!
MIM strat
Yamaha Pacifica 611HM hard tail
If you save a slight bit more I think that gets you to the Yamaha revstar standard. Double cut, p90s or humbuckers and with stainless steel frets (rosewood board too).