Your other favourite non-premium guitar brands

[steak&chips]

As Epiphone is to Gibson, and Squire & MIM Fender is to US manufactured Fender, what other guitar brands/ranges do you like that act as that mid-priced and budget range guitar, and why? The type of guitar that does a great job for gigging guitarists, who can’t justify spending thousands.

Personally, I could never justify to myself buying a Gibson or a US made Epiphone, when the Epiphone guitars made in China and Indonesia are fantastic guitars to play. At the same time (based on no sound or valid logic), I just don’t feel the love for a Squire, even though I really should.

So it got me wondering, what else do you all like? It might tempt me to investigate myself!

 

[Maguchi]

The old DeArmond branch of Guild in the '90s and early 2000s and even the used ones today.

 

[syco]

Ya'll has " Premium " guitars ??

 

[BGood]

I really like the PRS SE line. 2004 Soapbar 1 I've had for some years and it could well be my only guitar. Had a 2007 SE One for a while, but it was too similar to the Soapbar 1 to warrant keeping it. I also got a 2017 SE Zach Myers 3 months ago and is it a keeper. I love the fat-wide necks on them. I'd be plenty happy to only play PRS SE.

 

[3bolt79]

Well, for me it's Gretsch. The Chinese made Electromatics are great. I have two that were under $500.

The Chinese Electromatics are a step above the old Korean ones. And quite a bit above the Streamliners these days that are also MIC.

I have two more Electromatics that were $800 and $1000.

I also have an MIJ Falcon, which is infinitely better, but also cost more new than my other 4 combined.

In the end they are all tools, and each have their specific purpose.

 

[Paruwi]

So it got me wondering, what else do you all like? It might tempt me to investigate myself!

non-premium in price - though premium in quality

my 'MiJ-Crew'

 

[stevekolt]

In agreement regarding Gretsch Electromatic, and PRS S E.

 

[Charles Carter]

My three K. Yairi classicals are the only guitars I own that aren't Epis.
Absolutely premium quality guitars but a relatively obscure brand.
Played by the likes of Carlos Santana and Steve Hackett so they probably don't qualify?

 

[3bolt79]

I agree with you on those Classicals. I have a super cheap Yamaha CG 102 for a camping guitar, an Alvarez Flamenco, and a hand made Ribot y Alcaniz small body classical from a small builder in Japan.

I may get a Yairi one day. They are highly regarded. Are any of yours longer than 648 mm scale? My Ribot is 655mm and my Alvarez is 660 or 662mm. I can't remember now.

I had a Ramirez 1A that was 667mm, and that was a little too big for me. I couldn't make stretches in certain pieces. Hence "had".

 

[Charles Carter]

Yeah, my YC200 is 665mm.
The CY116 is 660mm
and the CY62CE is 655mm I think?
Keeps me on my toes.