Are there any guitars that can genuinely be said to be superior to costlier guitars?

[Squiddy]

This post has come about as a result of something that Neil C said on another post.

Yes, we all know that Vintage make a creditable Les Paul, but is it better than my Gary Moore sig? I very much doubt it.

But what about MIJ Srats? (as an example)

I would say that my '87 MIJ reissue is at least as good as the USA equivalent that I played, but I can't say that there is any other example.

I have played nothing better than my PRS Custom 22.

[thebeagle]

Can I be the first to mention Gordon Smith? IME way better than the equivalent US Gibson Junior-style guitars, although new they're not SIGNIFICANTLY cheaper any more.

Oh, and MIJ Fenders definitely (again IME, YMMV, etc), never played a MIA that beat the MIJ Telecaster I foolishly didn't buy a few years ago. Also MIJ Tokais; although the band members who had paid full-whack for MIA Gibbo LPs were loathe to admit it, the Tok I got in a trade for the equivalent of about £300 was easily their equal if not better in terms of fit, finish and feel.

[monquixote]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean.

I played a DBZ guitar that was about £600 that felt much worse than a Vintage LP that was about £200.
Or do you mean are there any cheap guitars that are as good as the very best?

[stickyfiddle]

For my tastes the Classic player 60's Strat is absolutely a better instrument than a USA Standard, and at barely half the price.

[Not_the_DJ]

I did look at Gordon Smiths before getting my Les Paul Junior. The GS just felt light and cheap, didn't do it for me at all.

[melj]

I've never understood the Gordon Smith thing...every one I've played has been average at best, some have been downright appalling.

[Fusionista]

My Greco LP Custom (Super Power) is at least as good as my old Gibson and 1/3 the price. Plus it is a '79 and a wonderful mahogany burst.

[BucketheadRules]

IMO even a Chinese-made Burny Les Paul copy shits all over many new Gibson LPs I've played for twice or three times the price. This isn't just clueless kiddywink inverted snobbery, it is genuinely my opinion of these guitars. Either they're really good, or many Gibsons are very disappointing.

Maybe it's because I expect Gibsons to be good when I play them because of the history, the reputation, and... umm.. the price tag, but they often seem to disappoint me.

I've played a bunch of new Gibson LP models (some relatively cheap, some expensive) and while many of them have been nice, not a single one of them has ever stood out to me and made me REALLY want to buy it, to the point where I was contemplating which limb to hack off in order to pay for it. That Burny, with a Sustainer, through a Hiwatt and a fuzz pedal at what can safely be termed "unreasonable volume", did.

There are few guitars, at any price, I want more than one of these:



And I've never played a single £3-400 Epiphone Les Paul that I've liked more than my £200 Vintage. Again it sounds ridiculous, but it's true. I am convinced that a lot of the inflated price of Gibbos and even Epiphones really is just because of the name, because there's nothing else that makes them "better".

[musophilr]

SG2000 costs less new than LP Std (iirc) and IMO its more versatile and build quality is consistently good. I mention both together because the LP is clearly an influence on the SG2k, but the latter does everything an LP can and more.

Does this count?

[StevieRaveOn]

Even a Chinese-made Burny Les Paul copy shits all over many new Gibson LPs I've played for twice or three times the price. This isn't just clueless kiddywink inverted snobbery, it is the truth.

It may seem like the truth to you, but it's really just your perception.