|
|
#46
07-30-2019, 08:34 AM
|
|||
|
|||
Quote:
Otherwise it mostly depends on your ability to get tp know what a better guitar really is I reckon...A $270 Sigma won't match a Martin D-18 for very long...When strings get old, good guitars keep sounding okay when average guitars end up sounding rather poorly (it's the stings you ended up judging possibly). The clear lively tone disappears, leaving a lifeless brittle or tinny sound. Usually happens quite quickly when back & sides are not solid woods... My first real good guitar had many features I could identify, but at the same time I didn't think that much of it by lack of awareness and not enough experience... This being said, I have tried or heard excellent Sigma guitars, and for someone who wants to start guitar they would have been more than good enough...(youngsters are not necessarily carefull enough for expensive guitars and may not have the taste or passion that a better guitar would deserve...).Sometmes expensive guitar do not sound good enough in relation to their price (though some at least would do quite shortly).I'm no expert, I buy guitars that sound good enough to my ears when they play well...The Sigma sounds worth the money they ask for it... I had tried an electric Strat by Tokai when I bought my Squier guitar many years ago : sounded possibly better then the latter I eventually bought; thinking of selling it when I could get a genuine Fender... Last edited by Bernieman; 07-30-2019 at 09:54 AM. Reason: Couple of words changed 
|
|
#47
07-30-2019, 12:56 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Can't comment on the Tokai or Sigma, but the Chinese guitars are really getting pretty good... seemed that 10 years ago, Eastman was about the only consistently good acoustic; I tried a bunch of the early Recording Kings that folks raved about and thought they were "less than", as a whole...
Nowadays, there are a lot of guitars being built in China and Asia that are wonderful, and there a lot of companies that have their lower-priced instruments built over there. Che out what Alvarez is doing these days - they make a Masterworks dreadnought and OM that are very similar to a Martin D-18 or OM-18... better appointments, actually; these are all solid woods, herringbone purfling, bound necks, very nice fit and finish... and STELLAR in sound, which to me is where the "rubber meets the road"! Come with a sweet hardshell case for less than $600... Breedlove, based here in Bend, Oregon, has their Discovery Series guitars built overseas, as well... At $299 w/ a nice gig bag, they are the nicest "entry level" guitars I've played in the past decade. Plus they are fully warranteed and backed by Breedlove. Shop around, pay attention and find one you like and you'll be fine!
__________________
"Home is where I hang my hat, but home is so much more than that. Home is where the ones and the things I hold dear are near... And I always find my way back home." "Home" (working title) J.S, Sherman
|
|
#48
07-30-2019, 01:11 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Popped my balloon. Rained on my parade so to speak. I thought my Ibanez AC240 and my Recording King RO-10 were REAL guitars? 
|
|
#49
07-30-2019, 06:52 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
When discussions of Asian guitars ensue, Yamaha should always be thrown in the mix. I can't think of a guitar company at ANY price point that exceeds their level of Q/C and fit and finish. It's really quite remarkable.
scott memmer
|
|
#50
07-30-2019, 08:33 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
#51
07-31-2019, 05:05 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
I have 2 Chinese made guitars at present, a Yamaha FG820 and a Cort MR710 and I although these are my first guitars I have found that the build quality on both are very good. There were a couple of minor imperfections on the FG in the paint finish but a bit of micro polish fixed those. The Cort is really well made and it has become my favorite. I didn't realize how big a company Cort was at first.
I have owned several banjos in the past and my first was a Chinese SX brand cheapie that had a ton of faults and I ended up donating it as I would have felt guilty selling it. The next was a Gold Tone which was Chinese made but to the standards of an American company and that was a great instrument for the price and very well made.
__________________
Yamaha FG-411
|
|
#52
07-31-2019, 05:07 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Speaking as a bad man(I'm Gemini,so have both good and bad personas) I have a couple of rebadged guitars that I keep for particularly arrogant pickle sniffers that get put in their hands for appraisal.so far, without fail,they gush at the beautiful tone and balance of my trap guitars and although I have now spilt the beans on the origins of said guitars( privately) there is a lot to be said for the eyes ( seeing the magic words Martin and Gibson) fooling the brain into thinking something is fab when it is good but not really fab.( The inspiration came from an artist who fooled a bunch of psudo art critics into gushing about some chimp paintings simply because he said they were artistically brilliant, he was not popular after this experiment) ps some Chinese made guitars ARE fabulous.
|
|
#53
07-31-2019, 05:57 PM
|
|||
|
|||
|
My current flat tops are a vintage D28, a Huss and Dalton TDM, and two Eastman E10 series (D and OM). I don't find the Chinese guitars lacking in any way compared to the American guitars. Each has a unique voice, and all have that *magic* that make them a pleasure to play.
In contrast, I have a Korean built (I think) Ibanez artwood from the 90s that sounds like a tin can in comparison. It's a "higher end", all solid wood, early taylor 14 series knock off. Super comfortable to play, it was my teaching guitar for years. But it can't hold a candle to the Eastmans.
__________________
1970 Martin D28 1970s Eko Ranger 12 1984 Goodall Rosewood Standard 1990s Hirade K5 1996 Ibanez AG600e 2000s Eastman E10D 2009 Breedlove American 000 MM 2007 Breedlove DR Deluxe Custom 2010s Eastman E10OM SB
|
|
#54
07-31-2019, 06:55 PM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
__________________
Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Fender Robert Cray Stratocaster Martin D18 Ambertone Martin 000-15sm
|
|
#55
08-01-2019, 02:22 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
|
#56
08-01-2019, 05:16 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Well, if you glance at my signature you will see 2 Indiana guitars. These are made in China. Both were purchased from the same music store. Although ownership has changed hands between the two.
I purchased the Scout in 2007 and the Madison was a 2018 Christmas gift from my wife. Since the Madison was ordered and shipped some setup work needed done. But that is not uncommon even for a more expensive guitar. The Scout I purchased at the music store. They took the time to setup the guitar before they put it out in the show room. At the time this guitar sold for $100. Not many places will setup a $100 guitar. One of the selling points and still is that Indiana offers a 10 year warranty. For the first several years I owned the guitar I would tune it up, play it for 15 to 20 minutes and put it back in the bag and not touch it for another 6 months. That's not because it is a bad instrument. I just didn't have the desire to play. And is not because of the guitar, my Gibson SG also sat. I have started playing again daily. You know, life's priorities some times change. Anyway after 12 years with the Scout there are no signs of neck issues, warped top, or loose bracing. I haven't even had to do a "tune up" on the setup. Just changed strings. So to answer the question, I am sure there are some stinkers out there. But I am happy with the Chinese made Indiana.
__________________
2007 Indiana Scout 2018 Indiana Madison Quilt Elite 2018 Takamine GJ72CE 12-String 2019 Takamine GD93 2022 Takamine GJ72CE 6-String 2022 Cort GA-QF CBB 1963 Gibson SG 2016 Kala uke Dean A style mandolin. (Year unknown) Lotus L80 (1984ish) Plus a few lower end I have had for years
|
|
#57
08-01-2019, 05:54 AM
|
||||
|
||||
|
Quote:
__________________
Emerald X20 Emerald X20-12 Fender Robert Cray Stratocaster Martin D18 Ambertone Martin 000-15sm
|
|
#58
08-01-2019, 06:46 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Hold it. I love Kosher dills and have been known to sniff them. I also love value oriented guitars. Am I a pickle sniffer?
 Is either a bad thing? I guess I'm slightly confused as well but I think I know where Sleeper was generally going with this.
__________________
Breedlove Masterclass Dread - Sitka/Koa Breedlove Masterclass Concert - Sitka/BRW Seagull Artist Deluxe CE Seagull Artist Element Furch G22CR-C Several other exceptional guitars, but these make me smile and keep me inspired!
|
|
#59
08-01-2019, 07:14 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
Eastman is a fine name, and their instruments are first rate. They do not pretend to be something they are not - they just produce very good quality instruments. But to recycle old names such as Loar, Recording King, and even my home state of Indiana in an effort to invoke a false sense of value is wrong, IMO. Just as bad as the Chibson knock-offs. Go ahead and build great guitars, just call'em what they are, not what they are NOT.
__________________
______________ ---Tom H ---
|
|
#60
08-01-2019, 07:23 AM
|
|||
|
|||
|
Quote:
|
