What's The Best Truly DIRT CHEAP Guitar You've Had?

[Mycroft]

Laminate Philippine Mahogany 000 "Presidente" that I paid fifty buck for in a pawn shop in Auckland. Hauled it for two years in a gig bag all over New Zealand, Australia and Asia. Gave it to the head of the Indian High Altitude Warfare School, for favors rendered.

Best bloody guitar that I ever owned...

TW

[Fatstrat]

Oh by far my Silver Creek D-160's. I have 2 of them that both cost me less than $200. apiece to buy. And IMO they are an outstanding value. Invest a little more and get them set up properly, and you're 3/4 of the way to Martin D-18 tone at 1/8th the price. They may not look as good. But I don't buy guitars to look at.

[rbbambino]

The best "cheap deal" I ever got was an Alvarez MD-65, which I got off Ebay for $123.. It wasn't perfect by any means, but it certainly sounded fine. I seem to have a thing about all solid wood guitars and it met that criteria. The worst "cheap" guitar was a Silver Creek T-170. I tried everything to make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear" (old saying).. but to no avail.. In that case.. cheap was cheap!!

[Fatstrat]

Originally Posted by rbbambino

The best "cheap deal" I ever got was an Alvarez MD-65, which I got off Ebay for $123.. It wasn't perfect by any means, but it certainly sounded fine. I seem to have a thing about all solid wood guitars and it met that criteria. The worst "cheap" guitar was a Silver Creek T-170. I tried everything to make a "silk purse out of a sow's ear" (old saying).. but to no avail.. In that case.. cheap was cheap!!

Yeah, I never quite bonded w/my T-160 either. Actually liked it better before the set up. And I've noticed that on ebay the SC 000 models are always present. But the Dreads are few and far between. Especially the D-160's.

[budsy]

My Alvarez which i bought like new but used from the Gumtree site

bought for £90.00 which is $142.510 with a padded GigBag and hand delivered to my house

some guy whom wanted to learn guitar and then never had the time

to learn ..

Also the Seagull Entourage Mini Jumbo which i also had hand delivered
to my house by a guy whom sold it and along with a flight case all for £125.00 is $197.931
probs is the biggest bargain to date from the Gumtree site since sold the Seagull guitar recently

but kept hold of the flight case which now sits my Yamaha

[srderby]

Silver Creek T160 for about $179. It is all solid wood and made pretty well...came with bone. I think if I can get in and slightly shave the braces it will add a little. For the money though...great deal. Also got the Silver Creek case for this at something over $50. Around $250 for the combo.

[sublro]

Probably a three-way tie -

Hohner Essentials parlor - really nice, and perfect intonation for under 3 bills. Liked it so much I went back for the folk model. also outstanding. And the Art & Lutherie Ami Cedar is a classic! Seagull Entourage are outstanding values as well.

[sharkydude50]

D- you know what mine is/was! I got that Sigma for two Benjamins back when I was a freshamn @ USC. They were making them better in Japan than in Nazareth at that point in time (mid-70's) IMO.

I now see that a German co. has purchased the rights to the Sigma name/line, so it looks like the phoenix rises once again.

[rbock]

I have three. A Gretsch Americana Way Out West I got new for $50, a $199 SC D-160 (both MF Stupid Deals), and a '66 Gibson B-25 I paid $75 for back in the 70's. I think it was around $125 new. I have several other more expensive guitars, but I still enjoy playing the cheapies.

[stratokatsu]

Originally Posted by sharkydude50

I got that Sigma for two Benjamins back when I was a freshamn @ USC.

I now see that a German co. has purchased the rights to the Sigma name/line, so it looks like the phoenix rises once again.

I suppose the best we can hope for is that they make them as good as your Sigma. That's one he!! of a guitar.

[glenn7623]

This Hohner has beautiful maple back and sides,spruce top,and rosewood fingerboard.A Gruhn Design.Someone said Gruhn was trying to enter the high end acoustic market at one time.

[JimC1702]

I bought a Jasmine S35 from Amazon for $67.00. It's far from pretty, but really doesn't sound bad and makes a great carry-around guitar.


Jim

[johnmngr]

Couple years ago I picked up a Washburn WD11S on eBay as a blem for $130, shipped. Sounds better than anything else I've played or owned, and the "blemish" was just a tiny line on the edge of the binding at the neck joint. You'd need a magnifying glass to see it.

[Doranged]

Takamine GS330. Solid cedar top, NATO laminated sides, low action, great sound. Bought as a boat guitar in 95. Never had a case, always out and stays in tune for months. Think I paid low 200's. Couldn't believe it in 95 still can't in 2019!

[roylor4]

A Savannah Parlor guitar. Best out of the box setup on any guitar I have ever owned. $79.00 B-stock from Ebay. Great playing little guitar.