The Flagship guitars of the “Other” brands.

[Mbroady]

Edit: There's been some debate on what is meant by "Flagship "
This was not the intent of the question, but still nonetheless it has been amusing.
To clarify, when I say Flagship I mean Top-of-the-line, cream-of-the-crop, it doesn't get any better than that.
what It doesn't mean, in regard to this thread, is the most popular or best seller.


What do ya’ll think are/were the older (non-custom) flagship guitars of the “other” brands?

When I thinK flagship Martin the 45 series comes to mind
Taylor would be the 900 series
For Gibson the J200 seems to be it (not sure about this one).
But even used these guitars run over 5 grand, and used prices are rising.

So I ask this through the prism of frugal…….
What about the other quality brands (still around or gone) that do not demand these higher price tags? I’m hesitant to say punch above its class because flagships should be at the top of the class. So how about punch equal to but do not demand the equivalent coin?

I can think of 2
Alvarez Yari GYM70 series (they are not exactly frugal but less then a D-45)
Tacoma DR55 (a bargain if you can find them)

What else is out there?

[FingahPickah]

Guild D55 - 6 string dread
Guild F512 - 12 string jumbo

[LFL Steve]

Seagull. Excellent value-per-dollar, and some nice high end guitars.

[lowrider]

A D-45 cost's almost $10,000. And HD-28 will go for around $3000 and it's just about the same minus the bling.

That's quite a bargain right there.

[Mbroady]

Originally Posted by LFL Steve

Seagull. Excellent value-per-dollar, and some nice high end guitars.

What’s the top of line/flagship seagull guitar?

[Steve DeRosa]

Blueridge BR-280 - Adi top 45-style for under $3K, and the early ones (if you can find one for sale) were made with Brazilian RW sides/back:

[abn556]

The high end Larrivees like the L-09 and OM-09 are really nice guitars for the money. Check Daves Guitars. They have a big selection.

+

[Aahzz]

Originally Posted by FingahPickah

Guild D55 - 6 string dread
Guild F512 - 12 string jumbo

This right here.

[Puddleglum]

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

Blueridge BR-280 - Adi top 45-style for under $3K, and the early ones (if you can find one for sale) were made with Brazilian RW sides/back:

The early Blueridge models really were something special. I remember a small shop about 20 years ago that carried them. I'd never heard of the brand but was blown away each time I'd pick one up. The headstock design was a little "busy" for me, but otherwise I loved them. I've not seen one in a shop for many years.

[DCCougar]

Originally Posted by FingahPickah

Guild D55 - 6 string dread
Guild F512 - 12 string jumbo

Exactly.

Or the F50R -- jumbo 6-string.

[TedBPhx]

Taylor calls the 814 its flagship.

[Mbroady]

Originally Posted by TedBPhx

Taylor calls the 814 its flagship.

Perhaps the 800 series is more popular, but I always thought the 900 series was our guitar with higher end woods and appointments

[rmp]

Originally Posted by TedBPhx

Taylor calls the 814 its flagship.

yes this,, Exactly..

Hey what ever, I love mine... play it all the time despite having some other very nice acoustics.

[Wellington]

As said, Guild F512 and D55, they aren't cheap, few hundred more than a HD-28 for the D55, but considering the D55 is more in the vein of the Martin D-45 which costs over twice as much at 10 grand, it's not a terrible deal.

Yamaha is calling it's new FG9 their flagship, however I still see the LL56 as the ultimate Yamaha, again around that Guild D55 price at 4 ish grand USD.

I don't know what Larrivee would call their flagship or is they have one, but you get a flawlessly built US or previously Canadian made guitar at a better price than other brands.

[abn556]

The Gibson flagship would be more something like a Super 400, Super 200 Cutaway or a Citation. Considerably more $$$ than a SJ-200.

As an example:

https://www.davesguitar.com/products...0-premier-1940