What's the Best Guitar for the Money You Have Ever Owned?

[Texsunburst59]

I have an acoustic,electric, and bass that are my best for the money instruments.

I still have all 3 in my collection.

$270 - '05 Taylor Jumbo Custom acoustic/electric:



$500 - '80 Gibson "Jimmy Wallace" '58RI(Prototype) LP Standard:



$64.64 - '74 Fender Jazz Bass:

[stormin1155]

For acoustic, Guild GAD-25. Bought used for $300. I have a 1972 Guild D-35, and while it is a different animal, I think the GAD sounds better, and the build quality is every bit as good.

For electric, Hamer Echotone. Brand new $300. I had a beautiful Gibson 335 at the time... I liked the Echotone better, so sold the Gibson.

[gmel555]

Easy for me. A 1995 Larrivee D-19, IR sides/back, Sitka top, ebony fretboard and bridge, schaller tubers. Upgraded headstock and fretboard inlay, abalone rosette. Great fit and finish. Plays and sounds beautiful. Rock solid. Plenty of volume...not a cannon, but who needs a cannon? Wonderfully balanced tone. Paid $900 for it( w OHC) about ten years ago and considered it in excellent+ condition all around at the time. Still have it, still love it.

[Muddslide]

For a few years after I started playing, pre-CBS Fenders could still be got pretty cheap. Up until about 1983 I scored several vintage Fenders made before 1965 for really low money.

Perhaps the best was a 1962 Jazz Bass I got for $350 around 1982. It had been painted--badly--in bright yellow house paint with a big ol' brush. It was my first refinish job.

I also bought a later Strat (from 1978) for $200 that I hated the thin neck on. Traded it straight across for a '73 Tele that was the best electric guitar I ever held or played.

As far as acoustics, hard to remember them all. My uncle gave me a ca. 1962 Gibson J-45 at one point, but as far as what I've bought myself, my recent Ibanez PN15 was $150 new and it is surprisingly good for a China-made laminate.

I once found a Gretsch "Standard Folk Acoustic" in an Oklahoma pawn shop and picked it up for $70. It was a decent piece of kit.

[llew]

For the money...probably a Larrivee L-03.

[musicman1951]

The best guitar for the money would have to be my Martin D-28 Authentic 1937. It had a beautiful tone and more power than any guitar I have played before or since. In an acoustic group setting I never had to worry about hearing myself. Beautiful bass, sweet highs.

It was definitely worth every penny and more. My aging body will no longer tolerate dreads, so it had to go.

My Lowden is my best, but it was an admittedly stupid amount of money. It was worth it for me only because I love it - but that Martin was the best for the money category.

[LarryC]

I would say my '78 Greco SE-800 strat. best money I ever spent.It's been with me the longest now. killer strat.I compared it to a '58 that was at GC for stupid money and I thought it held it's own just fine,REAL close..

[reely989]

I have a D16GT from around 2001 that sounds fantastic for what it is. I think we got it for around 700 or 800 at the time. Finally about to upgrade to a SCGC Tony Rice model I think, but that D16 has served me very well.

[beatcomber]

I feel pretty good about the 1964 Gibson F25 Folksinger that I bought this summer for under a grand.

I'd be hard-pressed to find another x-braced, all-solid spruce/mahogany '60s Gibson for the same $$, let alone one that plays so perfectly.

[Rudy4]

Pretty good:

Several years ago I saw an ad for "4 nice guitars, $500 each". As soon as I called and found out what he had I hopped in the car with cash dollars.
I got there within a half hour but USA-made Strat, Tele, and a Les Paul were sold to the guy who beat me there. Luckily he left the year-old Larrivee L-05 with hard shell case for me to purchase for $500.
I loved that guitar for many years and sold it recently (when paring down instruments) for twice what I paid for it.

The best value?

A birdseye maple 1940's Epiphone Triumph in original case with assorted case candy including its DeArmond "monkey on a stick" pickup. I found it in the pile of curbside rubbish waiting to be picked up by the trash haulers. I kept it many years and sold it about 20 years ago for $500 because I felt it really needed to end up with a jazz player, which I wasn't.

[hailwood]

From the pre internet Gruhn's green mailing list days. A one of six Benedetto solid body and a all carved Zeidler archtop, both long gone. My prewar sunburst non cut L-5 was in that mix, too. Currently, a 2007 Collings D2H. Great price because of a very minor pro repaired 2 inch long back crack next to the center seam. Perfect neck shape, does every thing well and covers a huge amount of sonic ground.

[Neil K Walk]

Originally Posted by Rudy4

Pretty good:

Several years ago I saw an ad for "4 nice guitars, $500 each". As soon as I called and found out what he had I hopped in the car with cash dollars.
I got there within a half hour but USA-made Strat, Tele, and a Les Paul were sold to the guy who beat me there. Luckily he left the year-old Larrivee L-05 with hard shell case for me to purchase for $500.
I loved that guitar for many years and sold it recently (when paring down instruments) for twice what I paid for it.

The best value?

A birdseye maple 1940's Epiphone Triumph in original case with assorted case candy including its DeArmond "monkey on a stick" pickup. I found it in the pile of curbside rubbish waiting to be picked up by the trash haulers. I kept it many years and sold it about 20 years ago for $500 because I felt it really needed to end up with a jazz player, which I wasn't.

$500 for a Larrivee L-05?!? WOW! I've have jumped on that had I seen THAT listing. That's even a good price for a used L-03.

[Rpt50]

I think if you blindfolded experienced guitarists and put an FG800 (with a good setup) in their hands, most of them would be impressed and maybe a little bit shocked.

Anyway, that would be my vote. With a coupon I paid $159 for mine brand new.

[Prizen]

Brondel A1. It was big bucks but worth it.

[KenL]

No contest, my '81 Guild D-46. I'm the second owner.

It was in excellent condition back in '04 when I stumbled upon it, and they knocked $100 bucks off the asking price. I wrote a check for $600 and walked out the door with it.

I don't know what it is worth now, but it ain't for sale. Built like a tank, heavy, and it can roar or whisper, whatever I need. Great strummer, flatpicker, or fingerpicker- nothing it can't do.

I'm lucky to own it.