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TEB

(13,689 posts)
Fri May 3, 2019, 04:54 AM May 2019

I'm amazed at the quality of Asian guitars

The bubble has busted I have always been a collector of Japan guitars. Since I scored my first one a used tokai Les Paul reborn in 85 in Giessen west Germany 250$. Yesterday I played a PRs de 245 made in Indonesia a friend of our sons. Sunday I’m going swap out the pickups with some Seymour Duncan’s that the young man received as birthday present.

In jamming with our sons friends I have played epiphone Les made in China as with the Indonesian PRs se And Their stellar guitars. For the price you get quality for the the dollars. With one kids epiphone I swapped out bridge tail piece with aluminum on the house. Because well zinc just won’t cut it on tailpiece and but the Gibson humbuckers and pots stayed.

Regardless of where they are made you get a awesome guitar for under a grand. And I am happy all mahogany real maple cap decent guitars for living room players.

13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I'm amazed at the quality of Asian guitars (Original Post) TEB May 2019 OP
As the owner of an American made Les Paul Traditional INdemo May 2019 #1
I'm talking Chinese epiphone and Indonesia PRs TEB May 2019 #2
ok Well I thought you were talking about Les Paul INdemo May 2019 #3
agree on the chinese LP Locrian May 2019 #4
I think some of the squier stuff isn't half bad either Locrian May 2019 #5
Absolutely TEB May 2019 #6
Thank you for links TEB May 2019 #7
I bought my grandson a Fender Strat made in Mexico INdemo May 2019 #8
So far, the only difference I see is about 500 to a grand. Iggo May 2019 #9
Mexican strats just awesome TEB May 2019 #12
They are awesome guitars TEB May 2019 #11
The Mexican Strats ain't bad. prodigitalson May 2019 #10
I agree TEB May 2019 #13

INdemo

(7,020 posts)
1. As the owner of an American made Les Paul Traditional
Fri May 3, 2019, 05:02 AM
May 2019

the Chinese counterfeits are not even close to the quality of American made.

So save your reviews for this Chinese junk

TEB

(13,689 posts)
2. I'm talking Chinese epiphone and Indonesia PRs
Fri May 3, 2019, 05:04 AM
May 2019

I agree on the Chinese Les that have Gibson on headstock junk mystery wood. But the epiphone coming out Asia are decent for starter guitar long tenon real maple cap

Locrian

(4,523 posts)
4. agree on the chinese LP
Fri May 3, 2019, 06:32 AM
May 2019

But I also think the LP (USA) has done downhill in recent years - mostly due to mismanagement by Gibson.
Heritage is the "real" traditional LP

Locrian

(4,523 posts)
5. I think some of the squier stuff isn't half bad either
Fri May 3, 2019, 06:39 AM
May 2019

I have a USA Jazzmaster and a Squier Deluxe Jazzmaster that I swapped out pickups and electronics - compares pretty well.

I like SD pickups but there are a few other places that offer custom design and winding - all USA stuff etc:

https://www.planettone.com/shop/
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293066436589?ul_noapp=true
https://brandonwoundpickups.com/shop/

TEB

(13,689 posts)
7. Thank you for links
Fri May 3, 2019, 06:46 AM
May 2019

I was looking at planet tone voodo set for 110$ thinking mexi Strat we have

INdemo

(7,020 posts)
8. I bought my grandson a Fender Strat made in Mexico
Fri May 3, 2019, 11:18 AM
May 2019

have not had any problems with it and the pickups are fine.To hear it, one could not tell the difference between the Strat American and the one made in Mexico

Iggo

(48,264 posts)
9. So far, the only difference I see is about 500 to a grand.
Sun May 5, 2019, 01:07 PM
May 2019

I'm somewhere between tentatively and aggressively in the market for a Strat.

Had my eye on the American Special, Sonic Blue with Rosewood, but there isn't one local for me to try out before I buy.

So I've been haunting the guitar shops, looking for something that grabs me.

But so far, I don't see a lot of difference between the M's and the A's.

prodigitalson

(2,884 posts)
10. The Mexican Strats ain't bad.
Thu May 16, 2019, 11:08 PM
May 2019

Granted mine has a "real' Strat neck. But the body and pickups are Mexican. Its indistinguishable from a US made "real' version

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