Play before you pay. Hard to do in this dystopian society.

As a budget-restricted bedroom player, i am always willing to "roll the dice" on cheaper guitars. Brands like Harley Benton offer some of the coolest copies of guitars we can never ever own in our lifetime. Just accept that they will never be perfect out of the box. That's why everyone should learn a thing or two about set-up and modifications. Heck, my first and only Gibson had lots of problems as well. Very nice topic. Always love watching your videos!

This is a great topic guys. I'm a disabled guy and we live check to check. The last cheap guitar I bought was a Tele type with really bad YT reviews, so bad it has disappeared. It was super beautiful, but unplayable. Luckily I'm a fair guitar tech. I smelled a bargain and I Rolled the Dice. It needed the frets filed as it was eating my calluses for lunch, the pots made all kinda noises and the switch was a little grindy so I removed the plate and lubed the switch and gave the pots a shot of WD-40 to their guts and all that went away. Lastly people on YT were complaining of all that AND the Bridge Pickup. Mine sounded terrible as well but, all I did was lower it down and it quit howlin' and growlin' and now I have a player fer sure. Looks great, sounds great, for maybe 90 minutes work total and $103.00 US including tax and S/H. It even stays in tune! The Cali Classic Strat type I just bought on Cyber Monday was on sale for $85 including S/H and NC taxes. It has really good reviews on YT but I'm expecting the same and I Will Fix It. I have nothing but time and almost zero money. Like $595.50/Mo. with a $450 mortgage. As you can tell I'm a hell of a shopper, and I have to be. I do own 1 2016 Gibson Les Paul but, my son bought it for me. Good boy that kid! In closing, if you're a tech or a luthier, you MIGHT want to Roll The Dice. But if you have disposable income or maybe you're short on time, you probably want to invest in a better known, better set up Instrument. I put together my half stack the same way but that's for a future comment. Merry Christmas and a Happier Covid Free New Year!!!

I've found that spending the money on quality guitars makes playing more enjoyable. I don't have to spend the money to mod it to get it to be a respectable guitar, or send it down the road cuz it just doesn't fill the void.

I bought two Harley Benton's back in September. The DC junior fat and an SC 550 II. Both guitars came to Canada without any damage and set up fairly well, I lowered the bridge on the junior because it's for my daughter and I didn't want her to fight the action on her first electric. The SC 550 II was without any noticeable flaws (fretboard needed to be conditioned, but what's new there) and after 2 months and probably about a hundred hours of practicing and playing on it, it's still as good as the day it arrived. Now these aren't the cheapest HB guitars, but I will count myself lucky that I didn't get a lemon. The neck on the 550 reminds me of my PRS SE, so much so that I swear that they are likely made in the same Indonesian factory.

I’ve always just bought what I could afford. It used to be lower priced instruments, a solid state amp, and a crappy Zoom multi effect. Now that I’m older, I can afford the PRS I wanted, multiple boutique pedals, and any amp I want(within reason/not buying a Dumble anytime soon). None of it actually makes me a better player, but they’re what I want, and I’m not going into debt buying them.

Just bought my first Banjo and it was important to me to get a quality “beginner instrument”. I was impressed that Deering sells an American Made instrument in the $600-$800 range.

I bought three HB's last year. As a casual hobbyist, they are perfect for me and have had zero problems from day one. They are also great guitars to learn how to work on, replace hardware on and modify. I have no idea if the QC is good or bad, however, they look and play great to me and that's what counts. It's also nice to switch things up. On the flip side, I recently bought a new mid priced Jackson and it had an input jack wiring problem that needed addressed right out of the box. It's a crap shoot on everything that you buy.

I rolled the dice on a Squire Affinity Tele, learned a little about neck relief, action height and intonation. This $230 guitar is a blast to play now.

I certainly wanted to get a Gibson pre-pandemic, but budget brought me to HB. Gave me a chance to try a single cut. I also have PRS style guitar as well as a Artist Guitar tele style guitar. Now that I’ve had a chance to play different body shapes in my own ‘shop’, I have a much better idea of what I’d like when I decide to actually buy a quality instrument.

My slimmed down collection of "good ones" keeps growing.

Here's a question for you. Are the Harley Benton, Firefly, Donners, etc the Danelectro, Teisco, Kay, and Silvertones of tomorrow? I'd argue probably not because the cheap guitars of yesteryear had some innovations (lipstick, or gold foil pickups, novel building materals, etc) whereas today's are more knockoffs than inexpensive innovators. Great video guys!

The way you guys talk about guitars I can tell you love them! I’ve never had that spark with a guitar, but one day.

I love relaxing with you guys taking away. This is a great show/shop. I've said it before. I hope to visit one day. Not too far ..I'm in Warner Robins Ga. It could be much further being net. Hahah

Personal perspective is I have had lower cost guitars and now tend to play higher cost or even custom shops guitars…But I believe there are those guitars that have magic in them… I have a 500 made in Mexico Tele that my friends and myself will keep coming back to over some of my other much more expensive guitars… but that guitar is an anamoly not the norm… hard to go back once you start playing nicer built instrument with better pickup and better quality woods and craftsmanship… but at end of day play what makes you happy and you can’t go wrong

when you use a quality tool of any variety and you have the skill level to appreciate it, cheap tools never have the appeall again.

Most of my guitars are affordable ($500 - $1000) and they're all good guitars. I've modded most of them (locking tuners, new pickups). They get just as much playing time as my Suhr Modern ($3K). They all play equally nice. I have a really hard time justifying $4K+ for a guitar. They all have the same notes on them. My guitars need an upgraded owner :-)

I play mostly MIA or MIM Fenders, but I bought a Squier Strat mini for my 10 year old nephew to learn on. I took the neck off and ran some 0000 steel wool over the whole neck, restrung it with 10s and it feels great now. The pickups have ceramic magnets so it has more of a P90 sound, but it sounds great. It needs better tuners and the plastic nut could be replaced, but overall it's better than anything I ever touched when I was learning in the 80's. I'm sad I won't be able to play it once I give it to him.

Rolling the dice is fine if you're buying through a good store that actually cares enough to check guitars before they leave (like, for instance Peach or Coda in the UK) or someone who just slaps a label on a box and ships it as quickly as possible (like Amazon or Andertons). You can load the dice in your favour simply by buying from good people

I rolled the dice on a Squire Classic Vibe Jazzmaster and was blown away. Yes, I needed to do some fret work, set up and about a month tweaking but in the end it is now every bit as good as a Fender at a fraction of the cost and is one of my favorites now. I have a high end Gretsch Country Gentleman which is a whole different planet for quality, but that $400 Squire was a steal in the end.

I was always taught that one cannot afford to buy cheap shit. Never buy a knockoff. Ever. It not only makes you feel cheap, you will always know deep down you bought a crappy knock off.

Affordable brands like Harley Benton promote access to the market, which is great. The more guitar players, the better! Also, the Harley Benton I tried was leagues better than the Turbo guitar I learned on as a teenager and for about the same price. I think the biggest risk with brands like HB and Firefly is they're all online orders (unless you live in Germany near Thomann), so no real tech support. If you are comfortable tinkering on your guitars to set them up and correct any issues, great. If not, or in the case of total beginners, better to buy a guitar (such as a Squier) from a reputable shop so you have access to tech support that can help with those issues.

Word of the day "Nominal" from Jonathon at the 10 minute mark. I have both an HB Strat and Tele model. They were less than $200 and did need some upgrades that I was able to easily do. It does not make them the same quality as a Fender (own one also - great out of the box from day one) but you would not peg them for a guitar at 1/5 the cost of the Fender either. They were fun to work on as part of a "learning process". I recently played a neighbors new CV Tele (UK model in purple) that was approx $400 US - plays great and no changes were needed. I see Thomann has introduced a Fusion series in that price range with roasted necks, locking tuners, bone nuts and split coil pickups - perhaps that is the next model that the higher range Squires and lower price Fenders will be compared to. It looks like Thomann is using their size and economies of scale to potentially change the game. Keep up the good work on the videos and hopefully a few of us older guys (60+) can swing by on a pilgrimage (road trip) from New Jersey to Nashville in 2022.

I think we all strive for that zen guitar, for example I was able to pickup a 1957 Gibson lg-1 that spoke to me after 5 minutes. Also I picked up a Carvin lb 20 that was totally solid. In my humble opinion, budget guitars are usually reserved for a new to intermediate skilled musician. They create an interest so that at some point you might feel the need to upgrade. When it comes to electronics, sometimes you can get a knock off that is stunning. Harley Benton put out a 15 watt 12 inch combo, all tube for about 300 bones. It’s equipped with a Celestion 70/80 , and 300 bucks, bonkers

The man that taught me how to repair guitars had a saying "there's a lot of old strats , but there isn't a lot of good old strats!" Every time you buy a guitar on line you take a chance . The best way is to still go play it before you buy it. Quality is missing in guitars for many years. I've had to setup straight from the Gibson factory and fender factories top of the line models. I've had gibson and squire guitars that were incrediable. You need to know how you want a gui tree AR setup and play before you buy it. ,

I can definitely say the magic has to be there my very first "real guitar" was a BC Rich Mockingbird I bought in 93 because of a poster I saw of slash rocking on one. it had that magic spark the moment I plugged it in at the local guitar store, skip to 25+ years later and I am about to put over the price of the guitar that I paid for it back into it. From new bridge to new tuning heads. I still feel that magic when I play it that I did when I first got it.

I got a used CV 60's this year. It is truly an incredible play for under $500 ( after a local luthier lowered the action and fixed a broken p/u wire). It is the first instrument I've ever purchased without test driving. It rivals those made here in the states without question. Sometimes it's like fishing....every once in a while yo snag a keeper :)

I am really impressed with the more affordable guitars at the shop I teach at. I'm just curious to see how long they would last 6 hours a day teaching or on a 4 hour gig. If one of my students wants to upgrade from their startup pack guitar to fender style guitar, I straightup tell them to get a Player series or some used Mexican Fender. The Player series guitars are such a good value and are on point.

All 3 of my Donner guitars are terrific. Setup perfectly strait of the box. Sound great and easy to play. None over $200 retail.

I was just talking with friends about how I noticed that the guitars I tend to pick up most at home have been the cheaper guitars. I've got an old MIM Tele from the days when their variation was high and some were just awful, while the one I have vibrates wonderfully. And probably the most fun guitar I"ve ever owned was a $99 Epiphone Les Paul Special I with P90s. It was not at all a great guitar, but sure was fun.

A good set-up is alfa omega. I’ve bought some used MiMs, changed pots and pups and had a luthier set it up. Love’em.

Only having an Affinity Squier Strat now, I can just about compare it to playing Fenders in stores (I always try to play a Player series or Vintera when I go to a new store!) and I feel the difference every time! I love them! I really really want to own one one day. I’ve never thought about my guitar being a bad one though!! I cherish it

I can make it happen with anything down to a cheap cigar box but I'm usually holding a custom shop. 😘 Cheers Baxter and Jonathan!

I got a used 2017 squier affinity tele and its one of my fav guitars and i own fenders and PRSs, the way it feels in my hands, the finish on the neck its the most comfortable guitar i played, i upgraded the pickups and gave it a custom paint job but i dont wish any other stock feature was better or think its fine for the price but…. The tuning stability is amazing and its the best sounding guitar i own accousticly and since having a baby i do most of my playing unplugged and if you like a guitar unpluged your gonna love it plugged in

I would love to have my first “cheap” guitar back. Mid 80’s Squier Strat, that looked like Clapton’s Blackie. It cost me a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get that 189.99 (+tax) from the local mall music shop. I can still remember staying in my bedroom for nearly a week trying to learn “London Calling” by the Clash. Hey Casino guys! Can you hook a brother up?

One of the best guitars I ever played was a Les Paul DC tribute the no one would buy because of bad fret sprout. Took it home and fixed it and it was the best playing guitar. And it sounds amazing too.

I recently bought a Squier Classic Vibe Jaguar. I also have an American Professional Jazzmaster as well as a MIM Jazzmaster. If you would have told me twenty years ago that I’d ever buy a Squier, I would have laughed at you. That said, while the tremolo and bridge are cheap parts, the pickups sound good to me. The switches and knobs feel solid. The neck is not only cool looking but thankfully it is very comfortable. I absolutely love playing each of them. The neck on the Am.Pro is however top notch, rolled fingerboard and all. I feel there is a certain price point worth rolling the dice on “inexpensive” guitars which for me is about $500 bucks. Play what makes you happy & there’s never enough or too many guitars. Cheers!

I bought a Tokai love rock Les Paul clone. I put more into it dialing it in that it cost new. A plek job and a set of Lollars was required to bring it to life. I didn't mind. I expected to spend on it before it even arrived. It was worth it. Thing sounds and plays great now.

When the lockdown started back around March 2020, I decided to give guitar playing another shot after a couple of decades break. I watched a lot of youtube video reviews and since I didnt want to spend a lot of money, mainly because I wasnt sure if I would keep up with playing. I ordered a Harley Benton CST-24T with P90's. I had no idea what a p90 pickup was. I wasnt an expert at spotting any flaws, but as far as I could tell, the HB played and looked great. Maybe I got lucky, I dunno. Though Ive moved on from it to play the PRS Vela and LP Classic Ive purchased since then...I still pick up the HB and find dont set it back down for an hour or two. The HB is a good guitar!

I've got a couple of cheap guitars. I've got a couple of mid-range guitars. And I've got an expensive high-end guitar. The cheap guitars get taken down once in a while. Sometimes it's to noodle and sometimes it's to consider getting rid of. The expensive high-end guitar gets played a little more often. But not too often because it's a damn fine instrument and I'm paranoid about treating it right. But the mid-range guitars... They don't stay on the hanger for too long. Those ones I play. Because they're fun to play. And I'm not so paranoid about the guitar as an investment (the myth v fact aspect aside). And because I play them so much, I'm used to them. And because I'm used to them, they're fun to play. So I play them more. Spend enough on a guitar that it will be fun to play it. But be mindful that if you spend too much on one guitar, you might be afraid to play it.

You guys are right about cheap instruments and QC. Budget guitars make sense if you are "long on time and short on money". With KZfaq tutorials, I've learned how to do setups and basic repairs. But if sanding, shimming, or soldering is too much, then they aren't a good fit.

My 93 American Standard Stat just has the look and feel and sound of quality(Fat 50's Custom Shop). I have a CV 60's tele that always sounds good and plays amazing,(Custom Shop Nocasters) both have all modded electronics. I have an Agile from the early pre cease and desist gib order that is very nice and the finish looks like nitro. I put 2 P90's from Tone Rider, and I think they were the same pickups. I just replaced the whole wiring harness(drop in pot set)and I wish I'd bought Lollars or Bare Knuckels pups. I just spent 5 hours putting all new Cts 5% pots in a PRS SE Santana, early model with diagonal fret markers, and I was installing the tone knob, and it was being stubborn, so I wrapped my fingers around the edge of the body, and pressed the knob on pushing the pot apart into two pieces. So if you like working on guitars you can tweak them into something special sometimes, but not all guitars turn out to be special.

One of my best guitars is a MIM 60’s Baja Tele. Still completely stock and all it needed was a basic set up. Not exactly “cheap” since it was close to a grand, but every time I play it I start looking at my other high-end guitars such as my Custom 22, my USA Les Paul and my American Strat, and I get sad and happy at the same time…

I do my best to buy American because of the fact of economics. However, quality from over seas has dramatically improved in the last 10 years. It's getting harder to argue the reasons to buy American with instruments when everything else we get is China.

I play a 1995 Am Std. Strat. I bought it 26 years ago. My guitar techs love it. I installed a Callahan trem block and a set of Fralin pickups. I wish it didn’t have the poly finish of the 90s, but I’ve made a decent amount of $$$ playing this guitar. At the end of the day… it sounds like a Strat! Yes, Jack Pearson plays the shit out a Squire Strat.

I impulse bought a Danelectro DC59 back in 2011 for $107 and that has been the guitar I have played the most. However I do believe my DC59 has the magic you guys were talking about. Multiple people have made me offers for it (all the offers have been for more than I paid) and I have also loaned it out to different people for gigs. Wow and I just realized I have not actually played live with it myself, but I did play it on a live radio show once.

I have a couple US G&L’s - awesome guitars with no issues. On a whim, I got an Indonesian G&L - not bad, but I had to have the nut replaced and have a fret job. By the time I was done, I wish I’d of just gotten another US model. Completely different guitars.

There’s also the idea of buying from a manufacturer closer to home. Supporting local employment, saving the environment from as much shipping pollution, being able to get parts easily, etc.

I picked up a Squire Affinity Tele Deluxe a few months ago. To my surprise it's a great guitar for the price. The fret work, fit and finish were great right out of the box. Pickups and hardware aren't great but still pretty good. Only thing I'd consider subpar are the tuners.

I've felt the magic from cheap guitars in pawn shops but not so much from most catalog guitars. Can't really say why. I definitely get what Baxter was saying about old fender amps tho. I get that way about them too.

As a lefty I've run the course with the budget guitars. You can swap all the hardware and electronics which will greatly improve the sound and playability but it'll still be about epi/squire quality and you'll have spent 700-1000 on an epi/squire. For partscasters I'll grab a nitro body from guitar mill and a neck from musikraft, set necks I make the investment on a Gibson. Don't tell anyone but the guitar I pick up the most is a shell pink nitro partscaster strat with the SRV carve maple neck and rosewood board

I own 3 guitars a Gibson LP studio, a American Strat, and a Taylor 410ce all of them I purchased used and all of them the low end of the brands. The Gibson Lp Studio is basically a standard without the binding, the Stratocaster is an American Strat( my favorite) and the Taylor sounds fantastic. My point is you can stay budget (I have less than $2500. In all 3 ) and still get quality it takes a little time and research but it can be done.

its hard to beat CNC for fit ... but that takes the fun out of it. nothing better than being able to say I hand carved that neck

How do you feel about Eastman guitars? I picked up one a few years ago and was really impressed.

I used to own some expensive guitars years ago but lately I've been enjoying "budget" guitars. The way I see it....for a nice expensive guitar I can get 2 or 3 budget guitars with different sounds...different styles. I always buy them new. So far so good....satisfied here. Then again I'm not touring and performing all the time these days.

All in with 'cheap stuff'. Best is a HSS S type i bought new 10 years ago for $75.00. edit, a Delta Tone. Picked it up because i loved the semi CSB with a ts guard and black plastic parts. I've played it so much there's a wear spot at the mid pup from my right hand....no spastic strumming, locked at the bridge. Another is a Jay Turser JT55 TPR, a sorta wobbly SG Special. $249 new (tho covered in dry sweat, Starving Musician). A month later, GP did a great review for one in black. Mine's trans red. Seem to be all gone now. I can't find one anywhere.

the only time I got a new guitar that needed some work was when I got my second Gibson. It was a smoke house ... i think Studio but can't remember for sure. But that was not cheap. But that is the guitar that I learned to do my own set up on. Also that's what made me realize I can build my own. And my guitars are not perfect each one just flattens the learning curve a little more and I become more confident as I move along. In terms of cheap guitars I have not really been disappointed by one yet but expectations are not that high either

The simple truth is, deciding on and purchasing a high quality musical instrument, like any other high-end commodity, is a commitment. It’s a decision driven by personal feelings and at least a little solid knowledge of what your buying. A purchase that may have a different meaning to each individual rooted in everything from design appreciation, admiration for craft and craftsman, interest in sonic exploration and the journey you’re on as a player. The commitment can be a one time leap or a years long search. Doubtless, there can be tremendous reward in researching, buying, owning, and no matter the price, playing an exquisitely crafted, lovely sounding and always fun to play, great guitar.

When I stopped buying instruments on price and started buying them on spec my whole outlook changed. When Fender quit making US factory vintage correct neck/finish instruments I had to be willing to bend. My Fender stable is a CS 55 P, AVRI 57 P, and a MIM Road Worn 50's Tele. Took a gamble on that Road Worn, but it was an on line Memorial Day Floor Demo deal that cost less than the in box poly comparable model, had a vintage radius neck and nitro finish and it turned out to be exactly what I wanted and played amazing out of the box. I'd never trade it, and the only factory Fender I'd put above it for me would be the AVRI Teles. Unfortunately, Fender abandoned the players who prefer the old school feel so all I have left is the used market or doing custom builds with the few vintage correct replacement necks they still offer. Once you get to the point where you know what you need, or at least prefer that definitely changes what you're even willing to look at. It becomes less about cheap vs expensive and more about what you are looking for in an instrument. I'd play one of the Road Worn 50's Tele or Ps long before I'd ever play one of the current US models. Price isn't even a factor. Performance is.

I love you YT channel. Where so many folks are scared to actually have an opinion both of you never shy away from saying what you think. With cheap guitars (or small pedal builders) you certainly do roll the dice. I’ve bought cheap once for shits and giggles, it stays in its case now after my initial fun, so I’m going to pass it on. While not cheap, I do think that between 500-1000 you can get a lot of guitar these days.

Was just listening to Jack Pearson . Man is a wizard with a Squir strat.

I’ve got higher end guitars but I bought a fender Squier Strat it was a roll of the dice but it came with a flame maple neck and it was a limited series it’s a sustains like crazy…. But I replaced all the hardware and pick ups….soooooo it’s a flip of the coin and definitely agree with you a gamble

I played a 2021 Fender Strat Pro II that had terrible fretwork. It wasn't fret sprout or level issues, but it was like they forgot to chamfer the fret ends after filing the fret ends. It was irritating to play. My PRS SE has far superior fret work. How did that leave the Fender QC section? I loved the larger neck carve, but I couldn't get past the price with needing fretwork.

That PRS John Meyer behind you is of high Quality ! If you give it to me then I don’t have to worry about buying a Harley Benton ! lol 😂

I think that some companies make sculptures of guitars instead of instruments. They are fine to hang on the wall in a restaurant, but you can't add enough aftermarket parts to make a sculpture level guitar play like an instrument. There used to be some great playing, cheap copies of famous guitars that came from Japan (I play them,LOL), but most really are wall art.

I have about 30 high end Ibanez, Gibson, Fenders and Taylor guitars but I had to try an AIO so I rolled the dice and bought a T style and a 335 style. Now they are roughly twice the price of a HB but at $450 I had to give them a try. I was very impressed with both of them. They are well worth the price. I wouldn’t necessarily want to drop serious money on a Tele or a 335 but at $900 for both I’m okay with it. And the real surprise was that they actually SOUND GOOD! Every fiber of my guitar playing body wants to replace the pickups in these guitars but every time I play them I find myself saying there’s absolutely no need. So I don’t know. I’m seriously considering another one that is similar to another very expensive guitar I won’t buy but I kinda need it like a hole in the head. Lol

I've been playing for over 50 years (no...I'm not a fantastic player...but I sure do have fun!) and I've tried to LOVE Fender and Gibson guitars. I've not found one that has stayed in my "tool box" for more than a couple of years. I did get a PRS McCarty after that first came out...and I liked it, but the coil slip was no where near what they have now. I have a wonderful G&L Legacy to cover my Strat itch. I have a couple of Cort Cl series guitars to cover my Les Paul itch (these came to me after trying so many single-cut, carved top, dual humbucker guitars...but these work for me). I did get a Custom T.C. McInturff that did a lot better at being my work horse guitar over the McCarty.... Those things said... I own a couple of the Harley Benton CST guitars that were "B" Stock ($205.00 each, delivered to my door) and I couldn't find a blemish on either one. I did have to do a set-up on the CST 24-T and smooth out the nut slots to get it to stay it tune better (It's great now). The other is a CST HB (Hollow Body... which is actually a semi-hollow). I play these guitars now more than any of my others. I look at them as my little work horses that I can use and not worry about. If I were to ding my original Hamer Mirage, my PRS McCarty or even my G&L Legacy... it would bother me MUCH more than if anything were to happen to my H.B. guitars (or my Cort guitars for that matter) I personally can't stand the "Road Worn" or "Relic" guitars.....and I do like to keep my guitars looking feeling and playing like a well played but well cared for guitar..... but if something DID happen... I would feel much better if it happened to the H.B.s.

I got an SX strat for 140. I love that guitar. I also have 3 custom shop strats. Sometimes a cheap guitar is awesome, but most aren't.

Bought these HB guitars in order to overcome, & obtain set up, & repair. Some require a little love, some....,alot. I gained knowledge on a budget, & learned some mods without destroying the value of a name brand guitar.

I love how Johnathan apologized for “going off topic.” You both always find a way to circle back to the original idea. You make the wayward journey fun. Thanks!

I love that you guys don't push these cheap guitars from Firefly and Donner and Glarry. There seems to be a trend of these that directly relates to some KZfaq channels and their addiction to views. I own plenty of cheap guitars by the way, but I'm tired of them being pushed as the greatest thing ever by so many. Has technology allowed these guitars to be better...sure.Does that allow more time to be spent on finish? Absolutely.Yet it's still the same cheap hardware on a poplar guitar that they tell you is mahogany. Long rant, but it's funny to me that guitars and playing music is an art form.Yet of all the forms of art, were the only community that pushes the inferior products on people. Can you imagine if the art collector community pushed buying them $20 photo copied pictures from dollar general...the ones with the simulated wood frames? They don't do that...I think you'd be cast out for it.Instead they tell you to take that $20 and hit garage sales and thrift stores for original stuff. Then if you save up to support a local artist. Not in the guitar world.Here some channels will turn on their own beliefs for a free $150 guitar. Slowly morphing into sales reps for whomever will pay this week's bills, until they can't even look into the mirror anymore. Knowing they have set up thousands of kids to fail, with gear that will need many upgrades to sound and play decent, but will fall apart four times as fast as well. I personally think Squier and Epiphone in that $350-$500 range is the minimum of what you can do in China, while still being proper hardware and woods and QC and support. All these cheaper guitars are examples of what can be done if you just focus on finish and skip the rest. People like to mod them, but it's still an improperly dried piece of invasive poplar with a brand name that adds no value no matter what you put in it. Just mod an old Epiphone. OK sorry for the novel, it's just irritating how we as a sub culture can be swayed into a lane, and even buy into the idea that it's the place to be.

I bought a cheep charvel desolation used. I will have the pickups changed but because i got it used the selly had done the frets and had it set up. I would advise looking for that type of cheep guitar

I wanted a Fender MIM strat. Bought a Slick SL57 for less than half the price. Setup was actually pretty good. I love the sound of the pickups, but I don’t like the neck shape. I can’t even describe why I don’t like it, I just don’t. But I still have it and still play it, but I wish I had just waited and bought a Fender HSS strat like I really wanted.

great point on the "magic" of certain guitars, and how price doesn't always equal magical. i have a les paul tribute honey burst that plays and sounds better than anything I've picked up at my favorite shop, and they carry some very expensive stuff. now most of my other guitars hang on the wall, waiting for me to get around to selling them! i have the means to get something fancier, but it'd have to blow me away in order for me to pull the trigger.

a guitar is a guitar! My favorite guitar I play is one I'd assembled. It's a Junior doublecut with modded out specs. I love that guitar! I also love the fact that it's not a Gibson, Fender, PRS or any huge name brands out there. I've owned copies built by Vintage, Epiphone, etc and they were alright. You just have to get them dialed in. Most guitars you get brand new have to be tweaked to your own personal specs. That's what it's all about, your own comfort! Expensive guitars may "play" better, but you're paying for a name. I've owned a Squier '51 made in Indonesia that played and sounded much better than a 2003 Gibson Melody Maker with a P90. It's all about personal preference! I own 6 guitars: 1 was a kit, 1 was built by a friend, 2 were assembled with custom specs and I own 2 Gibson Les Paul Traditionals. The 2 Gibsons are just investments. I only play the other 4 guitars which I love the most!

Last Saturday I went to hang out at my local shop (very typical old guy behind the counter been there forever) told him what I had to spend and convinced him to let me sit with a VOX ac10 blindfolded while he handed me guitars to play, I was the only one in there. Walked out with a Squire that I would have looked down my nose at with eyes open. Fits well with my herd.

Good discussion... in the end, its all part of the journey and we are speaking of first-world pains as it relates to a super-fun hobby and/or profession!

I bought a cheap music man copy. Stripped it down. Chipped the photo flame off the top. Wound new buckers and installed upgraded hardware and spiderweb paint scheme. My grandsons favorite guitar. I think I've got about $350 into it.

I have a couple hbs and recognize them for what they are.. they def don't measure up to my higher dollar axes but they are cool and fun.

My first guitar was a Les Paul copy from the Sears catalog. It sat under a bed at my mother’s house for 20 years before she sent it to me (for the last several years she has been giving me stuff that I left at her house as Christmas gifts). One of these days I need to get to a luthier to see if it’s worth investing money to make it playable again. The lowest end guitar I own and actually play is a Takamine 12 string that was made in China. I think it was around $450. I’ve been thinking of getting a Squier bass just to mess around with I see why things like Harley Benton exist, but I think the questionable QC and inconsistency could be part of why could be why 85% of new players don’t stick it

I bought a Harley Benton TE-52 which is a Tele knockoff. As soon as it came in I knew it would be worth while to throw some better pickups in it. The quality of the neck was beyond what I was expecting and I knew it was a keeper. I was expecting to keep the original pickups and use it as a guitar that I could just throw around. I may have just gotten lucky.

I have a 50$ jay turser tele that i play every single day. Its like magic! I replaced the dead neck pickup and put a tusq nut and string trees on it and its like majic!

You mentioned amps! I saw an older man walk into GC and sit down with a 100 dollar guitar and not a name brand and plug into a very nice fender amp and played. The tone and sound was remarkable. I wonder, and I don’t know, but how much is really the guitar or amp.

Classic Vibe makes me happy 😁

I am fortunate enough to have a bunch of high end guitars, both vintage and new, but my God, I found and old mid ‘80s MIJ Squire Strat that has “it”. Plays great, oozes mojo. $400. I’m toying with the idea of installing my set of Bonamassa 55 Bonnie p-ups in it.

a lot of it is psychological :) but I think once in a while there is one that is just amazing. I have not found one yet. That also probably comes down to playing skill as well

If you work in Best Buy and stare at the TV’s all day, eventually the only TV’s that are going to look good are going to be the most expensive ones. But if you just walk in, buy what you like within your budget, you will be happy when you get it home.

I agree with Johnathon ... some of its the nature of hand made things. I refer to all my guitars as road worn even though they have never been on the road :)

I bought a $179 Epiphone SG for a specific band project that's not at all guitar-based and it works great for that purpose. I'm changing the pups and nut but I don't expect it to be a $1k quality instrument when I'm done. It's a live beater for an industrial band where I play on like 4 songs a show. I would however like to check out the Epiphone 335 at a little higher price-point and would expect that to be a lot more guitar for the money.

Bought a $200 Samick classical guitar years ago and I swear it had been kissed by angels .It was seriously one of the best guitars I have ever played and I’ve got Fenders and Gibsons .Unfortunately my daughter dropped and snapped the neck so now it’s gone but I feel like there must be Freaks in the Cheap guitar world that have that magic .But as you say it’s all in the roll of the dice.

I have a Fender Custom shop 1960 Strat that is absolutely amazing. It was well worth the hefty price tag. I also have an American factory Strat and Tele that are fantastic. But in addition, I purchased two Harley Bentons (Les Paul copy and ES335 copy) and they play very well right out of the literal box. They both cost $180. each. Of course they are not equal to my American Fenders in quality. But these Bentons are the guitars I would take over to a friend’s house to jam in the bitter cold winter or that I take on vacation. They are decent for what they are and what I paid for them. Chinese guitars have actually come a long way. I was actually shocked by the quality of these Bentons.

I work with builds and repairs and just bought a Harley Benton DC Junior in TV Yellow . I had no expectations from the reviews of the guitar , just the thought that it would make a good upgrade platform . The neck was fine , needed a dressing and a change of nut to get it right but nothing major . It leaves you with three possible issues , the pickup , ( Lindy Fralin noiseless P90) , the machine heads ( vintage locking )and the bridge ( a need to get the best working action ), ( electrics will be an extra ) Too upgrade all three will probably cost £300 but on top of my £160 purchase price . For a total of £460 I will have as near as I can get to a Gibson DC Junior. I know not everybody can take this approach but there are ways to get close to that guitar you can't afford !!! and if it plays great and sounds great to you that's what counts .

ive never played a harley benton but i do play ibanez gio's, LTD's, and squires. i have to try before i buy though, im sure i would pounce on one if i was able to try it out and i enjoyed it.

Agree with most points in the video and in the comments. Harley Benton level guitars do allow people getting started, or who can’t afford, a Gibson, PRS, or Fender the opportunity to try out a Les Paul vs Stratocaster vs Telecaster, vs etc. style guitar to find out what their preference is and then spend the money on a nicer version of that.

They are fun to do modifications on without feeling anxious about potentially messing up a nicer guitar.

I have bought a number of cheap guitars over the years. I find myself drawn to the truly wierd and wacky dreck that was produced in Europe, Asia and here in the US. I haven't kept any, but I enjoyed playing them and learned a great deal about guitars along the way. Thirty years ago you could still find some bizarre treats in used guitar stores, but both the stores and the oddball guitars have disappeared now. Knockoffs of Strats, Teles and Les Pauls don't really interest me, but I'm glad that companies like Eastwood and Italia are doing homages to some of those truly unique designs.

Since Covid hit the US and Asia in 2020 all the guitar companies that were using Asian factories to make their budget models have had QC problems. The factories were shut down for a couple of months. When they were up and running again they shipped out everything in their warehouses they had. They had to hustle like hell to catch up to the enormous record breaking sales demand from the US parent companies like Fender Gibson PRS and others. All of them had QC problems because they were rushing to fulfill their orders. If you bought a 2020 guitar that was made overseas chances are you might have some things wrong with it. Harley Benton Guitars are made in the same countries and factories were the other US companies are. They just happen to be owned by Thomann the largest music retailer in Europe and located in Germany.

The first Bass I bought was a cheap Japanese knock off of P-Bass made by Memphis. It was 1978 a $170 and a POS. The neck was soft and it twisted within 6 months. The tuners were made of plastic and broke about the same time. I learned my lesson right there and never bought anything truly cheap again. My only weakness being Tokai guitars and basses. And Baxter, sorry about your loss in that Arm Wrestling Match. Jonathan has watched "Over The Top" more times than you, I can just tell, and this gives him the edge.

You bring up a lot of valid points on getting budget guitars, you only left out wanting to get an instrument that will force you to learn to set up and dial in the instrument. Because of you get a Harley Benton under 250 or a Glarry ohh baby you will be fixing something.

my first guitar was a squier bullet from the late 80s (the one with 2 knobs). i ve had multiple fender strats, got rid of them all because nothing tips this squier. it has some upgraded pickups and tuners but other than that its all original.