What's the best guitar you ever played?

[slider]

Mine was an old L-5 that belonged to a local jazzer named Bill Courtial. He owned a shop, long gone, called Guitars Unlimited, where I briefly took lessons. One day my teacher said 'check this out, be careful' and handed me the L-5. Talk about 'like butta'- the neck played so easily, the body so resonant- kind of a quasi-erotic experience.
Other peak guitar experiences: played an old strat that made me understand what all the fuss was about, a little old Martin that sang, and an Anderson which had a neck so precise it spoiled me for all time, kind of like Cathy. sigh... But I digress. Interested to hear your stories.

[BattleAngel]

Goodall pacific parlor. It was a guitar born with a million songs inside it.

[Pete Galati]

I played a late '50s Strat that was real nice.

I wouldn't really want it for my personal guitar, but it was one of those very memorable guitars.

[BSHARP]

"Best" is really hard to answer, but the one that stands out the most is my 03 R9 Historic with SD Custom Shop 'Slash' Alnico II scatter wound pups.

[surfshack]

1959Burst's "gawdburst":eek:


It's this!...:crazy.....:NUTS

[1959burst]

1959Burst's "gawdburst":eek:


It's this!...:crazy.....:NUTS yes it's pictured right here, lightweight,extreamely resonant,killer good looks and monster paf vibe! http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/585960/Project96-1.jpg gone but not forgotten!!!!!:jo

[George Johnson]

Can't narrow it down to one, but the ones that stand out for me are a particular '59 Burst
and several early Fenders (a couple of which I ended up capturing ;) ).

Post Script: Upon reflection, this GVCG can hang w/any of them.

No bull.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/travels/Ultimate%2063/gvt11.jpg?t=1166585095

[black mariah]

Without a doubt it was the Robert Webster classical I played at Pioneer Music in Portland, Oregon. Not only did it feel good in my hands (which is RARE for a classical), but the tone was *EXACTLY* what classical tone should be (IMO). Unfortunately, I couldn't find the black market so I could sell a kidney so I had to go home wanting. :(

[Nolatone Ampworks]

A Tom Murphy aged Jimmy Page Les Paul. I swear that thing only weighed 7lb, and I'd swear it was hollow (but know it isn't!) the way it rang out unplugged.

That one was tall on "holy crap" factor.

[bynt]

Tough question but first thing that comes to mind was a 57 Strat I was able to play once but right after that (seriously) is my MIJ Strat. I'm very fortunate to LOVE my main guitar and still after all these years and all the guitars I've played I don't know that I could trade her for. I wouldn't sell her for five times what she's "worth".

[phoenix 7]

A 1930 Martin OM-45. Sublime.

[Hamertoe]

A guitar built by Gene Baker while he was at Gibson's West Coast Custom Shop with Roger Giffin. Insanely awesome player and craftmanship beyond the imagination. Tone to die for as well.

[morlll]

A Santa Cruz Tony Rice. At Elderly Instruments a few years ago

A Les Paul Gold top Le that I bought 3 years ago. The Honeymoon isn't over.

[Voxy Foxy]

yes it's pictured right here, lightweight,extreamely resonant,killer good looks and monster paf vibe! http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y241/585960/Project96-1.jpg gone but not forgotten!!!!!:jo

Never seen a bigsby on an explorer.

now THAT is RnR!! :JAM

[HankSnowSki]

I'm with Slider... I played a 25 L-5 once that completely blew me away. I also had the chance to play a D' Aquisto New Yorker once. Surreal.

I'm not a jazz guy but those guitars had a lot of power/mojo behind them.

[AaeCee]

I have a bunch of stellar guitars, but the standout is my recent edition Fender CS Tele. Sorry all you Tele owners, but mine's the best sounding Tele on the planet! http://www.thegearpage.net/board/images/icons/icon10.gif If God had a Tele, it'd sound like this one.

[karmadave]

Historic '59 ES-335 in Cherry. Re-fretted with 6100's. Tom Holmes Humbuckers. Plays like butter. Sounds like heaven...

-KD

[The bear]

I belive my PRS hollowbody spruce is the best guitar I have played.

[Mike9]

Has to be my '57 Strat I built with primo parts and some added mojo.

Fender Japan two tone alder body
One piece flame maple neck
(soon to be Wilkinson trem with titanium saddels)~(Replacing USA Strat bridge with titanium saddles)
Locking vintage Gotoh/Kluson tuners
Earvana compensating nut system
Suhr V60LPs
Suhr BPSSC
aged everything - some Serious Mojo spoken here dude - :BluesBros

[goodtone]

I've played many vintage ones at the shops that felt great and sounded nice . My favorite guitar neck was on a 1969 Fender Jazzmaster. Exquisite !!!!!

[EADGBE]

Probably my 1987 Kramer Baretta. It's very heavy. Probably a maple body. It also has a Duncan JB pickup and an original Floyd Rose. It has a thick, fat, long sustaining, tone.

[enharmonic]

The best feeling neck I have ever played is a Terry McInturff Mild V. It's the perfect carve/depth for my hand.

The best guitar overall is hard to pick, because I've had some doozies! :). Here's a list of the ones that haunt my dreams

TCM FLE
Fender Tele Jr
Gretsch Blue Pearl Jet

My Ian Anderson Std is right up there too.

[GuitarsFromMars]

I have a 1959 Martin 0-15 that is close to perfection...My 2003 R7 Stinger/'59 neck is pretty amazing but,there was one 1958 Goldtop,that a close friend who's an amazing player,in St Louis,once owned for a long time,then finally sold it for stupid money,I mean really stupid money...he now plays a stable of pre-CBS strats on the gig.That particular instrument was marvelous.

[LiveOak]

My current Gibson Les Paul.

[musicofanatic5]

Okay, I'll play. 1933 D'Angelico I owned for a minute. I did exhaustive research (pre-internet) and found it was an early gtr ("possibly a prototype" said J. D'Aquisto) before the D'A models were standardized. This gtr was a dead ringer for a 20's-30's Gibson L-5, 16", same f-holes headstock, etc (there's one just like it on page 200 of Gruhn & Carter's "Acoustic Gtrs"). I wish I had blueprinted the neck size and contour as this the ONE of all necks I've wrapped my paw around; nice soft V, substantial, but comfy. The tone was like a refined National reso sound when you leaned on it with a thick plectrum, and almost like a nylon string when played softly with fingers. Super premium maple and German spruce. This gtr was a living, breathing organism, and mostly scared me to death. I quickly traded it for a stack of mandolins and some other stuff. I hope somebody is playing it somewhere...

[jbgordon]

Probably an Esteban that came though the shop I work at to have the strings changed...

KIDDING, I'm kidding.

My favorite guitar that I have ever played is my Taylor 414. I swear that God made this instrument just for me.

[samtheman]

-96 Cunetto Relic Mary Kaye
-96 Cunetto 56´Relic
- Tyler Classic
..and now -97 60´Olywhite Cunetto Relic

too many, they r all great :JAM

/sam

[eric-d]

Probably a 1965 Stratocaster.... Loved it.

[Desperado]

Best electric I've ever played:

'59 or '61 Fender Stratocaster (could'nt figure out the exact date). It's been the benchmark for all of the guitars that I've ever built in regard TONE. Cosmetically...well, that is a different story.

a close second is a:

'59 Les Paul replica made by my old mentor up in Northern California. Everything was made by him by hand down to the pickups...PAF sound to the last note. Very excellent guitar...the most authentic Gibson clone I've ever seen or played.

Best Acoustic:

Martin OM-28JM...call me crazy but I out of a lot of vintage Martin's that I've played and owned, I found the John Mayer limited model to play extremely well and it was extraordinarily balanced. The neck was very comfortable (no V neck), and the tone was excellent both acoustically or plugged in.

Desperado

[richpeax]

Mine has to be my Ace Frehley Gibson with the pickups switched to Classic Plus in lead, 500 t in middle and Classic 57 in bridge. The stock Dimarzios made it a one trick pony now the tones are sweet all around. The 59 profile neck is the most comfortable for me. I personally do not like the baseball bat necks on some Les Paul Customs I've felt.

[WordMan]

- a '59 Gibson LP 'burst
- a '54 Strat - see thread I just posted

- my 1973 Limited Edition LP '54 Custom Reissue

Magic guitars all - just obviously superior at first play. As discussed in the Strat thread, these guitars each have a ghost in them...

Oh, and my 1957 LP Special is pretty darn special!

[DejavuDave]

Suhr Classic
Suhr Classic T

[codeorama]

So far, it's my Les Paul Custom, its the only guitar I've never thought of selling.

[surfshack]

I did get to play an old '54 LP Goldtop once for a couple of hours through a '55 tweed deluxe.
Now that was a combination! The old wood is so magical it'll send shivers down your spine! You don't wanna stop playin'.

[frank62]

a 50's gibson birdland with p90s. it belonged to an old band member who traded it to gruhn for some pointy guitars back in the 80's. i reminded him of this a few days ago.

[Jim S]

Sadowsky strat. Period.



.

[55goldtop]

My 61 335 is the best guitar I have played. I haven't played 'em all, but this one is completely different than my other guitars in its magic!

[v-verb]

Non vintage - Baker Black Limba Jr - 02-KT . And yes I've played a Gustavvson which is amazing - but for me the Baker Jr is better.

Vintage - my friend's '56 Strat - amazing!!!!!!!!!!! And one of my Les Paul conversions - a 56 to 58 conversion.

[mad dog]

Best guitar I didn't own:

'56 Les Paul Special

These are at home, amazing me daily:

'61 strat (whatever it is, this one has it.)
'67 335 (after decades of "I'm not too fond of humbuckers," this one shut my fool mouth for good on that score.)
'43 Martin O-18
'90s G&L ASAT Classic

That G&L belongs on the list. Why wait 40 years to acknowledge a classic? From note one I've loved this guitar, the way it feels, the way it looks and sounds.

[Don L]

'55 Strat
'64 335
Huber Orca

[TB72]

The one that stands out for me was a '59 Gretsch 6120. I tried two identical 59's in the same store on the same day. One was an absolute dog. The other just came alive in my hands. I didn't have anywhere near the $$$ to bring it home with me, but I never stopped lusting after that axe.

Good news though...I recently picked up a White Falcon that gets me closer to the feel and sound of that 6120 than any other guitar I've tried. Give 'er a couple years, and she just might surpass it.:AOK

Later...

[rooster]

If this had come up a month ago, I would have said a 1983-ish re-issue of a '58 Explorer from Gibson. Great guitar, amazing neck, I still remember how good it felt, sounded, and played.

However, now I have to say my 2006 Black-and-Tan Heritage H150CM. Unbelievable guitar. Just got it last week (took 4 months to build), and it is the best of the best, IMO.

rooster.

[Reeek]

My Suhr Classic T with the Fat C 10-14 neck is the best guitar I have ever owned overall. I have played many guitars, some that sound killer and some that are super playable but you don't always get both. This guitar is it.

[klatuu]

This one.........the most finely crafted and best playing guitar I've ever owned or played

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v284/klatuu/IMG_0547.jpg

[buzzdog]

My Gibson Historic 62' SG Standard. Everything I've played from the custom shop has been incredible.

[mattc41]

acoustic: my 69 martin d28, everything an acoustic should be IMO.
electric: my previous teacher's 64 strat, rediculous...

[woof*]

in about '93 i was in a Guitar Center in Dallas and spied and old strat on the upper wall. this was when they actully were selling the old guitars they had.
i got the salesmen to bring it down to me. it was a 55, when he handed it to me i was stunned at the weight, it had to be 6 to 6 1/2 lbs. the neck was smaller than most of the 50's i had played before that.. but the neck just sat there in my hand perfect, small V. the yellow area in the sunburst was really really light yellow and the black edges of the body were more brown than most. as i played it i was amazed at how loud and resonant it was. in about five minutes i knew i just HAD to have this guitar. i cant remember exactly how much we made a deal for but it involved a trade plus cash for some of my amps and guitars( 3000$ cash plus a 1957 J50, 68 or 69 plexi, couple old cabs,30's national.. etc) they agreed and i took off to get $ and gear. i was back there in about an hour and a half with my heart racing..this was THE ONE for sure. i brought all my gear inside with the help of a freind as they went over and inspected all of it making notes. then the salesman went away for about 30 minutes while i paced. when he came back he told me that particular guitar had been slated to go to their hollywood store and wasnt for sale anymore. i dont think i have ever been so mad and dissapointed in my life.
i loaded it all back up and went home...i still think about that strat. now the prices for me at least..are too high to ever find one like that again. i wasnt a collecter and never have been one..this guitar was the best playing and sounding strat ive ever played. i have a 63 that i used on the road for 15 years thats beat to crap and i dearly love..but that 55 was for me..the one.

[Old Tele man]

...playing-wise, a 1965 "Fretless Wonder" Gibson SG Les Paul "Custom." haven't found anything quite as comparable yet.

[teleman1]

I have owned some of the guitars you wish you had. ANd some are mentioned in this thread. BUt for me, the guitar in question is owned by a friend.
I think it is or was a two single coil pickups mid-60's DC melody maker.
I helped my friend acquire the guitar in the mid 70's. Someone shaved the serial and name off the headstock. But you know in 1 sec it is a Gibson. It must be a Gibson Melody Maker. Someone put a humbucker with one of the single coils.

THe guitar screams divinely and plays incredible. Here is the funny thing. That was my opinion 20 years ago. Recently, I got to play it again, it is still number 1!!!!!!

[Fishin'Musician]

Best guitar or the nicest playing?
I got to play Jeff Becks pink Jackson years ago (the one that Tina Turner had scratched her name on) and thought it was the best playing guitar I'd ever played set-up wise.
Until I got my Suhr.

[Troubleman]

Electric - my 1961 Fender Stratocaster. I love Strats and this is the best one I've ever picked up. It does EVERYTHING I could ask of a Strat - distorted tones are somehow fat and string-laden at the same time; clean tones are smokey and glassy. The bridge pup is never harsh, and it'll put a nasty-sweet grind on a vintage Marshall.

Acoustic - Jeff Traugott BK in Brazilian rosewood with an Adirondack spruce top. Overtone laden, LOOOONG sustain, very sensitive, very powerful. Great chime, as if it had its own built-in reverb. Great for fingerstyle, great with a plectrum. Great note separation and definition - everything rings out clearly. Works well for singer-songwriter stuff or solo-acoustic work. Absolutely no deadspots on the instrument anywhere. Unfortunately, it wasn't my guitar...:( . They are very, very pricey and the waiting list..? Pretty much made of unobtainium.

Peace,

jb

[Joe_Steeler]

Fender CS '54 MB anniversary Strat
Anderson quilt drop top, RW board
PRS McCarty Model

The three that first came to mind....

[Deacon]

Best acoustic I ever played was 1941 Martin D-28. Woah ... amazing. The whole guitar just breathed tone with every pick or strum.

Best electric? Much harder to pick one ... Teles, Strats, Les Pauls, etc. If I had to pick only one, it would be my current 2002 Gibson R8 Figuretop. Best Les Paul I've ever laid hands upon. I got stoopid lucky finding this one for the price I did.

[Robal]

1965 Jazz bass, sunburst, all original. I haven't found another Jazz bass that can touch it, for me.

[richb]

Mid - 90's Epiphone Sheraton II. I couldn't afford a Gibson 335, so I looked at alterantives by Aria, Samick, Yamaha, etc., then I came accross a natural wood Sheraton II. When I picked it up, something just felt right. However, it didn't sound quite right. I went back and forth to that store 3 - 4 times before I bought it. To me, it was like a beautiful car that just didn't run right. I bought it. Over the course of 2 - 3 years I put in a JB and a 59, added Sperzel tuners, upgraded all the pots, and wiring. I can't tell you how many compliments I get on that guitar. Even guys who aren't into that type of guitar play it and say it's a great axe. Since then I've bought and sold a few guitars because they just didn't "fit".
Recently bought a PRS CE24 which appears to have that same magic. We'll see.

I think that's what I love most about guitars. You can play tons of them, all hanging next to each other in a store, and yet for some reason you find "that one" that just feels like your supposed to own it.
It's a beautiful thing.:)

[davess23]

Acoustic: tossup between my custom '97 Santa Cruz OM German/Brazilian and a prototype 12-fret 000 that Julius Borges built for Eric Schoenberg about a decade ago.

Electric: Not sure. Maybe a late '60's blonde ES-340 that I owned for years but sold in '94 and am still kicking myself for selling. I sure miss that guitar more than any other I ever had.

[chadprsman]

the ONE would be a fbj modern eagle that i sold and bought 2 guitars with. the single best playing and sounding guitar i ever played.

honorable mention:
strat-'56 relic i sold
'58 vos les paul i actually currently own.

[Noah]

The best playing guitar I have ever played was a 1982 Ibanez rocket roll flying V. The best overall guitar was a GMP Roxie.

[Nick Patterson]

It was a 2000 Custom Shop 1960 Relic Strat. The thing was amazing. A close second would be a 2006 Gretsch Black Penguin.

[slipperyfingers]

The best playing vintage guitar I ever played was a '54 Gold Top. A guy let me play it, and I just couldn't put it down. I think I played that guitar for about three hours straight (I think it was strung with .008s). He offered to sell it to me for $250.00 (this was in about 1972), but I didn't have the bread.

As far as modern guitars, it has to be my 2002 Anderson Classic. I just love the neck on the guitar...it has the satin finish and is a 62 roundback with a little taken off. I've owned five Andersons and sold four of them, but I've had this one for five years now.

-SF

[Old Tele man]

...an early 1960's Gibson ES-175D that had been sitting, still in its case, back in the storage room of OXNARD MUSIC store for years.

[hendrix2430]

My Haar 62 Relic Strat. I have played this guitar every day since I got it, and it never ceases to amaze me. It has a light alder body with a maple neck/BRW fretboard, and lollar tweed pickups.

[Mustake]

A Robin Avalon...not sure what year it was, but it was a new model. If I would have had the cash at the time I would own it. I've played others since then, all very nice guitars but none of them had he feel that "one" had.

[dgood]

My '99 R0 with Timbuckers

[damo7v]

in terms of playability and not necessarily tone, and at the risk of alienating myself from the vintage snobs :moon, i'd have to nominate my ibanez jem7vwh. it arrived with a beautiful set-up from rich harris. easiest guitar i ever played.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v482/damiengalt/music_gear/jem7vwh/jem7vwh_030905_14.jpg

since then i've moved away from the diddly-diddly-weee-weeeee with-a-side-of-whammy stuff, and am looking for a CS strat to become my favourite. i guess you could say i'm beginning to favour tone over effortless playability once more.

[Reeek]

My Suhr Classic T is the winner hands down

[Boogie92801]

Several come to mind that I did not have a chance to compare directly so I'll list them:

late 60's Guild Starfire III - played, felt and sounded (both acousticly and electricly) alive.
1955 Tele that I owned for a while.
1953 ES175 (a friends)
Guild Artist award I played in a shop once.

My curent CS 63 tele (under 7lbs, 9.5 radius and jumbos - KILLER tele that is as good as the 55, maybe better) and my current Martin J-41 special acoustic.

[Thomas D]

Mine was an old L-5 that belonged to a local jazzer named Bill Courtial. He owned a shop, long gone, called Guitars Unlimited, where I briefly took lessons. One day my teacher said 'check this out, be careful' and handed me the L-5. Talk about 'like butta'- the neck played so easily, the body so resonant- kind of a quasi-erotic experience.
Other peak guitar experiences: played an old strat that made me understand what all the fuss was about, a little old Martin that sang, and an Anderson which had a neck so precise it spoiled me for all time, kind of like Cathy. sigh... But I digress. Interested to hear your stories.
Very similar experience, except in my case the instructor had brought his latest acquisition - an older blonde ES-175. I played it for the full hour and then some. This was back in about 1982, and I've played a few really nice guitars since, but nothing quite as special as that one. I shudder to think of what the current market price would be.

[oxtone]

1. My '64 Strat, that I got in 1972 for $75.00. No longer own...:rolleyes:

2. My '81 Walnut "The STRAT", which I've customized with medium-jumbo frets, Vintage Vibe SP-90's, Earvana Nut, Wilkinson
Vintage Trem, Sperzels.

3. Tyler Studio Elite - one I got to borrow from a friend for a weekend gig . Probably the most balanced guitar I've ever played. It also had the most comfortable neck and frets I've ever played.

4. Anderson Cobra - recently played a new Blue Quilted one at Willie's Guitars in St. Paul. It's set up so perfectly, it practically plays itself!

[EXP]

1959 slab board strat, neck fit like a glove. the pups werent anything to write home about though.

my '62 reissue with JM Rolphs that i have now sounds pretty damn good.:)

[celestialpivot]

Tom Ribbecke guitar
thinline awesome.
Sam Koontz jazz guitar

[Eric Pykala]

Best acoustic: My old custom-built David Wren jumbo cutaway. David used to build for Jean Larrivee, but surpassed his mentor. We worked on the design and wood selection for awhile, and the result was outstanding! Runner-up is Bob Wallace's '57 Martin D-18; total cannon. New stuff? Anything from Bill Collings or William "Grit" Laskin.
Best electric: (In no order) A Pensa-Suhr John built while he was building for Knopfler. Everything I've ever played from Gene Baker. Faracaster's Gustavsson. A McNaught Singlecut I couldn't afford at the time. A LP Heritage 80 Elite quilttop with real PAFs I used to have. Haven't played a Thorn yet.-Eric

[73171]

1) My '76 Les Paul Custom (fingerboard trimmed to a perfect radius and re-fretted by Terry McInturff) ....

2) Many years ago I owned one of the best archtops Gibson has ever made...an early sixties Johnny Smith.

3) a new James Goodall acoustic at a local guitar shop (Harry's in Raleigh...great place!) no, I don't own it..I can't afford it!

[Bryan102552]

A 1952 Les Paul ..... the one with the trapeze tailpiece and no "real" bridge, owned by a guy that I bought a '77 LP K.M. from (that's another story). That '52 LP was amazing, and not for sale (obviously). Mojo out the ya-ya!!!

As far as guitars that I own, the best playing by far is my '91 LP Studio with ebony fretboard, super slim neck, Duncan JB and Jazz pups (both coil-tapped thru push/pull "tone pots"), and bypassed tone circuit. It's OK to laugh if you've never played it ...... it's probably THE guitar I would never let go of.

[WKG]

The best guitar I have ever played would be my 05 Fly Mojo. :RoCkIn

:D

[Eskimo_Joe]

1952 Tele all original....played it 3 yrs ago when I worked at a guitar store...was absolutley amazing

[Ogre]

Acoustic: Eddy Arnolds 1930s Martin D-28 herringbone that belonged to a bluegrass pal up in Irving, Texas.
Electric: My 1969 Gretsch Country Gentleman- tone to die for.
Runner-up: 1954 Strat #1004

[Deja's Blues]

I've owned over 50 Stratocasters in my life and I have to say, the best one I ever owned, or should I say, the one I liked the most was the 1st year production 1987 New "American Standard" (Olympic white w/rosewood board) These guitars were actually hand-built and the attention to detail was Flawless... It had a 9.5 radius, 22 Medium-jumbo frets, and weighed in around 7 3/4 to 8 lbs, and was balanced perfectly.... The guitar had a wonderful warm tone, and the neck was perfect...

I, by accident, put a bad Ding in the upper-horn, and it bothered me so much, I couldn't bare to look at it, and let it go.... HUGE MISTAKE!!

Other noteable Stratocasters that I've owned:

-1997 VooDoo-Caster, (Olympic White w/Maple-cap neck) - AWESOME!! Look at when they're selling for on ebay right now... I saw one go for $2,800!!

-1997 '62 American Vintage resissue in Fiesta Red.

-1999 '62 American Vintage resissue in Candy Apple Red.

-1997 Lone-Star Stratocaster (Olympic White w/Maple board)

-1997 Lone-Star Stratocaster (Olympic White w/Rosewood board)

[armanHammer]

I'm happy to say, my Japanese '57 strat.

[IndieHead]

the best guitar i played in the last year was a 60s Les Paul Customs Shop.

[Serious Poo]

For me, it's this one:

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/3024/img1146jn7.jpg

This specific PRS Modern Eagle is the single most amazing instrument I've ever played. I find myself playing music that I didn't even know I was capable of. :AOK

[Cowboy]

I can't tell you. I'm trying to buy it, and the owner might read this page. :nono

Best,
Cowboy

[Carli28]

A 1957 Telecaster. It was stripped long ago and the ash had turned all grey. I got chills all down my back when I played it...

[Mike Duncan]

http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL664/3909625/8084735/251929920.jpg

Without gushing, I really maintain that the PRS McCarty Trem is the absolute best I've ever come across. Tone, ease of playing, hardware, woods, looks, comfort of the neck, pickups...I can get every tone that I'm looking for out of that stock guitar!

http://pic16.picturetrail.com/VOL664/3909625/8084735/252150278.jpg

[Dylan61]

My best 'playing' guitar is a cheap London City Comet 1 Strat, price $250...
My best sounding my Gibson ES137

But a EJ Strat from Wildwood is on its way, so I hope it will push them asside to a first place.

[TNJ]

Acoustic:
Collings D3 dreadnought in a guitar shop in Hawaii. Talk about projection and tone...it sounded like the guitar was wired into a room sized P.A. with just the right eq. Amazing...

Electric:
Dana Olsen's stock '59 ES335...not historic, this beauty is the real thing!
It didnt hurt to find out that Jeff Beck himself has played this guitar. If I ever win the lottery, I WILL own one.

Bass: My Fodera VW Monarch fretted 4 string. Marvelous and miraculous at the same time! So versatile...

S.
j

[Tweak Head]

Tough to choose just one best guitar. If I had to, I'd choose a JET Earlewood followed closely by a Jaros Semi-hollow in the Les Paul vain. Here are my picks:

For Les Paul style
1. JET Earlewood
2. Jaros Bluzeman Plus
3. Moonstone Eclipse
4. Vintage 1962 Gibson Les Paul SG Junior

For Single Coil:
1. Fender Strat Elite
2. 1958 Fender Telecaster
3. Gretsch White Falcon

You can check out some of my axes here:
http://www.dorto.com/Guitars.html

[RL in Fla]

Gram Parsons' 00-21 Martin (went to same HighSchool together)

Gibson Heritage /"no birds" jumbo-size (studio "house acoustic" at Capricorn in '70's Macon)

An original jawdropping "still-gigged" one of these :

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/9/7/8/421978.jpg

And "shoulda bought it" , a new ± 7lb. Honey Burst LP classic 4 years ago .
Next day it was gone .... it was a singer , still haunts me .

[MantraSky]

My Best playing and sounding guitars are my Suhr & Martin :)
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c217/MantraSky/Suhr1.jpg
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c217/MantraSky/MartininCase.jpg

[XKnight]

My Hamer Artist Korina.

http://www.hamerguitars.com/pics/models/artk_lg.jpg

[Red Suede]

Vintage: 57 goldtop at the Guitar Center Hollywood store
1961 Dot Neck 335 I used to own.

New: A Heritage 535 which I hated at first and now I can't put it down.
James Tyler Classic in Yellow Schmear.

[KRosser]

Nothing feels better to me that Saul Koll's guitars, so I'd go with one of the several Tornados or Duo Glides I've played, in addition to the two custom Teles he made me.

I played a couple new Vinetto 'aged' Teles and Strats, and I think they're amazing. If I was in the market for a vintage-spec Strat or Tele, those would be them...

Also, David Torn's new D'Pergo feels really great.

And I have a relationship with my $325/used early 90's Jerry Jones singlecut 3 p/u that still defies logical explanation to me.

[davess23]

In no particular order:

-- a '30's OM-45 (belonged to Eric Schoenberg, worth a ton of money, and it scared the crap out of me just to hold it, but what tone)
-- a late '90's Julius Borges OM-28 (lightest OM I ever picked up, most responsive guitar I've ever played)
-- my custom '96 SC OM (German/Braz, favorite acoustic of all time for me)
-- my much-missed blonde late 60's ES-340 (wish I still had it)
-- my 1997 R6 GT (plays and and sounds as good as the "real" one I once had)

[SHM]

A all original 1963 sunburst strat, with rosewood neck that belong to one of my friends.:drool

[JohnMS]

Moonstone M80. Dripping with all sorts of sounds. Mh...

Will have to file out the nut so I can put some 11s on it.. mh...

[guitarboy]

My Tom Anderson Hollow Cobra Tele and Classic Strat, my old Les Paul, and Red Suede's Tyler Classic.

[Bomm]

A guitar teacher of mine a while back brought in an old ES335 his neighbor had given him to take care of because she didn't use it and wanted him to take care of it. I don't remember the exact year it was, but I've never held anything that played and felt so smooth. I felt a little uneasy even holding the thing knowing how much it was worth, and it was in near flawless condition.

[kev]

The one that haunts me the most is a friend's '64 Strat. He has said for years he would not sell, but still I wait...:rotflmao

[sears]

In no particular order..

1. A 1972 tele, maple, yellow, at that store on Clark in Wrigleyville
2. My friend's Parker Fly
3. A coworker's MIM Jazz Bass

[frisco kid]

The best playing guitar I have ever played was a 1982 Ibanez rocket roll flying V. The best overall guitar was a GMP Roxie.

Wow...thought I'd be the only one for the GMP Roxie! I've had several LP's, strats, tele's, Gretsch's etc...the one guitar I still wish I had was a Roxie with Bigsby I foolishly sold. That thing weighed a ton but could do it ALL. I keep looking for another one but they are rare as hen's teeth.

[kingsxman]

Mine has to be my Ace Frehley Gibson with the pickups switched to Classic Plus in lead, 500 t in middle and Classic 57 in bridge. The stock Dimarzios made it a one trick pony now the tones are sweet all around. The 59 profile neck is the most comfortable for me. I personally do not like the baseball bat necks on some Les Paul Customs I've felt.

dude, you gotta post some pics of that guitar. As a big Kiss fan...it'd be great to have one. Did you get yours early or after the price went down some...?

[Sean French]

This '59 Burst blasting through a DR.:AOK

http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f121/1957gold/ArlingtonShow2006092.jpg

[Dave Orban]

I'm lucky that the best electric I've ever played is my main gigging guitar, a '53 ES-175.

The best acoustic I ever played was a 1926 Martin O-18K, which sadly, I had to sell a couple years back, when finances got tight.

[ahab]

PRS McCarty

[Mikey01]

"64" Epiphone solid body. A Corina maybe?? It was neck-thru glued w/one single coil. It came with the tube amp, w/10" speaker and 15 watts, as a package deal at the time. I bought both as an elderly Grandma was clearing it out of the closet. She said that they had bought it new and the son played it for two months and lost interest. It sat in the closet ever since. I paid her the asking price of $265.00 in 1999. I sold the guitar in 2003 (as new condition) for $995 and the amp (same person) for $500. Iv'e been cryin ever since. It weighed next to nothing with increditably close action. The guitar played itself. Im sooo stupid sometimes.

[VaughnC]

An old, well played '64 Strat I once owned is the yardstick I use to judge all other Strats and not too many have even come close. I currently own a Fender Custom Shop '65 RI Strat that's probably as close as I'll ever get....but that old '64 still gives me goose bumps just thinking about its tone.

[TheGrooveking]

I have a few, my tone and playing reference for me is my solid one piece walnut Sarricola Tele. It has a JB in the bridge and a custom single coil in the neck. The neck and tone is just unbelievable, the guitar plays itself, no kidding!

My other one is a chambered J.D.Bluesville Pilot that I bought earlier this year. After setting it up for me, I bought it without playing it, but only seeing a photo of it and must say the guitar rings like a bell! It's funny with the selection of guitars I have, I'll migrate to other guitars and then think the J.D.Bluesville Pilot is a good guitar, but nothing special and then I go and plug the Pilot back in and go "Holy Shit" again and think man what a guitar.

So those two are my go to for checking if a guitar compares, I just pulled the trigger on a new Suhr Pro Series today and we'll see if that makes into my top group of guitars.

TheGrooveking

[Lex Luthier]

A particular beat to crap '58 Strat that I almost bought. Sounded insane, haunts me to this day that I didn't buy it.

[Ian Anderson]

My Lentz T, Joe Ganzlers burst Gladys, a blonde 1960 ES335 owned by a buddy of mine, and my '65 SG replica.

[Doc Bone]

My Lentz HSL.....:AOK

[sampleinajar]

Back in 1993 I went into Chuck Levin's music store looking at a rack rig (ADA MP1, etc). I picked up this circa 1989 PRS that was unbelievable in every way imaginable. I kick myself to this day for not buying that and passing on the rack stuff. And this is from someone who is a strat person through-and-through. I don't even own a PRS guitar.

Aside from that, the Suhr classic that I own is fairly close to perfect (for me of course).

Steve


PS - forgot to add the 1950's tele that I saw a store owner purchase from a guy for $1000 in 1990. I could have had it for $1300 and passed because the frets were basically non-existent. "Why would I want that?" I said at the time. Stupid. That was a sweet guitar.

[Chops]

My Thorn Jr. 90 for an electric and my Taylor 950 12 string for an acoustic. They both are incredibly "in tune"," play easily and are the most successfull at producing the kind of tones that complement the music I'm looking to make.
Honorable mention to a 60's relic Strat just picked up made by some guy named Dennis Galuska (sp?). I have just started to play this one qiuite a bit, and it is a superb sounding guitar.

[slipbeer]

A 59 LP made me want to cash in my retirement savings, life insurance and sell my house.

A 56 LP Black Beauty made me want to run as fast as I could with it instead of giving it back to the guy who let me use it for a set.

A Collings I-35 not too long ago that made me question why anybody else even tried to build guitars.

[Martin Horne]

My McNaught Phoenix still blows me away after 5 years of gigging. The playability, tone, and build quality makes it my all time favorite axe.

[wgs1230]

Flattops: 1936 Martin 00-18
1946 Gibson Southern Jumbo
1959 Gibson J-200

Archtops: 1947 Gibson L-7c
1960 D'Angelico New Yorker
1954 Gibson L-5

[LightninBoy]

This particular Grosh Retro - it's perfect in every way for me.

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d121/LightninBoy/White%20Blonde%20Grosh/GroshWB-fullsizebyfence.jpg

[drunkenguitar]

My '97 Guild S-100 Polara.
http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f106/sparrowpics/guild086.jpg

[Mickey Shane]

I had a friend named Jack, back in '75, that owned a '62 Gibson SG. He let me play it a couple of times. It was the most soulfull sustain that I have ever heard.

[guitrr]

1961 LesPaul/SG; the three pickup model with Vibrola and gold hardware. My local music store had it as a used guitar for a month or so when I was in high school. I played it every chance I got. Didn't have a prayer of being able to buy it, but sure dreamt of it a lot!

Also, I recently got to play a 65 strat. The hype is true, it was an awesome guitar. It still had the original frets, which I didn't care for at all, as they are quite small. The feel and sound of the guitar was extraordinary; unplugged, it rang like a friggin' bell.

A friend of mine has a 1930's National that I just love too! It's clangy as hell, but super resonant.

[JMG]

Suhr Classic.

Collings City Limits Deluxe.

[Dave L]

Well, I´ve played three guitars that´s absolutely blown me away... A brand new Tyler Huff that would´ve cost me more than my Volvo, a late nineties Suhr Standard the owner just wouldn´t sell and a 1993 Jackson Phil Collen Archtop that I´m fortunate enough to own myself.

It seems Jacksons don´t get much love here, but that one has been absolutely world-class stellar ever since I found the right pickups for it... it´s a real treat, and easily of the same quality in build and tone as anything I´ve seen from the (rightfully) acclaimed smaller builders. It´s too bad Jackson still has the heavy metal stigma attached to their guitars, that might divert people from them, because they are perfectly capable of turning out some brilliant pieces.

[Mike_C]

For me it would be my friends 52 telecaster an absolute dream to play and his D'Angelico Excel

[zeitblom]

a late 50's les paul standard and a travis bean tb1000

[uberpict]

I'm not much of a believer in "best" things, IMHO everthing has it's high points and low points but some things the high outweighs the low and vice versa. That being said I've played an R9 that just had "it" and my PRS Studio has a wonderful and distinct character that really sings to me.

[jezzzz2003]

Fender custom classic strat, one with a V neck, the other with a C
they even have built in reverb:D no kidding! put your ear to the body and play, the guitar is so resonant that the springs holding tension on the bridge reverberate, Ohhh yea.

[lamf]

Hard call Gibson wise My 62 335 fenders my friend lees parts caster w/a63 neck

[908SSP]

Parker Fly.

Any Fly is the best playing guitar. Some are the best sounding.

[Vintage-Guitars]

'62 ES-345 and '61 ES-355, I really like the sound of a 1982 Smith strat if you can believe that.