Somebody gives you 400 dollars for a guitar, so you buy?...

[MusicMan7]

Title says it all, what would you buy if you had 400 dollars to spend on a guitar? It can be new or used. Single coils, or humbuckers, it doesn't really matter. I think it'll be interesting to see what comes up.

[rockinlespaul]

Probably a new or used Melody Maker or use it as a downpayment on something nice.

[Ken Ho]

2 kg of king prawns, and a new ski jacket.

[clay49]

Used PRS SE ONE or black Agile AL-3100

[Stinky Kitty]

Samick TV Twenty w/ vintage tremolo.

[RichieD]

A used Fender Strat.

[uOpt]

Some of the lower end model Greco or Burny Les Pauls can be had for $400, if you are lucky.

Random Warmoth builds that came out ugly.

For Strat style, an old Ibanez Blazer or some of the Roadstar models and a set of SSL-1s.

[jcmark611]

A BK Butler Tube Driver.

[Broken Cord]

MIM Strat or Tele.

[Bluesbuff]

PRS SE , chose the model you like, great value

[Boris Bubbanov]

Find one of these close-out Classic Player Bajas for $ 399, at the center of evil, GC. They are still out there, here and there, mostly in areas of the country where the economy is hurting most.

[gkoelling]

A sweet MIM Tele.

A used MIM Robert Cray Strat

A used J. Vaughan Strat

[OlAndrew]

http://store.guitarfetish.com/xvsehogfsand.html

with the case and shipping to my place, a shade under $400.

[poolshark]

I've been dying for a pointy guitar lately. Possibly something from Rondo - there's a budget neck-through Douglas w/ floyd that's done caught my eye.

[arfalax]

If you look around used, you too could pick up an Ibanez AS73 semi-hollow. I got mine from a noted amp builder here with WCR pickups, RS electronics and a HSC shipped for $375 that plays amazing for the price point. Just sayin'.

[airwarrior]

New Melody Maker.

[markom89]

A 1959 Gibson Les Paul & a couple of Strats and Teles, in 1959.

[mojocaster.com]

A sweet MIM Tele.

A used MIM Robert Cray Strat

A used J. Vaughan Strat

I like the way you think! I'd add a MIM Fender James Burton, and a Reverend :)

[FretFire]

MIM Tele, but then again I may just want a tele ;).

[gixxerrock]

PRS SE , chose the model you like, great value
Exactly what i would do.

[HammyD]

There are many choices but I picked up a Robert Cray Strat for $450 as new and could not be happier. The stoptail is definitely different. almost all the cool things about a Tele and a Strat.

[Sparky6string]

Wow excellent thread- I didn't realize there were so many good guitars at this price point!

used MIJ Fernandes Strat or Tele

used Peavey Firenza

[Reason]

Now is the time to buy used! I've seen some good partscasters in that range.

[J.T.]

MIM Strat with a Humbucker in the Bridge

[dk123123dk]

Something Japanese.

dk

[Thwap]

I'd get...jeez 400 doesn't get much.

I just can't do it, keep it.

[ibobunot]

I just picked up a 2008 MIM Tele = 285.00
Wilkinson 3 Brass Saddle Tele Bridge = 25.95
Wilkinson Fender-Style Nickel Tuners = 26.95
Bill Lawrence Deluxe Keystone pickups = 64.00

[alvagoldbook]

In this economy, that 400 dollars gets saved.

[VaughnC]

No two hunks of wood are exactly the same so I'd keep an open mind, run the racks, and let my hands & ears decide.

[BigPapiFan]

Used.
There is a recession going on out there and used prices are dropping faster than W's approval rate. The number of fine used guitars I have bought for <$400 over the last couple of years is astounding!
Epi Casino + case, Dearmond Starfire Special + case, G&L Tribute ASAT 1 Classic, 1 Semi-hollow, another DeArmond Starfire Special, G&L Tribute Legacy, DeArmond Solid body M-66 and M-68, Epiphone Wildkat. I did get a new dual pickup Melody Maker on a close-out. They are surprisingly nice.
If you buy used you can buy, try, and flip it for pretty much the same $$ if you find something you like better. Guitars are like cars, if you buy new you are going to take a big depreciation hit.

[dazco]

Without a doubt a chinese made squier dou sonic. yep, i'm dead serious. A friend of mine and I saw one at GC and both felt there is something special there. So we each bought one and have both been amazed by them. They keep the fender feel and vibe but the short scale makes then easier to play and they have a gibson meets fender sound that i can only describe as the perfect blend. He thought the same thing. Neither of us can put them down, and i have never found another guitar that so well compliments a strat like this. They are so different so that it makes switching a breath of fresh air. yet at the same time they are much the same so you don't lose that fender vibe. The clean sounds are amazing because of the fender design with short scale. Imagine a fender type sound but so full sounding it makes a strats clean sound tinny. By the way, sounds crazy at the price, but build quality was flawless....just insane at the price point....dare i say perfect ! For those who like LP tones but hate using gibsons because they are just too attached to fender feel, this is w/o a doubt your axe. The pickups are very low and weak output tho, so if like me you need more you'll wanna change them as i did. (rail in bridge, van zandt in neck)

I seriously think that everyone should have one of these, and at $232 out the door i's have pocketed $168 of that $400 ! At first i wasn't sure i'd made the right decision in buying this. 2 days later after a pup change and all my favorite tweaks you couldn't pry this thing from my cold dead hands. To me i like this axe worlds more than the american deluxe strat i sold a couple years ago and payed a grand for ! Theres something so right about it.

[stormin1155]

I'd buy some nice wood, hardware and pickups and build my own... probably something similar to a PRS.

[sqadan]

MIM Tele or Strat. Or a used Danelectro.

[Jazzydave]

If you can find one, you might be able to get a Carvin for that! I've seen a few around <$500 lately in these times.

[iowa]

Used MIM Tele with a set of BL Keystones and a 3 saddle bridge w/ brass saddles.

[Boris Bubbanov]

Used MIM Tele with a set of BL Keystones and a 3 saddle bridge w/ brass saddles.


You betcha. Don't forget those Gotoh split shaft tuners!

:AOK:AOK

[LHanson]

PRS SE line.
Any Fernandes MiJ.
80s Ibanez Roadstar MiJ

Have all been suggested. I own exactly those - a PRS Soapbar II, a Fernandes LE-2 MiJ, and 2 Ibanez Roadstars (with Floyd liscense trems).

[kingblud]

musiciansfriend.com still has 2008 MIM Strats and Teles for $400 shipped with gigbag. I have a Strat and I love it, the quality is awesome for the price. Plus you can customize it to your liking, I've already added new saddles and locking tuners. Probably the best bang for buck for $400 if you are going new.

[handyman]

I'd love to pick up a DiPinto Galaxy 4, though they're not the easiest to find used. Really cool retro-futuristic vibe going on with those.

This is the special Los Straitjackets version. :AOK

http://www.otheroom.com/namm06/images/guitars/dipinto-galaxie4.jpg

[openbar]

Heck, if you're patient and look hard enough you'll get a MIM tele and strat! Or one of their brethren 50's or 60's "classic" models.

Or fun stuff like Eastwood, Danelectro reissues, even import Hamers. I love cheapo guitars!

[lakehaus]

A used J. Vaughan Strat

Me? That's the one!

[thirsty one]

Agile AS-1000 $369, it is there top of the line 335 copy.

[Soporific]

I've been dying for a pointy guitar lately. Possibly something from Rondo - there's a budget neck-through Douglas w/ floyd that's done caught my eye.

I just got a Dean Razorback DB in white. Very very pointy. :) I have an EMG-81 going into it right now that I should have back tomorrow. I know people here hate pointy guitars, but after getting it I'm really digging it.

~S

[FFTT]

+1 on the PRS Soap Bar SE

This is an excellent guitar for the money and
the P-90's not only deliver a wonderful tone, but
make the guitar a keeper specialty guitar for many years to come.
Light and reasonably well balanced with a flat shredder neck.

If you double your budget, your options are considerably greater
in these very difficult times.

People are selling gear they would normally never dream of selling.

[GDking]

If I were selling any of my guitars for 400 dollars I would probably be spending the money on crack.

[j2b4o]

This just actually just happned to me. I got a student refund check went to every guitar store within 20miles and played everything ended up gettin a 08' mim sunburst strat for 300$ with gig bag. Spent the rest on treats. PLAY EVERYTHING untill your sure the one your holding was meant for you.

[Lex Luthier]

A used guitar. Look around until you find something that works for you in your price range. You get more guitar for the money when buying used.

For example I recently bought 3 - 1980's Ibanez Roadstars together for around the price target. You won't be able to buy one even new Japanese Ibanez for that kind of money these days.

[distorted noise]

i'd put in another $200 and buy a orange tiny terror.

[mad dog]

Dearmond something.