Decision time - Down to $500...

[ohreallynow]

Want a second guitar to go with my strat. Owned a ton of guitars in the past and sold them all except for the strat when I stopped playing. I started out with $1500 for my purchase, but home improvements and other expenses have whittled it down to $500. I play mostly rock / hard rock / jam band stuff.

Was thinking of the following:

1) Local shop has a classic vibe 60's strat for $300 - plays pretty nice, I am definitely a strat guy - I could probably get this and upgrade the pickups for under $450. But its another strat, not much variety.

2) Build a tele out from pre-finished Warmoth (or similar) parts. Would probably cost around $500-550 but I've never done this before and I'm not too handy.

3) Other open to other suggestions at this price point - I don't want anything with a locking tremolo - but I would definitely consider some humbucker style guitars.

Any thoughts?

[Al Nico]

If you want something really different, there are lots of decent import set-neck humbucker guitars that could be had for around $500 or less. I'd suggest checking out Schecters and PRS SEs in the store and find one that had the right features, playability, and look.

Otherwise, you can't go too wrong with building your own tele. Get advice from folks here and TDPRI.com, and they can set you on the right path.

[ohreallynow]

Is Warmoth a good place to buy the pieces? I know USACG gets great reviews but they are pricier.

[dspellman]

Forget Warmoth -- it'll be far more pricey than you expect by the time you're done.

[ZZ Not]

I second the Schecters, particularly if you are playing rock/hard/rock as their instruments fit well into that genre and they put decent hardware on their guitars in that price range (Grovers, Tone Pros). I have only ever owned one but it was good guitar.

The suggestion of PRS SE's is also a good one. Good fit and finish and quality control in that same price range.

The old standby Yamaha Pacifica is even cheaper and would leave a few dollars for upgrades if you didn't like the pots or pickups etc.

[hammersig]

Schecters are fine guitars, I'm very fond of the Tempest model. Also, look at Burny, Tokai, Greco, and especially Orville LP guitars. You can usually get a decent one around that price range, they are worth every bit of it.

[Lance]

I picked up one of these a couple of weeks ago @ zZounds.com for $430.00 shipped. It does a pretty mean Trey right out of the box, but it'll probably have '59s in it before too long. It looks gorgeous.

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&source=hp&q=ibanez+ajd91&gbv=2&aq=0&aqi=g1&aql=&oq=ibanez+ajd9

[bizzwriter]

You definitely need something with humbuckers to offset that single coil thing. Don't know where you're at, but you'll find at least a few good ones in your local craigslist for $500 or less. My craigslist right now has a recent Gibson SG for $450, a funky '83 Gibson Challenger for $500, and an Ibanez Steve Vai for $100.

[bigdaddy]

1 x SX STL50 plus 1 x SX SST 57. Spend the $250 you have left however you see fit...

[frank62]

They get little or no respect around here but an Epiphone Les Paul is IMO a great axe in that price range. Nice used ones all day for around 300.

[beckerman]

second the SX STL50 recommendation but you may pass on the SST57 since you have a strat and look at the Agile AL-3000 or 3100 series LP copy.

[ohreallynow]

Is SX > Squier?

[ohreallynow]

I liked the Squier CV Strat I tried, but I've never played an SX.

[Spudman]

A Michael Kelly Patriot is a great guitar to give you something a little different than the Strat yet has coil taps.

[ohreallynow]

Cool I'll check it out!

[ohreallynow]

Any Fender recommendations?

[bigdaddy]

Is SX > Squier?

In my experience SX STL = MIM Tele, with the exception of maybe the tuners. I played mine at a jam last night and got several compliments.

[Funkwire]

In that price range, look at the FMT HH Tele. Purists will say it's not a 'real' Tele since it has humbuckers and doesn't have the ashtray bridge. But the Duncan Designed pickups are decent and coil-splitting enabled.

http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/profile_mojo_data/6/0/4/6/604696/pics/_c492444_image_0.jpg

[phantasm]

If you say you're not too handy., i'd forget about going the Warmoth route. Even building a partscaster isn't as easy as it looks. You'll need a drill press and a bunch of other tools and alot of patience to get it right.

[frank62]

Funkwire, that is a nice axe.

[chrisjw5]

I have a Schecter PT on order. Tele shape, 2 humbuckers and a snappy maple neck. Kind of like a livlier Les Paul.

It can be had for $499 and Pete Townsend certainly got some great tones out of it in the early 80's.

http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/7/3/5/588735.jpg

[cmeyers]

you can buy my brazen dynasty deluxe. it's a black humbucking guitar, but with a push/pull knob to tap the coils for a single coil sound. it's a great guitar, i'm just way more into p90's now and i'm trying to sell it to put money towards a nicer cab. $350 shipped if you're interested.

[distorted noise]

i would deffinitly suggest a schecter solo 6 special, i just bought one. you can get some great sounds out of this plus it very comfortable and i'm usually a tele guy.
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/regular/8/0/0/673800.jpg (http://www.thegearpage.net/board/#)

[Brooks]

look on ebay or hamerfanclub.com for used hamer usa guitars. setneck or bolt, hum/P90/single, there's no better deal than a used hamer. the quality is thru the roof.

[LJOHNS]

I am looking for the same thing as you. I already have a great Strat so I want some humbuckers - my top choices right now are an Agile AL-3100 or one of the Ibanez Artist models. Both under $500 and they both get great reviews for the $$.

[8Painting]

Used 60's MIM Strat.