Several years ago, I was nosing around a local Guitar Center on a Saturday when a Gibson/Epiphone rep was demonstrating instruments. I'd guess he was in his mid-50s and an incredible instrumentalist. I was quite amazed at his honesty when discussing Gibson vs. Epiphone. He got into a discussion of pedals, amps, modeling, etc. The upshot of his talk was the guitar doesn't make the player. A player plays an instrument that feels right and, of course, what he can afford. He was very frank saying that with all the electronics available, you can pretty well dial in the sound you're looking for. It's all about the skill of the player.
This is 100% true.
Also, I don’t know if he got into this, but I’ve read that if a player had $1500 to buy a guitar and amp, he’s better served getting a $1,000 amp and $500 guitar than if he gets a $1,000 guitar and $500 amp. The point being that a great amp is more important to one’s overall sound than a great guitar.
I have a hard time deciding whether I prefer my $900 Mexico made Hendrix signature strat or my $500 (but with some important improvements made) Mexico made Telecaster.
Gun to my head, I’d probably pick the Tele. The day I bought that guitar, I went into guitar center planning to get a different Telecaster… the Nashville one, with three pickups. But I played that one, and it didn’t feel right.
So I sat there dejected, when this butterscotch blonde tele with a black pickguard caught my eye. I’d always been fond of that look. Keith Richards, Bruce… tons of icons play that kind.
So I pick that one up, and it’s like an old friend. Played very similar to my first good guitar. An ‘89 or ‘90 American Standard.
so I went home with that $500 Tele. Since then, I’ve had better tuners and better pickups (including a neck humbucker—like Keith) put on. It’s basically the perfect guitar for me.
in fact, I think I’m going to go play it now!
