I didn't read this thread when it originated, but just noticed this post about some of the good Japanese models. My hubby Anthony has a small guitar collection with a combination of Fenders, Taylor, Larrivee, PRS... it keeps multiplying. He had his eye on a Vintage Gibson L5 that had an outrageous ticket price IMO. He has a day job, just plays for fun and is not in a band. I think many posters here will think this is totally cheesy, but he has picked up 3 gorgeous Gibson knock-offs that are Japanese, maybe 1 is Korean, not sure, for about $2000. (L5, ES-335 and ES-175 ) The first one he got on e-bay where you buy it outright, it's my favorite of the three. It's the L5 knock-off and it looks and sounds fabulous. He only paid about $400...the guy photographed every inch of the guitar front and back, the neck, took measurements..he was a pleasure to do business with. It came packaged really well and in a Gibson hard case, in perfect condition. The ES-175 knock-off needed a new tailpiece and the Gibson part fit exactly. They are all considered Vintage 70's. I believe some of these Japanese guitar companies were sued by Gibson back in the day for copying their guitars. The L5 is a Vantage, I think the ES175 is Alvarez. The Vantage was written up in either Guitar Player or Guitar World the month after Anthony purchased it saying what great quality and excellent pricing this guitar was. The staff writer purchased it on the internet. I know it doesn't have the Gibson name, but I'll speak for the Vantage, since he plays that the most of the three, it's spectacular!
wood wrote:There are some great Japanese made guitars out there. Look at some of the MIJ vintage Ibanez guitars, Fender from the 80s, Alvarez-Yairi. Also there are some fine fine makers in Europe as well...mostly smaller shops but on a whole it's generally known that almost all brand name guitar makers out of the US are high quality. I'm NOT saying that's the case all the time, but generally speaking. Even those "respected" US makers have plenty of crappy guitars.
One of the coolest Tele style guitars I had was a MIJ 1986 Esquire. That thing played and sounded great. I loved the pickup and the guitar overall. I sold it this spring when buying my 1966 Stratocaster...otherwise I would have kept it.
My main acoustic is an Alvarez-Yairi from 1994. It's a phenominal guitar, it was inexpensive. And like h*ll am I spending all that money on a US made Martin or Taylor...when my AY fits the bill perfectly.
StringsforaCURE~Helping cancer patients one STRING at a time.
http://stringsforacure.com/
