For what it's worth

by jerry b, Tuesday, February 21, 2012, 14:47 (4472 days ago) @ jerry b

I spent yesterday afternoon at a Guitar Center (sale, sale, sale, but nothing floated my boat), and I guess that's why I'm rather wordy....I have to tell someone.

I handled a few Chinese-made Epiphones and Fenders (how about that?), Korean PRS items, etc. I also played with a few Gibsons and USA Fenders. Want to know how the 400-600 Chinese guitars held up against the $1000-$1900 American products as to build, materials, fret work, overall finish, etc.?

There's the problem. It's hard to rationalize buying an $1800.00 Les Paul you have to do fret work on as soon as you get it home, isn't it? I expect to pay more for American products, and I gladly do it sometimes, but I want the quality at a price I can afford. It comes down at times to buying a foreign product or nothing at all: a $400 Chinese Fender Telecaster or the $1300 American? Lots of guys can afford 400 bucks, but 1300+ is getting serious for a student instrument, you know?

The world has changed over the last 50 years, and it is mighty discouraging.