PDA

View Full Version : Who makes the world's 2nd best guitars?


m_lance
12-01-2006, 01:06 AM
This is mainly for Tom & the other guys at the shop. I don't have enough money to get another high end guitar right now, and by the time I do, you'll all be on to whatever comes next.

So who makes the world's 2nd best guitars? I'm a classic kind of guy. I like the Anderson Classic, T Classic, Hollow T Classic, and I think I'd like the Atom. Just looking for a great modern update to the timeless classics. No fancy tops ... just tone!

I'm looking for an answer like, "If I had to choose someone else, it would be ...". Suhr? Tyler? Roukangas? Somebody else?

Thanks!
Mike D.
12-01-2006, 01:31 AM
I don't know if I'd call it 2nd best or not but the two guitars I play the most are my Anderson and my Suhr. I'd say it's like 1a and 1b.

As far as production guitars go, I'm pretty happy with PRS as well. I played a few other guitars this past weekend on a tone warriors trip. I think I played a Grosh, a Melancon and one or two others. Nice guitars but my Andy and my Suhr smoked them all (purely my opinion, but I'm biased :D ).
olectric
12-01-2006, 09:52 AM
Don Grosh, ESPECIALLY if you like the classic stuff.

Used Retro Classics go for $1100-1300.
pluto
12-01-2006, 01:45 PM
If money is an issue, a Suhr Pro is a great value-1500 dollars for a new boutique guitar is a steal. No fancy tops either!
taclassic
12-01-2006, 01:56 PM
Pluto, please comment on the Pro Series as compared to an Anderson Classic with an S-S-H combo. I have been thinking of picking one up.

My vote for the 2nd best guitar is PRS. I have own a few of them and have never been let down. I do prefer an Anderson over the PRS any day though. Keep in mind that I have never played a Suhr, Grosh or any other boutique guitar. Once I hit the anderson line I was stuck and did not want to get out.
MojoRojo
12-01-2006, 02:27 PM
All my tone buddies in CT love their Suhrs....the other player in my country band plays a Suhr classic tele, and boy does he nail the Nashville tone......but wait til they play(and hear) my HTDT!:D
michaelomiya
12-01-2006, 03:14 PM
IMHO,

1. Anderson
2. the rest.

Although, "certain" other luthiers come in at very close #2. Mike nailed it, when he said 1a and 1b, IMHO.

But for product innovation to achieve better, more consistent tone, no in my mind comes close to Tom! Nicola Tesla of the industry!:D
pluto
12-01-2006, 07:56 PM
Pluto, please comment on the Pro Series as compared to an Anderson Classic with an S-S-H combo. I have been thinking of picking one up.

My vote for the 2nd best guitar is PRS. I have own a few of them and have never been let down. I do prefer an Anderson over the PRS any day though. Keep in mind that I have never played a Suhr, Grosh or any other boutique guitar. Once I hit the anderson line I was stuck and did not want to get out.

Sorry, I've never played an Anderson classic with the SSH pickup configuration. I used to own an Anderson classic which had VA pickups and made of hollow swamp ash, which is so different than the Suhr Pro-Series guitar which was meant to be a jack of all trades gigging guitar for a great price. I've played a couple of Suhr pro series guitars at the local shop-they were all very well made and an absolute steal. If you can live with the set specs (vintage slim neck, rosewood board, nickel frets, etc.), I can't see how you could go wrong. However, one thing I don't like about them is the VG300 bridge. I don't like that bridge at all although it stays in tune extremely very well.
mbrown3
12-01-2006, 09:51 PM
I absolutely LOVED my Baker B1, it was my main axe for several years. But it didn't have the stainless frets and I couldn't get Bruce to do them because the Baker had a bound neck. Plus, I really wanted to try the new neck joint and the M series pickups, so I just sold it and now have two Atoms on order (one showing up later this month, I can't wait!!!). Someday I may get another Baker without the bound neck, and have Bruce SS it up for me.

www.meangene.org
michaelomiya
12-01-2006, 10:14 PM
I've played a couple of Suhr pro series guitars at the local shop-they were all very well made and an absolute steal. If you can live with the set specs (vintage slim neck, rosewood board, nickel frets, etc.), I can't see how you could go wrong.

...if it's such a steal, ask him why he doesn't own one. And trust me, it hasn't anything to do with the VG300 (he had one on his other Standards).

The pro series is not assembled by the shop "regulars", at least not the last time I was visiting. And if they are, it's because they were forced to do so. And we all know what happens when someone is forced to do anything. Apply that to a fret job and set-up.:rolleyes:
pluto
12-02-2006, 02:45 AM
...if it's such a steal, ask him why he doesn't own one. And trust me, it hasn't anything to do with the VG300 (he had one on his other Standards).

The pro series is not assembled by the shop "regulars", at least not the last time I was visiting. And if they are, it's because they were forced to do so. And we all know what happens when someone is forced to do anything. Apply that to a fret job and set-up.:rolleyes:

Yeah, and you forgot that I sold the standard because of the VG300. :p
I've played at least three proseries guitars and there were absolutely no issues with any of them, fret wise or set up (except the vg300 of course!).
michaelomiya
12-02-2006, 02:55 AM
Yeah, and you forgot that I sold the standard because of the VG300. :p
I've played at least three proseries guitars and there were absolutely no issues with any of them, fret wise or set up (except the vg300 of course!).

no, I remembered you sold it. I also remember that you were all about "Wilkensons" when I pulled that maple top outta the pile for you specifically. All that said, a ProSeries will never be able to sit with the $3500 piles of wood you're buying from New Hampshire.:rolleyes:
pluto
12-02-2006, 03:18 AM
no, I remembered you sold it. I also remember that you were all about "Wilkensons" when I pulled that maple top outta the pile for you specifically. All that said, a ProSeries will never be able to sit with the $3500 piles of wood you're buying from New Hampshire.:rolleyes:

Quit posting you bastahd! I'll never catch up to your post count at this point. AND-your memory is wasting away-I never played a wilkinson and asked you about it before I had it spec'ed (you said that you didn't know!). Remember-my job requires a very good memory! :p
michaelomiya
12-02-2006, 04:17 AM
Quit posting you bastahd! I'll never catch up to your post count at this point. AND-your memory is wasting away-I never played a wilkinson and asked you about it before I had it spec'ed (you said that you didn't know!). Remember-my job requires a very good memory! :p

no way. someone's mind is suspect and it ain't mine! besides who's the one who ordered a wilkinson anyways?:p
taclassic
12-02-2006, 11:28 AM
Thanks on the input about the Pro Series guitars. I find Michael's comment on who does the set up work interesting though. Pluto did mention there were no issues with the ones he tried out. I just wish I had a local dealer who had one to try out.
pluto
12-02-2006, 07:17 PM
no way. someone's mind is suspect and it ain't mine! besides who's the one who ordered a wilkinson anyways?:p

I wish you wouldn't remind me of that. :o So, did you pull the trigger. BTW-my guitar is on the gearpage-check it out- (D'Pergo thread)
michaelomiya
12-02-2006, 07:53 PM
I wish you wouldn't remind me of that. :o So, did you pull the trigger. BTW-my guitar is on the gearpage-check it out- (D'Pergo thread)

I saw two D'Pergo threads over at TGP. Someone in Kailua tried out 400 year old maple on the newest one at Dan's??!?:eek: :eek: :rolleyes:

....I couldn't find your "Suhr for sale" post...only that you wanted a review from the guy in Kailua.:confused:

....on pulling the trigger, I got an "earful" from Fuzzyguitars last night. BUT, I'm still on the cusp...BTW, she's still available!:rolleyes: ;)
pluto
12-02-2006, 09:31 PM
I saw two D'Pergo threads over at TGP. Someone in Kailua tried out 400 year old maple on the newest one at Dan's??!?:eek: :eek: :rolleyes:

....I couldn't find your "Suhr for sale" post...only that you wanted a review from the guy in Kailua.:confused:

....on pulling the trigger, I got an "earful" from Fuzzyguitars last night. BUT, I'm still on the cusp...BTW, she's still available!:rolleyes: ;)

the 400 year old maple neck guitar is my guitar. I let them take pics of it and play it since I can't pick it up until Monday. So, what did Fuzzy tell you?
michaelomiya
12-02-2006, 11:27 PM
the 400 year old maple neck guitar is my guitar. I let them take pics of it and play it since I can't pick it up until Monday. So, what did Fuzzy tell you?

:eek: :eek: dude you must come clean and tell the forum that that is NUMBER 2 for you this year.:D

pix!!