Cheap Guitars · Omni Guitars

Cheap Guitars

While we'd all like to own several vintage and/or signature guitars (I would like a Nita Strauss signature Jiva), they're typically out of our budgets, right? The most expensive guitar I bought is a Jackson Pro Soloist, and even then, it was on sale. I got it for under $1K. I do own a vintage Guild Starfire V, but I didn't pay a dime for it. It's my uncle's. My aunt gave it to me after he died in 2019.

I think there's something to be said for cheap guitars. Over the past few weeks, I've purchased 8 inexpensive guitars. I got most of them for far below retail price… here's the list.

Crescent ST style - I got this one for $40 on FB Marketplace. It's a restoration project. I may sell this one, or I may keep it. Haven't decided yet.
Rogue Rocketeer SSH ST - I bought this one for $20 on FB Marketplace. Only thing wrong with it was that it was missing the tip for the tremolo bar. I'm contemplating swapping out the pickups, but it sounds good with the stock pickups. Planning on selling this one.
Glarry HH ST - I bought it because I really liked the lightning bolt artwork on it. Was surprised at how well it plays and sounds. No annoying fret ends that need to be filed. May swap out the pickups… Zakk Wylde Signatures. I got it on Temu for less than $60.
YangShen HSH ST - Bought it because I liked the green quilted maple finish. Again, I was surprised at how well it plays and sounds. No annoying fret ends that need to be filed either. Will probably swap out the pickups. Don't have a specific brand or model yet. Temu - paid $82.
Fender Squier Debut Series Stratocaster - flat sunburst finish - won it at a local online auction site. $50 (MSRP $126). Lots of fret ends that need to be filed.
Fender Squier Debut Series Stratocaster - flat red finish - won it on a local online auction site for $65 (MSRP $126). Nothing wrong with this one. Pickup swap? Maybe.
Fender Squier Classic Vibe 60s Jazzmaster - white finish - another guitar I won on a local auction site. Paid $100 (MSRP $379) - A chip in the finish on the back. Repairable.
EVH Wolfgang Standard - probably a fake - serial number look up says it's a white Wolfgang USA Custom, but the guitar I ordered looks like an EVH Wolfgang Special Electric Guitar - Satin Striped Red/White/Black and it had a foil sticker over the label on the headstock. Even so, I paid $215 on Temu for a solid, good sounding, great looking guitar. Somebody is really good at creating fake guitars.
Not really a cheap guitar, but I bought an ESP LTD LP style guitar a few years ago for around $600 at Guitar Center. Swapped the stock pickups for a set of Nita Strauss signature Pandemonium pickups and WOW! They transformed a nice sounding guitar into a beast.

Obviously, I have no reservations about buying cheap guitars and modding them and sometimes turning around and selling them. But I want to know your take on cheap guitars.

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