Budget shredders

SimpleSimon

Ok nostalgia has been getting the better of me recently so ive decided to get something with a floyd. As a 13 year old kid in '87 i always wanted an Ibanez RG/Jem or a Kramer Baretta. Very different guitars i appreciate. So looking around now the choice is baffling, the Jem Jr caught my eye as does the Baretta vintage. Ive also always liked the look of the LTD KH202 and the EVH Wolfgangs. So If you had £500 max to spend on such a guitar what would you choose? I realise you can get a great guitar on this sort of budget - like the MIJ Charvel San Dimas but not sure if nostalgia will blur my decision process and sway me a certain direction. I know the answer is to go and try before i buy but im also intrigued to hear any other suggestions.....

Funkfingers

Slightly left field, a pre-owned G&L Tribute Series Rampage Jerry Cantrell signature model or a Heartfield Talon.

SimpleSimon

Love Mr Cantrells stuff and did try a Tribute Rampage a few years back when they reissued them, It was terribly heavy with the worst (and cheapest) feeling neck id ever played.

Funkfingers

No worries. I was just trying to avoid the obvious answer of an Ibanez RG.

earwighoney

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bonsaii-Cross-Cut-Protection-Wastebasket-Lightweight/dp/B013S9OR30/

joeyowen

I used to own this guitar, older model albeit.  It was about 3-400 and I loved it. Properly loved it for shredz

mike_l

You can pick up a used RG/Charvel/Jackson for that sort of money. And you'll get a great guitar.

SimpleSimon

mike_l said:

You can pick up a used RG/Charvel/Jackson for that sort of money. And you'll get a great guitar.

I know but isnt the risk in seconhand the potential and unseen Floyd damage?

guitarfishbay

Used Japanese RG with an Edge trem.

Maynehead

If you like the KH get the 602 instead. I've owned both and the 602 is clearly superior (not that the 202 is bad).

I use one as my main gigging guitar. You can probably pick one up for about £3-400

I've played a lot of shredders and I've not found many better in terms of playability or quality.

JDE

guitarfishbay said:

Used Japanese RG with an Edge trem.

Word. Or a used Japanese Charvel. Or a used Mexican Charvel (underrated). Hell, I've seen used US Charvel's go for 500 beans, although I think the MIJ's are better. 

skunkwerx

Damn, only sold my kh-202 a couple months back. I loved it really, if money wasnt a problem i'd still have it. 

Theres 2 types, one with smoked chrome hardware, one with black + a black painted neck. I had the former, with a licensed floyd, wheras the black type has a floyd special. No idea on differences... the licensed one I had, had Esp embossed in it, which looked nice.

Then theres the 3rd type, the one with the caution hot & Kirks guitar stickers. 
Same guitar though just with decals. 

Andertons currently have 2 of the plain type in on sale at around £450 or thereabouts. 

My only gripe is for a lil bit extra, or less if its full price, you can get a much better guitar, ie the quilted see thru blue esp model (on sale at £650) which has emgs, thru neck, grovers but no floyd. 

Really do seem to be paying for the skull n crossbone inlays, as apart from that, its a bolt on with lh-150 (i think) pups, of which there are a lot of Esps for cheaper. 

Twas a well built and good guitar though. 

I'd have the 602, but as its almost a grand odd, I may well look for his demonology new sig if its still around by the year 2076 when I have the money.

octatonic

C C Deville.

I'm not sure I understand the game.

Maynehead

skunkwerx said:

Damn, only sold my kh-202 a couple months back. I loved it really, if money wasnt a problem i'd still have it. 

Theres 2 types, one with smoked chrome hardware, one with black + a black painted neck. I had the former, with a licensed floyd, wheras the black type has a floyd special. No idea on differences... the licensed one I had, had Esp embossed in it, which looked nice.

Then theres the 3rd type, the one with the caution hot & Kirks guitar stickers. 
Same guitar though just with decals. 

Andertons currently have 2 of the plain type in on sale at around £450 or thereabouts. 

My only gripe is for a lil bit extra, or less if its full price, you can get a much better guitar, ie the quilted see thru blue esp model (on sale at £650) which has emgs, thru neck, grovers but no floyd. 

Really do seem to be paying for the skull n crossbone inlays, as apart from that, its a bolt on with lh-150 (i think) pups, of which there are a lot of Esps for cheaper. 

Twas a well built and good guitar though. 

I'd have the 602, but as its almost a grand odd, I may well look for his demonology new sig if its still around by the year 2076 when I have the money.

I believe the one you had (which was also the one I had) with the unpainted neck is made in China while the painted neck was Korean. But as you say, both are great quality. The 3rd type which is the KH-25 is the newer replacement for the 202, and is made in Vietnam.

I also found the stock LH-300 pickups (the 150s are less output) lacking in a gigging situation. They were voiced really bright and rather thin, but through a cheap solid state practice amp, which typically lacks top end, they sounded perfect. I replaced mine with an EMG Het Set and that really brought the guitar up to gigging quality.

The KH-602 though is really a step up in quality. The neck and fretboard is finished beautifully, and the through-neck makes playing fast and complex lead lines above the 17th fret (which Kirk does a lot) effortless. The neck profile is also slightly different to the 202, which is a very flat U. The 602, whilst still flat, has a slightly fuller back which gives your palm more to grab on to. There is also a difference in the frets. The 202 has the standard ESP extra jumbo, but the frets on the 602 are slightly thinner, whilst keeping the extra jumbo's height, making bends feel even easier. The tone is also darker compared to the 202, due to the through-neck, which compliments the 2 x EMG-81s nicely. It is also I think slightly weightier than the 202, which is not a light guitar itself. The deep contoured body though makes it a very comfortable guitar to play standing up for long periods of time.

Luckily both of my 602s were older models with the real German Floyd Rose. The current ones will have the Korean FR1000 series and also an EMG-60 in the neck, which oddly is not what Kirk actually uses.

Anyway, this is turning into some sort of ad for the KH-602... I do love them though, and am always surprised at the fact that there's so little in it between my Korean LTD 602 and my Japanese ESP Horizon.

Bennyboy-UK

Hamer Diablo or Centaura should do the trick

breakstuff

Just go for the used San Dimas.Seriously great guitars (I've got one) 

Or how about a Jackson Adrian Smith SDX.Well within budget, brand new.

SimpleSimon

octatonic said:

C C Deville.

I'm not sure I understand the game.

You and @earwighoney !

PonchoGreg

My experience with shred guitars is very limited, but I had a Jackson sdx Adrian Smith for a bit. Awesome quality for the price

Flanging_Fred

There's a Charvel 375 on that there eBay at the moment starting at £150 with no bids. It may not be the flashiest pointy shred guitar but they are REALLY  solid good quality guitars. I've had mine since 1989 and it's still going strong and is the last guitar Id sell. 

darthed1981

Edit: wait.. nonsense posted!

On another note, must start another thread on the best alt rock guitars!

John_A

Ther were 2 Japanese Charvel on here in recent weeks for £375, I bought one of them . That is fantastic value.  The RGs are great too, I love mine (a prestige 1550), but if you want value get a pointy headstock Jackson or Charvel, they go for peanuts.