Best guitar for 2-3k

matt.drink73

As the title suggests, I’m looking for opinions on the best guitar in the 2-3k bracket. An R8/9? Players grade vintage stuff? Luthier built custom stuff? Custom shop Fender?

I’m coming into some money from my Grandparents which will allign with a big birthday so would like to get myself something nice that I’m not likely to get bored and sell like I tend to with a lot of gear. Luther made and affordable vintage stuff isn’t something you tend to be able to walk into the local shop and try out, so I’d like to have a good idea of what I want first.

I’ve had a couple of custom shop fenders and gibson and found them a little (cover your ears) boring, stunning guitars but almost too predictable and lifeless, my current favourite is my 1965 Epiphone Coronet.

I’ve always lusted after R8s but is there something better out there for the money?

Winny_Pooh

Go to a good guitar shop and play alot of things. You may surprise yourself.

ICBM

A second hand Rickenbacker 381 is in that price range. I have no idea if it's the best but it's very good, and not boring.

Since there will be about a million other suggestions for everyone's favourite guitar, I'll just start there!

Fishboy7

I really like the look of the new Patrick Eggle stuff.  Those Oz teles at Peach look amazing.

sweepy

Custom builds have their advantages, especially if you know what you are after and find someone capable of building it

guitars4you

An R8 or a Custom Shop Strat ? - Bit like asking for opinions on a 2 seater open top spots car v  an estate car  - Both will do the day to day job, but both different - Don't wan't that to sound off hand, but not an easy question to answer

Great merit in all options you asked about - I assume you already have a nice guitar or two - You mentioned some special funds for birthday/grandparents, so hopefully you'll be buying something to keep for ever - In part I'm not sure if you are looking for the one guitar that does so much and can be your day to day model - In which case I'd probably find a nice PRS, maybe a DGT - If something to compliment what you have, to be proud to own and enjoy, then maybe something more vintage orientated - You could pick-up a 60's SG or ES330 or around 3K, with some non original features - Plenty of options from the 70's but not often the best guitars

Part of me, says that as you have lusted after an R8, then try a few out - If the heart is already heading in that direction, then let your hands and ears check it out - If all is good, then an easy option for you 

Overall I'd be looking to try out many guitars and buy the one that totally inspires you and hopefully you'll be keeping it for many years

Chris_J

What sort of stuff do you like to play?

matt.drink73

guitars4you said:

An R8 or a Custom Shop Strat ? - Bit like asking for opinions on a 2 seater open top spots car v  an estate car  - Both will do the day to day job, but both different - Don't wan't that to sound off hand, but not an easy question to answer

Great merit in all options you asked about - I assume you already have a nice guitar or two - You mentioned some special funds for birthday/grandparents, so hopefully you'll be buying something to keep for ever - In part I'm not sure if you are looking for the one guitar that does so much and can be your day to day model - In which case I'd probably find a nice PRS, maybe a DGT - If something to compliment what you have, to be proud to own and enjoy, then maybe something more vintage orientated - You could pick-up a 60's SG or ES330 or around 3K, with some non original features - Plenty of options from the 70's but not often the best guitars

Part of me, says that as you have lusted after an R8, then try a few out - If the heart is already heading in that direction, then let your hands and ears check it out - If all is good, then an easy option for you 

Overall I'd be looking to try out many guitars and buy the one that totally inspires you and hopefully you'll be keeping it for many years

Perhaps should’ve been a little clearer there! I’m set for day to day stuff, I’ve got a couple of nice fenders that I use for practice and gigs etc. I’d like something to keep for life for studio and home use really, much prefer gigging my already beaten up guitars. I’d probably be edging away from Fender stuff just because I already have a few with sentimental value and I wouldn’t want to upset the balance.
Vintage guitars are very tempting, but my limited experience with them is very hit and miss, in my budget I’d have to be looking outside of the usual LPs and strats to be getting a decent year age, but at what point is it better to get a custom shop than to spend a lot of money for a less desirable year?
Obviously it’s a tough question to answer on a forum so I’m more after inspiration than definite answers, but there’s not many shops around me where I could play all of the above

Greatape

PRS DGT?

335?

Collings are highly rated. 

matt.drink73

Chris_J said:

What sort of stuff do you like to play?

More modern rock and blues than anything, though I’m mostly set for the sound I want so I’m just looking for something with that’s a bit special. Only real criteria is vintage esque and probably humbuckers

ICBM

Do you have a good acoustic? If not, that budget puts you squarely in the market for a proper, top-quality (if not 'boutique') one which will certainly last a lifetime.

Legionreturns

I'd be talking to @FelineGuitars about a custom build based on one of their models. 

Sassafras

Gretsch or Rickenbacker.
They're a bit different.

earwighoney

matt.drink73 said:

As the title suggests, I’m looking for opinions on the best guitar in the 2-3k bracket. An R8/9? Players grade vintage stuff? Luthier built custom stuff? Custom shop Fender?

I’m coming into some money from my Grandparents which will allign with a big birthday so would like to get myself something nice that I’m not likely to get bored and sell like I tend to with a lot of gear. Luther made and affordable vintage stuff isn’t something you tend to be able to walk into the local shop and try out, so I’d like to have a good idea of what I want first.

I’ve had a couple of custom shop fenders and gibson and found them a little (cover your ears) boring, stunning guitars but almost too predictable and lifeless, my current favourite is my 1965 Epiphone Coronet.

I’ve always lusted after R8s but is there something better out there for the money?

For such a question, I think all the responses will be close to what we would do if we were in such a position. 

It's a bit out of the way from where you are but I'd recommend trying one of @customkits LP's which are truly incredible.  He's based in South London but I think Mojopickups Marc might let you try out his Goldtop Darren built and he's in Yorkshire, Rippondon way I think. That GT is an absolute stunner. 

I know a luthier built instrument isn't for everyone but I myself have been delighted with the guitars I have commissioned, aside from getting a great guitar the personal interactions with the builder make the instrument a lot more personal than just buying something off the shelf, which there's nothing wrong with. 

stickyfiddle

+1 for the really good acoustic idea. 

I have played my Martin HD28 twice as much as my other guitars put together since I got it.

matt.drink73

ICBM said:

Do you have a good acoustic? If not, that budget puts you squarely in the market for a proper, top-quality (if not 'boutique') one which will certainly last a lifetime.

I’ve got a mexican Martin 000 which does me for the little amount of acoustic I play, I’d love a proper one at some point but I don’t think I’d get enough use out of a nice one currently to justify it.

Legionreturns said:

I'd be talking to @FelineGuitars about a custom build based on one of their models. 

Tempted with something like a Feline but I’m nervy that I’d get some of the specs wrong and not bond with it. All of the guitars I’ve bonded with are vastly in terms of construction so I’d have no idea what to get and obviously a custom build would be very hard to shift if I don’t get on with it. Really like the look of the Nash Wayfarer but the only stockist I can find is in Guernsey and I’ve read a lot of mixed reviews about them

chris78

If you’re covered in th Fender stakes, take a look at the Gretsch players range. They’re around 2k depending on what you want, they have locking tuners, string through bigsby and they’re basically Gretschs that work.

Schnozz

+1 I'd be going acoustic at that price and you won't need an amplifier either.

ToneControl

If this is the first time you are spending that much, I would very much recommend not getting a custom build.
The time to get a custom build is when you've had several guitars at that level, and know exactly what it is that you need changing from the standard models 
Otherwise it's quite likely that you'd spec it up, and then wish you'd done it differently later, after you've had it a while

My approach is: buy a used top-level guitar, at a price you know you can resell at (and a mainstream brand)

For fender style, I'd recommend Suhr, Tom Anderson over Fender custom shop strats, unless you know enough to tell if it's fake, I was offered a fake once by a Pro player, who didn't seem to know 

If you like semis, then used Ibanez Japanese models are excellent, as are the PRS hollow bodies. 
I had a Heritage 535 and a Gibson 335, I didn't like them so much

For Gibson style, Gibsons are the most obvious choice, but there are better makers out there

I'd also recommend an acoustic
Get a used boutique brand model, not Gibson, Martin, Taylor or Larrivee

I'd suggest Lowden, Avalon, Goodall, Bourgeois

gordiji

ToneControl said:

My approach is: buy a used top-level guitar, at a price you know you can resell at (and a mainstream brand)

 

This. You may find a prs private stock in that budget second hand. 

kt66

ICBM said:

A second hand Rickenbacker 381 is in that price range. I have no idea if it's the best but it's very good, and not boring.

Since there will be about a million other suggestions for everyone's favourite guitar, I'll just start there!

381 or White Falcon if it were me