Guitar Snobs! -Rant

I started playing in the mid 90's. All the tech stuff I dreamt of when starting out at the time is now a reality. I was lucky enough to have a Mexican Fender Strat, but today there are dozens of great options at whatever budget you might have. Modeling and amps in general have gotten so good, once again great options at every budget. Shout out to Nux and the Mighty-lite BT, an awesome travel/practice amp.

Cheap guitars suck period!

Agree 100%. Excellent video and very clearly and intelligently put.

So, I have been to many shows. I've seen players ROCK the hell out of a $100 Les Paul Epiphone (Goldblade on tour in the US to be specific). I've seen people who have $5k worth of guitar, amp, and pedals with only mediocre tone and limited chops (loads of Neo Rockabilly bands and I won't name names). So really it falls to the player if they can actually sound good on whatever they brought to the gig. I've seen a Blues guitar player absolutely DOMINATE on a Squier that a Pawn Shop wouldn't take and yet is sounded GLORIOUS!

I started playing US made Fenders, G&Ls, and Gibson models. I've owned a few tube amps and high end amps. I have more fun modding and playing cheaper guitars and non sought after amps because emotionally I had less invested in it.

Guitars are investments in Happiness. The HARD FACT is you are buying into a FANTASY if you do not play professionally or pay your bills by music. So how hard is your butthole going to pucker if you see a Gretsch 6120, a Rickenbacker 330, or a Gibson Les Paul Classic tip slowly over and fall to the ground? Dude, you are sh*tting diamonds at that point!

If my modded IYV Thinline Tele falls over... sucks but not even a wink from between my cheeks. My Squiers or Partscaster will definitely evoke some obscenities but not much pucker.

The other funny thing about Guitar Snobbery is that Gibsons and Epiphones came off THE SAME assembly line in Kalamazoo, MI back in the day. Yet one is more desirable than the other.

Play what is sexy and what is fun, you will play more and sound better if you can't keep your hands off of your gear! That's just putting in the time and effort. If you bought a US made Fender and you don't connect with it, what's the point?

For someone who has old guitars and vintage gear, it's overrated. Most gear from back in the day falls into "Ok" or 'Meh" because all the GOOD and GREAT ones have either been played out or their owners won't let them go. Also vintage equipment comes with vintage headaches. So buying something because it's old, keeping it stock for resale, don't play it, just sit on it. Then you gotta ask yourself, "What's the point?"🤔

Spot on mate, we buy what we can afford. I have two Fenders, one Indonesian and one Mexican which were both around 500 quid and an Epiphone Sheraton which was the same. My amp is a Boss Katana 100 about 300 quid. Everything sounds and plays great to me. Have a look at the Sire Larry Carlton range, they are amazing guitars and very affordable.

My first guitar was a Marlin Sidewinder. I could not even afford a Squier Strat, I was just a student. Steve Rothery of Marillion had a £160 Squier Strat which is why I wanted one.

Gear snobbery exists in every hobby. Fishing gear, birdwatching binoculars, hi-fi equipment, graphics cards, you name it. I've never understood it. In fact the more people lean towards a specific brand of something, the more I'm compelled to look for an alternative. Usually a cheaper one that can do the same job!

True story - it’s jealousy. Budget guitars are great, but do they inspire you to play like a real dream guitar would? Squier guys.. I can feel you typing lol. Once you find your dream guitar, (like you and it were made for each other) you’ll understand. And hopefully you’ll stop hating on us for finally finding our dream guitar.

It's not what you play, it's how you play. There are so many options for working musicians and those starting out now a days. I have known people that spend thousands on gear and they never really any do anything or can play anything. The "cork shiffers" as we say, can go play twinkle twinkle little star on their $5k Gibson Custom. Lol.

My favorite guitar at the moment is a Squire Tele. I replaced the pups and pots and it is truly an awesome workhorse. My $6000 1992 PRS sits in a case. My Gibson Les Paul and Fenders are on wall mounts. That Squire Tele sounds and feels like champ. Its an ugly Aztec yellow which is mustard yellow. I don't judge people based on using Epis or off brands as long as they feel and sound great.

It was never the gear, but the artist.

Yes it's horses for courses .. wouldn't touch apel stuff though.. they're always breaking down and don't work.. likewise would never touch a bwm, awful cars. Prefer Rovers, as I'm quite snobby and like to be above others..

I doubt people are judging you for your guitar as much as you think. It’s insecurity. We aren’t the main character in everyone’s story. Would you be shocked to know that people with some money don’t always choose to buy the most expensive instruments anyway?

In my opinion alot of the cheapo guitars of today are of better quality than alot of the legendary guitars used by our guitar heroes on recordings back in the day, sure a 59 Les Paul is iconic & awesome but I bet some of the under $300 knockoff Strats or Les Pauls of today made on CNC machines are far better instruments than half of the Les Pauls produced in 59, I have no proof of this but it seems very logical and theoretically true as guitars likee Greeny and Pearly Gates from 59 are 2 of the best examples but what about the other thousands of other 59 models that were not as good as the variances back then were by builder and a guitar by guitar process which varied greatly especially from builder to builder but now with CNC machines those variances are much less apparent so I feel even these cheap ass knockoffs are of better quality than alot of the holy grail models of yesterday

I started playing in 1962 on a Harmony acoustic and a Sears Silvertone electric.. I bought a 1971 Gibson Les Paul Deluxe with a 66 Fender Super Reverb amp in the early 70s and a Fender Strat in the early 80s.. along with a Gibson J45.. and a Alvarez 12 string.. It was 2015 before I bought a new Gibson Les Paul Deluxe Gold Top.. and a Marshall Stack and tube head . Rock on 🥃😎👌

some kid did this to me in college when I brought in a Gods4Music branded SG. it was quite inconsequential all things considered lmao.

I have wicked gear and I'm a low intermediate guitarist. I don't give a shit what somebody else is playing.

It feels great to set up a cheap guitar and have it play as good as anything. If the sound/tone is lacking fix it with an effect pedal.

Come at from a different perspective! What if the revered guitars Were made in for JAPAN or heaven forbid CHINA that might be a video for another time

Squire affinity strats are better than a lot of the guitars that were available in the early 80s

The invent of many new tools has made it easier for anyone to make a decent guitar. Everyone knows all of the issues in older guitars and can incorporate the findings into their plan. The guitar pioneers were figuring it out as they went, so they had to make a profit to succeed. I agree that quality has gone down with the big name guitars. I just kinda hate to see the names I revered fade away.

You are absolutely right! Search for the best instrument that suits your budget and join the music you get out of it.
If an Epiphone is good enough for the Beatles, it schould be good enough for you. I own a Gibson J 45, and my son the Epiphone j45.
They both sound great, and they both sound better when my son plays them. Because he is a better player than me.😀

It seems there is a form of Kranking out there regarding axes….. What was it Zapppa said? ‘’Shut up n play yer guitar…’’

Love n Peas
🙏👍😎

Perhaps not a great idea to make the iPhone analogy especially saying they just work as if Android phones just dont work!! And to do it on a video with snobs in the tittle ;)

I play a £40 classical guitar off ebay, I'm a classical Paganini snob. 😂 Electric guitars are toys!

People need to get some perspective. The climate is badgered, war is everywhere, there’s an Orange in the White House and a whole nation is currently facing genocide - they need to stop being a dick on the internet and leave people and their guitars and gear alone.

If you pick up a chisel made by using the best ingredients,that's been used by a craftsman for years and years it will have something about it.
This applies to guitars.
Don't worry about people think just play and do your thing.

If people want to spend their hard-earned on expensive name instruments, good luck to them. Something to think about is that one reason Harley Bentons, et al are so cheap for what they are is that they are made in sweatshops by workers on minimum wage whose working conditions are not exactly stellar. Are you content to support businesses like that by buying their wares? I'd rather buy something that was made by people who are paid properly in factories where there are guards on dangerous machines, etc.

I bought a £250 Solar guitar. Its not perfect but im happy with it. It will do just fine for a decade or so.

A tale of 2 guitars. I got my first real guitar in 1983. A Gibson Les Paul Studio gold top. Back then, and unlike now, cheap guitars were shit. I learned to play on a Kay that would pick up Radio Moscow if you touched the pickup! A few years ago I bought an LP style Harley Benton, brand new for just shy of 400 Euro's. I absolutely LOVE this guitar! The 2 guitars I play most are my HB and Tele syle guitar I got on Ebay from some guy in Wales who makes guitars as a hobby. It cost me about 250 quid. I don't think I've picked up my Gibson for about 5 years now.

I’ve been playing for 40 years and my first “good” guitar was a ‘78 Gibson Les Paul Custom, which I paid $500 in 1982 on monthly installments. I find new Squire, Epiphones, and SE’s are better quality and playability. What inspires is best.

I build partscasters and have sold 8 to musicians and gave away 4 to mostly musicians. Now here is the thing because i hunt for the best parts as cheap as i can get them i am able to sell my builds for usually under $300. I sold a Strat copy to a guy in NYC who played it and he told me it was about 90 percent as good, sound and feel as his $1,400 Fender strat. it cost me $160 to build. The pickups were from a Fender player series $800 guitar. I paid $32 for the set of three because the wire leads were cut short ! I just desoldered and put new leads on. I used Wilkinson hardware and hand finished it with a shellac french polish. I am no rocket scientist at this, if you work hard looking for GOOD cheap parts you can part together a very decent guitar for not a lot of money!

Absolutely agree. I play a similarly modded Yamaha Pacifica that I bought for $80. I've purchased three electrics and three acoustic guitars second hand that together cost less than what a typical Gibson standard LP sells for. I can afford one, but I have no more interest in Fender/Gibson/Martin any more than for a Gucci purse.
Because I play guitar, I don't collect guitar shaped objects.

Great video, echoes my sentiments exactly. Been a gigging musician longer than I really want to admit (40 + years) had and still own a couple of strats, a tele, les paul all the stuff you're "supposed" to have as a gigging musician! My main gigging guitars these days are a Harley Benton TE20-HH that I got for 85 quid. Straight out of the box. All I changed was the strings. Great guitar, totally reliable never loses tuning and great tone. For acoustic gigs I use a Yamaha F310. I've had a few sideways glances from muso's at gigs but I'm not really bothered!!!

I love old, dinged up guitars. They give me peace of mind and I never have to worry about putting the first scuff or scratch on them. They are a bit like an old pair of jeans.

Guitar snobs are idiots - pure and simple.

I mean I’ll just say. For the world of 8 strings I feel that you need to go 1000 or above for anything that will mix well. Or you would need to use maybe 250-300 dollars to upgrade to some better pickups. But in general I’ll just say that taste in guitar doesnt take money.

Wow! What a snobbish video!

Just had to sell my ibanez premium cost me 1300, bought an east coast Tele 99 quid, so had a guitar to play,and it's fantastic

I had a HB T52. Had to sell it on account of it weighing 12 lbs..

I didn't know guitar snobbery was a thing. All I ever cared about was what it sounds like.
Jeff Heally played a squire. His sound was amazing. Linday Buckingham plays a Rick Turner guitar. They are very expensive. His tone sucks. There you go.
I couldn't find a guitar that fit what I wanted for a reasonable price. So I put together my own guitar with a body made from scrap wood, and a cheap neck I got off of amazon. It rocks.

With you all the way Graeme. It's not what you play but how you play it. The best instruments are the ones that you instantly love and bond with and it is just because. The cost is immaterial.

Well said! I have owned a couple of higher end guitars but the one that I come back to again and again is my old Squier Telecaster Custom. It's around 20 years old but, still so versatile and reliable...

I won’t go anywhere near a boutique guitar, I’m happy with my Jackson, Tokai,Squire etc guitars. I bought a Jackson soloist second hand. Gibsons are still built the same as the 1950s I was born in 1970 so I grew up in the era of Sabbath,Maiden and Priest. The suhr people can jog on.

I had a PRS for a while and that wasn't bad. I've got an Ibanez now and prefer it to any I've had before. All had six strings, a neck body and some knobs. The PRS was green but it wasn't my favourite type of finish. The tequila sunset finish on the Ibenez is fantastic.

I own few guitars fender custom shop for 4k and 300pounds ibanez😊after good setups them all play the same its all in hands and good setup.I still love my fender custom shop its make me happy and its always in my van with my tools😅so i can play when i am working away and dont worry about damage because is relic😅.

Same here Boss.
I had the 335 & the Black Beauty Les Paul.
Not now I'm using much less expensive gear all around.
And I'm better for it .. Less worries over theft or damage.
I've done my own set up for years. And I can't see, feel or hear,
Any real difference in sound or playability.
From these "budget Friendly" guitars, And the "high end" ones I sold.

Lol, I've been playing 50 years. Pro for a decade . Every time some body says that stuff, I just play circles around em and laugh. With a $200 guitar.

I loved my Squier 60s CV. It is a brilliant guitar. But after seven years I bought a Fender HSS Player. The problem? The Squire's slightly smaller neck was causing my left hand much pain. But playability and sound was awesome.

I've gigged lower end Squiers for years, have had $$$ USA guitars and sold them., I sold a Norton 750 to pay taxes and totally agree with you! I like my Squiers, Ibanez and Electromatic...Don't give a damn what others say!