best guitar

[old-wos-is-name]

If you were going to buy a guitar that you wanted to keep forever, what would it be, or does the type of music you play make a difference to the answer? I played a gibson, beautiful sound, lovely feel, so heavy, but frets too small for my big hands. strat good but single coil pick ups bit treble sounding, no depth. Yamah rgx, top model, really great, but had that silly floyd rose whammy bar thing, no good for me, an old strat type player who rests their hand on the bridge/trtemelo. tried a cort, copy of PRS, beautifully made guitar, but a floyd rose tremelo unit. not much left, so what would you go for?

[MarkRae]

http://www.google.co....ttvgN&ved=0CC8Q8gIwAQ

[scotman]

I would really like to be able to afford and play a Rickenbacker 4003 fretless bass.

[rojash]

"I would really like to be able to afford and play a Rickenbacker 4003 fretless bass."

I've had a number of 4003s over the years, but not fretless. I've also had a 4001 and a (rare) 3001. The only fretless I've ever owned was a Bass Collection model that my wife bought me for our 15th anniversary.

My rythm guitarist has a very old Gibson 335 dot which has been valued at $20,000, but I'm not a great lover of the 335 or the Les Paul - far too heavy!

Guitar-wise I currently have:
Line 6 Variax
Fender Telecaster Standard
Ibanez SAS32Ex (which is my favourite - set neck with wide nut in the Gibson style, but light and with a whammy like a Strat).
Squire Telecoustic

Bass-wise, I've owned (in addition to the Rics) 3 or 4 precisions, a Wal, a Guild, a Kramer (aluminium neck), a Burns, a Watkins Saphire, a Hofner violin, etc, etc, but about 20 years ago I bought an Ibanez Sound Gear, and I can't see me ever playing owt else.

I also play a Sakis 4 course bouzouki

[keithsolver]

I would go for a strat with the stacked pickups ( a la clapton ) thus getting that humbucker depth with fender playability.

[rojash]

This has everything you want:
Light, sculpted body and strat-type tremolo.
Comfortable, fast neck
Switch-able Double/Single Pole Pickups (not just coil-taps)
It has a wider nut than a Fender which should suit your big hands.
Unlike the PRS and Gibson, the heel is beautifully sculpted which makes it much easier to play at the top end.
http://www.guitarguit...?stock=08012615571138

[rojash]

"Yes, but it has a 'spiky' headstock"
Yeah, I agree it would look better with a more traditional headstock, but frankly, I think playability, comfort, sound, versatility and build quality (and for the OP, price) are just a tad more important.

[rojash]

"If you were going to buy a guitar that you wanted to keep forever ..."

Yeah, there's a kind of conflict in the OP. Talking about the kind of guitar you would keep forever, and cheapo guitars in the same post. I was addressing the second part where he talks about Yamaha RGX, Cort, PRS copy, etc.

Frankly, I've never (in 43 years of playing) come across an instrument that was so special that I'd would want to keep forever.

[Answerprancer]

I'd have *the* three: F Stratocaster, F Telecaster and a Gibson Les Paul.

[Answerprancer]

Yes I know ...but the sustain. You could go off and have a bite and you'd still be hearing that one!

[Answerprancer]

Mine was a Black Beauty, lovely action as solid as anything but yes, they do weigh a fkin ton.

[Answerprancer]

Very true, I love the middle pickup sound - this one:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwMh5rg8xC4
(Scuse the hiss)

[old-wos-is-name]

Well,

Thought there might be a bit of fender v gibson discussion. My black beauty was a neil young type, three pick ups and a gibson style tremelo arm. absolutely gorgeous to look at, beautiful sound, but fret board just a bit too small, although I am now going to try another and see if I can work around the fretboard a bit better. problem is I play clean, not all that distorted stuff, so you can't afford to hit bum notes as people will notice, whereas with the distortion stufff you can do what you like, who knows what you are supposed to be playing! I think the answer will probably be a strat with a humbucker and some thick strings, such as GHS boomers.