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Posted by: Guitarman700 Nov 22 2008, 09:27 PM

Im buying myself a guitar for christmas, heres my options;

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Ibanez-MTM2-Electric-Guitar?sku=512568

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/PRS-Guitars-SE-Paul-Allender-Electric-Guitar?sku=514471

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Limited-Edition-Les-Paul-Custom?sku=519391

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/ESP-LTD-EX400-Electric-Guitar?sku=512028

Ive Played All but the Epi, And i know what an LP feels like. Im Really in love with the MTM2, as the neck is amazing, and it comes tuned to Drop B. The Allender Is an AMAZING high gain tone machine, however, the trem detune easy.

Opinions?
Suggestions?
Criticism?

Thanks in advance
Colin

Posted by: Guitarman700 Nov 22 2008, 11:45 PM

No One? Guitarman Sad!

Posted by: Pavlov Nov 22 2008, 11:51 PM

My opinion isn't worth a lot - I'm a beginner with the guitar. However, I have a great set of ears and a good friend who is amazing on the guitar. I went guitar shopping today and happen to have played that Epiphone. It was great! My friend really liked it too. He's normally a Fender man, so he was surprised by the quality of the Epiphone.

I haven't played the others, but compared to most of the other guitars I've played in that pricerange, the epiphone just felt solid. I'm not a big fan of the finish, but luckily everybody has a different taste.

Posted by: VinceG Nov 23 2008, 12:17 AM

I'd go for EX-400

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-wyjm5vBYM

Posted by: ZakkWylde Nov 23 2008, 12:17 AM

My 2 cents on every guitar:

-Slipknot Ibanez

I've played the more expensive version of this one (with the ''Seven'' inlay) equipped with the new seymour duncan blackout active pickups and it was an aawesome metal machine and still very clear in dropped highgain thanks to the thin neck and body. It's basicly a shred RG for Metal-only (fixed trem, mahagony body)

Unforunatly this version is equipped with some horrible standard pickups!!! Trust me you want be happy with those Ibanez pickups. With some quality pickups (I recommend active emg or duncans because of the extreme downtuning) this would make a great metal axe


-Prs Se

Se models are a lot cheaper than actual PRS guitars but very well crafted and the woods they use are good too. The problem is the crappy hardware on these models (played a Tremonti Se which is quite similiar). Tuners aren't the best and as yu said the tremolo needs to be replaced or blocked to be happy with this guitar. I am also not sure about the pickups in this one...

It looks great and is well crafted but at least you'll need to block the trem. If you like the tone then go for it, you can always replace pups and tuners later...


-Silverburst Epi LP

Ahh so you're also a Slave to the awesome looks of silverburst Les Pauls. I was close to buying a GIBSON silverburst Les Paul last month but I took a normal standard instead of it. The reason is the same as on this Epiphone: you pay 20% more for the silverburst look. You basicly get a Epiphone custom with silver paint for 150$ more compared to a standard...

If you don't mind to spend that money for the looks then go for it. It's a quality guitar with decent pickups. But keep in mind: if you buy a normal custom, you have money to spare for better pickups or a case...

-Esp ltd explorer

Great guitar and the best one out of the ones you mentioned. My friend has one and it's awesome for the price. Bang for your buck: Mahagony wood, Active EMG pups, Grover tuners. It plays great, sounds very thick and is very well crafted. BUY IT IF YOU WANT METAL!!


I guess you're price limit is 700$ so here are some more suggestions for you:

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-C1-ATX-Electric-Guitar?sku=515764
-New Schecter model and an EVEN BETTER BANG FOR THE BUCK!!! Guitars with these specs would easily cost 1000$ or more. It has nothing to complain about and plays awesome. I'll get this model as a 7string!

-Check Ebay for used Gibson Les Paul studio models!!!

Posted by: CycoKilla Nov 23 2008, 12:18 AM

I would urge you to play as many as you can before making a decision.
Buy a guitar with your ears not your eyes.

I'm a Les Paul fan, so I'm biased to the Epiphone.
When I bought mine I played about 15 different ones in the shop & gradually narrowed the field by picking the one I thought had the best tone unplugged & comparing it with the next one. I'd then put aside the lesser of the 2 & do the next comparison until I'd eliminated all but 1 guitar.

I originally wanted a Zakk Wylde signature, but ended up with a Birds Eye Maple LP Standard.
Going by how the guitar looks it wouldn't have been the one I would buy, but it's tone was the best in the shop.
Now I just love how it looks & I've always loved how it sounds, so I'm a very happy man.

There are alot of variations in the manufacture of guitars, different pieces of wood, tolerances of construction etc. so no 2 guitars will sound exactly the same. Even if they come off the same production line on the same day.

Play as many as you can & pick the one that sounds the best.
Best of luck, post some pictures when you buy one!!

Cyco...

Posted by: Guitarman700 Nov 23 2008, 01:07 AM

Another Plus of The MTM is That I can get it for $475 in my local store, on disount. I will check out that schecter, and i just learned that the LP is out, as i cant get it locally.

Thanks for the advice guys!

Posted by: kjutte Nov 23 2008, 01:35 AM

QUOTE (Guitarman700 @ Nov 22 2008, 09:27 PM)

Posted by: Guitarman700 Nov 23 2008, 02:12 AM

QUOTE (kjutte @ Nov 22 2008, 07:35 PM)

Posted by: SensE Nov 23 2008, 02:57 AM

Do not take the PRS Paul Allender SE! PRS makes good guitar all the times but I personally do not trust any Korean and China made guitar. The Korean and China made guitar are relatively cheap compared to the same guitar made in US and Japan but they have really low quality controlled on everything. It's up to you I guess.

Posted by: bamba23 Nov 23 2008, 05:46 AM

il go with that LTD.

Posted by: Ivan Milenkovic Nov 23 2008, 02:23 PM

I would go with PRS definitely, but it's your choice mate. Make sure you get the right feel with the guitar, cause that is the most important thing.

Posted by: Praetorian Nov 23 2008, 06:03 PM

I agree with what ZakkWylde said about the Ibanez. I was in the exact situation he described with my Ibanez. I absolutely LOVE it...but had to replace the stock pickups! It is at the shop now getting Kerry King EMG 81/85 pickups installed!

Posted by: Marshmall0wz Nov 23 2008, 07:51 PM

I'd go for the PRS. I usually don't like signature models but that's one of a few that I actually do like.

Posted by: Praetorian Nov 23 2008, 08:51 PM

Any consideration to the Tony Iommi signature SG?

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone-Tony-Iommi-Signature-G-400-Electric-Guitar-102476595-i1150074.gc

Posted by: Bogdan Radovic Nov 23 2008, 10:45 PM

PRS would be my wish here Though I'm not the fan of signature models..

Posted by: berko Nov 23 2008, 10:49 PM

I would've said head for the PRS but I see now that you've already picked that MTM2 out. Well, if you choose so, may it serve you well

Posted by: Trond Vold Nov 24 2008, 12:39 AM

I would first recommend you to try as many guitars as you can before making your final decision.

But if you were to ask me about which one i would choose of the 4 you listed, then i would have gone with the LTD.

Why i would take the LTD is because (and these are mainly personal choices):
1. I like ibanez, but i dont like Ibanez guitars with bad pickups and i dont like that MTM model . However, no tromolo is a huge plus.
2. That spesific PRS feels like plastic. I didnt like it one bit. It felt cheap.
3. I'm always eager to recommend Epiphones. They are top notch guitars for the price-tag, but being a metal-head then i would rather go with a more typical metal-guitar with active EMG's and more than good enough hardware like the LTD has.

Posted by: Marc_Maiden Nov 24 2008, 05:08 AM

never buy a guitar for its sound ill tell you that


usually the guitars with "good" pick ups are more expensive than they need to be,


the PRS is a great guitar and trem like any non locking trem will go out of tune...there are a few cheap ways to remedy that, that is blocking the trem, or adding a rolling nut, the rolling nut would be my choice.

the ibanez is good guitar, but not worth the price because its basically an ibanez rg350 with out a trem.

i dont know anything about ltd guitars....i know i dont like their necks much, but thats just me



just keep in mind that when you buy a guitar, buy it for playability first, then sound.

Posted by: fatb0t Nov 24 2008, 01:48 PM

Well, that Ibanez has cheap pick ups in it... I'd steer clear of that.
The Epiphone is a nice axe, but for a bit more you can get a really nice guitar.
That PRS is a signature model, though I never played it I have a particular disdain for anything that has someone elses name on it.
The ESP from a hardware standpoint has the best quality for that price range.

I went to guitar center yesterday and played a Schecter Hellraiser FR and was COMPLETELY blown away by how awesome it was. I own a 1700 Gibson Les Paul Standard, a SG, G&L S-500 all guitars that cost a lot more than this Schecter, yet it was right up there with them.

It has an original floyd rose, pearl inlays around the body, Emg 81/85s, bad ass head stock, quilt top. And it's like 800 bucks new, probably 600 on eBay. I would get a Schecter...