Best Guitar in the World?

[Crown Prince of Irony]

All right, all you guitar players. Here's your chance to be heard. I want to know what you all think is the best guitar in the world, electric or acoustic, production or customized.

The only rule is that you must explain your choice. Does it sound good? Does it look purty? Is it made well? Did your guitar hero play one? Does it go to 11?

I'll start. My favorite personal guitar was a Fender Lead II, I'm left handed, and the double cutaway made it really easy to play flipped over; plus it had a hard-tail, strings-through body bridge, Seymour Duncan HotRails, and a brass bridge and nut. It went out of tune when you looked at it cross-eyed, because the brass nut would bind, but ohmygod that fucker would sing. It had sustain for days, and since the Lead II only had two pickups, it had a lot more wood to the body than a Strat, because they didn't have to rout out the body for three pickups. Chunky tone, great neck. My ex-girlfriend sold it to a pawn shop when I broke up with her.

My favorite production guitar, one that I would love to have, and have played, but can't afford, is a David Thomas McNaught. The neck joint is all but transparent, the flame maple is gorgeous (the one I played was purple-blue), and the guitar just slipped into my hands. I just wish I could have played a lefty.

[Delta-9]

My guitar is a '81 Carvin DC-200 stereo. My favorite story about this instrument is that it was shipped UPS ground from the factory in California, and when I unpacked it, it was in perfect tune. Amazing. It's been dropped off the back of the truck, whacked a bass player or two (accidentaly, of course), but it still plays and sounds beautiful.

It's not much by today's standards, but it's like an old friend to me.

If I had unlimited funds to buy a new instrument today, it would be a Paul Reed Smith, hands down. The finishes on those guitars are works of art. Haven't had too many opportunities to play one personally, though.

Also, our studio recently picked up a Steinberger "stick" bass off the 'net on closeout for about 200 bucks. It is absolutely the best sounding and feeling bass I've ever played. Got ours at http://www.musicyo.com for those interested.

[Crown Prince of Irony]

If you think PRS is good, take a look at this site for David Thomas McNaught: http://www.edromanguitars.com/home_dtm.htm

Oh, the flames, the flames.

I forgot Carvin, though. One of the best deals in a neck-though body guitar, which is the best construction method available.

[PunditLisa]

Whichever one Sting is holding.... {sigh}

[Ozone]

I played a Les Paul Jr. that I absolutely loved the feel of, but I have to stay with my simple Peavey T-60. Two double pickups for a great range of sound, and best of all, a rosewood frehtboard, which gives a much crisper sound than the softer woods. The neck is super thin neck, making chords really easy to play. Mine also has the strings-through body bridge, which is a big plus in my eyes. I've been playing this guitar for 15 years, and every time I play another, it just doesn't "feel" as good. Guess I'll stick with it... :cool:

[Sequent]

Santa Cruz OM. Best fingerstyle guitar in the universe still in production. As for electrics, Parker Fly has my vote as the coolest axe that won't give you a backache.

[Pizzle Boy]

Martin HD40. My Dad has one, and it sounds amazing!

[Silo]

I love my custom MusicMan electric--my fav! :)

As for acoustic, love them high end Martins :swoon:
Santa Cruz makes a sweet guitar too.

[Barney111]

I have one word for best non-custom acoustic: Taylor. I love mine.

I also have a cheap ten-year-old all-mahogany Takamine that's built like a tank and has mellowed awesomely.

[SqrlCub]

Well, I would have to go with a luthier made classical guitar. My good one is alright.

I would probably say right now the best luthier out there is probably Rodriguez (from Spain so it won't be confused). I would love for him to build me a guitar that has a maple soundbaord, rosewood ribbin, ebony fretboard, rosewood/maple neck, I would give him my good guitars tuning mechanisms (they are worth $600 now so said the appraiser. I can't remember the name of the guy who made them though), and add a mixed set of strings. Currently I like La Bella with either flamenco or professional gold trebles and either professional recording or proffessional platinum basses. I would have to mess around with it until I found the perfect set of strings for the guitar. I would want the trebles to be bright as they are on my current guitar with the basses to be more mellow yet able to blend tonewise with the guitar.

HUGS!
Sqrl

[BuddyG]

Hands down - a good Telecaster.

I was blessed by the gods in 1969 (at age 16) when a $60.00 1968 Telecaster found me. Today, it is still my default axe and my current collection includes (just the electrics):
1968 Gretsch Dbl. Anniversary, 1969 Gretsch Corvette, 1997 RI Tele, 1969 Guild Starfire IV, 1968 Martin GT70, 1964 Gibson MelodyMaker, Fernandez Tele Custom, 50th Anniv. Strat.
Also 'came and went':
Various Les Pauls, ES335, ES175, several other Strats, 1965 Gretsch Country Gent & a 62 Country Club, and a Guild Duane Eddy (should have kept this one).

Teles are the absolute guitar. 2 good p/u's, 2 knobs, 1 switch (I've rewired several other guitars this way). If you know how to play one, there isn't a bad sound in it. It's the best to learn on, as it's kinda unforgiving in it's operation. Jeff Beck said (I'm paraphrasing) 'You can get away with a lot on a Strat, but you really have to play your way out on a Tele.'

[Milossarian]

I don't play guitar (I was the egotistical lead singer).

But my favorite guitar sound is from the Gibson SG, perhaps made most famous by Angus Young of AC/DC.

Now that's a rock guitar tone.

[bradysg]

I have to agree with Milossarian. I play a Gibson SG, and its great for playing just about anything.

Mine has a brown walnut wood body, and black ebony fretboard. Its beautiful. Some guitars are flashy (Les Paul, Stratocaster) and personally, I think they try to hard. My curvy SG dosen't have to put on airs (or flames for that matter) to be cool. It just is.

[aha]

Best Guitar? Easy one. The Martin D-45. The pre-seventies one made just before they ran of of brazilian rosewood and changed to indian rosewood in 1970 to help save the rainforest. It shines the most in the recording studio where sensitive mics can pick up the superior subtle tenner of the fine aged wood. That one has C&F on the tuning board in abalone. C&F of course referring to charlie and Fred Martin master guitar makers.

[Silo]

Best Guitar? Easy one. The Martin D-45. The pre-seventies one made just before they ran of of brazilian rosewood and changed to indian rosewood in 1970 to help save the rainforest. It shines the most in the recording studio where sensitive mics can pick up the superior subtle tenner of the fine aged wood. That one has C&F on the tuning board in abalone. C&F of course referring to charlie and Fred Martin master guitar makers.

I hung out with Paul Reed Smith (PRS Guitars) a few years ago. He informed me that there is no brizilian rosewood left in the wild. He said he found a guy that had sizable stockpile of it in his barn. A marvelous find! He used it all up in the necks of the PRS Dragon guitars (which I don't think they make anymore). When they were making them--a couple dozen a year--they ran $20,000 bucks a piece. Worth much more now! A work of art.

[Eo Echo]

I've got a single pickup Kramer Focus electric. It's a real POS, except that it sounds awesome. I can't explain it, but this painted picnic table has magnificent tone. :)

[CrankyAsAnOldMan]

All I have to offer is a goofy story. Spouse has two guitars, a Les Paul custom from Gibson and some thing with "Ibanaz" written on it and George Benson's signature. Don't ask me, I'm a moron. But his "best" guitar is the air guitar he used to play.

The year is 1984. He's waiting for the elevator in his freshman year dorm, playing air guitar for all he is worth. Probably stoned out of his mind. The doors slide open and the guy inside gives him a withering look as he steps into the car. In a voice dripping with disdain, he says, "What the fuck are you doing, with your hands so close together, no one plays guitar that way you numbnuts."

My husband, full of 18-year old indignance, retorts, "I'm playing lead!"

[pldennison]

I'd have to concur with BuddyG on the Tele. Although the Strat sound is so closely associated with classic rock, the Tele has produced some terrific sound over the years from the likes of Beck, Page, Harrison, Springsteen, Prince . . . The bridge pickup sounds like no other electric in the world, and the neck radius is wider than a Strat's, so it demands some attention. Plus, I love the way they look.

Among basses, I have two at home that I love. One is an Epiphone "Viola," a version of McCartney's famous Hofner bass. It's great because it's a full-scale bass with a small, light body and a narrow neck, which makes it easy for stubby-fingered freaks like me to play. It's also a semi-hollow, and each of the two pickups has it's own volume control, so you get a wide variety of tones.

The other is a mid-70s Rickenbacker 4001. I've always loved Rics, although the action on this one is a little low for my preference. Nothing captures that classic rock/power pop bass sound like a good Ric.