Gosh, if I had that kind of money available, I know exactly where I'd be spending it.... http://murraykuun.com/wordpress/demo-models-available/

Perhaps not as 'wise' an investment as a Gibson or PRS etc, as you won't get that kind of money back from a relatively unknown local luthier, but a damn fine hand crafted set of guitars and designs that blow my socks off!!

Regards
G!

a brand new PRS S2 CUSTOM 24 BLACK USA MADE is 22k

haha but if it was my money I would go for a Gibson les paul or a fender strat.

Or best for your money worth let tokai build for you your own custom

Put the money aside and wait til you fall in love with something. Good for the price is overrated. A good price is free and the worth of a good guitar is priceless. If that makes sense.

If the custom 22 has a 10 top it is well worth it. I'm looking at getting a new one right now ?
If you want versatility get a PRS. The S2 custom 24 isn't nearly as fancy but is still a really good guitar apparently...

I wouldn't get an Ernie Ball as you will have resale value that isn't too good.

Otherwise look at Gibsons and Fenders just make sure you try them out first, some aren't that great.

Just take some time.

PRS are pretty much all well-made. But whatever you do, DO NOT BUY NEW!

You are going to get so much less guitar for your money, and the moment you're out of the front door of the store, you can only sell it at the second hand prices (pretty much 50%-60% of the new prices).

Also don't believe this investment nonsense. There are a handful of guitars that will appreciate in value faster than inflation, and it won't be one you'll buy. If you wanted to gamble on that, get a Gibson Les Paul Custom from the '70s in good condition. Most are great guitars and they can still be had relatively cheaply here (R15K - R20K maybe) if you can find one and the value is increasing now. Older investment guitars are way beyond that price range.

If you buy new you will almost certainly never get your money back on resale - even after 10 years. But if you buy 2nd hand, most guitars that are fairly well known (including Ernie Balls) will hold their value against inflation. We've seen PRSs and Gibsons and fancy Fenders and more in our classifieds for under R16k. Look to these top-flight instruments before considering buying new. Use the guitars in the stores to find out what kinds of things you like.

Jayhell wrote: Put the money aside and wait til you fall in love with something.

^ This. Play anything and everything until something grabs you. Most guitars you find secondhand in that price bracket will be good guitars. You've just got to find one that's good for you. Check retail prices on anything selling second hand and make sure you're not overpaying.

Just as a ferinstance, a forum member is selling this Ernie Ball in the classifieds now for R15k. It may not be what you're after, but these guitars do come up 2nd hand for a lot less than new.

http://www.guitarforum.co.za/classifieds/?sa=view;id=4459

I would like to buy the best guitar that I can for around R20k.

I'm astonished that nobody has asked you basic questions such as:

• What sort of music do you play?
• What do you like/dislike in the guitars you have played, and why?

Any response that doesn't feed thus information into the equation is pretty meaningless, to be honest...

Jayhell wrote: Put the money aside and wait til you fall in love with something. Good for the price is overrated. A good price is free and the worth of a good guitar is priceless. If that makes sense.

Good advice.
I am totally biased. Visit www.tokaiguitars.co.za, and I am sure so will you be. ?

Thanks all for the advice.

My take away from all of the responses is that I need to not be in a hurry. And I should take my time browsing, playing and looking out for something in the second hand market.

I think I had/have GAS though - I need to try and get over it.

As a side note, does anyone know where to get Schecter guitars?

If you want high end for mid end kinda money then Tokai is your answer....

But ultimately will be dictated to by what you like to play, music kind, do you prefer strat style or LP style etc etc ....

then after you have done all the research, go buy a tokai ? best value for top end guitar in ZA ...and I spcicifally say ZA as the pricing model for ZA is superb ..I think you can buy a Tokai here at prices cheaper than the guitar shop down the road from the factory in Japan , I kid you not.

u state you arealready have a fender strat , if strats are your game then 20k buys a MIA fender strat, which you may already have....to go more high end will be more $$$

IceCreamMan wrote: If you want high end for mid end kinda money then Tokai is your answer....

Thanks IceCreamMan, I will definitely look at the Tokai guitars. Would you recommend any of the models - preferably a super-strat?

So the strat that I have is amazing, but I prefer the humbucker sound. I know that the strat is a high-end guitar, I just want something equally high end with humbuckers. As a stop-gap, I think I'll replace the pickups on my Epiphone.

Also just to answer a previous question, I'm not really trying to get a guitar for investment purposes. I just want a great guitar that I can be happy with looks wise and with great tone and playability.

IceCreamMan wrote: If you want high end for mid end kinda money then Tokai is your answer....

Hi IceCreamMan

I wanted to know how the pickups on the Tokais (PAF Vintage MKII) compared to Seymour Duncan's or DiMarzio's. Are they any good in general?

samshive wrote:

IceCreamMan wrote: If you want high end for mid end kinda money then Tokai is your answer....

Hi IceCreamMan

I wanted to know how the pickups on the Tokais (PAF Vintage MKII) compared to Seymour Duncan's or DiMarzio's. Are they any good in general?

Really depends on what you looking for, me I like the std pups a whole pile and for my needs if I need a lil more let the amp do that.....but I ain't looking for high gain stuff...

Am well happy with the stock stuff ....and can't see that changing ?

I also found the stock pickups great. Good classic PAFs on a par with Duncan or DiMarzio PAFs. If you want high output, you'll probably want to change the bridge pickup for something with more oomph, but that's taste rather than because there is anything wrong with the stockers.

...And yeah, while you probably could do better with a boutique set of Lollars, Bareknuckles or Fralins, etc., the difference is relatively small and the cost fairly high. So try the stock pups first and take it from there.

RobbieZ wrote:

Jayhell wrote: Put the money aside and wait til you fall in love with something. Good for the price is overrated. A good price is free and the worth of a good guitar is priceless. If that makes sense.

Good advice.
I am totally biased. Visit www.tokaiguitars.co.za, and I am sure so will you be. ?

I second this... I'm in love with mine