I have to say without a doubt ....MURPHY LAB les paul...My wife just bought me a 1960 ultra heavy Les paul, yes it was $10,000 bucks , but in 25 years of playing , its the all time best feeling, best sounding guitar ive ever had !!!!! It has MOJO all day long !!!!!!
I own a lot of guitars. My favorite of all time is my 2010 PRS PRIVATE STOCK DRAGON! One of 15 made and the quality and playability is off the charts! It was hand painted by Jeff Easley. It is truly a work of art!!!
I “almost” bought a Paul Waller masterbuilt strat right before lockdown. Completely fell in love with it at the Music Zoo. My heart was broken when they told me she was already sold. This was the BEST playing guitar I’ve ever played on my 35 years as a semi pro guitarist. Bonded instantly. The one that got away. Would like to find the buyer and make a deal. I’m haunted by it still to this day and on the hunt for that “perfect” CS strat.
Since I'm happy with my guitars I'd go for a couple of amps, namely a Matchless Chieftain and Bogner Shiva. I'd also add in a good 4x12 cabinet and a Ox Box.
I cannot see myself spending $8,000.00 on any guitar. If I had the money, I’d probably spend it on 8 $1,000.00 guitars, but since the rules state that I can only choose one of the mentioned guitars, I’d choose the Strat.
That is the smart choice, maybe but damn sometimes it just takes that one:) Or the real smart choice is take that 8k to the horse tracks and let it ride:)
Honestly, id do it on either 4 2000 guitars or 2 4000 ones. After 2000 your value to cost ratio starts to drop off and it really doesn't get any better than a 4000 prs core or suhr or even a music man guitar. I will say 1000 charvel and shecter are some of the best playing guitars for the price
There truly is a difference at that level, i always thought a 1000 and 8000 guitar were the same , but at the 8000 dollar level , its insane the feel and tone you get. You are getting the Best of the best , at the 8k mark.
@@CasinoGuitars Baxter you know where a lot of my money went? A sanctuary that saves race horses. They get dumped after to be starved or slaughtered. One made it one didn’t. She was the great granddaughter of secretariat. Hurt her hoof. Forced to race. Couldn’t win anymore. Sold around and forced to race on illegal tracks. Couldn’t. Dumped on a land in Texas with other horses. All starved. Even a cow was there without an ear. Dogs, goats. She barely made it to the sanctuary. Passed out on the way there. Had to be lifted. All skeletal. She did have a few good months after trying to get her back together but once their legs or hooves go that’s it. Started hurting again. Couldn’t walk. Sadly she was humanely euthanized at only 7. That’s where race horses go. Not to great retirement homes. Sorry to tell you but it should be known and it’s just not.
Was randomly searching the interwebs for info on a guitar and came upon this page. You guys full on kill me! I love the banter, honesty and even the Movie references. Fantastic channel !
If I was able to make that choice today, I'd go with the PRS. If I lost all my guitars and was starting over, I'd take the Murphy Lab Les Paul. I have a nice Fender Custom Shop strat, which isn't a relic, unless you count almost 30 years of natural, day to day relicing. I also recently bought a Murphy Lab Les Paul and I absolutely love it! It's the "ultra-light" tier of relicing, but there's still a wonderful 'coziness' about it. But I don't own a PRS, so that's why I'd go with the PRS. I've never owned one, but you never seem to hear negative feedback about PRS, so they must be doing something right.
For me, I'd probably get a Murphy Lab's right now. I'm hankering for one of those lightly aged goldtops with P90s. But ask me next week and I'll want a masterbuilt jazzmaster. Then the next week a private stock! So you're absolutely right, we all need 24k, so that we can all buy all of them.
Fender CS but maybe 4K and take the rest for vintage strat pups That's the real difference they are making them so good these days Oh yeah forgot to tell you Crazy I found a mint 65 Gibson Melody Maker All there two pup model 600 bucks
My dream rig would be: -50s roadworn tele + new pickups (current guitar, love it to bits, 1300) -Magnatone Panoramic Stereo head (2900) -Universal Audio OX Box (1500) total of 5700, the rest would go toward a kick ass pedalboard and other studio equipment
I’m not as into PRS as I was 15 to 20 years ago, but I’ve got a old guitar magazine that exclusively features PRS with the guitar I’d buy A Modern Eagle single cut, whale blue flamed top with a Brazilian rosewood neck and fingerboard. One of the prettiest guitars I’ve ever seen!
I bought a Fender Custom Shop light relic Stratocaster in 2019. This past summer my luthier said the neck had warped badly enough that he had to level to frets for proper intonation. He mentioned that the Custom Shop puts out so many guitars these days they don't have time to let the wood dry as long as it should. I sold that guitar and took a hit to a big box store that was aware of the issues. My search for a guitar that was built with the utmost attention started. I came across Collings Electrics. I picked up a I-35lc Vintage 2 months ago. The search is over. I never have to search for another guitar. It plays, feels, sounds and looks incredible. For 8K, I would get a Collings.
Greetings from Nashville north Louisville Ky. With 8 grand!!! I would invest it in lessons with the best instructor in Nashville. One hour, 3 day’s a week for a year. BAM!!!
I would want a PRS Wood Library guitar. Singlecut, super flamed maple top, bluish purple color on the top, natural back, 58/15 pickups, and an ebony fretboard. Perfection!
8k? Right, my Dad's 80 next year and he's a massive Shadows fan. A few years back, a store over here borrowed '34346', thought to be THE first Fender Strat to be imported to the UK, had the UK Fender distributor measure everything, and had the CS make a run of replicas. I'd contact you, beg you and Fender to dig out the measurements and make one as close as possible to the measurements, and have it ready to present on his birthday. Whatever money was left over I would be spent on a big 'thank you' to you guys for making it happen.
It’s probably for the best that I can’t afford a master build at this time. Yes I would like a telecaster with a Jazz master pickup, pink sparkle finish and I need it to look like every guitar player ever has played it. I want this thing to make Trigger look like a debutant by comparison.
Aging and relicing is an absolute no-go for me... So it has to be the PRS. I'd prefer a non-reliced Fender Masterbuilt or Collings if they were choices.
I've been to Casino Guitars one time, while there I played a gold over gold sparkle medium relic custom shop strat and man I still dream about that guitar...
I’d take the PRS DGT in a nanosecond over these other guitars. Though not in this group, I’d also take a Tier 1 Knaggs in a nanosecond, which would be in that price range as well. Second place here for me would be the Murphy Lab LP. All three are great options though. You guys should do more of these videos for other price points, as well as doing this for acoustics.
Love my strats ones a custom shop but I always wanted a Gibson Goldtop so that's def what I would pick I'm a lefty so its hard finding gibsons at all for leftys.
I would play them all and the one that picked me would be the one I buy…regardless of brand. I wouldn’t spend $8k on a guitar just because it was my preferred brand. What if it sucked?! That would be lame to stare at it hanging on the wall while I played something more that was less expensive but more inspiring.
It's what everybody experiences when they finally get to play a Reverend. Why did I spend so much? Well, someti.es a look is so important t to nail, see... lol
@Jeffry Thiele I think every instrument and amp that I’ve ever bought picked me. I think it is even more true for the ones that I’ve bought used when I wasn’t even planning on buying anything at the time.
At that price range, you’d have to be pretty unlucky if a guitar “sucked”. Past 4k, generally is more of a personal taste and personal inspiration thing instead of the instruments being objectively bad.
You guys are awesome to watch. I just did a similar thing, new guitar and amp. I have some nice acoustics and a mexi tele and Strat already. I have a Collings acoustic (D2H) and have always wanted a 335. So, recently got a Collings i35 LC, Princeton Reverb and a UAD Ox. And OMG ! Could not possibly be happier with this setup. Not going to need anything new for a while.... well maybe sooner than a while. :-)
Well… it’s like this. First of all a disclaimer… this is not about a “wish I had it” guitar, rather about one I actually purchased for $8k. Second… it’s not about a electric guitar, but an acoustic. Back to the story… a few years ago I was in a small local dealer’s shop that specialized in acoustic guitars. Eventually I noticed what appeared to be a Martin D-28 hanging on the wall. Upon having it handed to me, I saw that while it was indeed a Martin D-28, albeit not an everyday D-28… no indeedy. It had a paper label (signed by CFM) inside that proclaimed “Golden Era”. Now, I had only one GE D-28 before, at a local shop. It was a new one, and was priced at around $12K. Well out of reach for a poor boy like me. Now, the one I saw recently was much less (after all, it was used, although barely (if at all) played). It was priced at $8K… and it went home with me (I’m not so poor these days…) where it remains to this day, being played as it should be…
I think I would prefer that shell pink strat behind you to a heavily reliced sunburst custom shop strat. I see it in every video behind you and think..... maybe I need to drive down..... I can see a lightly reliced guitar for reasons you stated, but I don't want a guitar to look all "chunked up!" (to be honest, the pink tele looks pretty good too)
I'm already spending $4K on a Mule Resonator... As far as the trio to choose from, toss up between the PRS and the Les Paul... and I'd have to play them before deciding
Baxter and Jonathan, I bet you’re a great hang. I’ll be there this weekend. Where can we go for dinner? 😀 No, seriously, here are my criteria for a guitar in this price range: 1) No relics! 2) No Gibson. Too dicey on quality. 3) PRS ALL THE WAY!!! Let the hating commence. 😀
Honda Ridgeline is a fantastic vehicle! My wife calls it my "sissy truck." 277,000 miles, with just routine maintenance. It was still running strong until a guy blew through a stop at 50 miles an hour and totalled it. I walked away with nothing but bruises. Loved that TRUCK. Getting another!
It's a tricky one, you would want to spend it with a small luthier instead of the big guys, so that you are supporting true artisans, but with that comes a risk: it could drop in value like a stone unless it is from someone who is in vogue. The obvious choice amongst the majors is PRS, but then it's not unique, even if it is special. I used to want a 59 Les Paul, because I was born in 59, but now I am not so sure. I think instinct would be to go to a low volume maker like Nik Huber for a 59 type guitar, as you know they are going to play well and hopefully retain their value.
I preordered one of the Lexus Fenders. I like blue, and a unique blue is right up my alley. I love quilted maple, and often would pick that over a solid color, but the Structural Blue was just so unique it had to be mine. :D
When I was younger I wanted a Gibson Les Paul, or any Gibson for that matter, and I could never afford one and they were these mythical guitars that were so far out of my range and I never thought I'd ever own one. Fast forward twenty five years and I'm pretty successful in my career and now that I can afford Gibson they're all I buy, sorta. Even though I love other brands I just seem to gravitate to Gibson even if you have to go through two or three guitars to find a really nice one. I totally understand the issues with them these days, they are getting better, yet I still choose to buy them.
I love them. My old man gave me his 81 custom back in 2000. I was 18. I had a strat before that, and still have it. I bought a tele, but I’ve also bought an SG, and 335. Probably, stick with Gibson. My newest is a Les Paul “tribute”, I love it and it plays and feels amazing.
Same with me. I enjoy playing a good Tele from time to time. PRS isn't for me, at all, but I understand why some people like them. But Gibsons just feel like home. There are plenty of brands out there that have tried to make Gibson style guitars and some of them are great guitars but I haven't played anything else that feels like a Gibson.
PRS for sure. I'm not big on overly fancy guitars, but the green gets me. I just get a bad feeling in my gut when I look at a heavy "relic." Just an opinion. I don't hate anything. Takes too much energy.
I'd do a custom shop tele made from spruce and basswood in the black sparkle with a gold anodized pickguard and a journeyman relic.. Mini hamburger in the neck, 60s type bridge pup, darkest neck I could get in a asymmetrical profile, vintage tuners, and I'd pair it with one of the new lightweight twins and a few fine pedals.
If it had to be only on one guitar, I’d get a master built fender…but it’d probably be a tele. (60’s style… thick oval c neck, medium relic’d faded sonic blue, hand wound twisted tele neck pickup, broadcaster bridge pickup, fat 50’s wiring, but throw on round knobs instead of the flat top…. Also the fretboard would be 9.5-12” radius with 6105 frets.)
I was that guy who hated the entire concept of beating up a new gtr to fake old! Until one day I was in a local shop and my buddy picked up a shale pink medium relic Anderson Icon. I was a hard core jimi fan, so not white was strike 2! Anyway, he talked me into playing in. 10min later the swiping began! After living year or it is always with in reach. Its like a comfortable old shoe! That said, I also have a semi hollow McCarty 594 ten top! Also sweet, but not as comfortable & rarely laying around!
I’ve owned a PRS CU22 for 16 years. It’s a beautiful guitar and it plays wonderfully but I’ve never loved it, it’s not the guitar I naturally go to. I went to buy a Les Paul but just couldn’t gel with any. At heart I’m a strat guy, I’d take the strat.
I was at the Gibson Garage and tried a Murphy lab guitar and just a custom shop Les Paul. I purchased the Custom shop. Just felt better for me and love that it’s white.
PRS/Fender/Gibson.. I few like if I’m spending north of 2k much less 8k, I want something truly unique. I didn’t spend 8k, but I had a pretty expensive guitar built for me by Frank Brothers Guitar Co. couldn’t be happier w/the attention to detail, unique look and phenomenal sound with all my preferred custom options. Feel like maybe you needed a “boutique” guitar option here too. Also: Collins is making some serious instruments. I’d probably look there before the 3 mentioned here.
I have a PRS would library that to me is off the charts. So I want a Fender Master Build Strat with a 60s oval C neck, Rosewood fretboard, jumbo frets with hand wound Texas special pick ups in vintage white with a single ply white pick guard somewhere between journeyman-relic aging. I hope that wasn’t too specific.
Although, if I really had to choose between the big three American companies, I would probably go with a heavily relic'd Fender. HH with one volume, one tone, and a three-way switch.
One of those Murphy Lab ‘64 SGs would look good on my wall. For the price you can almost get an original but you’d also be buying all the problems it has. This is the advantage of Custom Shop, new frets, new electronics!
As much as I want a Murphy Lab light aged R8, the #1 dream guitar for me is a relic'd Ron Thorn master build 57 hardtail Strat. His work is so pristine that even though I'm not a massive relic fan, I Jones over every guitar he posts on Instagram.
What’s funny is I have a buddy with an expensive tele. He upgraded his pickups. I put his stock bridge pickup into my Indonesian g&l asat that has a fat neck and an ash body. He’s in love with it and prefers the feel and sound to his fender with the new pickups.
I don't have an issue with an actual reliced guitar. One actually worn down with use. I find artificially reliced guitars to be cheesy. If I'm buying a used guitar, I'm okay if it looks used, but if I'm buying a new guitar, I want it brand spanking shiny showroom floor new.
Either a really good Murphy lab Les Paul or a PRS private stock Paul's guitar. They both have the greatest sound I've ever heard from a guitar, and they both look absolutely great. It's a toss up for me.
Damn, that's a budget. I'd just be happy with an Ibanez Prestige S6521Q (HT) and a good amp. That's like $6000 leftover. I suppose a PRS Private Stock would be nice. Although a couple Music Man guitars would be cool too.
Custom Shop fender all the way. I got myself a Custom shop relic Tele. It's liberating having a beat up guitar, I would be totally paranoid about using a pristine guitar worth the same value. Like Baxter said I like beat up guitars so I don't worry about beating them up.
Its an easy choice for me, my dream guitar is an original sunburst 1965 fender jag with the turtle shell pick gaurd. The rest I'll put into a nice amp and some pedals. There was one at my local GC months ago for about 4 or 5 grand. Got to hold it and holy fuck I fell in love. And if I had the money at the time I would have dropped it right then and there.
I would pick a strat or tele! medium relic would be awesome! Something with a metalic flake purple or some vibrant color but with some bare wood showing in a few places
With that budget I’d play every guitar I could get my hands on, and decide on feel, tone, weight and everything, cause I can afford perfection. But really I’d just order two custom Novo guitars
I was excited when I saw 8k to spend but was immediately bummed when you said on a guitar. That's not gonna happen even with free money unless I was allowed to resell it immediately. My 8k would go toward a Mesa Cali Tweed Combo in tan, aFractal FM9, and a Mod Shop Tele. That would still leave me some cash to by the wife a new purse and dinner. Everybody wins.
$8k- in 1986 I bought a PRS Standard for $800-my father found out and thought I lost my mind! Great guitar, I still play it- all honest wear. I’d have to go for the $8000 PRS so my dad would know I’m still nuts!
I just $4500 for a guitar this year and that’s only because I arranged to sell a ‘67 330 I’d had a long time for a ‘67 Riviera. I just spent almost $3700 for an R4. Much of it thanks to having to pay WA 10.25% sales tax
I love playing this game. I think the correct answer is PRS, but I would probably go Gibson just because I’m a sucker for an old Gibson and Fender, but I already have a great Strat. . Looking for some good music to start the weekend? Check out the new songs I posted on my channel.
Guys, I'd go with the Strat, but not reliced. I like relics, but I have a ton of them all made be me. On second thought, I'd probably spend the 8,000 having you guys bring back to life a few of my older guitars.
LOVE this video…I clearly know where I land in this discussion…thought I play my Fender Tele thin line the most, and want another Fender, I cannot fathom buying a guitar for 8K that has paint scratched off of it….with that being said last time I was in your shop one of your employees let me play his custom shop relived Tele. It played nice, had mojo…But if I have 8K to spend I’m getting a PRS…I have a wood library McCarty 594 and a Hollow Body 2 Artist Package and both of these are not only works of art but almost play themselves…so new and shiny wins for me everyday…do not get the obsession with heavy relics…just me I guess….
That Gold Top with the P-90s certainly got my attention, but y'all have me wanting a Master-built Nashville Tele with a B-Bender to be honest. I just have to go thru the steps of getting a divorce or selling my '61 SG special and an old amp or two. I just hate the thought of getting rid of my SG.
It's no contest for me to go Fender,n idon't like much relicking, since I have some old guitars and none of them have gotten beat to the heavy relic point so they'd look out of place next to the rest. Just a little buckle rash, a little corrosion on the tuning pegs, and a bit of wear on the neck and it will fit right in. I'd be more excited for something like a wooden cover on a P-90 in the neck position matching the transparent blue finish on the rest of my telecaster, some of those sweet custom shop pickups, and the perfect neck carve. All the wonderful things besides the relic job that make a masterbuilt so amazing. edit: in reality I'd order a Fender NOS masterbuilt Jag-Bass but that wasn't one of the options so I went with one of the other guitars of my dreams.
PRS 10 Top Bonnie Pink Quilt Maple top with Pink Ivory Fret Board, Purpleheart birds and Pink Ivory Tuning Pegs. Matching BP headstock veneer. Snake Wood Body and Neck. Natural Flame maple top binding.
I can in no way spend $8,000.00 on one guitar. I did however drop close to $2,000.00 on a Fender Mod shop Strat this year and I Love that guitar. My only regret (If I had one) was I couldn't get a Floyd Rose trem on one I tried but they just were not offering one ATT I ordered. I think I've tuned It twice and it's within 5 cents of tuned right now and I haven't played it in a couple weeks. So for broke guys like myself who like their guitars as close to prefect as possible that's the way to go.
I have a beautiful R8, list was $5200ish, I traded about half that value to get it. I can’t imagine dropping another $2800 above it. It’s perfect for me.
What's the wait-list time for a master-built compared to a custom shop? If you order a dozen or more master-built guitars, do you move to the front of the line?
:) I like the dozen idea. 12-14 months for a team build and any where from 16-65 months for a master build depending on the builder. It can be a wait:)
I don’t like the relics. I either like my guitars with a natural patina or totally flawless. The patina tells a story, relic just give the illusion of that story. That said idk how I could choose between a custom Tele or a custom Sg
Call me crazy, but I've got a nice collection already - LP and SG, Strat and Tele, Rick, Gretsch, Korean PRS, Ibanez RGA. If I was going to splurge on super high end at the moment I'd like the Gibson Custom Shop 1958 Korina Explorer!
Definitely would get myself a Les Paul Standard Burst…… or maybe see how many student guitars I could get and donate them to the local school district . Gotta get those young fingers on the strings. These kids need music. It’s a salve for these times.
Masterbuilt...like the idea of being personally involved in the building of your guitar. Aged Sonic Blue, in between relic and heavy relic, non-RWRP Josephina pickups, AAA rosewood board with clay dots. AHHH...perchance to dream! 😚
I have 5 electric and 2 acoustic guitars. Lets say easily over $20,000.00 worth. All the electrics are PRS. I have had or tried most things out there. PRS play so well they make me a better player! I do change the pups on many to Suhr Aldrich pups. My tone is great for being a hack. I would like a reliced one though as well.
I can't see spending $8,000.00 on just one guitar either. A PRS Double Cut Walnut Brown flame Top with a hard tail bridge and my choice of amp a new Quilter Mach 3 with it. I'd still have change coming back to get road cases for them.
I have an amazing 1993 American tele. I have a 2014 Memphis Es-339. And I have a 2018 SE-PRS (yeah the cheap one). And my whole life I've sworn by tele's. I have a tele tattoo on my arm. The PRS is the only guitar I play anymore. And I have sworn to my self that I wont buy another guitar till I can afford to get my perfect Private Stock. And I had no idea how much I would need, but guessed it was about 10k. Knowing its only 8k means I'm already 2k closer to my goal!!!!!!!!
If it were me, I’d go with a Custom Shop Gretsch or a custom Taylor… But from the given choices, I’d pick a Murphy Lab Gibson. They’re my least favorite brand of the three, but with Fender or PRS I’m confident I could find a guitar I’d be very happy with for a fraction of the cost.
I'd personally probably go with a LP Standard, PRS CU24 S2 and an Am Professional Strat together for the 8k instead. BUT between the three you listed I'd probably go Murphy Lab. I'm a vibe-chaser when it comes to buying guitars, more than I chase flash, so it's between the Gibson and Fender, and I just couldn't see myself spending 8k on a new Fender
