yeah i know it's another one of these threads...

anyway i just need help looking for guitars that fit what i need and the local guitar shops around me dont carry much (mostly just epiphones and squires and a few high end guitars). i'de really like something versatile so i was looking at the jackson dk2 and dk2m. i've played both and liked the dk2m but i am worried about the quality of the guitar. i keep hearing all kinds of shit about jackson guitars being shitty. what happened with jackson guitars? are they really that bad compared to other guitars in the same price range?

i'm looking for:
double locking tremelo
maybe an ebony fretboard but not necessary
lol something a little pointy but not ridiculous
24 frets
at least 1 humbucker in the bridge
alder body

i'm not too interested in EMG's. i have EMGs right now in my epiphone and they're alright...it's nice that they're quiet but they're kinda sterile

i'm looking to spend around $700 or so...

Look at the higher end BC Rich guitars. In your price range, they are very nice, especially the Assassin.

ASM Pro: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=516093

Jr V: http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/prod ... sku=516096

Mmm..

You might look into Schecter or ESP guitars. ESP has a lot of " pointy " guitar bodies with the features you want, but I think Schecter makes higher quality overall.

A Dean? Since you like pointy, and jacksons ;p

that assassin looks amazing! i had no idea that bc rich made guitars like that. i guess i need to look more at their higher end guitars. do you guys know anything else similar to that? i'm not big on those pickups but i can just sell them. i havnt really been able to try a lot of ESP's so i guess i'll look around at those. there's a sam ash about 2.5 hours away from me that i might have to visit. i've played a couple schecters, they're alright. their necks are a little too round. i never got into dean guitars, i always thought they looked retarded, especially the headstocks...they make me RAGE

You can get a nice used RG550 for under 700$. I have a Jackson DK2 and I'm very underwhelmed by it; take that as you will.

Jackson tend to be a little shitty on the reliability front on the cheaper end, pots and jacks turning all shitty are the usual complaints. Same goes for Ibanez unless you opt for certain models. ESP's LTD be wary of. Most complains revolve around their licensed Floyds being a little shitty, but that's down to how much and how heavily you use it.



Both guitars I've considered. There's a serious shortage of BC Rich dealers where I live, which annoys me.

An Epiphone Explorer?

Those BC Rich guitars look very solid for a mid-entry level ax, and will definitely look awesome for metal. Some good alternatives to look at are the aforementioned Schecter and ESP Ltd brands, which I think make great guitars in the $700-1000 range. The Ltd 1000 series (M-1000, E-1000, MH-1000, etc) is great, and you could probably find a good used one for $700 or even less. The 400 series is a bit cheaper, but as such it will feature cheaper parts like the Licensed Floyd Rose. There is a new 401 series, but I am skeptical about the so-called Floyd Rose "Special" bridge. The Schecter Hellraiser C-1 is essentially the same as Ltd's H-1000, so it's all about preference and availability there as they are both good guitars that have what you're looking for. They all usually have EMG 81's, which I think is a great pickup but if you really don't like them they're not that hard to replace and sell to someone else.

I am very fond of my esp.

Epiphone is for the most part crap.

i'm trying to upgrade...not stay at the same level of quality (crap).

edit: what's the difference between ESP and LTD? is LTD ESP's lower quality version (ex. fender to squire and gibson to epiphon)?

I'm not agreeing or disagreeing, nor do I know a lot about guitars. But can you elaborate some?

Yes, but they're much better than either of those.

There are three things to consider when looking at a guitar:

Price-point
Features
Quality

Typically you compare guitars at the same price point, and you compare their features. At similar price points, LTD/Schecter have MUCH better instruments than Epiphone, in either quality or features.

Yeah, Epiphones are for the most part shoddy. Me and my old man have been through an Epi standard LP and Gothic SG in the past. The latter felt somewhat plasticy and hollow.

LTD and Schecter are indeed pretty solid. My mate even had one of the cheap Omen 6 guitars and apart from pots coming loose (expected on very cheap guitars) it was pretty solid.

EDIT: must learn not to keep saying 'pretty solid'

okay, thanks.

id suggest an alexi ESP.... sounds EXACTLY like what your looking for

Uoh, I hate Dean. Especially the dean Metalman. Those things are ghetto. Their high end ones are even inferior. The Jackson is everything a Dean tries to be but cannot.