Seeking advice on new electric

[Sada Yairi]

Looked into the Godins and they have some nice guitars. Problem is they have some not-so-nice prices! I liked their Montreal which was the sort of setup I was looking for (semi-hollow, single cutaway) but here in Aus it's $2600! The Kingpin is also nice, but still $1600 here.

[Katastrophe]

Looked into the Godins and they have some nice guitars. Problem is they have some not-so-nice prices! I liked their Montreal which was the sort of setup I was looking for (semi-hollow, single cutaway) but here in Aus it's $2600! The Kingpin is also nice, but still $1600 here.

You're looking at the "Signature Series" Godins. That's their top of the line, premium stuff. Keep in mind that all Godins are made in Canada and assembled either in Canada or the U.S. You are paying for North American craftsmanship. That's the justification for the high price, anyway.

The "Performance" line of Godins is much, much cheaper. It looks like they've really cleaned out the line, though. The LG series was awesome, and very well made. That sucks, because it was a great line. It looks like they're going for more Strat types and set neck LP (sorta kinda) types. I really liked the LG series. It was different than what everyone else had out there.

[Sada Yairi]

The Performance series Godins are significantly cheaper (though still starting at $800 in Aus) but I was looking for a semihollow, so the Performance series wasn't an option. To compare apples with apples, it was the higher-end Godins I was looking at.

[Duffy]

I have an Ibanez AS73 in trans cherry that is a good looking 335'ish type semi hollow, but, to my ear, the AS73 that I bought sounded and felt better than the DOT, Epi Sheraton, and a couple other semi hollows I tried out. It sounded like the Ibanez pickups were just plain nicer sounding than the others and the neck was really nice feeling, with the chords just falling into my hand.

If you haven't checked out the Ibanez AS73, in my opinion, it would be an excellent guitar to check out. There are a couple other AS models available as well that may be equally nice.

I have no idea what the prices on Ibanez guitars are in Australia, but I would think that they are definitely trying to stay in business - and you might find a deal.

Also those Squier thinline telecaster semi hollow guitars are nice in my opinion, and there is now a Classic Vibe Thinline in the series that I would think could be awesome sounding. Light and as good or better than the Fender MIM counterparts, seems to be the word in the reviews. Natural mahogany body and maple neck and a good set of pickups. True to the classic vibe series they seem to be super well accepted by experienced players. At 379US it is definitely a value guitar.

Whether it meets your requirements or not, I don't know.

[Sada Yairi]

I did look into the Ibanez AS series and AFS series, and (especially given their reasonable prices) I was impressed. I did prefer the Wildkat though, mainly because I wanted p90s and I prefer a singlecut. Just got word today that the Wildkat has arrived, so now I'm on the edge of my seating waiting to go and pick it up!!

[Duffy]

I did look into the Ibanez AS series and AFS series, and (especially given their reasonable prices) I was impressed. I did prefer the Wildkat though, mainly because I wanted p90s and I prefer a singlecut. Just got word today that the Wildkat has arrived, so now I'm on the edge of my seating waiting to go and pick it up!!

That sounds like a cool choice. Good luck with getting on that one. It sounds like these types of things are rare around you. You might want to get right on that without any delay. I hope you are able to get that one. Maybe calling the guy and asking him to hold it for you because you will be there at "x" time would be a way to hold it down until you can get there, without some passer by noticing it and grabbing it out from under you.

[Sada Yairi]

They're actually getting it in specifically for me - deposit paid last week. The amp has come in too, just waiting on the case. Surely can't go wrong now!

[Duffy]

What amp is it for that Wild Cat?

[Sada Yairi]

Epi Valve Senior. Just bumped this thread the other day with the update that I've finally put down money on the Wildkat and Valve Senior. After trying so many different guitars and amps over the last few months, they were my favorites and I finally managed to get them for a reasonable price. Both were around $800 initially which was too much, but thanks to a crazy sale they'll both be mine very shortly!!!

[Katastrophe]

A Valve Senior? Wow... I'd heard (or read, actually) about a lot of trouble finding those amphs. Congrats on both the guitar and amph, and post pics when it comes in!

[Sada Yairi]

Yeah, the Valve Seniors are hard to come by. Being discontinued hasn't helped! The original one I played with was floorstock that had been in the shop for a while. It sold not long after I tried it. The one they've brought in for me is from another store about 1000kms away. Hard to come by indeed!! It arrived yesterday so now I'm just waiting on the Wildkat case and I'm all set.