Metal guitar for £160

MidnightLamp · 28 Mar 2009 at 13:46

A student's looking for a cheap electric guitar, and hes into metal, drop tunings etc

I've got no experience with metal guitars and want your opinions on the best makes in price range of £160-200.

Options I've seen so far are:
Vintage Metal Axxe (Reaper or Wraith)
Ibanez GRGR121EX
Kramer Vanguard FR440S

had good experience with cheap vintages and ibanez before, so considering either of them, but open to all suggestions.

Sinny · 28 Mar 2009 at 15:02

have a look at Ibanez GRG-170DX, I don't know if it's out yet though but a mate managed to demo a similar model a few months ago and thought it was pretty good for the money.

Doran · 28 Mar 2009 at 15:06

Surely the yamaha?

m3csl2004 · 28 Mar 2009 at 15:08

RG321

Or a used Japanese Jackson.

Alexrose1uk · 28 Mar 2009 at 17:02

What about Schecter? Have seen some of those sub £200.

just Scott · 28 Mar 2009 at 17:12

Any cheap Ibanez RG would be a good choice. Just make sure it doesn't have a trem, they're more trouble than they're worth at this price.

MidnightLamp · 28 Mar 2009 at 20:15

ive heard good things about schecter but cant see very many sub £200
same with jacksons, the parents are of the get-it-in-argos mind, so second hand isnt likely

i think i'll go with an ibanez RG, and def no whammy!

jonislost · 29 Mar 2009 at 09:17

Sinny said:
have a look at Ibanez GRG-170DX, I don't know if it's out yet though but a mate managed to demo a similar model a few months ago and thought it was pretty good for the money.

This guitar has been out for years. I've got one as a spare and its great for the money!

Zefan · 29 Mar 2009 at 09:19

H2F Scott said:
Any cheap Ibanez RG would be a good choice. Just make sure it doesn't have a trem, they're more trouble than they're worth at this price.

I cannot stress this enough

MidnightLamp · 29 Mar 2009 at 10:04

just noticed GRG170DX has tremolo and at that price its gotta be nasty

going for GRGR 121EX, £169

gonna be interesting setting it up for drop tunings, never set up fixed bridge guitars before

jonislost · 29 Mar 2009 at 10:11

MidnightLamp said:
just noticed GRG170DX has tremolo and at that price its gotta be nasty
going for GRGR 121EX, £169

gonna be interesting setting it up for drop tunings, never set up fixed bridge guitars before

If you're in drop tunings the tremolo is fine, it doesn't fall out of tune easily. I wouldn't recommend actively using the whammy on this guitar though. I would also use 9 gage strings in drop D and if you're in C/B you can up this to 10 without any tuning issues. My feeling is for the money its one of the best I've played, the action is awesome.

But yeah, the GRGR 121EX is also excellent, I dont have one, but have played one before. You're defo making a good choice going with Ibanez either way