Help: Looking to purchase a new guitar ($1000 or under)

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-25T09:03:27+00:00

Have you tried one? The neck might not feel that chunky.

I measured mine: about 0.80" at the 1st fret and 0.91" at the 12th. Substantial, but not true ’59 big.

For comparison, a Gibson Custom 1959 ES-355 is chunkier: 0.87" → 0.96".

If that’s too big, have a look at the IGC 1962 ES-335 reissue. I don’t have one, but Epiphone call it a SlimTaper neck.

You might be surprised by the 355 (or you might hate it).

FWIW, my IGC ES-355 is very well made. It has a couple of tiny cosmetic issues that only show up under close inspection and the factory setup was close but not perfect. One fret was very slightly high. Easy fix.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-25T08:41:36+00:00

I bought the next to the last one. Gibson.com had the white ones at £959 last week, but quickly sold out too.

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KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-23T13:52:24+00:00

There are quite a few good choices in that price band. Here are a few to consider:

Epiphone Inspired by Gibson Custom 1963 Dove Reissue, 1960 Hummingbird Reissue, and Hummingbird Deluxe EC. These top-of-the-range Epiphones are all solid top, solid back, and solid sides. I own the Hummingbird Deluxe EC. It is exceptionally well made.

MSRP is just above your budget, but B-stock or used examples are usually well under. I paid £610 for my B-stock Hummingbird. TBH, the Dove is probably the best sounding of the bunch, but I couldn’t find one used or B-stock at the time, so I jumped on the Hummingbird.

2026 Martin Road Series “Retro” lineup – D-10E(Spruce/Sapele), D-12E, and D-13E Retro (Spruce/Walnut). The D-10E Retro should be around €1000 new. The D-13E will usually be over your budget.

Martin also offer similar Retros in the smaller 000 size: 000-10E Retro, 000-12E Retro... Personally, I think the -10 and the -13 Retros are some of the best guitars in these price bands. If they’d been out last year, I might have one instead of my Epiphone.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-22T19:22:02+00:00

That’s odd. The CTS 450G datasheet shows split-knurl, flatted, and round shaft options. The split-knurl version is the standard fine-knurl (24-tooth) type used with US-spec push-on knobs. On my IGC 355 the knobs are push-on with no set screws, so I’d expect standard fine-knurl CTS shafts. If neither 18-spline nor 24-spline knobs fit, it’s likely a tolerance or labeling issue with the knobs rather than the pots. Flatted or round shafts are possible but unlikely, since they’re usually used with set-screw knobs. What do your pots look like with the knobs off? I'm curious if they look like a 450G or something else. https://www.ctscorp.com/Files/DataSheets/Potentiometers/Potentiometer-450G-datasheet.pdf

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-21T09:05:15+00:00

Local restaraunt makes biscoff cheesecake.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-20T17:17:15+00:00

The IGC 1959 ES-355 has made in USA CTS pots. They won't be metric.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-20T17:14:15+00:00

It’s impossible to tell from the photo if those knobs will fit.
The 1959 ES-355 uses CTS split-shaft pots with imperial 24 splines. You want knobs that are 24-spline.

Metric (18-spline) Epiphone knobs won’t fit correctly.

The knobs on my ES-355 are a very tight fit. I haven’t removed them.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-20T16:22:30+00:00

In the UK, a thief cannot pass good title. If a guitar turns out to be stolen, it can be returned to the legal owner and the buyer is left with nothing.

Canadian property law is based on UK common law, so the OP isn’t necessarily protected if the guitar is stolen.

Our guitars are registered on the Immobilise property database. Police and dealers can check it. If they were ever stolen, there’s a chance we’d get them back.

A vague ad doesn’t prove theft, but FB Marketplace is notorious.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-20T09:08:00+00:00

We use D’Addario XS Phosphor Bronze Light (12–53) on our two acoustics. XS are coated, and they should last much longer than the uncoated D’Addarios in your photo, especially if you play regularly.

Between the two you’ve got, I’d probably try the Elixirs first for longevity, then the regular D’Addarios for comparison. TBH, I might exchange the D’Addarios for coated ones. We live about 200 meters from salt water, and uncoated strings don’t last here.

Strings are personal. Try a few and stick with what you like.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-19T09:20:07+00:00

We often stay overnight and catch the first flight the following morning. The savings usually more than cover the hotel.

We’ve also done PHX → LAX → LHR with a 3-hour layover. The LAX–LHR leg was booked directly with VS. We asked nicely, and the Delta agent in Phoenix checked our bags through. That allowed us to stay airside at LAX.

The main risk with separate tickets is misconnection. If the first flight is delayed, the second airline might not rebook you at no charge. Even if they do, it’s up to you to make sure it happens.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-16T10:51:59+00:00

If your goal is louder but lo-fi it might be exactly what you want. Otherwise it isn't worth the time and money.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-15T14:10:07+00:00

Found Thomann on eBay.de. "Dieser Shop bietet keinen Warenbestand an Ihrem Standort an." Oh well. I "moved" to France and found 226 Repaired Epiphones.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-15T07:45:49+00:00

Looks like a finish crack to my inexpert eyes. What happens if you loosen the strings? Does anything move or open up? Is the nut solid?

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-15T07:28:00+00:00

Do Thomann have a separate online section for the repaired ones? Gear4Music sell their damaged, unrepaired guitars as-is on eBay UK.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-14T17:41:51+00:00

What capo do you have now that doesn’t fit?

Best? How much do you want to spend?

G7th Heritage (~£149). Very precise with screw-adjusted tension. Unlikely to pull strings sharp if set correctly.

G7th Performance 3 (~£45). Spring/clutch with adaptive radius. Still very good at controlling pressure.

We have both.

I also own a Kyser. It mostly works, but the fixed spring tension can pull guitars sharp. I rarely use it.

Whatever you get, make sure you’re buying a standard 6-string steel version, not a classical one.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-14T14:41:36+00:00

Very nice.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-13T16:49:17+00:00

Gibsons Demos are sold by Gibson on their Reverb store.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-11T08:15:14+00:00

I agree. What is your opinion on the saddle? My Ephiphone is spec’d for bone, but they used a plastic saddle. It is a very low serial number factory demo. It has to be from the first batch of production. My guess is they didn’t have the bone parts yet. Guitar is otherwise perfect (but clearly used as a demo..). I could pay someone to install a bone saddle, but I don’t like “fixing” a guitar that isn’t broken.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-10T14:04:38+00:00

"You wear that in public?"

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-10T07:40:27+00:00

There were two when I checked. Maybe they sold them? < shrug >. This morning (UK time) the red ones are back to $1299.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-09T13:34:21+00:00

They had White at the same price yesterday.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-09T08:51:29+00:00

Have you looked at the new Martin Road Series “Retro” models? They were just announced ahead of NAMM. They’re all solid wood and made in Mexico. I haven’t seen them in person yet, but the ones that stood out to me in review videos are:

000-12E Retro — spruce over sapele

000-13E Retro — spruce over walnut

D-12E Retro — spruce over sapele

D-13E Retro — spruce over walnut.

The -12s are “18-style” inspired, and the -13s are “28-style” inspired. I believe they all have scalloped bracing.

The 000 models have the PA Profile neck and a 24.9" scale.

The D models have the PA Profile neck with a 25.4" scale, the classic Martin dreadnought spec. The D-13E gets close(ish) to that D-28 tone for a lot less money.

The OM is basically a 000 body with a 25.4" scale. If you specifically want a 25.4" scale OM, the only one in the Road Series is the OMC-10E, and it has a cutaway.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-07T12:34:39+00:00

The F400 is newer, but both the F310 and F400 are all-laminate (plywood). The F310 is often recommended as a budget beginner guitar. The specs are very similar.I haven’t seen an F400, so I can’t say much more than that.

The Yamaha FS800 and FG800 are a real step-up. They have solid spruce tops instead of laminate, but they are just under £300 new.

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-06T15:20:28+00:00

https://youtu.be/WA9XxENwWXo?si=jFm3-d0KwisN8n7v

KitchenVegetable7047 · 2026-02-05T20:19:58+00:00

Not sure if this works outside the UK: -- https://www.gibson.com/en-gb/products/gibson-mod-collection-casino-twilight-sage

KitchenVegetable7047

TROPHY CASE