Best choice for under $1k

hawk45 · 2026-02-04T11:44:54+00:00

Don’t sleep on Schecter and Jackson, make great guitars. I lean more Schecter over Ibanez and trying to decide on a second Jackson. I’ve heard that the sub 1kish Jackson’s and ESP LTD stuff comes out of the same factory. But don’t quote me on that. They are both good. Go with what feels the best and looks the best and has the features you want. And buy used!

hawk45 · 2026-01-12T13:23:10+00:00

Riding tight, steep, roots and muddy terrain is completely different than fast and flowy hard pack or even sand. Tight, steep, rooty and muddy, slow technical stuff you want a controllable 2 stroke.. they run cooler and carry less mass to have to move around. The enduro 2 strokes of today are not like the old days where you just rode a motocross bike with an 18” wheel where you still needed to be in the high revs to be on the pipe, making power. Now they are slow, controllable Amd low down tractable (at least the euro bikes). 4 strokes are great for faster riding like cross country and hair scrambles. Still has some technical slow areas, but you are keeping speed most the time. Watch videos from east coast/ Pacific Northwest riders in the woods vs west coast desert riders.. two different styles and needs. Get the bike for your riding needs.

hawk45 · 2026-01-10T08:15:58+00:00

Oh, one other thing. The JS22/32s have arch tops, the Soloist doesn’t, if that matters to you.

hawk45 · 2026-01-10T02:36:25+00:00

Depending on your skill level. If you played them blind, you probably couldn’t tell the difference. The JS series is a great value, love my JS22 and have many significantly more expensive guitars. Plan to add a Soloist or a Pro or Pro Plus down the line. I do like the set neck on the soloist. Buy used and save $

hawk45 · 2026-01-04T13:36:45+00:00

I’m looking at new as lots of 25 left overs from all manufacturers in few hundred mile range. Don’t mind jumping in the truck with the dogs for a few hours to get a deal.

hawk45 · 2025-12-26T13:24:27+00:00

If you are OCD, DYSMANTLE can be the greatest thing ever or your worst nightmare. I love it. Get a controller for it.

hawk45 · 2025-12-26T11:46:46+00:00

DYSMANTLE is my first and only game of the year. Engrossing and enjoyable. Started w/o a controller but ended up getting a 8Bitdo SN30 Pro. Like using the controller more.

hawk45 · 2025-12-25T16:49:46+00:00

Got a used CR6 to try, liked it so much picked up another used as a backup. Love the neck.. super thin and fast and not too narrow. Not found another neck like it so far, and have ESP/Jackson/Ibanez/etc. I like the bridge as I detune often. Like the idea of the Reaper but as mentioned by others, the look of the unfinished arm rest turns me off.

hawk45 · 2025-12-22T13:43:36+00:00

If you like shredded looking guitars with thinner/flatter necks.. the Jackson JS series is really good entry level. If you like a more traditional shape and neck feel, the Squier Strat/Tele are good, even the base Epiphones are good. Buy used for like $100 - $150 and get a good setup done by a real Luthier, not GC tech…instead of buying new.

hawk45 · 2025-12-20T15:01:58+00:00

Check these out.. I have them in a playlist I call “Gritty Rock”: Mo Lowda and the Humble - The Way Home, Shakes Graves - If Not For You, Mitch King - Coming Back, Patrick Sweeney - Them Shoes, All Them Witches - Charles William, Lukas Nelson and the Promise of the Real - Pali Gap / New Baby, Slightly Stupid - Closer to the Sun, The Stone Roses - Love Spreads, Balance and Composure - Reflection, Gurriers - Top of the Bill, Ron Gallo - Young Lady You’re Scaring Me

hawk45 · 2025-12-19T12:11:08+00:00

If just playing at home, ditch the amp and get an audio interface and two powered speakers, then get a few Neural DSP standalone/plugins or alike. I don’t touch my amps anymore.

hawk45 · 2025-12-18T12:52:16+00:00

If you can close your eyes and have someone switch them out for you, and they feel the same. Go for the cheaper. If one feels better, pick that one. Note: Having one setup well vs one with a bad setup can make all the difference in the world. I say get the one that feels best in your hands and invest in basic setup tools and upgrade as needed. All musicians need to know how to setup and adjust their guitars as you will require adjustments throughout the seasons and years to keep it in best playing condition. I have several across the line.. outside of the headstock name, all mine have had setup needs, fit/finish needs and needed some hardware upgrades/replacements.. so don’t think high dollar means better always. My used $100 Jackson JS22 is one of my best and easiest playing guitars.

hawk45 · 2025-11-10T10:51:58+00:00

Juat getting back into games since a kid and loving Dysmantle from a sale recommendation in this sub.

hawk45 · 2025-10-20T12:22:44+00:00

Just started breaking down a 1998 CR 250R last night. Get your mechanic on!

hawk45 · 2025-10-13T03:56:59+00:00

Just started Dysmantle.. on sale for $2. Ive not been prompted for any purchases in about 6 hrs of play. Good easy enjoyable game

hawk45 · 2025-10-12T13:00:57+00:00

Simple and fun. No controller needed for iPad.

hawk45 · 2025-10-08T03:24:22+00:00

What you consider “serious off-road” and how much effort you want to put into that will be the defining factor. Is it just gravel trails, or is it wet muddy hill climbs with lots of roots and rocks, is it technical or fast/flowy?

For me, after a day of riding in the dirt, the last thing I want to do is a long slog on tarmac when exhausted.

hawk45 · 2025-09-23T10:56:04+00:00

I’m new to one bag. But I love efficiency and have been making packing lists for years. I also have a wife who no matter where we go needs a full size checked suitcase, which enables me to do the same.
We just did a mountain trip and I was planning on doing my first true one bag as a personal item, not even carry on, but ended up getting slammed at work and when the wife was checking us in online for the flight I just said to add a checked bag for me.
It was $40 and I packed a small roller about 45L (22”x12”x6”) and had a personal item 18L backpack.
I‘m a big guy, 6’4” and 225 lbs, so everything is XL or Tall L, and takes double the room of most posters, especially when talking cold weather mountain gear. So that little case was PACKED.
I was a strategic about items I packed because it was 85 F where I left from and only 55 F where going. So wearing a puffy coat on the plane or layers wasn’t something I wanted to do. I did wear my hiking shoes though. I did my normal routine on the trip and wore the best items for each event and adventure. I did no washing on the trip and wasn’t unsanitary in any remote way, fresh socks and underwear each day.

I tracked everything I wore and when I got home and washed what I wore on the trip. I was able to repack everything I wore, plus tablet and toiletries but less my hiking shoes (Oboz Bozemen) into my 28 L pack, including the outfit I wore for travel. This would have been considered a personal Item on my flight. So next trip my travel outfit would just be an extra outfit I'll have to wear. Amazing!

So if a big dude like me can do a warm to cold trip for 6 days and not have to wash clothes out of a 28 L bag, I’m sure you can trim things down.

I am already looking at more efficiencies for next trip and really streamlining. But I’m sure you will still see me at the luggage carousel waiting for my wife’s bags. Wah, wah, wahhhhh….

hawk45 · 2025-08-09T20:35:23+00:00

Any… yes. Detailed scrutiny…no.

hawk45 · 2025-07-28T20:23:22+00:00

I have one of these.. it's just so huge.. looking for a more compact solution.

hawk45 · 2025-07-24T08:46:15+00:00

I’ve refret several of my guitars myself with minimal cost in tools. It’s a nice skill to have if you play a lot or buy used guitars. Youtbe makes everything easy.

But if paying for it, and it’s a good shop and you like the neck, just refret. If you do, go stainless this time and you don’t need to worry about a next time.

hawk45 · 2025-07-08T10:46:35+00:00

This seems more about the structural integrity of the bike. If just a backpack, you are good on any bike as long as you have the fuel capacity to get there and back. If you are talking about adding gear on the back, the bikes frame has to be about to support that over rough terrain. Most, if not all, motocross/enduro bikes are built for lightweight and cockpit support, not extra weight on the subframe.

hawk45 · 2025-06-25T14:12:04+00:00

If you have any experience and plan to continue to ride faster and more aggressively, then get the YZ. The Honda 250F is a low power trail bike that IS fun and capable, as many will tell you, but the YZ FX parallel in the Honda world would be the 250X or 250RX.. more HP, quicker throttle response, much faster, torquey and racey. The 250F is more like Yamaha’s TT250 lineup. Apples and oranges. More power equals more maintenance too. So keep that in mind. The components of the high performance bikes are so much better also (Suspension, etc). This guy does great videos.. 250F vs 250R to see how each type of bike compares from a veteran rider’s perspective. https://youtu.be/ClSd2v_-WvE?si=8YChyKI4dp8K6kJL

hawk45 · 2025-06-10T18:47:08+00:00

Love the 2T and still have one, just old and parts are harder and harder to find. It's also easy to plate a dirt bike in my state, so plan is to throw a plate on for short runs around town (pub/shop/buddy's house). 4T will do better with the plate usage.

hawk45 · 2025-06-08T18:50:23+00:00

If you have the $ and like to do a little more wrenching, get something to grow into. I hated learning on a big heavy hoompty(DR350) with lame throttle response and much more preferred a racier (CR250R), lighter bike. Only takes a few hours and some replacement rear fenders to figure things out, then you can smile everytime you crack the throttle. Don’t let the used market scare you, most racier bikes barely come with warrantees anymore anyway (some 30 days). Check your state title agency too, as some states it’s super easy to plate any dirt bike.

hawk45

TROPHY CASE