Worst guitar, and worst-est guitar?

[Michael Ambrose]

Weird subject, huh? Bear with me and hear me out on this one. Its more of a rant, but I'd love to get your take on this.

So, I'm a 50's/60's low-end guitar junkie. Oh, sure, I've got my Mosrite and a Fender or two, but the guitars I find myself gravitating towards are always my Silvertone's and Harmony's... not just my high-end H-78's, but often I'll just dive straight towards my 1413L (you know, those little seafoam green slabs with a single De Armond).

But even Teisco/Kawai did some okay stuff... not amazing, but not terrible either. Now, I've got a VERY soft spot for Tulips... the bare bones, single-pickup, absolute bottom of the line five-and-ten guitars... the guitar a super-beginner "student" would nab in the late 60's...

I'm a guitar teacher, and I just took on a beginner student who owns a First Act guitar. Got it at Walmart as part of a set. And its funny, the body almost resembles a Tulip... but man, oh man, what a hunk of garbage! Its got a Fender-esque tuneable bridge, but man, it is just impossible to intonate... the neck feels like its made of paper, and may as well not even have a truss-rod... I've had to adjust it I don't know how many times... there's ground/electronics problems...

Man, this guitar makes me wish this kid had a Squire... at least that vaguely feels like a guitar!

It just numbs my brain... 40 years ago, a "student" starter-level junk guitar was at least playable... or at least compared to what they're churning out these days...

Eh, end rant...

[ighut]

The 50's and 60's models are, in a word, solid...heavy and thick, but solidly made, even though they often lacked alot of choice in adjusting intonation. The action may get a little high, but they can take alot of punishment.
The new First Act ones I've played with seem to have the basic adjustments there and resemble regular guitars, but they don't feel that solid. Doesn't feel like it will hold up, but then again, it's usually under $90 new, so maybe that's assumed. Out of the box it's in need of alot of set up to fix the buzzing, plus requires an entire fret dressing or else you'll be gritting your teeth each time you bend a note.

[straycat113]

[cheepaxes]

I played a First Act a few years back. It seemed like it could have been made into a decent guitar, with some minimal fret work intonation and lowering of the nut. I think this was one of those Paul Westerberg signature models.

-Scott

[Mgeek]

[elronnightshade]

yes im in love with old low end guitars too, korean and USSR made are my favourites

[Michael Ambrose]

[jeng3000]