Typically, yes. But, not always.

The higher price usually means more quality control and better materials. This will typically result in a better guitar, BUT!!!

Realize that each guitar is individual. The manufacturer is going to insure their product meets minimum standards for the price range, meaning a guitar that doesn't meet the minimum won't be sold in that catagory. This also means that a guitar that exceeds the minimum, will! So if you pickup two identical guitars in the $1500 price range, there's a good possibility that one of them will be better than the other. Which is why you should ALWAYS play before you buy.

This also means that you could find a $700 guitar that plays and sounds every bit as good as the $1500 guitar. It could take years, or you could get lucky and just walk into it. Want that $1500 guitar now? Then look in that price range. Willing to wait? Look at lesser models. Play them all. Maybe you find it!

There is always some difference between $800 and $2000 . What matters is if that difference means anything to you. Do you really need the fancier finish, that pickup instead if the other, more sophisticated hardware etc? Most importantly, is you amp good enough for the difference between $800 and $2000 to be heard?

That said, there's plenty of very good guitars for $800. I've seen experienced guitarists be very happy with even cheaper guitars.


Even a relatively new guitarist might be able to tell the difference between a $300 guitar and a $2000. As you move higher in price the differences become smaller and at some point they get lost among other variables such personal taste, amp and other gear, settings preferences, playing style, playing skill ...

Although some intermediate level guitars are well made, the materials used in the more expensive models are usualy of a higher quality. spen $800.00 and its gonaa posibly have a 3 piece body spend $2000 and it will be a single slab. depending on what type of guitar you buy, for example epiphone make nice'ish les pauls, but the difference in a gibson is massive.

Yes there are differences but to echo everyone here play the instrument. The guitar may be much better but if you can't notice the difference maybe it's not time to step up. A expensive guitar should be better but let your hands and ears be the judge. Or just blame it on G.A.S.( Guitar Acquisition Syndrome) and buy every nice or even not so nice guitar you can get your hands on.

Ditto to what has already been said. More expensive means better woods, electronics etc... Guitar feel and tone is such an individual preference that it is really up to you what is good. Go play some higher end guitars - maybe they feel much better - to you maybe they don't. While my main axe is an upper end expensive guitar, one of my backups I use frequently was a Japanese beginner guitar that cost about $250, I have changed the pich ups and knobs but was so used to the feel I still use it. Brian May and Eddie Van Halen basically built thier now famous guitars and cost them very little and yet people would kill for thier tones.

Duplicate

what difference does the single slab have over the 3 piece. I know it probably effects the sound but does it effect it that much?

Resonance,

i used to buy whatever clothes were on sale, until i realized that if i spent more, they actually LOOKED better. now, the same thing, to me, goes for guitars. if you buy a $1000 guitar and a $5000 guitar, your damn right that the overall quality of the $5000 guitar will be better, and anyone who just says it is a marketing thing is completely stupid and should immediately get off of this site, stop playing the guitar and realize they are going to fail at life. the fact is, as stupid as people in this world are, they will not purchase guitars in any real quantity that are not better in quality for $5000. thus, if you get one, you should be able to look over that instrument, see only the highest quality materials and workmanship, and if that is what you want, excellent. now.... that is QUALITY. the sound is another factor all together....

if you go to the musiciansfriend warehouse, and you go to well, lets just say and american strat, and you play EVERY ONE OF THEM (all identical from top to bottom) out of a hundred guitars, chances are 1 or 2 will pop out at you.... even if they are all set up the same...why you may ask........ Luck...hell, call it divine unity of perfect parts.....but for instance, steve vai has his famous white EVO ibanez. you know why this is his favorite guitar? because as he has stated, it is in "perfect harmony with itself" it was built just right, in the right place, at the right time, the wood was harvested at the right time from the right tree and kept at the right humidity, the pickups had not a wind to many or to little, it was just harmonically perfect. and because of this, it has a very special playability and tone i leave you with this thought......

EVO could be the guitar your neighbor got at a yardsale for $10 last year and never plays, but hey, who would right??? it probably looks like shit........but it it a shame..... an incredible insrument is next door for the taking, but you have no interest because of price and the ugly stigma.

I personnaly beleive that the materials a guitar is made from makes a big difference to how a guitar sounds Tone woods for example, les pauls get their sound from a single slab of mahogany (Sustains like no other) and a Maple cap (adds brightness to the sound) 1 Piece neck with a 70 MM dove tail joint helps to mate the neck to the body improving the overal sound and resonance. machine heads stability of tuning, Pickups no squeal etc etc. having said this you can pay $100.00 for a guitar and it will be fantastic. there are no hard and fast rules but the quality does shine through on the more expensive guitars. its just a fact of life. Only my oppinion.