Thanks. I think that's all valuable context for a beginner thinking about using a very low-priced guitar.

I have been playing for 50 years at this point. I'm currently playing something similar to this (0) bought at GC for $329 and while the knobs and jack could stand to be replaced (especially if you are performing) it plays and sounds great. You do not need to spend more than $500 to get a solid electric guitar these days. You can definitely spend a lot more for a top tier brand like Fender, Gibson, PRS, Suhr, etc... but there is a lot of good value between $250 - $500.

[0]https://www.guitarcenter.com/Gretsch-Guitars/G5210-P90-Elect...

That price range will suit most players and many of these contemporary lower end guitars even have decent pickups with a sort of jack of all trades compromise, massive improvement over the low end pickups of the past. The next notch up in quality mostly is improved hardware and pickups tailored more to a style/sound, instruments for the performer who plays a lot and these instruments are generally a good value for those sorts. Above that it is questionable but there are some amazing instruments that justify their price, spending $2k on a guitar is not that expensive in the grand scheme if it is the right guitar for you and is the one which will be with you for life. We have a great range of instruments to pick from these days.

Ok but I think we're talking $400 not $150. And there are lemons in every price range, which a beginner can't really detect. Correct me if I'm wrong.

$150 guitars (from the reputable brands) tend to use about the same quality of hardware as the $400 guitars, they just use plywood and synthetic fingerboards and uncool woods which are generally uncool for stupid reasons. Add in a cheap paint job, a thousand fewer turns of copper on the pickup coils maybe made up for with a cheaper stronger magnet and you are getting into the $150 range. Setup and playing wise they tend to be about the same as the $400 guitars.

There are lemons in every price range which no one can detect, it is the nature of wood.

I appreciate this perspective. To oversimplify, you're challenging total beginners to self-teach guitar repair at a level beyond what normal guitar shops offer. I'm very impressed that you got there, but I don't "want to play" that badly.

Here's my perspective. I have access to YouTube and I've tried to fix my Marauder. Two shops have tried, although one guy admitted he was working from YouTube. (I'm certain it's fixable. It's two pieces of wood with a bridge and a nut on it. The neck is straight enough to be very playable.) But I have a job and a family and I'm not luthier material. I finally gave up and bought an old Fender for too much money. $800 or something. I play it. It stays in tune.

I confess I have some brand-name vulnerability to Fender. "Classic" whatever whatever. I don't want an Ibanez, I want a Tele. I'm the kind of guy who would buy that yellowy "antique white" color if I could. So probably I could get a better guitar for the same money if I knew the less famous brands.

Plus the metalheads (or somebody) have run up the prices on Ibanez guitars.

Developing repair skills beyond those offered by most guitar shops is not a high bar considering most shops don't offer repair and just have a "tech" whose training stops at intonation and truss rod adjustment, the stuff required for basic setup. Personally, I think every guitarist should learn setup even if they plan on paying someone to do it, it is not difficult or time consuming to learn and if you can tune a guitar you can do a setup. I did not challenge anyone and to suggest I did is a misrepresentation, not an oversimplification.

>Your attitude toward playing seems like my attitude toward my profession, which I'm actually good at.

It is the attitude required to get good .

You're arguing with yourself. Anybody can hit "parent" a few times and see exactly what you wrote up-thread.

> If you really want to play you will play regardless of the instrument you have.

That's just you, not for any other musician who aspire to improve their technique and isn't so poor that a better instrument is completely out of reach.

I was playing piano on a budget Yamaha digital piano, and as soon as I could afford it, I upgraded it. I upgraded to an upright again. I knew my progress will be hampered by the lack of dynamics and proper key actions. The sound just isn't expressive.