3 Guitars under $700

Hey guys....

I've always been a fan of gear that sounds and plays awesome, without spending a ton... I know that can especially be a concern when you're learning an instrument, or if you're short on cash, but want a great playing guitar. I thought I'd write a little post about 3 guitars that I'd recommend in the under $700 price range....here goes!


1. Paul Reed Smith SE Singlecut

Price: $665
Manufactured in: Korea
Scale: 25"
Think HN songs: "The 1 Thing I Have Left" and "You Have What I Need"

The first guitar that comes to mind in this price range is one I've actually used myself quite a bit. Paul Reed Smith has always impressed me with their quality control, and this guitar is no different. The guitar has a SOLID feel to it.... doesn't feel cheap at all. There's a great sense of weight to it, although it's not overly heavy.

The stock pickups are really quite good. They're on the brighter side, but the solid-ness of the body translates through the pickups as well, so the end result is a balanced, clear tone that can provide beefy chords when necessary, as well as soaring leads when called upon.

Incidentally, I used an SE Singlecut for EVERY SINGLE LEAD part on my "Under The Canopy" record, even though I had more expensive guitars at my disposal.... That's how much I love this guitar.









2. Paul Reed Smith SE Soapbar

Price: $499
Manufactured in: Korea
Scale: 25"
Think HN Songs: "Friend Like That" and "The Show"

This second guitar may look similar to the first, but it's an entirely different animal... The single-coil soapbar pickups on this PRS are lower output, and much "spankier" than the humbuckers in the SE singlecut. This is probably the lowest priced guitar in my list, so if cash is factor number one, go for this one!

This guitar covers a lot of ground that a Fender Stratocaster would, but with a LOT more attention to quality and playability. The scale is 25", which is a half inch shorter than Fender's scale. That means that the strings will be a little looser, and that means less ouch on your fingers. It makes for a more comfortable playing experience.

PRS's SE Soapbar guitar has been through a bit of a design change over the last year or two... While it used to be a double-cutaway design, they've moved to a single-cutaway design. If you prefer the double-cutaway design, I think you can still find them around in various places.








3. Paul Reed Smith SE Semi-Hollow

Price: $715
Manufactured in: Korea
Scale: 25"
Think HN Songs: "Everything You Ever Wanted" and "Fourteen"

I realize I'm stretching the <$700 budget on this one, but it's SO worth it. This guitar impresses me incredibly for the price tag. It's a semi-hollow version of their SE Custom... and it's built with more style, class, and taste, than I could have imagined.

The dual humbuckers are similar to those placed in the SE singlecut, but the semi-hollow body adds a distinct flavor to the tone. For those in the market for a 335-ish type guitar with a smaller body, this is it. Plus, these guitars are just so well-made.

I realize the all three guitars on my list have been PRSes, and that is simply because I believe they make guitars of much higher quality than the competition in this price range. They really are dedicated to quality at every price point.




So go out and enjoy some well-priced, well-made guitars, and have fun!



Check out prsguitars.com to learn more about these guitars, and check for dealers in your area!