I wanted to add another thing, an unfortunate fact of the guitar industry . . . just like knives, I suppose. Companies that built their reputations on quality workmanship at "player" prices are no longer what they once were. I look at my `90s USA Jacksons and recognize that I couldn't buy an equal instrument today for less than triple what I paid. That's not to say that they can't build a good guitar at a fair price, but it will no longer be American made, or even Japanese (like their "cheap" imports of that era) and certainly not with the heavy-duty hardware that have kept mine gig-worthy for many years. I bought a Fender Squier when I was in high school in the early `90s, and for the low price of $200 earned flipping burgers, I was the envy of my friends and bandmates. That guitar could stand up to a "real" Fender made nowadays, which I doubt would be the case of a current Squier. I doubt any could identify what kind of wood is used to build a current one. The greatest travesty might be the demise of Hamer. I don't mean the latter-day, high-dollar Gibson and PRS copies they cranked out, but the beauties they were building for the rock and metal guys 20+ years ago. Those were some amazing guitars, with incredible finishes and top-notch hardware superior even to the nicest Jacksons and ESPs of the day. I was lucky enough to score a used one for dirt cheap, which is one of only two guitars that I absolutely won't gig with in the interest of keeping it in the best condition possible. They simply aren't available on the used market in that condition anymore.
But enough "good ol' days" crap out of me. If you haven't already, check out Carvin. They do the build-to-order thing the way few other American makers can in this day and age. Not what I would consider true custom builds, but close enough for most players to get what they want without selling organs on the black market.
