www.wayneguitars.com
check them out... it really depends on what you want. That's wayne charvel's new company (the guy who started charvel, and most hot rod fenders). I have one, best neck on a guitar I have. I do like the petrucci model. difference are.. you can't get a piezo, or JPs custom pickups (i dont like the drop sonic anyway, and you can get the air norton and steve's special) The waynes are strats.. but are custom how ever you want it. Given that you are going to spend up to 2400, I hope you have enough experience playing to have a feel for what you like. Wayne, and his son Mike do most of all the work, one at a time.. very good jobs. If you konw what you want.. you can order the wood, and pickups, have them position switches as you want. And Mike charvel does some killer finishes. If you want something that looks cool, I would definatly consider those. I have the leopard finish (i think they filmed the painting of it too) and it looks really great. Top notch hardware too. They deal direct now, so you can talk to them to get a feel for what you want... I talked a lot with them on the phone after I got my guitar, nice guys.
I would love to get another one custom made from them.
I also have been enjoying my knock off LP alot too and would like to have a real Gibson.
I have a "rock legend" wayne.. the typical strat shape. They make a villian which is a jackson soloist body.. and they also make the mean greanie. and the funky shapes from the 80's.
btw.. I dont think anyone here is going to be able to tell you that a guitar has a good lead and crunch tone. That's all in your pickups and wood choice.. but mostly fingers. So make sure you get a guitar with humbuckers.. you can always swap them if you feel something lacking.
I'd say go to a few guitar stores and play alot of guitars... it's a lot of money to spend.. do the research on what comfy in your hands.
and side note.. im going to take that money and buy a mark IV (blindly cause no one stocks them) unless i wait till namm and hear of some other cooler amp... I was gonna get a roadster.. but the pop annoys me.. and i want the older metallica sound.. and the John Petrucci rythym too..
here's an idea.. buy 2 $1000 guitars.. or 4 $500 dollar guitars.. and tune them all different and swap out pickups... come on... "how many guitars is enough?" "Just one more
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