Mid-range guitar recommendations

[repoman]

I've currently got three budget electric guitars.  I've never cared about getting anything fancy as a player as I believe you should be able to shred any guitar.  They're all playable these days.

 

But I don't want three electrics.  So I'm looking to consolidate down to one really decent guitar.  Somewhere in the £500-700 range.  Something I can depend on for a decade or two.

 

My three guitars now are:

1 - Harley Benton Fusion Tele (which looks gorgeous and has a tremolo).  I love it.  It never goes out of tune ever but it's a bit clunky to play.  I've never been able to get the neck perfect.

2- Ibanez AS53.  Gorgeous but doesn't stay in tune very well.  No trem.

3 - Ibanez RGsomething or other.  Nice and shreddy but heavy and no trem.

 

I'm looking for something that looks good (so no Strats), has a trem (pref. non locking nuts) and good for everything from shred to jazz.

 

Any ideas?

 

I'm drawn to the EVH guitars but they do have locking nuts on the trem ones.

 

[ezbass]

PRS SE CE24

[Crusoe]

On 30/06/2025 at 15:33, repoman said:

I've currently got three budget electric guitars.  I've never cared about getting anything fancy as a player as I believe you should be able to shred any guitar.  They're all playable these days.

 

But I don't want three electrics.  So I'm looking to consolidate down to one really decent guitar.  Somewhere in the £500-700 range.  Something I can depend on for a decade or two.

 

My three guitars now are:

1 - Harley Benton Fusion Tele (which looks gorgeous and has a tremolo).  I love it.  It never goes out of tune ever but it's a bit clunky to play.  I've never been able to get the neck perfect.

2- Ibanez AS53.  Gorgeous but doesn't stay in tune very well.  No trem.

3 - Ibanez RGsomething or other.  Nice and shreddy but heavy and no trem.

 

I'm looking for something that looks good (so no Strats), has a trem (pref. non locking nuts) and good for everything from shred to jazz.

 

Any ideas?

 

I'm drawn to the EVH guitars but they do have locking nuts on the trem ones.

 

Have you ever thought of taking the Fusion to a guitar tech to set up? Maybe they can get the neck closer to the way you want it. I'm surprised that the AS53 doesn't stay in tune. I have an AS73 and it stays in tune pretty well - just the occasional slight tweak needed. I would imagine it has the same hardware as the AS53.