Best mid range value for money floyded fiddle

Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 1487 Location: Atlanta, GA

I am starting to kick tires on a floyded super strat. Must be available in the US at less than $700 new. Neck thru is desired but not a deal breaker. I want name brand pickups , preferably EMGs but Duncan's/DiMarzios will do. I would like to avoid the Floyd rose special if possible.

Best value for money so far appears to be the Dean Custom 550 and the BC Rich ASM Pro. In fact I would bet they are made in the same factory if I had to guess. I have no experience with either but have played the V Jr variant of similar specs with the ASM and it was great. Anyone have experience with the 550? What other models can compete?

Joined: 30 Jul 2005 Posts: 13232 Location: MA

I would check out a BC Rich Assassin, which can be found for about $299 online.

It has a floyd special, but I haven't heard any bad things about them to be honest.

At this price point a pickup swap will keep you well below your price point

Joined: 01 May 2008 Posts: 1487 Location: Atlanta, GA

MZDA wrote:

I would check out a BC Rich Assassin, which can be found for about $299 online.

It has a floyd special, but I haven't heard any bad things about them to be honest.

At this price point a pickup swap will keep you well below your price point

Yeah but the ASM Pro is an assassin essentially but already has EMGs and an FRT1000 those parts alone make up the difference in cost, pretty much. I have played a special equipped guitar and it was "ok" in operation but the fine tuners weren't very smooth and I would like to avoid stripping parts of it if possible, which is a concern on most LFRs I have owned.

Joined: 27 Feb 2006 Posts: 13396 Location: Earth

Charvel hands down. There are some of the US made San Dimas and SoCal floating around at dealers for around $700 and the newer Japanese versions for around $999. They have real Dimarzio and Duncan pups and the good PING Floyd Rose system and come in killer finishes with either a case or a nice gig bag depending on what model/year you get. The US ones came in bags and the Japanese ones come in the nice SKB Fender style moulded case.

These two are both used but mint.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHARVEL-SO-CAL-Pro-Mod-Electric-Guitar-Candy-Blue-MIJ-with-Case-/110977282179?pt=Guitar&hash=item19d6c2f083

http://www.ebay.com/itm/CHARVEL-SO-CAL-Pro-Mod-Electric-Guitar-Candy-Red-MIJ-with-Case-/310512508428?pt=Guitar&hash=item484bfcde0c

Joined: 07 Aug 2007 Posts: 2740 Location: Southeast MI

I like the Floyd Rose Special after a brass big block upgrade personally. Just my thoughts. Charvel would be great like was stated above.