Versatile guitar for under $250?

If you want versatile avoid one-trick ponies like the current Gibson MelodyMaker which is a punk rock tool and not much else. Likewise lightweight strats with puny pickups will give you a trash surf sound but not much else. Fat strat's do have alot to recommend them, particularly the SSH combination.

However buying a guitar can't be stripped down to a simple technical purchase equation. There are emotions at work, things like colour and shape. If you don't like the colour or an instrument is too showy or just isn't you then you'll just end up not playing or selling it sooner. A big ole Gretsch can give a rockin sound but for alot of people they're way too countrified.

When I'm going round guitar shops instruments speak to me like my current bass, no looker and a one-trick pony soundwise; but it's a great one-trick. Suits me...

I would recommend trying a Cort G series guitar which has two single coil pickups + a twin coil (humbucker) at the bridge which also has a coil tap to convert the humbucker to a single coil (as on a Strat).

Check out the reviews at Harmony Central - http://reviews.harmony-central.com/revi … brand/Cort

The G250 has a good review at - http://www.regentguitars.co.uk/richards-choice-g250.htm

Detman101, this is just a link to a review, I'm not suggesting a trip to the UK

I've just bought a Spider III 75w and it's absolutely awesome.

Detman, every time the wind took me over the big ocean to the USA, we tried ALWAYS to avoid Interstates. So you drive on smaller roads and you pass a lot of interesting villages.
Every single village in the USA, it was a relevation for me, has, besides the classics, like HAMBURGERS, or Kentucky Fried Chicken, and often a Motel, also a pawnshop. It is a phenomenon we don't really have in Europe. In Chicago, I bought a very beautiful but VERY expensive watch, I asked the retail price in a jewellery store, using as excuse a question about that watch. They still could order an extra bracelet, and they told that my watch was real (I didn't ask the price) and very expensive. On the other hand, you still are able to do great business, WHEN YOU ARE LUCKY, and find a great guitar, but I noticed, going every time I was in the US, that pawnshops start  more and more to be part of a BIG ENTITY like Burgerking, and worse, they start to know the value of guitars, compared to a few years before. I even saw in a pawnshop, a TAYLOR, who was as expensive as a new one. But still, and more in the Midwest, you can do good business, and KNOW the price before you enter. About CORT, they have real nice and affordable guitars. For us Europeans, it is 30% cheaper to buy there a guitar, and without thinking about an € versus a $ they were already 20-30% cheaper compared to Europe.
A brandnew Gibson SG standard is 50% more in price in a guitar store here.
You will pay here 1000€ (=$700 now) for the same guitar, sold in a store for 750$ in the USA.
Conclusion: for us, Europeans, your ticket and hotel, are paid with the profit from buying there.
Customs: no problem, I used to know and to have the serial number, and also a letter from a friend here, that he sold me that guitar for that price.
This and other things are always more exciting. Great names as Gibson and Fender, start more and more to produce lower priced, so more affordable guitars.

Are you feelin' a bit adventerous? Have a looky-see at this here gee-tar!!

http://www.adirondackguitar.com/electri … y/menu.htm

or a bit more practical;

http://www.adirondackguitar.com/electri … _amber.htm

and one more option;

http://www.adirondackguitar.com/electri … stiger.htm

I've bought several guitars from these guys and the product and service has been first rate each and time.