hello everyone!
not to sound biased or anything, but here's my 2 cents:
maganda rin yung us masters LG507 series. comparable to if not better than the GIOS - comment and review yan ng mga karamihan sa nag-testing at bumile, since i started selling it around 2009. sold 30+ units for the LG507 model alone for the US MASTERS brand (lefties included). spread out ang demographic from beginner to expert guitarists. most problem i got from selling it is a DOA (dead on arrival)unit, i think once lang nangyare. lucky you for getting it at a modest and reasonable price.
now, price does not always dictate quality. MARKETING and ECONOICS play a big part in determining prices. US street price ng US MASTERS LG507 is actually around $500 (made in china, currently discontinued, not the US CUSTOM built ones that go for $1000+). the thread starter got it for around P8,500 at a shop in quiapo. SRP yung P8500, yun talaga ang bentahan nyan. now, you may be asking yourself, dear reader, bakit P8500 lang ang bentahan, when converted $500 is around P22,000? simple - cost is low. nagbabagsak din minsan ng prices ang mga supplier (to clear old stocks mainly, overstocking, slow-moving inventory, B-stocks - just to name a few reasons, and all have passed Quality Control). considering brand position, it makes sense para ibenta ng mura ang item, kesa naman naka tengga sa display, lalo na pag maraming stocks- intsik styley business/supply and demand. with much respect to the one who commented na at P8500, it must be crap, would it change your view if the thread starter got it for P22,000? i think not. as with all things consumer-related, value is how each and everyone perceives it. at P8500, "budget guitar" pa rin yung LG507 kase pasok sa budget ng thread starter, di ba? he got the specs he wanted for minimal buck, he was happy with his purchase. installment pa, hehehe. if you have a bigger budget, let's say P30,000, go ahead and splurge. go for those well known brands. pero i assure you, meron ka ding ma-e-encounter na shi**y guitars. best advise across the board: busisiin mong mabuti.
maganda rin to shop sa classifieds for 2nd hands or pre-loved guitars. makaka score ka talaga dun. pero busisiin mo din mabuti yung axe, just the same as when you are checking out a brand new axe. but iba rin yung feeling ng bagong gamit, am i right? the peace of mind is all the better when you get a new axe or any item for that matter. speaking for myself, may warranty ka pa that would cover you for months. gratification-wise, ang saya din pag nakakuha ka ng second-hand na talagang good-deal and maganda talaga.
sorry for the lenghty read. anyway, congrats on your purchase, thread starter. do whatever the f*ck makes you happy. now enjoy your axe.