Dean EVO Guitar

With guitars, you usually get what you pay for (unless you buy a new Gibson, in which case you get much less than you pay for). More money usually gets you some blend of better materials, better workmanship, better feel, better sound, better re-sale value.

Play it and see if you like it. If more than one is available, play them all to see if one plays / feels better than its siblings.

People buy guitars for different reasons. If it meets your needs, great. If not, don't buy it.

I guess the sub-text of my advice is, don't expect a lot of quality in cheap instruments.

My gold standard for acoustic guitars under $1,000 is Seagull (manufactured by Godin). I don't know if they have any leftie models.

Thanks Nelson. Out of curiosity, do you have the "generic" EVO (for lack of a better adjective)? I know they start pretty cheap, but the one I'm looking at - the lefty Special Select - sells for $550. I checked the Dean website and a few of their EVO models (there are several) have generic no-name components. I'm wondering if the Special Select, with the Grover Tuners, Zebra p/u and nickel hardware may be a step up in quality. Obviously I'm aware that this is no Gibson LP, but unfortunately I don't have $1,000+ to dish out on a guitar... as much as I'd love one. Anyway, I should be able to test one out sometime this week once it arrives at my "neighborhood" music store.

Here's a link to the Special Select on the Dean site - Dean EVO Special Select

Now, why did I think you were shopping for an acoustic? Sorry...

BlindDog's advice about the Epi LP makes sense to me, especially if you like the neck, because you can always come back later and upgrade the pickups / wiring (or, you might like them fine as is).

One avenue I would consider if I were in your place is a Washburn, for the simple reason that they come with the Buzz Feiten tuning system. E.g., http://www.washburn.com/electrics/x/x30.htm As always, you can always upgrade the pickups if you don't like them...

All the above assumes you can get something in a lefty, but I don't know if you can.

As for the Dean, I would think a sub-$2,000 guitar with figured maple (I assume it is a veneer, but still, that is some expensive wood!) is seriously scrimping on quality somewhere. If I can't afford the whole package, I would trade off the eye candy for a player any day. If the scrimping is on pickups, wiring harnesses, and replaceable hardware, no big deal - you eventually end up with a $1000 guitar but get to pay for it in upgrades as you go along. However, if they scrimp on tone woods, poor necks, bad fret jobs, poor quality control of the manufacturing process, etc., you would do better just to leave it alone - and, remember, by the time you get around to trying to sell it, its reputation in the market will be well-known.

Speaking of which, have you heard from anyone who has had one for a couple of years?

I googled "left handed guitars." Pretty interesting. E.g., http://www.zzounds.com/cat--2645. Lots more hits than that one. I hadn't thought about Ibanez. Might be worth a look (Unless you want to go straight for the Flying V - did I ever tell you I am so old that I once saw Wishbone Ash in concert?)

I haven't tried any of the EVO models, but I tried one their (Deans) Telecaster style guitars, which was better than i expected.
The wood and the workmanship was nice, pickups could have been upgraded.

I have been gigging with a Dean EVO Special Select Lefty for a couple of years. No problems, great action,good workmanship for the dollars. IMO, much better than the Epi. I have owned Carvin, Epi, Raven, Washburn, Yamaha and Fenders and prefer this for bang for the buck.