Copies have always been around. Lee is right, a good genuine holds or increases in value; that's pretty much a fact. But, a copy can be fun for trying out and (this is pretty much a fact) cheapo crummy copies now are a million light years better than copies of 20 years ago.
If you want to pootle around with something different, Stagg are alright. As are Rondo Music's stuff. Have a look for the Saein (where's my Korean spellchecker?) company. The're punting out a lot of product that probably gets relabelled. AFAIK, Stagg's European distribution is handled by a Belgian company. Nothing wrong with that; just don't fall into the idea that something's better because a German may have looked at it.
If you like, you buy. What do you lose - 150 bucks? The problem is (and here I agree with Lee) you could spend silly money upping the pups, and the jack and pots, then the tuners, etc. If you're happy with it as is, then that's the best reason to buy and I wouldn't worry about other opinions. As a "porch guitar", the Stagg is fine, but there are others too. I envy you, though. I bought a ply Hondo in '87 for £145 and it's just too embarrassing to list on Fleeb now.
OTOH...
Copies have always been around. Lee is right, a good genuine holds or increases in value; that's pretty much a fact. But, a copy can be fun for trying out and (this is pretty much a fact) cheapo crummy copies now are a million light years better than copies of 20 years ago.
If you want to pootle around with something different, Stagg are alright. As are Rondo Music's stuff. Have a look for the Saein (where's my Korean spellchecker?) company. The're punting out a lot of product that probably gets relabelled. AFAIK, Stagg's European distribution is handled by a Belgian company. Nothing wrong with that; just don't fall into the idea that something's better because a German may have looked at it.
If you like, you buy. What do you lose - 150 bucks? The problem is (and here I agree with Lee) you could spend silly money upping the pups, and the jack and pots, then the tuners, etc. If you're happy with it as is, then that's the best reason to buy and I wouldn't worry about other opinions. As a "porch guitar", the Stagg is fine, but there are others too. I envy you, though. I bought a ply Hondo in '87 for £145 and it's just too embarrassing to list on Fleeb now.