pourmeanother

I'm looking to upgrade my guitar, but I'm not even sure where to start. I'm new to this game, so when somebody starts throwing out different pickup names and the like- I get lost.

I currently have a Jackson electric, which was purchased 6 years ago solely because it was 50% off and I was told it was a nice entry guitar for beginners. I've played sporadically over that time, never really giving my ax the attention it deserved. I'd classify myself as entering into the world of intermediate guitar.

Anyway, I'm ready to spend some more time at this, and I'm ready for an upgrade. What do I like to play? I mostly enjoy classic rock, and modern blues rock - see: The Black Keys. What kinds of guitars suit these styles? What primary difference in sound am I going to hear from a hollow-body vs. solid?

My price range is under $1000. The cheaper the better, but I won't sacrifice quality just for the sake of cost.

I've been recommended:

-Gibson Dot (for bluesy stuff - $665 listed)
-Les Paul Standard ($832 listed)

I've also looked at these guys online: Gibson G-400, Ibanez AR300, Gibson ES-175, Fender Telecaster.... but, like I said, I don't know the difference and how each would apply to my style.

So, to cut this short.... please let me know your thoughts on any of the above guitars, and also any others you might recommend based off what I've said above. I'd really appreciate the insight and guidance. I'll use the information to go to a local guitar shop, pick up some models, and give them a try-- but I need a jumping off point. Thanks!

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GuitarBizarre

http://www.musicbanter.com/talk-inst...on-guitar.html

That should tell you enough to warn you away from Gibson (and fender to an extent)

THe primary difference in sound from hollow bodies to solid is that hollow bodies have a woolier lower end that isn't as defined. On the other hand, they generally have good clean tones and they have a nice percussive attack that suits some styles fantastically well.

From an 'all arounder' perspective, you'll want to go for a solid body. They're more ubiquitous and can generally do just about everything.

As for which guitar to go for, it sounds to me like Mr Dave may have more info for you than I do for now. Partially because right now I'm too tired to type up everything I know that might pertain to your choices, and partially because he works a lot more within your kind of style than I do. I can certainly add to his advice, but my approach to guitar has always been very shredding oriented.Partially because of my playing, partially because those instruments tend to be fantastically versatile overall.

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pourmeanother

Thanks for the information. I do not care whether or not my guitar is name brand, so it's good to know about Gibson. I also don't want to drop $1000 for a fukin' beater. I may steer clear if there are good alternatives. I've heard a lot of praise for the Les Paul, though; it seems like there is a big split, like a love it or hate it type of feeling. Somebody also just threw out Paul Reed Smith guitars, and looking at their site I love the models I see- very clean... but again, don't know the technical information.

Look forward to hearing from Senor Dave, and any other insight you have to offer.

__________________
Life is just blah, blah, blah
You hope for blah
And sometimes you find it, but mostly it's blah
And waiting for blah
And hoping you were right about the blahs you made
And then, just when you think you've got the whole blah'd damn thing figured out
And you're surrounded by the ones you blah
Death shows up... anddd blah, blah, blah.

KelticKalamity

He just got one bad one so he posted against Gibson due to bitterness

Most Gibsons are very nice and well-made. My band's guitarist has one as well as a distant relative.

However, I recommend testing out an Epiphone Les Paul before you spend a ton of money.

You can get one for around 400-500 dollars and then spend a little extra for some humbuckers or whatever pickups you want.

That's my two cents

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GuitarBizarre

How very presumptuous of you, who has 2 posts, and joined this month. I assume you know everything about me now, based on one negative comment towards Gibson?

However, you're wrong. I've never owned a Gibson. Know why? Because I've played enough of them to determine that their quality control is WAY below the Pricing. That includes my uncles, a friend who owned 2, and over a decade of hanging around in guitar shops trying whatever took my fancy.

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Now playing on Winamp: Porcupine Tree - Arriving Somewhere But Not Here
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KelticKalamity

Oh great, another uppity forum boy who judges people based on post count.

Don't condescend to me just because this is my first time on THIS particular music forum.

Yes, they're a bit overpriced, but my point still remains valid. If they weren't well-made, they wouldn't have any business, would they?

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The hole is more honorable than the patch.

GuitarBizarre

No, I'm judging you based on the fact you've been here a very short length of time, and haven't engaged in the community long enough to have any clue who I am or why I think what I think. Despite this you still felt yourself more than well enough informed to make assumptions on why I hold the opinion I just stated.

As for 'a bit overpriced', I mentioned I've played more than a few Gibsons. The Les Paul Studios my friend owned (Price near to a thousand pounds on GAK) were absolutely destroyed on all levels by not only my S2170FW (£799) but also in terms of playability and features, were beaten out by an RGT42DXFM (£439) another friend had recently purchased. It was also handily beaten by the Epiphone Zakk Wylde Signature a friend named Tim was very fond of playing at the time. (£599)

Thats not 'a little overpriced', thats just price gouging. The ONLY reason they can get away with it is because they're Gibson, and they have a reputation so HUGELY undeserved, that even non-guitarists are aware of them as a company, and as such they sell a huge amount of guitars to people who will either never play, or will never assume anything better is out there, and so will be happy with the medicre performance of their Gibsons, because they never see any need to upgrade to anything except another Gibson model.

And lets not even BEGIN to consider their more 'upmarket' guitars, like the GOTM series or the multitude of £4000+ models whose differences are largely cosmetic over the lower end models.


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Now playing on Winamp: Sal - Final Fantasy 10 Guardian's Sending OC ReMix
via FoxyTunes

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mr dave

actually if a new brand came out and started trying to sell electric guitars at gibson's prices with their current quality control they'd be laughed off the walls. not just by shredders either (i can't comment on their acoustics). gibson is surviving by name at the moment and i won't be surprised to see them ending up like fender after saturating the market with too much product and having to drop the prices on their name line.

the last time i checked out entry level gibsons they were nasty looking. if they can't get something as basic as the paint job right then i'm not confident in their ability to get anything more complicated right. doesn't change the fact that a '74 les paul is still BY FAR the most amazing guitar i've ever tried.

like you said, epiphones are just as nice and with an upgrade can sound just as good as a classic. except you can take home two or three for the price of a gibson.

either way, love them, hate them, play them, ignore them, it makes no real difference, a musician's sound has always and will always come from their heart.

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KelticKalamity

Next time, focus on the actual argument as opposed to protecting your ego

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The hole is more honorable than the patch.

GuitarBizarre

Parts of post in bold are directly contradicting my earlier advice, based on your assumptions, which as i pointed out, were wrong.

I was therefore replying to THAT part of your post, which directly contradicted my own and therefore formed the second of the 2 different viewpoints necessary to have an 'argument'.

The second half addressed nothing of what I had said earlier, as it was a different company, therefore an argument on that point would have been impossible.

Since we have now established that the only argument possible, is in fact NOT the one you are claiming we have just had, I'm forced to conclude you're a ****ing idiot who just doesn't want to admit another opinion may well have some basis in fact despite its opposition to your OWN viewpoint.


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Now playing on Winamp: Nina Simone - Seems I'm Never Tried Lovin' You
via FoxyTunes

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