Beginner Guitarist

GuitarBizarre · 12-06-2009, 12:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FadedMyxomatosis

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Personally I'd go with the Les Paul or SG, but that's just me. They're all good guitars with decent pickups. Try them out at the guitar store and see which one feels best to you, and go with that one. Have them replace the strings or do it yourself, as the stock strings usually suck. Ernie Ball strings are an excellent choice! Make sure the guitar you buy looks nice to you. As was said by Mr Dave, you want a guitar that appeals to you- not the cheapest one.

Now, amps. I'd go with a Marshall.

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Thats perfectly loud. My guess is that you wont be playing gigs for a while, and so that amplifier would be perfectly loud.

Hope it all goes well, do tell what you ended up choosing- good luck!

I've played les paul specials and SG specials before. They're AWFUL guitars and I would avoid them if at all possible.

The Squier strats are pound for pound one of the best starter deals available right now. I would reccomend you get a Fat Strat, not a normal one though, since it'll be a much more versatile guitar. Something like this.

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As for the amp, all beginner amps sound like total crap, sorry, but its a fact. Just go down to the shop and choose the one that sounds best to you, and don't expect too much.

bandteacher1 · 12-06-2009, 09:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

I've played les paul specials and SG specials before. They're AWFUL guitars and I would avoid them if at all possible.

I agree with you there. In my opinion, they are better served as fire wood. At least then, they'd be useful.

FadedMyxomatosis · 12-09-2009, 06:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GuitarBizarre

I've played les paul specials and SG specials before. They're AWFUL guitars and I would avoid them if at all possible.

Yeah, that gives him alot of information. Care to explain why?

mr dave · 12-09-2009, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FadedMyxomatosis

Yeah, that gives him alot of information. Care to explain why?

because the Special models are usually made very cheaply. the tuning pegs are usually crap and the neck is usually a little on the loose side.

if you're on a budget they'll work fine. if you want a cheap beater that won't ever die and don't mind replacing the tuning pegs yourself, it's fantastic (i've had one for 10 years). it was super frustrating to have to tune up every 30 minutes or so when i knew what i was doing, i can't imagine putting up with that when i was trying to learn.

the higher end Epiphone SGs and LPs (the ones around $800) are significantly better quality and worthy of the implied quality of being associated to the Gibson brand.

while they might look nice, there are more options at the beginner level (sub $300) than you can shake a stick at, so why start looking with something that has a shoddy reputation?

FadedMyxomatosis · 12-10-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

because the Special models are usually made very cheaply. the tuning pegs are usually crap and the neck is usually a little on the loose side.

if you're on a budget they'll work fine. if you want a cheap beater that won't ever die and don't mind replacing the tuning pegs yourself, it's fantastic (i've had one for 10 years). it was super frustrating to have to tune up every 30 minutes or so when i knew what i was doing, i can't imagine putting up with that when i was trying to learn.

the higher end Epiphone SGs and LPs (the ones around $800) are significantly better quality and worthy of the implied quality of being associated to the Gibson brand.

while they might look nice, there are more options at the beginner level (sub $300) than you can shake a stick at, so why start looking with something that has a shoddy reputation?

I have a real Epiphone SG, the G400. Good guitars aren't cheap.

Mine is something like 700$ retail- I bought it for 200. It was slightly used, but once could barely tell aside from the 1/4 inch long gash on the back.

To the OP, you might want something used- they often work extremely well and are often half price or more.

mr dave · 12-10-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FadedMyxomatosis

I have a real Epiphone SG, the G400. Good guitars aren't cheap.

Mine is something like 700$ retail- I bought it for 200. It was slightly used, but once could barely tell aside from the 1/4 inch long gash on the back.

To the OP, you might want something used- they often work extremely well and are often half price or more.

right... that's why the SPECIAL models that you originally linked got trashed. getting a $700 guitar for $200 (which is around what the Specials retail for) is the kind of ridiculous deal i'm still hoping to score someday (17 years after getting my first guitar - if i remember right that's 4 more years than you've breathed oxygen).

as for your comment about used gear, that's just wrong. the normal used price is between 66-80% of retail, to get a deal better than half price means you're either dealing with a thief, junkie, or total moron, and only one of those would have the ability to run a business. plus a business doesn't stay open by selling product for less than half of its value.

and those are prices in a a pawn shop WANTING to move used gear. the average price for used gear online is closer to the actual retail price without taxes, maybe rolled down to the nearest 10.

it's not to say that used gear is bad or a ripoff (and hasn't been discussed many times on the site...), but you need to have an idea of what your doing first before you start dealing with it. otherwise, it's FAR too easy to end up disappointed.

take this however you will but i'd be hard pressed to take advice from someone who considers a 1/4 inch gash along the side of a guitar to be an instrument that barely seems used. it might not have been used much but it's most definitely been abused a lot.