Guitars

[Iniamyen]

Need some good advice...

This summer I have an internship (aerospace engineering) and it's going to be the first summer I'm not taking college courses. So, I've decided that I want to buy and teach myself to learn to play a guitar. Fundamentally, I have a pretty good musical background (trumpet for 6+ years), and I have played around with guitars before. But I've never become any good.

I'm looking for a guitar which isn't necessarily a "beginner's," as I would like it to last me awhile if/when I become any better. Also, I can't afford anything ungodly expensive, simply because I don't have that much money.

I would say that I have a budget of a maximum of $500. Does anyone have any knowledgeable suggestions as to what I should look at? Thanks in advance.

edit: Sorry for not mentioning, I would like to get an electric.

[DrZaius]

Can't go wrong with a Fender Standard or Fat Strat. Great tone and versatile sound.

[Iniamyen]

It seems as though my limit of $500 would easily be met with a stratocaster, not even including an amplifier, case, etc... I'm wondering are the suggested retails that they list pretty much bottom line when it comes to going out and buying one at a store?

[lil Jimmie]

In my area most shops say they will match the prices at http://www.musiciansfriend.com

Ibanez is another one to look at you might also list what sound you are looking for.

[Iniamyen]

Well I don't have all that much experience with guitars, but I would like something that does acoustic sound thru an amp fairly well (not just distortion.) If this helps at all

[ScurrilousPrune]

For the amp, get a Fender Princeton Chorus 80s version with red knobs (about $250 on Ebay) they have very clean clean channels, or a Traynor TRM40 Reverb Mate 40 Combo here: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/480968/

For the guitar, a Squier strat will do for about $200. Check some of these: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...5/fc=0/it=Q3RX

There's also lower end Ibanezs like the RG321 here: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/519643/

There's also the ESP LTD M100FM here: http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/...se_pid/516643/

You also need a distortion pedal and a couple cords, try out a Boss DS-1 or a Russian Big Muff Pi.

As for learning guitar, there are lots of online resources, some include http://www.tabcrawler.com which I regularly post at, http://www.mxtabs.net which has lots of tablature to learn, and http://www.cyberfret.com which has lots on online tutorials. Keep on rockin!

As for me, I play a Fender Princeton Chorus 80s red knob version, a cheap $100 Yamaha Fat Strat which I got through a JCPenneys catalog, and a Russian Big Muff Pi for my distortion. The amp comes with its own chorus and distortion also but you can use the distortion with the pedal and sort of overdrive it for Jimi Hendrix effects.

[Mr N8]

I've been playing for 5 years, and my next guitar will most likely be an Ibanez. Look at the Ibanez Artcore AFS75T for a great guitar for all situations. Its a semi-hollow, so you can unplug and it will sound just fine.

If you want to go with a solid body, the Fender Strat is the best way to go, especially if you want a good acoustic like sound through an amp. Try to find an American Strat, though, for the best quality and sound.

[discodanman45]

The new Epiphone electric guitars are real sweet! I know we all wish that we could get a Les Paul Gibson guitar, but I am also a poor student and have to get the Epiphone knock offs. I hate Fenders with a passion, I would recommend a good Epiphone over a Strat any day. Whoever mentioned the Squier should be banned from this forum The band Nerf Herder said it best in their lyrics, "Any guitar will do, anything but a squier"

I would really suggest a good acoustic to learn on. The reasoning for this
1) If you get an electric guitar you are going to need a good amp that will run you $200 (I would recommend Peavey amps, best bang for your buck). A cheap amp will make a good guitar sound bad, a good amp will make a cheap guitar sound good.
2) You will be living around people and playing an electric guitar might upset people, especially since you will be bad.
3) Acoustic guitars are harder to play which will strengthen your fingers more and will make the transition to electric a breeze in the future. The transition to acoustic from electric is not as easy.
4) Electric guitar string will destroy your fingers, if you play quite a bit expect bleeding from the thin strings.
5) Electric guitars can't be played wthout an amp, acoustic can be played through an amp or without.
6) Electric guitars are harder to keep in tune, plan to spend a lot of time with an electric tuner.

If you want a specific electric Epiphone that would be the best bang for the buck let me know and I will check some online stores for you. I have a $400 acoustic epiphone and it is a beautiful guitar. I also have a $200 electric epiphone and it also plays very well for the money.

[ScurrilousPrune]

Originally posted by discodanman45 Whoever mentioned the Squier should be banned from this forum

I just figured since he was a beginner it really doesn't matter what guitar you have as long as you have a good amp. My friend has a Squier and when I play it it sounds pretty good, and that it stock with a cheap amp too. Also, if you customize it with pickups and whatnot its even better. Epiphones are good too.

[discodanman45]

ScurrilousPrune, I was just poking a little fun, sorry if you took it the wrong way. The new squires are probably decent because technology has improved dramastically for the electronics of guitars. I agree that a good amp is actually more important then a good guitar. For the money I would stick with a good Epiphone electric guitar.

By the way Iniamyen, what type of music do you listen too? If you like older rock I might suggest a Fender to you. If you like punk and other types of newer rock I would suggest a Gibson type guitar. A Fender sounds a little twangy to me for modern rock/punk and about 90% of punk musicians play Gibson style guitars.

[Iniamyen]

When you say Gibson "style" what do you mean? Are there any differences in quality between the two styles (inherently), or do they just sound different?

[discodanman45]

They sound different mainly because of the pickups used for the guitars. The Gibsons use double humbucker pickups for their guitars and that gives a better deep sound. the Fender guitars are supposed to get a cleaner sound from their pickups, but in most music today the Gibson guitars are preferred. No one really plays Hendrix type music these days.

[ScurrilousPrune]

Originally posted by discodanman45 No one really plays Hendrix type music these days.

That's a shame. I try to.

[tomster2300]

Originally posted by Iniamyen Fundamentally, I have a pretty good musical background (trumpet for 6+ years),

Nice to hear from a fellow trumpet. Lets see, I've been playing for 6+ years now, (almost 7). Keep up the good work and good luck finding a guitar. (I have an electric but never play it).

[Iniamyen]

What are the main things to take into consideration when buying an amp? I'd prefer a good sounding one rather than a really loud one, since I'm probably going to be using it in small settings (probably not concerts )

[discodanman45]

here is a link to a good amp. You want over 15 Watts for an amp, this one is 40. The price may seem a little high because it includes free shipping.

http://www.zzounds.com/item--PEVTTENVOY