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Guitar chord forum - chordie → Electric → electric
Hi all, I am an acoustic guitar player who is usually not on this forum. I am in the market for a solid body electric guitar that plays great and won't break my piggy bank. I would like to expand my playing skills, so any advice would be great. Thanks. <img src="images/smiley_icons/icon_biggrin.gif" border=0 alt="Very Happy">
I think a Mexican made Fender Stratocaster would do nicely...well made, good sounding, durable, and very versatile guitars...or one of the many Strat clones out there...some made by great companies like Ibanez, Fernandes. Or if you like the Gibson types then some of the higher end Epiphone Les Pauls are great guitars...it all goes back to going to a music store and trying out as many as you can until you find "your" guitar...If you stay with the Strat or Les Paul then there's practically no end to the aftermarket goodies and upgrades if you decide on a different "sound" or want to hotrod your guitar.
Get yerself down to a guitar shop and try a few. You'll immediately find yourself making choices. Is the neck shape right for your fingers? Does the body sit right when you strum?
Ask to play through a clean channel. This is as near to the guitar's true voice as you'll get. Is it a full fat tone like a Gretsch or a thin thwak like a telecaster? Which do you prefer?
If you can find them Brawley's are a good price but the company's bust so no support. Brawley's have a wide flat neck with wide frets but you may not get on with them.
Don't be afraid to put the guitar down and say you aren't sure, the guitar salesman will hope you are going to come back for something more expensive. Keep looking though there's alot of great sounding guitars out there that don't cost alot.
Cytania is absolutely right, you have to find what suits you. When I wanted an inexpensive electric I went to as many guitar shops as I cound find and tried guitar after guitar including many that I knew that I could not afford just for comparison.
I settled on a green, Jack and Danny brothers ST66 strat copy which suits me fine. I like the feel, the action and the tone even when unplugged but I am sure it would not suit everyone.
Go out and have fun in guitar shops until you find the one for you.
Roger
Jay,
I heard the opposite on the Mexican-made Strats! I was told the quality and workmanship has declined considerbly. One of my friends bought one and cut his finger on one of the frets. As the edges were not filed down completely. That scared me!
<table border="0" align="center" width="90%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td class="SmallText"><b>jaygordon75 wrote on Mon, 16 April 2007 21:40</b></td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I think a Mexican made Fender Stratocaster would do nicely...well made, good sounding, durable, and very versatile guitars...or one of the many Strat clones out there...some made by great companies like Ibanez, Fernandes. Or if you like the Gibson types then some of the higher end Epiphone Les Pauls are great guitars...it all goes back to going to a music store and trying out as many as you can until you find "your" guitar...If you stay with the Strat or Les Paul then there's practically no end to the aftermarket goodies and upgrades if you decide on a different "sound" or want to hotrod your guitar.
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[quote title=Kahuna wrote on Tue, 17 April 2007 01:30]Jay,
I heard the opposite on the Mexican-made Strats! I was told the quality and workmanship has declined considerbly. One of my friends bought one and cut his finger on one of the frets. As the edges were not filed down completely. That scared me!
Kahuna, two thoughts, the MIM Fenders are still better than the Made in Malasya Fenders. Labor and cheaper (junk) parts. As far as your friend the on rough fret did he play it at the store or was it out of the back room. He may have noticed the rough fret and had it corrected befor he left the shop. I understand your point though. "Spend good money get what you paid for" not junk.
Jcellie: What type of sound are you after? Play alot of guitars and how much money are you willing to spend? Don't just buy some guitar because it looks good.
Bootlegger.
Austin electrics are very good and run about $200 new if you want a gibson type. I personaly like the Dan Electro guitars. They are around the same price and have a sound all there own. But all and all the best advice has allready been given, go bang around on them till you find your long lost friend.
Two things I love about my Brawley, the sculpted 'archtop' finish, much better than flat and the pull-out coil tap which gives instant telecaster-esque thin-sound.
One thing I don't like is the plug socket being on the side, catches on the leg, looks cool compared to the stratocaster socket but now I wish it had a front mounted socket.
All these are the sort of things you'll be balancing as you pick a guitar.
[quote title=Kahuna wrote on Tue, 17 April 2007 01:30]Jay,
I heard the opposite on the Mexican-made Strats! I was told the quality and workmanship has declined considerbly. One of my friends bought one and cut his finger on one of the frets. As the edges were not filed down completely. That scared me!
<font color="firebrick"></font><b></b><i></i>That could be true for some of the newer models...I have two made in Mexico Strats...both are several years old and both are superb guitars...one is stock and the other has been modified with different pickups. Neither needed any fretwork or mechanical work...It sorta goes back to going to the music store and test play and handle guitars until you find the right one...jg
I have a peavey Raptor, and it plays wonderfully with a low cost, and it is extremley durable
danspr
dansprive got a epiphone sg and it plays great,easy to maintain,easy to put strings on,an overall awesome guitar for total shreders!!!
Yeah, I second the Epi SG/LP. Don't get a cheap one, you'll regret it
Guitar chord forum - chordie → Electric → electric
