Axe vs. Monitors

[BroKen_H]

Just a sidenote on the "difference" between monitors and speakers. I agree with all that was said by Gecko and Whitestrat. Here's da ting...no matter what you got, Spectrum Analyze your sound. If you want to find out how "flat" your system is, get some decent AS sotware. (ususally under $50). Play the spectrum while recording what comes out and see how flat your recording is vs the output. Now decide on how to treat your room and alter your EQ to make things as flat as possible.

I made the mistake of buying cheap ($250 a pair) Rokit K5s and fought with them for about 2 years before deciding they were scrap and I wasn't going to be happy Adam 7s are a lot nicer, but you're looking at more than your budget for a pair...but look at the other Adams or try to find another brand that gives good flat response. Even the Rokit 8s will give you a better, flatter response and you might find a good set of those for your 300 pound budget.

I got to say that everything else comes into focus a lot better if your speaker/monitors are "right". New guitars are fun, and having a good arsenal of great guitars is a lot of fun and will help. My brother has that, and I'm envious of his vintage strats and LPs as well as the Martin he bought, but I never had a $4500 budget for 1 guitar in my life, and so...Yamaha, Hamer and Jackson are my friends. Maybe a decent guitar now, and when you have about double your current budget get some really nice monitors. You'll be amazed at the listening difference!

Whatever you decide, have fun!

 

[xcracer]

Nothing can replace the sound and what you can do with a solid body electric. 2 different worlds of tones and playing concepts. One can always use a set of phones or compensate for cheaper monitors.

 

[BroKen_H]

One of the sweetest guitars I've ever heard is not a solid body. My bro's ES 335 is amazing and versatile from Jazz to Heavy Metal...but again, his was around $2300, so a nice Jackson DK2MQ for $400 at the pawn suits my playing just fine for HM and most rock and my Hamer Californian is very suited for blues to Rock (nice clean pickups vs the SD Zebras on the Dinky). Playability is much nicer on my bro's guitars, but like I said, some of his guitars were $4500. Can't go there.

 

[dainbramage]

One of the sweetest guitars I've ever heard is not a solid body. My bro's ES 335 is amazing and versatile from Jazz to Heavy Metal...but again, his was around $2300, so a nice Jackson DK2MQ for $400 at the pawn suits my playing just fine for HM and most rock and my Hamer Californian is very suited for blues to Rock (nice clean pickups vs the SD Zebras on the Dinky). Playability is much nicer on my bro's guitars, but like I said, some of his guitars were $4500. Can't go there.

Like you say, it depends on what kind of music you play. Some music sounds better with cheaper guitars. I am sure Nirvana would sound much worse with expensive guitars, as many other bands. The same does not apply to acousic guitars unless we're talking old delta blues.

 

[Rod Norman]

Don't feel embarrassed. Some of us don't have money burning a hole in our pockets and we still spend money on new gear. LOL Now for your question. You didn;t tell us what make and model speaker you have. But even with that being said, here's a suggestion. Ask someone to being over their monitors and plug them into your system and see what it sounds like. Brands aside, sound i what you are looking for. And for the guitar; although you want a solid body, you already have a guitar. But a good friend of mine who played with Lou Rawls was given a Fender squire ($150). He had a luthier set it up and he plays on it all the time. Jut a thought. You might be able to afford both. Good Luck,
NewYorkRod

I've got a decent acoustic guitar, pretty OK mic, and say £300 burning in my pocket. I like my guitar, its my favourite instrument, but it's semi-acoustic. I'd love to have an electric to get a more smooth, drawn out, mellow sound. Equally, I'd like to get better at recording and think my speakers are a bit retarded (heresay) and not reflecting what they should be.

My question is what would choose? Would you spend the money on an axe and amp, or would you rather spend the money to get some decent monitors? I know they're a spoilt & rich woman's problems so I feel pretty embarrassed to mention it, but figure I'm not alone in my Western shame.

 

[Johnny Nowhere]

No, you're not alone in your Western shame.

Over the past 10 years I've had one set of monitors--and thought they were fine. In that time, I've spent bajillions on everything else--including lots of amps and guitar fx gadgets. Just last week I bought better monitors.

OOPS!

I should have done that first. I still would have wanted all the other crap I bought, but I would've heard it better.

I concur. My advice has always build a studio from the monitors back toward the microphone. You can't go wrong once you can hear everything properly.

 

[Meclazine]

The order in which you get these things depends on your priorities.

If you are learning to play the electric guitar, then you could start with a Japanese or Mexican stratocaster or telecaster:

fender . com /en-AU/series/standard/standard-stratocaster-hss/

These are exceptional value, have great tone, and come in some really distinctive finishes for the money:

kosmic . com . au / guitar / fender-standard-stratocaster-hss-rosewood-neck-black-1/

On the other side, the Gibson range has dropped substantially in price as well with some nice Gold Top Les Paul's starting at $1,000:

kosmic . com . au / guitar /gibson-les-paul-future-70-s-tribute-goldtop/

Grab yourself a copy of "Modern Method of Guitar - Vol 1" and you are away.

As for monitors these are the ones I use:

kosmic . com . au / krk-rp-103-monitor-speakers /

They have a broad medium to bass response compared to other monitors.

 

[fritsthegirl]

Fritsthegirl, I would no doubt get your axe before monitors. I assume the reason you want an electric guitar is you hear sounds in your head that you wish to express. No such thing will be possible with monitors. For gods sake bring your guitar home

Yes! I agree, and I can't wait for that thing to be in my arms. Tomorrow...Denmark St - watch it!

 

[fritsthegirl]

I concur. My advice has always build a studio from the monitors back toward the microphone. You can't go wrong once you can hear everything properly.

In principle I agree with this, but then a lot of good artists have come a long way with shit equipment and a good idea. I think a lot of super talented people on this forum are using pretty standard monitors from the sound of things. To be honest, even if they sound a bit crap, I am not sure I could even hear the difference right now. It's a bit of a chicken and the egg scenario...I'm going for the

 

[fritsthegirl]

Don't feel embarrassed. Some of us don't have money burning a hole in our pockets and we still spend money on new gear. LOL Now for your question. You didn;t tell us what make and model speaker you have. But even with that being said, here's a suggestion. Ask someone to being over their monitors and plug them into your system and see what it sounds like. Brands aside, sound i what you are looking for. And for the guitar; although you want a solid body, you already have a guitar. But a good friend of mine who played with Lou Rawls was given a Fender squire ($150). He had a luthier set it up and he plays on it all the time. Jut a thought. You might be able to afford both. Good Luck,
NewYorkRod

Yeh, it's not really 'burning' in my pocket so much. It's more like I want to buy it and I'll find the money in my account somehow. Good advice though, maybe I'll head to my mate with my tunes, he has kick arse speakers that he wastes on Peter Gabriel. I used to love Peter but now I think...whatevs.

 

[fritsthegirl]

I think so, but I could never get into Reginald Perrin. I loved Leonard Rossiter's work in the first few series of "Rising damp" so I was rather disappointed with "The rise and fall of.....".
However, about 32 years ago, there was an advert on telly with this bird, Buzby, View attachment 78675trying to get people into something or other, it might have been British telecom or the post office or something. I forget exactly what. But Buzby and these other birds used to congregate on these phone wires and this pompous one used to say "I didn't get where I am today by being somewhere else !" which I always thought was a great joke that seemed to go right over the nations' head. But not mine. I thought it was {and still is} very logical. The bird was played by the guy that played Perrin's boss, I think, so it was, I suppose, indirectly inspired by him.

By the way, this has nothing to do with guitars or monitors !

No matter, as they say in NZ 'That's fairly Interesting'. I only liked that part of Reggie, where the Boss says 'I didn't get where I am today....followed by something quite unrelated/mundane'. Something I do love about British culture, the humour and all the better if it goes over everyone else's head.