Suggestions for a first electric guitar

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santiu

Rock-scientist
I'm looking to buy an electric guitar and i have no idea what to get. Hoping to keep things under $400.

Not a beginner, but I'm no maestro either. And i sort a lied, it's not my first electric. I learned to play guitar on a squire strat some 15 years ago, but that guitar is long gone. Just started playing again maybe a year or two ago on an Ovation acoustic.

Looking for something with a nice full warm tone. Blues, jazz, and jam-band type music are what I'm into. I tend to play more rhythm type stuff than crazy leads.

thanks a bunch in advance for any advice. :D
 
Ibenez, Jackson, ESP all make great models in that range. Now a Fender or Gibson or PRS will set you back alot more for a good model. They do make cheaper models (Fender, Gibson (Epiphone)). But I would stay away from them. I have a Carvin, Strat, and an older Jackson Kelly and I play the Carvin the most. The neck is just unbelievable on it. But they will set you back close to a grand.
 
do you guys know anything about the Godin Exit 22? It's stretching my budget a bit, but i'm wondering if it'll be worth it. thanks :)
 
santiu said:
I'm looking to buy an electric guitar and i have no idea what to get. Hoping to keep things under $400.

Not a beginner, but I'm no maestro either. And i sort a lied, it's not my first electric. I learned to play guitar on a squire strat some 15 years ago, but that guitar is long gone. Just started playing again maybe a year or two ago on an Ovation acoustic.

Looking for something with a nice full warm tone. Blues, jazz, and jam-band type music are what I'm into. I tend to play more rhythm type stuff than crazy leads.

thanks a bunch in advance for any advice. :D
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Welcome, santiu. I see you're in the L.A. area, and this can be a good place to find used guitars--many of which have been customized to some extent. Take your time looking around. Private ads and pawn-shops can sometimes have killer stuff--guitars that "feel" great in your hands, even tho you don't especially like the tones--which can be worked out later--by experimenting with whatever "used" pick-ups you can find that fit the "nice full warm tone" you say you're looking for. Keep in mind that your "pick-ups" and "set-up" are the most critical factors for electric-guitar "tone". I know that there are some so-called "purists" who swear that they can hear the difference betwen a rose-wood fretboard and some other hardwood fretboard on an electric-guitar, but they are only hearing some preconceived differentiated notion developed in their own minds. Wherever you shop, your first concerns are the "feel" of the instrument strapped across your shoulder and the angle of approach of your pick-hand. If your pick-hand is NOT comfortable, your fret-hand will never be able to compensate. Above all, don't focus on tone first and foremost. Tone can be tweaked much more easily than "feel" and "playability".
BTW...for around $400 you may want to look "outside" of CA if at all possible.
Hope this helps.
 
santiu said:
do you guys know anything about the Godin Exit 22? It's stretching my budget a bit, but i'm wondering if it'll be worth it. thanks :)
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I don't know about that Godin in particular, but Godin's in general are very nice guitars.
 
$ saving

check out rondomusic.net ....... they realy do have some great deals :cool:
 
marshall409 said:
www.rondomusic.net

heard nothing but good things about these guitars. i plan on getting mine very soon.

Adam
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+1, go for an Agile if you can, and take a wander over to the Harmony Central forums to see what people are saying. I honestly don't think I've seen a negative review yet.
 
So many options.... but my main recomendation would be to make sure you get an axe that will inspire you to keep with it. Dont settle on something thats "just OK" to save $100. So get out to the shops and find some wood that gives ya a big woodie!!!!!! Goold Luck
 
I had a Samick a couple years ago, the one that looks like an SG. Sounded good.
 
I'm going to have to get the scoop on Rondo...

so I'm looking through the thread wondering who these guys really are. I see Agile on eBay all the time and think of it as a cheapo. SO I go the Rondo website and find http://www.rondomusic.net/LeRoyAiello.html

Not THAT big a deal except Leroy was an old friend of mine since HIGH SCHOOL... and he ultimately has become the head luthier at Mandolin Brothers. I'll see if I can find out more info on it- it would be hard to believe that he doesn't know SOMETHING about why it is a good company

TRD
 
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