Where did that hole come from?

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battleminnow

battleminnow

What's this button do?
Oh yeah, the money my tax return is burning in my pocket!! :D

OK, help me spend $1000 on a guitar/amp/pedal/whatever combo for an experienced rhythm guitarist making his first foray into electric guitar. What is good? What do I need that I will probably leave out due to inexperience? Will my guitar make me look fat(ter)? What would you do... What would.... you do?

Pete
 
The right rig for you is gonna depend totally on your playing style and the style of music that you you want to play.
 
Put it toward a American Standard Telecaster and a Mesa/Boogie.
 
A friend of mine plays a Mex Strat through a Laney VC30 and it just kills me. But yeah, these aint your ears!

I'm sorry.. he plays a tele, not a strat
 
vox said:
The right rig for you is gonna depend totally on your playing style and the style of music that you you want to play.

I appreciate that Vox, and do understand that.

I have a very percussive style, lots of slaps, but acoustic allows this a lot more than I suspect electric will. Driving acoustic rock, some edgier rock. Would like to learn U2 stylings for electric.

I guess what it comes down to is I am starting from scratch in the electric guitar world, and want to know what you all have liked over many years of playing. What should I look into? What should I avoid? I know what most of the features to look for in a guitar are, but I don't know what I personally will like because I don't have a preference yet. I am really looking to buy something well made and that sounds good and learn to use it well.

I will tell you what I have seen and liked, and seen and disliked.

Fender strat/tele: Like the sound, not the body style

Schecter: Good looks, ok feel, ok sound

Dean: Pretty nice sound, good style, really heavy

Samick: Great looks, none available to play

Epiphone: Not interested

Ibanez: Awesome sound, good feel, crappy styling

As far as amps go I am starting from complete scratch. Based on reviews and friends influence, I am leaning towards a Hughes and Kettner, Vox, Tube Works or Tech 21. I had a lot of hope for the Line 6 Spider stuff, but haven't found many good things about them.

As far as effects, I think I have decided on the Yamaha Magic Box. Good price and good sounds, and a good starting point.

Pete
 
Here are two important questions (for us and to ask yourself):

1. What are you going to do with your new electric guitar and amp?
a) Recording only
b) Live work only
c) Recording AND live work

2. Do you consider music and guitar very important to your life?
a) Yes
b) No, it's more of a hobby or side interest

The first question is relevant in terms of wattage, speakers, bells & whistles. For instance, if you are doing live work only, you might be interested in on-board effects, high-wattage, head + speaker cabinet arrangement. If you are only recording with it, you will probably want to look into a nice low wattage amp (<= 15 watts). If both, you might want a mid-wattage combo amp.

The second question refers more to how much you are willing to invest in this equipment. If you answered (a) my advice is to focus most (or all or more) of your available funds towards a great amp. You can plug a less-than-great guitar into a great amp and get great sounds. Obviously you would like a great amp AND great guitar... but for $1k... that ain't gonna happen. The key here is to play as many amps as possible and pick the one you like (you will probably want an all-tube amp). If you answered (b) my advice would be to get a mid-level guitar and amp and spend anything left over on a new mic or something.

Good Luck!
 
There is only one way to find the right guitar for you. Play a bunch of guitars. Spend a couple of Saturdays at good music stores trying things out. If you really need our opinion, ask it once you have found what you like. And the best part of all of this is, going to good music stores and playing guitars is fun.

Also, most stores will let you take a guitar for a few days to try it out. Bring it to a good repair shop, and have them look it over. Don't turn down a guitar just because it will need a setup, almost all guitars do. Just make sure there is nothing which is just horrible. Most repair shops are O.K. with this (I know we are), because it means you are a likely customer when you have problems in the future. Also, we usually get the setup. Even if we don't end up doing anything to the guitar, we like to see owners who care enough about their guitars to bring it in for us to look at.

So go have fun, and find YOUR perfect guitar.


Light

"Cowards can never be moral."
M.K. Gandhi
 
Don't waste that money on a guitar! Invest it in yourself!

Two words: Guitar lessons.

I charge $250 per lesson. You can get a whole month's worth!


Why not sigh up right now!


A
www.aaroncheney.com
 
Actually, that is already budgeted!:D

I am planning on taking some lessons right away to get me started on the right track.

Scott:
I plan on using the rig for both live and reording, but more live right now. I have access if I need something different to record with. I would like to be playing as a profession, so music is very important to me.

Going to Guitar Satan tonight to check some stuff out.

Pete
 
Send the grand to me (100's%20's will do just fine) and I'll pick something out for you.
 
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