Which electric guitar??

[BJW]

Hello,

I've got a question for all you electric guitar guys.

I sold a bunch of stuff on ebay, and I think its time to buy an electric guitar. I used to have an epiphone les paul std which I didn't care much for - so its sold off. I've got about $350 to spend (up to $400 if I have to).

Here's what I like. My favorite band is U2 - pretty much all of thier stuff, which I understand covers a lot of bases electric guitar-wise. I'm mostly an acoustic guy, and I love a mellow to medium paced song with acoustic guitar and slightly overdriven electric with it. When it comes to overdrive, I think the word to describe what I'm looking for is "creamy" rather than "edgy", but I do love "chimey". For cleans, fender strats (or a tele) pretty much sum it up, but I've heard some les paul cleans that I like a lot.

OK, here's what I'm considering:

Fender Std. Telecaster (MIM). I used to think these things were "country only", till I played one. It gave me the chime I wanted, that's for sure. At first, I fell in love with everything about the guitar - looks, tone, everything. I was sure it was the guitar for me. Since watching the U2 Elevation Tour DVD, I've fallen back in love with a humbucker sound. I've played that same tele a few times since, and I like it, but not like I did the first time - it was definately one of those "honeymoon" experiences you get with a guitar. PLayed it through a peavey classic 30 (I need one of those, too - sweet amp)

Godin LG (either P90 or HMB). I've read so many great things about Godin that I just had to try one. I went to the only dealer in town and played a few. OK, the godin's fit my body ergonically better than any guitar I've ever played - kind of felt like a strat only better (while sitting, anyway). I picked up a G&L tele right after the godin and it almost hurt compared to the Godin. One of the best feeling guitar body/necks I've ever played. They only had 1 LG, and it was the P90 model, so I plugged it into a peavey classic 30 and fired it up. I've never played a P90 guitar before, and it was pretty freakin cool sounding. I guess the P90's in this sound different than most, but I liked them. I really wanted to play the HMB model due to its versatility (the ability to split the humbuckers into single coils), but sadly there's not one in like the tri-state area. I loved the necks and looks of the godin's, but the LG I played had some string buzz when I played around the 7th and 9th frets. I figured it was a set-up thing cause the action was extremely low. Probably could be easily taken care of with a good set-up.

Other guitars I've considered but not tried:

Cort M600 or MGM-1: PRS style guitars, 2 humbuckers - both can be coil split for single coil sounds

PRS Soapbar SE II: Surely there's one around, so I just need to find it and play it. I have a feeling I might like it.

Schecter C1: not really down with how these look - maybe a little to metal looking to me? Just my opinion. I just need to play one, given their reputation - maybe out of my price range.

Fender Std. Fat Srat, MIM. I don't know, strats just don't really do it for me - maybe because everyone's got one.

Whatever else you guys suggest.

I think I'm leaning towards the Godin LG, probably the humbucker model even though I can't play one. Maybe I'll play that P90 model again not not be able to resist.

Sorry for the forever long post - Any help will be appreciated.

 

[dirtythermos]

You might also try a strat with a bridge humbucker.

 

[BJW]

Yeah, the fat strat is on my list of "others" up in my first post. Still, I don't really get excited about strats - they just don't do it for me visually. I like the way they sound and play, though (which I know should determine what I buy more than looks/mojo). Godin has one called the Exit 22 that I really liked that's a S/S/H combo.

Thanks for the reply.

 

[Hard2Hear]

Get a Carvin.

I just wanted to beat him to the punch.

But really. Nothing does the chimy bell thing like a Strat. Those early U2 sounds are best concocted on a Strat. Or if you dont like strat bodies, look at something like the PRS SE-EG, which is a Strat layout on a PRS style body. Or you could get a Tele with 3 pickups, the Deluxe Nashville Tele I think is its name. I've never played the Godins myself. But keep in mind that P90s arent ever as clear as small single coils like on a Strat.

I used to have a deluxe Tele with a humbucker in the neck position and a 5 way switch. That guitar could do alot of sounds, too. If you like the Godin already, I'd say find one of those.

http://www.elderly.com/new_instruments/items/SEEG-TREM-WHT.htm

H2H

 

[BJW]

Hmmm, decisions, decisions. . . . .

I honestly think I'll never get an electric just because I can't decide on one. . .

Maybe I'll save up enough money to buy like 5 at one time.

By the way, I really, really don't think I want a line6 variax, though it would cover all the bases. I played one once - felt kinda like plywood.

 

[nroberts]

Have a look at G&L if you can find one.

 

[apl]

I just wanted to beat him to the punch.

Thanks!

You forgot a link: www.carvin.com They have a strat type guitar called the Bolt, and you can get a Bolt kit for $350.


.

 

[onlyfingers]

Maybe Line6 with modeling

(Sorry: just saw your earlier post where you say the Linie6 felt like plywood. But I'll leave the post anyway for other people with this kind of problem.)

I can sympathize, BJW. When I started looking for an electric, my music types were in conflict (e.g.: surf rock and Mike Bloomfield blues), and the only way to resolve it, it seemed, was to get a Tele and a Strat and a Les Paul. (But then I looked into G&L, as suggested in another post...I feel your pain.) But some people steered me toward the Line6 Variax, which uses modeling to mimic a lot of different guitar and pick-up combinations. New, the 300 is just out of your price range, but, considering that you may be working your way to a stalemate, they may be worth checking out. (I have yet to find one to try out. I saw one at GC, but couldn't make it work, and the staff was busy doing other things—sometimes that's just what you want. Also, for an extra $100, you can get software so you can build your own custom sounds.)


Line6:
http://www.line6.com/variax/

Some Line6 samples here
http://www.guitaristjeffmiller.com/audio.htm

The thread that led me to Line6
http://www.guitarseminars.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/008904.html

Since I am not hurting for guitars now, I can take forever to figure this out. (In other words, I am still feeling a bit guilty about the last guitar I bought.) Good luck.

 

[sile2001]

Nothing does the chimy bell thing like a Strat. Those early U2 sounds are best concocted on a Strat. Or if you dont like strat bodies, look at something like the PRS SE-EG, which is a Strat layout on a PRS style body. Or you could get a Tele with 3 pickups, the Deluxe Nashville Tele I think is its name. I've never played the Godins myself. But keep in mind that P90s arent ever as clear as small single coils like on a Strat.

H2H

Aside from the clarity of the strat single coils, what other tonal differences would you say there are in a comparison between P90's and strat single coils? I must confess to never having (knowingly) heard exactly what a P90 sounds like.

 

[AlfredB]

a typical P-90 sound on a LP would be leslie west ... check out mountain - twin peaks


cheers
alfred

 

[Hard2Hear]

Well I have a Strat and a Gibson SG with P-90s.

The SG makes amps break up alot faster and has a fuller more midrangey sound. More like a rock and roll music sound. The Strat pickups are less power and more high end pronounced...getting that sparkley strat sound.

Typical SG P90 sounds are early Santana and The Who Live at Leeds.

H2H

 

[giraffe]

try out a G&L if you can (leo fender and whats his name), they're bassically better built Fenders, and they have some VERY impressive korean (read, affordible) models now.

 

[BJW]

Aside from the clarity of the strat single coils, what other tonal differences would you say there are in a comparison between P90's and strat single coils? I must confess to never having (knowingly) heard exactly what a P90 sounds like.

Granted I only played it for about 5 minutes, and it's the only guitar I've ever played with P90's, the Godin sounded just a little fatter than a strat, and had a littler thicker overdrive - it felt like it had the tonal qualities of both a strat and a humbucker guitar (like a les paul), depending on your tone/volume/amp settings. Actually - sounded like a really versatile guitar. Considering they are a overly wound single coil pick-up (am I right on that?), it would seem reasonable that you could get single coil and humbucker-esque sounds out of them.

Thanks for your reply's everybody. I won't have the funds to buy something for a few weeks, so I've got a little while to make a decision.

 

[mjareo]

I'll chime in as Ibanez's new spokesperson.

I just bought a JTK1, and I absolutely love it. Play one - if you like the telecaster body, this guitar has a similar shape, but more vintage-esque and the coil taps give you some interesting and fun options with your sound.

Here it is at Ibanez, and here is a listing on ebay. I actually got mine from the same guy, but the red sunburst instead of the butterscotch (although I had planned on getting the butterscotch originally).

Not everyone likes them, but I have been very pleased with my new toy.

 

[lpdeluxe]

Why don't you try them out and buy the one that sounds the best?

That's what guitars do: make sounds we like or don't like. Is that so hard?

 

[BJW]

Why don't you try them out and buy the one that sounds the best?

That's what guitars do: make sounds we like or don't like. Is that so hard?

I have been trying them out - I mentioned my reactions to some of the ones I've been trying in my original post, and I'm sort of torn. I'm also interested in people's opinions of guitars that I may be overlooking.

mjareo, that Ibanez looks pretty dang cool. Thanks for the plug - I'll have to find one and play it. The red one definately looks cooler, at least to my eyes.

 

[Richard Monroe]

It sounds like you liked the feel of a telecaster, but found that the single coil pickups only made one of the sounds you wanted. I like the suggestion of a Nashville Telecaster. It has the standard single coils, with a double coil in between. You can then replace the humbucker with any nasty double coil pickup you want. Setup is key, also. If you like playing acoustic, try putting 11's with a wound G-string on whatever electric you select. I use D'Addario EXL115W. Intended as light jazz strings, they make full chords, heavy rhythm, and fingerstyle work much better on a solid body. They are also perfect for playing The Who.-Richie

 

[notCardio]

Good luck!

I thought the Nashville Tele's had a Strat Tex-Mex single coil in the middle?

I know what you mean about the Godins. They just feel so goood! I don't really care for the way they play, though. Don't know why, just can't put my finger on it. But the body fits like a glove.

You could try the Tele (forget which model) with the humbucker neck pickup and regular tele bridge, but to me the best tele sound is from the neck p/u. YMMV. I think Squire makes a tele with P-90s. I have a feeling that P-90s aren't what you're looking for, though.

Don't forget that Edge used a LOT of hollow bodies, and still does I believe.

Obviously, you've come to realize that no one guitar is going to do it all for you. You're going to have to pick which type of sound you want most, and go for that first. Then you will immediately want the other one.

You can never have too many guitars!

Happy shopping.

 

[tdukex]

Hello,

...Godin LG (either P90 or HMB). I've read so many great things about Godin that I just had to try one. I went to the only dealer in town and played a few. OK, the godin's fit my body ergonically better than any guitar I've ever played - kind of felt like a strat only better (while sitting, anyway)...

...One of the best feeling guitar body/necks I've ever played. They only had 1 LG, and it was the P90 model, so I plugged it into a peavey classic 30 and fired it up. I've never played a P90 guitar before, and it was pretty freakin cool sounding. I guess the P90's in this sound different than most, but I liked them...

...I really wanted to play the HMB model due to its versatility (the ability to split the humbuckers into single coils), but sadly there's not one in like the tri-state area. I loved the necks and looks of the godin's, but the LG I played had some string buzz when I played around the 7th and 9th frets. I figured it was a set-up thing cause the action was extremely low. Probably could be easily taken care of with a good set-up...

...I think I'm leaning towards the Godin LG, probably the humbucker model even though I can't play one. Maybe I'll play that P90 model again not not be able to resist.

I went through the same process two years ago and chose the Godin P90. I could not find anything that I liked as much in the $600 or under price range. It's a very smooth, versatile guit. I do like the G&L ASATs, but the ones I like are $800 +

 

[IronFlippy]

It seems like the two guitars you're really torn between are the tele and godin. My guitar has a S/S/H setup and the humbucker has a coil tap, which you could easily get installed (or DIY if you're so inclined). This may be what you want, as you can get both humbucker and single coil tones out of one pickup. Given, the single coil tone doesn't sound exactly like a strat/tele, but it's close enough to get your own sound out of it. Like Cardioidpotent said, go for one of then, but be prepared to want to buy another to get that other sound