any electric guitar users here?

[ttown]

I'm considering buying an electric guitar for a young teen for xmas.
I've never used one.

Can you hook them into a regular stereo's "aux-in" input, instead of a "practice amp" ?

Any info is appreciated

edit: consensus on my question is NO

Any other suggestions on a budget ($200ish or less) beginner guitar / "starter pack" still appreciated

 

[Platypus]

What is the budget like for the total package?

I'm not sure on your stereo question, I'm sure someone will chime in with the answer but from a guitar player's standpoint, it will sound like crap if you do that.

 

[thelanx]

The output from an electric guitar is very low, so you need an input designed for low signals. I'm not sure if a regular stereo's aux-in would work (I don't think it will), you might be able to hear it, but there might be lots of noise. An input designed for microphones might work better. You can get a decent practice amp for about $60.

 

[Fritzo]

You can do that, it'll sound very harsh. I'd get a Roland Micro Cube. It's small, it can even run on batteries, it has great effects built in, it has input/output for playing along with a CD or outputting into a larger amp, and it sounds great!

 

[mrrman]

check out guitarcenter.com,music123.com or musiciansfriend.com for some good deals on beginner amps...I even saw one at Costco today but dont recall the price

 

[EarthwormJim]

If you're looking for a nice, small, and inexpensive amp I'd also suggest the Roland Micro Cube.

It has great tone for what it is and it's portable.

 

[jlbenedict]

Roland Cube owner here.. awesome amp for the price.

 

[ttown]

Originally posted by: Platypus
What is the budget like for the total package?

I'm not sure on your stereo question, I'm sure someone will chime in with the answer but from a guitar player's standpoint, it will sound like crap if you do that.

I'd like <$200 for everything needed to start.
I don't want to spend too much on something, since I'm not sure it'll be taken seriously for any length of time.

Thanks for the suggestions so far -- I also chatted with online-support at guitar-center....
it sounds like hooking it to a stereo is out -- but going with a micro cube will exceed my target price
(not that I'm super stuck on <$200)

 

[Noema]

Have you considered a computer based solution, like the Guitarport?

It will sound better, much better than any amp in its price range; can be used with headphones or plugged directly to an stereo; you won't have to buy any effects pedals and it even has online lessons if he's still learning to play.

It should cost less than $100 if you get the version without Rifftracker.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Noema
Have you considered a computer based solution, like the Guitarport?

It will sound better, much better than any amp in its price range; can be used with headphones or plugged directly to an stereo; you won't have to buy any effects pedals and i even has online lessons if he's still learning to play.

I've got a Guitarport as well. I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner. It IS fun though- it's able to model the sounds of 100's of different songs. However, it's not portable. Plus, it's $7.95/month to subscribe to the Line6 service for their tab/model/song downloads.

Here's a demo of the Microcube from Roland (cool site + cool product):

http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=594&ParentId=57

 

[Noema]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: Noema
Have you considered a computer based solution, like the Guitarport?

It will sound better, much better than any amp in its price range; can be used with headphones or plugged directly to an stereo; you won't have to buy any effects pedals and i even has online lessons if he's still learning to play.

I've got a guitar port as well. I wouldn't recommend it for a beginner. It IS fun though- it's able to model the sounds of 100's of different songs. However, it's not portable.

Here's a demo of the Microcube from Roland (cool site + cool product):

http://www.rolandus.com/products/productdetails.aspx?ObjectId=594&ParentId=57

Yeah, the lack of portability is a problem. But the lessons are great I really wish I had something like that back in the day when I learned to play.

 

[ttown]

Anybody have experience with RondoMusic

In particular the SX SST62 -- at $100

I found some video of some guy playing one and it seemed very acceptable (to my untrained ear)
Here's a demo

Also considering:
Squire 51 -- $100 (amp extra)
Yamaha beginner pack w/everything $170

The plus of the SX over the Squire is that the SX is pink, which my daughter would love

 

[Platypus]

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/...d-Amp-with-COSM-and-Effects?sku=480196

Get the microcube.

 

[nakedfrog]

Originally posted by: ttown
Anybody have experience with RondoMusic

In particular the SX SST62 -- at $100

I found some video of some guy playing one and it seemed very acceptable (to my untrained ear)
Here's a demo

Also considering:
Squire 51 -- $100 (amp extra)
Yamaha beginner pack w/everything $170

The plus of the SX over the Squire is that the SX is pink, which my daughter would love

I've heard good things about Rondo's guitars, but no first hand experience. I have a bass guitar from there, I just have to wait a few weeks to open it (Shh, it's a secret that I already know what it is )
I would recommend against the Squier, most of the ones I've played have not been very good. I could recommend Yamaha, I've played a number of their guitars and they've all been pretty good.

 

[fishmonger12]

Those starter packs are essentially all the same. Cheap electric guitar, cheap amp. My experiences with yamaha have been pretty good as far as cheap instruments go (I've owned one of their cheap electrics, used a couple basses and amps). I would personally recommend them if you're buying new.

Probably the best place to get that kind of stuff is off craigslist though. There's so many people who buy a kit like that, play it for a week, and let it sit in their basement for a year, then sell it. Just stick to the semi name brand stuff like squier, washburn, ibanez, yamaha, dean, etc.

edit: Oh and if you have to buy the amp separate, look for a used marshall solid state 10 or 15 watt. They are pretty high quality amps. Good distortion and volume for their size.

 

[marulee]

What an amp or guitar?
You need to spend little over $150 on the amp..

 

[CptObvious]

I had the Squier 51 - it's a pretty cool guitar for the price, esp. at $100. Also had an SX Tele copy for a while, that was also decent but had a few more setup issues than the Squier. The 51 + the Microcube would be my pick, at around $240. I don't think there are any decent guitar/amp combos for under $200.

 

[LeiZaK]

Another alternative would be to get a cheap 4 channel mixer to act as a preamp to hook into the aux connection of the stereo.

Behringer has some smaller mixers with the right price.