I want to buy an electric guitar to learn with. (left handed) Suggestions?

[lxskllr]

The problem is, that I got in to my head that I wanted both dual coil and single coil pickups. None of the cheaper options people have presented seem to fulfill that. It should arrive tuesday.

It doesn't matter now, but pickups are easy to install. If I wanted that kind of configuration, I'd have gotten a Squire Strat, and changed the electronics. The Strat's super comfortable to play. Best guitar design ever imo.

 

[Fritzo]

It may be a bad choice, and if it is, it is. Like I said, the most likely result is that it collects dust anyway, but it is something I want to try, and after I listened to some reviews and examples of the tones you could get out of it with that pick up set up, I wanted it.

Heh, didn't say it was a bad choice. The Mustang has been around since the 60's and is a classic. They also have thin necks that will be easy to fret. The only problem is the sheer number of controls and tone possibilities on it may be distracting, that's all.

I highly recommend you take a few pro lessons to get started. People that learn on their own tend to do what's easy instead of what's correct, and the resulting bad form can be crippling later on.

 

[Kaido]

I'm left-handed and have tried to learn on accoustics over the years, but always right-handed models. Strumming always felt awkward with my right hand and I always gave up. In the interim, the silly rhythm games came out, and I always played them right handed. I'm a die hard lefty for the most part, and I really don't think I should try doing it backwards again.

I'm on the fence about left-handed guitars...pretty much every guitar player/teacher I've ever talked to has said to always learn on a right-handed guitar - it supposedly comes naturally over time, and then you can go anywhere, on anyone's guitar, and play, instead of only on a special model. So I'd say, if you're only planning on playing for fun at home, for example, get a leftie, but if you want to have a the ability to play guitars universally, it'd be better to tough it out on a rightie.

Of all places, Monoprice has some (rightie) guitars that are getting really nice reviews (for the price). They have classic & vintage style guitars for between $90 and $130. Yes, you read those prices right:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/subdepartment.asp?c_id=115&cp_id=11501&cs_id=1150101

As far as self-paced guitar lessons go, I would highly, highly, highly recommend Next Level Guitar. It's $139 a year for access to the lessons (over 1,000 lessons). The lessons are bite-sized and easy to learn. Just do one or two a day consistently and you'll pick it up in no time:

http://www.nextlevelguitar.com/

My only other tip would be to buy a guitar stand - make it so it's easy to pick up and play with, not hidden away in a closet or in a case somewhere. Monoprice has one for under seven bucks:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/p...1508&cs_id=1150802&p_id=602100&seq=1&format=2

 

[twinrider1]

No problem at all. Whatever keeps you excited about guitar. One thing, you can pretty much get a HSS layout in any body style you like. You can also split coils on a humbucker to get a single coil-ish sound. Just throwing that out there in case the Mustang body doesn't make your nether region tingle.

 

[Ferzerp]

Just throwing that out there in case the Mustang body doesn't make your nether region tingle

Pfft. How can you go wrong with one of the guitar shapes kurt cobain liked!

 

[Ferzerp]

I'm on the fence about left-handed guitars...pretty much every guitar player/teacher I've ever talked to has said to always learn on a right-handed guitar - it supposedly comes naturally over time, and then you can go anywhere, on anyone's guitar, and play, instead of only on a special model. So I'd say, if you're only planning on playing for fun at home, for example, get a leftie, but if you want to have a the ability to play guitars universally, it'd be better to tough it out on a rightie.

If you've never tried to deal with a world that is backwards to you in more ways than most people realize, you really can't know how silly of a notion it is that one can just "tough it out" and do things as well in the unnatural way.

 

[twinrider1]

Pfft. How can you go wrong with one of the guitar shapes curt cobain liked!

lol. Reading that I can almost bet I'm at least a few years older than you. :biggrin:

 

[Ferzerp]

Early 30's here.

 

[Kaido]

If you've never tried to deal with a world that is backwards to you in more ways than most people realize, you really can't know how silly of a notion it is that one can just "tough it out" and do things as well in the unnatural way.

I still can't play either way, so you've got me there :biggrin:

 

[Ferzerp]

I still can't play either way, so you've got me there :biggrin:

I learned to play saxes right handed, but that's because there is no fundamental difference in what each hand is doing. The bulk of the playing equally involves the first three fingers on each hand and the left thumb. They both perform the same exact tasks, so it's not really asking much.

I mouse with my right hand, and while at this point, I can't use the buttons properly left handed, I still have more accuracy with my left hand. Trackballs are useless for my right hand. Track pads, I do left handed.

I play games like guitar hero/rock band right handed, but they aren't good analogs to real guitars.


Little things turn build up like chinese water torture. Credit card digital signature pads often have the pen's retraining cord in such a way that it impedes left handed use. The hoses on gas pumps are typically dangling in a way that if you grab them with your right hand, they natually uncoil in that direction easily, but a lefty just twists them tighter (they rarely swivel properly). I can't easily uncoil any hoses or cables that someone else has coiled up well without making a mess. Likewise, anything that I coil up is backwards for everyone else. As a child, I couldn't even use scissors at school until my mom found a left handed set. Yes, even scissors are chiral. A left handed child's hands spread the blades apart, instead of driving them together. You end up just mashing the paper in between them. Writing with pen or pencil means smeared text, and a messy hand, etc.

 

[slightlyhuman]

I understand where you're coming from, and you're right on a few things. A quality instrument tends to be easier to play and gives more satisfying results...which in turn makes you want to play more. However, you can stay in the $500 for a guitar. Epiphone's new Tribute line is in the $500-$700 range, and they're fantastic. A Standard Stratocaster or an Ash Telecaster will also be in that price range.

You'll need to factor in an amp too. Egnater is my current favorite line of amps- get yourself a 15 watt Tweaker and you'll have all the amp you need for years to come.

Yes! Egnater is my favorite amp I have ever used. The tones I get out of it are a joy. The only thing I wish it had was two channel.

 

[slightlyhuman]

posted this before but wanted to again after seeing J-Max's post(nice!!!):

i was 13 when i found this guy in a trash bin. still play it to this day and it sings like an 8-week old kitten. only picture i have of it.



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[slightlyhuman]

You'll need to factor in an amp too. Egnater is my current favorite line of amps- get yourself a 15 watt Tweaker and you'll have all the amp you need for years to come.

LOVE this amp, just sold my pedals and am going to give DPS a try again, snagged a POD HD500 for $378 new off of hellomusic.



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[Fritzo]

LOVE this amp, just sold my pedals and am going to give DPS a try again, snagged a POD HD500 for $378 new off of hellomusic.



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I have that exact amp as my workhorse too It's amazingly loud for 15w...loud enough for club playing without a PA in fact.

I got disgusted with PODs though and went with an M13 instead. It's basically a giant "every effect ever" box without the need for a computer, MIDI, or any other crap, and the effects are surprisingly good. Since the Tweaker doesn't have two channels, I usually keep in on "clean", then I have a Yardbox I use for fuzz, and the M13 gives me reverb, tape echo, and a compressor.

 

[Fritzo]

posted this before but wanted to again after seeing J-Max's post(nice!!!):

i was 13 when i found this guy in a trash bin. still play it to this day and it sings like an 8-week old kitten. only picture i have of it.



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Just to be clear, it's the guitar that sounds like a kitten, not the gun, right?

Anyway, I can't read the label, but that looks like a Gibson J-50. If it is, it would be well worth getting that split in the wood fixed before it gets any worse. If it spreads to the edges, the guitar will be ruined. Also, keep it hanging up in a humid environment to keep it from warping any further.

 

[slightlyhuman]

Just to be clear, it's the guitar that sounds like a kitten, not the gun, right?

Anyway, I can't read the label, but that looks like a Gibson J-50. If it is, it would be well worth getting that split in the wood fixed before it gets any worse. If it spreads to the edges, the guitar will be ruined. Also, keep it hanging up in a humid environment to keep it from warping any further.

LG 1 it what it ready in the sound hole.

I need to get it properly worked on and have been meaning too, hopefully soon.

I looked at the m13. The 16 new amp models have me interested. The 48-second looper is perfect. I was at a standstill having the following setup:

compressor(cheapie), fuzzer, funk filter envelope(auto wah), marshall type pedal, delay and tuner. I needed a new pedal board($120+), and wanted a few other pedals(few hundred+). Also wanted a looper pedal(rc3 or jam man is $200). So I said I'm going to knock all of the "wants" out and grab the HD500, found a 20% off coupon and it was already under $400(reg. $500) so why not. I got it for $378 out the door.

Looper, throng of fx(probably 10-15 actually useful for my taste), pedal board, etc.

 

[Fritzo]

LG 1 it what it ready in the sound hole.

I need to get it properly worked on and have been meaning too, hopefully soon.

A Gibson LG-1 is a $1000-$2000 guitar depending on it's year---even in that condition. You can decode the serial number to get its model year on this site:

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Support/SerialNumberSearch/Default.aspx

If it's a 50's or early 60's model, you better get it fixed ASAP!

 

[slightlyhuman]

A Gibson LG-1 is a $1000-$2000 guitar depending on it's year---even in that condition. You can decode the serial number to get its model year on this site:

http://www.gibson.com/en-us/Support/SerialNumberSearch/Default.aspx

If it's a 50's or early 60's model, you better get it fixed ASAP!

i'm curious as far as "cost" on fixing something up like this?

 

[Fritzo]

i'm curious as far as "cost" on fixing something up like this?

From experience, it would be $250 or less depending on the damage.

 

[slightlyhuman]

From experience, it would be $250 or less depending on the damage.

perhaps later this year. can't right now:|

 

[Ferzerp]

Grr... I have a rocksmith cable, but no guitar!

 

[twinrider1]

Pics of.....cable.........yea, doesn't have quite the same sizzle.

 

[Fritzo]

Grr... I have a rocksmith cable, but no guitar!

Ooooo...you got a Rocksmith cable? Those aren't compatible with Mustangs.






^_^

 

[Ferzerp]

Pfft. What is, in effect, a USB microphone, isn't going to care as long as the guitar produces notes the software can recognize.

Anyway...

WHERE ARE YOU UPS MAN? YOU HAVE MY TOY ON YOUR TRUCK.

 

[Ferzerp]