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looking for a guitar but am a complete n00b

M

mchammer187

Diamond Member
i dont know much about guitars but i think i would like to start playing

i have about $600-700 to spend on everything i need

i really dont want to buy a crappy beginner guitar because i figure i will want a new one after i play for a year or something so why not skip that process entirely

but i have no idea what is a good guitar
I was thinking the ESP EX 351 for about $450
i really like the way this guitar looks and from the reviews i've read its supposed to be great
but all I read about is how it plays metal

i mostly like alternative/ modern rock (pearl jam, foo fighters, U2) / punk (green day, mxpx)/ 80's stuff (REM, the cure, New Order) / softer stuff (sarah machlachlan, jewel, dido) and some other stuff like the pixies, led zep

i'd like to get a guitar to play REM, the cure, neworder pj, FF, U2ish music the most (ie modern rock)

i would like to know if this guitar would ge good for this kinda stuff or if not could you direct me to a brand / model



or if you could direct me to a different model / brand
 
here's what I recommend, and was also recommended.... I'm a beginner guitar player and was planning on going through the same thing as you, buying a nice $400-$500 guitar to start out with because I didnt want to feel like I was "wasting" my money on a beginner one.. however, you may begin as a guitar enthusiast and find out that you really dont like it too much, or that you dont have time, or that you're just not good at it.. so I recommend going out and buying something for like 50-100$ (Johnson is what I was recommended) and play w/ that, and make sure that itd be worth it to spend 700$ on a guitar.....
 
I'm real happy with my Gibson SG, plays all kindsa styles really well. Effectswise, I go analog (Boss, MXR, Ibanez and Morely), but some guys love the digital stuff. Not me. G'luck!
 
you can buy cheap or you can go ahead and buy a high quality, big name instrument. fender and gibson are the 2 biggest names in guitar, and having that name on the headstock guarantees that you can resell it at a high price, should you so choose.

a fender strat is versatile and probably the most widely used guitar. buy a recent used american series model for around $500-$600 (new price is about $800-$900). if you decide guitar is not your thing, you can resell at virtually 100% of what you paid for it, because someone else has already eaten the depreciation when they bought it new. hmmm, unfortunately that doesn't leave you with much money for an amp, perhaps try a mexican series strat. new price is about $350, used price is maybe $250. try a lot of them before buying, the build quality is not as consistent as with the american series.

gibsons are usually identified with a heavier sound, because they have humbucking pickups (strats have single coil pickups) and a shorter scale neck. the shorter neck also makes it easier to bend notes. gibsons usually cost more than fenders. dave grohl plays a variety of gibsons. billie joe from green day has been using gibsons lately (sg model), although when they got famous in 94 he was using a strat. you can actually buy a new gibson sg for $550 now, they have some new faded finish (normally they are anywhere from $900 to $1200 and up). i can't comment on how it looks as i've never seen it in person. gibson also markets cheaper versions of its guitars under the brand "epiphone", but they are not as desireable when it comes to reselling

EDIT

i don't mean to imply that ESP sucks. i just have no experience with them.
 
Why the $250.00 premium for the Sunburst finish?I found a place that sells for the same price as Musician's Friend, and no shipping charge, but they want a full $1,650.00 for the Transparent Amber as well as the Sunburst! American Musical Supply

Would the Studio or Gothic be virtually the same quality for a couple hundered less? I've heard that it also has the slim neck, but that doesn't seem to be mentioned in the descriptions anywhere:The Classic Cherry Sunburst is selling on Ebay for about $1,000.00. Would you take the chance?
 
gibson charges $250 for a sunburst finish because they can get away with it. they're like the harley davidson of guitars. i think you should go to a big guitar store and spend a couple hours comparing these models to see how they feel. i'd hate to spend $1500 on a guitar that wasn't absolutely perfect for me. and there can be a lot of variation between two identical models, another reason to try before you buy.

if you're dead set on buying online, musician's friend has a 45 day return policy. i had no problems returning a dearmond last year.

the word on the harmonycentral.com guitar forum is that this place will give you a pretty good quote on a les paul. i know nothing about their return policy.

for ebay, i'd be nervous spending $1000 on anything. i'd strongly consider an escrow service if you go that route

 
Been to Harmony and saw quite a few people bitching about the rotten finish on the Les Paul Classics. I mentioned that to a guy at our local Guitar Center. He told me that it was true. He said Gibson couldn't ship these things out fast enough, so quality suffered. BUT, he said everything that's come to his store since January has been great. He has a Heritage Cherry there for that $1,650.00 price. If we buy from him, he WILL match the online prices or we'll walk. We have a few places around here to buy from, so I figure he'll deal.

There is no way I would buy online! The guitar is for my son, so he would have to try it, hands on, before buying ANY guitar, new, used, Gibson or Fender. But from what I've been reading, that Les Paul series is the one to own. One guy I work with owns two. His newest is the Studio Gothic. He told me not to even bother with the Epiphone stuff and he swore by Gibson.

I'm open to suggestions for equal or better quality for the same price or lower. That slim neck sounds like a big point. I don't know one pickup from another, so I'd appreciate any input on those.

Thanks!
 
oh my god ornery you're buying your kid a 1000+ dollar guitar? has he been playing a while? i baaaaaaaaaaarely got my dad to buy me a 250 dollar guitar when i was 15....

still own it, its a POS ibanez, but the EMG in it SCREAMS! 😀
 
SPEAK ENGLISH! I don't know what you're talking about and I can't play squat! 😉

My son just started a few months ago and is doing great. He complained to his teacher that he couldn't get the kind of sound he wanted. His teacher said he needed a guitar with more and better pickups. It wouldn't be worth it to tweak this old thing, so a replacement is in order. I was hoping to stay under $1,000.00, but if a top notch instrument is just a few hundred more... what the heck?

Edit: The guy I mentioned bought a 100th anniversary guitar back in 1996 I think. Now he purchased the Studio Gothic. For what he paid for both of those things, he could have gotten one Classic Plus and had money left over! Besides, I think these will fetch over 70% of their cost anytime in the future if he loses interest.
 


<< SPEAK ENGLISH! I don't know what you're talking about and I can't play squat! 😉

My son just started a few months ago and is doing great. He complained to his teacher that he couldn't get the kind of sound he wanted. His teacher said he needed a guitar with more and better pickups. It wouldn't be worth it to tweak this old thing, so a replacement is in order. I was hoping to stay under $1,000.00, but if a top notch instrument is just a few hundred more... what the heck? >>


wanna adopt me? 😉

anyways, its not only the guitar but the amp too. the main things affecting sound are the guitar itself, the wood used to make it, the construction, (bolt on neck, set neck or neck thru), the pickups, and the amp. getting a gibson will take care of the first 2, but a good amp is a huge part of your sound, just as much (if not more in alot of cases) than the guitar. i went from a 40w 12" practice amp with crappy distortion, to a marshall 100w head and 4x12" cabinet and that thing sounded sooooooooooo much better. louder, of course, but at any volume it sounded a million times better.

of course i play(ed, not much anymore) mostly metal-type stuff, so a marshall may not be what would suit him. but a great guitar with a crap amp will still sound like ass 😛

just my 2 cents 🙂
 
He's got a Marshall G30RCD for now. I have a feeling he'll be wanting some FX pedals next, but the guitar he has now is an embarrasment. It's a 30 year old Sekova that's been repaired (poorly). One step at a time, and the guitar is next on the list. It should hold it's value a hell of a lot longer than my computers! :Q

I gotta hit the sack, but if you guys can give me any other suggestions I'd appreciate it. Cya at 4:30PM Wednesday!

Thanks Loads Bing! 🙂
 


<< He's got a Marshall G30RCD for now. >>


the marshal G series are nice actually, they're based on valvestates, and are really good deals.


<< I have a feeling he'll be wanting some FX pedals next, >>


probably, they get boring though. after toying with quite a few effects processors and pedals, i ended up with just my guitar and amp 🙂


<< but the guitar he has now is an embarrasment. It's a 30 year old Sekova that's been repaired (poorly). One step at a time, and the guitar is next on the list. It should hold it's value a hell of a lot longer than my computers! :Q >>


heh, thats for sure 😛


<< I gotta hit the sack, but if you guys can give me any other suggestions I'd appreciate it. Cya at 4:30PM Wednesday!

Thanks Loads Bing! 🙂 >>


glad to be of service 😉
 
i ended up with a samick for $300....sounds and plays and feels great to me! 😀 it's my first so i have nothing to compare it to, maybe a little bright and lacking in the deep end, but overall it's good
 


<< the marshal G series are nice actually, they're based on valvestates, and are really good deals. >>



Nothing like the original Valvestate's though, those old 2 channel 8100 heads. Coveted by Swedish metal bands these days. And LOUD. Run through a real Marshall 1960 4x12 cab, those heads can seriously make your pant legs flap in the breeze.
 
I am a lucky bastard - I wound up with a very pricey guitar for $80. I got a steal at a pawn shop. I found an old Ibanez X-series in primo condition. It had a lot of crap on it from stickers being put on and ripped off, but some goo-gone fixed that right up. It has a BEAUTIFUL black finish with chrome pickups, and it's that 3-spike shape, like all those Eddie VanHalen shapes from the 80s. The only guitar I've found to be faster is the Parker Fly.
 
hehe, you can talk to Lawton on AT, whom I bought my Schecter TSH-1 from....lol, not the kind or range you're looking for, I know.

Good luck in finding the perfect guitar tho, should be fun. 😉
 


<< He told me not to even bother with the Epiphone stuff and he swore by Gibson. >>



I have an Epiphone les paul standard, cherry burst that I bought brand new for $500 about 6 years ago from Guitar Center. Sure, it's got small imperfections here and there, but I've never seen a Gibson les paul that I was jealous of. I dare anyone to blind test my guitar vs a Gibson and tell me they can notice the difference in playability. I'm not sure what pickups are in the Epiphone, but you can get the same pickups as the Gibson les pauls for ~$250 (for two pickups).

Here's the difference between an Epiphone les paul and a Gibson:
1. Epiphone takes a headstock and attaches it to the neck. On a Gibson, headstock/neck is one piece of wood.
2. They use different tuning pegs.
3. The Gibson headstock has little horns; the Epiphone doesn't.
4. Gibson is made in USA, while the Epiphone is made in Korea.
5. They may use different pickups, although I'm not too sure.
6. They may use different nuts. The Epiphone uses a plastic nut. Not sure about Gibson, but it looks like plastic to me. You can get a bone nut for a couple of bucks.
7. Epiphone costs ~$500. Gibson costs ~1500.

Other things to consider:
1. Epiphone and Gibson are the same company. Gibson bought Epiphone sometime in the 1930s because of their excellent reputation in the acoustic guitar market.
2. Both Gibson and Epiphone les pauls use a mahogany body with maple top. The Epiphone website says alder top, but I swear mine looks just like the Gibson's maple top.
3. A lot of Guitar Center reps don't know what they're talking about.
4. Guitar Center reps work off commission.
5. You can buy Gibson style tuning pegs and pickups and put them on a Epiphone for under $1000.

I do have to admit though... I've never played a good Epiphone les paul except for the one I own. I had to play a lot of Epiphones and went to several stores (and wanted for various shipments) before I found my current guitar. Practically all other Epiphone les pauls that I've played have had terrible playability (bad action, buzzing, muted notes), along with a really loose feeling to all the electronics. My Epiphone, on the otherhand, played great and felt well constructed. Nothing was shaking or loose. After a file and crown (~$100), it's one of the lowest action neck that I've ever played.

I've had my Epiphone for about 6 years now. Everything is fine cept for the pickup selector, which started acting up recently. The rhythm doesnt like to switch sometimes, so I'll have to open it up and get some electronics spray in there to clear up the contact. Eh, what do you expect after 6 years right? Got ran over by a car about 5 years ago (out of the case!) while it was in the garage (right where the neck joins the body). I was so scared when I found it, but nothing seemed broken cept some strings. Put on new strings, and it worked! So, heh, lucky me.

So, from that, you can make your own conclusions.

dfi



 
<<<< He told me not to even bother with the Epiphone stuff and he swore by Gibson. >>



I have an Epiphone les paul standard, bookmatched cherry burst top that I bought brand new for $500 about 6 years ago from Guitar Center. Sure, it's got small imperfections here and there, but I've never seen a Gibson les paul that I was jealous of. I dare anyone to blind test my guitar vs a Gibson and tell me they can notice the difference in playability. I'm not sure what pickups are in the Epiphone, but you can get the same pickups as the Gibson les pauls for ~$250 (for two pickups).

Here's the difference between an Epiphone les paul and a Gibson:
1. Epiphone takes a headstock and attaches it to the neck. On a Gibson, headstock/neck is one piece of wood.
2. They use different tuning pegs.
3. The Gibson headstock has little horns; the Epiphone doesn't.
4. Gibson is made in USA, while the Epiphone is made in Korea.
5. They may use different pickups, although I'm not too sure.

Other things to consider:
1. Epiphone and Gibson are the same company. Gibson bought Epiphone sometime in the 1930s because of their excellent reputation in the acoustic guitar market.
2. Both Gibson and Epiphone les pauls use a mahogany body with maple top. Although, I've heard some Guitar Center reps tell me that Epiphones have started using alder instead of mahogany.
3. A lot of Guitar Center reps don't know what they're talking about.
4. Guitar Center reps work off commission.
5. You can buy Gibson style tuning pegs and pickups and put them on a Epiphone for under $1000.

I do have to admit though... I've never played a good Epiphone les paul except for the one I own. I had to play a lot of Epiphones and went to several stores (and wanted for various shipments) before I found my current guitar. Practically all other Epiphone les pauls that I've played have had terrible playability (bad action, buzzing, muted notes). My Epiphone, on the otherhand, played great right in the store. After a file and crown (~$100), it's one of the lowest action neck that I've ever played.

I've had my Epiphone for about 6 years now. Everything is fine cept for the pickup selector. The rhythm doesnt like to switch sometimes, so I'll have to open it up and get some electronics spray in there to clear up the contact. Got ran over by a car about 5 years ago (out of the case!) while it was in the garage (right where the neck joins the body). I was so scared when I found it, but nothing seemed broken cept some strings. Put on new strings, and it worked! So, heh, lucky me.

So, from that, you can make your own conclusions.

dfi>>



DUDE!!!

I got myself an Epi Les Paul standard too... I even held a poll on this site to see if people could tell if it was a Gibson or not. Pic here I think at last count it was something like 22-5 in favour of it being a real Gibson. I did go out and switch the pickups to the 490R and 498T, and it does make a difference, but now there is absolutely no telling my guitar from a real Gibson from the sound. So to answer your uncertainty, yes, they do use different pickups. Also, the tuning pegs on my Epi aren't that great, but neither are the ones shipping with the stock Gibsons these days either. My next mod is gonna be for some new pegs, and I'm not going stock Gibson for those.
 
Oh, and to the original poster, try looking at an Epi Explorer, then get the gibson 496R and 500T ceramics. They'll be a little hot for the softer, warmer songs, but that guitar'll scream with the best of them when you need it to.
 
silverpig: wow, that's a really nice bookmatched top! Mine isn't matched very well, but oh well, it plays great.

dfi
 
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