What do you guys think about the Fender Starcaster?

[blurredvision]

I bought my wife a beginner acoustic Fender guitar for xmas 2006, but with her finishing school this year, she's hardly used it. So, now that we both have all the free time we can handle outside of our jobs, we've decided to learn the guitar together for one of our new year's resolutions. We've not really done anything solely as a couple since we've been together for 6 or 7 years, so I'm excited to do this.

We was at a local music shop tonight, and I ended up, on a whim, purchasing a Fender Starcaster set that comes with a small amp, tutorials, etc etc etc. I'm going to read a few reviews on it before I open it up so I can return it if need be, but what do you guys think about it? Is it a good starter guitar? I don't expect it to make beautiful music, but is it a decent guitar to help me build some skill and work my way to a better guitar in the future?

I'm not worried about it being the best, I just don't want it to sound like shit and me not know it . Thanks for any comments!

 

[Crucial]

Wouldn't that have been a good question for the music shop?

 

[mooglemania85]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
We've not really done anything solely as a couple since we've been together for 6 or 7 years.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Crucial
Wouldn't that have been a good question for the music shop?

Well, I embelished a bit. This "music shop" sells a ton of music related stuff, as well as books, movies, and games. I don't really trust the high school kids they have working there.

Originally posted by: mooglemania85

Originally posted by: blurredvision
We've not really done anything solely as a couple since we've been together for 6 or 7 years.

Bastard. Shouldn't have worded it like that.....

 

[akshatp]

Get a Les Paul gold instead :0

 

[E equals MC2]

Strat is a good guitar. That crazy kid JerryC plays Strat for Canon Rock.

 

[badkarma1399]

Originally posted by: blurredvision
I just don't want it to sound like shit and me not know it

Don't worry about it, when most people start out, its never the guitar that sounds like shit.

Anyways, Fenders are a pretty popular breed of guitar, so it should be fine.

 

[Rubycon]

Originally posted by: E equals MC2
Strat is a good guitar. That crazy kid JerryC plays Strat for Canon Rock.

Starcaster ? Stratocaster.

That said it should be fine for a beginner.

 

[Mrvile]

Starcaster is pretty blah...once you get even a little bit decent it starts to suck.

I would stay away from Fender for cheap guitars, actually. Fender makes some good guitars from the Strat and up, but guitars like the Starcaster or Squire Strat are pretty bad.

I have an Ibanez GRX20. It was $150 and I got it like, two years ago when I started playing guitar. I've since gotten pretty good and I still think the guitar is great...low action guitars are pretty easy to make well and Ibanez makes some great guitars. It's probably a good time for me to upgrade guitars but I'm a poor college student and I really can't think of a single reason why I would want to spend money on a new guitar.

 

[Analog]

Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix can't be wrong with Strats.

 

[alkemyst]

For a first guitar it's not a bad choice, there are better out there; cheaper but WAY MORE bad ones.

If you find yourself playing madly next christmas still upgrade and sell the old one on consignment.

I went from a $150 electric (bought around 1986) to a $1500 martin about 10 years later.

 

[GenHoth]

Work on it till you're good. Then worry about upgrading (Strats are phenomenal!)

 

[imported_Dingster1]

Thats what I did, bought a hceaper model in the begining just to see if I was going to stick with it. I just upgraded to an Ibanez TCY20 and some lessons.

 

[Quasmo]

Strat was my first guitar. I asked for a drum set and got a guitar. My instument of choice is the xylophone. But a 3.5 octave keyboard runs about $2000... bleh

 

[Colt45]

I'd have got a used, mangled, beat up American made strat instead of a new Chinese one, but that's just me.

 

[blurredvision]

Originally posted by: Colt45
I'd have got a used, mangled, beat up American made strat instead of a new Chinese one, but that's just me.

Eh, for just a beginner guitar, it doesn't matter to me where it's made. The package I purchased had every single thing I needed to get started, which is what I liked. Since posting this last night, I've found a lot of favorable reviews for this guitar for what it is and what I paid, so I've hooked it up. Everything sounds good to me, and I'm ready to start learning.

I've already read up on on the different parts of the guitar and what everything is used for. Plus, I've checked out the first few minutes of the tutorial DVD that came with it, and I really like the guy's teaching style so far. I'm happy with the purchase, it's a pretty solid feeilng guitar.

 

[Mr Pickles]

We was...

 

[Gibson486]

for a beginner, anything is good as long as you can play it.

 

[Platypus]

Starcasters are actually pretty rare and a good find

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fender_Starcaster

Johnny Greenwood uses them a lot with Radiohead.. I would hold onto it for sure. (I'd love to own one)

 

[Fritzo]

Well, there's a lot of classes of Strats...beginner, intermediate, and advanced.

The Starcaster line is a dept. store model. It might be playable, but most people consider them "toy" guitars. I'd return it and get something made by Fender directly (Fender contracts out for their Starcaster line). If it works and stays in tune, you might want to keep it...it's up to you (reviews are horrible: http://www.thetabworld.com/Fen...ic_guitar_reviews.html. ) Here's a guide to Fender Strats:

Beginner is going to be their Squire line, which is generally of poor build quality, but it's fine to learn on. People just starting are going to be happy if they can get a sound of the amp- they don't know what good/bad pickups sound like. Just have the strings set as low as possible without getting any buzzing and you'll have a blast on it. Price range $99-$299.

Intermediate is going to be the Mexican Strats (it'll say Made in Mexico on the head stock). These are of better build quality, but the wood and the paint finish generally aren't the best. Some models will use American made pickups, some will use pickups from the Squire line. I own a Nashville Power Telecaster (Mexican) with American pickups (and a piezo pickup), and it plays pretty well. Price range $$399-$799

Advanced is going to be the American Strats. These are hand made in the US, and will have excellent quality. They're generally set up and ready to play from the factory, will use Fender's top of the line pickups, and use top grade woods. Price range $999-$3000+

You can learn on anything that has 6 strings and stays in tune. When you get to the point where something is bugging you on the instrument, you'll know it's time to upgrade.

 

[Platypus]

Hmmm, it appears that Fender has decided to reuse that name on a budget guitar line, I thought you had stumbled upon something rare

 

[mrrman]

usually the guitar/amp package deals arent that good....the amp will more than likely suck but that can be upgraded later...mine was gone within a week....as long as you can hear what you are playing, thats a good way to start then you can upgrade later

 

[Gibson486]

Originally posted by: Platypus
Hmmm, it appears that Fender has decided to reuse that name on a budget guitar line, I thought you had stumbled upon something rare

All companies are starting to "toy up".

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Gibson486

Originally posted by: Platypus
Hmmm, it appears that Fender has decided to reuse that name on a budget guitar line, I thought you had stumbled upon something rare

All companies are starting to "toy up".

No doubt- I don't blame them though. Parents think that it's better to spend $150 than $500 on a starter guitar that has a big chance of not being used.

Gibson got in on the bandwagon last year.

The popularity of Guitar Hero has made real guitar sales soar, so this is a way for main stream companies to get into dept. stores without losing their integrity.

 

[nakedfrog]

Geez, the Squier and Epiphone lines weren't enough?