What Electric Guitar setup for me???

[whiteboyatcal]

Hey, so after playing around with my brother's electric guitar and learning how to play a few power chords, I really want to purchase a guitar/amp setup of my own. Although I'm not a noobie to music (I played cello and string bass for 7 years) I really don't know too much about this sort of equipment. I'm interested mostly in learning how to play poppy punk/emo music. What would be a good beginning setup for me? My budget is $600-$700 and so far I have come up with a few choices I like:

1.) Fender Stratocaster Tom DeLonge signature edition (~$550) w/ a lower end practice amp like Crate, Squire, etc. for $100-$150

2.) Fender Stratocaster standard edition (~$350) w/ an okay combination amp (lower end Marshall , Peavey, etc.) for ~$300

3.) Fender Squire Tom DeLonge edition ($175) with a decent combination amp $300-$400 or leave some money to warm my pocket and pay for other
things like tuner/stand etc.

Since I'm a beginner, I don't need super equipment, but I don't want something that is so horrible that it discourages me or doesn't let me improve. What do you recommend? Is it more important to buy a good guitar or a good amp? What accessories do you recommend? Any instructional books you have found helpful?

Also, I have seen lots of guitars and amps at local pawn shops. Should I check there first or should I go straight to Guitar Center (there are three within 30 minutes drive from me).

Thanks.

 

[whiteboyatcal]

^bump^ please help me

 

[Nutdotnet]

If it was ME....I would spend as much as you can on the guitar, then get something like the Line6 Guitar Port to practice with.

BUT

That is only what I would do.

 

[whiteboyatcal]

Wow Nutdotnet I've never seen that product before but it looks pretty cool. That might be a good option for me since my computer is connected to my home audio system but it might get me evicted really fast. The only downside would be that it's not really portable. Anyone else have ideas?

 

[MikeO]

For a guitar I might suggest taking a look at Ibanez' RG series, very good guitars for their price.

For an amp... dunno, it depends what kind of sound you're looking for. Marshall, Crate, Laney... all good brands, but they all sound different. I've been playing with 15W Crate for years at home, it was my first practice amp and I'm still using it. I have the better stuff at rehearsal place.

 

[whiteboyatcal]

^bump^ for more replies