Guitar buying tips

[dwell]

Originally posted by: Norton
The best advice is to stop reading internet forums on this! Swapping pickups , changing electronics , learning to change strings on a floyd etc. are not what you need to be dealing with right now.

QFT x 1000

I was deep into it, reading Harmony Central reviews and forum every day. I swapped pups, bought pedals, modded them, bought amps, modded them too. At the end of the day I sucked as bad as when I started. One day I up and decided to only spend money on two guitar related things -- picks and strings. I've been concentrating solely on playing since and have improved a ton since. Sure gear is great, but at the heart of it all it's all about the playing.

 

[CalvinHobbes]

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328491

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: CalvinHobbes
http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=328491

I'm not sure I agree with that guy's reasoning on an amp purchase, but if you write a gigantic guide and post it on a forum, you must be an expert and everything you say must be true

 

[duragezic]

Yeah I know it's about playing and not the equipment. This isn't my first guitar though and I want something that'll be good for years to come as I get better. I guess I just really need to play some to decide. That large guide did have some good info. I think as long as I got a bridge humbucker I'm set. I pretty much always set the selector on my bro's Ibanez to that. It has the most treble and whatnot, and sounds the best for most all of the punk I play.

I'm still leaning towards some sort of LP clone. I think a lot of Ibanez are more suited to metal. But I'll have to play some LP clones to see if I can still play them fast with ease (and my hands/fingers are pretty small so I probably need a thinner neck).

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

The best thing I can tell you is to go out and try as many different guitars as you can. Pick up guitars in every range ($200-2k+) to see how they fit in your hands, on your knee (depending on how you practice) and play them through a amp that is similar to yours AND through an amp that you might be looking to upgrade to.

I'm partial to Gibson/Epiphone because I love the necks and how they feel to me.

Here's some pics of my stuff:

Currently in my collection
Everything else

There really is no magic answer to this. Just make sure you pic a guitar because it is COMFORTABLE for you NOT because it LOOKS good or is EXPENSIVE.

Right now....I'm looking at trading/selling my Showmaster and buying one of these:

Ibanez AK86 Artcore Hollowbody Electric Guitar in Dark Violin Sunburst
The picture doesn't do it justice, its has a very nice 'shiny' finish to it. Everytime I go into Guitar Center, I pick this up and it just melts in my hands. It looks big but it fits my body/arms very nicely and the neck is awesome. Has a VERY nice mellow sound unplugged and gets VERY nice tone through a good amp (especially the Vox Valvetronix series). It has an excellent Jazz tone but does classic rock VERY well and would be suitable for most types of music (except death/speed/black). You can find these used for around $300 or less. Check out the reviews on Music123/ZZounds/Musiciansfriend and most people say it plays far better than it's price.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: duragezic
Yeah I know it's about playing and not the equipment. This isn't my first guitar though and I want something that'll be good for years to come as I get better. I guess I just really need to play some to decide. That large guide did have some good info. I think as long as I got a bridge humbucker I'm set. I pretty much always set the selector on my bro's Ibanez to that. It has the most treble and whatnot, and sounds the best for most all of the punk I play.

I'm still leaning towards some sort of LP clone. I think a lot of Ibanez are more suited to metal. But I'll have to play some LP clones to see if I can still play them fast with ease (and my hands/fingers are pretty small so I probably need a thinner neck).

If you're looking at an Epiphone LP, you'll want to get an Elite model. Otherwise, they're not worth the money. After you upgrade their muddy clone pickups and tuning machines, you'll have spent as much as you would have on an Elite model, yet it won't be worth as much.

I've been told from several sources that the Rondo Agile 3000 series is the best LP copy available, and they're dirt cheap at under $400. I've never played one myself, but the specs look very impressive:

http://www.rondomusic.net/al3000prest.html

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: SupaDupaCheez
The best thing I can tell you is to go out and try as many different guitars as you can. Pick up guitars in every range ($200-2k+) to see how they fit in your hands, on your knee (depending on how you practice) and play them through a amp that is similar to yours AND through an amp that you might be looking to upgrade to.

I'm partial to Gibson/Epiphone because I love the necks and how they feel to me.

Here's some pics of my stuff:

Currently in my collection
Everything else

There really is no magic answer to this. Just make sure you pic a guitar because it is COMFORTABLE for you NOT because it LOOKS good or is EXPENSIVE.

Right now....I'm looking at trading/selling my Showmaster and buying one of these:

Ibanez AK86 Artcore Hollowbody Electric Guitar in Dark Violin Sunburst
The picture doesn't do it justice, its has a very nice 'shiny' finish to it. Everytime I go into Guitar Center, I pick this up and it just melts in my hands. It looks big but it fits my body/arms very nicely and the neck is awesome. Has a VERY nice mellow sound unplugged and gets VERY nice tone through a good amp (especially the Vox Valvetronix series). It has an excellent Jazz tone but does classic rock VERY well and would be suitable for most types of music (except death/speed/black). You can find these used for around $300 or less. Check out the reviews on Music123/ZZounds/Musiciansfriend and most people say it plays far better than it's price.

I've been kicking around getting a Vox AC-30 reissue for some time. Your Vox is treating you well then?

 

[SupaDupaCheez]

Originally posted by: Fritzo

Originally posted by: SupaDupaCheez
The best thing I can tell you is to go out and try as many different guitars as you can. Pick up guitars in every range ($200-2k+) to see how they fit in your hands, on your knee (depending on how you practice) and play them through a amp that is similar to yours AND through an amp that you might be looking to upgrade to.

I'm partial to Gibson/Epiphone because I love the necks and how they feel to me.

Here's some pics of my stuff:

Currently in my collection
Everything else

There really is no magic answer to this. Just make sure you pic a guitar because it is COMFORTABLE for you NOT because it LOOKS good or is EXPENSIVE.

Right now....I'm looking at trading/selling my Showmaster and buying one of these:

Ibanez AK86 Artcore Hollowbody Electric Guitar in Dark Violin Sunburst
The picture doesn't do it justice, its has a very nice 'shiny' finish to it. Everytime I go into Guitar Center, I pick this up and it just melts in my hands. It looks big but it fits my body/arms very nicely and the neck is awesome. Has a VERY nice mellow sound unplugged and gets VERY nice tone through a good amp (especially the Vox Valvetronix series). It has an excellent Jazz tone but does classic rock VERY well and would be suitable for most types of music (except death/speed/black). You can find these used for around $300 or less. Check out the reviews on Music123/ZZounds/Musiciansfriend and most people say it plays far better than it's price.

I've been kicking around getting a Vox AC-30 reissue for some time. Your Vox is treating you well then?

Yep....I really like the tone from it. I replaced my Line 6 Spider II 112 with the Vox and have never looked back. I really like the clean sound and the simple factory presets and emulators are very nice (and customizable). It get's plenty loud for practice with an unmiked drummer but I wouldn't recommend it for a full on gig (unless you mike it). I picked it up for under $200.00 used and feel that it was money well spent.

 

[Vegitto]

Well, for what my opinion is worth:

I've been playing for like, what, 5 months? I've got a Cort acoustic guitar, and I can tell you, it sucks for (trying to) solo. I desperately want a electric guitar, preferably a Fender Stratocaster (arctic white), and I feel that I'd be worthy of such a guitar, but alas, no money.

Buy what YOU like.

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Vegitto
Well, for what my opinion is worth:

I've been playing for like, what, 5 months? I've got a Cort acoustic guitar, and I can tell you, it sucks for (trying to) solo. I desperately want a electric guitar, preferably a Fender Stratocaster (arctic white), and I feel that I'd be worthy of such a guitar, but alas, no money.

Buy what YOU like.

Who buys stuff outright anymore?

 

[imported_Nacelle]

Credit Card, BAD!

 

[Fritzo]

Originally posted by: Nacelle
Credit Card, BAD!

Why? No intrest, and you make monthly payments on it. It's like being on lay-a-way but you get to use it.

 

[WildHorse]

Well a company near me has a forum on its website where you can discuss guitar selection with some great players:

SeymorDuncan

They also have a real long list of links to guitar builders on there.

Worth checking out!


On a different but related subject, if the day ever comes when you decide to shop for an acoustic, here's a really great place, in my opinion:
Breedlove Guitars