which guitar

[danbrett]

im new to guitar playing ive recently just bought an acoustic to get me going but am seriously thinking about an electric but theres so many on the market can anybody advise me as wht to buy and which to avoid.

[chucklivesoninmyheart]

No problem dude.What kind of music do you like to play?(or want to play?)

[RenegadeMind]

Also depends on how much you want to spend - If you're willing to go as high as $500, you have a lot more options. As high as $800 and you can get a really nice guitar. The under $200 market is tough, and that's where picking 1 is hard.

A lot of the Korean made guitars are very good for the price. Jackson even has some made there.

[Ken1]

I want to give you an advice about buying a guitar. Go and try before you buy, cause it can actually be some significant difference even between guitars that are supposed to be the same. Don't focus too much on the brand, and the look, focus on how you feel when you play it. I've played alot of cheap guitars that have been excellent (and then soundwise you can always modify it, have a new pickup mounted etc..) if it feels good to play on, and if it tunes well, and have a reasonable sustain you are home free no matter what the brand is.

Personally I would recomend to go for some of the cheaper guitars, cause you might now know yet what you really want, and it is way to easy to spend way too much money on a guitar that you thought was all that, and then it turns out you accuire a taste for something completely different (has happened to me a few times during the years)

It takes some time for a guitar to grow into a good instrument in my oppinion, it has to get used to your playstyle, hands and grip and environment .. thats why many of the guitarheroes play their old half worn out guitar in spite of the fact that they own sometimes hundreds of guitars .. but they keep going back to the " good ol favorite"

Most of them are pretty adjustable as well so if you tinker around with it, you will get it to where you like it .... and if you don't know how to fiddle around with the hardware setup there are alots of resources on the net and usually on your local musicstore as well.

okie dokie ..
(don't know if this helped at all ,,, hehehe)
but you have a good one
//Ken1 :)

[marayo]

im new to guitar playing ive recently just bought an acoustic to get me going but am seriously thinking about an electric but theres so many on the market can anybody advise me as wht to buy and which to avoid.

I don't have an advice for you. I think I am in the same situation you are.
I started 2 months ago with an acoustic guitar, but most of the songs I try to learn are rock/alternative. Somehow is hard to sound like the original with an acoustic.

Ken1 advice seems good... but if we don't know how to play well, how are we going to know what fits or not? It will be helpfull to know what we should avoid to buy. Is buing on a Pawn shop a bad idea? (I saw a good selection and prices between $160 - $500) I recognize some brands but I had no idea what can be good.

any more ideas?

[JABaxter]

It is my opinion that you should find a guitar that feels good as well as sounds good. If your buying an electric you can always tweak it with pickups and adjustments to the neck to make it work for you. Just keep playing as the more you play the more you will understand what you want in a guitar to fit your style (same concept on dating).

The great thing about an acoustic is that it is always there to practice on - no amp needed. Electric is much easier to play and almost always has quicker action than an acoustic. Decide which music you want to emulate the most and go with the instrument that fits your interests first. A 2nd guitar will come with more experience and interest, besides you can have more than one (its not marriage).

[chucklivesoninmyheart]

Ok,realizing that some kind of recommendation may be good...

The Ibanez GAX70(I have one and it will make a great starter instrument and serves as a good beater/backup when you advance)here...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/519404/

Try one at a local store if possible.If your really strapped for cash,go for a dean evo here... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/519795/

[marayo]

Ok,realizing that some kind of recommendation may be good...

The Ibanez GAX70(I have one and it will make a great starter instrument and serves as a good beater/backup when you advance)here...
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/519404/

Try one at a local store if possible.If your really strapped for cash,go for a dean evo here... http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/search/detail/base_pid/519795/


I went to a local store to check things out and I found the GAX70 you mention above. It sounds amazing!!!! He also showed me a Samick, and there is no comparisson!!! I was so tempted to buy it. They offer me the guitar with an amp, cable and case for $330.
I went to another store which they had different brands. I tried a Squier Strat from a value pack $279 (http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/s=electric/search/detail/base_pid/519633/) . It sounds good but not like the GAX70.
What is your opinion about the other value pack form Ibanez IJS40? http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/s=electric/search/detail/base_pid/519633/
Or, should I stay away from value packs?

I want to visist another 2 more stores before I make a decision. :cool:

Any other recommendation around $200 guitars?

thanks,

[R. Shackleferd]

Your two choices bring up the issue of pickups. The strat comes with single coils (skinny ones) and the Ibanez has humbuckers. Each type is unique, one not being better than the other, but preferred for certain sounds or tones.

A brief general description:
single coils: Are brighter in tone I guess but have a little hum (that could turn big with high distortion). Just think of famous strat players and their sounds, Hendrix, S.R.V., Eric Johnson, Eric Clapton...

humbuckers: less hum but not as bright. Almost all heavy metal and hard rock use these. Think of famous Les Paul players and their sounds: Slash, Jimmy Page, Angus Young, Zakk Wylde...

Like I said neither is better than the other really, until you decide how you want to play.

[6strngs_2hmbkrs]

you mentioned the ibanez IJS40 value package ( http://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=guitar/s=electric/search/detail/base_pid/519658/ ) and I have that guitar. I didn't get the value pack, so I don't know about the amp and everything. but I have the guitar, I think it sounds pretty good for it's price, though there is some fret buzz, and little sustain. you can check out my full review of it here: http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12611 and also a review (not by me) of a GAX70 here: http://www.guitartricks.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12695 the thing about the GRX40 (my guitar) is that it has both a humbucker and single coils, allowing you to get both bright and crunchy tones. if you can, give that guitar a try and see how you like it compared to the GAX70

[rockonn91]

I went to a local store to check things out and I found the GAX70 you mention above. It sounds amazing!!!!

GAX's are reaal nice guitars.
anyways....


you know... my parents wouldnt let me go electric till i mastered the acoustic.hadta perfect all of clapton's unplugged album.

you should try stickin to the acoustic for awile theeen going to the electric. you figure out how to utalize the guitar better...

[Dr_simon]

I find the trem on my acoustic leaves a lot to be desired and artificial harmonics, hammering and double stop bends just don't sound the same, especially above the 15th fret.

[ake]

I'm having the same problems with the trem on my acoustic. The only thing that seems to help is wrap an popcycle stick with rubber bands and wedge it nice and tight beneath the left phalgoid. Maybe its the right one I can't remember.

[chucklivesoninmyheart]

I think Simon was just joking about the 'acoustic trem' lol.

[ajheid]

Its nice to have both....accoustic and electric.....
But, with electric....you have to think of other things too...
what kind of amp,
what kind of effect pedal(s)
so, your not just buying an electric guitar.......
Just go into a store(music..of course) and try a few out....(guitars that is)
dont look at the price just go for the feel......
then look at the price.
A guitar has to be broken in to work well
every one that I have had, some have gotten better with age....