Help - I don't know what to get

[fjr11]

Ok,

I started playing an electric about 6 months ago. I've gotten pretty decent. My equipment is very basic, however. I have a sledgehammer electric and an amp I got for about 100 bucks. The only feature my amp has is gain.

To give you an idea of what I'm trying to do: I like to play Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, AcDC, and some others. Some of my favorite songs are Stairway to Heaven, The Turning Away, thunderstruck, and Metalica's unforgiven, Claptons original Layla.

What kind of gear should I have to do this kind of stuff. A more sophisticated amp? Some kind of pedal, (a better guitar?!).

Please don't get to technical - I'm not very guitar-literate!

Thanks,

fjr11

[Fuzzy440]

I am in the same boat as you!
Same music plus ZZ Top and SRV, different guitar: Fender Squire Strat with an upgraded set of pickups, s/s/h (single coil, single coil, humbucker in the bridge) and the amp that came with the Squire pack.
I am running my 15 amp into a bass amp and it sounds pretty decent. I also have a Steve Vai Bad Horsie pedal.
The next step is going to be a bigger amp. I am leaning to one I saw at Mars. It is a Behringer Blue Devil 60. It has a bunch of effects built in.
I would go to your favorite music store and play around with some of their stuff until you find what you like.

Fuzzy

[fjr11]

Thanks for the post. Would I be better off goiong to a better amp - like the one you're looking at or geting a decent pedal? I was just looking at some pedals on Mars myself. Anyone have an opinion about a digitech RP-100 multieffects pedal or a Zoom 505 II guitar multieffects pedal?

Thanks for any replies

Fjr11

[Raskolnikov]

Digitech pedals are (I beleive) of a bit higher quality than the Zooms however I can't say for sure since I don't use either.

I myself would rather have a bunch of stomp boxes because I like the way they sound better than an all in one pedal. You should do what your ears tell you- Just try to stay away from DOD because they use poor componants.

[lalimacefolle]

Put your money in a decent guitar...
I used to buy middle priced axes, half good pedals, and tiny amps
But two years ago I bought a guitar made by a luthier, paid it 2000 bucks, but dang!!! it sounds awesome through every rig I have tested it through...
You won't regret it!! guaranteed!!
Amps color your sound, and make it louder, while pedals only color it.
If your sound is crappy from the beginning, no effects, or amp, will make it sounds truly amazing... As for the style you wish to play, I'd say buy a stratocaster with a humbucher in the bridge, I guess they call it a "big apple"
you'll get the best/worst of both worlds (strat and les paul), then you'll have time, later, to buy a decent amp and effects

[joshldoherty]

Don't make the same mistake I made. Buy a good amp and use a decent guitar. Base what pedals you get around that sound.

[lynng]

Originally posted by fjr11
[ I was just looking at some pedals on Mars myself. Anyone have an opinion about a digitech RP-100 multieffects pedal or a Zoom 505 II guitar multieffects pedal?
[/B]

I have one of the original 505's which I'd give you - Too hard to change the presets and keep them.

I finally found the amp setup that works for me, wound up with a Fender Princeton 65 (I know it's not tube) and added an Ibanez Tubescreamer.... Good warm overdrive and more volume than I'll ever need (don't play big gigs anymore!!) Under $500 also.

[vrnorman]

I agree with everyone on the quality guitar statements. I have been playing for 35 years but I remember my first ax. Talk about basic stuff!!

I have the Digitech 2000 and my rhythm guitarist uses the Digitech 200. Because of all of the good built in modeling effects it has improved sound a little, but amp quality has a lot to do with it also. There is an age old saying in the electronics industry, "garbage in = garbage out".

I like the amp setup that lynng uses. I drive an old tube Music Man amp with a Fender Prinston and the Digitech 2000 in line. My guitars are both custom made, Strat sytle and Gibsom SG that I built.

Finding the right combination that works for you will take time, but trust me.....you'll get there.

KeepOnRockin!

SRV is king of the slingers!

PEACE

Th' WOLF