Is it too good to be true?

[ruhslax]

Hey im in the market for a non-expensive guitar (i'm only 16 with no job) that i can use to play some jazz and blues and i heard that Les Pauls were extremely good.... but i don't have 2 grand i can spend.... BUT i did find one that i thought was pretty nice. Its a Douglas Shadow 2TS. <http://www.rondomusic.com/shadow2ts.html> (here is a link to where i found it). I have read some reviews and a lot of them are good but i have a friend who says "aww naw that will be s*** if u get that" but i'm not sure.

Please tell me what u think.

~ruhslax

[Lordathestrings]

New is nice, but if your budget is limited, you will always get more for your money with a used guitar.

Haunt every music store and pawn shop you can get to and see what you can find.

[JeffS65]

http://www.music123.com/Electric-Guitars-Guitars,Outlet.Music123?o=1

Or even here. You have lots of quality choices of known makers. I'd say save at least a little more to get a little better quality. Doesn't have to be a fortune but at least a little more.

[ren]

Up to a certain point, you get what you pay for. If you have ever had a guitar before, I think you'll likely be disappointed by the guitar you link.

I second LATS suggestion to buy used. I pretty much always do... more because they don't make the guitars I like any more (80s Ibanez addict) but it's nice that the guitars have a history. It also saves you being upset when you ding your shiny new guitar for the first time... someone else has done it for you... :)

I've had (with one exception) great results from ebay and the local pawn shop. Maybe a nasty thing to say in these economic times, but people seem to be selling their guitars quick and therefore cheap, presumably needing the money for lifes necessities. Bargains are out there.

If you really have to have an LP style guitar, look for a used epiphone. Less than that, and even for $100 you'll want the money back.

[Geoff.T.]

I've only started playing again a few years ago and always bought average guitars. Recently I bought a Maton acoustic, I haven't touched my beloved Warlock since. You will always want better sound quality, tone and most of all playability, buy a cheap guitar and you will never "feel" the sound like you do with quality. I spent a year convincing my wife that I "needed" a Maton, I wonder how long before she lets me get my Hammet series EMG.
Shop around, like LATS said, Pawn shops, they will unearth some real treasures sometimes.