"practice" guitar

[dboy420]

Looking for some advice regarding a purchase. I am a beginner just getting down basic riffs and chords. I am looking for something I can throw in my car and take out anywhere to practice/play. -At first i considered an accoustic for this purpose but it seems that for the price of anything decent I can purchase an inexpensive off brand electric and a mini amp for less. Like I said I am only a novice looking for something decent lug around in my car and practice on. Thanks for any advice. dennis stapleton.

[nsx_swami]

Hmmmm....tough question.

What kind of music do you play? What kind of a budget do you have?
My advice is try getting the best used guitar you can find in your price range. That way you will get a better guitar for your money but still have something that you don't mind if it gets beat up bouncing around in your car. The worst thing you can do is get a cheap crappy guitar just to save a buck and end up with a truly cheap crappy guitar.

[Tele Master]

Squier Strat and amp package deally type things, lol. Its a "starter pack", get amp, guitar, cable, tuner, all in one. Prob around $400.(canadian)

[dboy420]

I like the sound of blues/classic rock/oldies, being a beginer I will be playing faily simple tunes. I would like to someday maybe write songs w/music.
Let me also add --that I currently own an Ibanez Artist with a Roland Cube amp, I just do not want to bring it outdoors where it might get ruined. The practice guitar would more than likely have a permanent place in the trunk of my car, bringing it out to practice or just to have when I am out and about and want to play. I do not want to pay much for it as it is for practice and will be in my car when not played.

[spanky10940]

go get yourself a Squire affinity strat...

you can usuall pick one of those up for under $200.. believe it or not, they play pretty nice (they have that crappy hum to them ) but for what you want, it should do nicely...

http://www.samash.com/catalog/showitem.asp?ItemID=27691&TempID=5&Method=2&CategoryID=0&BrandID=0&PriceRangeID=0&PageNum=0&DepartmentID=1&DepartmentKeeper=&pagesize=10&SortMethod=0&Word1=squier+strat&Contains=%22%2Asquier%2A%22+AND+%22%2Astrat%2A%22&Search_Type=SEARCH&GroupCode=nonetodaythanks

[PonyOne]

For something good and cheap that can get beaten and you won't feel that terrible about, get one of the Kramer Focus strat copies from musicyo.com for $70. They actually sound on par with a Mexican Strat.

Otherwise, I'd echo everyone else and say that it would be smart to something used. Specifically, look for a Tele knockoff, it sounds like it might be up your alley tonally. Plus, a well-made Tele or Tele knockoff is a robust guitar, since it's about as simple as it can get. I'd think twice about leaving it in your trunk permanentely though since the heat fluctuations will warp the neck and make it more difficult to play.

For an amp to go with it, look at the Vox Pathfinder (new: $120) It's a 15 watt solid state that is built like a tank and has pretty damn good tone for the price; it's also got a definite classic rock/blues vibe to it that's nice. A hell of a lot more tone than any of the cheap Marshalls or Peavys.

[Jimmysticks]

you could probably find an Ibanez gax70 on ebay for a little more than 100 bucks, its a sick guitar for the price.

[Slow Diver]

Get a practice guitar with higher action than the guitar you would use for gigging/recording.

[spanky10940]

Get a practice guitar with higher action than the guitar you would use for gigging/recording.

dumb question time: why would you want to do that? I only have one guitar at the moment, so it's a non issue for me but I'll be adding more soon....

thanks!

[Slow Diver]

Well of course if you can afford only one guitar(like me) the you should buy the best one, with an action that is most comfortable for you. I just think that having a high action guitar for practice is really beneficial for your technique. I had the chance to have one other guitar for the past month(its of a friend ofmine who left it with me) and it had higher action than mine so I felt that when I got used to it I could play really easily on my guitar.
So you see my logic?
Other people may have different experiences, though

[spanky10940]

never thought about that...

I feel the difference when I go from my acoustic to my electric so i guess the effect would be the same if you play on an alright axe as opposed to your main one...

hey, learned somethin new today :cool: thanks slow diver!

what kind of guitar do you use now?

[Slow Diver]

I use some really old Gibson