Cheap strat sets?

I've been playing acoustic for a couple of weeks and intend to get an electric to try out as soon as I get paid again! Is it a bad idea to get one of the cheap sets that are floating around or would I be better buying the bits individually and paying more?

Would something like this be a bad move? The local shop tried to sell me an aria guitar with kustom amp for a bit more which doesn't seem to be the best value I've seen. I've also seen the new cheaper strat sets but I think the amp is going to be pretty bad!

Any other cheapish sets to consider, Marshall, Peavey? I can afford a bit more if I need to, just not sure if I'd know the difference being a newbie!

If you won't know the difference... buy the cheapest one... haha. Seriously though, Its good to start out on a less-than-stellar electric because it developes your ability to MAKE music... it allows you to squeeze every note out of the guitar, no matter how cheap or expensive it is. I started on acoustic like you... then moved to a cheap strat set (that was about 3 years ago...) and since then have aquired a good selection of choice instruments that I can enjoy... but I still love picking up my first "Strat" and playing it just to see how hard it was to play and how good I can make it sound now. Half of the tone is from the guitar and speaker... the other half is from the hands of the player.... a great player (ala SRV) makes it 25% electonic and 75% human ability... and I think cheaper instruments help you get closer to that. Granted... I have done major renovations to my cheap strat since I aquired it... I've set it on fire on numerous occasions... drug it trough gravel... threw it across/off stages... into drum sets... into other band members... I don't even have a case for it... and to make it up to her... I hooked her up with two hot chrome humbuckers and a custom wire job. haha. I love playing that guitar because I have so many memories with it and its got sooooo much character... Thats what it should be about... Not how much you paid for it. The choice is yours though man!

hey, to tell you the truth, when I started playing electric, I started on this piece of junk, a cort from the 80's, its sooo small, but thats a pretty good deal, squiers arnt to bad for a begginer. But like aschleman said, its your choice. Cya in guitar heaven!lol

I've also got the choice of maybe getting a les paul epi for a similar price, second hand with a few pedals and a 50w peavey amp :) A guy at work was going to ebay it, it was a mid range one for about £350 (the guitar) a fair few years back, my only concern is the technology behind it? I take it once a humbucker always a humbucker right? I don't have to worry about new low price stuff being better do I? I know a cheap strat is cheaper than a cheaper LP as a rule and the style of music that both knock out sounds fine.

well like we said, its your decision

but I'm a fender man, so obviously, I'm gana say to go with the squier.

Go with something that looks reallly good to you and feels really good...

everytime you see it standing in the corner or wherever...you should have an urge to pick it up and practice/play even if its just for a few seconds...

Cheers!

Like this?

HEHE exactly!