Guitar Opinions?

Hey, I've been playing guitar for a while and I wanted to buy a new electric guitar (mine's kinda' worn down) and I have no clue on what to buy. I like to play rock, metal,and really fast solos and I'm on a budget $200-$400. Any ideas?

*I just picked this baby up 2 days ago and wanted to show it off...I can't find it anywhere on the Squire Web site or any brochures...It "appears" to be a hybrid of the Standard and stagemaster series....Out the door with gig bag and tax for $304.00 !!! The neck is OUTRAGOUS and FAST !!!! The humbuckers are muddy and grunge type....This guitar LOVES semi-heavy stringz....I've got a .46 on the low E right now and if ya de-tune it, Zak Wylde will personally come to your house and ask for your autograff !!! :D:D:D....



*This is a Squire "Stagemaster", but ALSO says "Standard Series" (in small letters) on the very top ( Notice the rosewood fretboard w/22 frets !! YES !!! )....Floyd Rose with angled fine tuners and 2 knob config. rounds it out...I'm gonna throw some Sperzels on it and that should do it :D .......



[Edited by LEEtheV on 02-06-2001 at 07:05 PM]

That is a REALLY nice guitar. I can't believe you got for only $304.00! I haven't heard alot about Squire guitars, but I just got done reading a couple posts about them and almost every post said they were good guitars. Could I find them at just about any guitar store? Are they cheap ($200-$400)?

What type of cheap (expense wise) guitar would The V reccomend?

Go to http://www.musicyo.com and look at the Striker, Baretta, and Vanguard serires guitars, they're exactly what you're looking for. I own 2, soon to be 3.

also check ebay. you can get some fantastic deals on there. I plan on getting a fender HM strat pretty soon. i played one at a pawn shop and was totally taken in by the sound and the playability but they wanted like 7 c-notes just because it had the name fender on the headstock. A fender hm will cost between 2-3 hundred used, can't by em new cause they don't make em any more. or just check ebay to now exactly how much a certain guitar your looking at goes for new and used. Cause it hurts when you get burned paying way more than you should have for an instrument, i'm talking from experience. ;) -jake

I've only played one electric guitar in my life. So do you suggest rosewood fretboard or maple?

I do think that I've the guitar that I want ( it's in my range too) so that's why I asked that question.

Optimal,
I agree with fenderstrat about musicians friend. They have good deals and I have purchased many products from them in the past and have been very happy with them. You can go to their web site,www.musiciansfriend.com and request a free catalog from them. However, before you throw any money down I would try out guitars at music stores around where you live and then see it they have the guitar offered in their catalog before you buy it to make sure you like it. They do have excellent prices but the only draw back is that you can't try before you buy since they are on the web.

Francis

Originally posted by Guitarin'4Jesus
What type of cheap (expense wise) guitar would The V reccomend?

*A (Mexican) Fender "Fat Strat" (Deluxe Series) w/Floyd Rose should set ya back about $350 bux.......You could do ALOT worse than buying one of these..(I like the 2 knob configuration & the bridge H/bucker is crunchy, BUT the middle S/coil has a VERY NICE "Sweet Home Alabama" CLEAN sound :))....NOTE: Even though (theoretically) the necks are all the same, they are definatly NOT.....Go to a music store that has a large variety of these FAT STRATS and you'll see for yourself....Getcha one that has a nice thin neck on it and look down the neck to make sure it is nice and straight...This will insure that you can put the action down in the weeds where it belongs.....KEEP "9"'s on it (Strings) or a set of "orange" Hybrid slinkys, MAX....These guitars can be PRETTY DARN FAST if ya set them up with the lighter strings.....They seem to lose "something" when ya go to the heavier cables :(.....(I'm not talking about the Rosewood necks).....Other than that, The Squire that you saw me post a pic of is pretty spiffy....INTERESTING NOTE ON THE SQUIRE: I CAN BEAT the living $@&% out of my Mexican stuff (I'm talking about pick attack on the strings) and the sound is "crunchy" and predictable....This Squire likes a much lighter touch and LOVES to be finessed....If you've got a nice light touch and have good control, this guitar will perform VERY nicely for you.....If ya BEAT them STRANGZ and get freaky, then go with the Mexican Strat....Just my opinion :)

[Edited by LEEtheV on 02-07-2001 at 08:54 AM]

What do you people think about a "Peavey Predator Plus" or a "Peavey Firenza"? From the very few reviews I read at harmonycentral.com most of them said they were pretty good guitars. What's your opinion on 'em?

Just so you know Guitar Center now owns Musician's Friend and they will match the prices in thier catalog. Hey Jesus, so far everyone has given good replies just don't go for the lower end Squires or only by the ones made in the last four years.
That git that LEE posted would be my choice if I were you.

O.K. I guess I'll have to go check those Mexi ones out.

Anyone have first hand knowledge of Jay Turser guitars? I liked the detail of their Strat model. Especially, the "tone cap" across the volume control. In a perfect world, that would be OEM on all Fenders.

Cheap price, under $150, I believe?

Cheers, joe

Make sure you get something with at least 1 humbucker (bridge position), you'll regret it later if you don't.

Loner's right! Definetly yes!
I never use my Single coil bridge pu. But then again I don't need it.

Check these out while you're at it. I haven't played a strat since I sold my '62 (rent money) many years ago. There seems to be no shortage of informed opinion to guide you, though.

"EPIPHONE Fat-210 Red for just $149 -- a stunning 46% savings. This Strat-style guitar has a humbucker in the bridge and a fantastic price tag.
See pics and order online at:"

http://www.guitartrader.com/Guitar1v1/catalog/dir2.icl?secid=1021&subsecid=1093

"FENDER Standard Strat in Midnight Blue with Maple fretboard for $299, over 30% off. This is simply the best guitar you can buy in this price range. Check it out:

http://www.guitartrader.com/Guitar1v1/catalog/dir2.icl?secid=1021&subsecid=1136