Guitars!

[the_jimmy_james]

SQUIER EFFING ROCKS.

Okay, I own two bona fide Fenders. A '00 Strat and a 1973 Mustang. I've also played myriad other guitars and owned some odd ones, too. Jacksons, Epiphones, and others.

I've gotten two Squier Strats lately... a mahogany bodied custom-style with a Duncan humbucker at the bridge, and the Standard Fat Strat. I love playing them as much as I love my $700 Fender Strat. It's not the name on the headstock that matters... it's how it sounds and feels and looks.

So, right now I've got my eye on some kind of wacky Gibson style, like a V or Explorer. I don't know if I want to get an Epiphone V, Epi Explorer, or get something else, like a Dean version of either one, or perhaps a Jackson or BC Rich. I'm wanting something with a good classic rock sound, that could also a cool shredding or even some good metal (by good I mean Iron Maiden, Sabbath, Dream Evil) tones.

I prefer brighter tones to darker tones, and definitely prefer hard-tail to vibrato bridges.

I like to play heavy-gauge strings (Ernie Ball 10-52 sets) so it has to sound good with big strings. I've heard quite a few "metal" guitars that turn muddy with thick strings. Ugh.

If the bridge pickup doesn't wail, I don't want it. I love to play soaring Eddie Van Halen solos. Things not made for that can leave.

Let's hear opinions!! I'm open to anything, so tell me your favorite hard rock guitar!! Extreme looking body styles preferred! 😀

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

You seem to know alot about guitars. I play the violin, but I'm looking to get into the guitar. Can you recommend a good brand/make/model to start with? Should I start with electric or acoustic? There are some that are both, but I don't know if its worth it or not.

I have to admit, this is something I'm pretty ignorant about.

 

[juggernaut]

I've always maintained about 7 guitars, give or take one. I own Peavey, Fender, (2) $2500+ Les Pauls, an Ovation 12 string, Yamaha acoustic, a twin neck and others. My favorites are always the Les Pauls, no question.

The problem has been playing a guitar that nice in a shit-ass bar and worrying some drunk is gonna knock a mic stand into you or steal it during a break. I've been doing this 20 years and finally got wise a while ago. I located a Chinese-made LP copy, not Epiphone, that's manufactured by the same company that does most of the manufacturing for a company called "Stagg". Stagg is the European version of Fender in the USA and the bulk of their production is done in China. I ordered one for $225 and I have to say - if you blindfolded me and handed me my $2500 LP or the $225 copy, I'd be guessing which is which. At $225, it's damn near disposable. I could buy 10 of them vs the risk of ruining my good ones. I don't even carry them in cases. If they get a nick, I just laugh and tell myself how smart I am.

The point to most of that is that just because it's not the highest brand name doesn't at all mean it's not gonna perform. Yeah, there's some crap out there, like the stuff you'd get at Best Buy, but if you buy something like Epi or Squire, you'd never know the difference... except for the hundreds and hundreds of dollars you save.

Vlad, here's some solid advice. Start with a decent acoustic and see how interested you are. The action is higher and it's harder on the fingers at first, but if you get smooth at throwing chords on that, when you make the switch to electric... it'll seem like a dream and you'll play alot better. The electrics are smoother, faster, etc, and it'll cut a corner you'd probably be sorry about later if you'd like to be able to play different styles. Skip the electric/acoustic [aka hollowbody] style for now. And if you already play the violin, the battle is 85% won. There's a dexterity issue with hand/eye coordination that only improves with alot of patience and practice and you've probably developed that if you play a stringed instrument already. Almost all beginners have to look at their hands while their playing and it's frustrating because you know what you want your fingers to do, you tell them to do it, and you watch as they do something else.

Good luck, though. It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

 

[LonelyKimiko]

Vlad:

Electric guitars are easier to learn on to start with. Acoustics tend to be harder to play, and are harder on the fingers, so can be a bit of a pain to start off. I would reccomend if you want to take up guitar, that you try something like a fender squire starter kit. I know you can get them here for about £100-£150.

Then again, it's down to what kind of music you want to play. I'm an acoustic player myself, and I play Steel string acoustic guitars. If you want to play more classical guitar music (Usually quite complex and advanced), I'd reccomend going for a nylon stringed guitar, but otherwise go for a steel string. Good makes of acoustic include companies like Tanglewood and Cort, but then there are so many guitars and brands, it's better to go and have a look, and choose one you like the sound and feel of.

Anyways, hope this helps you a bit 😀 .

 

[the_jimmy_james]

Everything so far has been great advice. Also, consider that you can start on an acoustic, and when it comes time to change your strings (after about a month or so of beginner playing) you can put lighter strings on it.

Acoustic guitars have one huge advantage over electric when you're starting... all you need is the guitar! On electrics, you'll need the guitar, an amplifier, and a cable at minimum. You can get the Standard-series Squier guitars for around $200, and the starter-series called "Affinity" for about $125. Top quality woods and parts. They're not made of plywood or chipboard like a lot of guitars that price will be.

Ibanez and Yamaha also make good quality starter guitars in the $100s, but IMO, the attention to detail isn't as high as the Squiers.

If you like the heavier Gibson style guitars, Epiphone has a couple of entry-level electrics that copy the shape of the famous Les Paul and SG guitars.

http://squierguitars.com
http://epiphone.com

Try a bunch of them out... pick them up, hold them, push the strings down, strum them. Just feel them all over, see which one "fits you" best. You'll find one that seems to call to you 🙂

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Thanks for the help, you three. 🙂

Yeah, nerrad. I've heard people tell me before that if I already play the violin a guitar will be no problem to master. I too figured it had something to do with the fingering, but I didn't assume that it would be peaches and creme, either. Even if I would have an advantage going in, its still a different instrument and you have to get used to the feel of it.

I've also accepted that even if I can play the guitar, it may not feel right. I chose the violin as my first instrument because of the spiritual and emotional energy only it possesses and is capable of creating, in the special way that it does.

A guitar may not fit my personality at all. We'll have to wait and see...

Thanks again, guys. 🙂

 

[ayla1]

my bf has a 88 fender squier stratocaster with two single coils and a gibson humbucker (sp?) he says! it sounds really nice! although my fav thing is when he tickles my feet with the guitar picks and those banjo picks that you wear on your fingers! that drives me wild! but thats off topic! to vlad the best thing you can start with is an acoustic i think! all you need is the guitar and if its too hard you can pull lighter strings on it so that its easier on your fingers, however once your fingers are used to the acoustic it makes it much easier to play an electric because an electric guitar is easier on your fingers! :super_hap

 

[the_jimmy_james]

I chose the violin as my first instrument because of the spiritual and emotional energy only it possesses and is capable of creating, in the special way that it does.

An excellent point! The sort of energy that you get from a guitar will be totally different. If you love the more tender feelings you can evoke from violin, you might try a nylon string classical guitar. Check out recordings by Andres Segovia to hear the beauty of that instrument.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Will do.

 

[Timewarp]

Does Guitar Hero count? 🙂

 

[44blues1]

Vlad, go with a Gibson. I've got a '97 Les Paul studio and an Epiphone Zakk Wylde (in the avatar). I use heavy gauge Zakk Wylde strings (.060 on the gibson and .070 on the Zakk) and they sound awesome through my Marshall. I got a Boss Acoustic Simulator pedal for the clean stuff because I hate switching guitars on stage. It kicks ass. My pride and joy is my 1949 Gibson J-45 acoustic. I'm the 4th generation in my family to own it, and it just gets better with age.

 

[the_jimmy_james]

J-45. Niiiiiice.

Gibsons rock. Although, not as much as Fender, IMO 😉

I just worry that a bona fide Gibson is a little outside of Vlad's price range for a beginner guitar 🙂

 

[44blues1]

J-45. Niiiiiice.

Gibsons rock. Although, not as much as Fender, IMO 😉

I just worry that a bona fide Gibson is a little outside of Vlad's price range for a beginner guitar 🙂

I think we've made the point that it's all about personal preference. Gibson, Fender, PRS, ESP, they all make quality guitars ranging in price from value to extreme. Pawn shops and Ebay are good places to find guitars at a good price. You don't need a new one unless you want to shell out thousands on AAAA maple and abalone inlays. Try them all out and see what feels right in your hands.

 

[the_jimmy_james]

One thing to consider is that as a violinist, Vlad may be used to paying higher prices for instruments. He might get a rather cheap guitar right now, to determine if he enjoys it, and if he does, then get a nice $500 or so instrument.

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Theres a huge instrument store in the mall and they carry all sorts of different instruments. They also let you test them and play them to see if you're interested in a particular model. This is for violins, guitars, drum sets, all sorts of stuff.

Quality is more important to me. I don't mind paying more if its worth it.

 

[the_jimmy_james]

Awesome! In that case, let your ear and your hands guide you!

 

[Celtic_Emperor]

Sometimes I like playing stupid with employees trying to sell me something, that way I'll know if they're going to try and cheat me or take advantage.

 

[the_jimmy_james]

Hehe. Yeah. There was a music shop near where I lived when I was still at my parents' house. I'd go in there sometimes to pass the time, and every time I was there, some idiot would be saying the most absurd things to sell an overpriced shitty guitar.

Epiphone Special II for $499. Yeah, right. You can get them for $250 everywhere else 😉

 

[Timewarp]

Freeeeeeebiiirrrd

 

[Weedly]

Does Guitar Hero count? 🙂

HAHAHAHA I doubt it, i for one think that game is even harder than playing the actual instrument

 

[the_jimmy_james]

Breakthrough:

Blocking the Squier Stratocaster trem.

All of the annoying tuning problems go away. I blocked mine, now it stays in tune as well as my Fender Strat, and has the same kind of sustain. Absolutely wonderful! If only Squier would sell a hard-tail Strat!

 

[44blues1]

Breakthrough:

Blocking the Squier Stratocaster trem.

All of the annoying tuning problems go away. I blocked mine, now it stays in tune as well as my Fender Strat, and has the same kind of sustain. Absolutely wonderful! If only Squier would sell a hard-tail Strat!

Amen. Got rid of my last Floyd Rose 2 years ago. I don't have two hours to tune my guitars, and I never used the bar much anyway.

 

[the_jimmy_james]

I had a floating Floyd on my Jackson Kelly. GOD I HATED IT!!!

It even had a Tremsetter, and it didn't help.

I loved the guitar, but totally hated the Floyd. I used to use the bar a little, but then I played a Telecaster and a Paul for a while, and when I got back to the Strat, I just said fuck it, and locked the trem. 5 springs, claw all the way to the wood. Doesn't budge, even with a 10-52 set. Now I'm happy to have this thing locked.

 

[44blues1]

I had a floating Floyd on my Jackson Kelly. GOD I HATED IT!!!

It even had a Tremsetter, and it didn't help.

I loved the guitar, but totally hated the Floyd. I used to use the bar a little, but then I played a Telecaster and a Paul for a while, and when I got back to the Strat, I just said fuck it, and locked the trem. 5 springs, claw all the way to the wood. Doesn't budge, even with a 10-52 set. Now I'm happy to have this thing locked.

I'm kind of interested in the 6/12 double neck strats. Have you seen those?

 

[Zeratul1]

BC Rich Warlock <3