LearnGospelMusic.com Community

Please login or register.
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: first time guitar buyer  (Read 4085 times)

Offline fmason3

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 990
  • Gender: Male

first time guitar buyer
« on: January 15, 2008, 08:45:16 AM »
Hey people, I'm considering buying an electric guitar.  I'm not a guitarist....rather I've been playing the piano for about 15 years.  I did play the acoustic guitar for a year...sophomore year in college and I had no regular access to a piano.  I have no idea what brands are good and what brands are not when it comes to guitars (except for like Gibson Les Paul or Fender or something).  I'm not looking to spend much money.  What kinds of guitars would you all recommend?

Offline funkStrat_97

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5431
  • Gender: Male
  • Da' House Rocka' is in Da' House!
    • Facebook

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #1 on: January 15, 2008, 10:22:24 AM »
Lots of possibilities.  Are you after a specific sound?  Perhaps the best advice is to play as many guitars in your price-range as you can and see which fits  you best.  I personally have a bias in favor of all things Strat, but what works for me (or even for most people) may not work for you.
“Don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty”
- Corrie Ten Boom

Offline fmason3

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 990
  • Gender: Male

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #2 on: January 15, 2008, 11:08:08 AM »
Lots of possibilities.  Are you after a specific sound?  Perhaps the best advice is to play as many guitars in your price-range as you can and see which fits  you best.  I personally have a bias in favor of all things Strat, but what works for me (or even for most people) may not work for you.

I'm not sure what sounds are available...forgive me...I'm a novice.  I guess I want something that can give a nice smooth jazzy sound....but if I want to play a quartet song with just guitar and drummer, it'll have that sound as well. 

Offline gtrdave

  • Moderator
  • LGM Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 4895
  • Gender: Male
  • Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
    • Check out some of my music!

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #3 on: January 15, 2008, 12:06:22 PM »
Smooth and jazzy...that pretty much eliminates a Strat from the running unless it's got humbuckers and the body is made out of a dense mahogany  ;D

A Gibson Les Paul might be a good choice but you're looking at spending some bucks to get a Studio or better new. Used Studios can go for $550 on up. If that fits your budget then consider them.
Cheaper alternatives would be Epiphone Les Pauls, Ibanez SZ, Agile Les Paul copies and several more.

Also consider Epiphone semi-hollow/archtop guitars. I know a few guys who own the Epiphone Dot guitar and they're very pleased with it. It's a low-cost ES335 alternative.

Check out these:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation/semi-hollow-body-electric-guitars?N=100001+306242+9

All but the Tele would be worth considering.

Music theory is not always music reality.

Offline Gibby

  • LGM Royalty
  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4264
  • Gender: Male
  • Dad...i'm ready for the world!

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #4 on: January 15, 2008, 02:34:51 PM »
I just brought a strat TODAY!!!!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

It's pretty and plays like a dream.  And the tone is incredible!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document?cpd=0OEY&doc_id=99371&base_pid=510135&index=6

pretty decent guitar for the money.

Offline funkStrat_97

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5431
  • Gender: Male
  • Da' House Rocka' is in Da' House!
    • Facebook

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #5 on: January 15, 2008, 02:36:56 PM »
Well of course I was gonna reccomend a Strat  ;D, but a ES-335 or Casino-style (semi-hollow body) guitar would be ideal for a dark, jazzy tone and is also capable of achieving brighter sounds as well.  But as I said earlier, I am biased towards Strats (I think I was born to play them).
“Don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty”
- Corrie Ten Boom

Offline lilBB

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 423

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #6 on: January 15, 2008, 03:26:59 PM »
I just brought a strat TODAY!!!!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

It's pretty and plays like a dream.  And the tone is incredible!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document?cpd=0OEY&doc_id=99371&base_pid=510135&index=6

pretty decent guitar for the money.


congrats Gib. you shoulda started a new post with that type of news. have fun with it!

Offline funkStrat_97

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5431
  • Gender: Male
  • Da' House Rocka' is in Da' House!
    • Facebook

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #7 on: January 15, 2008, 03:50:41 PM »
I just brought a strat TODAY!!!!  ;D ;D ;D ;D

It's pretty and plays like a dream.  And the tone is incredible!

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/document?cpd=0OEY&doc_id=99371&base_pid=510135&index=6

pretty decent guitar for the money.


Sounds like you did better than "pretty decent".  Congrats.
“Don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty”
- Corrie Ten Boom

Offline funkStrat_97

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5431
  • Gender: Male
  • Da' House Rocka' is in Da' House!
    • Facebook

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #8 on: January 15, 2008, 05:48:46 PM »
But since I said I would reccomend a Strat to the OP, check out the new Squier Bullets with trem.  They look good and are a major improvement over the old Bullet Strats.  At less than $99.00 bucks it's a deal.  Also, see the following review from the Fender Discussion Page's Squier Forum.
“Don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty”
- Corrie Ten Boom

Offline Sonar

  • LGM Royalty
  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 366

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #9 on: January 15, 2008, 08:51:21 PM »
I'm not sure what sounds are available...forgive me...I'm a novice.  I guess I want something that can give a nice smooth jazzy sound....but if I want to play a quartet song with just guitar and drummer, it'll have that sound as well. 

It appears Gibby hijacked your thread.    :o

But that's okay....  ;)


My question (to get back on track) is: How much are you expecting to pay?

I ask because it limits the field and allows us to make more useful suggestions...

...AND it gives us a chance to perhaps recommend that you purchase a USED guitar!

My number one rule is that you should NEVER lose money on a guitar purchase. By this I mean that most guitars purchased as a music store will be worth 40% less on resale immediately after you leave the music store.

AND many used guitars actually go UP in value. For example, I took to purchasing some wonderful Japanese made ESP 400 Series Stratocaster & Telecaster style guitars in the late '90s for no more than $200 each (originally made in the mid '80s). I now see them selling on eBay for $450 to $550 depending on model & finish. THAT'S the kind of guitar you want.

One more question...WHERE are you? I mean, what town or area?
Perhaps you're near one of us. You should reach out to local guitarists and guitar instructors and ask what deals they've seen locally that would fit your needs. Search local pawn shops and tell us what you find...we can help you tell the junk from the jewels. Check out your local Craig's List on the computer...I buy LOTS of gear from Craig's List. (As a keyboard related illustration, I purchased a perfect 1958 Hammond B3 for $125 last year from a Craig's List ad...get the picture?)   :)

Without knowing anything more than what you're told us:
1. Beginning guitarist
2. Gospel music of various styles
3. Lower cost
I'd think a Stratocaster-style guitar is your best bet for sound & value.
Don't go pull the pin before getting back to us. There are tips and tricks even withing the Strat-style guitars out there. Not everything shaped like a Fender Strat is equal...even if it says "Fender" on the headstock. There's a lot of places things can get muddled or confusing in the guitar world and guitar salesmen are worse than used car salesmen...so keep us in the loop on your plans.

-- Sonar
Annapolis, MD



Offline Gibby

  • LGM Royalty
  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 4264
  • Gender: Male
  • Dad...i'm ready for the world!

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #10 on: January 16, 2008, 09:03:05 AM »
It appears Gibby hijacked your thread.    :o

But that's okay....  ;)


ya darn skippy it's okay!!  >:( >:(

And you know why?!  Because I'm LGM Royalty  8)

congrats Gib. you shoulda started a new post with that type of news. have fun with it!

maybe I should have.  But it's so nice bro.  I'm feeling the same way you were when you brought that strat you have


Thanks
Sounds like you did better than "pretty decent".  Congrats.

Offline fmason3

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 990
  • Gender: Male

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #11 on: January 16, 2008, 10:50:27 AM »
I'd like to thank everyone for their advice.  I'm thinking I may go with a strat (ha...I'm learning the lingo  :D) to learn on before I go buy something that looks more John Pizzarelli-ish. 

I saw someone posted a link for a $100 strat?  What does everyone think about it?

Offline gtrdave

  • Moderator
  • LGM Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 4895
  • Gender: Male
  • Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
    • Check out some of my music!

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #12 on: January 16, 2008, 11:00:10 AM »
The Squier Bullet is the lowest of the low in terms of quality.
Honestly, I'd rather look for something that's better quality used than a Bullet new.
I paid $59 for one that I got for a guy here at church. For that price it's ok but I would never pay more than that for a modern Bullet.

Hey, if you're looking at cheap cheap then check out the Dean Evo. Guitar Center and Musician's Friend normally sells them for less than $99.
I was thinking of getting one to hang on the wall here at the office as a beater.
Check it out:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Dean-Evo-XM-Electric-Guitar?sku=519795

I'm thinking that GC has them for $79 this month. If so, go try one and pick it up if you like it. The humbuckers will get you the jazzy sound you're looking for as opposed to those low-quality noisy single coils in the Squier.
Music theory is not always music reality.

Offline funkStrat_97

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5431
  • Gender: Male
  • Da' House Rocka' is in Da' House!
    • Facebook

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #13 on: January 16, 2008, 11:00:11 AM »
I'd like to thank everyone for their advice.  I'm thinking I may go with a strat (ha...I'm learning the lingo  :D) to learn on before I go buy something that looks more John Pizzarelli-ish. 

I saw someone posted a link for a $100 strat?  What does everyone think about it?

I would suggest also reading the coresponding review cited in my post from the Fender Forum (which, BTW is not affilitated with Fender Musical Instruments).  It seems that it's a fair enough entry level Stratocaster and is certainly a step forward from the original version.  The tuners are not the greatest, but I had an old Strat-copy that used similar tuners and they did an acceptable job of keeping the guitar in tune. 
“Don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty”
- Corrie Ten Boom

Offline fmason3

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 990
  • Gender: Male

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #14 on: January 16, 2008, 11:09:28 AM »

(As a keyboard related illustration, I purchased a perfect 1958 Hammond B3 for $125 last year from a Craig's List ad...get the picture?)   :)


I really need some of that in my life...I'll buy it from you for $130...:D

Offline Sonar

  • LGM Royalty
  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 366

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #15 on: January 16, 2008, 01:08:37 PM »
ya darn skippy it's okay!!  >:( >:(

And you know why?!  Because I'm LGM Royalty  8)


Most high and most puissant Gibby,

I entreat ten thousand pardons, my lord, for the liberty I took.   :-X

Forgive my impertinence in as my haste made me unmannerly.

I supplicate your highness' forgiveness for not realizing your exulted position lest you hold me in deepest disdain.

Humbly,
Sonar

 :'(  :'(

Offline funkStrat_97

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5431
  • Gender: Male
  • Da' House Rocka' is in Da' House!
    • Facebook

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #16 on: January 16, 2008, 03:39:16 PM »
The Squier Bullet is the lowest of the low in terms of quality.
Honestly, I'd rather look for something that's better quality used than a Bullet new.
I paid $59 for one that I got for a guy here at church. For that price it's ok but I would never pay more than that for a modern Bullet.

I know that the original Squier Bullets were pretty bad, but this is an upgraded version that was recently introduced either in Noveber or December of last year.  It's a much nicer guitar than the previous Bullet series. 
“Don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty”
- Corrie Ten Boom

Offline gtrdave

  • Moderator
  • LGM Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 4895
  • Gender: Male
  • Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
    • Check out some of my music!

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #17 on: January 16, 2008, 04:39:27 PM »
I know that the original Squier Bullets were pretty bad, but this is an upgraded version that was recently introduced either in Noveber or December of last year.  It's a much nicer guitar than the previous Bullet series. 

There have been several Bullets over the years (including Fender brand) with the Squier Bullets all being some level of cheap import axe.
I've got experience with two: the older single pickup hardtail and the more modern 3 pickup vibrato bridge. Both left a lot to be desired and could, imho, be considered nothing more than a disposable guitar...sort of like a Bic lighter or Bic pen...but they both served their purpose as beginner guitars for beginning musicians, I'll give them that much.

If the op is a keyboardist and a decent one then there's no reason to have him start out on a beginner axe even though he's a beginning guitarist because he's probably by no means a beginning musician and shouldn't have to suffer through all of the shortcomings that a guitar like the Bullet will inherently possess. For someone whose ear is not yet tuned to proper pitch and intonation, the Bullet might be the ticket.
But for someone who already has an ear for music then I'd advise steering clear of a guitar that has tuning issues and who knows what else.
Also, I will not recommend a single coil equipped axe for someone who's wanting a smooth and jazzy sound as they ain't gonna get it unless that single coil looks like a P90, is mounted right at the neck and the body is a semi-hollow.  ;)
Music theory is not always music reality.

Offline funkStrat_97

  • LGM Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 5431
  • Gender: Male
  • Da' House Rocka' is in Da' House!
    • Facebook

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #18 on: January 16, 2008, 05:15:46 PM »
Also, I will not recommend a single coil equipped axe for someone who's wanting a smooth and jazzy sound as they ain't gonna get it unless that single coil looks like a P90, is mounted right at the neck and the body is a semi-hollow.  ;)

It helps to be able to play like George Benson too ;)!
“Don't bother to give God instructions, just report for duty”
- Corrie Ten Boom

Offline gtrdave

  • Moderator
  • LGM Member
  • ****
  • Posts: 4895
  • Gender: Male
  • Men always ought to pray and not lose heart.
    • Check out some of my music!

Re: first time guitar buyer
« Reply #19 on: January 16, 2008, 07:38:25 PM »
It helps to be able to play like George Benson too ;)!

Well...yeah...there's that small detail.  ;D
Music theory is not always music reality.
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up