first time guitar buyer

[Rown]

                         OKAY,MR.NORTH CAROLINA
                           I DO MY HOMEWORK   
                I know you are going to hit us up with something

[Gibby]

Most high and most puissant Gibby,

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

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

  

I don't know what some of those words mean but you're forgiven

[fmason3]

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

I tried out that first one earlier today and I really liked it

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.

I tried that one out as well.  I like it.  I may get both.  Thanks for the advice.


I have a question about strats though.  I'm going to want one eventually.  I saw the cheap ones for approx. $100, then I saw some that were around $400-$500...then there were those that were slightly over $1000.  What is the main differences?  I saw they all said Fender on the head but I didn't have time to check them out thoroughly.

[gtrdave]

I have a question about strats though.  I'm going to want one eventually.  I saw the cheap ones for approx. $100, then I saw some that were around $400-$500...then there were those that were slightly over $1000.  What is the main differences?  I saw they all said Fender on the head but I didn't have time to check them out thoroughly.

The main difference? Quality.

The quality of every component in the guitar will be different and should gradually move higher as the price moves higher.
For the bodies and necks, the quality of the woods used will be different from Squier to MIM Fender to MIJ and MIA Fender. If you look at the grains of the wood just in the necks you will see differences but supposedly they're all made from maple. It's proof that not all "maple" is the same and the different grade in wood affects the sound quality.
For the hardware, the quality of the metals and the plating on the metals is different from cheap to more expensive guitars and, yes, the hardware affects the sound quality.
For pickups, more expensive guitars use typically more expensive pickups that will produce a better quality sound than their lesser-costing counterparts.

There is so much difference going on under the skin of the guitars even though they may look identical. All that to say that a cheap guitar is still a usable instrument but your use may determine just how cheap you should buy.
If you're getting the axe to learn on and may play it in your bedroom or around the house then what you may need is something that stays in relative tune and makes sound when plugged into an amp.
If you need an amp to play live and in the studio then you'll need a guitar that REALLY stays in tune, isn't affected by you shifting your body around and realistically translates exactly what your hands and fingers are communicating to it, does it buzz and relatively hum-free and probably produces a really nice acoustic sound when not plugged in due to the density of the woods.

For me and Strats, only the Made in America or some Made in Japan/Crafted in Japan models work in my hands. All the other ones (MIM, MII, etc) can be ok guitars but I can feel the difference once I pick them up without even strumming them. I can usually feel just how tight a guitar is the moment I pull it off the stand or out of the case.

[funkStrat_97]

Get a Powerhuose Strat.  They are part of the Mexican made Deluxe line, but they are awsome Strats for the money.  You also get a 12db active mid-boost that can get you some fat, humbucker-like tones or you can roll off the mids for a more traditonal Strat sound.  This is perhaps one of the most underrated Strats in Fender's line up.

Powerhouse Strat

They're an even greater bargin if you get one used.

[funkStrat_97]

Get a Powerhuose Strat. 

That's Powerhouse.

[fmason3]

That's Powerhouse.

Thanks man...I was looking all over for a Powerhuose strat 

[Sonar]

Get a Powerhuose Strat.  They are part of the Mexican made Deluxe line, but they are awsome Strats for the money.  You also get a 12db active mid-boost that can get you some fat, humbucker-like tones or you can roll off the mids for a more traditonal Strat sound.  This is perhaps one of the most underrated Strats in Fender's line up.

Powerhouse Strat

They're an even greater bargin if you get one used.

Agreed.

The Powerhouse Strats were some of the nicer units coming out of Mexico. They can be found at reasonable prices used in pawn shops because they don't identify themselves as a "Powerhouse" Strat....they just say "Made in Mexico.....and this holds the price down.

The Powerhouse comes stock with three AMERICAN Strat pickups (because of the preamp package it uses).

The fit and finish are in line with the better Mexican Strats like the Muddy Waters Telecaster, Jimmy Vaughan Strat, etc.

I found one at a pawn shop and gave it to my son (a bass player) two years ago. It still looks & plays great.

[fmason3]

I'll have to look into the powerhouse strat

*stepping aside for a second hopefully without hijacking my own thread*
Why is it that when I search for "jazz guitar" on youtube, it appears that everyone listed is playing a Gibson ES175?

[funkStrat_97]

I'll have to look into the powerhouse strat

*stepping aside for a second hopefully without hijacking my own thread*
Why is it that when I search for "jazz guitar" on youtube, it appears that everyone listed is playing a Gibson ES175?

They are good jazz gutiars.  But for me, I would choose a Godin over a Gibson.  I'm not sure if Godin offers an equivalent to any of the Gibson ES/Epiphone Sharatons, but in general I like they way the play and feel...it's almost like playing a Strat.

[gtrdave]

I'll have to look into the powerhouse strat

*stepping aside for a second hopefully without hijacking my own thread*
Why is it that when I search for "jazz guitar" on youtube, it appears that everyone listed is playing a Gibson ES175?

It's the same reason you would probably search for "country guitar" and see everyone playing a Telecaster and search for "metal guitar" and see a bunch of ESPs or Deans or Jacksons and search for "rock guitar" and see Les Pauls and Stratocasters...certain guitars have become 'traditional' or standard for certain genres.
The ES-175 is a jazz 'standard' guitar although there are guys like Steve Howe and Ted Nugent using them for rock...definitely the exception to the rule.

As far as Godin guitars...I love them and I own 4 of them and they do make a couple semi-hollow body guitars (Multiac Jazz, Montreal and the new 5th Avenue acoustic archtop) but they're priced pretty high. Well worth it, imho, but I'm thinking that they're $1000+.

[funkStrat_97]

they don't identify themselves as a "Powerhouse" Strat....they just say "Made in Mexico.....and this holds the price down.

BTW, did anybody have a chance to see the specs for the American Super Strat on Fender's site.  It's been taken off now, but it was listed as part of the new American Standard series and it was basically a USA verson of the Powerhouse.  Maybe Fender decided not to produce it at the last minuite because it would have too much in common with the Eric Clapton Strat.  This wouldn't be the first American made Strat to have these features; anyone remember the Elite Strat?

[Sonar]

This wouldn't be the first American made Strat to have these features; anyone remember the Elite Strat?

I certainly remember the Elite Strat along with "The Strat" (with a screwy trem idea and lots of brass hardware)....and a bunch of other better forgotten ideas from Fender.

If I was starting out...I'd be looking for a Made In Japan (or perhaps a "Crafted In Japan") Strat or Telecaster USED from a pawnshop or local seller FIRST.

The Fender Made In Mexico Powerhouse Strat is a sleeper because no one knows it differs from any other Mexican Strat at a glance. The tip off is the "push-pull knob" that activates the preamp. So test any Mexican Strats you come across.

My vote for the best all purpose Fender Stratocaster guitar ever produced was the USA made STRAT PLUS that appeared in 1987. I'm sure they cost upward of $650+ USED these days, but they typically played great right off the wall. I didn't like EVERYTHING about them, but they always did the job well straight from the showroom. One of Fender's better ideas and model lines.

[Jordan Rivers]

Hi Epiphone makes a good Custom les Paul guitar for $500.00 to $700.00 range, also I don't know if they still make the Sheraton 2 hollowbody, I did own one years ago, it's a very good guitar but runs about 1200.00

But the Les Paul Epiphone is great...( buy it brand new )you won't regret it ever.....it won't let you down, has a very good neck, you can totally get that jazz sound using D'Addario custom light CHROME strings, size 11's, but you'll have to set your neck up.THis custom guitar, can be used professionally.

I think the best buy is a custom Epiphone Les Paul, and buy one that's about 700.00 they have better necks and sound better than the $450.00 les Paul Epiphoines.Also the tunners are of better quality,They don't go out of tune much on the $700 Les Pauls.
They play about as good as any gibson and if you set them up right, you can't hardly tell the differnce........geeee you could make pro CD's with them.Buy your self an RP350 from Digitech,and you'll sound as good as anyone in the world.......that is if your can play great already.

How do I know about the Les Paul Epiphone, because recorded with it years ago and I still own one.
And I used one on a song called Electric Son Rise, and it played on radio for about a year.

Also I have guitars that cost over 5000.00.........yet that Custom Epiphone I still use....because ( IT's Pure Fun To Play ) Trust me............go to the Guitar Center and check it out.
        Thanks Jordan Rivers http://jordanriversguitarforum.blogspot.com/


P.S.
if you can afford 700.00 and you have 550.00........trust me......wait and save the other 150.00 bucks, you will love the guitar it's worth waiting a few more days or even weeks. Just stick it out and get a great playing and sounding guitar.You'll see what I mean if you get one.You'll feel like a pro with it.
And that's a great dream to look forward to.
.
.