Reply With Quote
I saw some Stratocasters at Target for $200.
What's a pretty good electric guitar that doesn't cost too much? Is it possible to get one for under 300 or are those 100-200 dollar guitars just crap?
I know nothing about them at all, I'm going to start taking lessons, but I want something good enough where I don't have to buy another for a while. My favorite bands are U2, G&R, Aerosmith. Do I need a specific kind for that type of stuff?
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
I saw some Stratocasters at Target for $200.
Must be Squier Strats. I'd check out the pawn shops and see if you can find a good deal there. You will hear all kinds of opinions about guitars but the bottom line is really what you think. Go to a guitar shop and sit down and play it. If it feels good, sounds good, and is reasonably priced, then buy it. A Strat is a good investment and was my first electric guitar and I love it.
I'm looking for a new electric too. I had a Squire Affinity Strat many years ago. It was fine for a first guitar, but I never put in the time to learn more than a few recognizable riffs. I kind of lost interest in it as the guitar itself just felt too cheap. Felt like a toy. And I never really liked the sound from the 3 single coil pickups.
I'm currently looking at this Epiphone. Body style and overall aesthetics are my biggest reasons for choosing it. I got a chance to go to Guitar Center and play with one there, and loved how it sounded.
Pawn shops were already mentioned, but I would also try your local Guitar Center or other music shops, and check out their used stuff.
Affinitys suck ass. Epiphones are nice. Squiers are well built too. Any of the Peaveys are nice, no matter where they are made. Peavey might build a guitar with a body made out of plywood but the neck is perfect and the frets are dead level, it's got good pickups and quality hardware.
If you don't mind doing a little bit of setup on your own, and want a nice guitar at a really good price, go to http://www.rondomusic.com/
All the guitars Kurt sells are really nice for the price, and his customer service is very good. I build electric guitars and basses, and I own three SX basses. They're excellent. With a little work, they are as good as instruments costing ten times as much.
I've had a number of guys send SX necks to me for a fret level and dress, and I'd be happy to do it for the cost of shipping it. If anyone's interested, shoot me a PM.
If you know nothing about guitars and are just going to start taking lessons, I don't think I'd drop $400 on a strat just yet. The cheap ibanez guitars (used to be called the "Gio" series) come with strat-style setups and are of pretty decent quality for very little jack (about $150). I'd recommend the hss version if you can find one - humbucker followed by 2 single-coil pickups. That guitar will produce a good range of sounds and is relatively easy to play. Whether you stick with it or not, you can turn around and sell it for $75-$100 so you're not out much. Plus, I don't think you'll really be able to tell the difference between those ibanez guitars and the other brand's "starter" guitars that cost twice as much once you add effects anyway.
If you actually stick with it and get pretty good, you're going to want a better/more expensive guitar whether you start with one that's $150 or $350. Whatever you choose, best of luck! Even though I still kind of suck, it's a very rewarding instrument to play!
Thanks everyone for the advice. I'm going to look into the different ones you guys are talking about. I really appreciate it.
I rather have an old 300 dollar used guitar from the pawnshop (worth 900.00 or more) than a new 400 dollar guitar from the store. I never did like guitars made after 1989.
There is a certain feeling you get with a heavy solid body Gibson with some history behind it around your shoulders that helps the creative juices flow when playing it.
As long as it hasn't been dropped and has a tight straight neck your in business.
And you can keep the guitar for life and not have to worry about having to upgrade to the next level. Pulling it out of the case you can feel the magic starting to begin.
My 3 favorite guitars are the Gibson double horn SG solid body. I saw one in Fayetteville NC for 800.00 on sale I should have bought it when i had the money to this day it haunts me. It was a dark brown wood grain with a very high gloss it was like Angus Young was calling me out.
I like Gibson because the neck is almost flush with the body and pickups and its easy to get my small fingers around the neck.
My second choice is the Vintage Early 1970's GIBSON LES PAUL DeLUXE SUNBURST
notice how close the neck and body and pickups meet.
may the easiest guitar to play if your serious. And a sound like no other. A buddy a mine in the service had the Gold edition very sweet.
And last the Gibson flying V only because Judas Priest is the best heavy metal band in the world and I am a huge Randy Rhodes fan.
But to be honest my first guitar was 40.00 dollars i got it at the PX on base it was a fender copy looked like th one on the left.
It had a real trashy punk sound to it and at that time 1980 punk rock was cool. I love to play My Sharona and DEVO. Many of my buddies wanted to use it. No matter how many times i dropped it or tossed it out the window it still would not break and still sounded great.
But the guitar i miss the most was the one i had to pawn to buy a water pump for my Camaro back in 1983 it was a Hondo II solid body
heavy and had custom pickups its the guitar that I learned how to play bent for leather it reminded me of may days at Bragg, I wonder if by chance its back in the pawn shop on west Avenue.
Sometimes you can get attached to your first guitar so keep that in mind when your buying one.
Good luck!
For most people that's good advice. If they have the money to spend, the best thing to do would probably be to find a used Fender, even one made in Mexico (referred to as MIM). The way the market is for them, it's easy for someone to get back what they paid for it they decide guitar is not for them.
good advice from everyone......
my first was an ibanez "starter" guitar that came with a small amp for like $250 or so......It served me well till I was ready to upgrade. That's the route i would go. I've known lots of people who buy a bad ass guitar before they can play and end up learning a song and a half......But, i guess you could always sell it....
^^^ +1
BTW, mouse... you seem to know quite a bit about guitars so how in the world could you confuse that knock-off strat style guitar with a genuine fender strat in your "things I found in the dumpster" post in the FS section?
Also, amen to the Hondo II praise. My father-in-law had one from the 70's that he didn't follow through with and gave it to me. I loved it and it sounded great but now it needs a little work. I get no sound when the switch is set to "rhythm", the input jack needs replacing (have to hold the cable at an angle to get the sound clear), and I need a new bridge because I lost one of those little pieces the low E string rests on (can be used to adjust string height). I got an estimate of $145 to fix everything but turned it down because I found a nice used MIM strat to purchase. It's on my 'to do" list, though. I miss the fat sound that I used to get out of it
I want to learn how to play the drums but I can never make my hands and feet do different things all at the same time....
;-)
Also, once you get a guitar, learn a few chords, and decide you want to continue pursuing it, try out this effects unit:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/DigiTech...33-i1394554.gc
I think it's a great multi-effects unit that offers a lot of versatility. I was a dumbass and bought a Zoom mutli-effects pedal to start off with. It was a really frustrating experience because changing effects was a real PITA.
I was reminded to look for a starter guitar kit by this thread. 4 cousins and 1 brother all play the guitar in my family and I have always wanted to learn. I believe I am ready for the commitment.
Checked out Guitar Center
Tell me what you vets think...
http://www.guitarcenter.com/Epiphone...70-i1150103.gc
^^^ +1
BTW, mouse... you seem to know quite a bit about guitars so how in the world could you confuse that knock-off strat style guitar with a genuine fender strat in your "things I found in the dumpster" post in the FS section?
I figured if I acted naive I could sell it faster. People love to get bargains and take advantage of others. If you ask someone at a street corner if they want to buy a gold brick they will ignore you. But if you ask someone if they dropped a ring or a wallet? They want to rip you off. People like to take advantage of the dumb ass's of the world. If you have an iPhone you ask someone if they want to buy a calculator they will assume you have no Idea what you really have and they swoop in for the kill.
Go into the card shop asking for a David Robinson Rookie with a Le Bron James rookie sticking out your shirt pocket. use the bait and switch!
BTW, mouse... you seem to know quite a bit about guitars so how in the world could you confuse that knock-off strat style guitar with a genuine fender strat in your "things I found in the dumpster" post in the FS section?
The same reason he mentioned several guitars that all cost a minimum of three thousand dollars on a "Guitars that don't cost too much" thread.
i would look for some Ibanez artcore semi hollow bodies. You can find the under 300What's a pretty good electric guitar that doesn't cost too much? Is it possible to get one for under 300 or are those 100-200 dollar guitars just crap?
I know nothing about them at all, I'm going to start taking lessons, but I want something good enough where I don't have to buy another for a while. My favorite bands are U2, G&R, Aerosmith. Do I need a specific kind for that type of stuff?
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.
but tell you what
i will sell you my Ibanez artcore complete with badass case for 247.
this it.
the cool thing about it is that it is hollow enough to play acoustically mic'd. or for your pleasure.
It's definately bluesy, and jazzy along with being good for rock.
But if you want better distortion, get a semi hollow.
The full body like the one in this pic which is exactly the one i have, sounds amazing. Has beautiful tone.
In case you was in a hurry and did not see the dates of my guitar fetish days it was 1979-1985 you could buy a new Gibson for 900.00 all day long. and the pawn shops had them for 350.00 all day long.
There is at least 4 pawn shops here in San Antonio that have one or more Gibson deluxe model guitars for 450.00 , and there are a few on craig's list. And here is one you can bid on if you have US $305.00 dollars,
so before you act like your pappy was Muddy waters you may want to leave the basement of your step mothers house and hit a pawn shop this week.
just buy rockband. comes with electric guitar, electric drums, and a microphone
You can get this cool starter kit for 129.00 shipped to your door.
Warranty: Lifetime Washburn on Guitar, 1 Year on Amp
LI15BPAK Electric Guitar Features:
* Idol Shaped Black Electric Guitar
* Full size electric guitar
* 2 Volume controls
* 2 tone controls
* Rosewood fingerboard
* Hardwood body
* 3-way selector switch
* 2 humbucker pickups, reduces the electromagnetic interference and produces a warm tone
LA5 5 Watt Amp Features:
* Adjustable gain, sets the amount of distortion when the Drive switch is on. Higher settings provide additional gain
* Select switch, select between ch-1(Drive) and ch-2(Clean)
* Volume control and tone control
* Phones, turns off the speaker and routes sound to the Phones jack; good for using headphones
* Maximum output power: 5 Watts
* Speaker: 4 inches, 8 Ohms
* Battery: 9V 6F22 Type
In the box:
* Lyon by Washburn LI15BPAK Electric Guitar
* Lyon by Washburn LA5 5 Watt Amp
* 10 inch guitar cable
* Replacement string
* Digital Tuner
* Lyon strap
* Instructional DVD
* 3 picks
I have this one if you want it for a bag of weed.
779-0693
Mine is missing the 6th string, and I have no pics you should buy new strings anyway.
http://www.savinglots.com/lotprod.asp?item=LX3TPAK
Thanks everyone. Great posts!
notice how close the neck and body and pickups meet.
may the easiest guitar to play if your serious. And a sound like no other. A buddy a mine in the service had the Gold edition very sweet.
But the guitar i miss the most was the one i had to pawn to buy a water pump for my Camaro back in 1983 it was a Hondo II solid body
heavy and had custom pickups its the guitar that I learned how to play bent for leather it reminded me of may days at Bragg, I wonder if by chance its back in the pawn shop on west Avenue.
Sometimes you can get attached to your first guitar so keep that in mind when your buying one.
Good luck!
Mouse, man these 2 suckers get my attention. I believe they sound great if you say so, but man they also remind me of Slash's guitar. I'm gonna check out the one on ebay u posted but i won't get my money till Friday.
What do u think of the one that Dark Reign posted, looks similar, but is it the same or a copycat? Your thoughts? I know I'm probably a long way from it, but I eventually want to play Sweet Child O Mine and stuff like that. Looking for a low cost guitar that can handle that and sound good even though I'm just starting out.
Thanks buddy, I appreciate the time you took to explain all this. All of you guys are talking about all these things and I'm lostI don't know the language yet.
Let me know what u think about the link Dark reign posted. And thanks DR for the post. I'm looking at that too.
Good choice. Make sure you drop a little more to have the guitar set up properly. It's worth it.
That looks like it addresses most of my es about multi-effects units. If I end up playing guitar regularly in gigs (normally I just play bass), I might pick that up. I get tired just watching our lead guitarist tapping incessantly on his Zoom between songs.Also, once you get a guitar, learn a few chords, and decide you want to continue pursuing it, try out this effects unit:
http://www.guitarcenter.com/DigiTech...33-i1394554.gc
I think it's a great multi-effects unit that offers a lot of versatility. I was a dumbass and bought a Zoom mutli-effects pedal to start off with. It was a really frustrating experience because changing effects was a real PITA.
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
