Guitar, just to own one

Right off the bat if you can go to a music store and pick up and handle each model you are considering buying.
If you have a friend who plays bring them along to test run each model a little for you.

Aesthetics and sound aside there is also the issue of balance, ergonomics, neck width etc.
I have a Gibson Les Paul Studio, a Fender (Mexican) Stratocaster, a Gretsch (Korean made) Single cutaway electric, a Epiphone Dot, a homebuilt Frankenstrat and a bunch of acoustics.
I love the Les Paul it sounds great but its very heavy compared to the Strat. The weight doesn't bother me much but Les Pauls can be VERY HEAVY like, 10 pounds heavy. You can get the weight relieved ones but that affects the tonal characteristics that make it a Les Paul.
If you are a sit down kind of player (without a strap) the Strat is more evenly balanced weight wise, the Les Paul is very butt heavy and tends to want to get away from you.

Have you considered a Fender Telecaster? They are very nice straight forward guitars as well!
If it was me starting over again with a $1000 to spend i'd get a Mexican Fender Strat or Tele, maybe one a notch or two above the Standard models, also i'd buy a small basic starter amp (5 or 10 watts, Fender or even a Roland Micro-cube) and spend the rest on lessons.

Here's the best forum full of information and reviews to help you out in guitar related things!
http://acapella.harmony-central.com/index.php

Good luck!
 
:D

It's easy Bob, buying the perfect Guitar is as easy as buying the perfect knife, in the perfect steel. :D

Well isn't that just it. You buy a guitar, next you find yourself shopping for another guitar for a sound/tone. Next thing you know, you find yourself playing your guitar with other people and jamming to, Bluegrass to Metal.

Before you know it, you'll be building yourself a custom from Warmoth parts, soldering wires as fine as hair, buying pick ups, switches, tuners, nuts, bridges, etc. from all over the place.
Switches for the neck and bridge humbucks to go single, another switch to go from series to parallel, another switch to change capacitors.
What you build is up to you.
The sky and your wallet is the limit. :D

Wiring2Half.JPG


The bottom line: Guitars can be and are, a lot of fun. :)


Frankenstrat
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frankenstrat
EVH_frankenstrat.jpg


http://www.edroman.com/guitars/kramer.htm
 
I do not know how important it is for an electric guitar, but save some of the funds to pay a luthier to set up the action for you. I received a budget Korean guitar as my first guitar. It sounded great, but the action was set too high. It took me years to realize that the action could be adjusted. I am convinced that I would be a much better guitar player now if my first guitar had been easier to play.
 
I own a Fender Strat "Blackie" after owning a PRS CE24, Gibson Les Paul Custom, PRS Mira, and PRS ET2.
Tone is the big difference. You need to play them and hear them as they are all very different. The PRS CE24 was very versatile but could never get the Fender Strat quack. I played it for 2 years until finally trading it for the Strat. Now I'm very happy as its the Strat bluesy tone I was wanting all along... American Strat and upgrade the pups to Lace Noiseless. You can't go wrong. Also I second a pro set-up. I know how and have done set-ups myself but having a reputable luthier set it up for you makes a world of difference. It's an art...
 
Got back from the store this evening. Hadn't intended to buy anything on the very first trip but... well, you know how it goes.

(Not my picture)

DV016_Jpg_Large_511165.837_crimson_R.jpg


It's a Fender American Select in crimson red. Looks like red paint in the picture, but it's actually a deep red stain with visible wood grain. I don't think it's a very popular model since it's an '11 and had been hanging on the wall for some time. That's probably why it was $200 less than the current online prices.

It's not unique, but it certainly isn't a common everyday Strat either. I didn't take a copy of the forum posts above with me, but some of it must have sank in. This guitar has the HSS pickup configuration with a five-way switch, and an S1 switch. With the locking tuners and roller nut, it's similar to the more expensive American Deluxe models. Apparently this model is an exclusive through Guitar Center and their sister stores.

Solid mahogany body. Rosewood frets. Maple neck and headstock.
 
Bob W said:
DV016_Jpg_Large_511165.837_crimson_R.jpg
Click to expand...

Very nice! Congrats! I googled it and read a few reviews - sounds like you made a good choice.

Now... go learn some Hendrix, Deep Purple and Zepp licks!

Thanks for the update!

:thumbup:
 
In addition to an amp, guitar picks, cable, polish, and stand, the store also suckered me into a lesson book. :D

If I can't figure this thing out, I'm confident it's not the instrument's fault:

[youtube]xL1j_fHuxjI[/youtube]
 
That gentleman shows off the capabilities of that particular guitar quite well. With patience, you'll be able to play like him also. Your lesson book undoubtedly shows of numerous different scales which is what he improvises. It might get overwhelming at times. You might get bored and/or frustrated. Once you get into it... you'll realize that a lot of it is technical but what makes it your own is your interpretation of it - your feel for it, your improv of it, your timing and ear. You'll also realize that there will be more than one way to play something.

Learn the basic scales, basic chords. I'm sure many guitar playing members here would agree with me when I say to look at some tabs of the most basic sounding (early) Beatles song you can - this will teach you tempo/timing and chord changes. This will be more fun (and, let's face it, that's what it's all about - you want to see results and maybe impress your wife :-) Other than that, maybe pick up a class or two locally. Your fingers will build callus and might bleed - it's alright, you'll be fine.

Btw, what sort of amp did you get?

Here... give this a shot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N5Ti2wJD5ow
 
Bob W said:
Got back from the store this evening. Hadn't intended to buy anything on the very first trip but... well, you know how it goes.

(Not my picture)

DV016_Jpg_Large_511165.837_crimson_R.jpg


It's a Fender American Select in crimson red. Looks like red paint in the picture, but it's actually a deep red stain with visible wood grain. I don't think it's a very popular model since it's an '11 and had been hanging on the wall for some time. That's probably why it was $200 less than the current online prices.

It's not unique, but it certainly isn't a common everyday Strat either. I didn't take a copy of the forum posts above with me, but some of it must have sank in. This guitar has the HSS pickup configuration with a five-way switch, and an S1 switch. With the locking tuners and roller nut, it's similar to the more expensive American Deluxe models. Apparently this model is an exclusive through Guitar Center and their sister stores.

Solid mahogany body. Rosewood frets. Maple neck and headstock.
Click to expand...

Congratulations. May it bring you a lifetime of enjoyment, playing music.
 
I'd suggest you get a floor effects processor. They'll run about $300 or so, but they're capable of producing an almost endless amount of effects and sounds, so it will keep you from getting bored. I found myself improving much quicker when I got one just because I spent so much time trying out new effects and everything, made me want to play more, etc.

BOSS makes really good ones. I think the GT-8 would be a good choice, would cost about what you have left over.
 
Congratulations, that looks like a sweet axe!

Best Regards,

STeven Garsson
 
I played a bit years back. I never learned to read music but it was always a great way to unwind and I sounded good sometimes. LOL
Strat, SG, Les Paul and a Martin D-15 acoustic that I really liked. If I were to pick this up again, I'd buy a another Strat.

Now go impress your neighbors with beautiful music!

[youtube]PLJCOjOT8lk[/youtube]
 
I've tried all of the knobs and levers, even those on the amp, and it still won't play FreeBird. Seems like Chong and I must have gotten guitars from the same defective batch.
 
I agree with the Gibson Les Paul suggestion....if it's gonna be decoration, why not make it an American Classic?
 
Bob W said:
I've tried all of the knobs and levers, even those on the amp, and it still won't play FreeBird. Seems like Chong and I must have gotten guitars from the same defective batch.
Click to expand...

Overdrive and hit it to 11!!!

:D
 
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