First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

G

Geza

New member
Hello,
This is my very first posting in this forum. I have a Mitchell accustic guitar and decided to buy my first electric guitar. I inherited a Peavey backstage Plus amp from a friend who moved to the East Coast, so I just need a good guitar for $400-$500.

My taste in music is closer to oldies, blues, the Shadows and easy listening.

I've been reading user reviews and specs on Epiphone and Fender guitars in this price range but it is hard to decide which one I should seriously look at.

Basically I am debating between the Mexican made Strat with 2 humbuckers and the Epiphone Les Paul Standard. Can you guys give me advice on pros and cons?

Also, what questions would you ask from the sales person about a guitar at a guitar store?

What part of the guitar would you check for any faults?

I know a lot about cars I was a mechanic for 10 years, I know a lot about computers, I've been doing it for 12 years, but it can actually hurt if I am about buying something I don't know enough about. Sounds familar??:)
Thanks,
Geza
 
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Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

Hi there, sounds like you've came across quite a dilemma! I'm gonna say, lean towards the Fender Stratocaster. Mainly, because you say your musical tastes include blues.....in my opinion you can't find a better guitar suited for blues than a Fender Stratocaster. Several blues musicians have agreed on this also. :) But i will say that i've played a couple Epiphone Les Pauls over the last 10 years or so, and i wouldn't exactly call them bad guitars either!

Just go out to your local shop, play a few of each and make your decision based on which one plays, feels, sounds, and looks the best to you and you won't go wrong!!


FenderBender
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

Fender MIM is great for beginners. Fenders are really easy to play especially stratocasters and they are very versitile so if your taste changes your guitar can change with you.
 
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Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

Telesexual said:
Fender MIM is great for beginners. Fenders are really easy to play especially stratocasters and they are very versitile so if you taste changes your guitar can change with you.
Click to expand...

What he said :)
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

go with the fender, but i also recomend you try out the fender lite ash telecaster. That was a very nice guitar IMO very smooth neck and really really nice sound. i think they also make a stratocaster with the same options, but the lite ash series is around 650 i think.
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

The Fender MIM's are good guitars for the money. The problems I have with them are:

Poor shielding, bad sounding pickups, and those horrible tiny thin vintage frets. However, I've heard for the 2006 models they've fixed or improved upon the frets and shielding. They are still great for the money though.

Most epiphones I've played just feel cheap to me. I've owned epi les pauls, etc, just didn't do it for me, they felt like toys.
 
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Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

welcome to the forum geza.

i say go for the strat. its ergonomics, playability and versatility all rolled into one. the strat can cover country all the way to metal and its not the most played guitar for nothing.

besides the mims and lite ash, another series to consider are the highway 1s. lots of guitars for the buck. also, you may want to shoot for a hum/single/single combo. one of the most versatile pickup combos out there.

http://fender.com/products/search.php?partno=0111700320
 
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Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

FenderBender03 said:
Hi there, sounds like you've came across quite a dilemma! I'm gonna say, lean towards the Fender Stratocaster. Mainly, because you say your musical tastes include blues.....in my opinion you can't find a better guitar suited for blues than a Fender Stratocaster. Several blues musicians have agreed on this also. :) But i will say that i've played a couple Epiphone Les Pauls over the last 10 years or so, and i wouldn't exactly call them bad guitars either!

Just go out to your local shop, play a few of each and make your decision based on which one plays, feels, sounds, and looks the best to you and you won't go wrong!!


FenderBender
Click to expand...


Good advise!!!

The Epighone line which is an inexpensive version of Gibsons are made with a scale length of 24.75"... this is known as the Gibson scale. Fenders have a scale length of 25.5". This in itself is a big difference on how the guitars will play. It basically comes down to what feels right to you. If you do decide to go with the Fender..... The Mexican Strats are a good choice for the Money, the only suggestion I would make is go with 3 single coils instead of 2 Humbuckers. This will give you a more traditional sound. As your playing styles expand and evolve you may find the need to hav a 2 HB guitar in the future. As many players here do we have more than one electric. Havin a HB guitar and a 3 SC guitar gives you a lot of versatility.... let the music decide which instrument you need! And Welcome to the Forum!!
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

Go with the fender, especial y for the styles u play .. SHADOWS..but I would suggest the single coils agin for the styles u want..Butif u like warm tones go with the humbukers.. but go for the fender
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

I'd like to echo what the other guys said. The MIM Fenders (and the Highway 1 Fenders) are great value for money, and are much easier guitars to play than anything else. They are much 'nicer' to play if you ask me too. They just fit around your body nicely when you're sat down (and stood up).
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

I'd also personally lean towards the Strat but many decent guitars can be had in the $400 - $500 price range. I'd check Dean, ESP, Ibanez, Schecter to name a few.
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

A strat is much easier in terms of ergonomics to learn on as a first guitar, I don't even think that can be debated. Just from a size/weight aspect and access to higher frets, the LP is just not as player friendly IMO. Ironically, though, string bending is much easier due to the shorter scale, so in that way it is a bit easier to play than a strat.

However, since you already know how to play, I don't think it is as critical for you as it would be for somebody just picking up a guitar for the first time.

I would just go with what tone pleases you more, whatever you buy you'll end up buying the other one eventually anyway, that is the immutable rule of GAS!
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

jayK said:
I would just go with what tone pleases you more, whatever you buy you'll end up buying the other one eventually anyway, that is the immutable rule of GAS!
Click to expand...

Yep!
A MIM Stratocaster Standard was my first electric guitar and for what you want to play would be a great choice. I like the three single coils myself in a strat, but the bridge position is routed for a humbucker if you want to change it later!
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

Fender vs. Gibson is a huge dilemma. I echo the comment that you could always change Fender pickups if your tastes change. I own an MIM and I like it alot. You could always change the pickups on the Gibson too though, and there are a million and one options for new humbucker pickups.

However, if the question is Epi vs. Fender, there is no question. :earl: RUN for the Fender. RUN I TELL YOU. But, don't pass up the Gibson Les Paul Special. Cheap, lightweight and REAL, I think you'll like it. Put that up against the Strat and you've got a hard choice. Frankly, I'd get the Les Paul. But you may have to flip coins for an hour.

The comment above about the neck length is true also, but I think the difference between a full scale Gibson, and a full scale Fender is negligible in tone and playability. You can put tiny itty-bitty strings on both and they'll keep tune. If you get into 3/4 scale Fenders, or even 21.5" scale Rickenbackers, things get Ukulele CRAZY. But you aren't going to do that. So go play the Les Paul Special, and then the Fender...and then an Epiphone Casino (my favorite) and decide what is most you.

Good Luck with the purchase.


p.s. don't listen to sales people at the store. Buy what you want. If you aren't sure, don't do it. Deal or no deal!
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

Put your amp in the car and go down to some shop that has both and play them through your amp (try some other stuff also) you'll find what you want.
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

lieufunaki said:
However, if the question is Epi vs. Fender, there is no question. :earl: RUN for the Fender. RUN I TELL YOU.
Click to expand...

i totally agree. even though a MIM fender is comperable to an epiphone, in my experience, fenders are better in general. however, dont just go by name. which one do you like more? which feels better to you? the necks on those two guitars are a world apart (as are the bodies)
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

theboatcandream said:
http://www.godinguitars.com/godinlghmbp.htm


It's priced similarly to the epiphone, but the woods and electronics are of ~much~ higher quality. It's an all mahogany guitar. You get brightness from the pickups, which are a Seymour Duncan Jazz neck and a Custom 5 bridge.
Click to expand...

I can't agree more about these guitars being great! They cost roughly the same as an Epi LP and they blow them away for miles.... these Godins are North American Made, great woods, great craftsmanship, and quality hardware..... can't go wrong here.... The pickups are not Duncans but they are nice sounding! I have the same pickups in another model of Godin and i like them!
 
Re: First Guitar - Which one to buy, MIM Strat HH or Epi Les Paul Standard?

chopstherocker said:
I'm not a beginner and I STILL play mexicans. Great Strats indeed.
Click to expand...


same here just wish I started with a MIM rather than MI(insert random south aisian country)
 
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