First post...first guitar?

T

Trumpet

New member
Hey there,
So, this is my first post so please excuse me if it gets "long winded". I'm a professional musician turned teacher (not exactly hard to figure out what I play ;) ). I had a successful performing career, had some health issues and ended up in the classroom. Life happens.

Anyway, I may be receiving a grant which means our school may be aquiring 50 guitars. I don't play though. So, I want to get a guitar and start teaching myself. Now, I'm on a "teacher's budget" and I really don't want to spend more than $500 on a guitar and I don't plan on accumulating them either. I don't plan on being in a band, or shredding, but I do like the idea of "rocking out" once in a while so I want a versatile electric. On one of the other gun boards I hang out on, a few guys recommended a HSS Strat. I've been checking them out and I really am digging the FSR Rootbeer flake model. That being said, being a classic rock and AC/DC fan I also am (naturally) digging the Gibson SG, I just don't dig the price. Do the Epi SG-400's stack up?

Now, I guess the problem is I have a highly trained ear, but not the budget to match. What would y'all recommend? How do the lower end MIM Strats compare to the "lower end" Epi's? I also found on my local Craigslist, a like new ("only playd twice") Gibson SG Gothic w/Line 6 Spider II 75W 1x12" Amp, cable, strap, instruction book, and four channel foot pedal for $1500 OBO. Good deal?

Sorry if I rambled, but I have a lot of questions and not a lot of time.

Thanks guys.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

Les Pauls and Strats are so different that I've never bothered trying to compare them for "quality" at any price point. (That sounds like something a musician would do.)

Still, I agree that an HSS Strat -- MIM or even a good Squier -- would be a nice place to start for $500 or less. The Stratocaster is a very comfortable, ergonomically sound design than most people seem to find easy to play. With a humbucker in the bridge position, you can cover a lot of sonic territory and definitely get some rocking out done.

I haven't tried an Agile, but they've got a tremendously good reputation of being a lot of guitar for the money, if a Gibson-style instrument is your thing.
 
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Re: First post...first guitar?

Welcome to the Forums!! :D
Get a Squier Telecaster, a Fender Champion 600 and a Boss BD-2 pedal.
You're ear will tell you how to adjust the three and you'll be on your way.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

The high-end Squiers could be more than good enough for you. You'd save a few pennies over a MIM Fender as well.
Hell, this Squier would be really nice for myself!

Squier Vintage Modified series Strat:
http://www.fender.com/es-ES/products/search.php/?partno=0301210506
(sorry, the link's in Spanish but you'll get the idea)

Great pickups out of the box, and excellent value overall.
Oh and forgot, welcome to the forum!
 
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Re: First post...first guitar?

I also recommend the higher end Squier guitars. Epiphone makes some good guitars. Do you know any guitarists? if so, go to a store and ask him to try out guitars for you. point him in the direction of designs that interest you. Forget anything the salesman says: you need to LOVE what you're buying. You need to feel inspired each time you see your guitar because more often than not what stops beginners from improving is just that: lack of motivation to practice.

you mentioned the SG. what other designs interest you? do you have any favorite guitarists? give us some names and we will point you in the right direction.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

astrozombie said:
I also recommend the higher end Squier guitars. Epiphone makes some good guitars. Do you know any guitarists? if so, go to a store and ask him to try out guitars for you. point him in the direction of designs that interest you. Forget anything the salesman says: you need to LOVE what you're buying. You need to feel inspired each time you see your guitar because more often than not what stops beginners from improving is just that: lack of motivation to practice.

you mentioned the SG. what other designs interest you? do you have any favorite guitarists? give us some names and we will point you in the right direction.
Click to expand...

There's a lot of 'em. In no particular order...
Gilmour
SRV
EVH
Setzer
Morello
Phil X
Slash

As far as designs go, I like the more traditional designs of the Les Pauls, Strats, and SGs.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

+1 for a Squier Vintage Modified series three pickup guitar.

These are affordable, playable straight out of the box and easy to upgrade with better hardware if/when the need arises.

There is no one guitar that does absolutely everything. If you held a gun to my head and asked me to single out one instrument, it would be a pre-owned Fender American Standard Stratocaster. The pickup cavities beneath the scratchplate should accommodate pretty much any pickup combination you require.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

Without being too specific I'd suggest a decent modeling amp like the Line 6 Spider or a Kustom in the price you're comfortable with and either an HSS or HH (super)strat.

I don't think you'll want the Floyd if you're not gonna go all out with your trem but a typical Fender-style trem (or a Wilkinson) would be great. You can use it for the occasional vibrato and if you don't use it much you just tighten the springs and be as good as with a hardtail.

Generally speaking I'd rather avoid the big names due to the overhead that comes with said name.

I usually go with relatively small but good companies that use Korea, Indonesia or even China for the actual manufacture (greatly helps to keep the cost down) but have a hands-on approach with regards to keeping the quality to a high standard.

In no particular order the companies I keep to a high esteem in that regard is
Schecter
Michael Kelly
Swing (Korean company, obviously have no import line, great value for money IMO)
Bacchus (they're Japanese but also have a pretty decent Chinese line)
Fernandes (same as above)

There are a lot more but I tried to keep the list small so as to not overwhelm you.
If you don't find what you're looking for perhaps you'll have better luck with Cort, Dean and Washburn, generally however these and most other companies have great gear in the mid-end and above categories.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

Anywhere near Olney, Md.? I know a guy who has a shop there that could set you up with just about anything you need to go. Give me a pm and I will connect you if interested.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

As a teacher myself (well sub-teacher, getting my certification this year), my vote will go with a strat vs a LP or set neck guitar every day, because of the reality of the classroom. The strat design is very sturdy, and will allow you to fix and replace parts easily, because those parts will be cheap, and quick to install because of the guitar's design. I also wouldn't rule out a telecaster type guitar. Can't kill those.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

i was thinking the cedar HSS squier tele
mostly because i want one though

and no, don't go for that SG and line6 at 1500.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

if you are used to playing trumpet, you know what it feels like to have an instrument resonate to nuances and fill a room with incredible harmonic overtones and vibrations.
A line six is kinda an equivalent of playing a digital piano. Obviously it sounds like a piano on record, but it just does not give the feel and richness of a piano when you play it in a room. Do they sound good? yeah sure. So do digital pianos. Will a digital piano replace a real piano? Well, only because its more convenient really, and cos you can switch to many many different sounds.
So fwiw....consider getting a tube amp. It wont have all the thousands of sounds available like a line 6. But it will have one or two good ones, rather than a thousand that are just digital representations. A good amp is as much a resonant and responsive part of the instrument as the soundboard or strings.
While im on amps.....a 1960 les paul will soound like crap through a crap amp. A modest guitar will sound surprisingly good thru a good amp. The amp is the last link in the chain before the sound gets to our ears. It does not need to be powerful (especially in your role) but to give you musical reward then it needs to be good.
 
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Re: First post...first guitar?

I assume you play trumpet (elementary my dear Watson) so, on that basis* I would suggest a Gibson Les Paul Faded Studio. One of those is well within the $500 range and you should be able to get a nice Gibson hard case to keep it in too. If you want blood, you've got it! AC/DC tones on tap.






*The trumpet is irrelevant - Les Pauls are just better than Strats, HSS or not.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

with it being education.... you don't want exactly expensive gear anyway cause let's face it, the kids will still abuse it and have accidents.

I say squier for the guitars, vintage modified series are a big plus for me too (although i can only play them upside down cause they don't make lefties on that range) the HSS is a good idea as well.

in terms of amps, I don't quite know what to say. modellers are alright for the classroom situation but the problem you have is it is best to keep it simple for the students which can be a pain the rear if you have about 2 million knobs.... also with modelling amps, the kids can be distracted, ''ooh what does this button do'' syndrome starts taking over. so either go for about 50-100W solid state twin channel amps with say a reverb setting or go for slightly more expensive but smaller wattage (but just as loud!) tubes amps such as the HT-5.

the problem then with the tube amps is being sensible cause if you flick the on and standby switches together you could screw up the tubes.

but anyway, squiers are your best bet.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

BTMN said:
Anywhere near Olney, Md.? I know a guy who has a shop there that could set you up with just about anything you need to go. Give me a pm and I will connect you if interested.
Click to expand...

dude - that's where my wife is from!

Back to OP -

Well, you'll have to learn to play, obviously. But given the list of guys you dig, I'd say a strat of some type with a humbucker in the bridge that can be split.

The Vintage Mod Squiers are pretty cool.

remember - A Strat and a Les Paul are very different creature. Kinda like Brass - a French Horn and a Trumpet are both brass, but NOT the same. You'll ultimately want one of each. But to start, a good strat with a himbucker that can do single coil sounds will do you well.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

Oh yeah - Modelling amps a great tool; They maker the sound you need to play. That said, Vox and Roland get a lot of good word. Spider - not so much.

I dig Roland for the fast to get sound, spend more time playing factor.
 
Re: First post...first guitar?

gibson175 said:
hmmmm....your name is trumpet......you play trombone?
Click to expand...

No, he doesn't. I do. ;)

BTW trumpet, I am in a similar situation. I primarily taught concert band for many years. I commend you for venturing into a new area, musically.
 
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