Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

[Χάρης]

I'm basically looking for a wood with strings on it to practice. :bandit:

My budget is 250 euros max. What really matters is that the guitar isn't some chinese spinoff or something that can't stay tuned for more than 5 minutes. Since the guitar is going to be cheap, having a tremolo is not an option ( for obvious reasons ).

So here are three instruments I'm currently looking at.

http://www.thomann.de/de/fender_squier_51_vintage_modified_vbl.htm

http://www.thomann.de/de/cort_kx5_wh.htm

http://www.thomann.de/de/ibanez_grg121dx_wnf.htm

All of them are made in Indonesia which I find a good thing, but I'm not sure which one to pick. No, I don't mean stuff like personal preference on sound and feel, but durability and stability for its price.

Oh and before you say " You can't expect much from a 250 guitar ", yeah I know. Just asking which one of these is the best option. Thank you for your time :chairfall

 

[regan]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

They're all electric?
If it's just for practice get an acoustic, it'll make you a better player, yamaha 310's & 370's are excellent 'beater' guitars, come in at half your budget and no-one wants to hear you plink away on an unplugged electric but everyone loves to hear single guitar renditions on an acoustic

 

[Χάρης]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

They're all electric?
If it's just for practice get an acoustic, it'll make you a better player, yamaha 310's & 370's are excellent 'beater' guitars, come in at half your budget and no-one wants to hear you plink away on an unplugged electric but everyone loves to hear single guitar renditions on an acoustic

I currently have a classical one and I'm loving it ( got it for 30 euros ). However the lack of frets kinda gets in my way.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

I would second an acoustic in this situation–I've had great luck with Epiphone acoustics (from all price points.)

Rogue makes a decent acoustic pack–Mandolin and Acoustic for dirt cheap that is a decent practice setup.

Squire electrics are decent as are Jay Tursers.

 

[greekdude]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

Yo Hari!
Take the Ibanez by far. Put heavy strings on it (11+ on E-std) and start practicing.

 

[dominus]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

So here are three instruments I'm currently looking at.

Oh and before you say " You can't expect much from a 250 guitar ", yeah I know. Just asking which one of these is the best option. Thank you for your time :chairfall

They're all electric?
If it's just for practice get an acoustic, it'll make you a better player, yamaha 310's & 370's are excellent 'beater' guitars, come in at half your budget and no-one wants to hear you plink away on an unplugged electric but everyone loves to hear single guitar renditions on an acoustic

I would second an acoustic in this situation–I've had great luck with Epiphone acoustics (from all price points.)

Rogue makes a decent acoustic pack–Mandolin and Acoustic for dirt cheap that is a decent practice setup.

This is one thing that always gets me. If someone told me to get an acoustic when I asked for advice on an electric, my reply would be GFY. Just because something works for *you*, doesn't mean it's for everyone, and doesn't answer their question. (I just addressed this in a thread of my own.) The reason to get an acoustic is if you *want* an acoustic. If my first guitar was an acoustic, I *never* would have stayed interested.

To the OP - The Squier 51 is a great guitar. The Ibanez (also being a hardtail) would be a close second. Both of those would serve you well, and would be easy to upgrade in the future.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

This is one thing that always gets me. If someone told me to get an acoustic when I asked for advice on an electric, my reply would be GFY. Just because something works for *you*, doesn't mean it's for everyone, and doesn't answer their question. (I just addressed this in a thread of my own.) The reason to get an acoustic is if you *want* an acoustic. If my first guitar was an acoustic, I *never* would have stayed interested.

To the OP - The Squier 51 is a great guitar. The Ibanez (also being a hardtail) would be a close second. Both of those would serve you well, and would be easy to upgrade in the future.

+1, although I wouldn't have worded it quite like that. Playing an acoustic isn't much like playing an electric. You use different techniques. If you want to get better on electric, you need to practice on an electric's strings and neck.

Of the 3 guitars the OP's considering, I'd also go with the Squire VM. I have a Squire VM Jazz bass and it's a lot of bass for the price. I've heard equally good things about the VM guitars.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

This is one thing that always gets me. If someone told me to get an acoustic when I asked for advice on an electric, my reply would be GFY. Just because something works for *you*, doesn't mean it's for everyone, and doesn't answer their question. (I just addressed this in a thread of my own.) The reason to get an acoustic is if you *want* an acoustic. If my first guitar was an acoustic, I *never* would have stayed interested.

To the OP - The Squier 51 is a great guitar. The Ibanez (also being a hardtail) would be a close second. Both of those would serve you well, and would be easy to upgrade in the future.

In my defense I did recommend some electrics...you just didn't quote those

I would argue that an acoustic is a VERY good way to practice. My playing has gotten much smoother and cleaner because an acoustic doesn't have anything masking it–no effects, no awesome pedals/amps...granted one can play clean without any effects and one could argue playing amplified can help show your mistakes....

Just my opinion, an acoustic (make it acoustic electric ) is a great for practice.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

Playing an acoustic isn't much like playing an electric. You use different techniques.

You are playing acoustic wrong then.

 

[d1dsj]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

I would add a Yamaha Pacifica to your list.

 

[DeadandBuried]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

Squier Strats are decent. My first one was one of them and I still have it now, obviously upgraded a few parts and had it set up, etc. I guess back when I was 13 or so my mum and dad didn't want to spend loads of money on something they knew I wouldn't be 100% guaranteed to stick to.
Think I've repaid their faith though!

 

[regan]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

You are playing acoustic wrong then.

This is exactly right, if you can play an acoustic well you can make an electric sound great, I've seen many 'accomplished' (3 chord and pentatonic legends in their own kitchen) electric players sound like a hack on acoustic.

The OP asked for advice: 'I'm basically looking for a wood with strings on it to practice'
Electrics were never exclusively specified, if someone's response is 'If my first guitar was an acoustic, I *never* would have stayed interested.' and then followed it up by 'GFY' then that shows they couldn't even be bothered to the the 1st post and was looking to troll or get some of their anger issues out

OP if you want an electric then get an electric, but if you basically looking for a wood with strings on it to practice, don't discount an acoustic over an electric.
With an acoustic rather than electric your hands will get stronger barre chords will improve immensely, hammers and pull offs wiil improve, as will your sense of dynamics. your ear will improve at a greater rate
If you play unplugged electric you will never be able to pick up harmonic structure of chords and scales as well/quickly as on an acoustic. if you play through an amp you will be tempted to drown out mistakes with gain and reverb, and again this will be to the detriment to your ear technique and timing

As always it's my opinion and your money so ultimately it's your choice, but with $250 I'd get an acoustic a tuner and a metronome,

So YES YES YES!

 

[dominus]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

For those still pushing acoustics -

Do you play guitar to get better at it, or play guitar to make music?

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

For those still pushing acoustics -

Do you play guitar to get better at it, or play guitar to make music?

Yes.

That's kinda like asking do you eat to get nutrition or do you eat to enjoy flavors.

The OP up to this point has not stated an emphatic "no" to acoustics...an implied "not really"? Yeah, but not an emphatic no. Just said "wood with strings to practice"

My comment about acoustics was tongue in check but with an element of truth, I know guys who sound very good on an electric and sound like crap on an acoustic. Definitely not for everyone but in my personal experience, the best improvement for me on electric was when I switched to acoustic for my practicing.

Again, just my personal experience.

 

[regan]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

Both, suprisingly I've discovered I can actually play music on my acoustic

 

[blueman335]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

You are playing acoustic wrong then.

I don't think so. I do a lot of deep string bends, often with fast vibrato on my electrics (like Peter Green), with 9 gauge strings. Key part of my style. Never seen anyone do that on an acoustic.

The OP gave a list of 3 electric guitars to choose from. He also was the first one to 'like' Dominus' response about sticking to electrics, and not acoustics. Seems pretty clear he wants an electric.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

I don't think so. I do a lot of deep string bends, often with fast vibrato on my electrics (like Peter Green), with 9 gauge strings. Key part of my style. Never seen anyone do that on an acoustic.

You haven't? You must be very selective in who you listen to/watch live

So you've never seen someone do this on an acoustic?



Or what about this:



Or this:



And Phil opened up for the Beetles, a master of both electric and acoustic

The OP gave a list of 3 electric guitars to choose from. He also was the first one to 'like' Dominus' response about sticking to electrics, and not acoustics. Seems pretty clear he wants an electric.

Again, the OP never said "no acoustics" and this is an online forum for suggestions right? Saying wood with strings for practicing does not entail just electrics my friend.

 

[regan]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

How about on of these?

http://www.gak.co.uk/en/epiphone-li...nburst/32029?gclid=CJKVwNjl0ssCFbYK0wodOTYOOQ

A good junior is the only...........

 

[AlexR]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

I'd go acoustic too.

The key points on practice (as opposed to just having fun) is that you are trying to accomplish a set task. And having an instrument that is less forgiving makes the task much more difficult.....hence your ability slightly better once you get onto an easier instrument to play. Also acoustic will be louder in the unplugged state (if you were just to play on the couch for example), which will magnify the errors once again and make for a more pedantic application toward perfection.

It really matters not at all what the various forumites think of an acoustic from a personal perspective, or whether it suits their needs in the least. It is the OP that needs to consider the acoustic as an option here.

 

[Rand-O-Monium]

Re: Need a cheap guitar just for practice. What's the best I can get?

Pawnshop.

Get a couple...