Hey guys! My name is Garrett, I'm a 13 year old out of Michigan, need some more professional opinions. I'm looking into buying a new guitar. I have been playing for a year in 3 days, and am looking to upgrade my arsenal. I own a 1996 epiphone Les Paul. That has been my main Axe, but lately I've been looking at telecasters, and mustangs, they appeal to me a lot. My question is, for 250 dollars and under, what is your opinion on good guitars under that category, I play Rock, so a"shredable" neck isn't a must have. I like a little bit thicker necks, and id like something versatile, obviously my Epi has Humbuckers, so something that's a little more bluesy would be ideal. Thanks! - Garrett
Need advanced opinion.
- Thread starter Ace2600
- Start date
VinceT
New member
Re: Need advanced opinion.
Garrett - Hi. For that money I'd definitely look used (though it's still going to be tight). I hear great things about Squier Classic Vibe guitars and the are a couple on reverb at the moment for around your price, so within reach. Best of luck ~Vince
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Garrett - Hi. For that money I'd definitely look used (though it's still going to be tight). I hear great things about Squier Classic Vibe guitars and the are a couple on reverb at the moment for around your price, so within reach. Best of luck ~Vince
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Silence Kid
New member
Re: Need advanced opinion.
Squier makes a $150 HH Bullet Mustang. It's prob. not a huge change from your Epiphone. The next step up Squier VM Mustang would be harder to grab at your price point, but do-able used. For $250 you could get a MIM Telecaster if you were patient, but I think a Squier Vintage Modified/Classic Vibe Telecaster or G&L Tribute ASAT would be better. Watch Craigslist.
Squier makes a $150 HH Bullet Mustang. It's prob. not a huge change from your Epiphone. The next step up Squier VM Mustang would be harder to grab at your price point, but do-able used. For $250 you could get a MIM Telecaster if you were patient, but I think a Squier Vintage Modified/Classic Vibe Telecaster or G&L Tribute ASAT would be better. Watch Craigslist.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
Re: Need advanced opinion.
^^ Yes agreed. The HH Bullet Mustang for $150 would be good. Humbuckers, good bridge, short 24" scale neck, 12" radius fretboard.
I wouldn't recommend the Vintage Modified Mustang. It won't play well stock because the bridge is so horrible. I have one where I changed the bridge.
A good Tele that you can score new would be the Squier Affinity for $200. Single coils, 25.5" scale neck, 9.5" radius fretboard.
If you really want single coils, I'd go for the Squier Affinity Tele and if you want a shreddy neck, I'd go for the Bullet Mustang.
^^ Yes agreed. The HH Bullet Mustang for $150 would be good. Humbuckers, good bridge, short 24" scale neck, 12" radius fretboard.
I wouldn't recommend the Vintage Modified Mustang. It won't play well stock because the bridge is so horrible. I have one where I changed the bridge.
A good Tele that you can score new would be the Squier Affinity for $200. Single coils, 25.5" scale neck, 9.5" radius fretboard.
If you really want single coils, I'd go for the Squier Affinity Tele and if you want a shreddy neck, I'd go for the Bullet Mustang.
thunderkyss
New member
Re: Need advanced opinion.
Over on the strat forum there are guys buying Squiers for $50 & they believe them to be really good guitars.
I don't know, never owned one. But I will say it's hard to find a bad guitar built in the last 10 years or so.
I'd also like to know what kind of amp you're playing through. I think right now that's going to be your bigger bang for the buck. The Epi should be a solid instrument, if it's less than 10 years old. I wish I could have fought the urge to buy inexpensive guitar after inexpensive guitar when I was starting out. Save your money & wait until you can get what you want... & get the old man to match your money or something.
Over on the strat forum there are guys buying Squiers for $50 & they believe them to be really good guitars.
I don't know, never owned one. But I will say it's hard to find a bad guitar built in the last 10 years or so.
I'd also like to know what kind of amp you're playing through. I think right now that's going to be your bigger bang for the buck. The Epi should be a solid instrument, if it's less than 10 years old. I wish I could have fought the urge to buy inexpensive guitar after inexpensive guitar when I was starting out. Save your money & wait until you can get what you want... & get the old man to match your money or something.
BenPerkins
New member
Re: Need advanced opinion.
Squier Vintage Modified is good - check the Guitar Center website's used section, Ebay or Reverb.com. Keep in mind that guitars with a tremolo system may encounter tuning issues. You might need to buy locking tuners or replace the bridge.
Your current guitar can also be modded within that price-range. Take it to a guitar tech and have them split the coils. Or throw a different set of pickups in there (ex: P-Rails) and add triple-shot rings.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/p-rails-set
Squier Vintage Modified is good - check the Guitar Center website's used section, Ebay or Reverb.com. Keep in mind that guitars with a tremolo system may encounter tuning issues. You might need to buy locking tuners or replace the bridge.
Your current guitar can also be modded within that price-range. Take it to a guitar tech and have them split the coils. Or throw a different set of pickups in there (ex: P-Rails) and add triple-shot rings.
http://www.seymourduncan.com/pickup/p-rails-set
RorySquier
New member
Re: Need advanced opinion.
Squier Affinity Series Teles and Strats are a real good deal & affordable. They sound & play great and are well built for the price. Here's a video demonstrating the sound of an Affinity Tele.
;>)/
Squier Affinity Series Teles and Strats are a real good deal & affordable. They sound & play great and are well built for the price. Here's a video demonstrating the sound of an Affinity Tele.
;>)/
RogerMexiko
New member
Re: Need advanced opinion.
A guy I know who teaches guitar for a living has his students buy the Fender Starcaster Strat. He insists that if you look around, paying close attention to the neck, you can find a guitar that sounds and plays as well as a mim Stratocaster. This is part of his curriculum, learning about choosing a good guitar at a reasonable price.
You could easily find one for around $50. If you want a more pronounced Strat sound you can pick up a set of Fender Texas Specials for about $100 and that leaves you with $100 to spend on a good pedal. As far as pedals go this guy teaches that an EQ pedal is the first and most important pedal to have.
I have sat in on some of his classes and played several of his guitars and have to admit that IMO he is correct.
Amps as someone else pointed out are also very important.
A guy I know who teaches guitar for a living has his students buy the Fender Starcaster Strat. He insists that if you look around, paying close attention to the neck, you can find a guitar that sounds and plays as well as a mim Stratocaster. This is part of his curriculum, learning about choosing a good guitar at a reasonable price.
You could easily find one for around $50. If you want a more pronounced Strat sound you can pick up a set of Fender Texas Specials for about $100 and that leaves you with $100 to spend on a good pedal. As far as pedals go this guy teaches that an EQ pedal is the first and most important pedal to have.
I have sat in on some of his classes and played several of his guitars and have to admit that IMO he is correct.
Amps as someone else pointed out are also very important.
MikeRocker
What's Your Forum Nameologist?
Re: Need advanced opinion.
+1 Get all you can out of your current guitar, and save all of your pennies until such time as you can swing something that's a serious step up from a beginner/low price-type instrument. At that point, you will have a much better idea of what it is you want/need. If you are passionate about it, work hard, and stick with it, believe me that at some point you will end up with an amount of gear that would surprise you today.
Spoken as another guitar player who grew up in Michigan and had a Les Paul as his first electric guitar.
+1 Get all you can out of your current guitar, and save all of your pennies until such time as you can swing something that's a serious step up from a beginner/low price-type instrument. At that point, you will have a much better idea of what it is you want/need. If you are passionate about it, work hard, and stick with it, believe me that at some point you will end up with an amount of gear that would surprise you today.
Spoken as another guitar player who grew up in Michigan and had a Les Paul as his first electric guitar.
Chickenwings
Alnico 6/8
Re: Need advanced opinion.
If i was 13 and had an axe like yours I would just keep shedding and shredding on it and save some cash for a nice amp for down the track (or if you have a nice amp then save for a nice tele etc and not a squier)
If i was 13 and had an axe like yours I would just keep shedding and shredding on it and save some cash for a nice amp for down the track (or if you have a nice amp then save for a nice tele etc and not a squier)
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Need advanced opinion.
To clarify on the VM Squier Mustang: As Clint mentioned, the Squier bridge is not optimal; the screws can rattle out, and the Squier bridge is also designed differently than a Fender bridge (look at the saddles.) Real Fender Mustang bridges are better.
The Squier vibrato is also not optimal. Some Squier (and even some Fender Japan) vibratos are faulty; the pivots aren't countersunk, just drilled, squared-off holes. A US Fender vibrato in good condition would work fine, but they're all vintage at this point. Even then, Mustangs can be a PAIN to set up. You might even ruin the trem trying to adjust it, or maybe the guy before you did (don't turn the posts with the strings on!)
TLDR: If you don't need to use the trem, go for it. If you want to use the trem, cough up $150 more for a real Fender vibrato and bridge.
To clarify on the VM Squier Mustang: As Clint mentioned, the Squier bridge is not optimal; the screws can rattle out, and the Squier bridge is also designed differently than a Fender bridge (look at the saddles.) Real Fender Mustang bridges are better.
The Squier vibrato is also not optimal. Some Squier (and even some Fender Japan) vibratos are faulty; the pivots aren't countersunk, just drilled, squared-off holes. A US Fender vibrato in good condition would work fine, but they're all vintage at this point. Even then, Mustangs can be a PAIN to set up. You might even ruin the trem trying to adjust it, or maybe the guy before you did (don't turn the posts with the strings on!)
TLDR: If you don't need to use the trem, go for it. If you want to use the trem, cough up $150 more for a real Fender vibrato and bridge.
Obsessive Compulsive
New member
Re: Need advanced opinion.
Recommending a Squier is like asking him to dumb his equipment down. Save your money kiddo. At most, if you are looking for versatility, change the pickups to P-Rails. With 2 push/ pull volumes and tones you'll get every possible sound out of it: humbuckers, P-90s, single coils.
Recommending a Squier is like asking him to dumb his equipment down. Save your money kiddo. At most, if you are looking for versatility, change the pickups to P-Rails. With 2 push/ pull volumes and tones you'll get every possible sound out of it: humbuckers, P-90s, single coils.
