Shred Guitar Help...

JordanM82

JordanM82

New member
Alright so here's the deal gents...

As I have become more and more technical in my playing (and faster) I have found myself gravitating more and more towards a lot of "shred guitar" techniques that I have started to incorporate into my playing. Also, I am currently working through one of Berklee Music's online guitar programs (was something to help me get serious and regiment my practice time and set some goals) and one of the courses I will be taking (a few semester out yet but I still want to be ready for it) is by Steve Vai and covers his playing style, techniques etc. and I need a guitar with a Floyd for this course.

So here is what I need some suggestions for, a solid shred style super start. I prefer Strat shape guitars they just fit me well, wood type I am not super specific on I like alder, basswood (especially with maple top), Ash, Mahogany, I don't discriminate on body wood. I prefer a maple neck WITHOUT a gloss finish because my hands sweat.

Now here is the real problem, I don't know a ton about Floyd bridges. From what I gather OFR appears to be the way to go, LFR seems to have a lot of reliability problems reported by forum members and I need something that is going to sustain well and stay in tune with HEAVY use.

The budget is anything $700 and below and though I have had some guitars in mind that I liked (used Ibanez prestige or Charvel) I wanted to get some expert advise from guys more experienced in this genre and this style of guitar then me. I am open to all suggestions (except pointy guitars, sorry).
 
Re: Shred Guitar Help...

The most obvious one:

A used Ibanez RG550.
They fit comfortably in your price range, and they have the Edge tremolo which is just as good as an OFR, many say.
 
Re: Shred Guitar Help...

If you're going to be studying Steve Vai, I'd suggest a new or used Ibanez RG series. IMO their Floyds are the best in the buisiness, and the trem route allows extreme pull ups like Vai does
 
Re: Shred Guitar Help...

yeah the Ibanez RG series (specifically the 550) has been up at the top of my list, but i don't know much about the edge locking trem personally... Guess I need to go play one a bunch....

Also, I want it to be super obnoxiously loud colors... that's just a side note, I figure if I am going to do it, might as well go all the way...
 
Re: Shred Guitar Help...

I would say get something with an Ibanez trem, they are, IMO, as good or better than anything Floyd Rose makes.

The Ibanez Premium series might be worth checking out, I have heard they are marvelous, and especially the finishing work is to be excellent.

Otherwise maybe something by Jackson? They are solid guitars, especially in their price-range. They have a fast shred-necks, and most of them have trems (Floyds though)


I just saw about loud colours... If you can tolerate one pickup, the BC Rich Gunslinger Retro are available in neon green, bright yellow, and black. BCR has really gotten their act together these last years, and they continue to shell out excellent guitars on the market.
 
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Re: Shred Guitar Help...

Jakke said:
I just saw about loud colours... If you can tolerate one pickup, the BC Rich Gunslinger Retro are available in neon green, bright yellow, and black. BCR has really gotten their act together these last years, and they continue to shell out excellent guitars on the market.
Click to expand...

Nice, I hadn't seen these at all yet... some of those gunslingers are sick... dang... me like... definitely goes into the mix...
 
Re: Shred Guitar Help...

If you go Ibanez, save yourself the headache and make sure it's not an Edge III, Edge Pro II, Lo-TRS or Lo-TRS II. Go for Edge, Edge Pro (some don't like those as much), Lo-Pro, Edge Zero, ZR or ZR2.

I am yet to see an Edge Zero II, so the verdict is still out on that one.

Here's a good primer on Ibanez double locking bridges.

http://lawl.net/gtr/trems

I think it's missing the "Double Edge" vibrato units, those are basically piezo equipped Edge tremolos.
 
Re: Shred Guitar Help...

I can't recommend the edge pro. It needs modifications to be flawless, the original edge doesn't.

Ibanezrules.com is very informative on the edge pro flaw and how to fix it.

I had a RG1550 with a edge pro. It was really annoying at times.
 
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Re: Shred Guitar Help...

I will step out on a limb here and suggest a Charvel, I just prefer the sound (regardless of pup choices), and the general feel. I have liked the hardware on the newer Charvels as much if not more than the Ibby Prestige models.

Even Vai was using a Charvel before the massive endorsements.
 
Re: Shred Guitar Help...

Yeah I had Charvel in the mix, they make some nice guitars and I do like the sound as well. The hard part there is finding one in my budget, even used getting one for $700 is tough and that's the TOP of my budget.

I went to GC last night and played a few guitars, I played an RG4EX1 with quilt top, I really like the feel and playability of this guitar, however, the Edge III felt like crap... they didn't have an RG5 anything in stock to play.

I also played a few LTD guitars with OFR's that felt and sounded really good as well. I can't seem to get past the super pointy headstock though, it's SO big and pointy, not just a little bit either...

I am trying to find a used RG locally but it seems like everything has the freaking Edge III that I can find...
 
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Re: Shred Guitar Help...

I couldn't get along with the necks on Ibanez guitars. They just don't feel comfortable in my hand . . . the upper fret access and trems are decent though. I ended up with a Charvel Pro Mod for this sort of playing, which works very well with the following caveats:

- It has slightly less comfortable fret access in the 19 - 22 fret range due to the heel and the lack of deep cutaway.
- The trem is not recessed so you can't do pull-ups that are quite as large range as a recessed trem.
- It's a 22 fret rather than 24 fret guitar.

Don't get me wrong, I love the sound, comfort, and playability of the guitar . . . but if you're thinking of buying one, check them out with what I just mentioned in mind. Those little things might be a sticking point for you. If you hold out you can find them in the 700$ range though (I did, and we Canadians usually pay much more for musical instruments than you guys do in the US).
 
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