What Guitar??????

mod13

mod13

New member
Hey, I am looking in to getting my 40th birthday guitar (I have a little over a year to decide).

Probably something under $2000, and nice!!!

I have ALWAYS wanted a Gibson Les Paul, but I have an Epi LP Standard that is GORGEOUS with custom pups, and wicked set up that plays as nice, or better than my Brother's Gibson LP...but it is still not the same...like a Harley and a Yamaha....

I have an '86 Jackson Soloist with a Kahler (currently out getting a new custom paint job), and I LOVE that guitar, so I am not really looking into the Strat/super Strat area, although another Jackson would be nice.

I really like the looks of the Carvin Califoria Carve Top...can anyone tell me a little more about these...are they worth the price to get, basically a cutom made guitar???

I have played PRS's and they have not really impressed me...

So help me out...

Carvin Califonia Carve Top.......new custom made
Gibson Les Paul.....................new (don't care if it is a Standard, Studio..ect)
Gibson Les Paul.....................used (take my chances on E-Bay)
Jackson...............................Nice Neck Thru (non trem)
OTHER????


or should I cut back and buy a decent $1000 guitar and another AMP???

This is my birthbay present for me!!!! (I made it this far):friday:
 
Re: What Guitar??????

a real Les Paul is always a nice piece to have in ones collection... when i started out collecting i had a quota of getting at least one LP and one Strat, and one Tele... i've done that pretty much.. i've mostly bought used to save funds... something about me loves buying older LP's.. i'd like to find a nice 1994 era LP Standard myself... i loved those lp's from that era and the prices are not bad used...

But on the other hand walking into a music store and buying a new LP is always a real treat.... i have not been able to do so yet but i hope to oneday soon
 
Re: What Guitar??????

You've got good options...if you don't want another soloist why not a Rhoads or something like that?
 
Re: What Guitar??????

mod13 said:
So help me out...

Carvin Califonia Carve Top.......new custom made
Gibson Les Paul.....................new (don't care if it is a Standard, Studio..ect)
Gibson Les Paul.....................used (take my chances on E-Bay)
Jackson...............................Nice Neck Thru (non trem)
OTHER????
Click to expand...

The Les Paul Studio seems like the best dollar for dollar new Gibson to me It's well within the $2000 budget. It's also enormously popular.

A lot of the Les Paul Classics are within $2000 new.

I try to avoid ebay these days. For used Gibsons, there're dealers like Elderly and Willcutt and Gruhns who show a lot of their used inventory online.

If you're not buying anything for another year, what's available on the used guitar market changes all the time. I'd say, don't buy anything if you don't see anything that knocks you out, but if you spot something that's just what you're looking for, you might want to buy your guitar early.

I was looking through George Gruhn's "As Is" inventory recently, and spotted something I wanted with a repair that was visible but it wouldn't have bothered me, and the price was ok. I went and looked for it the next day, and it was gone! I was a little aggravated, but I've already spent over $800 in Tele parts this month, so I didn't go for it when I had a chance.
 
Re: What Guitar??????

I had a R.I '57 B.Beauty for my 40th.... hardly use any other now. Infact in 30 months from being new and shinny it's gone to battered and beat up! I just hope you get one that you love as much as I do mine whatever you get. Good luck, all the best.
 
Re: What Guitar??????

Pastor of Muppets said:
You don't appear to own a Telecaster or a 335 (or similar)...if you love your LP then why get a Gibson?
Click to expand...

I was thinking the same thing...Tele or 335 or Gretsch, for a new tone.

You could probably get a really nice Tele AND have enough left over in your budget to get another really nice amp. Get an amp selector box and you'll open up a whole new tonal palette with all of your other guitars, too.

You have a super reverb now...how about something in the marshall or vox family? Or, a nice tweed deluxe style amp?
 
Re: What Guitar??????

http://www.hamerguitars.com/?fa=talla

I don't know how much they cost though... but thats a kick ass guitar - sorta combines a Lester with a Tele

Or a straight up tele - id recomend the Classic Baja Tele for around $800. Then you can get a killer amp like a Smaller Tweed (as mentioned) like a Deluxe or "Double" Deluxe
 
Last edited:
Re: What Guitar??????

If you have an EPI LP, maybe an SG, Explorer or Flying V?

Don't go for used on ebay unless you know what you are doing. The China copies are getting pretty hard to spot.
 
Re: What Guitar??????

Every 40 year old should have a good Telecaster.......I had to sell mine and have been kicking myself in the backside ever since. :butkick:
 
Re: What Guitar??????

THANKS GUYS!!!

I have had 3 Tele's and 4 Strats over the years...I like them for a while...then...well, I guess I am a Humbucker kind of guy, and get tired of the twang!!!

I was actually thinking of an Explorer or a Kelly....being a product of the "80's" I still love the pointy guitars!!! Although I am not a big trem kind of guy, I have the Soloist with the Kahler and rarely touch it.

As for amp...I have my old Super Reverb, that which all others are compared...I was looking at the Frenzel site...they look pretty interesting...

About a Grand for a Frenzel (I am a fairly handy wood worker, so I could build my own cabinets) and a little better than a grand for an Explorer might be an option...

Like I said, I am about to enter my 40th year, part of my mid-life crisis is sitting, dreaming, watching, and searching....maybe that is the fun of it!!!
 
Re: What Guitar??????

I scraped up the money for a LP a while back. Hadn't owned one for 20 years. While getting the money together, i researched and looked long and hard. I just couldn't see the value considering what they cost now versus the quality(?) i would get.
I took the plunge and bought a Hamer instead (which was a plunge, as they weren't available here, had to import it from the USA). I have to admit....not having 'G****n' on the headstock was hard to get over. But the Hamer is a far superior instrument in every way.

And i agree with comments about Telecasters. They are such a wonderful, primitive slab of wood that can do so much....or perhaps, rather....bring so much out of you.

In short....my $00.02 .....a Hamer model or a Tele.

whichever way you go, find something to be happy with not just for your birthday, but for the years to come, so at 50 you can look at your purchase and smile for a choice well-made.

cheers
 
Re: What Guitar??????

Oops....was writing while you entered your last post...ok.....looks like no Tele then.....narrows my suggestion down to a Hamer or a Hamer.....one of the classic timeless models, to travel the years with you.....
 
Re: What Guitar??????

That Taladaga is pretty nice!!! I had a Hamer Blitz bass back in the early 80's...ya ya ya I was in one of those hair band wanna be bands...it was bult like a tank...just a little off balance...but man I beat the crap out of that thing and it took it all!!!

I have never reallt though oof a semi-hollow body...might ba an idea...something a little different.

Has anybody seen, played, knows someone who has a Carvin Carve Top...I really like the neck through thing...my Soloist is so solid, and plays so nice...and they look amazing on the web site...
 
Re: What Guitar??????

Since nobody (unless I missed it) mentioned the Cal Carved top, haven't played it (I have only played the DC line) but for me a Carvin is like the ultimate, "money is a no issue" guitar (here they cost double what they do in the US). If I were you I'd try to get to play one or two and go from there...
 
Re: What Guitar??????

I have played a carvin, but not the cali carved top, so I can't comment on those specifically. You said that the PRS you've played didn't do anything for so, and I believe the cali carved top is based off of a PRS in many ways. So I don't think its really worth the risk. Other Carvins may be an option for you, I've always thought this looked amazing. I'd say try out some hollowbodies, some explorers, SGs, Les Pauls, and see what you like. You don't want to make a decision before you know what you want and this should be a fun decision. Go to as many guitar stores as you can, and play everything until you find one that you just can't stop thinking about.

Just to throw out another idea, recently I made a list of all the different guitars that I want to own when I'm older. So I could see that owning a guitar that you've wanted for a long time could be a special feeling. Since you want a Gibson LP but already have a similar guitar, maybe try out a LP doublecut faded (the one with P-90s), they're cheap enough that you could get another amp too.

Have fun with this, I hope to be where you are someday, this should be a great 40th birthday.

P.S. You should come on here every year to start a thread about which guitar you'll buy for your birthday, not just for the 40th.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top