What should I look for?

M

Mallowpuff

New member
Hello again forum goers!

Alright, I need some help on what would be a good guitar for my sister. I normally just let her use one of mine, but she wants one to call her own, and be able to pick it out. I did find a Surf green Les Paul studio deluxe with SD pups in it for 350$ that was missing the pick guard, and put it on layaway. The next day, The owner went into the back, pulled a pick guard off of a Les Paul he had hanging in there and said we could have it for free and he would get his tech to set up the guitar. We should be getting it within the next week. I'll post some pics as soon as I get it.

Anyhow! Like I said, my sister wants to pick out a guitar. But I wanted to know some guitars that people here have a good experience with, and come in some cool colors. Not insane colors, just some interesting ones. She'll probably be buying it used, unless there's some great new ones under or around 350$ which I'm not thinking there is. First we'll probably be going through the guitar shop I'm getting the Les Paul from, but if we can't find anything good I'll look around online. I just would like to know some guitars that you guys know are good, and what price you find is fair. Like I stated above Under or around 350$.

As for the style, something more casual like strat/les paul.
 
Re: What should I look for?

There are a lot of great options for budget guitars these days. For strats around your price range there are the squier classic vibe series and the squier vintage modified series. The VM is right at $300 and the CV is $380 brand new I believe. Both are great guitars for the price. On par with a MIM as far as the fit and finish is concerned IME. The pots and switch are cheap but those are an easy change when the time comes. The pickups in the vintage modified are duncan designed pickups I believe and the classic vibe are tone-riders IIRC. Both come in a cool variety of finishes. 2 tone, 3 tone sunburst, sonic blue ,candy apple red, lake placid blue, Olympic white, Aztec gold, a metal flake purple that I can't remember the name of and a couple more I can't remember. And of course you could always pickup a nice MIM strat used. My main axe is a MIM strat and I love it! as far as Les Paul's go I'll hand the torch off to someone else who knows more about them than I.
 
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Re: What should I look for?

Thanks so much for the info!!! I was looking some up, asked her to come look, and strangely she likes this one the most..

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/guitars/squier-classic-vibe-stratocaster-60s-electric-guitar In the 3 color sunburst.

I always thought of her liking some of the PRS SE colors(I just love them.. I don't know why..) Or at least the purple color CV And she just said she likes the Sunburst.. I mean honestly out of the 2 I like the sunburst but I just didn't see her liking it more.

For a first guitar, would you suggest a new CV, or a used MIM Strat?
 
Re: What should I look for?

When your sister plays one of yours, which one does she usually like to play? That will give you a clue.

Nevertheless, I would recommend the best used Strat that you can find in that price. ANY Strat is a great starter guitar with lots of tonal options and a great value. Available in just about any color you (she) could ever want.

IMO, they are a WAY better value than a used Gibson LP, but there are many Epi LPs that sound and play every bit as good and can be found in your price range.
 
Re: What should I look for?

GuitarDoc said:
When your sister plays one of yours, which one does she usually like to play? That will give you a clue.

Nevertheless, I would recommend the best used Strat that you can find in that price. ANY Strat is a great starter guitar with lots of tonal options and a great value. Available in just about any color you (she) could ever want.

IMO, they are a WAY better value than a used Gibson LP, but there are many Epi LPs that sound and play every bit as good and can be found in your price range.
Click to expand...

She always plays my Washburn X12 QVS. I'm going to wait until I get my Epi Les Paul studio deluxe, and if she loves it I might just give it to her, if she doesn't, I'm think of going with a Used MIM or a new CV like firebird suggested.
 
Re: What should I look for?

GuitarDoc said:
When your sister plays one of yours, which one does she usually like to play? That will give you a clue.

Nevertheless, I would recommend the best used Strat that you can find in that price. ANY Strat is a great starter guitar with lots of tonal options and a great value. Available in just about any color you (she) could ever want.

IMO, they are a WAY better value than a used Gibson LP, but there are many Epi LPs that sound and play every bit as good and can be found in your price range.
Click to expand...

+1

I'd also have her try out a few different styles at your local shop. See which one she finds the most comfortable and likes to play the most. If it's an LP style guitar than I'd go that route. If it's a strat then great! Hell she might even prefer a tele or a 335 clone over all of them. When it comes down to it it's mostly preference. There really is no wrong way to guitar. Unless you're Lil Wayne... then you're wrong about everything... but that's beside the point. Find a style she likes and I'd go from there.
 
Re: What should I look for?

firebirdguy72 said:
+1

I'd also have her try out a few different styles at your local shop. See which one she finds the most comfortable and likes to play the most. If it's an LP style guitar than I'd go that route. If it's a strat then great! Hell she might even prefer a tele or a 335 clone over all of them. When it comes down to it it's mostly preference. There really is no wrong way to guitar. Unless you're Lil Wayne... then you're wrong about everything... but that's beside the point. Find a style she likes and I'd go from there.
Click to expand...

Thanks!!! We'll be taking her to the guitar shop over the weekend probably, see if there's anything there she really likes then report back here. She's the one saving up, so if there's something she really wants that's 500$, she could technically get it after awhile. They have 2 month+ layaway, and she can use my Roland cube 30 so she doesn't have to worry about an amp at the moment. Then all I need is to get my brother drums and get my older sister playing bass and we got an all instrumental all family band! :lol:
 
Re: What should I look for?

My father is bringing home some pics of 2 guitars that caught his eye at the guitar shop today! I'll post em' as soon as he gets here.

EDIT: Ugh sorry for double posting..
 
Re: What should I look for?

Alright, I can't get the photos to upload for anything.. But I'll do my best to describe them.

One is an Ibanez and an Epiphone SG.

On the Ibanez, the headstock only says "Ibanez", The body is a darkish purple, but letting the wood grain through it looks like.(FYI Cheap phones don't take good pictures)
Also it's kinda strat shaped.
On the neck, it only has one inlay on the top, it kinda looks like a flame it looks like it starts at the 10th or 11th fret and ends 3 frets down.
The pickups, two humbuckers, both say Ibanez on them. The bridge, I'm not sure what it's called, the string go over it, and go into holes in the guitar. It has 3 pots it looks like.
There's no price on this one, and he only stopped quick so he didn't have time to ask.

On the SG, it's dark red/burgundy and only says SG in the truss rod cover. It has some kind of design on the middle of the headstock. The pickups, they kinda look like P90s? Two of them.
It has the pickguard that's only on one side of the pups, And that's all I can see. They're asking 250$ for it, so I don't think it could be worth much more than that, if that.
 
Re: What should I look for?

kramersteen said:
Family bands are always so cool. :18: Just dont get mum on vocals.
Click to expand...

Yeah, she might be too metal.

 
Re: What should I look for?

GuitarDoc said:
When your sister plays one of yours, which one does she usually like to play? That will give you a clue.

Nevertheless, I would recommend the best used Strat that you can find in that price. ANY Strat is a great starter guitar with lots of tonal options and a great value. Available in just about any color you (she) could ever want.

IMO, they are a WAY better value than a used Gibson LP, but there are many Epi LPs that sound and play every bit as good and can be found in your price range.
Click to expand...

Agreed. Look for a nice used MIM strat or similar, used USA peavey possibly. Hopefully you/she can play it before you buy to make sure it feels right and sounds decent.
 
Re: What should I look for?

Don't rush out to buy a cheapie for $350. Let her keep playing one of yours and wait for a stupid deal. Unless it would kill her enthusiasm for playing, try not to let her get really hung up on color.
 
Re: What should I look for?

JB_From_Hell said:
Don't rush out to buy a cheapie for $350. Let her keep playing one of yours and wait for a stupid deal. Unless it would kill her enthusiasm for playing, try not to let her get really hung up on color.
Click to expand...

Well, It's not me not letting her. She just said she really wants one to hang up on her wall and call hers. As for the color, She's already said there's only a few colors that she really doesn't like, and she'd take almost any color.
 
Re: What should I look for?

Look for a G&L Tribute. The strat bodies are the Legacy, S-500, and Comanche; or one of the ASAT versions for a tele-style guitar. If she's looking for a LP substitute with 2HBs, she should look for the 22-fret Ascari or the 24-fret Fiorano. Terrific guitars, great values even if buying new. The guitars are made off-shore but use USA-made pickups. Really well made. I think you'll find them much nicer than Squiers.

Bill
 
Re: What should I look for?

She might like Ibanez
The necks are thinner
Light
Strat shaped
Balance well on a strap.or on your knee

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
 
Re: What should I look for?

But the gibson SG might work too as the scale is shorter.....and p90's rule!!
 
Re: What should I look for?

ehdwuld said:
She might like Ibanez
The necks are thinner
Light
Strat shaped
Balance well on a strap.or on your knee

*(Sent from my durned phone!)*
Click to expand...

Thanks! Do you know what model it might be? Or what price to look for on it?

AlexR said:
But the gibson SG might work too as the scale is shorter.....and p90's rule!!
Click to expand...

This is just a question from me, what, in tone, is different from a p90 and a humbucker?
 
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