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cez

Registered: 08/04/09
Posts: 5,854
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I think I want to go electric soon
#22053359 - 08/06/15 12:16 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I bought an acoustic guitar a few months back and it has really put me in a groove for daily practice. I love learning/practicing scales and trying to solo but I think going electric is inevitable so I'm starting to look at these guitars.
I want to spend up to 500ish on a new electric, but as I peruse GuitarCenter's website, there is a lot of electric guitars in the 3-500 range and I really have no idea what sets one electric apart from the other. What are some things I should consider when electric guitar shopping?
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Dilsnique
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: cez] 1
#22053398 - 08/06/15 12:22 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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If your looking for a "cleaner", more organic sound, get a geetar with double-humbucker pick ups.
If you want a fuzzier, noisy sound, get a geetar with a single coil pick up.
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psilobob
Inter dimensional Explorer



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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: Dilsnique]
#22053420 - 08/06/15 12:28 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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there's also active pickups to consider. It really depends on what kind of music / what sound you want. This buyers guide might help: http://www.sweetwater.com/insync/electric-guitar-buying-guide/
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meowshroom
EnergyPermeation

Registered: 04/28/15
Posts: 158
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: cez]
#22053486 - 08/06/15 12:56 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I don't care what sort of guitar with whatever pickups you get...
If you only spend 100 bucks on a practice amp, a PRS will sound like ish.
I love classic rock crunch... Epiphone Valve JR. I'll let you decide from there.
That sucker is all tube and will actually show what your guitar sounds like. No effects, no frill... but it's tube for 100 bucks.
That being said... if you're really enjoying acoustic, epiphone electric is never a bad way to go. There's other knockoff brands, but you're pressing your luck. Go to guitar center and look at the used guitars and then TALK THEM DOWN. Don't try to talk them down, just do it. They gotta move inventory, and will come down on asking price...
Read before you drop hundreds of dollars on guitars.... Know what to look for. If you didn't know, only suckers pay sticker on anything.
Is the neck straight? That's a tough one to learn. Does it stay in tune? This is more important to me than anything else. I'll play a twisted neck guitar that stays in tune over a perfect neck that goes out of tune.
Epiphone does all of this pretty decently. But then again, so does a Strat... Strat is going to have more of the bluesy sound, but honestly, it doesn't make any sort of difference until you have some serious knowledge behind your pick.
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TheMule73
Stranger


Registered: 08/26/11
Posts: 1,797
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: meowshroom]
#22053528 - 08/06/15 01:08 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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For electric:
Wood. I like mahogany and ebony fretboard for electric Neck size. I like a little wider neck. length of fretboard. I like 24 jumbo frets pickups. I like passive (doesn't require battery) Seymour duncan humbuckers. type of neck (setneck v bolted on). I like setneck, but for the price you might not be able to get this. type of bridge. I would get a saddle-style bridge (as opposed to a tremelo style)
And of course the look and all that stuff.
Even if you find a guitar that on paper meets what you're looking for, it may not feel right for you when you play it.
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searching



Registered: 06/08/11
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: TheMule73]
#22053705 - 08/06/15 01:55 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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The big divider on good vs bad quality guitars is whether or not it was hand made. Pickups affect the sound a lot too but they can be replaced, where as the overall build quality cannot be changed and is the big factor for how well it can stay in tune.
Examples: epiphone vs. Gibson. Epiphone will be made in China by machines or lesser skilled luthiers. Where as Gibson will be double the price but it is hand made in the US by master luthiers.
Ibanez vs. Ibanez prestige. The prestige guitars are hand made in Japan and the regular cheap ibanez are made in Korea or Indonesia.
So with a 500 dollar budget you're probably not going to be able to afford a professional quality hand made instrument brand new. I recommend going on Craigslist and finding a nicer guitar at a cheaper price.
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searching



Registered: 06/08/11
Posts: 4,128
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: searching]
#22053710 - 08/06/15 01:56 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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If you want some more suggestions on which guitar or which brand you need to tell us what kind of music you play or what you listen to.
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daytripper05
Psychonaut




Registered: 10/30/06
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: cez]
#22053728 - 08/06/15 02:00 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I've been playing acoustically for over a decade. I started off with electric but ended up going to acoustic out of convenience. I play custom Martin for my acoustic, so I wanted something with a similar feel for my new electric. I currently have an Epiphone Gibson Les Paul, it's great. But my main complaint is with the short scale neck and the thing is way to heavy.
So I am looking at a Fender Strat. I love the playability, the classic sound, and the guitar literally feels like it wraps around my body. Ergonomically, the new Strats are about as good as they come IMO.
http://www.fender.com/guitars/stratocaster/american-standard-stratocaster-hss-shawbucker/0113112775.html#start=1
If was to get something under $500, I'd look into a Mexican made Strat.
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cez

Registered: 08/04/09
Posts: 5,854
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: searching]
#22053841 - 08/06/15 02:26 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
searching said: If you want some more suggestions on which guitar or which brand you need to tell us what kind of music you play or what you listen to.
I like and want a bluesy sound.
Quote:
searching said: The big divider on good vs bad quality guitars is whether or not it was hand made. Pickups affect the sound a lot too but they can be replaced, where as the overall build quality cannot be changed and is the big factor for how well it can stay in tune.
Examples: epiphone vs. Gibson. Epiphone will be made in China by machines or lesser skilled luthiers. Where as Gibson will be double the price but it is hand made in the US by master luthiers.
Ibanez vs. Ibanez prestige. The prestige guitars are hand made in Japan and the regular cheap ibanez are made in Korea or Indonesia.
So with a 500 dollar budget you're probably not going to be able to afford a professional quality hand made instrument brand new. I recommend going on Craigslist and finding a nicer guitar at a cheaper price.
So you're saying 500 bucks ain't gonna get me a solid electric? I'd be willing to go up in price because I believe this is going to be a hobby that's gonna remain in my life and want a solid purchase, so I welcome any suggestions.
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TheMule73
Stranger


Registered: 08/26/11
Posts: 1,797
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: cez]
#22053869 - 08/06/15 02:34 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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You can get a solid electric for 500.
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cez

Registered: 08/04/09
Posts: 5,854
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: TheMule73]
#22053879 - 08/06/15 02:38 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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At the moment I'm just paralyzed with too many choices. I need to go in and play some of these obviously, but there's so many fucking electric guitars that I don't know what to look for other than a good sound but I'm sure a lot sound good.
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Bigfeely123
Stranger

Registered: 01/30/15
Posts: 2,594
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: TheMule73]
#22053926 - 08/06/15 02:49 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Look into the Squier vintage modified series guitars. or the Squier J Mascis Jazzmaster. Definitely will give you the best bang for your buck. They will cost about $250-350 new & obviously cheaper if you buy used (On ebay you can score some of these for under $200 used & in decent condition). Don't let the brand name "Squier" fool you... The vintage modified series of Squier guitars had some pretty good quality guitars. The affinity series Squiers are the ones you want to stay away from. With the $250-150 you have left over get a small tube amp-it will be plenty loud for practice or smaller sized bar gigs. No need to get a big amp unless you plan on playing over a live band to decent sized crowds.
Really look into those guitars, I think they are good for any level guitar players & not even considering the low price of them.
I've had Squier guitars that played & sounded a lot better than mexican made Fenders. A few series that Squier guitars came out with were/are HIGHLY underrated... For instance: The Squier Contemporary "E series" made in Japan from the 80's. Probably the easiest playing guitar I've had. Sounded amazing too. Also some of the Squiers made in India from the 90's.
Edited by Bigfeely123 (08/06/15 02:56 PM)
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Fletcher


Registered: 06/14/15
Posts: 679
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: cez]
#22054168 - 08/06/15 03:37 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I'd suggest going to a guitar store and trying a bunch out until you find something you like
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hex_enduction
satta massa gana



Registered: 01/26/14
Posts: 12,051
Last seen: 2 years, 8 months
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: Fletcher]
#22054198 - 08/06/15 03:43 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I play a Mexican Fender Telecaster, it was around 400-500. I got it as a gift so I don't know for sure, but it's a great guitar. I definitely get nice bluesy tones out of it. Might want to look into that.
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searching



Registered: 06/08/11
Posts: 4,128
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: cez]
#22054583 - 08/06/15 05:13 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
cez said:
Quote:
searching said: If you want some more suggestions on which guitar or which brand you need to tell us what kind of music you play or what you listen to.
I like and want a bluesy sound.
Quote:
searching said: The big divider on good vs bad quality guitars is whether or not it was hand made. Pickups affect the sound a lot too but they can be replaced, where as the overall build quality cannot be changed and is the big factor for how well it can stay in tune.
Examples: epiphone vs. Gibson. Epiphone will be made in China by machines or lesser skilled luthiers. Where as Gibson will be double the price but it is hand made in the US by master luthiers.
Ibanez vs. Ibanez prestige. The prestige guitars are hand made in Japan and the regular cheap ibanez are made in Korea or Indonesia.
So with a 500 dollar budget you're probably not going to be able to afford a professional quality hand made instrument brand new. I recommend going on Craigslist and finding a nicer guitar at a cheaper price.
So you're saying 500 bucks ain't gonna get me a solid electric? I'd be willing to go up in price because I believe this is going to be a hobby that's gonna remain in my life and want a solid purchase, so I welcome any suggestions.
For a blues sound you could go for a les Paul, fender strat, prs, Gibson or epiphone sg.
You could get a "solid" guitar for 500. That's like in the intermediate price range, which could be great for you. I'm just saying if you want something to cherish for a lifetime that will stay in tune and have great quality you may want to look at the higher end hand made guitars. For example I bought a '98 Japanese hand made guitar from Craigslist for $350 where as if I went and bought a new one at guitar center for 350, it would have been a Korean made one that goes out of tune every time I touch the whammy bar.
Here's what I think you should do. Go to guitar center and play lots of guitars and find one you like. Say you end up liking an epiphone les Paul. Then go on Craigslist and find a GIBSON les paul. Gibson and epiphone are the same company but epiphone is the cheaper line. Same goes for Squier and fender.
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Hippocampus



Registered: 04/01/15
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: cez]
#22054741 - 08/06/15 05:53 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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I always feel bad telling people what type of guitar to buy new. Because if you knew what you were looking for, like me, you could get a damn good guitar used for $500. But new, although $500 buys you an okay guitar, it's just not in the level of guitars I'm interested in owning. My next guitar is going to be a G&L strat with bridge humbucker. To replace my long beloved lone star statocaster that has a broken truss rod.
I highly recommend getting an electric vs an acoustic. There is so much more to it imo.
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4HO-DMT


Registered: 01/11/11
Posts: 5,073
Loc: County Line Road
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Re: I think I want to go electric soon [Re: cez]
#22054777 - 08/06/15 06:02 PM (8 years, 5 months ago) |
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Quote:
Dilsnique said: If your looking for a "cleaner", more organic sound, get a geetar with double-humbucker pick ups.
If you want a fuzzier, noisy sound, get a geetar with a single coil pick up.
This.
I have a gibson SG and I love it. They start out at about $800 though. If you can spend a little bit more, get a gibson IMO.
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