[miral_d]

i have no guitar experience at all and i was thinking it'd be nice to learn, ive decide on a electric guitar but i know nothing at all about electrics guitars. i've read the electric guitar thread already and it gave some help but i need to know a few things.

firstly how much will a decent guitar set me back?

i found a fender strat but as i cant posts links i have no way of showing you..its called a Squier Affinity-Strat-BLK-RW (Affinity/Aff Strat/Stratocaster) Electric Guitar - Black Body / Rosewood Neck

i'll post the products specification and description if that helps:

Type: Lead
PickUps: 3
Colour: Black

quoted from the site:

Dressed in new eye-popping finishes, these Fender®-designed Stratocaster guitars have a great look and feel. With a contoured alder body, bolt-on maple neck with a rosewood fingerboard (and a late ‘60s headstock), three single coils and a standard tremolo system - the Affinity Series® Strat® guitar has all the vintage vibe at a fraction of the price.

Model Name Strat® (Rosewood)
Model Number 031-0600-(Color#)
Series Affinity Series
Colors Black (Polyurethane Finish)
Body Alder
Neck Maple
Fingerboard Rosewood, 9.5" Radius (241 mm)
No. of Frets 21 Medium Jumbo
Pickups 3 Single-Coil Pickups
Controls Master Volume,
Tone 1. (Neck Pickup),
Tone 2. (Middle Pickup)
Pickup Switching 5-Position Blade:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup
Bridge Synchronous Tremolo
Machine Heads Standard Die-Cast Tuners
Hardware Chrome
Pickguard 1-Ply White
Scale Length 25.5" (648 mm)
Width at Nut 1.61" (41 mm)
Unique Features Large Headstock ‘60s Style Headstock,
White Plastic Parts,
Black Silkscreen Logo,
Dot Position Inlays
Strings Fender Super 250L, (.009 to .042) Nickel Plated Steel p/n 073-0250-003
Accessories None
Introduced 1/2001

it cost £105.00. Is it worth its money and for a learner would that be a good guitar?

any additional information would be great.

thanks in advance

sorry for the long post..

[allthumbs]

It would be fine as a short term beginners guitar. Squires can vary in build quality quite a bit so go to a shop and examine and play as many as you can to find the best one. It has been my experience, with a few exceptions, that 3 to 4 hundred dollars get you into the range of guitars that are more long term keepers.

[Ben_Sir_Amos]

I've found the Affinities to be fairly consistent in quality and great value for money. But they do have to cut corners to build to a price: the affinities are thinner than the squier standards and some of the electrics and hardware are not so good. Having said which, I've never had one fail on me - just crackles and other irritations.

One important point though. How big are you? Or rather, how big are your hands? I think the affinities were made for younger people so they are lighter - and the necks are narrower across the fingerboard at the nut (where the tuners are). My podgy fingers mean that I can't get on with them for long.

[mikeyt1325]

yes it is worth the money and good luck

[miral_d]

thanks for the advice, i dont rly have podgy fingers so i think it should be fine, im about 5''8 or 9 so think it should be all right. cheers again

[Stratrat]

I've had good luck with Squiers so far. I have a Telecaster, a '51 and a mini-strat (my travel guitar). The mini is the only one that was even halfway dodgy, and it was nothing I couldn't fix myself. I would echo Allthumbs' advice though - you'd be well served if you can actually go to a shop and play before you buy, just to make sure you're getting a good one.

[miral_d]

ive seen an identical guitar on the toys r us website but it gives no detailed description like the one above just these things

* Fender Stratocaster Black Guitar
* 10 Watt Squier amplifier
* Strap, lead and plectrum
* Fender strings
* Tuition material

it comes with many more things for £129.00 the websites says that its a Fender Squier Stratocaster Guitar Pack - Black, looks just like the other one so would it be the same? would be great if it was because thats an even better deal although the amp isnt the best it'll do.

[Ben_Sir_Amos]

You need to make sure that it is a comparable model - an affinity and not the bottom of the barrel Bullet range. Those amps don't have a good reputation either.

As you don't seem to know too much about guitars, it might be safer to buy it from a guitar dealer rather than a toy shop where they won't know anything about it either. How much do you think you will save getting it from there?

[Andy S]

Miral_D,

Well, since you are just starting, I think going out & trying one would be somewhat frustrating if not pointless. You may not recognize something wrong with the setup or the feel. Do you have a friend that plays? If so, you may want to go with them to a local shop that sells guitars and have him/her assist you.

The rest of the info and advice is all very good. Just getting that first purchase made is the confusing part.

The model you refer to , as Allthumbs mentioned, can be a good starter guitar. But, if not set up or built right, can be a discouragement. That's why it would be nice to have someone with some knowledge assist you.

If you know of no one, go to a reputable music store and have them show as well as explain the differences. A good sales person can convince a novice into an expensive item you don't really need at first.

Have the sales person show you the difference in , say, the tones. He/she would need to plug the guitar into an amp, set the tone & volume settings, play something on the less expensive model, then immediately plug in the more expensive model, making no adjustments to ANYTHING. You listen for the sound and determine if there is a remarkable difference.

Even though you don't currently play, hold the guitars. Have the sales person show you how to form a chord. Put your hand around the neck, is one more comfortable than the other? How does it feel sitting on your lap? Get a strap and see how it feels against your body standing up. Where does your arm rest on the body of the guitar as you would play it sitting or standing. (I've seen two younger folk quit playing because the body of the guitar was "cutting into" their arm as it came across the body. Silly, but hey!)

If it is a more expensive model, does it come with a case? Or, a Gig Bag? If a Gigbag, make sure it's well padded.

Ask for freebies!! If it doesn't come as a starter pack, ask for an tuner!! They can be inexpensive but still good. A Strap! Maybe a guitar stand! Those are little things that can make playing a bit more enjoyable.

Well, those are just some ideas for you to look at when you go to make the purchase.

best of luck on your search!

[miral_d]

im 16 so what size would be the best for me? i dont understand the sizes first of all, what is the standard guitar size? being out of 1/2, 3/4,7/8, 4/4 cheers

[allthumbs]

Some simple things to look for when buying an electric. The biggest flaw to look for is fret over run or fret rash. That is when the edge of the fret wire sticks out past the edge of the neck. It can make sliding your hand along the neck uncomfortable. Some necks have better filed wire ends than others.
Look down the neck like you were looking down the edge of a 2X4 checking for twist. Your looking for a straight edge with no clock or counter clock wise warps. Look at the high and low E strings. Make sure they are over the fretboard and not drifting off the edge, which means the neck and or bridge is off center. Same with the pick ups. Make sure they are centered under the strings. Look at the heel of the neck where it joins the body. It should have a tight join, no spaces.
Least important are blemishes in the finish but, you might as well make sure you are getting what you pay for.
You have to factor in the likelihood of needing a setup done on your new guitar. That can add anywhere from 20 to 70 bucks.

[Losing My Religion]

I recently was shopping for a "first" guitar (I've played a very small amount but it was time for my own guitar) and I was very wary of purchasing one of the "economy brand" models like the squier and epiphone. I wanted a good guitar but was operating on about a $250 budget (about 130 pounds).

I went to a local guitar shop (yesterday, in fact) with a particular brand in mind that I'd heard good things about. I had gone a few days before to try the squiers and assorted similar models but I wanted to be sure I was getting a good guitar that would last me awhile, so I went local.

I ended up picking up the guitar I wanted after the proprietor of the store was kind enough to play it for me through an amp in a couple styles. He did the full set up for free, included some picks and a very brief lesson in how to play my new guitar and take care of it. He fixed the action for me (it was a little low) though I think I'm not totally happy and would like it lowered a little bit.

I'm really happy with it so far, the fit and finish is far better than that of the squiers I tried and the sound is better.

Anyway, moral of this very long winded story brings me to my model suggestion- see if you can find a local retailer of the Cort brand of guitars. The model I purchased was the M200, and it costs at the high end 130 pounds. I think you'll be happier with it for a longer period of time than with a squier. However, if you're really attached to the strat/tele appearance, this one won't be as attractive to you as it's a PRS style.

[Ben_Sir_Amos]

Originally Posted by miral_d

im 16 so what size would be the best for me? i dont understand the sizes first of all, what is the standard guitar size? being out of 1/2, 3/4,7/8, 4/4 cheers

4/4 - at 5'8" you are big enough for a full size guitar. I think getting a friend along or asking the shop-keeper to demonstrate is a good idea (if you can avoid the busiest times the shop assistants may be able to give you more time).

[jasko]

I must respectfully disagree with Andy S. When I was shopping for my first guitar, I did a ton of online looking, catalog drooling, and comparison shopping. I had my list down to two guitars: A Squier Fat Strat or an Epiphone SG G-400. So I went out to play some at stores (and mind you, I could basically play an open A and an open D - that was about it) to decide which I liked better.

Guess which one I picked?

NEITHER!

After playing a bunch of guitars, I found that I kept going back to an Ibanez (Note, that Ibanez wasn't even on my shopping list!) that I picked up initially because it was so pretty. But I kept going back to it because the neck felt good. Better than either of the iconic guitars. It fit my hand (stubby fingers!) and just...felt good.

So even though you may not know exactly what you're looking for when shopping for a first guitar, you do know the difference between good and bad. Like when you're at the optometrist - you might not know why one setting looks better than another, but you can tell which one you like more! It's the same with guitars.

I left the store that day and decided to cough up the extra money to go with the Ibanez I'd fallen in love with. And I've not regretted it. When I took my new ax up to visit my (astonishingly good guitarist) little brother, he was amazed at the instrument I'd picked. I ended up buying him one just like it (different color) for his 30th birthday this month, because he fell in love with it too.

Today, I can tell you that like the scale (in between Strat and LP), the low, easy action, the rich tone, the eternal sustain, the quality of the top, the way the back is carved, the way the neck is dressed so perfectly (try running your hand up and down a cheap guitar neck sometime -- if you come away bloody from the sharp fret edges, that's the opposite of what I'm talking about!), the seamless build quality, the way the heel of the neck melded smoothly into the body.

But I've learned a lot in the last few months, and at the time I could only tell my wife, "I like that one." But I wasn't wrong, I just didn't know why I was right. So please, please, please....do go try some guitars...and not just the ones you think you want!