[PepticDust]

I got a raise as well am volunteering for overtime because I want.....I mean need a new guitar. I haven't been able to narrow down my search at all. Fender sending me their catologue doesn't help much either. So far I've been look at these:

Epiphone Les Paul Custom
Fender Mustang
Fender Stratocaster Deluxe
Schecter C-7

If anyone has suggestions or opinions on these it would be great. I've also looked at V's and Explorers. Though Epiphone V's and Explorers don't seem to get good reviews. The Gibsons do however.

My budget right now is about $1,000 canadian. I'd really like to get something semi-pro level. I've been putting money aside for a few months now and want something nice.

[Hilch]

Peptic
Have you been looking at the Schecter C-7 for awhile now ? I 'll swear once when were talking you mentioned it ..
The Fender 65 looks very nice and I would love to own one but I have made a promise no more guitars until I can play the ones I already own properly ..
But if I was given a choice Les would be in my car on the way home unless of course { and I have shown you this guitar before } was an option ..
Maton BB1200 Hollow body Electric Guitar
But I like to play a totally different style of music to you ...
I read alot of stuff from forum users over the Years about Fenders , and mostly not all good I own a Fender electric / Acustic and find its really good . Might be personal why people don't like them it also might be I don't know what the hell I'm doing to

Epiphone Les Paul Custom for me out of your suggestions

Trev..

[allthumbs]

Well you sure have a wide range of instruments there. A 7 string, a single coil strat, a retro surf mustang and an Lp. You should be able to narrow the sound down from those choices.

[P-90]

I'd have more to say if I knew what sort of stuff you plan on playing, and whether you consider it worth it to play a really heavy guitar if it has superior sustain.

Until then, my only comment would be that you might want to consider how most of those will look once the gold plating starts wearing off. They look great new, but nickel/chrome tend to keep their looks longer.

[PepticDust]

I play a lot of alternative rock. Nirvana, Bush, Creed, Static-X, Collective Soul, Finger Eleven and some metal too. The weight isn't a problem, I have a LP copy, the weight was hard at first, then I got a wider strap.

Hilch, cool guitar. Not something I'd play though.

[P-90]

Originally Posted by PepticDust

I play a lot of alternative rock. Nirvana, Bush, Creed, Static-X, Collective Soul, Finger Eleven and some metal too. The weight isn't a problem, I have a LP copy, the weight was hard at first, then I got a wider strap.

Wow... OK, those bands play a pretty wide range of guitars. I tallied up 16 guitars used by those bands, and got: 6 Fenders, 3 Gibsons, 2 Agiles, 1 Yamaha, 1 Mosrite, 1 ESP and 2 custom-made.

There was one LP, one LP-like Agile, two ES335s, and an ESP-made Gibson Explorer lookalike.

Three Strats or Fat Strats, two Telecasters, one Jazzmaster. (Cobain's two custom guitars were also Fender-like, one Strat-shaped with a single humbucker, one a weird mix of a Fender Mustang and a Jaguar.)

If I were to make any generalizations about that, it would be that the rhythm players tended towards Gibsons and more laid-back sort of Fenders (like the Jazzmaster), and the lead players leaned towards more mainstream Fenders or other single-coils. Which is pretty normal. A fairly high percentage of them liked unusual-looking guitars -- only 7 out of 16 looked like Strats, Teles or LPs.

None of them played 7-stringers that I noticed. No comment on the Schecter -- they seem to be fine guitars, but I don't really know whether a 7-stringer works in your musical niche or not.

I'd point more in the direction of the Epi if you were going to play more rhythm, the Strat if more lead, or the Mustang for lead + a fashion statement. Out of the ones you've picked, anyway. If you're handy with a soldering iron you could consider something like a Hamer or Agile and have enough left over to buy a couple of ultra-premium pickups, but that path isn't for everyone.

[mattz196]

Great research P-90... you deserve a degree in Guitarology for that work , very interesting .
I think P-90 has you worked out Peptic weren't you lusting over a Mustang in another thread?

[SlickCat]

Out of those choices...Im gonna say Strat first ; Mustang second...then any of the others.
You really cant go wrong with a Strat
The mustang has its own kinda coolness (unique) but Im not sure about the trem's on those....will it stay in tune?

[krissovo]

Out of those it would be the LP for me as I have the custom and its a great axe, only problem is that you would be a bit limited with the sounds so it would play rock and blues and obviously some not so distorted metal well. Anything else you would be a bit limited on, strat's are versatile but unique at the same time. I do not think I would go for the delux players, have a look at the american delux. That has the S-1 switch for similar muddy tones to a LP and is a truely great axe. They retail at around $1100 so just out your budget but you will not need any other guitars....Look at the reviews here:

Buy Fender American Deluxe Strat V-Neck Electric Guitar at Musician's Friend

[testekleez]

I would suggest going to a music store that sells a wide variety of brands and play around with em plugged in to an amp. It's too hard to figure it out without putting your hands on it and playing it.

Shecters are sweet guitars. The string through body design really puts out long sustained notes when you want them. You definitely want to try a 7 string before you buy, though it is nice to have that extra bass string on there for that mean crunch when you want it without having to retune your axe.

You might want to save just a little more and check out some PRS guitars. Tone for days but they are a little pricey but you could probably get a deal on a used one. But you need to find the right model for you and the tone you want.

Those Epphone Les Paul's sound pretty sweet. This guy's got a Epiphone Les Paul Studio Goth with a Floyd Rose Tremelo killer tone!

[juslikeplayin]

Originally Posted by testekleez

I would suggest going to a music store that sells a wide variety of brands and play around with em plugged in to an amp. It's too hard to figure it out without putting your hands on it and playing it.

I agree.Don't rely on what other people prefer themselves.I think it's best to feel the guitar in your own hands and hear it yourself.It also depends what you like playing.Any knowledgable person at your local music store will suggest what you might like and let you try several models.Some have a heavier sound than others.From a previous post of yours, it sounds like that's what you might be looking for.Good luck.

[P-90]

I do agree that the best thing is to go shopping until you fall in love with a particular instrument. Unless there are problems with a brand or model's reliability (which can be avoided by asking around), it is by far the surest way to get a happy result.

Doesn't really work when the guitar is going to be a mail order bride, however.

[Ben_Sir_Amos]

Because you say you want "something semi-pro level" it looks like you are already considering an upgrade in the future. In which case you have to consider how well they hold their value and how easy they are to sell in a second hand market.

In the UK, a guitar with the words "Fender Stratocaster" on it would be much easier to sell than anything with Epiphone or Schecter. Mustangs go in and out of fashion so they are a bit of a risk.

Actually, I agree with krissovo. For a couple of bucks over your budget, you could move out of "semi-pro level" and get a keeper. Why mess about trading guitars? You'll probably lose more than you want to selling your semi-pro level axe when you want to upgrade - and you could get a keeper now.

[fly135]

Seeing that the guitars you listed are either SC or HB, I would consider getting HBers that can be single coil tapped.

After getting my Schecter C1 and loving it so much, that was the first thing that came to mind. That I wish I could SC tap it, and I may mod it. I wouldn't know what to do with that extra string on the C7 though.

[SlickCat]

There's no better way then to go to the store and try them yourself. That way you will get the one that sounds and feels best. I went to purchase a Strat a while back...loved the tones and look , but I kept hitting the pickup selector switch when I was strumming...it just didnt fit me and my playing style. I ended up with a telecaster (I had a Les Paul) It had poor upper fret access and weighed a ton!! It did look cool tho..