[needthatguitarman]

sup a noob in the guitar world. whats an good standard guitar in the 200-300? i have an powered monitor rokit krk 5, can i use that or would i need some guitar amp? hows the fender squier stratocaster guitar? theres some on ebay for like 165 and can ya tell me what accessories i need. i have like alittle over 400 to spend with the accessories. damn need that guitar man

[coldethyl]

Welcme to the forum!

I'm a little skeptical about buying a guitar of ebay, although I know there are some members who have bought guitars of ebay and are quite satisfied with their purchase.

Personally I prefer to be able to see, touch, and play a guitar before I actually resign myself to buying it. But that's just my opinion!

The only accessories you will need with an electric guitar is a good cable/lead to plug into the amp. Some picks, and it wouldn't hurt to invest in a reasonably cheap but reliable electronic guitar tuner.

Good luck with your choice!

[allthumbs]

An Austin strat is a better built guitar. Squires can be a crap shoot. Sometimes you can get a good one and sometimes they are terrible. Go to a pawn shop and see what they have. Play different brands. The Yamaha Pacifica is also another choice. Good luck.

[jasko]

I have answered this question pretty thouroughly at my site describing my journey as a beginning guitarist - you'll have to google "beginning guitar squidoo" for it - I can't post links yet. Look at the bottom of the page.

I'm a recent GFB&B member, so I haven't had time to add it to my list of guitar sites.

What it boils down to for me is this: Go play some guitars. Nothing is as important as how the guitar feels - if you have the best sounding guitar in the world and you hate playing it because it feels bad, what good is that tone doing you?

I spent months "shopping" for guitars online and in catalogs, and one trip to a decent guitar shop was all it took to point me to the guitar I ended up buying (and loving).

Guitars vary in more than pickup configuration and body shape. Even with all the computer controlled routing and mass production techniques, a person still has to assemble and finish the guitar. And how much that individual person cares about the guitar can change everything. I have seen expensive guitars with Sharpie marks still visible on the fretboard and fret edges that feel like they'll slice your hand open. And yet the one right next to it - same make, same model, feels and plays great.

Now, I have some personal opinions and observations to make that I'll happily share with you:

• As a beginner, stay away from tremelo bars. If you're like me, you'll have plenty to keep your hands busy without one and you don't need the tuning hassles.
  
• Check out Ibanez guitars. I thought I wanted an SG or a Strat. My Ibanez SZ gives me a lot more for a lot less. (Personal opinion!) You can get a GAX series double-humbucker for under $200.
  
• You'll need an amp or an amp modeler. Since you have the monitor already, you might find that an amp modeler gives you a lot of options. You could get a Floor Pod (Line6) for under $200, and have a bunch of amps and effects at your disposal, plus some direct recording capability. If you want a standalone amp, look at the Vox Valvetronix 15, also under $200. I have the 30 version of that amp and love it.

But what you've got to do is go play some. Hey, I know the guitar store is intimidating, and you think you don't know what to look / listen for. But you do. You're looking for a guitar that makes you keep coming back to it, one that says, "Take me home, I'm yours!" And you're looking for an amp / modeler that makes you want to play it "just one more time...to be sure."

Remember that the amp is half of the instrument in an electric rig - don't shortchange yourself on it.

Welcome to beginning guitar! I have to say, that of all the things I've done in life, the two that are all they're cracked up to be and more are guitars and motorcycling. Too bad my guitar won't fit on my bike....

[needthatguitarman]

appreciate the replys. what do you mean by assemble? im guessing to tune the guitar ima need that electric guitar tuner, whats a good one for an bargain price? i read tuning your guitar is important? ima need the guitar pedal also correct, any will do right? can you play the guitar using your fingers or only that plastic stick thing? so an amp, guitar tuner, pedal is all i need right?im too noob at this man. i saw a yamaha pacifica bundle called gigmaker electric for 300 is that a good deal? this yamaha pacifica is called Yamaha PAC012DLX Pacifica HSS Deluxe Electric Guitar correct? ima look into those ibanez and austin strat also. thanks again

[needthatguitarman]

and what ya think of the Yamaha PAC112J Electric Guitar? any good

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by needthatguitarman

and what ya think of the Yamaha PAC112J Electric Guitar? any good

It is a good beginner to intermediate guitar.

[jasko]

By "assemble" I mean this: there's a factory somewhere where they make guitars. Those guitars are made from pieces. Those pieces are cut by machines. But a person still has to put all those pieces together into a guitar for you. That's the assembly I'm talking about - you don't have to assemble your guitar yourself!

You can get a tuner. Or not. There is a great computer tuner (you obviously have a computer) called "AP Tuner" that you can use for free - almost every computer has a microphone already. If you have to buy a mic, you're better off buying a tuner. I have a Seiko that's nice. Tuners are good though, and cost less than $30.00 (Sometimes, a LOT less!). It's nice to be able to tune without your computer! Tuning is important, but there are lots of ways to tune. An electronic tuner, or that "AP Tuner" program I mentioned, or with a tuning fork or pitch pipe, or from a tuned piano or that tiny keyboard you have lying around the house somewhere.

You don't need ANY pedals, certainly not to start. And both the amps and the modelers I described include DOZENS of effects pedals to play with.

If you go to the Musician's Friend website and put "IJX121" in the search box (darn this no URLS rule! I'm trying to help here, not spam!), you'll find an Ibanez package with a 2-humbucker guitar, amp, tuner, and other stuff for $300.

But PLEASE - don't buy a guitar without TOUCHING it. You could regret it for a long time. The best guitar is the one that makes you LONG TO PLAY IT. I wait all day to get home to my wife, son, and guitar. Guitars are about love, not reviews on the internet.

[jasko]

Also, "that plastic stick thing"? What do you mean? Do you mean a "pick" (if you want to impress girls who dig Latin you can call it a "plectum", I guess....)? This whole board is run by a guy who plays with his fingers, in a style called "fingerstyle", and lots of people play with picks.

There are all sorts of picks - flatpicks, fingerpicks, thumbpicks, one called a "jellyfish" that I saw somewhere - but most people mean "flatpick" when they talk about a pick. You can do it however you like.

There is no right answer.

Except for mine. My answers are right.

[Ballard]

AT was right. Although I'm pretty sure by Austin Strat he meant a Tex-Mex Strat (a Fender Strat built in Mexico rather than the US).

I definitely advise against buying a Squier if you have $300 to spend on a guitar.. If you're willing to splurge, take a look at a Fender Stratocaster Jr. It's a bit smaller which makes it a great starter guitar.

Living in the same city as you, I'd be happy to show you around a guitar store sometime. Just shoot me a PM if you're interested.

Eugene

[allthumbs]

Originally Posted by Ballard

AT was right. Although I'm pretty sure by Austin Strat he meant a Tex-Mex Strat (a Fender Strat built in Mexico rather than the US).



Eugene

We have a line of guitars in stores up here with the brand name Austin. They do most of the popular clones of the most popular makes..
As you can see, there are usually quite a few on Ebay. Again with low end stuff, play before you pay.
http://search.ebay.com/Austin-guitar...dsreturnedZ300

[needthatguitarman]

i thought to make that hard electric sound on the guitar you needed the pedal?? i checked the vox is going for 200 are there any good ones for less. will the Vox Valvetronix 15 do fine without the pedal? so i just need an amp,wires and flatpicks? cause i read that ima need that pedal to make the electric sound diff? and there are so many diff type of pedals its confusing which is the right one to get if i need one. the korg ga30 will do for tuning right

[allthumbs]

If your amp has a gain knob, crank it up to get a fat sound. On amps with a master volume and a second volume knob, turn up the volume higher than the master volume to overdrive your amp.