Fender or Ephiphione guitar?

Kev72 · #1 June 28th, 2006

Good Morning,

I've been playing guitar for 3 months and absolutely love it. I'm currently using a Fender Stratocaster (mint green) my Wife's uncle lent me. I love the guitar but I don't think it suits me. The type of music I like is all over the spectrum: Zeppelin, Allman Brothers, Lynard Skynard, Metallica, Black Sabbath, VH. Is Fender the guitar for me?

I love the look of Jimmy Page's Gibson Les Paul. (Sunburst or something like that?) I think the Ephiphone version is 400 bucks? Is this a good guitar? Should I buy the fender for $600?(remember I'm just starting

)

Thanks for your time,

Kevin

Misty2u · #2 June 28th, 2006

Hi Kevin

Not an expert myself but I've recently acquired a Fender acoustic and absolutely love it. I'm sure someone from the forum will be able to advise you on where to go from here (*whisper* between you and me though.......just be careful..........they love their guitars (all kinds of guitars).....make sure you set a limit or they'll have you spending thousands).

Good luck to you

Tracy

krissovo · #3 June 28th, 2006

Why not have both as well as 20 or so other guitars. I have been looking at the Variax series of Guiatrs, they are digital guitars but have some great reveiws. Rockerbob from here has one and has posted some sounds from them on here in the past.

There are 3 models that start at $300 and my next guitar will be one of these

http://www.line6.com/variax/

buckethead · #4 June 28th, 2006

Kevin I picked up a Epiphone from Musicians Friend.com for a great price..Its a Gibson knockoff but the quality and sound are Great..Money does not always buy the best Guitar.

Ultimate Garage Band · #5 June 28th, 2006

From your list of bands, all used dual humbuckers except for Page's occasional Tele and one Strat in the 3 guitar lineup of Skynyrd. So, if I were you, I'd be looking for a dual humbucker. There are other dual humbuckers out there than a Les Paul but it's certainly the most popular. Don't confuse 'most popular' with best choice. I started on a Les Paul copy, 3 or 4 of them actually. I'll never own another one. For *me* there are too many other better suited options. My last guitar from Gibson was an SG and I thoroughly enjoyed it over any Les Paul I've ever played. Other's hate SG's; it's a very personal taste kind of thing that you'll get to know more about the more you learn to play. If the Variaxe can do good dual humbucker tones then go for it. That would probably be the best bang for buck in the long run. It'll also keep you motivated to learn because of all the things it can do. You'll spend time playing just messing w/it. Same for amps and fx. It's a very determined and disiciplined student that learns electric guitar on a guitar w/one pickup through an amp w/one or two channels and no fx. Most get bored w/the variety of tones quickly. On the other hand, 25 guitar models and 25 amp models and 100's of fx can be overwhelming.

USGold · #6 June 28th, 2006

You gotta go to the local "dream" shop and play a bunch guy. Only way you're gonna be able to tell what sound, feel, look, playability suits you best.

Ultimate Garage Band · #7 June 28th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by krissovo

Why not have both as well as 20 or so other guitars. I have been looking at the Variax series of Guiatrs, they are digital guitars but have some great reveiws. Rockerbob from here has one and has posted some sounds from them on here in the past.

There are 3 models that start at $300 and my next guitar will be one of these

http://www.line6.com/variax/

The cheapest price I've found is $419 for scratch-n-dent/B-stock 300 model. Still a good value, but where are you finding them for $300?

USGold · #8 June 28th, 2006

Your doing pretty well there UGB--a quick search for me came up with $499 US for a model 300 Line 6.

Rockerbob · #9 June 28th, 2006

I have the more expensive Variax 700, which I think feels better, but the sounds are the same on all the models and I like them a lot.

krissovo · #10 June 28th, 2006

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ultimate Garage Band

The cheapest price I've found is $419 for scratch-n-dent/B-stock 300 model. Still a good value, but where are you finding them for $300?

My Apologies, its not $ but £ that will roughly equal the prices that you have.

Sorry!

Ultimate Garage Band · #11 June 28th, 2006

a-ha!! I might have to bite on one of those one day.....

bluesguy · #12 June 28th, 2006

I would recommend reading this webpage http://www.jcdisciples.org/guitar/howtobuy.html that I created to help answer some of these questions. One of the links on that page is http://www.electric-guitars.net/ which will help guide you thru some choices concerning body styling, pickups, and other key factors in purchasing an electric guitar.

One very important thing to remember is to take your amp (whatever amp you will be playing the guitar thru most of the time) with you and play the guitars you are interested in thru your amp. Even if it is a standard amp that you can get anywhere take your amp.

doug russell · #13 July 7th, 2006

Hi Kevin, I have a Epi Black beauty with 3p/ups, and a American fat strat. Yes you will find the strat a difficult guitar to play at the start, the frets on strats are different to other guitars(something to do with the size of the frets but I'm no expert) thus making it a unforgiving guitar, ie, it will let you know when you hit a bum note, but once you get used to it the strat can't be beaten. The Epi is a rock guitar and I find it easy to go off on one, which makes it a lot more fun to get along with. However the choice is yours and only yours. Peace to ya my friend

biker_jim_uk · #14 July 7th, 2006

If you are in the US you could try the Agiles from Rondo music
They seem to get very good reviews from people who have them.