[hb]

After playing for only a year, I want to experiment with an electric. I like to try to play soft-rock, country, etc. Nothing hard-rock and am not paticularly into blues. All I know about an electric, I have read somewhere, and that's about all. I am really drawn to the Les Paul style body. I don't know why, I just think they are really eye-appealing. I see where Epiphone has some for a really good price. I would like to know if this is a good beginners choice or not. I would appreciate any suggestions as to the sound I will attempt to get as well as pick-ups, etc. Any help is appreciated as I really don't know what I should be looking for.
thanks in advance,
hb

[D-Dawn]

When I first started looking for electric all I could think was that I wanted a Strat...until I got it in my hands!! I played it and wasn't impressed with the sounds I was getting...But I picked up the Epi LP Custom and fell in LOVE!! (It is almost mine ...lol...very very very soon! )
I think I really preferred the humbucker sound over the single coil...although I did try a Fat Strat...just preferred the LP. its all in what sounds good to your ears and what feels good in your hands I suppose ...and a good amp helps too!

[allthumbs]

You might want to consider a telecaster. Lots of clones out there to choose from in all price ranges. It is the axe of choice for most country players. It is very bright and twangy. Watch a country music channel on tv to get a feel for the sound. Go to a store and try one. people either love them or hate them. A compromise is a squire51 which still gives you that country twang, but has some other tones as well. There is a vid here of what a 51 sounds like and the pros and cons of buying a 51. Do a search and you should be able to find some threads about them.

[hb]

Originally Posted by allthumbs

You might want to consider a telecaster. Lots of clones out there to choose from in all price ranges. It is the axe of choice for most country players. It is very bright and twangy. Watch a country music channel on tv to get a feel for the sound. Go to a store and try one. people either love them or hate them. A compromise is a squire51 which still gives you that country twang, but has some other tones as well. There is a vid here of what a 51 sounds like and the pros and cons of buying a 51. Do a search and you should be able to find some threads about them.

Showing how little I know about this......I once picked up an electric in a store and by switching the pick-up to the rear, I got a more country twang. Won't all guitars with more than one pick up give one this sound? What's the difference?
thanks,
hb

[allthumbs]

Sounds like you picked up a tele. Not all guitars will give you that twangy sound. Go to a guitar store. They all carry some brand of tele.

[doug russell]

I don't know a lot about "country" but I know they use tele's a lot.

[leftie g]

Les pauls are cool to look at but too heavy and awkward to sit down and practice with.
Tele copies are compfy and afordable{jay turser?}Try the ibanez artcore series for the semi and hollow body models.Some come with a vibrato bar and they play well beyond the asking price.[great deals} The country sound comes from more technique than the style of guitar.The player can make anykind of guitar sound the way he\she wants.If you think a gretsch is for rockabilly only,listen to billy duffy from the cult lay down killer heavy cuts with one.Check out rondo music online for some great guitars on a budget.
Happy hunting!

[leftie g]

Yeah,make sure your first electric sits nice with you.You dont want one that looks great but cant stand holding after awhile{hmmmm,reminds me of an old girlfriend}Pick out a few and research em on the net{ie:harmony central reviews}and dont jump at the first one at a good price cause like anything there is another one on sale just around the corner.My first and so far only electric is an Ibanez AS83.I bought because it is so damn versitile{which is very important so you dont get bored with it}It can go from jazz,blues,country to some heavy hard hitting rock tones that surprised a few people.Make it as good as you can afford.Mine makes me pick it up just because its so compfy and good looking.{hmmmmm,like another girlfriend i knew...lol}
Have fun!

[Magnatude]

nice dig... lol

[munky]

Bah, I love my Les Paul and it's weight.

You're all a bunch of wussies!

j/k

[highway_star]

There isnt a right or wrong asnwer to your question. It really is down to trying guitars and seeing how they feel to you in terms of sound and comfort for playing - try one standing up too, you'll be amazed at the weight of some that are difficult to play as the neck drops due to being on the heavy side. Make sure you try it yourself as well - the guitar technician in a store will probably stick it in a demo amp they always use at a setting that makes any electric guitar sound like 'wow!' Remember, you are the one that will be playing it not the technician!

I have a Ibanez SA160 (Fender style 'fat-strat' set up with two single and a humbucker pick-up) and a Washburn WI66 Pro (Gibson style with SD pick ups) - either can give you a good sound including playing country on a fairly clean setting. I would thoroughyly recommend that you ask the store you buy it from to do a full set-up: this consists of (or should!) adjusting the truss rod in the guitar, cleaning and filing the fret board for consistent playing and tone, new strings etc. Over here it would cost me about £50 cant say I know what it would be in Kansas! You end up with a guitar thats ready to play though - nothing worse than plugging an electric in an finding it buzzes and vibrates at certain frets as it hasnt been properly set before playing.

An Epi will do the trick - what particular model did you see?

[hb]

I'm now leaning to the squire series by fender like the M-80 or M-80 special or Esprit from $200 to $400. Any thoughts?
hb

[krissovo]

Another vote here for the Epi LP custom its an awsome guitar with looks to die for! The bad point in my humble opinion is that it needs semi decent amp to play chords or it sounds muddy. Mind you with what you want to play the tele could be the axe you need

[highway_star]

Th m-80 is ok but - may be at your limit for money? - you might want to think about this, I've never seen bad review of them:


http://www.guitarcenter.com/shop/pro...5179 68%2e297


But the M-80 (or the latest Squire strat models but dont get an Affinity!) for a first guitar will do it.

[hb]

could one get somewhat of a country sound out of the Ibanez ARC 300 if you wanted to?
hb