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Electric Guitars

NovawindNovawind Posts: 836
edited February 2006 in Musicians and Gearheads
Hi.

I'm looking to buy an electric guitar. I want something quality, maybe not top-of-the-line Gibson or Fender, but something solid reliable and good-sounding. I'm looking to spend probably anywhere between $300 and $500. I looked on Froogle and found some deals but if anyone has some suggestions as to what they play/have heard for the price range I'm looking at, please let me know.
If idle hands are the devil's workshop, he must not be very productive.

7/9/06 LA 1
7/10/06 LA 2
10/21/06 Bridge 1
Post edited by Unknown User on

Comments

  • MissYouAllDayMissYouAllDay Posts: 939
    I think a schecter PT might be in that price range. It is avery nice guitar for the price I hear.

    Epphones and mexican fenders are in there too.

    Mexican fenders are just fine and there is variety there too.

    I have no experience with the low end epiphones.
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  • elstongunnelstongunn Posts: 285
    i like the mexican fender. go to http://www.musiciansfriend.com
    everything you could imagine and customer reviews. i wish american tele's came in all the colors/variet the mexicans do.
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  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    Novawind wrote:
    Hi.

    I'm looking to buy an electric guitar. I want something quality, maybe not top-of-the-line Gibson or Fender, but something solid reliable and good-sounding. I'm looking to spend probably anywhere between $300 and $500. I looked on Froogle and found some deals but if anyone has some suggestions as to what they play/have heard for the price range I'm looking at, please let me know.


    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=517885
    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=518666
    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=518291


    for a bit of variety... this got fantastic reviews in latest edition of Total Guitar magazine here in UK
    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=511586
    i think i want one of those!!!

    a lot of the N.American guys on here use musiciansfriend.com as they have decent reviews and sometimes have sound clips, etc.. i also use harmony central for reviews of stuff (cant remember the address properly but google "harmony central + name of guitar and you should be able to find it!!)
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • NovawindNovawind Posts: 836
    I currently play acoustic, so this will be my first electric. I've played my dad's a bit so I know what sounds good and what sounds sketchy. I really want to go for crisp clean sound on the guitar itself and if I want to go crazy with the sound I can always get a distortion pedal.

    Looking online can give me a good idea for variety and probably a way cheaper price, but do you think it might be a good idea to go to a music shop and try some out first? I can then find one I like, go find a deal online and get it that way? Or should I just buy it direct from the shop. That way I know the quality firsthand.
    If idle hands are the devil's workshop, he must not be very productive.

    7/9/06 LA 1
    7/10/06 LA 2
    10/21/06 Bridge 1
  • moster78moster78 Posts: 1,591
    Novawind wrote:
    Looking online can give me a good idea for variety and probably a way cheaper price, but do you think it might be a good idea to go to a music shop and try some out first? I can then find one I like, go find a deal online and get it that way? Or should I just buy it direct from the shop. That way I know the quality firsthand.

    Definitely go to the store and play. Thats the only way to get a feel for it. And the store may have a good deal so you can get the one you really vibe with.

    As far as suggestions go, I'll echo what everyone here has said and Mexican Fenders and Epiphones, even certain Epiphone Elitists may be within that range.
  • Pacomc79Pacomc79 Posts: 9,404
    If you're looking at strats, the Jimmy Vaughn is phenominal that price range.

    Keep your eyes open and play everything in that range too. There are a lot of good Japanese Fenders in that range.

    For teles, the Lite Ash model is nice. I believe the SC90 I think that's the model is around that with the P90's.

    You can probably find a few Epiphone Les Pauls that will suit you well

    and then for the money you cannot beat the Schecters at that price, it just depends on what is comfy and good looking/sounding to you.
    My Girlfriend said to me..."How many guitars do you need?" and I replied...."How many pairs of shoes do you need?" She got really quiet.
  • maddrummermaddrummer Posts: 93
    squire y fender shud be in/below ur price range. they stay in tune so long as theyre looked after properly. and it has a nice sound it aswell. i have 1 my self. but u can never beat a real fender:P
    Fuck The System
  • dunkmandunkman Posts: 19,646
    dunkman1974 wrote:
    for a bit of variety... this got fantastic reviews in latest edition of Total Guitar magazine here in UK
    http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=511586
    i think i want one of those!!!

    i know i'm quoting myself but i wondered if anyone owns/or has played one of these... it looks so beautiful i want to touch it!

    the review from TotalGuitar was just so good... they couldnt actually fault it and its only about £300!!
    oh scary... 40000 morbidly obese christians wearing fanny packs invading europe is probably the least scariest thing since I watched an edited version of The Care Bears movie in an extremely brightly lit cinema.
  • stargoddess81stargoddess81 Posts: 23
    Look into the Epiphones, or if you don't care for those, try an Ibanez Artcore series guitar (hollow body electric).
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  • Milhouse VanHoutenMilhouse VanHouten Posts: 755
    stargoddess81 wrote:
    Look into the Epiphones, or if you don't care for those, try an Ibanez Artcore series guitar (hollow body electric).

    Are those Artcores nice? I was curious about them. How do they compare to the Epiphone ES-335 or the Epiphone Casinos? I don't like the build quality or hardware of Epiphones in general, are the Artcores nicer?
    "Of course it hurts. You're getting fucked by an elephant."
  • NovawindNovawind Posts: 836
    Has anyone played both hollow-body electrics and solid body? What's the sound difference/which one do you like better?
    If idle hands are the devil's workshop, he must not be very productive.

    7/9/06 LA 1
    7/10/06 LA 2
    10/21/06 Bridge 1
  • Spook FishSpook Fish Posts: 241
    Novawind wrote:
    Has anyone played both hollow-body electrics and solid body? What's the sound difference/which one do you like better?


    Hey Novawind - i have an old Jap hollowbody (335 ripoff) and it's fookin loud.
    they have a very acoustic / woody sound. great guitar though, has all the binding and block pearl inlays ect ect. i put Gretsch Pickups in it and it sounds cool. basically, because it's not solid, there is more resonance inside it like an acoustic. can be quite boomy, and even feedback horribly at high gain if you have cheapo unwaxed pickups in like mine did before i swapped them out. i also replaced the bridge with a roller bridge, put Shaller vintage style tuners on it. i do like the weight of it though, not heavy at all.

    I also have a Heritage H140 cm, (out of production now) like a Les Paul but a little thinner and it basically has a classic gibson tone. i probably prefer this guitar over the Hollow body, but i think they are both great guitars.

    as someone up there said the Ibanez artcore series are a steal. great stuff.
    nice 'n' lite too:-)
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  • enharmonicenharmonic Posts: 1,917
    I can't tell you what you should get without you telling me what you've played, and what feels and sounds good to YOU. :)

    Suggestions...save your money. You're almost to Epiphone LP Elite (seem 'em as low as 800 bucks). Best guitar under a grand IMHO.
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  • who's_pearljam?who's_pearljam? Posts: 2,104
    enharmonic wrote:
    I can't tell you what you should get without you telling me what you've played, and what feels and sounds good to YOU. :)

    Suggestions...save your money. You're almost to Epiphone LP Elite (seem 'em as low as 800 bucks). Best guitar under a grand IMHO.
    enharmonic wrote:
    I can't tell you what you should get without you telling me what you've played, and what feels and sounds good to YOU. :)

    Suggestions...save your money. You're almost to Epiphone LP Elite (seem 'em as low as 800 bucks). Best guitar under a grand IMHO.


    I agree! I think I got one of the last ones off Musician's Friend when they were selling the last of them, but new ones are going for about 600-800 on ebay. Mine is amazing for the money. I'm still going to get around to putting a Bigsby on it.

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=7389531927&rd=1&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&rd=1

    That's if you want a Les Paul humbucker type sound.

    If you want clear and crisp, like you were talking about, the Jimmy Vaughn strat is great, like Paco said. Another option in that realm is the Lone Star strat. It has a humbucker in the bridge and will give a little more power there, which is a common Strat complaint.
    A Strat is a great guitar for clean bell like tone, and I usually recommend them for people's first electric.
    I would get it from a guitar shop because they are more likely to take care of you and help you tweak them to your liking as you get used to it.

    If you want to go out of the box, look around on Ebay for Martin electrics. The Stinger was made in Korea in the late 80's and they have the greatest maple neck you'll ever find on a $200 guitar. Or a $1500 guitar. You can always tweak the other stuff later.

    Here's one. I got an identical one a little while back for $150 and it's sounds great!
    http://cgi.ebay.com/Stinger-Stratocaster-by-CF-Martin-Nice-Turquoise_W0QQitemZ7389229499QQcategoryZ2384QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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