Guitar Help

I've been using the guitar my brother got for Christmas since then to get the hang of playing, but in 6 months or so time I'm hopefully off to uni, so I've gotta buy myself one before then. Currently, I've got a budget of around 400 quid for both guitar and amp, but I'm currently rather bewildered as to what to get.

So, simply put, what do any fellow guitar players suggest? At the moment also, I mainly need the guitar, since I'm not gonna be able to really used an amp that much while at uni, so I guess I can spend quite a bit on the guitar.

Fender Strat. Good, cheap guitar. Great for learning.

edit: what exactly is the exchange rate between a quid and a US dollar?

Originally Posted by Ulf

Fender Strat. Good, cheap guitar. Great for learning.

Ugh... I'm not saying it's a bad guitar, but just about everyone I know who plays a guitar has one of those. And most of them in that colour. They just get a little boring after a while. Be extravagant!

i recommend a prs guitar,best value for money looks, build, sound,
the Tremonti is around £300.
as for amps line 6 are by far the most bang for your pound.

http://images.google.co.uk/images?sv...&q=line+6+amps
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl...ch&sa=N&tab=wi

but if your really serious about taking it to the woodshed and thrashing your self half to death, i strongly urge you to save up the pennies and get one of these!!

Gibson les paul gothic.it'll set you back between £900 to £1200 notes.
sorry about the crappy pic
oh the one behind it is a fender resonator.

Originally Posted by Stalins Ghost

I've been using the guitar my brother got for Christmas since then to get the hang of playing, but in 6 months or so time I'm hopefully off to uni, so I've gotta buy myself one before then. Currently, I've got a budget of around 400 quid for both guitar and amp, but I'm currently rather bewildered as to what to get.

So, simply put, what do any fellow guitar players suggest? At the moment also, I mainly need the guitar, since I'm not gonna be able to really used an amp that much while at uni, so I guess I can spend quite a bit on the guitar.

Forget the electrics, electro acoustic though why you'd ever need an amp I don't knwo know (unless your in a band). All the best pieces are on acoustic although the electric option is there if you fancy some vai/satriani and they generally have a medium action. High enough for the steel string hoodnani and low enough for the vai box socials.

Let me know if you want any ideas for pieces. Do a search for gran vals (classical original of the nokia tune) quite tricky when you first learn it and great for finger dexterity practice.

Or recuordos de'lambras by francisco terrage if your feeling especially brave (scary!)

EDIT: Forget looking for named brands to. Just try one out check the action for your own comfort and the sound.

Peter

Originally Posted by cowen70

Forget the electrics, electro acoustic though why you'd ever need an amp I don't knwo know (unless your in a band). All the best pieces are on acoustic although the electric option is there if you fancy some vai/satriani and they generally have a medium action. High enough for the steel string hoodnani and low enough for the vai box socials.

Let me know if you want any ideas for pieces. Do a search for gran vals (classical original of the nokia tune) quite tricky when you first learn it and great for finger dexterity practice.

Or recuordos de'lambras by francisco terrage if your feeling especially brave (scary!)

EDIT: Forget looking for named brands to. Just try one out check the action for your own comfort and the sound.

Peter

I agree, an acoustic is the way to go in my opinion, but it depends on what style of music you like to play. I prefer just grabbing my acoustic and playing, no chords or amps, its great Lots of good ones out there, try out an Ovation acoustic at your local guitar store, see if ya like it.

An accoustic is a good way to annoy the living **** out of people in a uni living environment. That...and electrics are just a HELLUVA lot easier to move.

Originally Posted by Gaidin

An accoustic is a good way to annoy the living **** out of people in a uni living environment. That...and electrics are just a HELLUVA lot easier to move.

What? Electrics are heavier and you need an amp? Very akward to hump around.

Acoustics don't have to be played at full volume just take it easy with them. Electro acoustics tend to be softer than normal steel string acoustics and classical nylon stringed are pretty good to. That is of course unless you like metal shudder!

Peter

Originally Posted by cowen70

What? Electrics are heavier and you need an amp? Very akward to hump around.

Acoustics don't have to be played at full volume just take it easy with them. Electro acoustics tend to be softer than normal steel string acoustics and classical nylon stringed are pretty good to. That is of course unless you like metal shudder!

Peter

Unfortunately for you, when you're carrying a fridge in your trunk, weight is no longer a factor. However, volume is...unless you want to start storing the small items *inside* the accoustic.

As for the amp...

+ = everything you need at a uni to avoid getting killed while playing a guitar.

While we're on accoustics...did I mention that they just *echo* a helluva lot more than electrics. Believe me, I used to live with a guy that had an accoustic...many were the nights I almost broke his guitar over his head no matter how quietly he feebly attempted to play.

An accoustic is an option- although not suited to the kinds of things I'm playing really.

At the moment I'm thinking that if in the event I manage to get involved in any bands it'd be useful to have something thats rather "all purpose" so to speak.

Cheers for the advice so far guys btw

electro acoustic I guess then or just ordinary electric. Of course you can get all three types (steel sring/classical/electric if your not going for branded names you can still get something that rocks. $100 each sort of thing.

What type of music are you playing then?

PEter

Currently I'm playing a mixture of Grunge, Alt Rock ala' Smashing Pumpkins, with a bit of Tom Morrello style effects thrown in for good measure. Also I'm trying to work on playing softer songs too, and I'm getting used to using full chords instead of power chords as a result (yes...self taught guitar is chaotically planned at best)

Of course! Headphones!

Originally Posted by Stalins Ghost

(yes...self taught guitar is chaotically planned at best)

Haha hell yeah it is. I'm self taught myself. To this day I still hold my G chord incorrectly, but it's the way I taught myself, it's still a G but because of the way I hold it down it's hard to make that fluid switch from a G to a C for example.

Originally Posted by Stalins Ghost

Currently I'm playing a mixture of Grunge, Alt Rock ala' Smashing Pumpkins, with a bit of Tom Morrello style effects thrown in for good measure. Also I'm trying to work on playing softer songs too, and I'm getting used to using full chords instead of power chords as a result (yes...self taught guitar is chaotically planned at best)

Of course! Headphones!

Ah well joe satriani is self taught chin up. Speaking of which listen to "day at the beach", fantastic. Or do a google video search for Justin King as well, he makes some pretty impressive techniques I would kill to be able to do.

I've just picked up the guitar again after about five years. Been to busy doing other things but I'm getting back into it, I'm looking round for inspiration for pieces that catch my ear. I've lost all the dexterity in my fingers it is horrible I suck.

Peter

Originally Posted by cowen70

I've just picked up the guitar again after about five years. Been to busy doing other things but I'm getting back into it, I'm looking round for inspiration for pieces that catch my ear. I've lost all the dexterity in my fingers it is horrible I suck.

Peter

Thats one of the funny things. Thanks to working in a Comp Sci program, I have absolutely no problem grasping the logic and structure behind all the music theory in general and the guitar theory in particular. The comp sci theory kinda flows right into the guitar theory as far as ease of understanding goes. But then thanks to that same Comp Sci program, I only get to pick up my guitar once every four weeks, which leaves me downright screwed for retaining anything I actually learned to play. -_-

Yes life gets in the way doesn't it Still its fun to pick it up and try occasionaly.

hmmm i guess it depends what you wanna play.

I know you like grunge and Pearl Jam...i'd recomend a fender strat, or a decent squier strat is great.
Strats are also the best for blues as well.
If you wanna play country or rockabiliy...maybe get a fender or "fake" telecaster model.

personally what i suggest...is go into a local music store, play around with the guitars and see which one feels best for you. Ask the people working for help and stuff. Maybe even bring a friend who's really intelligent with guitars to help you out or "correct" the workers trying to rip you off

i bought my E-guitar from a guitar genious...but he's an ******* who ripped me off. I was really bad at the time and was quite embaressed to play it infront of him. Don't be an idiot like i was...Always play an instrument before you buy it...you gotta feel it man!!

Which is why it is ridiculous to try and name brands I've played gibsons that have felt and sounded worse than a £200 pound guitar but y'all keep on going and naming guitar makes. Then the poor guy can go and buy himself a brand name that plays crap but looks good. The only way to tell is to sit and play it and if you can't tell take someone with you who can.

With all this trouble finding a guitar, the first song you learn better be While My Guitar Gently Weeps. I kid, I kid. :laughing: (Or you could try my advice )

I had some christmas money, and some paycheck money and I was able to buy a Rickenbacker 360 . That my friends, is one amazing guitar. It is a hollowbody electric, perfect for any type of music, except for heavy metal. Actually, it was one of the main guitars used during the british invasion of the 60's, it sounds amazing.

They are also of extremely good quality. The only bad part is they are usually costly and/or take awhile to be shipped, because of the high-state of craftmanship put into them.

For looks on them:http://www.musiciansfriend.com/home/...q=Rickenbacker