Discussion
Hi all, makes a change from the what car threads!
I'm an absolute beginner and have been for 20 years!
I bought an Encore Strat copy all those years ago and recentlty dug it out with the intention of learning properly this time.
I can't help thinking there's better out there and now I'm a little more solvent I've started looking. I fancy a Les Paul type but the options are endless.
What would you go for with a budget of £300.
I use my iPad with Amplitube and an iRig for the amp and have no intention of gigging so purely for my own enjoyment.
The Epiphone Les Paul type look good as so the ESP LTD 256.
Any others I should look at?
Thanks
I'm an absolute beginner and have been for 20 years!
I bought an Encore Strat copy all those years ago and recentlty dug it out with the intention of learning properly this time.
I can't help thinking there's better out there and now I'm a little more solvent I've started looking. I fancy a Les Paul type but the options are endless.
What would you go for with a budget of £300.
I use my iPad with Amplitube and an iRig for the amp and have no intention of gigging so purely for my own enjoyment.
The Epiphone Les Paul type look good as so the ESP LTD 256.
Any others I should look at?
Thanks
Check out the Tokai Love Rock Les Pauls. Second hand versions are available around your budget.
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/113322897/t...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/tokai-l...
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/112584077/t...
Reviews - various
http://www.cheapguitarguide.com/les-paul-guitars.h...
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/113322897/t...
http://www.gumtree.com/p/guitar-instrument/tokai-l...
http://www.preloved.co.uk/adverts/show/112584077/t...
Reviews - various
http://www.cheapguitarguide.com/les-paul-guitars.h...
Gaz. said:
With all the i-gear stuff does the sound of the actual guitar get reproduced as it does with a traditional amp & speaker?
You can definitely tell a difference if you do an A-B test but it is, IMO, more subtle than you get from an amp. The best way to describe it is like playing through a Boss MZ2 - the sound is more in the effect than from the instrument. Having looked at guitars at a similar budget to you OP (£300-400) I found that there were a lot of much nicer guitars around than the Epi LP IMHO.
PRS SE Standard 24 (fantastic quality, it's a PRS)
Epiphone ES339 (super versatile, sounds great acoustic)
Gretsch Pro Jet (just so damn cool)
As always, get yourself to a decent store and try a few for size. One of them is bound to just feel 'right' to you.
PRS SE Standard 24 (fantastic quality, it's a PRS)
Epiphone ES339 (super versatile, sounds great acoustic)
Gretsch Pro Jet (just so damn cool)
As always, get yourself to a decent store and try a few for size. One of them is bound to just feel 'right' to you.
SWoll said:
PRS SE Standard 24 (fantastic quality, it's a PRS)
This 
I went for the SE Custom 24 and compared to my 1989 Strat and 2015 LP Standard - the PRS is by far the easiest guitar to pick up and play, seriously they are brilliantly made guitars. They are set up perfectly straight from the box, and play really well - low action, stable tuning - top stuff. My son has the Epi SG and it's much harder to play, it really needs a pro setup which could be another £50 on your budget if you go down that route. (Having said that the Slash beginner setup looks pretty good, never played one though!)
If you're happy to going secondhand, take a look at Chapman Guitars as well, they are made in the same factory as the PRS SE's and have a very good reputation. Either that or a Mexican Tele, so many choices
Ok, thanks very much for the suggestions
I forgot to mention I'm a lefty and it appears PRS don't do the Standard 24 in a left handed version.
The Gretsch looks lovely in black but I can't seem to find one locally to have a play with!
There's plenty on the internet though so might have to take a punt!
Plus if it's black, the wife won't tell the difference to the old Encore
I have heard lots of good reviews for the Yamaha Pacifica guitars, they are very reasonable money (£159) and my local shop stocks them, I may get one as a halfway house and trade up next year...
I forgot to mention I'm a lefty and it appears PRS don't do the Standard 24 in a left handed version.
The Gretsch looks lovely in black but I can't seem to find one locally to have a play with!
There's plenty on the internet though so might have to take a punt!
Plus if it's black, the wife won't tell the difference to the old Encore
I have heard lots of good reviews for the Yamaha Pacifica guitars, they are very reasonable money (£159) and my local shop stocks them, I may get one as a halfway house and trade up next year...
As an aside, just noticed this on Gumtree
http://www.gumtree.com/p/miscellaneous-stuff-wante...
It's what I have, and may want to sell, anyone know why this guy may want one, is it something a bit different to the norm?
Ta
http://www.gumtree.com/p/miscellaneous-stuff-wante...
It's what I have, and may want to sell, anyone know why this guy may want one, is it something a bit different to the norm?
Ta
Stiggolas said:
Ok, thanks very much for the suggestions
I have heard lots of good reviews for the Yamaha Pacifica guitars, they are very reasonable money (£159) and my local shop stocks them, I may get one as a halfway house and trade up next year...
What model is that? I've had a look at them and the 112 is a much nicer guitar than the 012 IMHO and can still be had for £150-200 online. In fact, G4M are currently doing an ex-demo leftie in black for £130 that might be worth a punt http://www.gear4music.com/Guitar-and-Bass/Yamaha-P...I have heard lots of good reviews for the Yamaha Pacifica guitars, they are very reasonable money (£159) and my local shop stocks them, I may get one as a halfway house and trade up next year...
That's a lot of guitar for the money and very versatile.
Stiggolas said:
Thanks for the tip SWoll, just bought it
I think I need to learn to play better before spending a shedload of cash!
At least the wife will be pleased, She has an extra £200 for shoes and handbags.....ho hum....
HTH. Hope you've been busy enjoying it. I think I need to learn to play better before spending a shedload of cash!
At least the wife will be pleased, She has an extra £200 for shoes and handbags.....ho hum....
I would also add that having messed around with iRig/iPad, MultiFX pedals etc. when I started playing a couple of years ago that nothing beats having a proper little practice amp. I messed around with a few and my preference was the fender Mustang 1 V2. The clean and drive tones are good (hi gain not so much), it has tons of effects built in + a tuner, and you can connect it to your PC and download user tones from an online database. For £90 I thought it was a steal.
I do have a practice amp, a Hohner Wave 30W jobbie but it's as old as the Encore guitar (bought as a starter kit).
Just ordered a Zoom G1 XON effects and amp modelling pedal kit. Should be here Friday for some musical fun
Having a last twang on the old guitar before it goes tomorrow and I have to say the Yamaha is streets ahead on playability. The action is far lighter, the neck slimmer, it may be me but there seems to be more sustain on the Yam too.
Time to get learning.
Any hot tips other than practice every night?
Thanks again for your input guys.
Just ordered a Zoom G1 XON effects and amp modelling pedal kit. Should be here Friday for some musical fun
Having a last twang on the old guitar before it goes tomorrow and I have to say the Yamaha is streets ahead on playability. The action is far lighter, the neck slimmer, it may be me but there seems to be more sustain on the Yam too.
Time to get learning.
Any hot tips other than practice every night?
Thanks again for your input guys.
If you've got a decent guitar store nearby a professional setup is always worthwhile.
Structure your practice otherwise you'll waste all your time noodling ( Justin Guitar on Youtube is well worth a look)
Try a few different picks as they make a massive difference to tone and comfort IME. Something like this would be a great place to start.
Unless you plan to use it a lot I'd suggest blocking off your tremolo to aid with tuning stability. Plenty of YT videos for this, costs pennies and well worth the effort. Well worth restringing with some top quality strings like D'Addario NYXL's etc at the same time also.
Make sure you leave your guitar somewhere you will find yourself constantly picking it up.
Structure your practice otherwise you'll waste all your time noodling ( Justin Guitar on Youtube is well worth a look)
Try a few different picks as they make a massive difference to tone and comfort IME. Something like this would be a great place to start.
Unless you plan to use it a lot I'd suggest blocking off your tremolo to aid with tuning stability. Plenty of YT videos for this, costs pennies and well worth the effort. Well worth restringing with some top quality strings like D'Addario NYXL's etc at the same time also.
Make sure you leave your guitar somewhere you will find yourself constantly picking it up.
SWoll said:
If you've got a decent guitar store nearby a professional setup is always worthwhile.
Structure your practice otherwise you'll waste all your time noodling ( Justin Guitar on Youtube is well worth a look)
Try a few different picks as they make a massive difference to tone and comfort IME. Something like this would be a great place to start.
Unless you plan to use it a lot I'd suggest blocking off your tremolo to aid with tuning stability. Plenty of YT videos for this, costs pennies and well worth the effort. Well worth restringing with some top quality strings like D'Addario NYXL's etc at the same time also.
Make sure you leave your guitar somewhere you will find yourself constantly picking it up.
Good advice that Structure your practice otherwise you'll waste all your time noodling ( Justin Guitar on Youtube is well worth a look)
Try a few different picks as they make a massive difference to tone and comfort IME. Something like this would be a great place to start.
Unless you plan to use it a lot I'd suggest blocking off your tremolo to aid with tuning stability. Plenty of YT videos for this, costs pennies and well worth the effort. Well worth restringing with some top quality strings like D'Addario NYXL's etc at the same time also.
Make sure you leave your guitar somewhere you will find yourself constantly picking it up.
Thanks again guys.
I'm already using Justin Sandercoe on his website and he seems pretty good!
I have a selection of picks from 0.38mm to 0.8mm. The difference in sound is surprising (and the wrong way round to my brain).
I assumed the thinner the pick, the more mellow the sound would be.....WRONG
As for a pro setup, we do have a good guitar shop in Doncaster (Electro Music) But I'm a bit embarrased to take the new guitar there as they stock that model and I didn't buy it from them...
I may start having some lessons soon. The sprog is having Ukulele lessons and his teacher also does guitar. I'll be seeing him tonight so I'll ask.
I'm already using Justin Sandercoe on his website and he seems pretty good!
I have a selection of picks from 0.38mm to 0.8mm. The difference in sound is surprising (and the wrong way round to my brain).
I assumed the thinner the pick, the more mellow the sound would be.....WRONG
As for a pro setup, we do have a good guitar shop in Doncaster (Electro Music) But I'm a bit embarrased to take the new guitar there as they stock that model and I didn't buy it from them...
I may start having some lessons soon. The sprog is having Ukulele lessons and his teacher also does guitar. I'll be seeing him tonight so I'll ask.
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