Huge guitar purchase, am i being an idiot?

[PR36]

I agree its a lot to spend on a guitar for someone who hasn't been playing very long. I have a Gibson Custom Shop Les paul and whilst it has a fabulous sound and all that I don't play it anywhere near as much as my usa fender strat which cost one third of the price. To my mind I would start out by buying an excellent quality 'do it all' guitar so you can see what you like in terms of tone, style etc and it will cover a lot of bases. The strat is perfect for that and if you haven't got one I would recommend trying one out before looking at the LP which is a bit more niche.

[SWoll]

Andertons are currently moving on a lot of 2015 LP models at reduced prices and also offer 0% finance if required. http://blog.andertons.co.uk/guitars/save-1000-2015...

Personally at the price of the guitar the OP originally mentions I'd find it hard to see past a PRS Custom 24, a nicer to play, better built and more versatile guitar than the LP IMHO. World guitars currently have a very nice Paul's Guitar in stock as well as a Modern eEgle. Beautiful things.

http://worldguitars.co.uk/brands/prs-guitars

[Baryonyx]

Ganglandboss said:

I saw a TRB6 PII for sale recently. They wanted about £3,000 for it IIRC. I nearly bought a Status Series II a few years ago. It seemed like a bargain at the time, but I'm glad I didn't buy it as I have seen them much cheaper. I'm looking to add a Status Kingbass Paramatrix to my collection once I've worked out how I'm paying for it!

I've always wanted a first generation Kingbass. I never liked the second Kingbass design as much. I've come so close on a number of occasions, I nearly bought a secondhand Princess bass but the deal fell through over shipping issues. I later made a shot on a lovely Artist with a quilted maple top and red LED's but it turned out that it was already sold by the time I got in touch. If I could get a Kingbass and it were anywhere near as good as my old Stealth or my Series II I'd be really happy.

[kazste]

Current thought is to try and get to pmt next Saturday and try their les paul deluxe (pelham blue) which they have up for £1249 and the les paul traditional (seafoam green) up for £1150 ish) and see if either of these suit.

My preference only on looks is the blue deluxe so will see if a preference once played. Both on 0% October ffers with various places.

[IainT]

bga said:

There are also countless luthiers who will make you a handmade guitar that is almost guaranteed to be better than an LP save the transfer on the headstock.

Sadly the hit on resale is hefty unless it's a really well-known luthier. Not an issue if it's a lifer.

[Riff Raff]

jensenhealey2 said:

If it's the guitar you want go for it. I agree a modern Gibson is not likely to be a terrific investment in the way a 58 LP would have been bought in say 1970-4. But it won't lose value like an Epiphone if you look after it. I would keep the case and keep it in the case. Gibsons are not as robust as Fenders particularly at the headstock join. It will also be finished in nitrocellulose, which is mucgh less robust than the polyester finish used on your tele. A knocked about Gibbo is a bargain for the next owner.

A modern Custom Shop guitar should be as well made as any old guitar. My CS ES390 is a very fine guitar. Not even all the 58-60 LPs were well made, which is why so many of them have been upgraded, particularly in the tuner department. Here's what Joe Bonamassa has to say about one of his: http://jbonamassa.com/joes-guitar-of-the-week/guitar-of-the-week-21-1955-gibson-les-paul/ This is a super site for any guitarist, he hs a droolsome collection.

Just one final point, which is that once you have the guitar, you may find yourself wanting an amp that will do it justice, otherwise you may be a tiny bit disappointed.

Oddly enough mine has just broken at this very point. AFAIK it just broke - the guitar didn't get a knock, or get kicked off its stand (unless the wife is telling porkies).

According to the local luthier (Charlie Chandler) it's fixable for not a huge amount of money, but whatever resale value it had is gone I suspect.

[IainT]

Gaz. said:

IainT said:

bga said:

There are also countless luthiers who will make you a handmade guitar that is almost guaranteed to be better than an LP save the transfer on the headstock.

Sadly the hit on resale is hefty unless it's a really well-known luthier. Not an issue if it's a lifer.

The classifieds on The Fretboard is quite sobering for sales of anything boutique. I guess it's great for the 2nd hand buyer though, saying that though there is a point where the sellers say "fk it I'd rather keep it" after 20 thread bumps and no offers.

Absolutely! Some great bargains to be had though unless it has to be Fender/Gibson/whatever on the head stock.

[bga]

IainT said:

Absolutely! Some great bargains to be had though unless it has to be Fender/Gibson/whatever on the head stock.

All good points, the OP was enquiring about a guitar for & it wouldn't be the first time that inferior product conmmanded a higher price.

[kazste]

Its not that i don't get that there are probably better guitars for the money, but there is a draw to the new guitar player to a fender or a gibson. I have a few nice watches and its the same after an omega and rolex you start to look at the more boutique makes. I suspect i will be the same with guitars as i do have an addictive personality so i can imagine i will end up with a few different makes down the list ne, its just that for my first big purchase i would want a fender or a gibson. The fender i really want is a custom shop or masterbuilt telecaster and whilst its a squier and im honestly not trying to compare it to a masterbuilt guitar i have a telecaster so it would feel as though im replacing a guitar not adding one to a collection.

That said i am trying to get pmt onboard with shipping a les paul traditional pver to their birmingham store so that i can try one of the purple ones back to back with the pelham blue deluxe to judge by sound and dare i say it looks to see if a i want either and b i have a preference as only £100 ish between the two so same ballpark price.

[br d]

I got drunk and ordered a 3 grand Gretsch off the internet one night, I could barely play at the time I just loved it becuase it was a Brian Setzer model and he was my favourite guitarist. When it arrived I opened the case and just stared at the thing, it was beautiful. I played it to death and now 8 years later I can blast out a pretty good rendition of most Stray Cats songs. Sometimes impulse buys are right.

[Disastrous]

br d said:

I got drunk and ordered a 3 grand Gretsch off the internet one night, I could barely play at the time I just loved it becuase it was a Brian Setzer model and he was my favourite guitarist. When it arrived I opened the case and just stared at the thing, it was beautiful. I played it to death and now 8 years later I can blast out a pretty good rendition of most Stray Cats songs. Sometimes impulse buys are right.

I love my Gretsch.

I reckon if I was spending massive cash on a guitar, it would be a Gretsch White Falcon. Gibson and Fender are mass-produced guitars, not worth spending a fortune on IMO.

I have an SG and a Tele and love them both but they're just standard models. That's where these brands are perfect to me - good, solid, affordable instruments. Workhorses. Plus there's a Springsteen-esque, blue-collar quality to a £500 Tele that you can smash the hell out of without too many worries.


If I was spending the OP's budget, I'd want to go a little bit further off-piste.

But then I have never wanted a LP or a Strat ever so don't understand the appeal of getting the same guitar as everyone else. I still think if he wants one he should probably just buy it.

[Kuroblack350]

I'd go for it, if you're sure about the cash then it will be a great instrument that will last a lifetime and provide that 'pickupability' that tends to develop playing and your desire to play better.

I'd test a few different versions, just to be sure of what you're after - there are many different versions/specifications and it can be quite confusing. You'll also get a chance to try it out for size - I was surprised at how small they feel compared with a Strat. I would say they are quite different from the Strat/Tele feel, but it's not a million miles away - fundamentally it's a solid body electric and not that different in my experience

If you're looking to buy new, take a look at the 2015 versions. They have not been received that well due to a number of design tweaks - that means they are seriously bargainous at the moment. They also have the G Force tuning system which will help you as a relative beginner, not so much in terms of staying in tune, but experimenting with alternate tunings. As a 2015 owner I can happily say they play and sound just as you would expect

[br d]

Disastrous said:

br d said:

I got drunk and ordered a 3 grand Gretsch off the internet one night, I could barely play at the time I just loved it becuase it was a Brian Setzer model and he was my favourite guitarist. When it arrived I opened the case and just stared at the thing, it was beautiful. I played it to death and now 8 years later I can blast out a pretty good rendition of most Stray Cats songs. Sometimes impulse buys are right.

I love my Gretsch.

I reckon if I was spending massive cash on a guitar, it would be a Gretsch White Falcon. Gibson and Fender are mass-produced guitars, not worth spending a fortune on IMO.

I have an SG and a Tele and love them both but they're just standard models. That's where these brands are perfect to me - good, solid, affordable instruments. Workhorses. Plus there's a Springsteen-esque, blue-collar quality to a £500 Tele that you can smash the hell out of without too many worries.


If I was spending the OP's budget, I'd want to go a little bit further off-piste.

But then I have never wanted a LP or a Strat ever so don't understand the appeal of getting the same guitar as everyone else. I still think if he wants one he should probably just buy it.

A White Falcon is definitely on my list, one night when I'm drunk again I will have one!
But first is this Sparkly Green 6120 Hot Rod, jesus what a thing (just been on the website, must resist!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzBa138Q194

I wouldn't even have to play it, I could just put it in a glass case and look at it.

I have a nice American Standard Tele which is a beautiful instrument, so easy to play after the Gretsch. I also have nice Japanese copies of both an LP and a Strat, really good guitars and loads of individual character. I agree though, just buy it. I know he could get it and regret it, or do it and rue it but I am a firm believer in just jumping in.

Get a bit older, get a bit of dodgy health and suddenly your whole attitude to doing stuff like this changes.

Edited by br d on Thursday 30th July 15:15

[kazste]

I have arranged to go to a place on Saturday to try out a few les pauls.
A 50's tribute £569
A studio £780 ish
A deluxe £1149
And a tradition for around £1300

Going to try and take price out of it and just pick the one i fancy as this is what i did with the the telecaster and ended up with the cheapest as it was my favourite of the ones i tried.

I think my dad is going to but a gretsch if he can piggy back a deal, he did tell me which one but i cant remember and its not the white falcon as id of remembered that name.

Im interested as to what i will come back with.

Of course if i see another version on the wall or one gets suggested then i may as well try that as well, im so glad the place has sound proofed rooms

[kev b]

On many classic Who recordings Pete Townsend is assumed to have used a Les Paul when in fact he used a Gretsch.

Many more classic recordings attributed to a Les Paul are in fact other guitars, eg Bad Company, Can't get enough etc are a Les Paul Junior, Fleetwood Mac, Led Zep etc etc.

[kazste]

Well im back, went to guitarguitar in Birmingham who were fantastic spent last ts of time with me but also left me to my own. No pressure to just buy the expensive one and went through from the lower end up to a lovely secondhand model which just wasnt the one for me unfortunately as i could tell it was a good one. Luckily the one i preferred the looks of also found to be the best to play for me as found others to either the frets to raised, to hard edged or the string action not as low as my preference.

Anyway thanks to all that have looked and offered assistance with my purchase, and heres a pic of her.

[Riff Raff]

kazste said:

Well im back, went to guitarguitar in Birmingham who were fantastic spent last ts of time with me but also left me to my own. No pressure to just buy the expensive one and went through from the lower end up to a lovely secondhand model which just wasnt the one for me unfortunately as i could tell it was a good one. Luckily the one i preferred the looks of also found to be the best to play for me as found others to either the frets to raised, to hard edged or the string action not as low as my preference.

Anyway thanks to all that have looked and offered assistance with my purchase, and heres a pic of her.

It's upside down!

FWIW, the I've read that the 2015 models are supposed to be better set up leaving the factory, as they have been through the Plek machine thingy. After breaking the headstock on mine, I'm tempted to go and have a mooch around Denmark Street. A Cherry Flame Top is calling........

[kazste]

Yeah i did try to sort out the picture but it didnt work so heres another on the wonk!



Just look at the contrast between the blue, the white and the wood

Just been playing it this morning i sound crap, it sonds great.

[SWoll]

Riff Raff said:

It's upside down!

FWIW, the I've read that the 2015 models are supposed to be better set up leaving the factory, as they have been through the Plek machine thingy. After breaking the headstock on mine, I'm tempted to go and have a mooch around Denmark Street. A Cherry Flame Top is calling........

You also get the benefit of the zero fret nut and updated g-force tuner so string, action and tuning changes are simple even for a beginner.

Very nice BTW OP, enjoy it.

[kazste]

Thanks i really like it, to be honest i think we can all agree its a bit too good for me at the moment but it really is a wonderful thing.

If you are thinking of looking at a 2015 model i wouldnt hang around too long as with the deals on at the moment, mine was over £500 off and pay nothing for a year, they do seem to be selling reasonably quickly which i what forced me to look this weekend as would of been more convienient to of looked in a couple of weeks time.