Advice on accessories required with electric guitar.

[13m]

Hi guys

I need to buy a Stratocaster for one of my children and I am anticipating being told by our local music shop that they will not discount it. I will try therefore to see if I can get some accessories included. But what do we need?

Quality strap
Strap locks
What else?

Many thanks

[13m]

gmaz said:

13m said:

Hi guys

I need to buy a Stratocaster for one of my children and I am anticipating being told by our local music shop that they will not discount it. I will try therefore to see if I can get some accessories included. But what do we need?

Quality strap
Strap locks
What else?

Many thanks

tuner, cables, plectums, string winder, spare strings

He has the bits other than the winder and strings with his bass. But thank you.

I've just had a late night online chat with a Fender retailer and they offered £60 straight off the bat, so there may be some scope to negotiate.

[13m]

Actually, I think I need to buy a hard case don't I.

[13m]

Mave said:

Got an amp?

He's got a bass amp, he can play through that for now.

[13m]

You lot are going to bankrupt me. But father Christmas might fit an amp on his sleigh. What would you guys suggest?

[13m]

HarryFlatters said:

Could probably do A Lot worse than this

Thanks.

His bass amp is only a practice amp. Is there an amp that will handle either bass or guitar? Or is that making life too complicated?

[13m]

Nanook said:

13m said:

Thanks.

His bass amp is only a practice amp. Is there an amp that will handle either bass or guitar? Or is that making life too complicated?

Not really.

Plus, having 2 means you/a friend can jam along with him.

The world isn't ready for me with any sort of musical instrument, much less an amplified one.

[13m]

DELETED: Comment made by a member who's account has been deleted.

There is no limit but I don't want to go silly.

The guitar will be a Fender Std Strat, which my local shop wants £507 for but I could buy one online for £437. I would imagine a hard case is £80? Strap £15 so I've got change out £550 at present before the amp.

[13m]

Tom_C76 said:

I got my 6 year old nephew a 3/4 size Squier Strat. His granddad then got him the case, strap, lead and a Marshall MG10 amp. Think total spend was around 200 quid. Sounds OK, not amazing but perfectly adequate for a beginner.

If he can handle a full size guitar they're slightly cheaper than the 3/4 size for some reason. No need for straplocks at that end of the market IMHO.

We're getting a Fender. It's what he wants and he will use it. He plays several instruments already to a reasonable standard, so we don't want to buy twice.

[13m]

Tom_C76 said:

13m said:

We're getting a Fender. It's what he wants and he will use it. He plays several instruments already to a reasonable standard, so we don't want to buy twice.

Which Fender though? Mex Standard is £508, USA Standard is £999 both at Andertons, the USA one is heavily reduced at that price. USA standard includes a case, Mex doesn't.

At that price point you really won't do either of them justice without a decent amp, either the little Yamaha that gets rave reviews on here, or a small Laney or Vox valve combo. But it's a lot of money for a first guitar rig... I see what you're saying about not buying twice, but if you buy second hand to start with he can trade up at minimal loss in the future, whereas even a USA Fender will lose £300-400 as soon as you take it home.

(Not trying to teach you to suck eggs or anything, but a hint as to total budget would help us to steer you.)

Edited by Tom_C76 on Friday 25th November 14:41

I think the std Strat is the Mex. It's £507 retail but I can get one for £437 so far. I am going to call into Nottingham Drum and Guitar centre this afternoon to see whether they will cut me a deal.

[13m]

Chicken Chaser said:

For amp, Blackstar fly? Tiny but impressive. 2 make a stereo pair.
More expensive would be a Yamaha THR10 which can take bass also.

Some of the guys above had doubts about an amp ddoinng both. Does that Yamaha definitely do it?

I saw a Fender Champion (20 I think) at our local shop, which seemed visually to be okat at abut £100.

[13m]

dojo said:

What bass amp does he have? For sure you can run guitar through a bass amp. It might sound a bit heavy and poss muddy but if he is rocking out could be super cool!
If he has a decent bass amp a reverb pedal and a drive pedal with a decent EQ and should be able to get a decent sound which he can then transfer across to the guitar amp if he gets one down the line!!

A fender bassman is an absolute classic guitar amp and was originally designed for bass as were the early Marshall plexi amps... Don;t get stuck in pigeon holes!

It's only an Eden practice amp. When he performs he has access to proper kit.

What do you think about the Fender Champion 20 as a little practice amp?

[13m]

dojo said:

Never used one but looking online it looks really tidy. The Fender stuff always seems to be pretty decent.

Has a nice set of a modulation effects (reverb, chorus etc) and can set to different classic amp settings (tweed/blackface etc) so lots to explore and he can develop his preference.

Also looks like its laid out a lot better than a lot of other modelling amps. Only downside I can see is there only seems to be one channel which means can't switch between clean and overdrive sounds with a foot switch. (although could easily buy him a pedal (Rat or similar) down the line if he needs this for exams/band/concerts).

How old is he? Is he planning on taking to school? a decent gig bag might be worth a thought, they can protect a guitar better than a cheap hard case and be easier to carry.

Edited by dojo on Tuesday 29th November 12:03

Ah, can you expand upon the gig bag thing please? Intuitively I'd have thought a hard case would keep the guitar safer. He is eleven and a clumsy bugger.

[13m]

Thanks for the advice on cases chaps.

With regard to a guitar's action, on a Fender Mexican Strat is there likely to be a problem and if so are they adjustable?

[13m]

Sheetmaself said:

Dont forget that theres a pmt just opened up in nottingham well worth a look as both them and the drum centre will be selling same kit so maybe get best deal from both.

Fender mustang amp is quite nice an wont break the bank.

Also nip into nottingham city guitars if he would be okay with secondhand, normally have a few in arounf the £500 mark along with their more expensive offerings

Thanks, I had wondered what that place was!

[13m]

Chicken Chaser said:

I really can't rate the THR10 (c in my case) highly enough. It is no good for gigging if that's what you want but it is an incredible practice amp. I've had several practice amps at the lower end, then bought a Fender Mustang 3 which was too much for home. You couldn't get it singing without it being far too loud in the room. I then found out about the THR, found a used one for a bargain price of £110 and sold the Mustang. I'd pay full price for the Yamaha as it really has excellent tone which can be found easily, the Mustang needed more work to get a good tone from it and it wasn't as good as the THR.

I do like the look of the Blackstars though, and the send return effects loop would be good if you're looking at going for pedals further down the line. YouTube and a good set of headphones is your best bet to get an idea, then try and get out and see them back to back in a guitar store.

He is now talking about wanting a microphone and stand too. Presumably that will require a seaparate amp will it?

[13m]

andy-xr said:

It could be for recording. If that's the case, the THR10 (x or c or normal) has USB and can go straight into a DAW (I use Reaper, it comes with Cubase which I found complicated). You can run a bass and a standard guitar through the THR10

In English?

[13m]

andy-xr said:

If he wants a mic and stand to record his guitar into his laptop or iPad, a mic infront of the amp would be the usual way of doing it.

However, using an amp like the Yamaha THR you stick a USB cable into the amp and the laptop, then use a program to record stuff.

If that's what he was thinking. He could be planning some kind of nu-deathmetal type of screaming where he sounds like he's puking though. Perhaps worth checking what the mic and stand are actually for?

Gotcha, will do thanks.

[13m]

Yes, having quizzed the little chap, it appears he is trying to recreate Abbey Road in our house.

So he can use a mic through his bass amp for now then? What reasonably-priced mic and stand do you suggest?

Yes, I know there has been some mission-creep here, but your advice IS appreciated.

[13m]

andy-xr said:

https://www.presonus.com/products/audiobox-usb

I like this. It's a USB interface, so he can plug in his amps, or mic them up, or sing into it and it'll connect to his laptop or iPad. It comes with it's own software for editing as well as a fairly decent mic. Then you just need a stand. I got mine from Andertons ; https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/AUDIOBOXITWOSTUDIO/m...

Next, you'll need a drum kit. The Alesis V Lite's will be alright for a starter, the DD505 kits though have crappy voices/sounds

Thank you.

His brother has a full drum kit in the sitting room.