£100 for an electric guitar: New or second hand?
Discussion
Hi all,
I would like to buy my first electric guitar after a couple of months learning with an acoustic and I feel a bit lost.
As my budget is very tight (about £100), what would you buy?
Options:
- A cheap new guitar from Argos (Elevation, Rockburn, Johnny Brook, Jaxville).
- An used guitar from an standard second-hand shop (Yamaha, Epiphone, etc).
I think I would get more from the used market but I am concerned about not being able to identify faulty parts or buying a guitar with a reduced life expectancy.
Any advice would be welcome,
Thanks
I would like to buy my first electric guitar after a couple of months learning with an acoustic and I feel a bit lost.
As my budget is very tight (about £100), what would you buy?
Options:
- A cheap new guitar from Argos (Elevation, Rockburn, Johnny Brook, Jaxville).
- An used guitar from an standard second-hand shop (Yamaha, Epiphone, etc).
I think I would get more from the used market but I am concerned about not being able to identify faulty parts or buying a guitar with a reduced life expectancy.
Any advice would be welcome,
Thanks
Homer Jay said:
Hi all,
I would like to buy my first electric guitar after a couple of months learning with an acoustic and I feel a bit lost.
As my budget is very tight (about £100), what would you buy?
Options:
- A cheap new guitar from Argos (Elevation, Rockburn, Johnny Brook, Jaxville).
- An used guitar from an standard second-hand shop (Yamaha, Epiphone, etc).
I think I would get more from the used market but I am concerned about not being able to identify faulty parts or buying a guitar with a reduced life expectancy.
Any advice would be welcome,
Thanks
Your average electric guitar doesn't exactly wear out unless its been played relentlessly. All you have to do is inspect the frets for excessive wear or pitting,. There are tons of instruments around for sale from people who bought new & then hardly used them so you should be able to find something that's hardly been used. All you need to do is have someone show you how to check that the neck is straight & sound, its not difficult. You are looking for twists and humps/bumps, strings grounding etc. If its badly set up it might cost you a service on top to get it playing right though. Lots of stuff can be fixed with a set-up but a bad neck is not one of themI would like to buy my first electric guitar after a couple of months learning with an acoustic and I feel a bit lost.
As my budget is very tight (about £100), what would you buy?
Options:
- A cheap new guitar from Argos (Elevation, Rockburn, Johnny Brook, Jaxville).
- An used guitar from an standard second-hand shop (Yamaha, Epiphone, etc).
I think I would get more from the used market but I am concerned about not being able to identify faulty parts or buying a guitar with a reduced life expectancy.
Any advice would be welcome,
Thanks
I'd buy used & I'd also save another 50 quid or so to chuck at it.
^^^ What he/she said.
The budget new guitars tend to be very good for the price, and as you progress (or not) they can be kept as kick-about practice instruments. Should also budget for a strap, tuner, picks, pack of spare strings, and a gittar stand or gig-bag.
Buying a used guitar unseen from Ebay is a gamble, fret-wear can be fixed, at a price, as can most of the standardised electric bits but if you're learning, fret buzz and slightly mal-adjusted necks are a real hindrance.
A lot of new players play mostly at the top of the neck, so the top frets tend to show wear on used budget guitars.
Neck width and balance is a major factor in how well you'll get on with the feel of a guitar and the only way to tell is to pick one up and try it.
There's a huge choice at the £100 range; pickups play a major part in the final 'tone', humbuckers for thicker tone, single pickups for more twang. etc etc. A guitar with a bridge humbucker and a single coil at the neck/center (HSS) is very versatile, as in the Squier Bullet HSS Strat. Dual humbuckers are seen as 'rocky', triple single coils as in the Strat, as 'clear and biting.'
Hackneyed stereotypes: Strat types tend to have a clear tone (think Clapton), Telecaster types are 'twangy' (country music) Gibson SG types are 'rocky' (take your pick) and LesPaul types are 'jazzy. '
Buy what you will enjoy playing.
If you visit a guitar shop, you can try all body styles for fit and balance. Most places offer a 'set-up' service to adjust neck and string height/intonation on new instruments.
A lot of guitar tone comes (after the fingers) from the amp. That's a separate bundle of lengthy stereotypes/ discussions.
Whatever you buy, it won't be your last guitar if the bug bites.
HSS example:
https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/0311005506/solid-bod...
The budget new guitars tend to be very good for the price, and as you progress (or not) they can be kept as kick-about practice instruments. Should also budget for a strap, tuner, picks, pack of spare strings, and a gittar stand or gig-bag.
Buying a used guitar unseen from Ebay is a gamble, fret-wear can be fixed, at a price, as can most of the standardised electric bits but if you're learning, fret buzz and slightly mal-adjusted necks are a real hindrance.
A lot of new players play mostly at the top of the neck, so the top frets tend to show wear on used budget guitars.
Neck width and balance is a major factor in how well you'll get on with the feel of a guitar and the only way to tell is to pick one up and try it.
There's a huge choice at the £100 range; pickups play a major part in the final 'tone', humbuckers for thicker tone, single pickups for more twang. etc etc. A guitar with a bridge humbucker and a single coil at the neck/center (HSS) is very versatile, as in the Squier Bullet HSS Strat. Dual humbuckers are seen as 'rocky', triple single coils as in the Strat, as 'clear and biting.'
Hackneyed stereotypes: Strat types tend to have a clear tone (think Clapton), Telecaster types are 'twangy' (country music) Gibson SG types are 'rocky' (take your pick) and LesPaul types are 'jazzy. '
Buy what you will enjoy playing.
If you visit a guitar shop, you can try all body styles for fit and balance. Most places offer a 'set-up' service to adjust neck and string height/intonation on new instruments.
A lot of guitar tone comes (after the fingers) from the amp. That's a separate bundle of lengthy stereotypes/ discussions.
Whatever you buy, it won't be your last guitar if the bug bites.
HSS example:
https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/0311005506/solid-bod...
Edited by Slushbox on Saturday 24th June 07:55
It can be amazing how well a cheap guitar can play.
I have a "legend" Fat strat that i was given 10 years ago, which i replaced the electrics and fitted a seymour duncan SH1-N in the bridge (yes i know this is technically wrong).
And it sounds fantastic, and love the sound.
I probably play it more than my £500 Telecaster.
The only real gripe is it does not stay in tune as well as the tele or my Ibanez.
However the amp can make just as much difference...
Also don't forget to change the strings regularly, its amazing the difference a new set of strings make!
I have a "legend" Fat strat that i was given 10 years ago, which i replaced the electrics and fitted a seymour duncan SH1-N in the bridge (yes i know this is technically wrong).
And it sounds fantastic, and love the sound.
I probably play it more than my £500 Telecaster.
The only real gripe is it does not stay in tune as well as the tele or my Ibanez.
However the amp can make just as much difference...
Also don't forget to change the strings regularly, its amazing the difference a new set of strings make!
Sounding like an expert (which I'm not).
Second hand, ebay or gumtree, look local so you can go and try it and see who the sellers are and what they are like. Most sellers are enthusiasts and happy to let you try and happy to talk guitars.
There's no rush, I assume, I was looking at Fenders/Squiers for my son for ages before picking up a Yamaha Pacifica which is arguably a better guitar for the money last weekend for less than a Squier.
Wouldn't entertain a cheap "copy" from the likes of Argos. His cousin has one......
Second hand, ebay or gumtree, look local so you can go and try it and see who the sellers are and what they are like. Most sellers are enthusiasts and happy to let you try and happy to talk guitars.
There's no rush, I assume, I was looking at Fenders/Squiers for my son for ages before picking up a Yamaha Pacifica which is arguably a better guitar for the money last weekend for less than a Squier.
Wouldn't entertain a cheap "copy" from the likes of Argos. His cousin has one......
Pick up a used Squire Strat or Tele from gumtree or facebook - I'd steer clear of the bullet range and go for an affinity.
Yamaha and Peavy also make student guitars too.
The Fender style guitar tend to be more robust than the gibson style guitars.
Chances are you won't need to set it up either - just a new set of strings and you're away.
Just choose one you like aesthetically.
Yamaha and Peavy also make student guitars too.
The Fender style guitar tend to be more robust than the gibson style guitars.
Chances are you won't need to set it up either - just a new set of strings and you're away.
Just choose one you like aesthetically.
Along similar lines to you at Christmas I was looking for a package.
I got an Encore strat copy with strap, gig bag, lead and a Marshall MG15 amp, all restrung and set up from a shop for £100. All the advise that I got was that it was a better option than the bundles available new
I still can't play the bloody thing though
I got an Encore strat copy with strap, gig bag, lead and a Marshall MG15 amp, all restrung and set up from a shop for £100. All the advise that I got was that it was a better option than the bundles available new
I still can't play the bloody thing though
I would recommend a Yamaha Pacifica in that price range. Great playing, over specced and you're not paying so much for the name.
If you could double the budget, it would be perfect as you'll have loads of choices of Squier Vintage Modified - The 2nd best budget guitar in the world IMO (behind the Squier Classic Vibe - Those are seriously good). There's a 70s style on eBay for £145 right now. 70s headstock splits opinions, but the lovely finish on the neck and the Duncan Designed pickups really make it feel like a guitar double the price.
If you could double the budget, it would be perfect as you'll have loads of choices of Squier Vintage Modified - The 2nd best budget guitar in the world IMO (behind the Squier Classic Vibe - Those are seriously good). There's a 70s style on eBay for £145 right now. 70s headstock splits opinions, but the lovely finish on the neck and the Duncan Designed pickups really make it feel like a guitar double the price.
My only reservation with a pacifica is that is has a tremolo arm and that can cause issues with tuning for beginners
I'd get something like this
https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/ENSVCHVCH1/solid-bod...
I'd get something like this
https://www.andertons.co.uk/p/ENSVCHVCH1/solid-bod...
and if it's good enough for these guys it's good enough for you........
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SYxSD-k3m0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SYxSD-k3m0
before I read the rest of the thread, my head said 'Pacifica'
Friend bought one (quite a while ago now) and for the £ it plays brilliantly.
If you don't know what you're looking at second hand it can be a minefield (not trying to be offensive!) - there is some crap out there.
Bought from a shop, you have comeback
Buy a known brand, you can always sell it on.
Friend bought one (quite a while ago now) and for the £ it plays brilliantly.
If you don't know what you're looking at second hand it can be a minefield (not trying to be offensive!) - there is some crap out there.
Bought from a shop, you have comeback
Buy a known brand, you can always sell it on.
The Pacificas are nice guitars, light, thin neck, sculpted body rears, easy to play. But they are around £200 new.
There are comparisons on YouTube of the basic Squiers v. £7000 guitars, and the basic Les Pauls at £170 against the top end models.
The results are, er, interesting:
Strats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuHoEBoAoTM
LPs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICS7lA_p_Nc
The cheaper alder body Stagg S300's Strat-A-Likes tend to be finished well, around £110, don't sound or play 'worse' than a Pacifica, or you can take your pick of plenty of Squires, most of which are nicely finished, play well, stay in tune, and don't sound £3000 worse than a Custom Shop Fender:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP_Ks2_m5sI
I've got a Pacifica from 2001, a 2004 Stagg Strat-A-Like and a Burns, prefer the Stagg, as the neck 'fits'. Burns is too heavy, and the Pacifica needs a fret job.
Plenty of choice.
There are comparisons on YouTube of the basic Squiers v. £7000 guitars, and the basic Les Pauls at £170 against the top end models.
The results are, er, interesting:
Strats: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuHoEBoAoTM
LPs: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICS7lA_p_Nc
The cheaper alder body Stagg S300's Strat-A-Likes tend to be finished well, around £110, don't sound or play 'worse' than a Pacifica, or you can take your pick of plenty of Squires, most of which are nicely finished, play well, stay in tune, and don't sound £3000 worse than a Custom Shop Fender:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xP_Ks2_m5sI
I've got a Pacifica from 2001, a 2004 Stagg Strat-A-Like and a Burns, prefer the Stagg, as the neck 'fits'. Burns is too heavy, and the Pacifica needs a fret job.
Plenty of choice.
Not really adding to the thread, but I got a Yamaha Pacifica (hardly used) with small practise amp, soft case, strap and guitar stand for £45 around 6 months ago. I didn't know what it was at the time, but thought it looked like a bargain from my local charity shop. Still haven't learnt how to play it (spending too much time on harmonica), but my brother reckons it's a pretty decent guitar, and I'll definitely spend more time on it soon.
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