Recommend me an electric guitar!

[AndrewGP]

I fully admit I'm being a bit lazy asking this but what the hell

I haven't picked up a guitar for over 6 years, I ended up stopping playing when our second child came along as I didn't have the time, energy or opportunity to carry on learning and trying to progress. I had been playing around 4 years by then and was felt I was getting competent at most things (I won't say good!). I had a Gibson Les Paul which I absolutely loved, it felt totally natural to play and I love the bluesy sound.

Now the kids are a bit older and I've got a bit more free time I want to start again. I already have a nice acoustic so the plan is to relearn the basics on that then buy another electric. Before I go out and just buy another Gibson, is there anything else I should be looking at? The one thing I didn't like about the Les Paul was the lack of a tremolo so a mix of the Gibson sound with a trem would be great. I don't really like Strats, I always found the necks too cramped for my fingers but I'm willing to consider anything.

Music wise, I was playing most things but mainly rock and blues focussed stuff. My initial thoughts are to look at PRS but any other suggestions welcome.

[singlecoil]

No mention of a budget, so I suggest you try out Music Man. Some of the best made guitars in existence.

[AndrewGP]

Good point. I’d like to spend less than £1000 if possible but could stretch a little more if required.

[cherryowen]

I've had a PRS Santana SE for......ooh......15 years now. It's a basic spec with a hard tail, but does the LP sound fairly well and I imagine some modern versions are far better, come with better pickups, and can be had with a trem system.

For a leftfield choice, maybe Ibanez JS or SA series with coil-tapped HB pickups?

[Nom de ploom]

what he said,

for a £1,000 you can pick up a really nice guitar but obvs save money if you need an amp too and some decent cans.

depending on what sound you want you have plenty of choice - I've got an ESP hard tail and I can get loads of different sounds out of it and it was £800 from PMT in Leeds - pretty good shop, friendly staff and as much time as you want selecting and playing.

good luck and post a pic when you buy

[JLC25]

You could look at potentially upping the budget by a little bit for a used Duesenberg.

I'd also recommend looking at Reverend which will be available for new in your price range.

Plenty of Gretsch in that price range - It's the outside bet, but lots of people love the FIlter'tron pickups for blues.

Hagstrom Super Swede?

Finally, Bigsby tremolos seem to be a popular retrofit to Les Paul Studios - seem to pop up on ebay quite frequently - alternatively look into getting it done yourself.

Edited by JLC25 on Friday 9th February 10:05

[SamR380]

I'd definately be trying out a few PRSs, I think you can get a proper one (second hand) for under a grand. A PRS SE (their budget range) is still a brilliant guitar though.

[JLC25]

Nanook said:

That's a point. When I said I wouldn't have a LP with a trem, I was thinking of those awful top mounted FR things they put on the bright pink models these days.

But I would love a B7G for my Black Beauty.

Yeah I agree, FRs/Kahlers have no business on a LP!

OP I missed your PRS bit - sounds like your dream guitar exists and is in budget - S2 Starla - American made PRS body and neck combined with some american hardware, and some far east hardware = https://www.pmtonline.co.uk/prs-s2-starla-dots-ele...

Edited by JLC25 on Friday 9th February 11:41

[schmunk]

Yamaha? Honest!

https://www.gak.co.uk/en/yamaha-rs720b-wls/127035

[gazza285]

Nanook said:

JLC25 said:

Finally, Bigsby tremolos seem to be a popular retrofit to Les Paul Studios - seem to pop up on ebay quite frequently - alternatively look into getting it done yourself.

Edited by JLC25 on Friday 9th February 10:05

That's a point. When I said I wouldn't have a LP with a trem, I was thinking of those awful top mounted FR things they put on the bright pink models these days.

But I would love a B7G for my Black Beauty.

I've got a B5 on my LP Special, and it's pretty good.

[AndrewGP]

Thanks all, really helpful. I know I need to go to a shop and play loads of different stuff to decide, so at least I know what to have a look at. I'm going to give it a few months to retrain my fingers as I've forgotten practically everything But I'm excited about starting over and want to get something that justifies it.

Nanook said:

What was it you found cramped about a Strat? The frets are spaced out more along the neck than on a LP.

I still have a Yamaha Pacifica in the loft (it was my first guitar) and it's neck width feels very cramped to me. I've no idea if a proper Fender Strat has the same type of neck, but since I preferred the thicker LP sound anyway that was the way I went.

[BilderBurger]

AndrewGP said:

I need to go to a shop and play loads of different stuff

This is definitely the right answer. The one you like best is always the best one to buy.

[Escapegoat]

PRS is definitely obvious choice. But if you don't mind used, a Patrick Eggle Berlin is Brit-built PRS equivalent.

Here's a random one off Ebay:

[gazza285]

Pretty close to running out of intonation adjustment there, that just looks like the trem pivots are too far forward.

[AndrewGP]

So after saying in my OP that I'd wait a few months, then play loads of guitars to decide, I've just bought a guitar....unseen....without playing it.....that hasn't got a trem

It's a PRS platinum SE 245, bought but never played so effectively brand new. I've paid £250 which should hopefully be a bargain. If I don't like it, my son will probably end up having it (he's just started Grade 2 guitar) or I'll pop it back on ebay and then go to a shop and decide properly. If I do keep it, I'll spend the money I've saved on a nice new amp! Random google image:

[Escapegoat]

That's one way to do it.

[Walter Sobchak]

I’d go to a shop and try a few different Strats before dismissing them completely, you can get them with different neck profiles, saying that, if you’re not into how they sound probably not much point!.

[languagetimothy]

Walter Sobchak said:

I’d go to a shop and try a few different Strats before dismissing them completely, you can get them with different neck profiles, saying that, if you’re not into how they sound probably not much point!.

This.... the neck widths and depth can vary quite a lot depending on the model. My strat neck is quite narrow compared to my Teles but have played others which are much wider.

There's some good Strats out there well within your budget. For example there was one I think it was 60s classic player... maybe.... that had hotter custom shop pickups that was about 700 quid new, and of course it had a trem. Hv a look a guitarguitar for example, good range on there.

[JLC25]

Well, if you've got £750 quid left over...

If it's a keeper, I'd swap out the Pickups - used a few SE's live and in the studio (never owned one) but they always felt super solid, but the pickups could have been a wee bit better - I'd also recommend some Grover tuners. - Tuners are ~£65, let's say pickups are ~£135 for a set. You'll have an incredibley stable guitar that sounds as good as it looks and plays.

Plus Change for a Blues JR and a tubescreamer - maybe even a delay pedal too? Perfect home rig!

[AndrewGP]

I'd say it's definitely a keeper JLC. I had a good mess around for over an hour yesterday and it's a really nice guitar, certainly good enough for me to play for a while I get back in it. I was really impressed at the set up out of the box, it was waaaay better than my old Gibson LP which needed a lot of work to get right. The action is low and the intonation (at least to my ear) is spot on.

Good call on the pickups and tuners, definitely something to upgrade in the future. I've been looking at amps this morning, I'm thinking about getting a new Marshall DSL 1w Head and 1x12 Cab. I knew this would be a slippery slope And my son now wants one too!