Electric Guitar Recommendations

[MoeJo110]

Hello! So I am looking for a new electric guitar but I have no idea what to get! So I would like to get some advice from some experts before I get one. Right now I have a cheaper Fender that I got for my 15th birthday when I first started playing guitar, so it's not that nice! But now that I know I'm going to keep playing, so I'd like move onto something much nicer so I can do more things.

 

I'm not too incredibly specific, however it needs to sound nice! I'd also prefer it to have a cool design (And be unique) as well. I mainly play rock and metal, so nothing "girly" or for another genre. Also nothing super heavy either (Weight wise) if possible! 

 

So I want a guitar that is nice, but not something that is thousands of dollars! As well as paying for it myself, I'm hoping my parent's can combine my Christmas and Birthday present, which probably leaves me a top of $1,200 (Depending how much I want to work...). I am probably going to buy online because it would be cheaper as well. Thank you! 

Edited November 17, 2014 by MoeJo110

[Rudi]

Hi Moe,

 

Take a look at he link. Dont feel patronised if it starts out telling you stuff you already know. There is info here that I have learned form, and I am very experienced. 

 

I recommend playing before you buy. I know that you will likely still buy online, but the sound, size & feel of a guitar is not something you can rely on from a few video links and reviews. 

 

If you are anywhere near music store, I suggest visiting and taking a good look after you have read this (or similar) link. Make a note of what you like the look of and eventually ask to try one. Music store salespeople are usually experienced players themselves, and will likely ask you whether you want active or passive pick ups, or whether you want a Floyd Rose bridge etc. so its as well to get more familiar with these details beforehand.

 

Dont get hurried into buying anything. Take a little time over it. Check back when you get any further ideas about what interests you.

 

http://thehub.musiciansfriend.com/guitar-buying-guides/buying-guide-electric-guitars

 

Good luck

Rudi

[TapperMike]

So prom nite is coming up and you want to swap dates?  Before you buy anything you should understand your motives.  Many of us buy new things not because we need them but as a means to help us feel happy.  If your happy with yourself and your world then you will be less inclined to purchase something that you think fills a void in your life. That's one of the tricks advertisers use to get us to buy things.  I'm not saying you suffer from any of this and I'm not saying I'm beyond it as my recent jazz box demonstrates. I'm just saying be aware of your motivations.  You are a young guy living in an area and supporting a musical direction where image is everything as is keeping up with the jones's.

 

If you haven't yet. Try going up a few gauges in strings and detuning your guitar. If you are used to standard tuning with 10's or 09's Go up to 12's and detune down to D or even C. You'll need the extra thickness to maintain tension. I'ts a small investment in time / energy and is what a lot of the heavy metal crowd is leaning to these days.

 

Take it from a guy who has had and has now...possibly too many guitars for his own good. Buying another guitar for the sake of buying another guitar isn't the solution to anything.  It's not that I don't love my guitars I do.  All I ask is that you consider all the reasons you want to buy another guitar before you do.

 

If your guitar requires service because of a whole host of issues like.. bad pickups (the go) or action that is something which can be addressed for a lot less then buying a new guitar.  But maybe you need something else to take your career to the next level and you just don't see it....Like an amp.

If you are used to playing garages and your bedroom moving into the next level of playing with a band to a crowd may require a bigger amp. I won't get into that whole litany here.  Just consider your needs before your wants.

 

Most people have a rough go adapting to a new guitar. It's more about the neck then anything. This is why (even though I do buy my guitars online) I can't stress enough the value of going to a guitar store and playing guitars before you buy. You are prolly very comfortable with the neck you have on your current guitar. Some guitars will only require minor adaptation to get used to. Others you might not adapt to at all. Think twice if you love the sound but can't make that leap in adapting to a different style neck.  

 

Sometimes even one does have that magical neck / tone it isn't enough to survive a long term relationship.  I've got a Parker P44 which is all that. The neck is amazing, the tones are stunning and... it's collecting dust.  I was so enchanted with the guitar at the time and I was dabbling with smooth jazz / melodic metal at the time.  I've moved back to trad chord melody (fingerstyle) jazz since then and while the parker still sounds great I'm not able to coax my traditional jazz tones out of it.  The guitar is one of those "someday I'll play it again but not today" things.  You most likely have a better grasp on the instrument best suited for you then anyone here.  Don't be afraid to trust yourself in your instincts.

 

It's never been a better time to be a musician in regards to instrument quality, variety, and price. Fortunate for you You live in an area densely populated by musicians in your particular musical genre. Lots of store and lots local craigslistings.

 

Top end guitars that are well maintained retain higher resell value and some can even increase over time. The Strat I bought new in 86 for 800 is now selling at 1500 but mine wouldn't fetch as much.  No matter how well I treated it the guitar would always need to be played in some pretty rough houses. Sometimes an idiot would bum rush the stage or something else would happen to put a nick in it.  Short story is my strat has a lot of "mojo".

If you buy a high end guitar...Your genuine concern for it's value may prevent you from using it.

 

Back when I was just finding my way in the trad jazz scene I'd regularly bring my strat out ot jazz jams. It didn't matter how well I played the perception of "not really being a jazz player" or not really interested in playing "real" jazz was linked to the instrument I chose to bring to the gig. I could play just as well on my strat as other guitars but I could see that If I wanted to make a name for myself I'd have to get a "serious box" So I picked up a Samick jazz box and only those who knew a thing or two about jazz guitars made a fuss.  It looked the part enough.  You will experience this for yourself the longer you stay in HM.

 

Swapping pups can have a huge impact on how your current guitar sounds.  Many of the new pickups designed for high output can cost almost as much as a guitar. Before considering replacing your current guitar consider swapping pickups first.  Watch a lot of youtube videos with guitars that match your own and different pickups in it.  Then try to recreate the tone yourself sometimes you might reach a close to match without swapping the pickups and sometimes you might find that those pickups you see others bragging about don't have the right tone for ..YOU.

 

RobAsh is a fellow metal guitarist here. He might be better equipped to help you wade through your options

[davidmichael]

Hey Moe

Thats another hard question to answer.

Most of what Id say has been noted in the previous replies to your post so ill try not to be redundant.

My first suggestion is to go to as many music stores as possible and play as many guitars as possible.By looking at your profile picture it appears that you play left handed which will limit your options,as most stores dont stock nearly as may left handed guitars.Also quite a few models dont come in lefty,but I would definitely want to play an instrument before purchasing.

Also play it through a rig similar to what you are using or anticipate yourself using for the long haul. 

Next thing is,and this is just me,if im gonna lay out money like that,I would want to walk away with something that Id want to keep for the rest of my life.

Other things to consider are 1:Playabillity. If your not comfortable with it you will regret it as long as you have it.The main things to consider as far as comfort are weight,neck profile [backside] , fretboard radius and body shape . Also try to play it standing or sitting as you never know what situation you might playing like gigging or sitting down recording.

In the price range range your shooting for you could get something very nice used,but their are a lot of thing you somehow need to make sure work correctly:Electronics,trussrod working correctly,frettwear,warped neck etc.Hopefully you know someone that you trust and knows enough about guitars that would help ensure you dont get something with issues.

I personally like thin necks with fairly flat radius frettboards as i play a lot of leads,or a lot of companies are making compound radius boards that have a tighter radius at the neck for chording and flattens out as you move towards the bridge for playing faster leads.

I would also look for something with quality pickups as you don't want to buy a guitar and put a few hundred dollars in upgrades on it.Same with the tuners,bridge etc.

Last but not least if you buy a new guitar,make sure that their is an in store or online satisfaction guarantee,as even mid to upper end guitars can have manufacturer issues,or to leave yourself an option if you don't get what you anticipate.

If you could be a little more particular about the sound you are trying to achieve and what kind of rig you plan on running through,how your hands fit on the neck etc I would be more than glad to make some suggestions ,but unfortunately what one person might love,someone else might hate.

Best of luck in your search for the guitar that suites you and your needs the best.

David

[Mahesh]

This is why I love this place so much. Such useful advice! Kudos to you all.

[Rudi]

You still there Moe?

[MoeJo110]

Thanks guys for the suggestions! I would love not to need a new guitar, but I'm looking for a new guitar because I only have 1 electric guitar and it was my first guitar so it is very basic (And it broke a bit in a place or 2, but none were my fault!). Plus, my little cousin stole it... So right now I have none (Except my acoustic). I'm looking for something I can do more on with more buttons and what not (Like whammy bars). However, I will make sure I don't get too carried away with buying lots of guitars! 

 

I definitely think I should get a new amp too though, thanks for that suggestion! My current one is pretty wimpy haha. That will definitely help! 

 

And I think I should go to a store now just to make sure it feels right. I wanted to buy online because it was cheaper, and all the music stores around me are really expensive! 

 

I went through this music catalog for a store near me and I might ask for some suggestions about some of the guitars I picked out later too. 

[davidmichael]

Moe 

All the guitar stores I deal with , which are either Guitar Center or Sam Ash , will do price match with anything shown online , as long as they can verify that it is an actual price.

Also your online retailers usually offer free shipping and dont charge tax [xcept in certain states]

So if you see a guitar on an online retailer for say $1000 , and your local store will indeed price match , you should walk out the door for $1000 .

I have never paid asking price for a guitar , price match or not. They want to sell guitars bad and will drop the price to do so. Kinda like haggling over the price on a new car . 

Where they make their big money is people walking in without doing their research and just buying for sticker price.

Like I said earlier when you narrow down what your considering let us know and Id be more than glad to through in my two cents.

Happy Hunting !!!!

[MoeJo110]

Thanks! Here are a few I found that I liked (Apparently someone threw out the magazine I had so I had to go online) so tell me what you think! I kinda rushed to find them but I found a few I originally had at least... But if you don't mind look at a few and tell me what you think (These links are for my reference too haha).

 

 

EVH Stripe Series Circles Electric Guitar

http://www.samash.com/solid-body-electric-guitars/stripe-series-circles-electric-guitar--e7902586x-p

 

BC Rich Villain One

http://www.samash.com/solid-body-electric-guitars/villain-one-electric-guitar-bvl1tbkxx-p

 

The Jackson JS32Q Dinky Arch Top

http://www.samash.com/solid-body-electric-guitars/js32q-dinky-arch-top-electric-guitar-j02375xxx-p

 

Custom 450 Floyd "Graphyte"

http://www.samash.com/solid-body-electric-guitars/dean-custom-450-floyd-graphyte-electric-guitar-dc450fgra

 

EVH Striped Series

http://www.samash.com/solid-body-electric-guitars/evh-striped-series-e79025

[Rudi]

Hi again Moe,

 

Looks like you are set on a Strat body. All well and good.

 

Hardware:

I am biased toward Jacksons. I have two and have never found anything better.

 

EVH. I hear good reports of these, but wonder if you are paying ‘over & above’ for the name? They are expensive.

BC Rich are also well respected. I know nothing more than that.

Dean make nice guitars. The frets are quite a large jumbo size (as are Jacksons). The pick ups on this can deliver a nice clean as well as dirty too.

 

Aesthetics: I can’t advise you on the look you are after. You can research the paintjob/livery yourself. Do you want a Van Halen lookalike or go for something more individual? There’s plenty of choice, and if you really want to personalise you could get a custom paint job. It will cost but some of these guitars are very reasonably priced to start with. You could bear it in mind for the future if you fall out of love with the appearance anyway.

 

Happy hunting

 

Rudi

[TapperMike]

Honestly Moe,,,it's more about what YOU want then what everyone else thinks.

 

You have to go out and play these guitars for yourself. If you don't have the tech savvy then bring someone along who does. Necks have wide variance in overall shape. You may like the sound and the look but if the neck isn't something that you feel comfortable playing walk away. I've had a few "Great Guitars" with fine quality necks but I never adapted to them. Eventually they found owners who were a better fit for the guitar.

 

A word about retailers both in real life and on the web.  There are good ones and not so good ones. Musicians Friend and Guitar Center I place in the not so good category. SWeetwater I put in the pretty good category. Here is a dirty trick that Guitar Center does. After you agree to buy an instrument the sales man will walk it back to find the case. Then they'll swap out a different guitar (same model, color etc) for the one you had in your hand. The one they swap out may be a "B Stock" or a refurbish or a used they are selling as new.  I've seen it time and time again you play a perfectly fine guitar in store and then when you get home something is way different like a warped neck or a dead pickup. You go back and they are all friendly but pull some excuse out of their hat like "no returns on closeout sales" You are stuck with a guitar that wasn't the one you thought you were getting. 

 

B-stock and returned items.  If you are aware what you are getting sometimes it's still worthwhile to buy in order to save yourself some change.  Guitars are mass produced. Because they have to make guitars really really fast when one with a small or big defect will get shipped to the middle man and then to the guitar store.  There are retailers that specialize in B-stock... Namely GC, MF, Music123 and a few others.  With someone like...Sweetwater they are very upfront about it being B stock and what the exact issue or issues are with the gear be it a guitar or something else.

 

Case in point...

About 12 years back I bought a Raven West Custom 450. It had an entirely different finish, different hardware (gold) and different pickups then the current 450's offered by RWG.  You'll need to scroll the page a bit to find the 450's http://www.ravenwestguitar.com/elguit.html

Anyway my guitar had a small cosmetic flaw in the logo. Because of this defect I was able to buy the guitar for half off. It was a brand new guitar direct from the manufacturer. I could not detect the blem with my own eyes. I had to go back to the picture look at it again to see the fault. It really didn't matter to me.  The guitar was near perfect out of the box. The only thing it needed was for the frets to be worked in. Within a week my playing did that. I played that guitar on a few gigs after purchasing and it's still in my stable today. I think it sounds and plays better then the PRS SE Semi hollow bodies.

 

But my other point is this... I've been playing guitar since the 70's I've worked in guitar stores. I'd play all sorts of guitars and I've read specs on those same guitars. I can translate what neck specs will feel like for me without having to pick up the guitar.  I don't have your hands. What feels right for me might not feel right for you. Sure we can all adapt a little in regards to neck qualities but there is a crossing point and it's a fuzzy one where the line is drawn. that's why you have to go out and play a guitar before you buy it. So you can get a feel for it.  Because ultimately none of us will be playing the guitar you get.  Only you.

[Rudi]

Moe,

 

As you can tell, Mike is a lifelong guitar devotee and knows his business. What he says is diamond advice.

 

It may be that your ambition includes a guitar but that it is not necessarily majorly important in itself. I listened to a little of your stuff. Your writing may be more important to you than guitar playing. Your singing almost certainly is. Your guitar accompaniment sounds good. Its energetic with a strong sense of rhythm. It also sounds different, and in a good way. Its more important to be fresh and unique than greatly skilled and hugely competent.

 

If your guitar ambition is to serve as a writing aid and stage accompaniment, then you may feel that your guitar choice is less crucial in terms of how it plays and feels, and that style and presentation is as important. If that's true I wont tell you you're wrong, but I'm sure you realise that how comfortable you are with your guitar is still petty important.

 

Your playing tells me that. Your choice of another Strat tells me that. So I wont labour the point any more. You owe it to yourself to try guitars out regardless of peer opinion and public perception.

 

Mike's warning about retailers & switching guitars in the shop is vital. Even if you dont have an expert to take along to a store, it might be worth taking someone else along anyway, because just appearing to be young, naive & on your own could work against you. Dad maybe?

 

Dont get despondent about such warnings. Just be careful. Finding the right guitar for you should be exciting. Take your time and enjoy the search and trying stuff out.

 

One more point. When you do try a guitar out, remember to check the basics (intonation, sound, clean pots/switches, straight neck etc) and remember to do your own thing with it. Never let a salesman's skill & knowledge intimidate you or make you shy about playing what you need to play.

 

Any questions about this? Just ask.

 

Rudi

[Just1L]

Man, I was happy with my $100 guitar!

[TapperMike]

I'm right there with you Rob.

 

Back before I could buy a guitar I borrowed other peoples to learn on. I knew a few guys who would buy a cheap guitar then buy another cheap guitar only to have two nearly unusable guitars.  The action was through the roof on those beasts. Making them unbearable to play. The frets weren't properly dressed and they'd cut my fingers as I tried to slide up and down the neck and the intonation was miserable.  Back then no one played strictly in private. We had these things called Parks. Just like the neighborhood parks of today.  You'd go to a park and you'd find other guitarists showing off what they knew and learning from one another.  The guys with the cheapest guitars made the least progress because they were always fighting with the issues associated with them. The guys with the moderately more expensive guitars and expensive guitars learned at a faster rate.  The whole sharing guitars thing, trying other peoples guitars and trying out guitars in stores before I bought one taught me one thing.  It's better to have a quality guitar that plays better and lasts longer then a bottom of the barrel guitar.  I had a job where I could save up money and I saved for about three months before my first guitar purchase. (Because it was going to come out of my pocket, my dad wasn't going to buy one for me) And then I bought a Gibson 335.  Even though it was used it was a damn fine guitar and worth the wait.

 

 

As some of you may remember I bought a bottom of the barrel Telecaster copy awhile back.  There's a thread on it somewhere here at songstuff. It was a $100 guitar new. Piece of crap. the trim along the neck started cracking within a week of ownership.  The neck joint where the neck meets the body is cut wrong causing stability issues.  I had a ground issue which required I disassemble the guitar and trace the wires to fix the ground. The bridge pickup has an internal wiring issue which causes it to drop out completely. The screws for the saddles are stripped so it's impossible to get it properly intonated. And... the neck is warped. That's not all that was wrong with it. The nut was set wrong and the frets were uneven.  All it did was make me want a real telecaster more and question my original purchase decision.

 

more....

[TapperMike]

So I eventually replaced my "SX Furrian" by Rondo with not one but two telecasters.  

 

One was a "B stock" from Music123 and the other was a used item from an individual.  Sometimes "B stock" means crap and sometimes B stock means minor flaw. You have to know what you are looking at and looking for. The B stock Telecaster Blacktop Vintage modified cost me around 300 plus change. New it went between 500 and 600. Made in Mexico and aside from the blem (paint chip on the edge of the body) it was in perfect condition. No need to adjust the action or intonate or do a neck adjustment. The frets were dressed and polished. If it were a guitar that I was to play in public then I would have had no issues paying for a non blem version of the same guitar.

 

The other was the Modern Player Plus which I've blogged about and mention quite often - 

http://forums.songstuff.com/blog/159/entry-1499-review-fender-modern-player-telecaster-plus/

 

Again a guitar that has a new street value in the 500~600 market that I aquired used for 300 plus shipping.  The guy prolly played it for less then 10 hours and the only thing he did was put new strings on it.  Mint condition. He needed the money and I wanted the guitar.  We both won.

 

It's not just about tone ...which is important. It's also about workmanship, quality hardware on a quality instrument built up to a standard more then down to a price point.

[MoeJo110]

I completely agree with you, Rob.  But, I must confess that there's a part of me that wants this lucky 17 year old who's only been playing two years to have to go through the right of passage I had to endure of suffering with shit guitars for a longer period of time.  Sorry, Moe!  <heh-heh>  

 

Haha no offense taken. And actually I'll be playing for 3 years soon though!

 

However, I feel like all the girls my age that play guitar have fancy Taylor and Gibson acoustics that are worth thousands while I'm playing a much cheaper Yamaha. It holds its tune well and I put nice strings on it and I personally think it sounds great. 

 

I can't imagine the struggle you guys had to face suffering playing the guitar when you guys first learned! I thought my Yamaha got bad sometimes. I love that Yamaha, but it chews up my fingers when I play lots of power and bar chords after awhile.    

Edited November 26, 2014 by MoeJo110

[Rudi]

Rob.

Tidy soloist! I think those are Jackson PUs too right?

 

Moe might find a guitar like this has the neck a little too wide. It cant hurt to try a Dinky though. They are nicely priced.

[TapperMike]

I had a few stories where the less expensive guitar won over the more expensive one but I'll save that for another day.

 

 

Girls with Taylors and Gibsons....

One of the places that I worked but didn't live was rather affluent. As a result the workers in the retail shops and the like were "outsiders" and there was a wide division of class / wealth. An annual event was "Dancing in the Streets" Odd because they only had one motown type act performing.  Anyway it was folk/bluegrass in the mid day, New younger acts in the afternoon and classic rock in the evening.

 

All the shows were great.  The teenagers came in sporting outrageously priced equipment.  Top of the line american made PRS. Top of the line everything. Everything on that stage was high end.  They put on a good show. I enjoyed it and......They were never seen from again.  These kids all went back to school at top flight universities got degrees in Business, Finance and the like.  They did not want a career in the music business it was just a very expensive passing fancy for them which their parents could afford.

 

Having the most expensive guitar on the block does not ensure longevity in the music field. Having a guitar that inspires you can indirectly improve your playing. So it's okay to fall in love with one.

 

I had a Yamaha Pacifica years back. It played well but I was uninspired by it. I'd keep it in my car trunk and pull it out when I had a free moment between shifts (working two jobs) It also became a "student" guitar.  As sometimes absent minded students would come in for a lesson without a guitar and the boss frowned upon borrowing a guitar from the showroom for a lesson. Especially as we had rentals available.

[Rudi]

Rudi...

 

 

You think?

 

I have small hands. It's one of the main reasons I play Ibanez and Jackson guitars.

 

Wider than a Les Paul? With that rounded neck profile?

 

 

Curious !?

 

Yes, one of the main reasons I prefer the soloist is the wider neck. Not to be confused with the thickness of course, which is very small. I know the compound radii are large (12" + 16" I think) which makes the fretboard quite flat, and that is helpful to me also. Obviously a wider neck makes the string spacing wider too, and I find my Jacksons easy to fingerpick.

 

Both Fender (Strats) and Gibsons (Les Paul) are too small for me. I dont have large hands, but I feel clumsy playing a Strat. I used a regular (maple neck) Strat for nearly 30 years and found my fingers pushing strings off the fretboard more times than I've had hot dinners.

 

I have a 1995 XL professional and a 2012 Elite, both made at the Charvel plant in Japan. I dont have the official neck specs to hand. The XL neck thickness (not width) is a little smaller than the Elite, but the fingerboards are identical so far as I can tell.

 

I do know that the fingerboard widths do vary from model to model and neither of mine are current enough to feature in this link.

 

http://www.jacksonguitars.com/guitars/

 

 

 

I've just measured the Elite with vernier scale calipers. 

It reads 1.730" at the nut (1st fret) and 2.305" at the body (24th fret)

 

This link features old models but I dont see any neck specs there http://audiozone.dk/index-filer/jackson-pro-professional.php

Edited November 28, 2014 by Rudi

[TapperMike]

A long time buddy of mine and bandleader had this 70's strat that was nothing like mine. The neck was fatter and wider. He had smaller hands then mine but they were meaty. He had no problem getting around on his neck and I couldn't believe how much of a stretch it was for me.

 

Sometimes I think a lot of it boils down to what we start off with when we are starting off. My 335 had a slim D 60's profile neck same with my LP Custom. Those were my go-to guitars before the stratocaster. Nonetheless my 80' strat's neck profile was nothing like Willie's 70 strat.