snauty on 23/4/2008 at 18:42
btw if you want to go cheap, be careful. don't buy crap. get still at least a decent one from epiphone, ibanez or squire. don't go too cheap. because if the neck's bent wrong, the frets are not sounding in corresponding pitch or the instrument's detuning all the time anyway, you ruin your musical hearing right from the start.
what's less important is the sound quality, all the buttons and switches and the exotic wood components (which is a questionable thing anyway, think about the save-the-rainforest-gigs you're gonna play). but an instrument has to stay in tune, the pro's just like the starter's.
The Phenomenon on 23/4/2008 at 21:51
Gibson and Fender both have a cheaper brand. For Fender its Squire and the instruments are still of a high quality (except for the ones you get in the starter packs, never buy those), they are just machine made as opposed to hand made.
Bathcat on 23/4/2008 at 23:09
Quote Posted by Aja
Anything from Ibanez would probably be okay for a starter (Peavey is a better budget brand, though)
Yeah, I think my bass is actually decent. I'm generally busy and/or not motivated to play it. What I should do is sign up for lessons this summer, considering I can't even tune the thing properly. (DVDs aren't quite cutting it.)
Aja on 23/4/2008 at 23:46
You can't tune it? Did you buy a tuner?
Is the problem just getting the thing in basic tuning or does it only go out on the higher frets (in which case the intonation is off)?
PigLick on 24/4/2008 at 07:42
Be aware that brand name isnt everything, especially with fender squires. You can get some really horrible of the shelf squires, also Ibanez and Epiphone, jesus christ avoid epiphones - overpriced pieces of junk. So how can you tell a good, say, squire from a bad one? By playing it, how well does it stay in tune, especially the intonation. Not much help for a beginner though, and dont listen to most staff at music stores either, a lot of them have to sell certain amount of units per month or whatever.
For example, where I work (
http://www.soundcentre.com.au/) Sound Centre has a big dealership with the Japanese brands, namely Yamaha, ESP and LTD, so they try and sell as many of these guitars as they can.
However, having said that, I would actually recommend these brands, especially Yamaha, they make some great basses in the mid-price range. But the best thing would be just to get your hands on an instrument, any quality, and just start playing.
Aja on 24/4/2008 at 07:45
Quote Posted by PigLick
jesus christ avoid epiphones - overpriced pieces of junk.
Not true; I've played some Epiphones that were practically on par with real Gibsons. I guess it depends on the individual guitar.
PigLick on 24/4/2008 at 07:54
Nah not really, I stand by that statement, I have played many epiphones, and they have all been overpriced for their quality, perhaps not junk as such, but certainly not worth the pricetag.
trust me, I have played a hell of a lot more guitars than you.
In case that sounded too harsh, what I meant was that you are better off getting something cheaper, but with equal or better quality.
Aja on 24/4/2008 at 07:59
I've never played a Gibson I really liked, so maybe you're right. $800 for an Epiphone LP that sounds nearly as good as a $2000 Les Paul (and plays fairly similarly) just seems like a good deal, if you're into that kinda thing.
And if you're in Canada, the best deal -- hands down -- is Godin.
Yell Piranha on 24/4/2008 at 07:59
Thought I would hijack this thread slightly as you all seem to know a bit about guitars.
I would like to teach myself a bit of standard guitar. I had spanish guitar lessons at school getting on for 8 years ago but gave it up before Id made any kind of standard (was about grade 3 level) due to rising work levels.
Anyway I still have the guitar but have barely touched it since then but now would like to teach myself to play something slightly more popular. Have you guys got any advice on what I should do to get started?
