I saw the old thread for this but it needs a new one

im thinking of getting one of those starter value packages that it comes with all the stuff and a basic fender or ibanez guitar. usually around 250-300 for above decent ones.

id like to see a debate as far as which side to go with.

i got that the squire fender has a wider range of genre it can play for (i.e. jazz to country to rock to metal) where as an ibanez is going to be focused more on a rock sound. i know thats one guys opinion but let me know whats good knowledge

and is the idea for a starter value package thing just a bad idea for a beginner

12/15/2009 9:50:36 PM

http://thewolfweb.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=487114&page=24

12/15/2009 10:00:35 PM

go on craigslist and get some sort of squier strat package for cheapstyle. people try to play guitar then quit all the time. when people ask me to teach them guitar I tell them to learn all their major and minor chords before the first lesson, which is usually how I weed out the people that won't have the determination to keep playing but yeah squier strats are pretty standard for n00bs

12/15/2009 10:12:16 PM

that is good advice

12/15/2009 10:12:48 PM

well i used to play a few instruments so i can read and ive been waiting to have the time to play.

good to go

12/15/2009 10:16:14 PM

best of luck, prior musical experience will certainly help. at least you know what you're getting into. I've been flirting with the idea of buying a drum kit for a while so I may be in the same boat as you soon

12/15/2009 10:20:24 PM

i did the starter pack from guitar center when i started on the banjo, worked out pretty well for cheap.

12/15/2009 10:20:32 PM

I've got a Squier Affinity Series Strat I'd let go for $50 if you end up buying separately

12/15/2009 10:29:32 PM

i live in pensacola, fl so that would be a problem...but thanks anyways

yea there is a local store here thats been around for 40 years and the guy who is the owner will beat any deal anywhere online or locally and any damages or sound/feel problems and he does those repairs for free if you buy from him. so ill probably do it there. also hes gonna restring my acoustic classic epiphone since it cant take steel strings.

12/16/2009 1:17:13 PM

i never had a squire, but when I did play, I had a US Fender Strat, and I loved it... very easy to play


I played my acoustic alot more though (as you don't need the amp)

12/16/2009 1:35:23 PM

Does the guitar brand really matter when it comes to being tailored to specific genres? Maybe very little, but I doubt it really comes into play at all when it comes to a guitar you'd find in the typical budget package deals.



[Edited on December 16, 2009 at 2:42 PM. Reason : that said... BC Rich sucks ]

12/16/2009 2:37:42 PM

Just saw a fender manufactured Johnson guitar on sale at SandHills Music (they have a website, lol.) Played it in-store and it's freaking awesome for the money. ~300, but way more guitar than you'll get with something boxed.

12/16/2009 2:39:43 PM

guilty of buying a mexican strat a little more than a year ago, but havent taken time to get lessons yet

12/16/2009 2:40:58 PM

Check out Harry's Guitar Shop, I got a really nice Alvarez Acoustic there, sounds great, brand new $215

12/16/2009 2:43:04 PM

Hey I'll sell you a guitar and amp for $100

12/16/2009 2:43:39 PM

Quote :

"Does the guitar brand really matter when it comes to being tailored to specific genres?"

Absolutely. For example, full-scale Fender-style guitars are more suited to playing country leads than full-scale Gibson-style guitars, because their scale length is 3/4" longer, thereby creating a brighter, twangier sound.

12/16/2009 2:49:05 PM

^Ok. My Ibanez (s540) seems to handle everything I've ever wanted to toss at it, but I'm out of the whole country twang arena. But I wouldn't imagine subtleties like that coming through on a $99 (new) guitar.

[Edited on December 16, 2009 at 2:59 PM. Reason : -]

12/16/2009 2:57:04 PM

Eh, you'd be surprised. Even at $100, a bolt-on plywood 25 1/2" guitar with Chinese Strat pickups is going to be much brighter than a bolt-on plywood 24 3/4" guitar with Chinese humbuckers.

Anyway, if you're going to spend $300, you can get a much nicer guitar than what comes in a starter pack and then pick up all the extra stuff that comes in it for $50 or so...the amps that come in those packs are absolute garbage and similar ones can be snagged on CL for next to nothing. It's also worth looking on CL for guitars of this type, as a nice Korean guitar that runs ~$600 new will go for about half that or less on CL because regardless of quality, asian guitars don't hold their resale value.

Also remember that a bad amp can make even the best guitar sound like shit, but a good amp will make even the worst guitar sound decent. The new Vox AC4TV is a great-sounding home amp that can be had new for less than $250.

12/16/2009 3:04:46 PM

^^ which year/style S540 do you have? the 1989 S540 (in desert yellow specifically) might be my favorite metal guitar ever. I <3 my s5470 and s470

12/16/2009 3:33:13 PM

I picked it up used in '94, so it's before then. The only s/n I can find is at the top of the neck, so assuming the neck is original it's from Jan '91.

[Edited on December 16, 2009 at 4:12 PM. Reason : -]

12/16/2009 4:11:35 PM

Quote :

"Does the guitar brand really matter when it comes to being tailored to specific genres?"

I agree with VB on this but I'd add that it's not really the brand as much as the woods/pickups they use. Ibanez can make dual humbucker guitars that'll rip your headoff metal style, but they also make hollowbody jazz guitars. It really just depends but some guitars are built for specific genres but others like a strat, are more versatile which is why they are so commonly recommended. Mexican Strats aren't bad either in my opinion. Don't shell out hundreds, if not thousands, for a great guitar if your skill doesn't match. If you don't perform or haven't played your whole life and want a lifetime **instrument**, don't spend over $1,500 on a guitar.

If you want to go acoustic I think Yamaha actually makes well crafted guitars that hold up. I have my dads from when he was at State. I play my acoustics (Taylor 410ce) more often as, somebody said up there^ you don't have to plug up to play and can pass them around the living room to other players. If you want to spend a little more Ovations are loved by many, but I had great experiences with my Taylor 110 or 114ce, you can get one for 450-500 used and they play beautifully.

My advice for learning guitar is:

to learn the major and minor chords first, and eventually you'll learn your 7th's and 9th's just by playing and throwing fingers on or off the existing chords you know. Scales are also very important but are tedious to learn and less rewarding in the beginning but are the obstacle to get over to being a great guitarist.

Learn the proper hand/body posture. this sounds like a no-brainer, but all it takes is incorrect posture to set you back months when you get to trickier chords/patterns.

PLAY WITH OTHER GUITARISTS, I cannot stress this enough, you will learn more from playing with others than by yourself. You will learn timing, key, etc. without having to think about it in strict terms and they can help you with correct strum patterns, etc. Getting a teacher is the best option, but if not you can find tons of group guitar lessons or friends to play with if they are patient enough.

Finally, DON'T GIVE UP!! the world doesn't need another guitar and amp sitting around in a basement somewhere. Guitar becomes an outlet for stress, a creative avenue, and maybe even something you can pick up girls with! Its an uphill battle at first but you'll pick up momentum, plateau, break through, plateau, etc. and eventually get better and better. Just keep trucking through the plateaus and you'll look back and be like "shit! I can't believe I could barely play Wonderwall last year and now I'm crushing the Santeria solo.

good luck!

/rant

12/16/2009 4:56:19 PM