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Any Guitarists out there?

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I was looking into getting my first electric guitar, but I'm having a hard time choosing.

I'm going to play your standard rock(Queen, etc), some funk, and some newer alternative punk on it, so I need something pretty versatile.

I was looking at the Standard Telecaster and the Epiphone Les Paul Standard, leaning towards the Telecaster(I can always get better pickups).

Any suggestions on a beginner's guitar? I'm looking to spend at or less than 500.

Thanks!
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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I've been a guitarist for about 18 years, and can offer up some beginner's advice.

From the style of music you are interested in, you're dead on the money with which type of guitar to get.

Anything with single coil pickups should give you that smooth blues or treble-y funk ound (Ray Vaughan, Hendrix, Chili Peppers etc...).

The Tele is a great guitar, but a little bit too twangy for my tastes. It is the go to guitar for countryfied blues. Not enough bottom end though for alt rock.

The middle of the road would be a Strat if you could afford it, but the Fender Jazzmaster and Fender Jaguar are both great guitars for the price (you should be able to find one for around $500, just not the signature series). They would definately give you the sound you're after.

When you move into the Gibson/Epiphone line, you're looking at humbuckers which give you way more bottom end and warmth, but it comes at a price as they tend to feedback more at higher volumes, at least in my experience. Think Jimmy Page, Slash etc...

A great song to listen to is the Beatles' Get Back. Lennon is playing an Epiphone Casino (an awesome guitar and something worth looking at if you want a humbucker guitar with wamth, and they're only $350-$500) and Harrison is playing a Telecaster. You can hear the distinct differences in them as Lennon takes the lead and Harrison the rythym. Harrison's backing work shows the chunkiness of the Tele and the twang, and Lennon's work showcases the warmth and smoothness of the humbucker style guitars.

One thing I would recommend is narrowing it down to who your favourite guitarists are, find out what they played, and find a similar guitar in your price range - there are budget versions of EVERY guitar out there, and each one can give a beginner satisfactory results.

Oh, and I will assume you don't play guitar - I would suggest going with the Fender style guitar, as the body type allows for a lower action (the space between the strings and the neck) which isn't as hard on your fingers as the higher action on humbucker guitars, which (with the exception of the Les Paul) tend to be hallow body.

Sorry for rambling, hope there's some good advice in there somewhere!
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I have always loved Ibanez. They have some very versatile guitars and a great selection in your price range.

I am partial to the RG series (especially since my inspiration brewed in the 80/90's with Vai, Satch and Eddie.) Some of the recent lower end ones made in Korea play nowhere as nice as the Japanese Prestige, but are a great bargain.

A used guitar, but not too used (like an RG 500 series) would be the way to go though IMHO. You can find a what used to be an $800 guitar for around $450. That way you won't outgrow your guitar because you settled in your purchase because of price. Fender is always a good choice of course, just get out there and play them all... then go online and get a better deal!

Galatians 2: 20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

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I'm partial to Dean MLs myself, but those are more metal-oriented.

I also really like Gibsons, but they cost a lot (Epiphones are more or less Gibsons for people who can't afford Gibsons). I guess I just like differently shaped guitars, like a Gibson Explorer or Flying V.

If you could find a used Gibson SG (or Epiphone SG, for that matter), it would definitely be worth the hefty price tag.

http://i.imgur.com/7N84TM8.jpg

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Thanks for the help.

The thing about my favorite guitarist, Brian May, is that he built his own guitar.

My first plan was to simply buy the Brian May Signature Series Red Special, but they end up being around 1300 including shipping and with the crazy exchange rates. I'd like one that can achieve a similar style to his red special, without spending over a grand in a perfect world.
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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I forgot to mention one of my obvious problems in finding a good guitar for a reasonable price: I'm a lefty.
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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Originally posted by: TheSessler
I forgot to mention one of my obvious problems in finding a good guitar for a reasonable price: I'm a lefty.


Are you a total guitar newbie? If you have never played before, and are a lefty, learn to play as a righty. That way you have a lot more power in your fingering hand.

A decent entry level guitar that is inexpensive is a fender squire. You can get them with single coil and humbuckers, so you have a wide range of sound and they are easy to learn on.

It is a good idea to go out and try different ones. Comfort is important. Remember, you can always change your sound with pick-ups, amps etc. But a guitar should feel right, finished neck or unfinished neck? Strat style or Les Paul style? Etc. Some players are very picky. Some are not. Only you know you.
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My dad had one similar to this back in his time, and suggested it to me as well.

What do you guys think? Will it work for my type of music?

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-LeftHanded-Les-Paul-Custom-Electric-Guitar-?sku=518559&src=3WFRWXX
"I don't mind if you don't like my manners. I don't like them myself. They're pretty bad. I grieve over them during the long winter evenings."
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Looks good Sess, but as others have said, if you're unfamiliar with how to play guitar, learn right handed.

I'm a lefty and I play right handed, it feels very natural.

Other famous lefties are Hendrix and Paul McCartney, but they just strung their guitars upside down.
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I've been playing guitar on and off for a few years, and my first guitar was an epiphone Les Paul junior, just one pickup a volume and a tone control, it was great to learn on and still sounds better than a lot of my friends guitars (and it was cheap)

on the subject of Brian May a lot of his distinctive sound comes from the way his guitar is wired, he has his pickups set so they can be turned on and off independantly and set in and out of phase with each other which greatly effects the dynamic of the sound, it's not something many guitars are able to do, also the pickups are wired in series not in parallel as on most guitars, but it is very easy to re-wire a Strat' to get the same options and a similar sound.
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You can create pretty much any "sound" you want using your pick-up selector and effects. Good effects can make any crummy guitar sing. The most important thing to look for in a guitar is playability and action. That all comes down to preference in body style and neck. I have picked up some very beautiful guitars that just sucked!

As a newer guitarist you need to just get out there and look at some guitars, notice the differences in necks ( feel, thickness, finish ) and find out what your preference is. Sit down with them and see how you like the body styles and how comfortable it is to you as you play... after searching for a bit you will have a better idea of what YOU want, rather than go by someone else's opinion. Keep in mind if you will stand and learn, or sit. Some guitars play great standing, but are not made to sit down with. The more you fall in love with the guitar you purchase, the more likely you will want to play it... the more you play it, the better you will get faster.

Do you have an amp already? That can be as fun as looking for the guitar. Always save a little bit more money for a better amp.

Galatians 2: 20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

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I have owned literally more than two dozen guitars in my life... My favorite of all of them was probably my ESP, and the Ibanez Prestige I have now. They all played different. One of my least favorites was the Gibson Studio Les Paul... I guess I just could not get used to the body style and painted neck. *shrugs* It is all a matter of what YOU want.

I have waisted so much money on guitars it is not even funny. I'd trade a guitar for another in a heartbeat. I was one stupid kid!

Galatians 2: 20: I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.