drummer needs a guitar
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Posted on Nov 16, 2006 01:14 pm
FunkDadyP
No Commercial Appeal.
Member Since: Jan 09, 2003
hi, i have played drums in bands for about 7 or 8 years and have constantly been improving my guitaring skills. I'm also a vocalist so i'm ready to do the guitarist/frontman thing.
i own a 3/4 size classical, and a samick silvertone (fender strat wannabe)that is crappy to say the least.
I figure to have about $200 to spend on a new guitar or maybe rehabing the silvertone. the silvertone is playable, stays in tune and is properly intonated (i think). So i don't know if i should buy a set of pickups and maybe other goodies to inhance my samicaster or just drop $200 on another low-end guitar.
Is it wise to throw $150 pickups on to a guitar I bought from a CD shop?
Maybe find an ebay diamond in the rough?
any suggestions?
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FunkDadyPNo Commercial Appeal.Member
Since: Jan 09, 2003
Nov 16, 2006 01:18 pm oh by the way, i searched the archives here and saw a few people suggest the Yamaha Pacifica. Musicians friend has a deluxe version coming out
www.musiciansfriend.com/p...itar?sku=519177
It's got a humbucker pickup (that's good right?) and it is a "deluxe" whatever that means.
thanks again
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Nov 16, 2006 02:17 pm Yamaha Pacifica is an excellent entry-level electric guitar for sure. I hear nothing but good things for it in this price range. Here are the others that are good in this entry-level arena:
- Agile (Rondo)
- Squier (Fender)
- Schecter (Samick I think)
- Ibanez (Samick again)
In this price range, I'd stay away from Epiphone. They're little more than toys until you get into their $400 or so price range, and then they're very respectable guitars. Their LP junior may be an exception.
:edit: I looked it up and they don't make an LP junior, just the LP special, which I've heard terrible things about.
Really, Agile guitars get a good rep for good cheapie knockoffs of other guitars. They're only sold thru Rondo's website and EBay. I have an SX bass, made by Rondo as well. For the price, ya can't beat it. But they are certainly entry-level.
For $200 though, you might be better off looking for used instruments. You can get a lot more guitar for $200 at a pawn shop or used section of your local dealer. You might be able to find something that has a set-neck instead of a bolt-on, mahogany body instead of alder or agathis, nicely dressed frets instead of jagged sharp ones, body binding, nice tuners, nice bridge/tremolo, etc...most budget guitars won't have these things. But a used guitar might.
But I think that the most important thing here is to play before you pay. Quality control for instruments of this caliber is really hit-and-miss. One Ibanez may come off the line as a picture of perfection, and the next may be a nightmare of intonation problems and fret buzz.
Who knows, maybe talking to a reputable repairman or tech in your area about dressing up your Silvertone will be worth the money...depends on how far gone it is.
FunkDadyPNo Commercial Appeal.Member
Since: Jan 09, 2003
Nov 16, 2006 03:13 pm i noticed the "bolt-on" neck feature on a couple guitars. that means that the neck and body are two separate wood pieces? i'm not sure i am talented enough to mess with truss rods and intonation adjusting thingys. i'd probably ruin the wood.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Nov 16, 2006 04:07 pm I think that almost all guitars have a separate piece of wood for the neck.
Bolt-on necks are what they sound like: the neck is bolted to the body by a few screws. A set-neck is usually glued into place, but is still a separate piece of wood. Then there are neck-through guitars where the body consists of a couple of "wings" glued to the neck, and the neck continues all the way through the length of the body.
Bolt-on necks aren't the end of the world or anything, but a set-neck is nice to have. Its a more stable type joint.
If you've never set up the action, intonation and truss rod on a guitar before, its best to pay the $40 or so to have a tech do it for you. The results will be better and it'll save you lots of stress in the long run.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Nov 16, 2006 05:47 pm When I saw the title of this thread I thought it was another series of jokes....ahem....
Anyway, all the advice above is sound. I personally have a Squier strat that I bought for $99 that I'm slowly upgrading (tuners, pickups etc.) because I love the way it plays. However, this is not for everyone (i.e. throwing money into a cheap guitar). You have to really love the guitar to do that. Do you really LOVE your Silvertone?
The Schecter Diamond series are very nice, and very well priced. The used ones are probably very nicely priced. The necks are comfortable, and the pickups are alright. Very versatile. Like a poor man's Paul Reed Smith/Eggle.
FunkDadyPNo Commercial Appeal.Member
Since: Jan 09, 2003
Nov 16, 2006 06:41 pm No, i don't LOVE my silvertone. but i would love it more if i could make it sound like a $500 guitar for the price of pickups ($100-200?) and new strings. knowwaddamean?
I think the Pacifica Deluxe looks alright. Would love to find a cheap Dean (non-flying V).
By the way TallChap, i think you could come up with about 10 good jokes from this topic. I like all musician jokes because i've played guitar, bass, drums and sang lead, back up and even shook a tambourine. i guess if the jokes are true, i'm the most ignorant SOB in the country.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Nov 16, 2006 09:26 pm It's all good. All music. That's the important part.
I wouldn't personally upgrade what you have, but go for a nice used instrument.
As for new: The Squier '51 - a hybrid instrument - is now going for $99 in some places (possibly Banjo-Center...). That's a nice guitar with a lot of versatility.
Kaos62Kaos is only a form of insanityMember
Since: Feb 03, 2005
Nov 18, 2006 01:06 am I'm going to jump on to this thread aswell because i am doing the same thing. However I was looking into a hollow back guitar. has anyone got a suggestion, again the budget is 200-300 dollars
Nov 18, 2006 03:13 am I like that fender twang and many moons ago I swithed to a strat cos its a good all rounder from a tele, but what do you mean by hybrid with the squire 51, is it the sound or hardware/appearance?
Nov 18, 2006 07:55 am I'll second the recommendation regarding the Squier 51. It is currently the only electric guitar that I own, and I use it for gigs and for recording.
It's a "hybrid" in the sense that it has a single-coil in the neck position and a humbucker in the bridge position. The humbucker is coil-tapped so that it can be switched to a single coil. This gives the guitar a great deal of flexibility.
I love my 51, and I haven't even upgraded anything. It works great just the way it is!
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Nov 18, 2006 09:00 am Kaos, do you mean a hollow-body guitar?
I don't know of many hollow bodies in that price range, but here are a few ideas:
- Ibanez Artcore. I hear mixed reviews. ABout the best deal going in entry-level hollow and semi-hollow guitars tho.
- Maybe a used Schecter hollow body?
- Epiphone dot guitars get a lot of good press, but, like the Artcore, they're just above your price range. You might be able to find a deal on one of these somewhere tho.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Nov 18, 2006 12:30 pm I agree with Tadpui on the Epi and the Ibanez. But as stated they will be just a pinch above your price range. Although I have seen them used for what you are looking to pay. As well you may find one on sale somewhere as well. They are easily modified for future, but stock have really good sound as is.
Kaos62Kaos is only a form of insanityMember
Since: Feb 03, 2005
Nov 19, 2006 01:54 am cheers guys yes Tad I meant hollow body, been living in francve too long and have started to lose certain english words - my god i must be going a bit too native
