Don't know shit about guitars, HEEELP is the least I can say...

[lawrence_o]

Hi slutz,

I want to buy a guitar but don't know much about it. I know brands like Gibson, Fender, Gretsch and Ibanez but that's about it.

Had a studio player on a gretsch once, on an old Fender Tube amp/speaker and I liked that sound a lot!

Now, gretsch isn't really cheap I've seen;.

I will need the guitar for pop / R&B productions, not heavy metal, not hard rock stuff.

I think my budget for a guitar and amp will be around 5k USD.

Any ideas? Thanks!

PS: I can't play either LOL but I'll have to learn it so suggestions about that, DVDs, videos, book tips are equally as welcome

[slaves666]

I would suggest a Fender Strat and a Fender Twin amp. That combo will get a lot of use in the styles you record.

[Kris]

I think the best way to really find the right guitar for you is to head out to the music stores and play a bunch of them... Find one that feels and sounds right to you... Don't let anyone (friends/salesmen) influence your decision... just the guitar. You will know when you are holding the right one. I think guitars are a very personal thing.

[joaquin]

Originally Posted by Kris

I think the best way to really find the right guitar for you is to head out to the music stores and play a bunch of them... Find one that feels and sounds right to you... Don't let anyone (friends/salesmen) influence your decision... just the guitar. You will know when you are holding the right one. I think guitars are a very personal thing.

thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup

[balaperdida]

It sounds like this will be the resident studio guitar rather than "your baby," so as much as I agree with the idea that a guitar is a personal, feel-based decision, I would buy something that helps you sell studio time. Shallow, but true.

To that superficial end, I think : if you're buying new, Gretsch Country Gentleman guitars have a lots of sex appeal, with Rickenbacker 360s a potential second option. Les Pauls are sexy, too, but they are poorly balanced and thus awkward to play while seated unless you were trained classically, so if you want a Gibson, perhaps something on the order of a 335 model. Hope that helps. Cheers.

[nathanvacha]

i really agree with kris for my own personal buying trends, and am totally on with the first paragraph balapardida wrote, but since you said pop/r&b, i can't help but say get yourself a nice fender strat... or a g&l strat. that's probably going to be your sort of thing and fit right in your situation.

[Kris]

Also agree that a nice strat will do well... A vintage blackface Twin, Super, or Deluxe Reverb would also be great choice. You have the budget for it... find a minty one...

[ScumBum]

Get an AMERICAN Fender strat , or just go to the guitar store and tell the sales man "I want the best Fender Stratocaster you got ! " . Everyone likes playing a strats ,

If it was Rock music you were doing , then get a Gibson SG or Les Paul ,



They Strats from mexico which are cheap crap , don't buy one

[Joel DuBay]

Originally Posted by joaquin

thumbsup thumbsup thumbsup

Agreed.



And....start saving now...because you will want more, with different sounds, feel, etc..very soon after.

[DeeDrive]

Wow, nothing left to say, you guys got it. Definitely an American Strat. Don't even mess with a Mexi-made strat. I'd rather play some beginner guitar than most Mexi-made fenders. I second the fender amp to. This is one of the best clean sounds you can get, and if you're not looking for raging distortion, this is the best way to go.

[doorknocker]

Originally Posted by DeeDrive

Definitely an American Strat. Don't even mess with a Mexi-made strat. I'd rather play some beginner guitar than most Mexi-made fenders. I second the fender amp to. This is one of the best clean sounds you can get, and if you're not looking for raging distortion, this is the best way to go.

I dunno. I play a Fender Japan Tele that I got for about $ 400 on e-bay and then loaded up with Seymour Duncan Antiquity PUs. It VASTLY outperforms any new American Tele or Strat I've encountered. The build quality is better too.

Also be advised that a Fender guitar thru a Fender Amp is a very clean affair. I love the sound but it's DEFINITELY not what you hear in current rock productions.

For anything resembling rock I would highly recommed a Marshall amp.

Just my 2 swiss francs.....

[allencollins]

Fender products are garbage. The old twins are nice with tube rectifiers in em but
their guitars are crap and always have been. Sloppy fretwork, 2-3 pc bodies 2-3pc necks. The tremelos on them are crap they can't be intonated properly and the go out of tune after playing 1 chord. They use cheap woods like alder ash and poplar. There are so many great guitars available and Fender aint one of them. I have a squire strat thats better than a usa fender. Save your money and get a custom built gtr or an old pre 1995 prs with a hard tail. You will be pleased

[juicemaster1500]

fender japan is the shiznit.

[Schmacko]

I'm new here, but I'll add my $0.02 since my main instrument is the guitar.

1st thing to consider is the primary type of music that you will be recording with this instrument, and what brands/models where used by the performers in the music that you consider to have the best sound in that type of music. Let this steer you in the direction in what guitars to try out at your local shop. You've got a great budget to work with, and I agree with the Fender Twin amp suggestions, although you'll definitely need to buy some effects pedals.

My favorite electric that I own is my PRS Hollowbody Spruce w/LR baggs Piezo option. It has great tone and is very versitile. If I could afford another, I would buy it 'cause I like it so much.

greetings to all,

-G

[Yuri Kogan]

Given your funds I would recommend a good strat and a good telecaster. This will give enough versatility with guitars, both are popular with players of most styles. An american players strat and an ash tele will cover most of your needs.

With regard to the amps I would discourage you from buying a "vintage " amp given your inexperience. They may be high maintenance, most have been "improved"/modified and most fenders are a one-trick pony anyway (I know, I own 5 of them). Instead I would recommend a THD Univalve or a BiValve - you can finetune your sound by installing a variety of valves and not only will they cover most styles, they are a usefull studio tool in a first place ( reamping drums....). THDs are built like a tank have a good varranty and will allow you hours of tweaking.

my 2AUcents

[lawrence_o]

Wow, what different advice. Thanks guys but I think i'll just go to the shop and have the player show me all you guys mentioned here and let the sucker combine it on all the amps he has

Anyway, thx guys! You rock!


Regards
Lawrence

[maskedman72]

you have a 5k budget id go with a custom build warmoth strat and spend the other 3k on the amp.

[lawrence_o]

Well guys,

I went to the store today and saw this big bloody Gretsch Anniversary! I asked the dude to play some Fenders, Gibson, Ibanez and gretsch on a Fender Hot Rod tube amp. I finally took the Gretsch. Sounded bigger then the rest to my ears. Also, that fender tube amp/speaker rocks! Has overdrive on it and two channels you can set-up independently!

I already know two chrods LOL :-))

Thanks guys for your help!

Regards
Lawrence.

[joaquin]

Originally Posted by lawrence_o

Well guys,

I went to the store today and saw this big bloody Gretsch Anniversary! I asked the dude to play some Fenders, Gibson, Ibanez and gretsch on a Fender Hot Rod tube amp. I finally took the Gretsch. Sounded bigger then the rest to my ears. Also, that fender tube amp/speaker rocks! Has overdrive on it and two channels you can set-up independently!

I already know two chrods LOL :-))

Thanks guys for your help!

Regards
Lawrence.

Felicidadez!!

[tidalbomb]

Originally Posted by allencollins

Fender products are garbage. The old twins are nice with tube rectifiers in em but
their guitars are crap and always have been. Sloppy fretwork, 2-3 pc bodies 2-3pc necks. The tremelos on them are crap they can't be intonated properly and the go out of tune after playing 1 chord. They use cheap woods like alder ash and poplar. There are so many great guitars available and Fender aint one of them. I have a squire strat thats better than a usa fender. Save your money and get a custom built gtr or an old pre 1995 prs with a hard tail. You will be pleased

Ladies and Gentleman, Ed Roman.

Seriously though - there's a lot of good info on Mr. Romans site.

http://www.worldclassguitars.com

[Neddy Seagoon]

Originally Posted by allencollins

Fender products are garbage. The old twins are nice with tube rectifiers in em but
their guitars are crap and always have been. Sloppy fretwork, 2-3 pc bodies 2-3pc necks. The tremelos on them are crap they can't be intonated properly and the go out of tune after playing 1 chord. They use cheap woods like alder ash and poplar. There are so many great guitars available and Fender aint one of them. I have a squire strat thats better than a usa fender. Save your money and get a custom built gtr or an old pre 1995 prs with a hard tail. You will be pleased

You're right of course. That's why they never really caught on I guess. I can't think of a single good player who ever used used - because they are so bad no doubt.