1. i cant play guitar very well, i had my grandfather's 40-yr old acoustic for a while but i didnt play it a lot and my sister has usurped it

2. i've always been intrigued by electric guitar sounds and think i would enjoy learning with an electric more than playing with the acoustic

3. i dont know a lot about what i want in an electric guitar, but ive looked around on ebay and whatnot

here are some specs, and can those knowledgeable tell me whether its worth it (although its not very expensive anyway) ~$100 :

Quote :

" * Body: Basswood (42mm) * Neck: Maple * Fingerboard: Rosewood 9.5" Radius (241mm) * Frets: 21 Medium Jumbo * Pickups: 3 Single-Coil Strat Pickups * Controls: Master Volume, Tone, Tone * Pickup Switching: 5-Position Blade: * Position 1. Bridge Pickup * Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup * Position 3. Middle Pickup * Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup * Position 5. Neck Pickup * Bridge: Synchronous Tremolo with Cast Saddles * Machine Heads: Covered Tuners * Hardware: Chrome * Pickguard: 1-Ply White * Scale Length: 25.5" (648 mm) * Width at Nut: 1.65" (42 mm) * Unique Features: Slim (42mm) Body Profile, * Traditional Strat® Headstock Shape, * White Dot Position Inlays * Strings: Fender Super 250L, (.009 to .042) Nickel Plated Steel p/n 073-0250-003"

10/6/2008 9:41:26 PM

Spending $100 on a guitar is a waste of money.

Is that a Squire? Those are absolute trash.

10/6/2008 9:48:41 PM

revealing more about my lack of guitar knowledge... is squire a brand?

the guitar is a Fender, so maybe Squire is a type of Fender?

10/6/2008 9:52:33 PM

a lot of knowledge here:

message_topic.aspx?topic=487114&page=1

10/6/2008 9:53:19 PM

damn forgot the entertainment section

10/6/2008 9:53:56 PM

Squire is a type of Fender, it's the cheapest Fender you can buy. It's absolute crap. IMO, you can't really get a decent electric for $100. Try to find a mexican Fender Strat for around $300 and you're set. Remember, with electric, you also have to buy a decent amp.

10/6/2008 9:54:25 PM

Squires are cheap-o Fenders

My suggestion would be a Mexican Strat. It isn't a great guitar, but it's infinitely better than a Squire and could be had for a little more than twice what you're looking at.

Please don't get a Squire, you will hate guitars forever

[Edited on October 6, 2008 at 9:56 PM. Reason : ]

10/6/2008 9:55:31 PM

to save some money, you're probably better off buying the guitar and amp used.

10/6/2008 9:58:00 PM

yea ill def. get something used, new ones are $bailout

10/6/2008 10:00:02 PM

i mean honestly he should just get a used roland microcube for now. you can get them used for less than $100 im sure and they are probably the best amp for around $100 you can get right now. It is true that you would need a decent amp for an electric eventually, but no need when he is just starting out to get anything gigworthy.

http://guitars.musiciansfriend.com/product/Roland-Micro-Cube-Combo-Amp?sku=481169&src=3WFRWXX&ZYXSEM=0&CAWELAID=49954475

[Edited on October 6, 2008 at 10:02 PM. Reason : ]

10/6/2008 10:00:47 PM

you get what you pay for.

I'm walls1441 and i approved this message.

[Edited on October 6, 2008 at 10:07 PM. Reason : if you plan on sticking with it don't get something shitty. but if its an occasional hobby go for it]

10/6/2008 10:07:24 PM

right, but someone learning doesnt need anything more than a mexi strat and a microcube

you can get both of them for less than $400 easy (prob close to $300 if you waited for good deals) and both are fairly easy to sell for close to what you paid for them if you decide you want something better down the road

[Edited on October 6, 2008 at 10:09 PM. Reason : ]

10/6/2008 10:08:07 PM

yea thats what i was thinking in terms of if i by some ungodly chance got decent at playing it, later i could sell it for the same value (to get a better one)

[Edited on October 6, 2008 at 10:11 PM. Reason : ]

10/6/2008 10:11:13 PM

I started on an acoustic but my first electric was a mexican fender. Those things last forever. It still sounds just as good as the day I bought it about 6 years ago.

I have an Ibanez now but it's nothing special something in the 300-400 dollar range, I don't play much anymore so I can't remember what kind it is. But definitely go for a fender to start with.

10/7/2008 2:49:30 AM

Quote :

"Try to find a mexican Fender Strat for around $300 and you're set. Remember, with electric, you also have to buy a decent amp. "

i doubt they're even that much. they weren't when i bought my mexi-strat.

find a used mexican-made stratocaster, and a decent used amp. the amp has a lot to do with how it sounds. you don't need a ton of power, but don't get a garbage amp.

don't spend too much right away--i'm a proponent of buy well, buy once, but in this case, you need to play for a while and figure out what you like, first.

10/7/2008 6:45:02 AM

if you are just learning a $100 guitar is completely fine. get at least decent, and then get a good guitar imo.

10/7/2008 7:03:31 AM

The problem is that there's no such thing as a decent $100 guitar

10/7/2008 7:20:07 AM

craigslist is your friend

i got a used washburn t-bird on there for less than $200, and later bought a new roland cube 20x to go with it

10/7/2008 7:44:06 AM

actually yea the roland cube 20x is more of what I was thinking of after looking at the pics.

10/7/2008 7:49:26 AM

Good lord you guys are some guitar snobs.

I'm sure hundreds of thousands of people learned to play on Squire Stratocasters. They play fine and sound decent. Once you run it through a distortion pedal or turn on the built in distortion on your amp most n00bs wouldn't know the difference between it and a real strat anyway.

10/7/2008 10:37:29 AM

lol saying a Squire sucks is NOT being a guitar snob (and suggesting a mexican strat certainly isnt either). We arent even talking about using distortion with one, they are just terrible to play on and can be very frustrating because they are generally set up horribly and could hinder a new guitar player's experience. Sure mexi strats are hit or miss, but they are certainly better than squier's. But I dont think we can be snobs for suggesting a mexi strat; I mean we still are suggesting a very low level guitar.

on another note:

http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/862443518.html

id hit that guy up dweedle and see if you can talk him down. Thats not a bad deal. The amp is about 125 new from a store and then the mexi strats prob average around 300 with steals dropping close to 200 when you get lucky on ebay or something. Id say if he would take 300 thats a nice little setup to start on, at 350 its your call but not a bad deal (and its in raleigh)

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 10:51 AM. Reason : ]

10/7/2008 10:50:58 AM

I'm just saying...Do you know how many kids are rocking out on Hondos and Washburn Lyon guitars? The Squire Strat is fine to learn on if you can't afford something better. You know those things are like $75 used. Considering most people buy a guitar, play it for a month, and then let it sit in the corner for three years it's not a bad option to see if you'll really get into it.

10/7/2008 11:25:51 AM

someone who is 24 is a lot less likely to have fun jamming on a pos guitar than some 15 year old kid who is just excited to have a guitar period. Thats the way I feel at least. For younger kids I dont think it matters as much and I would prob get a pretty cheap guitar at first.

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 11:38 AM. Reason : ]

10/7/2008 11:37:45 AM

Get any ole' thing. Go here at midnight.



cut deal with Devil.

profit $$$

Just don't accept any free drinks and you'll be OK.

10/7/2008 1:40:10 PM

^^^^ I agree... hit this guy up http://raleigh.craigslist.org/msg/862443518.html

Get a used Taco Strat over a new Squier any day.

10/7/2008 2:03:21 PM

my mexican strat is actually my favorite guitar.

*shrug*

10/7/2008 2:11:54 PM

Quote :

"lol saying a Squire sucks is NOT being a guitar snob"

True, but without being specific I really have to wonder.

10/7/2008 2:19:15 PM

certain tuning pegs not holding their tuning even half decently with only moderate playing, uneven fret ends, strings set up with an uneven distance from the fretboard are all things I have seen on stock squiers friends have had. And of course to fix this they either have a friend who knows what they are doing fix it, or pay someone for a setup which defeats the purpose of a $75-100 guitar.

of course I have seen this on lots of good guitars too (why i never buy guitars new from big stores like guitar center) but these things show up much more frequently on lower end guitars of course.

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 2:24 PM. Reason : ]

10/7/2008 2:23:31 PM

I was wondering b/c I picked up a Squire P Bass a couple months ago and I love it. Of course I have no experience with guitars. I've hit a dry spell playing drums and I wanted to venture out.

10/7/2008 2:27:46 PM

yea I mean its not the same experience for everyone, Ive just seen too many poorly made squiers to ever recommend one to somebody.

10/7/2008 2:32:03 PM

I'll add another suggestion to go with something more than bargain basement. mexi-strat would probably be my recommendation too, but you could also look for a MIM Tele or an Epiphone Les Paul, etc.

At least IMO, it's not even about the sound. As several others have said, it's about the guitar having a level of quality and playablity to it. You don't want a new guitarist being driven away by frustrations with a $100 guitar that would have been non-issues if they had spent just a bit more money.

10/7/2008 2:53:34 PM

I cannot see you playing a guitar

You're far too uncoordinated

no offense

10/7/2008 3:13:09 PM

Quote :

"Once you run it through a distortion pedal or turn on the built in distortion on your amp most n00bs wouldn't know the difference between it and a real strat anyway."

It's not even about sound or tone (although a Squire does sound like shit), it's about playability. Learning to play on a Squire would be such a pain that it would sap most of the fun. At least get a Mexican Strat (hardly a high quality guitar), the action, frets, and fretboard make it an immensely easier and more fun guitar to learn on.

10/7/2008 4:59:14 PM

Quote :

"They play fine and sound decent."

No. They don't.

On both accounts.

10/7/2008 5:18:57 PM

^^^what the hell have i done uncoordinated in your midst

10/7/2008 5:28:25 PM

Just the way you carry yourself

I see you as more fit to bang away aimlessly on a drumset than to pluck the sweet strings of a guitar

10/7/2008 5:32:31 PM

you're an idiot

what do you want me to do, prance around on my tiptoes

fag

10/7/2008 5:34:27 PM

what are you knowledgeable people's thoughts on Ibanez

10/7/2008 5:39:45 PM

Maybe I could see you playing a banjo

or even a fiddle

but a guitar ?

no fuckin way bro

too much of a spaz

10/7/2008 5:49:00 PM

i only ask out of curiosity

you're hardly the person whose opinion i would ever consider to matter

10/7/2008 6:10:50 PM

you're about as dumb as a box of hammers

10/7/2008 6:16:15 PM

Ibanez are good guitars. DO NOT GET AN RG350.

If you're going to get an RG try and find an RG550 or an older model. If you're getting one of those semi hollow blues bodies they're pretty nice too.

I'm walls1441 and i approved this message.

10/7/2008 6:18:02 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/IBANEZ-RG-120-2006-W-FLOYD-ROSE-WHAMMY-NM-W-EXTRAS_W0QQitemZ280273292475QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item280273292475&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

my roommate said the same about ibanez being pretty good

i just ran across that one on ebay



only thing is its a 2006 (not an older model as you suggest)

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 6:24 PM. Reason : ]

10/7/2008 6:23:55 PM

do NOT get any guitar with a floating tremolo unless its an Original Floyd rose made by Schaller in germany, an Original Edge or Lo-Profile Edge, or a new German Made Schaller FRT-II. You will run into countless problems if you do anything else.

If it says "floyd rose licenced" walk away. Basically if you don't get a top of the line tremolo you'll be re-tuning that bad boy everytime you bend a note or depress the bar. As much as it seems cool to have 24 frets, you'll find out pretty quick that you're rarely going to use them. Ibanez infinity (inf8 or whatever) pickups are terrible. You have to spend around $300+ to get a decent ibanez or find an older one thats used. If you're getting an RG make sure they have V7/V8 pickups or whatever dimarzio/duncan pickups the prestige guitars have.

I'm walls1441 and i approved this message.

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 6:27 PM. Reason : remember Original/LoPro Edge or Schaller. NO LICENCED OR LO-TRS THEY ARE TERRIBLE LIKE SAABTURBO]
[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 6:32 PM. Reason : calledtoarms will tell you the ZR trem is pretty good too for the S models but i've never played one]

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 6:35 PM. Reason : if you REALLY want a non terrible floating trem its going to cost you >$150 just for a that.]

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 6:37 PM. Reason : also that guitar doesn't even have a locking nut. destined for fail.]

10/7/2008 6:26:30 PM

hahaha Walls1441 = current god of TWW.

I love Ibanez guitars. I have 4 of them and there are several other models I would love to have (a DY 550 or a DY 89 540SLTD. However, I have no played their low end stuff much. My first guitar was a low end Ibanez but its been a long time since I played it. It did alright and got the job done. All my other Ibanez are mid or high level ones so its hard to give useful info for you from those.

And yes, relating to Walls' post the ZR2 is great, I NEVER tune my guitar. Maybe slight adjustments right before a show but even then it is barely off if its off. And the other trems he listed are quality. HOWEVER, since this is his first guitar, I dont recommend he get a guitar with any floating bridge at all, just going to be a pita for him.

10/7/2008 6:41:00 PM

yeah like i said. if you're spending $200 just on the trem its going to be a costly guitar (because most companies won't put those trems on lower end models). So get one without a trem and you won't have a problem. They're a bitch to set up and change strings anyways. If i didn't already enjoy playing i probably would've quit if my first guitar had one.

its also chancy buying a shitty guitar and putting a new bridge/pickups in it. usually ends up being a money sink as you realize more and more things could use improvement the better you get. so it probably is in your best interest to get a fixed bridge RG if you're going ibanez. Don't buy a jackson, be careful with ESP/LTD, don't buy bc rich. Schecter are probably too expensive.

I'm walls1441 and i approved this message.

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 6:46 PM. Reason : k i gotta go back to trolling now.]

10/7/2008 6:44:05 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ibanez-RG550-RG-550-Signed-by-Joe-Satriani-Steve-Vai_W0QQitemZ270283016816QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item270283016816&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

how's this RG550, (indifferent about the fact it's autographed)

10/7/2008 7:02:59 PM

oh basically with ibanez. theres x50 or x70 in most cases. 50 means face plate 70 means no face plate. anything else and you're probably going to have a different pickup configuration or not 24 frets or something depending on the x. Thats pretty much the exact guitar i have now except i replaced the pickups and i have an AANJ on mine so the higher frets are potentially easier for me to reach, but thats not really a big deal.

I'm walls1441 and i approved this message.

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 7:05 PM. Reason : i was really impressed with the V7/8 pickups considering they are stock on lower end guitars]

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 7:07 PM. Reason : and good luck getting that for 225 with a hard shell case. mine came with the original case but it had some dings on the back and mine is the 10th anniversary one(i think)]
[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 7:10 PM. Reason : when i get a caparison i'll sell you this one for $200, its got tons of modz on it]

10/7/2008 7:05:29 PM

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ibanez-RG-570-Grey-Nickel-w-OHSC-MINT_W0QQitemZ130260913006QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item130260913006&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
http://cgi.ebay.com/Ibanez-RG550-Silver-Sparkle-RG-550-570_W0QQitemZ260295868597QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260295868597&_trkparms=72%3A1205|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

if you don't mind sparkles 570s are decent too. I haven't seen any other finish than the sparkle one on ebay for a while now (idk why there are so many silver sparkles floating around lol)

10/7/2008 7:14:22 PM

can you put those in the [link]

ebay links get gay with the |'s



first one you linked looks hawt

[Edited on October 7, 2008 at 7:21 PM. Reason : ]

10/7/2008 7:16:12 PM