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My 1st Guitar !! 2 Choices

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(@nedder)
Trusted Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 28
Topic starter  

hi all, i am looking to buy my 1st guitar. I love music sooo much that i want to now be a part of it & learn to play it.

i am left handed & i have a budget of really £200 & i want a package with amp etc..

i can only find 2 locally to me, these are:

 Aria STG003 Electric guitar (* the best value "budget electric guitar" on the market today)
Peavey Blazer, Marshall MG15CDR or Kustom Solo 16R amp

 Squier Frontman Strat pack. It includes a Squier Affinity Strat, Fender
Frontman 15 amp

the 1st one is from the net, the 2nd one is from dawsons (my local music shop in liverpool)

as i am a beginner i dont know which is best? they are both priced at £220 for full package.

any help or advice would be great !!

cheers guys !!

J.

i want to learn


   
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(@bstguitarist)
Reputable Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 353
 

Heres the thing, the suire can either be A) The Greatest beginner guitar you ever will buy, or B) The worst god damn thing your hands ever tried to fret. I am lucky, I got a good one as my first guitar. As with EVERY guitar in the world each is different, no two are the same. This is especilly true on the lower end cheaper models. Some are crappy and some are built almost to perfection at times. I like to joke around that you would want a "Tuesday through Thurdsay guitar" Because if the guitar was made on a monday the person making it may be P.O. that their back at work from the weekend, and on Friday the person might wanna get off early so s/he fineshes up quick resulting in a piece of crap.

but there is almost no telling this unless you play the guitar. The #1 rule is make sure YOU like the sound. personally I don't know what the first guitar is but the squire might be the better deal if you make sure it was built good.

bstguitarist
good luck and welcome to the forums!
lol:


No matter what anyone says, these four men were the Innovators! of modern Rock & Roll!

Morse Code... Music on it's own


   
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(@mattguitar_1567859575)
Noble Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 879
 

Hi Nedder

One thing, you seem to have made your mind up to go electric. Are you a total begginner? If you are, a lot of guys on here will tell you to start accoustic, for many reasons. Sure an electric is easier to play (well, to get something that approaches a musical sound from!) but I too am left handed and had about that much cash to spend when I started, and I am mighty glad I went accoustic.

What sort of music are you looking to play?

Accoustic will get you into more good habits, later on you can switch to electric if you decide to stick to the whole guitar thing.

Just a thought, don't let it put you off if you are committed to playing plugged in, that's fair enough mate.

From a fellow Brit

Matt


   
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(@english-one)
Estimable Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 153
 

I agree, it would perhaps be worth starting acoustic. However, of your set on electric;

Squier has a real problem with quality control. Theyre either really great guitars, or just terrible. I don't think theyre worth the risk considering there are so many other great guitars around in that price range.

Arias are quite good for the money, quite solid guitars, and seemingly good value. The customer support is also very good if anything does go wrong.

However, I would strongly recomend a Yamaha Pacifica, which are leagues ahead of Squiers, Arias, Epiphones etc, and also well withing the price range. They do a package with guitar and amp etc for under $200 I think. They are excelent guitars; well made, nice sounding, and lovely to play straight from the box. If it's a first electric you want, go for a Pacifica. They are based on the Strat design and therefore very versatile (they have a humbucker in the bridge positio, so you can really play anything from Blues to Metal, country to rock and everything in between.)

Hope that helps.

Peter


   
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(@nedder)
Trusted Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 28
Topic starter  

Hi, thanks for your replies..

i am currently playing an acoustic, it is a right handed but i have switched the strings round.. im playing basic chords.

im wantoing to learn & play more rock/metal music so i think i would benefit from an electric.

i will have a look for that yamaha & see if i can get it in uk, left handed.

I have just been to the shop & i was sure i seen the pacifica..

i want to learn


   
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(@nedder)
Trusted Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 28
Topic starter  

http://www.soundslive.co.uk/moreinfo.asp?ID=1956

would this be what you mean ?

i want to learn


   
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 bltc
(@bltc)
Trusted Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 62
 

If you haven't already, here some reviews for the:

Aria
and for the:
Squire

As always, you should take these reviews with a grain of salt, but reading about other owner's opinions really help give valuable information.

Good luck on your search!


   
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(@nedder)
Trusted Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 28
Topic starter  

If you haven't already, here some reviews for the:

Aria
and for the:
Squire

As always, you should take these reviews with a grain of salt, but reading about other owner's opinions really help give valuable information.

Good luck on your search!

i have just had a very good price on the 'squire'. I am seriously considering this for my 1st guitar.

i want to learn


   
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(@tucker)
Estimable Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 144
 

Get the Aria, because from the description I would assume you're getting it from Regent Guitars? If you are, get that, because their setups are the best in the country. Bar none. That thing will play better than guitars 3 times the value.

It's good to see more lefties here, too... we already have a fair few. Welcome!


   
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(@demoetc)
Noble Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 2167
 

Yes! Welcome fellow sinisterian!

Wow that ain't even a real word, but...it should be.

As in ? and the Sinisterians


   
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(@ignar-hillstrom)
Illustrious Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 5349
 

Well, my experiences with Aria has never been good, unfortunately. Squier was most a 'hit or miss' case, but the new squiers (std, affinity) that entered our local music stores were actually all of very decent quality. Actually made me wonder if they fixed their overseas QA. :D

If I ignore the set-up and stuff like that, and just look at it from 'what do you get?' perspective, get the Squier. But if the Aria is properly set up, and you can try before you buy you might want to check it out.


   
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 Taso
(@taso)
Famed Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 2811
 

Try a few of the squires, and go with that, hands down.

http://taso.dmusic.com/music/


   
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(@bleaseyhighflyer)
Trusted Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 41
 

This is just me but i would go with the fender squire. i once played an aria guitar and i hated the rotten thing. When i got my fender i felt i was in guitar heaven...

" Ah man, that went down like a lead balloon."


   
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(@paul-donnelly)
Noble Member
Joined: 21 years ago
Posts: 1066
 

I think Squiers have really improved, compared to the way they used to be. I keep hearing people say good things about them, and I love my two, a guitar and a bass.


   
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(@longdave)
Trusted Member
Joined: 20 years ago
Posts: 63
 

As you can see from the wide variety of opinions, your only option is to get yourself down to a local guitar shop and try them out for yourselves.

If you're not confident about your playing abilities, get a friend to go with you who can play, or get the shop assistant to demo them for you.

Everyone seems to have forgotten about the amp in this equation. If you are getting a package, the amp you get will be almost as important a decision as the guitar. I bought my first guitar, after a good hour of trying and discussing with my friend and the assistant, and after I settled on one, I had to spend another hour deliberating on which amp to buy (I was looking at a choice between the Fender 15R and the Marshall price equivalent).

Someone at your stage is not going to know which one would suit you more, because you have no real experience in using them. An experienced friend would be able to point out a few factors, but he would not be able to choose the guitar for you. It has to sound and feel right for you.

You say you love music and want to be a part of it. I take my hat off to you if this is the case. I would also say that if you have listened to lots of music, you will no doubt have listened to a lot of different guitars/guitarists. You will probably know if the guitar falls out of tune quickly, or just sounds plain cr*p from the outset, just by listening. Likewise, when the guitar hits a sweet tone, or really nails a meaty power chord, you will go 'ooh yeah!', or the hairs may even stand up on the back of your neck. You will not get this any other way but from going to a specialist guitar dealer and trying their wares.


   
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