I have about $800 American dollars to spend on a new guitar. I was hoping for some advice from some more experienced players.
Some of my favourite bands(or artists) are: Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Nirvana, Metallica, As I Lay Dieing, AC/DC, Neil Young, Bob Dylan, The Fall of Troy, Thursday, Pink Floyd and Smashing Pumpkins. The list goes on but those are the first bands that came to my head. And I hope this will give you an idea of what kind of stuff I like to play.
Also, I have a VoxAD30VT Amp if that matters. Maybe I should save some of that money for pedals or upgrades to the guitar...I dunno.
any suggestions and comments welcome.
How long have you been playing?
I would say around 6 months or so. Why do you ask?
Right now I have a $50 dollar electric that just doesn't do the trick for me...especially after hearing my friends les pauls.
Wow, that is a hard one. Well, Angus and Tony Iommi pretty much exclusively use a Gibson SG, and Jimmy Page also used them on occasion. Page used a Gibson Les Paul a lot, and Neil Young has been known to use a LP on his more rockin songs. Both of these guitars have humbucking pickups. David Gilmour uses a Fender Strat almost exclusively and Kurt Cobain also used a Fender guitar, can't remember the model - maybe a Toronado?
Anyway, it is really hard to give you a definitive answer. You should really go an listen to different models at your local guitar store to see what sound you like.
I am willing to bet that you might enjoy a good Epiphone Les Paul, since most of the players you mentioned use guitars with humbucking pickups. Start you search by considering these guitars. I would get either the LP or the SG, and then I would get a good Strat type guitar, like the Squier 51. That way, you have a very wide range of tones covered, for under the $800 you have to spend.
Les Pauls:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Ultra-Electric-Guitar?sku=518770
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Les-Paul-Standard-Electric-Guitar?sku=518341
SGs:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-G400-SG-Electric-Guitar?sku=518291
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Epiphone-Tony-Iommi-Signature-G400-Electric-Guitar?sku=518555
51:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Squier-51-Electric-Guitar?sku=519636
Good luck!
thanks for the quick replies guys! I'm now stuck between the Les Pual and the SG. And with those prices I'll have money left over to buy pedals OR should I maybe upgrade the pickups?
I have a PRS Santana SE and I always recommend it here. You can probably find it for around $500. It has two double humbuckers and has a great sound. NOt to mention that mine is silver/grey and really pretty looking with a black pickguard.
coreyb:
I would STRONGLY urge you to play a few Schecters(favored by hard rock and metal musicians). They make very solid, beautiful guitars for about 1/3 the price you would pay another manufacturer for the same quality.
Here are a few that I really like in your price range:
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-C1-Classic-Electric-Guitar?sku=513072
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-S1-Elite?sku=518153
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-TSH1-Electric-Guitar?sku=513125
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Schecter-Tempest-Custom-Electric-Guitar?sku=515866
and Kurt Cobain also used a Fender guitar, can't remember the model - maybe a Toronado?
Fender Mustang was what he most commonly used. But he also used the Fender Jaguar heavily as well as the Fender Jag-Stang (he actually came up with the idea of combining the Jaguar and the Mustang).
"That’s what takes place when a song is written: You see something that isn’t there. Then you use your instrument to find it."
- John Frusciante
It's stupid to buy a Les Paul just because Page played one, or a Strat because Hendrix did.
Play every guitar you can within your price range and pick the one YOU like best.
Personally, Play Them All!!
How do you know what you really want unless you do?
If you only play the ones in your price range you could possible get some instant satisfaction. However, if you are truly looking for "THE" guitar, play them all.
If funds become an issue that can always be worked out. But missing out on "THE" guitar would never do. :)
JMHO.
Bish
"I play live as playing dead is harder than it sounds!"
Best thing. Go to a local guitar store and try guitars on for size and for sound. Good guitar stores shouldn't mind you playing them to see what sound you like and what feels comfortable for you. Best of luck.
"I use heavy strings, tune low, play hard and floor it. Floor it, that's a technical term." - SRV
