Ive been learning for well over a year and been playing acoustic. My son has a squire strat and I have never liked playing it and it has turned me off playing electric. Recently Ive been thinking that maybe I'm missing out by not having an electric. Ive been looking around and found a couple of guitars that feel comfortable to hold, not dared to plug them in with my limited ability and the thought :oops: of everyone in the shop hearing me.
I've bought a nice little amp a Kustom Arrow 16DFX http://www.kustom.com/amps/guitar/practice/arrow.asp and even the strat sounds ok through it.
The guitars I'm looking at are a vintage v99cs http://www.jhs.co.uk/vintageelectric.html and an Ibanez artcore AG75 http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=AG00040 .
My head tells me go for the vintage as it will be about £100 cheaper but I prefer the looks of the Ibanez. I dont want to play Jazz, but want to play Oasis, Travis, Smiths, Neil Young, Dylan and some 60's. Any thoughts on which might be the better option for me ?
Of those two guitars I think the Ibanez will be more versatile for the different types of music you like. The nice thing about a semi-hollow or hollowbody guitar is that you can get acoustic guitar type tones out of it, but they make great electric guitars too. Both guitars will have a warm tone compared to your son's Strat type guitar.
No one guitar does it all, but the Ibanez is more versatile.
If you know something better than Rock and Roll, I'd like to hear it - Jerry Lee Lewis
How about a 335 style? The Smiths and Oasis used them
http://www.imuso.co.uk/ProductDetail.asp?StockCode=EG00206
If you've been playing over a year, I'm sure you have less than I to be embarassed about plugging into an amp! I feel the same way, generally, but I just did my best to put it out of my mind during my recent guitar hunt. Seriously, I'd say it's worth a few moments of embarassment to make a better decision when you're spending hundreds of dollars (er... pounds) on a new instrument!
As for the guitars, they both look very nice - sorry to be no help there. :)
Edit: Lost a word there...
-- Voidious
A friend of mine has the AS73 Ibanez - I've played it, and it's a very nice guitar. Lovely action, and very versatile with a wide range of tones. His Fender Strat is up for sale - 'nuff said! The AS73 isn't a full hollow-body - it's a semi-hollow, but I think they're pretty similar in all other respects.
:D :D :D
Vic
"Sometimes the beauty of music can help us all find strength to deal with all the curves life can throw us." (D. Hodge.)
those are two quite different guitars you are looking at.
like Vic, I too have played the Ibanez Artcore. it was blue.
and I agree with everyone has said.
I would go for the Vintage. a solid electric is versatile
in many other ways.
the Ibanez does feedback, so you have to watch things.
the prices have been extremely stable on those. so go with the Vintage.
you can always afford an Artcore later, although, you would be better with a 335.
the next time you want to plug ad play at a store
don't worry about playing choice licks. we wish.
instead, because I too feel inhibited , I plug in turn up and check the tuning.
then I check the open string tuning up the fret markers. that way I not only hear the guitar,
I get a sense of sustain and intonation , and other qualitive things about the guitar.
the sales clerk is probably misled , thinking I am a tough sell. LOL.
I have an AG75 and have never regretted buying it, I have several other electrics but this one is very versatile and is a good player. I have never had any "feedback " problem but to be honest I don't play this guitar with the amp cranked. It is my most used practice guitar as it is not as heavy and I will play it much longer without 10 lbs of Epi LP or whatever hanging around my neck. The tone is quite good and when turned up the two humbuckers will provide all the Rock tunes I need at my current playing level. Buy one you'll enjoy it for years to come.
Robbie
Thanks for the advice everyone. I've been out today and bought a Vintage 100 (les paul copy) basically the same as a vintage 99 but with a set neck rather than a bolt on. Its my first electric and a financial decision as much as anything else.
Thanks for the advice everyone. I've been out today and bought a Vintage 100 (les paul copy) basically the same as a vintage 99 but with a set neck rather than a bolt on. Its my first electric and a financial decision as much as anything else.
Now the important thing... do you enjoy playing it? 8)
I've been playing solely acoustic up to this point so the feel is very different. I do feel comfortable playing it and it has a nice action. I spent alot of time yesterday playing it and exploring what sounds I could get out of it. Its certainly going to help me perfect barre chords.
I bought an Ibanez AS103 (semi-hollow) last week and I think its awesome!
My advice is check it out. Well worth the money
Mainly for Jazz but you can just about everything with it
Cheers
Waz
