Guitar problem

Daktari · 10-27-2009, 08:09 AM

Hi there,

After playing for about 40 years, here's my advice.
First. How much can you afford to spend? Most folks learn to play on a fairly cheap guitar which in most cases don't feel too good and maybe don't sound too good either. Lay out as much as you can afford and you will notice a huge difference in your playing on a better guitar. It's a bit like learning to drive in an old broken down car then when you get your first decent car, WOW, so that's how it's meant to be.

Next. Forget about how you sound now but think about how you want to sound in maybe 2 or three years time, have a target style to aim at roughly. This will then narrow down the type of instrument you will be test driving. When you walk into a music store, you wanna be able to ignore most of the stuff and home in on the narrow area that you need to sound the way or play the style of music you are aiming for. You wouldn't be knocking a nail in with a screw driver and it's real hard to screw with a hammer, (I guess, ha,ha,). You know what I mean.

Narrow the type of guitar down as much as possible, spend as much as you can afford without going over and really, forget about the name on the guitar. Buy the one that plays nice and sounds good, whatever label is stuck on it.

Good luck and all the best with your search, Gordon.

The Musicophile · 10-31-2009, 05:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

you have any sort of evidence or website to back up this claim? as far as i know you can swap just about any fender part on any similar model. being measured using the imperial or metric system shouldn't really matter. a 25.5 inch scale neck length is still the same as a 64.77 centimeter scale neck length.

it's true the instruments assembled in mexico are made with slightly lower quality materials. that's why they cost half the price, but in my experience they are not half the guitar. not sure what you're getting at with the 'fair' comment either, what they're capable of doing and what they're hired to do are not mutually exclusive.

It's not the scale length that's the problem, it's the string spacing, that's why the bridge parts aren't interchangeable, which is the really annoying part. The screws and allen bolts are all slightly different too (which means if you lose your american allen key/whammy bar a mexican one won't fit.) It kinda makes you feel like fender don't want you just upgrading their mexis, they want you to shell out for the American version. Check the Callaham website if you don't believe me. (or you could try adjusting an American bridge with a Mexican allen key because you've lost the one that came with your bridge...)

The reason I don't think it's fair is part of the reason the Mexis are cheaper is because mexican labour is cheaper than American, so Fender deliberately limit the quality of their Mexican guitars, so that they can continue to justify charging customers more for an American made guitar. So the customer pays more, and the Mexican labourers are earn less for doing the same job. Fender are basically taking the p*** out of their customers and out of Mexican labourers.

ElephantSack · 11-01-2009, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheCunningStunt

Well, I've been playing for a little while now, and I bought a cheapish guitar, 120 pounds, just to practice on, and if I didn't get into it, it wasn't a big investment if I never picked it up.

I love the guitar, 'cos it's my first.

But I'm looking for something better.

I'm torn between a Fender Telecaster, Strat or a Gibson.

I dunno what to get. - I know it's a matter of personal preference and what not but I'm stumped.

What do you all play and like?

I would go with the strat. If you pick up a good one, you can't really beat it as far as action and playability go in that price range.

I've never been a huge fan of Gibsons. Something about the high bridge, I didn't really like.

Notveryskilled · 11-07-2009, 07:58 AM

By all means get a Telecaster or a Strat. Gibsons are cool bujt EXPENSIVE. There's a cheap Telecaster floating around on the internet that people like Jimmy Page, and Other big names have said is better or equal to their $5000 one. I can't remember the name but if you search you'll find it. I think it's like $400. I would get it myself but I don't have the money.

10-27-2009, 08:09 AM	#21 (permalink)
Daktari Music Addict Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Originally from Lancashire, England, lived near Largs, Scotland and now live in Rocky Face, Georgia Posts: 154	The right tool for the job. Hi there, After playing for about 40 years, here's my advice. First. How much can you afford to spend? Most folks learn to play on a fairly cheap guitar which in most cases don't feel too good and maybe don't sound too good either. Lay out as much as you can afford and you will notice a huge difference in your playing on a better guitar. It's a bit like learning to drive in an old broken down car then when you get your first decent car, WOW, so that's how it's meant to be. Next. Forget about how you sound now but think about how you want to sound in maybe 2 or three years time, have a target style to aim at roughly. This will then narrow down the type of instrument you will be test driving. When you walk into a music store, you wanna be able to ignore most of the stuff and home in on the narrow area that you need to sound the way or play the style of music you are aiming for. You wouldn't be knocking a nail in with a screw driver and it's real hard to screw with a hammer, (I guess, ha,ha,). You know what I mean. Narrow the type of guitar down as much as possible, spend as much as you can afford without going over and really, forget about the name on the guitar. Buy the one that plays nice and sounds good, whatever label is stuck on it. Good luck and all the best with your search, Gordon.

11-07-2009, 07:58 AM	#24 (permalink)
Notveryskilled Groupie Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Local wonderland of everywhere Posts: 27	By all means get a Telecaster or a Strat. Gibsons are cool bujt EXPENSIVE. There's a cheap Telecaster floating around on the internet that people like Jimmy Page, and Other big names have said is better or equal to their $5000 one. I can't remember the name but if you search you'll find it. I think it's like $400. I would get it myself but I don't have the money.