Beginner Guitarist

FadedMyxomatosis · 12-10-2009, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mr dave

because the Special models are usually made very cheaply. the tuning pegs are usually crap and the neck is usually a little on the loose side.

if you're on a budget they'll work fine. if you want a cheap beater that won't ever die and don't mind replacing the tuning pegs yourself, it's fantastic (i've had one for 10 years). it was super frustrating to have to tune up every 30 minutes or so when i knew what i was doing, i can't imagine putting up with that when i was trying to learn.

the higher end Epiphone SGs and LPs (the ones around $800) are significantly better quality and worthy of the implied quality of being associated to the Gibson brand.

while they might look nice, there are more options at the beginner level (sub $300) than you can shake a stick at, so why start looking with something that has a shoddy reputation?

I have a real Epiphone SG, the G400. Good guitars aren't cheap.

Mine is something like 700$ retail- I bought it for 200. It was slightly used, but once could barely tell aside from the 1/4 inch long gash on the back.

To the OP, you might want something used- they often work extremely well and are often half price or more.

mr dave · 12-10-2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FadedMyxomatosis

I have a real Epiphone SG, the G400. Good guitars aren't cheap.

Mine is something like 700$ retail- I bought it for 200. It was slightly used, but once could barely tell aside from the 1/4 inch long gash on the back.

To the OP, you might want something used- they often work extremely well and are often half price or more.

right... that's why the SPECIAL models that you originally linked got trashed. getting a $700 guitar for $200 (which is around what the Specials retail for) is the kind of ridiculous deal i'm still hoping to score someday (17 years after getting my first guitar - if i remember right that's 4 more years than you've breathed oxygen).

as for your comment about used gear, that's just wrong. the normal used price is between 66-80% of retail, to get a deal better than half price means you're either dealing with a thief, junkie, or total moron, and only one of those would have the ability to run a business. plus a business doesn't stay open by selling product for less than half of its value.

and those are prices in a a pawn shop WANTING to move used gear. the average price for used gear online is closer to the actual retail price without taxes, maybe rolled down to the nearest 10.

it's not to say that used gear is bad or a ripoff (and hasn't been discussed many times on the site...), but you need to have an idea of what your doing first before you start dealing with it. otherwise, it's FAR too easy to end up disappointed.

take this however you will but i'd be hard pressed to take advice from someone who considers a 1/4 inch gash along the side of a guitar to be an instrument that barely seems used. it might not have been used much but it's most definitely been abused a lot.

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