Buying A Guitar

andybb1500 · #1 10-24-2008, 01:39 AM

I have about $400 aud to spend on a guitar

i need it to play some chords and basic rythm for funk, jazz and some rock, however if its good at lead that would be nice too

. Its mainly for my side project so i can get some nice chords going

I think a strat would work but i want some more opinions. Also id like a more 'unique' guitar.

Thanks heaps

and no this does not mean im joining the dark side

The Eristic · #2 10-24-2008, 01:45 AM

Investigate Godin.

Deacon_Blues · #3 10-24-2008, 03:08 AM

You can't really have it all in one guitar. A strat is fine for funk and rock, but if you want to play jazz, I think you'd be disappointed with a strat. I think you should pick a guitar with humbuckers, so I'd vote for an SG, e.g. Epiphone. That will give you a ballsy sound that suits all those genres decently IMO.

lunarpollen · #4 10-24-2008, 12:32 PM

I think the neck pickup of a Strat can sound just fine for jazz. But you might want to invest in a guitar that has a pair of P90 pickups. They are great for anything.

**baba** · #5 10-24-2008, 01:31 PM

Mexican Fender Strat

Deacon_Blues · #6 10-25-2008, 03:51 AM

The reason I ditched the strat for jazz was I have a Mexican Fender Strat myself and I don't like it for that. In other senses it's a great guitar, it plays really well and sounds decent.

andybb1500 · #7 10-25-2008, 03:24 PM

thanks for your input so far, i went to the local music shop yesterday after i posted the thread and i found a nice squire jagmaster, any of u guys heard much about these. and for deacon blues im not really a fan of sg's haha

EagleMoon · #8 10-25-2008, 07:13 PM

I'd avoid anything with a tremelo. Strats are hard to keep in tune though they sound nice.

andybb1500 · #9 10-26-2008, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

I'd avoid anything with a tremelo. Strats are hard to keep in tune though they sound nice.

Ahk, why avoid the tremolo? seriosuly i dont know much about guitars. And what are some good guitars for under $400 without tremolo

250GBsOfAwesome · #10 10-26-2008, 05:59 AM

The more you use the trem the more out of tune it gets (unless you've got a floating bridge, but that's a whole 'nother story). So as long as you don't use it, you'll be alright.

Deacon_Blues · #11 10-26-2008, 02:17 PM

On my strat, I have four tight springs holding the bridge down against the body and thus disabling the tremolo. A good tremolo should not make the guitar out of tune, but you don't find those on cheap guitars. Also if a string breaks, your guitar gets severely out of tune when you have a tremolo activated.

BillMason · #12 10-26-2008, 06:24 PM

Les Paul's have been pretty well represented in all those genres.

EagleMoon · #13 10-26-2008, 06:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andybb1500

Ahk, why avoid the tremolo? seriosuly i dont know much about guitars. And what are some good guitars for under $400 without tremolo

I had a MIM strat that went out of tune if you rested your hand on the bridge, even with all the springs tight and locking tuners. What a pain in the butt THAT was. I'd check out the Agile guitars from Rondo. They're really nice. Especially their Les Paul copies. They're every bit as nice as a lower end Gibson at half the price. I had one of the Agile AL-3000's in spalted maple and it was sweet! Sold it a while back and wish I hadn't. Here's a link to the one I had:

http://www.rondomusic.com/al3000natspalted.html

The prices on these are going up, I've noticed. More and more people are finding out just how nice they are.

andybb1500 · #14 10-27-2008, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

Les Paul's have been pretty well represented in all those genres.

yeah i dont mind them, its just teh fact that everyone owns one and i want to be more different haha mayebi should just go for what sounds good and not what is different

andybb1500 · #15 10-27-2008, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EagleMoon

I had a MIM strat that went out of tune if you rested your hand on the bridge, even with all the springs tight and locking tuners. What a pain in the butt THAT was. I'd check out the Agile guitars from Rondo. They're really nice. Especially their Les Paul copies. They're every bit as nice as a lower end Gibson at half the price. I had one of the Agile AL-3000's in spalted maple and it was sweet! Sold it a while back and wish I hadn't. Here's a link to the one I had:

http://www.rondomusic.com/al3000natspalted.html

The prices on these are going up, I've noticed. More and more people are finding out just how nice they are.

that is a really nice les paul actually

probably best looking one ive seen, ill have to check em out if i can, i havent seen them aroudn before

BillMason · #16 10-27-2008, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by andybb1500

yeah i dont mind them, its just teh fact that everyone owns one and i want to be more different haha mayebi should just go for what sounds good and not what is different

Get an Explorer or a V with the same pickup config!

That would really stand out in a jazz gig. Remember, they were first made back in the 50s.

andybb1500 · #17 10-27-2008, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BillMason

Get an Explorer or a V with the same pickup config!

That would really stand out in a jazz gig. Remember, they were first made back in the 50s.

haha thatd look pretty unique, how bout les paul pickups on a jazzmaster body?

**peabody** · #18 10-28-2008, 12:39 PM

Pick up an Epiphone AlleyKat. I bought one a few years ago because I wanted something inexpensive to play around with. It's a semi-hollowbody (but with a smaller body...almost like a Les Paul), so it can handle the jazz stuff, but with the pickups it has (a humbucker and a mini-humbucker) you can play rock, country, or whatever your heart desires. Not to mention, it's a great looking guitar.

I just did a quick Google seach and they have them on clearance at Musician's Friend for $439, but you can usually find them used for about $350 or so.

Here's a pic of one of the guitar players in my band playing mine...he loves it.

**peabody** · #19 10-28-2008, 12:45 PM

Sorry, I just read your post a little closer and saw that you were looking for a guitar for $400 AUD. It looks like using the conversion rate, the AlleyKat (at a $400 US purchase price) would be a little over $630 AUD. You still may want to check around, you may find one cheaper. Good luck with your search....

CamMcIntyre · #20 10-28-2008, 06:16 PM

I'd check out a Rondo Music LP, but I don't think they ship out of the USA. I bought mine on scratch and dent for $170 shipped and it's perfect for my needs/wants.

Otherwise-I'd go for an Epiphone LP.

I like Strats, but I think for a first guitar-an LP would be better.