Need help finding a mid level guitar for metal!

Falkner · #1 08-24-2009, 11:32 AM

A while back I bought myself a bottom end Ibanez guitar to see if I was interested in playing that as well as bass. It turns out I am. Now that I’m slightly better I’ve found that I’ve outgrown everything that guitar had to offer. Single coils are too weak for my needs and the tremolo won't stay in tune. Now for the fun part; buying time!

I'm looking for a mid level guitar good for metal. Think Dio, Sabbath, etc. My budget is a strict $500. The only things I know I want are humbucking pickups, a NON pointy body shape and either a fixed bridge or a real Floyd, preferably the former. Other than that I'm fairly open to any guitar. I realize there are many guitars that fit in that range, but that's why I need help narrowing it down.

I also have some questions since I'm still new to guitars. I'm looking at a few Schecters and they have active EMGs in them. What exactly are active pickups and how do they sound? Are they just hotter or do they have a significantly different tone than normal pickups?

How are Schecters for that matter? They look good, seem to have good features, and they're at the top of my list right now. I'm looking at the Hellraiser Deluxe

Back to good old Rondo Music, I've heard great things about their Agile guitars. I'm looking at an Agile Ghost. At just over $300 it leaves room in my budget fro a better amp or a good overdrive pedal. Does anyone have experience with them? Would they compare to other manufacturers in my price range?

I was interested in an Epi Les Paul, but all the Epiphones I tried at GC had the WORST fret jobs I've ever felt. Even the $500+ ones felt like a sub-$100 guitar. Is that normal for them or was that a particularly bad batch that day?

Also, if I find a good one for relatively cheap, I was thinking of buying a better amp than what I currently have. I was thinking of one of those little Peavey Valveking 5 watt tube amps. How are those? I heard that the speaker is the shortcoming of that model; how hard is it to replace one if needed?

Falkner · #2 08-25-2009, 07:22 PM

Bump, can anyone help a noob lost in the world of guitars?

Hamrhed · #3 08-26-2009, 06:09 AM

You can find some nice Jacksons or Ibanez in the $400-500 range... even new. Those two brands in particular for that genre have a proven track record. I'd grab one of those before anything else, imo. If you like the Ibanez you have become accustomed to- why not upgrade?

For metal- also check out Washburn... they have really made a dent in the hard rock guitar dept

Only bad thing about the Schecter- no Floyd rose... looks good otherwise.

Falkner · #4 08-26-2009, 09:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamrhed

If you like the Ibanez you have become accustomed to- why not upgrade?

I was thinking about upgrading, but it would need everything replaced. It's a bottom of the line GSA60, so all it's got going for it is a decent enough neck and a body made of a lower grade wood. If I'm spending that much money I might as well just get a better guitar.

Plus, I really want to ditch the trem on this one. It goes out of tune if you breath on it, never mind using it, playing harder than a feather touch, or palm muting. I put 5 Dimarzio springs in it to try and give it more tension, and that slightly helped, but it's still awful. That's the reason I want either a hard tail bridge or a Floyd. I'm sick of tuning this after every song.

When it comes to a Floyd, are all licensed versions crap or do some companies to a good job of making them? Almost all the guitars in my range only have licensed versions in them.

jimb213 · #5 08-26-2009, 11:34 AM

okay anecdote time... everyone gather around...

I went to a battle of the bands my friend's band was playing. They're a groovish mainstreamy rock band. The band after them was a metal band along the lines of August Burns Red or Protest the Hero. They were good players but mediocre songwriters (definitely not as good as ABR or PtH). They played typical heavy metal guitars - pointy black schecters and a BC Rich. Their guitar tone was awful, and I like metal. So loud that it hurt my ears, but so much mid-scoop that the guitars were indistinct with the whole band playing. It was mostly due to amp settings (too much gain, extreme V-setting on the EQ, etc), but I realized the guitars played a part, too. One of the guitarists broke a string right before the last song, so he got on the mic and asked to borrow a guitar. My friend who played right before them let the guy borrow his guitar, a telecaster with humbuckers. His tone improved by leaps and bounds! The tele fattened up his sound, gave him better presence, and more meat. Plus, since he was the only guy on stage without a black guitar, he stood out and looked more interesting than the other guys.

Now I'm not saying go get that tele (or any tele), just maybe look beyond what would typically be a "metal" guitar. I have a feeling that most guitars designed/marketed for metal are going to already have a mid-scooped sound, which quite frankly only sounds good at bedroom volumes. Look for something that has a little meat.

Also, keep an eye out on craigslist and ebay. My guitarist got a smokin' deal on an ibanez 7-string on craigslist - less than $300.00 for a guitar that was something like 600 or 700 new.

Falkner · #6 08-26-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimb213

Now I'm not saying go get that tele (or any tele), just maybe look beyond what would typically be a "metal" guitar.

Trust me, I am. I'm not looking for one to "look" the part at all, just one that sounds the part. I must say, that Tele is hot though. I had no idea they made Telecasters with dual humbuckers. If only that was in my price range...

jimb213 · #7 08-26-2009, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falkner

Trust me, I am. I'm not looking for one to "look" the part at all, just one that sounds the part. I must say, that Tele is hot though. I had no idea they made Telecasters with dual humbuckers. If only that was in my price range...

Yeah, that guitar is pretty cool. It's essentially a fender les paul. Mahogany back, maple top, dual humbuckers... and it has a coil tap to go to dual single coils, too, so you can still get a more traditional fender sound.

Good luck with the search!

Hamrhed · #8 08-26-2009, 02:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falkner

If I'm spending that much money I might as well just get a better guitar.

Actually, thats what I was getting at by 'upgrade'... invest in a better model Ibanez- assuming that you can find an affordable option

I believe Jim Root from Slipknot has a sig model Tele w/ dual humbuckers that is affordable...

Falkner · #9 08-26-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hamrhed

Actually, thats what I was getting at by 'upgrade'... invest in a better model Ibanez- assuming that you can find an affordable option

I believe Jim Root from Slipknot has a sig model Tele w/ dual humbuckers that is affordable...

Ah, I see what you're saying and I've definitely thought about it. I just hope that the mid level Ibanez electronics are better than their low end. As for that Jim Root Tele, it goes for $1200 on Musiciansfriend. A bit our of my range.

I'm still curious, how is Epiphone's quality? I'm wanting a Les Paul, but as I said the few I could try locally weren't very good feeling.

Nappa · #10 08-26-2009, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Falkner

Plus, I really want to ditch the trem on this one. It goes out of tune if you breath on it, never mind using it, playing harder than a feather touch, or palm muting. I put 5 Dimarzio springs in it to try and give it more tension, and that slightly helped, but it's still awful. That's the reason I want either a hard tail bridge or a Floyd. I'm sick of tuning this after every song.

When it comes to a Floyd, are all licensed versions crap or do some companies to a good job of making them? Almost all the guitars in my range only have licensed versions in them.

If you plan on getting a trem, take a look at these. Video Example. A bit spendy, but a good consideration.

Pitbull Growl · #11 08-26-2009, 03:30 PM

The EPI LP's seems a li'l darker in tone to my ears than the Gibsons. Other's I know have noticed it too. If you get a chance, check out the LTD (by ESP) Vipers. They're well made and abundantly available used. If you're looking for new, try giving a Carvin a shot. Believe it or not their kit guitars are nice players. A buddy of mine built one and dropped some kind of DiMarzio pickups in it and used it as his go to recording axe for metal and blues (and he had a triple humbucker Gibby SG, a US Strat, a lawsuit Les Paul copy, and a BC Rich Ironbird in his stable)

Just some food for thought since I hadn't seen it mentioned yet.

HTH

Falkner · #12 08-27-2009, 07:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nappa

If you plan on getting a trem, take a look at these. Video Example. A bit spendy, but a good consideration.

Very nice indeed. It seems a bit expensive for what it is, but beggars can't be choosers.

I did find a cheaper alternative to a Tele with buckers: Squier J5 Telecaster. Looks pretty good. Alder body is a plus for that price range.

Also, I found an Epi Firebird. instant GAS there. If I got that, I'd only hope the neck is better than the other Epi's I've played.

Ugh, my price range has far too many guitars to easily narrow it down. Every time I think I'm about to choose one, some other grabs my attention.