Thinking of getting an Electric Guitar

**bassman314** · #1 05-28-2006, 03:25 PM

So I'm thinking of getting an electric guitar to goof around on. I don't want to spend a huge amount of dosh, somehwere between 3 and 5 bills.

What I want is a guitar that has a lot fo variety of tones. Something that sounds good clean, as well as maty when I stick an OD in the signal path.

My guitar pedal board (in the planning stages) will likely be a Tube Screamer, FX Doctor massacre, Small Clone, Small Stone, Crybaby, and some kind of flanger, eventually. I have a Fender Pro-junior tube amp.

I've demoed an Ibby Artcore, an MIM strat, an MIM Texas Strat, the MIM 60th anniversary strat, and a PRS that was about $450. Of those, I liked the Ibby the best, but I know they have QC issues in their less expensive guitars.

So I wanted to get some feedback on those. If you pick other, please indicate what guitar, and why.

blipndub · #2 05-28-2006, 03:51 PM

My experience has shown that you end up modding most mid-priced Fenders so you may as well save a few bucks and get a good frame to build upon, and the mim standards are just that.

Figjam · #3 05-28-2006, 04:08 PM

How is PRS in the same poll as MIM fender? Would you be buying the cheap line? Ill assume yes. Id get a used MIA strat or tele.

markjazzbassist · #4 05-28-2006, 04:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Figjam

How is PRS in the same poll as MIM fender? Would you be buying the cheap line? Ill assume yes. Id get a used MIA strat or tele.

+1 figgy

i would get a strat too. MIA if possible.

Jiggybass · #5 05-28-2006, 06:01 PM

telecaster

Minger · #6 05-28-2006, 06:26 PM

I vote for an Agile. Got one from Rondo back in Thanksgiving...LP copy, spalted maple top. A bit heavy, but sounds great and looks great as well.

**bassman314** · #7 05-28-2006, 07:30 PM

keep the answers coming!!

I lookedat tele's... they feel awkward to me. too much weight in odd places.. and the neck is too thick, and I don't like the twang...

when I play I tend to use more of the neck pick-ups than the bridge pick-ups...

modding is not ruled out

so maybe I should either get a used one at my range??

43apples · #8 05-28-2006, 08:10 PM

The PRS SE's are GREAT guitars in their price range.

Take a look at the PRS SE P90... sounds, looks and feels sweet!

Except for that, the MIM Fenders are darn good! But alot more twangy than the PRS'es

WalterBush · #9 05-28-2006, 08:49 PM

I replaced the pickups in a friend's Ibanez Artcore, and it went from a pretty decent sounding and playing axe to an amazing hotrod that looked great and played smoothly. If I had any spare dough, I'd own one. He went for the violin-top finish they have. It's a better poor-man's ES-335 than the Epiphones. I vote Artcore.

keb · #10 05-28-2006, 08:50 PM

The 2006 MIM Strats and Teles are good stuff from what I've read. And since I'm a Fender guitar kinda guy... the MIM Standard Strat gets my vote.

Justin V · #11 05-29-2006, 12:15 PM

I've got a PRS Soapbar II SE. Only cost me about $500 and I LOVE this guitar. Sounds great. Plays great. Could use a little more high-end in the bridge pup, but I think that's mostly my lack of a "real" guitar amp and needing to find some brighter strings.

**bassman314** · #12 05-29-2006, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minger

I vote for an Agile. Got one from Rondo back in Thanksgiving...LP copy, spalted maple top. A bit heavy, but sounds great and looks great as well.
http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c2...r/P1010162.jpg

I checked out ROndo's site.. wow... there's a couple of full-size archtops for cheap... I REALLY wish I could demo them... and I wish the archtop with the bigsby was a different color that Syracuse Orange *L*

BassGod · #13 05-29-2006, 06:46 PM

I know it wasn't in your list, but have you considered Godin? Excellent guitars, made here in Canada.

Or ESP. I have to mention this because I played a great one a couple days ago, which I may buy (if I don't go for the Godin).

Graeme

**bassman314** · #14 05-29-2006, 06:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassGod

I know it wasn't in your list, but have you considered Godin? Excellent guitars, made here in Canada.

Or ESP. I have to mention this because I played a great one a couple days ago, which I may buy (if I don't go for the Godin).

Graeme

Le Patre, Quebec, if I am not mistaken... well that is atleast where my Acoustic came from...

Godin's not on the list primarilly because the couple I tried sounded a bit too.. twangy.. to me.. It might have been the strings... or it might have been the amp (that ne Peavey 3-channel) I just couldn't get that warm, mid-range-thick tone that I really dig.

great guitars.. very good quality, just not quite the sound I was going for. I was playing an Exit 22. I haven't tried any of the newer models, yet.

Figjam · #15 05-29-2006, 07:02 PM

My friend has a Godin LG P90 and it has an extremely warm, mid thick tone. Its made out of mahogany, so you do the math.

P. Aaron · #16 05-29-2006, 07:41 PM

I have an Ibanez 570 bought new 1991. I ended up putting a Dimarzio PAF and a FRED in it replacing the under-achieving stock PUps. It is a fairly pedestrian axe, but it has served me well and I play many gigs and reheasals and it achieves a variety of tones. It is a strat-set-up type guitar. Large frets, thin neck, very stable action over the many years. The Floyd presents a bit of work to change strings, but when the strings are stretched, it is many hours of enjoyable playing.

Cost for brand new: in 1992 $500.00 including case. Replacement cost for same guitar: about $500.00 including HSC.

My other guitar is a MIM '57 Stratocaster bought new in 1999. I love the V-neck and it is a true reproduction, at least in spirit. It has all of the classic Fender tones. I use a Mesa Boogie F-100 amp. That has alot to do with why I sound like I know what I am doing...musically.

I had the electronics shielded and the frets leveled after purchasing it. It is a very fine guitar.

Cost in 1999: about $500.00 including HSC. They are still available at GC for about the same.

These are my working guitars, thay are more than adequate.

Next Guitar: '62 re-issue Telecaster Custom w/ rosewood and the binding. That'll run me about $1200.00. One of these days.

P. Aaron · #17 05-29-2006, 07:48 PM

I failed to mention that the Ibanez will sound like a Fender, and it will sound like a murderous metal axe too. With the Mesa, I can get that AC/DC guitar tone as well.

All around, the 570 has been pretty darn good, reliable, and I don't sweat the replacement value because there is no real vintage issue with Ibanez.

Snarf · #18 05-29-2006, 08:37 PM

Used Godin.

AxtoOx · #19 05-29-2006, 09:25 PM

I play both and have a lot of guitars too. 2 nice PRS's, a Les Paul and an MIM and MIA strat.
I put some Seymour Duncan JB jr. rails in my MIM strat and it's wicked.
I'd get the MIM strat, and if you want to modify it later it lends well to that along w/ being versatile to start with.

fatbassjazzer · #20 05-29-2006, 10:15 PM

I'm partial to guitars that have humbuckers. I have a Jackson DKMGT and I really like it. I've played a couple artcore guitars and I too am fond of them. Can't stand telecasters personally. As far as strats go, I really love their clean sound but I just can't get into them with distorsion.