A friend of mine who had been talking about learning to play guitar for at least the last 9 years finally did it. A new Guitar Center opened in his hometown last week and I went to help him find a good deal on a decent guitar since he didn't know what to look for. I figured we had a chance of finding something at least decent at the bottom of the price scale and we sure found that!
Ended up getting a vintage white Squier Strat with white pickguard and rosewood fretboard made in Indonesia. We had checked out a few before that but when I picked that one up I knew it was the one. Felt like an old friend from the instant I grabbed the neck. Seriously! The fret ends were beautifully dressed, the entire fretboard and all the frets were buffed out, and the fretboard edges were nicely rounded by the buffer. The body has a great finish and is very well buffed out too.
Plugged her in to the nearest amp and it had all the Strat sounds I was looking for in spades. I'd honestly say that feels as nice as just about any guitar I've ever played, sounds absolutely great, and it was only $99!! We ended up getting him a cheap little Fender amp that sounds pretty decent to go with it. It has a clean and overdrive channel and digital reverb, so he has a nice variety of sounds he can get with the amp too.
All in all he ended up spending about $225 including tax and walked out with a seriously nice guitar and a very useable little amp. Of course the Guitar Center was so doggone noisy we were practically running to get out of the store to save our sanity after the sale was completed. The place was a madhouse!!
Ended up getting a vintage white Squier Strat with white pickguard and rosewood fretboard made in Indonesia. We had checked out a few before that but when I picked that one up I knew it was the one. Felt like an old friend from the instant I grabbed the neck. Seriously! The fret ends were beautifully dressed, the entire fretboard and all the frets were buffed out, and the fretboard edges were nicely rounded by the buffer. The body has a great finish and is very well buffed out too.
Plugged her in to the nearest amp and it had all the Strat sounds I was looking for in spades. I'd honestly say that feels as nice as just about any guitar I've ever played, sounds absolutely great, and it was only $99!! We ended up getting him a cheap little Fender amp that sounds pretty decent to go with it. It has a clean and overdrive channel and digital reverb, so he has a nice variety of sounds he can get with the amp too.
All in all he ended up spending about $225 including tax and walked out with a seriously nice guitar and a very useable little amp. Of course the Guitar Center was so doggone noisy we were practically running to get out of the store to save our sanity after the sale was completed. The place was a madhouse!!
