Whats a good bottom end electric guitar?

HardDrive · 10-24-2005, 03:35 PM

I would like to pick up an electric, and keep the costs low, $300-$350.

I would be open to buying a used guitar, but seeing as that I am a newbie, I would need big time guidance. I am more partial to buying new.

I have been learning on an acoustic, which is nice, but it makes everything a lot more work.

I already have an amp (Roland Micro Cube 15, LOVE it).

nostatic · nostatic's Garage

see if you can get a friend who plays to help you buy used. You get SOOOO much more for your money.

HardDrive · 10-24-2005, 03:50 PM

No dice. Life long techno DJ, all of my musically oriented friends are midi heads.

FrayAdjacent911 · 10-24-2005, 05:00 PM

I'd check out a Fender Mexican Strat. Not a bad little axe, and IIRC should fit in your price range.

OTOH, I have a nice Samick Les Paul copy with Seymour Duncan pickups and a hard case I'm looking to sell... but a little more than your price range..

VINMAN · 10-24-2005, 05:20 PM

Fender Squire is a great lower priced electric

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-24-2005, 05:24 PM

Fender Mexicans are good for the money. Put in some Seymour Duncans and sand the neck a little, and you are ready to roll.

deathpunk dan · 10-24-2005, 07:05 PM

I scored a clean 1990 'hall of fame edition' Gibson les paul junior (a real one) for $350 about 7 years ago, FWIW.

I recommend:
-fender mexioo telecaster
-epiphone les paul standard with set (non bolted) neck...you can swap out the pickups for real gibson 490/498's down the road if you like but for a novice this is a great guitar.
-finding a mid 90's or newer gibson les paul special or some other mongrel late model entry level gibson.

David · David's Garage

I like my Epiphone Les Paul, but I really don't know much about guitars. It seems that there's a lot of room to deal in a guitar shop. I think I got a pretty good deal by saying I wasn't buying and then letting them talk me into it by make a deal I couldn't pass up. See what you can get a guitar, amp, case, cable, strap, footpedal, picks, and strings for. Go for the whole ball of wax and see if you can get it all including tax for less than the guitar and amp.

Sonic dB · Sonic dB's Garage

Schecter makes some good, solid lower priced axes...I have a C7 and the thing is built like a rock, plays and sounds good.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 10-24-2005, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by deathpunk dan

-epiphone les paul standard with set (non bolted) neck...you can swap out the pickups for real gibson 490/498's down the road if you like but for a novice this is a great guitar.

Ive never seen a epi LP with a set neck.. Where would i find one?

Shuie · 10-24-2005, 08:31 PM

Most of them have set necks. Check your local Guitar Center. The Korean Epiphones and mexican strats are excellent entry level guitars. seems like there are so many nice guitars out there these days.

HardDrive · 10-24-2005, 11:06 PM

I went and played a lot of guitars tonight at Guitar Center. I like the Mexican Telecaster the best in that price range. I did not like the Squires much. It seems like the guitars under $250 are significantly lower quality. There are so many.....

Thanks for the advice guys.

WolfeMacleod · 10-24-2005, 11:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jared Fenton
Fender Mexicans are good for the money. Put in some Seymour Duncans and sand the neck a little, and you are ready to roll.

pttptpt. He could do a whole lot better than Duncan. But, if you can get Seymour to wind them personally, it's a good deal. Mighty expensive, though.

Mexican Strats can be had for a good price. Vinman metioned the Squier line. They can be good, but it takes some digging to find the best ones. If you can find a Japanese Squier, they're great. I have a Japanese Squire strat, and a Korean Squire Tele.
And I built guitars for a living for several years....

WHen it comes to electronics, virtually every major guitar company is seriously skimping on quality. This goes for capacitors, pickups, and control pots.

targa911S · 10-25-2005, 06:02 AM

I would agree, the MIM and MIJ strats are a bargain. The Epi Les is also a great guitar for the money.

kaisen · 11-01-2005, 07:26 AM

Ibanez makes quite a few strat-style guitars in the $200-500 range that are Korean or Japanese built. I love their Wizard series necks, great feel, quick action, beautiful sustain. Great guitars for the $$, IMHO.

E

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

I like the Squier Strat myself (have one) - not bad and easy to modify. Throw EMGs in there or at least a good humbucker in the rear and rock out.