Buying an electric guitar (need advice)

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Kevtones

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I've been playing acoustic for three years and I realized that its time I go and buy an electric to feed my inner rockstar....

My price range is $200-500, preferrably cheaper, but I want something of good quality (for the $) and something reliable. I know next to nothing about decent brands and I'm trying to do this soon because it seems Guitar Center is having their big greentag sale. So yeah, any ideas?
 
Whatever you do, see if you can try before you buy (even if that means trying a guitar locally then buying it online). A few suggestions to try:

Yamaha Pacifica - used to be the clear best guitar on a budget, but the competition has caught up somewhat these days.
Epiphone Les Paul - It's the very definition of rock guitar.
Epiphone SG - Can't stand them myself, but they look good, and some people swear by them.
Fender Strat - It's the other definition of rock guitar.
PRS also do some quality guitars that might fit into your budget at the lower end of their range.
 
I loved my first electric (Fender Strat). Just about any guitar shop will let you demo guitars for hours until you find the sound you like best. That's really the only way to make a good decision.
 
I just bought a Fender Squire Gig pack and I've been loving it ever since.

I don't think you can really go wrong with name guitars like Fender, Ibanez and the like.
 
Kevtones: for a first guitar that'll last for awhile, it's really hard to beat a Fender Standard Stratocaster. Not a Squire or an Epiphone -- those are low-end. But a Standard Strat.

$369
http://www.musiciansfriend.com/product/Guitar/Electric?sku=510000

The Standard passes three important tests:

1) It stays in tune
2) It has a versatile sound and you can probably get what you want from it
3) Easy to play, easy to change strings, one of the oldest/reliable models of electric guitar.

Jimi Hendrix used them, for god sake (albeit the American standards):
46693.jpg
 
Thanks for the input everyone...I'm actually caught between a Epiphone Les Paul and the Fender Standard Stratocaster...leaning towards the latter due to the fact I'm a lefty and I've actually played one before. I plan on hitting up Guitar Center either tomorrow or Saturday and make my wallet bleed. It seems Epiphone's have a hit or miss history with GAF folks. But its GC has a nice $200 package right now. Thanks again for the input folks :D Also, more input is welcome!
 
Kevtones said:
Thanks for the input everyone...I'm actually caught between a Epiphone Les Paul and the Fender Standard Stratocaster...leaning towards the latter due to the fact I'm a lefty and I've actually played one before.
Click to expand...

I'm a lefty too and I want to know does playing the guitar the lefty way feel better to you?
 
Second on the Fender Strat. It sounds really good for the price and will last you a long time. I prefer the Strat shape to the Les Paul-- I find it more comfortable. I wouldn't mess with Epiphone anyway.
 
Beezy said:
I'm a lefty too and I want to know does playing the guitar the lefty way feel better to you?
Click to expand...

The thing about that is that I played the first two years right-handed just because I was self-taught/too lazy to buy a lefty acoustic or restring otherwise (plus I drum). Even after those two years, I'd still, by reflex, play air guitar lefty style. I switched and know what, it added a lot to my abilites. I'd say I'm further now lefty then I ever was righty. Kind of weird how it worked out ~
 
I may be in the minority here, but strats are fugly. I was so happy when I found a picture of Hendrix playing a Les Paul.

jimi8vj.jpg
 
karasu said:
I may be in the minority here, but strats are fugly. I was so happy when I found a picture of Hendrix playing a Les Paul.

jimi8vj.jpg
Click to expand...
Oh yeah, the Les Paul is sexier-looking, but way out of the budget -- unless you wanna talk Epiphone Les Paul copies, which I wouldn't reccomend.
 
terrene said:
Oh yeah, the Les Paul is sexier-looking, but way out of the budget -- unless you wanna talk Epiphone Les Paul copies, which I wouldn't reccomend.
Click to expand...

Epiphone Les Paul copies?

Epiphone IS Gibson.
 
terrene said:
Uh, no, they're a completely different company owned by Gibson that makes cheapo versions of Gibson's products.
Click to expand...

Completely different company...owned by Gibson...

Does.
Not.
Compute.
 
The Les Paul's made by Epiphone are base versions of the Gibson Les Pauls. The differences lie in the pickups and the structure of the neck. Again, Epiphone is NOT a company on its own. It's just Gibson's lower division. The same way that Squier is Fender's lower-half. Or ESP is LTD's lower half.

Gibson does have an actual subsidiary brand, though -- which is a far more stand alone "company" than Epiphone. Let's see if you actually know what the brand is...
 
I'm pretty sure he meant they're budget copies of the real Gibson Les Paul, whether Gibson owns them or not. Squire (Fender), Epiphone (Gibson), LTD (ESP), etc are all copies of the original designs made with cheaper parts to satisfy the lower end buyer. They are still copies.
 
What problems have ppl had with the Epiphone Les Pauls? I too saw that $199 deal they have at GC and thought about picking one up as an extra guitar to thrash on. Obviously it's not as good as a real Strat or Les Paul but a guitar, practice amp, tuner and bag for under $200 seems like a stupidly cheap deal. Do they explode in your face or something?
 
I think the thing is that the cheaper guitars obviously have some cut backs in quality, sometimes resulting in poor/uneven fret jobs, loose neck joints, crap tuning keys, etc. Although, this isn't reserved to the budget lines, there's questionable QA even with the american made guitars. If it ain't made in a custom shop, I'd be hesitant to buy it without playing it, it's a bit of a gamble.
 
AlphaSnake said:
The Les Paul's made by Epiphone are base versions of the Gibson Les Pauls. The differences lie in the pickups and the structure of the neck. Again, Epiphone is NOT a company on its own. It's just Gibson's lower division. The same way that Squier is Fender's lower-half. Or ESP is LTD's lower half.
Click to expand...
The differences don't stop there, they also use cheap-ass headstock and wood, the body is glued together in sections, the head is a completely different peice that's bolted on, the shapes of the head, neck, heel are all different, and the fucking things are Made in Korea, while Gibsons are made in the USA. They basically built a copy "close enough" design using cheap parts, and because Epiphone is owned by Gibson they can say "but it uses Gibson parts!" Horseshit. Those guitars weigh nothing and sound about as heavy.

Epiphone have their own manufacturing base in Korea, their own address in Tennessee, and guess what it says at the bottom of every page of their site:
Epiphone said:
© 2006, The Epiphone Company, A part of the Gibson family of brands.
Click to expand...
Wow! They're a subsidiary! That must be why there's 152,000 hits for "epiphone gibson subsidiary" in Google today!

AlphaSnake said:
Gibson does have an actual subsidiary brand, though -- which is a far more stand alone "company" than Epiphone. Let's see if you actually know what the brand is...
Click to expand...
They own a couple, Epiphone being one of them. They have susidiaries that make drums and band instruments too. Look them up at Gibson's website. Then, print out what you find and cram the paper up your ass.

Emomoonbase: if you're not going to gig with it or try to do anything serious with the Epiphone, go for it, that is a stupid-low price for a guitar that may not be pro, but is definitely good enough for just a spare axe to have around the house. The Fender Standard Strat, though, you can get away with playing that at gigs for sure. With a decent tube amp, they actually sound pretty damn hot!
 
Kevtones said:
I've been playing acoustic for three years and I realized that its time I go and buy an electric to feed my inner rockstar....

My price range is $200-500, preferrably cheaper, but I want something of good quality (for the $) and something reliable. I know next to nothing about decent brands and I'm trying to do this soon because it seems Guitar Center is having their big greentag sale. So yeah, any ideas?
Click to expand...

To actually answer the OP I rock a Godin Exit 22 and it's great. It was like $400, made by canadians and sounds fantastic. Has a great range to it. They make other good models too.

exit22s3ar.jpg
 
terrene said:
The differences don't stop there, they also use cheap-ass headstock and wood, the body is glued together in sections, the head is a completely different peice that's bolted on, the shapes of the head, neck, heel are all different, and the fucking things are Made in Korea, while Gibsons are made in the USA. They basically built a copy "close enough" design using cheap parts, and because Epiphone is owned by Gibson they can say "but it uses Gibson parts!" Horseshit. Those guitars weigh nothing and sound about as heavy.
Click to expand...

Weigh nothing? Last time I held the most expensive Epi LP and then a regular Gibson LP...the Epiphone was heavier.

Epiphone have their own manufacturing base in Korea, their own address in Tennessee, and guess what it says at the bottom of every page of their site:
Wow! They're a subsidiary! That must be why there's 152,000 hits for "epiphone gibson subsidiary" in Google today!
Click to expand...

That doesn't make them a completely different f-ing company. Epiphones are base Gibsons with a different name.

They own a couple, Epiphone being one of them. They have susidiaries that make drums and band instruments too. Look them up at Gibson's website. Then, print out what you find and cram the paper up your ass.
Click to expand...

Bzzzzzzt. Kramer and Steinberger was the correct answer.
 
AlphaSnake said:
Weigh nothing? Last time I held the most expensive Epi LP and then a regular Gibson LP...the Epiphone was heavier.
Click to expand...
Whatever, they're made out of particle wood.

http://www.masht.com/guitars/gibsonvepiphonehtm.htm

Educate yourself, my son.

That doesn't make them a completely different f-ing company. Epiphones are base Gibsons with a different name.

Bzzzzzzt. Kramer and Steinberger was the correct answer.
Click to expand...
Do you even know what the word "subsidiary" means?
 
terrene said:
Whatever, they're made out of particle wood.

http://www.masht.com/guitars/gibsonvepiphonehtm.htm

Educate yourself, my son.


Do you even know what the word "subsidiary" means?
Click to expand...

You said Epiphone was a "completely different company owned by Gibson." Which means they're not a completely different company. A completely different company would be Fender, because they have no relation to Gibson.
 
AlphaSnake said:
You said Epiphone was a "completely different company owned by Gibson." Which means they're not a completely different company. A completely different company would be Fender, because they have no relation to Gibson.
Click to expand...
You're fucking pulling my leg or something, right?
 
terrene said:
The differences don't stop there, they also use cheap-ass headstock and wood, the body is glued together in sections, the head is a completely different peice that's bolted on, the shapes of the head, neck, heel are all different, and the fucking things are Made in Korea, while Gibsons are made in the USA. They basically built a copy "close enough" design using cheap parts, and because Epiphone is owned by Gibson they can say "but it uses Gibson parts!" Horseshit. Those guitars weigh nothing and sound about as heavy.
Click to expand...


Weigh Nothing!?? I encourage you to read reviews of the black beauty. She is heavy as fuck and the sound is uber heavy. Sometimes a little too heavy.

http://www.harmony-central.com/Guitar/Data4/Epiphone/Les_Paul_Black_Beauty-01.html
 
terrene said:
You're fucking pulling my leg or something, right?
Click to expand...

I just backed you into your own corner. The same way Mercury isn't a completely different company, because a Mercury is a Ford.
 
Strat. It's all about the strat, any strat. Also keep up the acoustic stuff. Many players get lazy after going to electric.
 
"Tekno, I've always wondered how did you get that tag?"


It was supposed to be: "Don't trust dem new niggas over dere" from The Boondocks, but Bishop wasn't too keen on that.
 
AlphaSnake said:
I just backed you into your own corner.
Click to expand...
Sure you did, champ.

I hardly want to derail the thread any further or waste the effort, because I've seen what a dumbass you are in other posts (you weren't just born with the red graphic next to your name, were you?)... but I'd be very interested to know what you think the word "subsidiary" means. You haven't answered, even though I've asked, but I'm not mentally daft enough to assume you're lack of an answer means I've "backed you into your own corner," whatever that means.

karasu said:
Weigh Nothing!?? I encourage you to read reviews of the black beauty. She is heavy as fuck and the sound is uber heavy. Sometimes a little too heavy.
Click to expand...

Okay, Epi's high-brow Les Paul copies are more substantial guitars, but most of them really aren't. Never heard of the black beauty, but the Elitist is actually not bad. Of course, it's $1200, which I would never drop on a freakin' Epiphone, but it's at least got some of the power of the real deal.
 
terrene said:
Sure you did, champ.

I hardly want to derail the thread any further or waste the effort, because I've seen what a dumbass you are in other posts (you weren't just born with the red graphic next to your name, were you?)... but I'd be very interested to know what you think the word "subsidiary" means. You haven't answered, even though I've asked, but I'm not mentally daft enough to assume you're lack of an answer means I've "backed you into your own corner," whatever that means.
Click to expand...

Subsidiary:

Serving to assist or supplement; auxiliary.
Secondary in importance; subordinate.

Epiphone is a subsidiary, not a "different company." Like I said, a different company would be one that has no affiliation to Gibson.
 
AlphaSnake said:
Epiphone is a subsidiary
Click to expand...

Jesus christ, I ought to just beat the living fuck out of you.

Does this ring a bell:

AlphaSnake said:
Again, Epiphone is NOT a company on its own. It's just Gibson's lower division. The same way that Squier is Fender's lower-half. Or ESP is LTD's lower half.

Gibson does have an actual subsidiary brand, though -- which is a far more stand alone "company" than Epiphone. Let's see if you actually know what the brand is...
Click to expand...

So, your summary of the situation is that Epiphone is a subsidiary, just not an actual subsidiary?
 
Good lord-- this argument is beyond retarded. You KNOW what he meant when he said it was a copy. You're just dragging this out because you don't want him to get the last word in-- seriously, just admit that this is a fucking stupid semantical argument.
 
BTW, Epiphone is NOT Gibson's lower division. Just like Kramer and Steinberger and the DOZENS of companies Gibson's swallowed up, it was a competitor that was bought out. Squier was created by Fender specifically for budget priced guitars, as was LTD.
 
The point of comparing Epiphone to LTD and Squire is because we were (at one point, before this thread was destroyed) talking about Epi Les Pauls essentially being cheaper copies of the real Gibson model. For that purpose, LTD and Squire are the same as Epiphone. These are all pointless word games.
 
"For that purpose, LTD and Squire are the same as Epiphone."

Which even then, isn't entirely true. The Epiphone Elitist line has a few that are equally or more expensive than actual Gibsons.
 
Teknopathetic said:
"For that purpose, LTD and Squire are the same as Epiphone."

Which even then, isn't entirely true. The Epiphone Elitist line has a few that are equally or more expensive than actual Gibsons.
Click to expand...

Is that what we were talking about? No-- we were talking about $300 Epi Les Pauls. You're not roping me into another AlphaSnake style word battle. I seriously don't care.

People on GAF just do not know when to give up, I swear.
 
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