Need advices in buying my next guitar

[GilmourFan]

Hello community!

So, Christmas is arriving and I'm buying a new guitar.

Question is:

Should I buy:

- Fender New Standard Strat (for 455€ - 475€)

or

- (2nd hand) Boss VF-1, plus a Boss Midi FC-50, plus a Wah pedal for 200 € and a (1st hand) Squier or Epiphone guitar for, maximum, 300€

Which one? A or B?

If you choose B, which guitar would be better for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Deep Purple and some clean stuff player?

I have a Fender Mustang I.

Keep in mind that I'm a bedroom player. I don't have any bands.

 

All help and constructive posts will be much apreciated!

[iankinzel]

Which Squiers? Which Epiphones? Those two brands each cover a ton of ground. Squier's J Mascis Jazzmaster and Vintage Modified Surf Strat are both very cool guitars, and I've been drooling for months over Epiphone's Wildkat and Cheshire. If you're willing to go used, you ought to be able to grab some really nice Epiphone Les Paul Traditional Pros in your price range.

 

That being said, if you care what those around you think, then a Fender Strat is the kind of guitar you can take with you into numerous settings without having people turn their noses at you the way many do (stupidly, IMO) when they see an Epiphone or a Squier.

[wingman180]

Buy the Fender. It's a great guitar and your mustang covers many effects. Other items can come later. You won't regret buying a high quality guitar.

[GilmourFan]

Well, I noticed and I use almost all the times my Mustang's effects. And when I tried the Boss Vf-1, it had almost the same effects that Mustang effects, but, of course, better quality. And I liked to change sounds with pedals, and the expression pedal.... ohh, that, I loved it!

Question is: Can I get that kind of feeling, adding some footswitches/pedals to my Mustang?

[hawkfanatic]

Personally i would stay away from american standard or deluxe strats or any fender with the double expanding truss rods. They have a very different sound due to that neck with the double rod. Makes the tone thuddy sounding on the low strings. If you go for a fender get one with a traditional rod. As to what to get for zep and deep purple, thats like asking what sports car to get for hauling lumber. You can do one or the other, but not both with one guitar. Page used mostly LP's and teles in that order. Blackmore used strats exclusively. That said, the amp is more important to copping thier sounds. The best in between guitar i've had to do fender and gibson sounds is probably my epi nighthawk custom reissue. But IMO at least they takes some tweaking to really get the best out of them and the stock pickups are way too hot for cleaner things. If i had to recommend something that will be versatile right out of the box i'd say a HSS strat, or if you are new to all this, a strat with a humbucker in the bridge. Squiers are very good for the money and heres one here... http://www.fender.com/products/vintage-modified-stratocaster-hss I've played those before and i was very impressed, so much so i nearly bought one even tho i need another guitar like a HITH. It was only $250 USD at guitar center.

 

There is better to be had, but a lot of guitars need modding to get them up to speed. The squiers are great for the money and with a bridge HB and rosewood neck a strat is very versitile. My main guitar for the last 25 years has been a HSS rosewood neck strat. I've done 100's if not 1000's of gigs with one and no matter what else i've had thats always done the job best. I have other guitars i find more fun, but they don't cover all the bases near as well. The nighthawk is the first thing i'd recommend tho if not for feeling that you are rather new to this and i believe that guitar in stock form leaves a lot to be desired due to the pickups. And while they can be changed, the bridge one is a bit tough to replace for reasons too longwinded to go into. But then again you may be ok with it. I find it one of the most incredible guitars i've owned, in many ways the best.

[milod]

Okay, you're most evidently - by the bands you mention - rather younger than I am, so normally I don't respond to this sort of "what should I" post.

 

But I think Hawkfanatic has pretty much the right response in terms of mentioning variables.

 

If you're mostly headphone/bedroom playing, you'll never, ever get the sound you hear on recordings of those you might want to emulate. It just ain't possible in scientific terms. Even the same band with the same equipment in different venues will sound different.

 

So... I'd personally agree that a good quality guitar always is the basis of any player's schtick. That's true whether you happen upon a steal on a real Tele and wanna play "Herb Ellis" jazz or if you wanna play metal and happen upon a steal of a Gibbie one-pickup jazz guitar. If you ain't playing out, a good quality guitar will encourage your technique which, with your amp, is the basis of sound anyway.

 

That said...

 

Personally I don't care for Fender neck radius. I've never, ever, owned a Fender 6-string for that reason. There's a somewhat different technique involved, IMHO, than on a Gib/Epi "flatter" fingerboard even if it's the same picker on both.

 

If a whammy is important to you... I guess that makes some changes and cuts your options unless you want to put an aftermarket whammy on something like an SG. I personally disabled all my whammies back in the days when they were pretty popular across all styles of guitaring.

 

Finally ... Iankinzle makes a point that led to my "incredible guitar swap era" of my life. I'd play in a band doing this kinda country and I'd swap guitars at the store and... then I'd play in another band playing that kinda rock and I'd swap... and some folks would be really stupid on brand adoration or detestation and ... Ugh, an Orange Gretsch for Rock? Argh, you've gotta be stupid and I ain't even gonna listen. And at that time/age I kinda bought into the "buy what others in this style play so you meet audience expectations."

 

I'd say that the picker who finds a guitar that helps him play what he wants to play is best served by that guitar. Tone, brand... looks... in the long run are secondary. Even if your rich Uncle George offers up to $10,000 to buy a guitar, the brand and bling ain't nothing to the guitar you try out that tells you it's your playing partner...

 

m

[GilmourFan]

Ok, then let's make thing easier.

My favourite band and the one that I play mostly is Pink Floyd. Favourite guitarist too.

Lets focus on that.

To get a better tone (minimum) for that Echoes, Comfortably Numb, Another Brick In The Wall, Shine On You Crazy Diamond... should I take first option or second option?

[hawkfanatic]

Ok, then let's make thing easier.

My favourite band and the one that I play mostly is Pink Floyd. Favourite guitarist too.

Lets focus on that.

To get a better tone (minimum) for that Echoes, Comfortably Numb, Another Brick In The Wall, Shine On You Crazy Diamond... should I take first option or second option?

 

then i would definately go for a strat, one with a single truss rod and maple neck. If you want to go cheap, get a fender/squier classic vibe 50's. Great strat with the only compromises being cheap pots/switch and a less than great but totally usable tremolo. It'll cost you around $300 or so and with better pots ($5-6 each)a better switch ($10) and a duncan SSL-5 (known as the "Gilmour strat p/u to many)in the bridge position, you will be right there with gilmour tone cheap. The SSL-5 is around $60. So about $90 in parts and labor if you can't do it yourself, you'll have a great strat. If you really want to go all the way get a better tremolo bridge. Gotoh, etc. I'd stay away from callaham because while they are good they can be bright unless the guitar is very dark. I've owned a few squier classic vibe series and once updated like i described found them as good as most anything without going well over a grand. The neck and body are pretty much as good as anything fender makes in the $1000 and under range and has single truss rod which is tonally the best way to go next to the vintage rod, but worlds better than the double. By the way, it's not just me but a lot of people who will tell you the neck is the #1 most important thing on a fender when it comes to tone.Its the guitar's voice. Thats why i harp on the issue of rtruss rods....they affect the tome a LOT. Also it has a 9.5 radius unlike the reissue models so it's a great compromise in that it makes for a great action but not so flat that barring is compromised. IMO you can't do better unless you can deal with a 7.25" radius, in which case the Fender classic 50's is good, tho the squier classic vibe is close aside from the classic 50's having a vintage style rod and better trem. anyways, thats what i'd look at unless you are willing to go much higher to a USA vintage RI. But thats well after the point of diminishing returns and also has a 7.25" radius.

[Versatile]

IMO keep the tech stuff to a minimum...

 

Any Strat humble moi has ever played has been a total trip...

 

Take said amp box thing to the shop...play Strat and anything else taking one's fancy...

 

Purchase whichever floats one's boat(see below)

 

Enjoy...

 

V

 

[Aster1]

Sure do love my American Strat, but It's a 2010. Haven't played a new one. My Ric's all have double T.Rods and they sure don't sound flat, but again, I haven't played a Fender with a double rod. My 51 Tele Reissue doesn't have that either.

 

I like a Strat, and a Gretsch, & Ric's too. Hate to say it, but except for my acoustics (Epi's & Gibson's) the only Gibby Ele. I really love is my Casino. My SG 1961 Reissue is really nice, but least fav. neck of all my ele. gits.

 

Aster

[jonnyg]

A model you may not have considered is the Burns Cobra. They really do have a lot going for them. They're incredibly well built, they have Burns custom pickups, which can sound very similar to a Strat or get close to Brian May territory, a well designed trem and they are unbelievable value for money. Probably not the coolest brand out there but really worth a look for the money (around £200.00/245€)

[milod]

Only argument I'd make on what Versatile said - he's probably hit it pretty doggone well for you - is about barring on various necks. The flatter the neck IMHO and my playing style, the better. That's why I don't own a Fender or anything with a similar fingerboard radius. Then again, figure I play almost exclusively fingerstyle and I started on a classical guitar a few months shy of 50 years ago.

 

m

[jonnyg]

Only argument I'd make on what Versatile said - he's probably hit it pretty doggone well for you - is about barring on various necks. The flatter the neck IMHO and my playing style, the better. That's why I don't own a Fender or anything with a similar fingerboard radius. Then again, figure I play almost exclusively fingerstyle and I started on a classical guitar a few months shy of 50 years ago.

 

m

You can buy Fender guitars with 7.5", 9.5" and 12" radius these days.

[AlanH]

Only argument I'd make on what Versatile said - he's probably hit it pretty doggone well for you - is about barring on various necks. The flatter the neck IMHO and my playing style, the better. That's why I don't own a Fender or anything with a similar fingerboard radius. Then again, figure I play almost exclusively fingerstyle and I started on a classical guitar a few months shy of 50 years ago.

 

m

 

 

You can buy Fender guitars with 7.5", 9.5" and 12" radius these days.

 

 

 

Milod, just taking forward Jonny's point slightly: I guarantee you'd absolultely love playing my Charvel USA Production San Dimas. It's basically a hot rodded Fender Strat, made by FMIC but having a 12-16" compound radius rolled-edged, unfinished, quarter sawn, maple neck/fingerboard.

 

Hello community!

So, Christmas is arriving and I'm buying a new guitar.

Question is:

Should I buy:

- Fender New Standard Strat (for 455€ - 475€)

or

- (2nd hand) Boss VF-1, plus a Boss Midi FC-50, plus a Wah pedal for 200 € and a (1st hand) Squier or Epiphone guitar for, maximum, 300€

Which one? A or B?

If you choose B, which guitar would be better for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Deep Purple and some clean stuff player?

I have a Fender Mustang I.

Keep in mind that I'm a bedroom player. I don't have any bands.

 

All help and constructive posts will be much apreciated!

 

OP, you'd not go far wrong if you sought out a Charvel USA Production Socal. These are like the above San Dimas but can be found and/or wired to a HSS pickup configuration, rather then two humbuckers. It would do all of the styles you cite. Billy Gibbons has even played Charvels in the past.

 

Here's a good youtube review:

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGIF8DCbMmg

[milod]

Alan...

 

Yeah... And I was looking at Rondo Music's site where they have some 12" radius Teles cheap cheap cheap that likely could be messed with to be quite playable. - And some Tele sound/sound control potential (as in Roy Buchanan) are pretty neat and unique where to me the Stat "type" isn't really that big a deal.

 

But I have some problems not being able to do a phone purchase as opposed to punching in a credit card number.

 

OTOH, for those into what they perceive a value to the "Strat" type guitar, heaven knows there are plenty of options available.

 

-- For what it's worth, one of my major complaints about multi-pickup Gibbies/Epis of classic designs is that there's no master volume available, and especially not where one might use such a control to vary attack and decay. Again, Buchanan was pretty much a master of that - as was a guy I played saloon country gigs with ages ago. He could make his Jazzmaster sound more like a pedal steel than a pedal steel... Not my kinda guitar, but... hey.

 

m

[DrRogerFisher]

Question is:

Should I buy:

- Fender New Standard Strat (for 455€ - 475€)

or

- (2nd hand) Boss VF-1, plus a Boss Midi FC-50, plus a Wah pedal for 200 € and a (1st hand) Squier or Epiphone guitar for, maximum, 300€

Which one? A or B?

If you choose B, which guitar would be better for Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, ZZ Top, Deep Purple and some clean stuff player?

Keep in mind that I'm a bedroom player. I don't have any bands.

All help and constructive posts will be much apreciated!

 

Well, my 2 cents isn't always appreciated here, but here's a quote from one of my favourite guitar books (Zen Guitar by Philip Sudo): "What's important is that when you pick it up it makes a sound that's beautiful to you".

So you just gotta go to music stores and play through a bunch of guitars and if you're lucky one of them will speak to you, will just feel right in your hands, the action, the bending, the tone, the feel. If you're gonna log 10,000 hours, you better really love the feel of that instrument in your hands.

As for getting the Pink Floyd or ZZ Top tone, those guys are using a gazillion dollars worth of gizmos (they've got techies and roadies and truckloads of stuff) so at best you'll just approximate their sound anyway. I've been chasing Santana's "sound" for almost 50 years. In the end, I think it's "how" you play, not "what" you play.

But what's most important in picking an instrument is that you love holding it, love the feel of it, love picking it up and playing, love every note and sound that comes out of it. All the technical gizmos in the world can't compete with that. Find a guitar you love holding in your hands, and play the hell out of it. Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Hope you find one that's right for you.