Guitar Guys: I Need Advice

tryrrthg
tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
edited March 2024 in Clubhouse Archives
About three years ago I decided I wanted to try to learn to play the guitar. So I bought a Fender starter pack because it was in my budget and I didn't want to spend a lot incase it was a flop. Mine is probably simlar to THIS ONE. My plans didn't go so well, other things got in the way so I stopped trying. For the last year or so my brother has had my guitar. He's been taking some guitar classes in college and become pretty decent. Anyway, I'm getting the itch again to try my hand at learning to play so I have two options: buy something new (cheap) for myself and give him my old one for Christmas or buy him a cheap guitar.

I was looking into buying him this Ibanez starter pack when I saw this Washburn for the same money. The Washburn is made with a spruce top and mohogany sides. It looks to be a much better looking guitar than my old Fender or the Ibanez.

So my question is which of those three guitars is better. We're only beginners and don't need anything fancy, especially since he's away at college and God knows what has happend to my guitar...

Any help would be great! Thanks!
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Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited December 2004
    Of the two guitars, the Washburn is the better of the two...and it'll likely be easier to play and should sound superior to the Ibanez...

    However...

    alot of people think it's best to learn to play on a cheap guitar...I'm talking the $100 thing you can buy at Fryz or Wal-Mart... The strings are tougher on the fingers at the beginning because they're typically raised further from the fretboard, but if you can play one of those, you can play anything. I learned on one those, but that was becuase of necessity rather than choice, had I been given the choice, I may have taken the more expensive route...
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited December 2004
    Thanks Polkmaniac!

    I've heard that about cheap guitars. Interesting...

    How would my old Fender (similar to the one in the first link) compare the the Washburn?
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited December 2004
    I could talk guitars with you until you were worn out :D
    (I have 22 in the "collection" and new ones seem to magically appear, according to my wife)

    My opinion, buy this one for your brother (nice guitar, great price) and get your other guitar back:

    Fender Squire SA-100

    Mike
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2004
    Which one are you talking about Mike? I can't seem to find it....

    Justin - Feel free to delete this pic if it's really offensive, I found it amusing.
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited December 2004
    Damn Doro, that was the deal maker for the guitar! :p

    I've done business with these folks, they're salty as hell to deal with, but never represent their wares less than truthfully. Look around on the site - you might find some tubes that interest you as well.

    Mike
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  • dorokusai
    dorokusai Posts: 25,577
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by BlueMDPicker
    Look around on the site - you might find some tubes that interest you as well.

    Nah, nothing useful for me, but thanks for the tip.

    I need to learn to play this ukelale my Mom gave me....ugh. I'm thinking surf music should be the first attempt.
    CTC BBQ Amplifier, Sonic Frontiers Line3 Pre-Amplifier and Wadia 581 SACD player. Speakers? Always changing but for now, Mission Argonauts I picked up for $50 bucks, mint.
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by BlueMDPicker
    My opinion, buy this one for your brother (nice guitar, great price) and get your other guitar back:

    Fender Squire SA-100

    Mike
    So you think the Squire is better than the Washburn?

    The Squire pack is also $99.99 at the stores near me so that is another option.
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  • wodom1
    wodom1 Posts: 1,054
    edited December 2004
    I say go with the Washburn. A washburn acoustic was my first guitar and it's what I learned how to play on. I still play it the most out of my other guitars.

    -Josh
    "I got into the music business thinking it was really radical, that it wasn't really a business at all, that it was a lot of people being artistic and creative. Not true, and it made me very depressed."

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  • rskarvan
    rskarvan Posts: 2,374
    edited December 2004
    Buy a Mexican made Fender Telecaster for $350. You'll be happy with this guitar and no real need to upgrade - you can always replace pickups. Then, buy a used Fender Hot Rod Deluxe tube amp and you'll be set.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by BlueMDPicker
    I could talk guitars with you until you were worn out :D
    (I have 22 in the "collection" and new ones seem to magically appear, according to my wife)

    My word!!! You have 22 guitars?!?!! Man, you need to get you a few more......lol

    the question is....can you play 'em all at once? :D
    George Grand wrote: »
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  • Demiurge
    Demiurge Posts: 10,874
    edited December 2004
    tryrrthg

    What type of music are you looking to play? And are you open to other options? I'm personally not a fan of Fender and it has nothing to do with the quality or the craftsmenship...moreso I just don't like the feel.

    My suggestion to you would be to go to a guitar store and just see how the guitars feel. That's one of the most important things to look for when you're first getting into playing guitar because you're going to need to be the most comfortable when you're learning for the first time. Playing scales and chord progressions, ect...

    I also wouldn't spend a lot on your first guitar, but I wouldn't go cheap either. Shelling out anything under $500 but over $200 should suit you well. I started out on an Ibanez many years ago and have never looked back or regreted it.

    What it all comes down to is what feels right to you. Getting opinions on quality doesn't hurt either, but there's no reason to nitpick over stuff like that when you're first starting out.

    Hope I was able to help you out.

    -Dave
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited December 2004
    Well Im a drummer so dont put too much stock in my $.02 worth but Ive always like the sound Ibanez guitars seem to have. Plus most of my favorite guitarists play Ibanez like Alex Skolnick, John Petrucci (now plays Music Man) and Steve Vai.
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  • BlueMDPicker
    BlueMDPicker Posts: 7,569
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by audiobliss
    My word!!! You have 22 guitars?!?!! Man, you need to get you a few more......lol

    I like the way you think...I'm going to keep an eye on you!

    the question is....can you play 'em all at once? :D

    Sure, I just need 21 friends to drop by.
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  • audiobliss
    audiobliss Posts: 12,518
    edited December 2004
    Originally posted by BlueMDPicker
    Sure, I just need 21 friends to drop by.

    Hahaha!! That's good, that's good....
    George Grand wrote: »
    Jstas wrote: »
    Simple question. If you had a cool million bucks, what would you do with it?
    Wonder WTF happened to the rest of my money.
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  • PolkThug
    PolkThug Posts: 7,532
    edited December 2004
    A Fender Squire and a Boss distortion pedal can take you a long way......
    Never Forget
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  • tryrrthg
    tryrrthg Posts: 1,896
    edited December 2004
    Thanks everyone for the info!

    Originally posted by Demiurge
    What type of music are you looking to play?
    ANYTHING!

    I'm open to other options but I really don't want to spend the money because I am quite busy and I don't want to spend a lot if I don't have the time to play/practice.

    My brother is still in college so he doesn't need anything fancy either, which is why I am leaning towards the $99 guitars. It sounds like he hasn't been using mine much at all lately, so I'll probably go with one of the $99 guitars for him and get my Fender back.
    Sony KDL-40V2500 HDTV, Rotel RSX-1067 Receiver, Sony BDP-S550 Blu-ray, Slim Devices Squeezebox, Polk RTi6, CSi3 & R15, DIY sub with Atlas 15
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