Guitar n00b with questions!

Pablo

Paying your friend a visit is a must. You will find the acoustic a little harder to play (the strings are ussually bigger), so you may be happy with an electric. As far as cheap/good guitars, you don't always get crap for a low price. I have a mexican strat (they don't call it that, but it was made in mexico), but it plays almost as nice as my cousins american strat and is MUCH cheaper.

But if you are looking at electrics, look into the sheraton II I mentioned earlier. It truly plays silky smooth and only runs about $600 (my wife got me mine after I played it in a store and it was the most comfortable thing I have ever picked up. I've had it over 10 years now, and I still haven't found anything that plays so nice).

As far as that distortion comment, I don't think it will help you with your speed, but it may make you sound better. I have and old Rockman portable amp thingy (it's a little box with a pair of headphones developed by Tom Sholtz [from the band Boston]). But if you put that on, crank up the distortion, anyone sounds like they are playing like Slash.

wodom1

I've got three guitars (Acoustic and two electrics). My first guitar was a Washburn acoustic that my brother gave me in 1994 when he upgraded to a Taylor. My suggestion is to buy an acoustic first and then move on to an electric, but that's just me. As previously stated, acoustics are tougher to play, which I think helps you learn more and strengthens your hand. I personally enjoy playing an acoustic more too. I can't really recommend anything however, since I haven't seriously looked into new guitars in years. I'm starting to think about picking up a new Taylor acoustic, but haven't made up my mind yet. As far as getting an acoustic/electric, you can buy a regular acoustic and later on purchase an pickup that you can install when you need to. That's what I did for my Washburn when I had to play a James Taylor song at a friends wedding a few years ago. I think the removable pickup I bought is made by Dean Markley. Good luck and take your time before making a purchasing decision.

audiobliss

Thanks again for all the advice and recommendations, folks. I discovered today that a coworker/friend owns a recording business and has played guitar professionally for a few bands for recording. He's played for 13+ years. And has that many guitars.

Sooooo, I'm going to go hang out with him for a while!

I've decided on an acoustic or acoustic/electric. However, when I mentioned my budget to him, he said that was ridiculous. He said his most expensive guitars are only about $400, and that he's played on stage several times with $250 guitars.

So, I'm still kinda up in the air about this, but it looks like I may be getting some answers here soon.

sda2mike

audiobliss wrote: »

Thanks again for all the advice and recommendations, folks. I discovered today that a coworker/friend owns a recording business and has played guitar professionally for a few bands for recording. He's played for 13+ years. And has that many guitars.

Sooooo, I'm going to go hang out with him for a while!

I've decided on an acoustic or acoustic/electric. However, when I mentioned my budget to him, he said that was ridiculous. He said his most expensive guitars are only about $400, and that he's played on stage several times with $250 guitars.

So, I'm still kinda up in the air about this, but it looks like I may be getting some answers here soon.

properly set up, you can play anything proffesionally. more $ means, set it and forget - for awhile. your friend is in the business and knows how to set up an axe. for you, i would go used and cheap. when you build up your callouses and confidence, buy something better. still used, but better. and so on.....have fun...it would suck to buy an expensive gtr only to find you'd rather listen to someone else;) for me, i like used guitars! they have soul:cool:

hockeyboy

Guitar Center is having their annual 3 day blowout this weekend. It starts Friday and they usually have some really good deals during the blowout.

Refefer

AB, check out Seagull guitars. They are IMNSHO the greatest bang for the buck, and have been shredding up reviews recently. They just recently (within a year or so) started being sold at Guitar Center because people kept requesting them

That said, you could get a very nice M series for around $450, say $550-$600 with hardcase and everything else.

Pablo

For acoustic electrics, you pay more to get good electronics.